Did you know that the wizarding world is not limited to the Harry Potter series? Shocking, isn’t it? What if there is another magical world that can mesmerize your imaginations. Yes, The Crimes of Grindelwald is the one I am talking about.
Who knows, you may get your Hogwarts letter soon. Everyone these days is a big fan of Harry Potter, but in the Fantastic Beasts series by J.K. Rowling, you may not find the same protagonist.
To find out the new face, you’ll have to dig in. You’ll meet many new faces who will make you fall even more for the series.
This book took me on a whole new adventure. It may not be like the others in the series but I assure you, you will discover a whole lot of new facts.
These facts will come handy the next time you sit down and binge read this magical series. Don’t worry I am not going to give you any spoilers in the upcoming review (I am a good muggle like you who hates spoilers).
In this Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald book, the review talks about why you should read the book and what all are you missing out on by not reading it.
Let me tell you one thing, this series includes many spells that you won’t be able to stop yourself from repeating.
So please fasten your seat belts because The Crimes of Grindelwald is going to prepare you for what you’ll read in the book.
Table of Contents
About the Author: J.K Rowling
J.K. Rowling is a well-known name among the readers but the author’s real name is Joanne Rowling. She also goes by another pen name Robert Galbraith.
Rowling is a British author born in England. She is a fan of writing fantasy stories since childhood, which can be termed as the beginning of her writing days.
The stories of her childhood played an important part later as well as the author says she based the character of Hermione Granger on her 11-year-old self.
Another element named ‘dementors’ was picked up from her real-life when she was battling clinical depression.
Her work is not limited only to the Harry Potter series; she writes crime fiction as well. Just like her other books, these are quite popular among readers.
The reason behind the name J.K. Rowling is as she wanted a neutral name for herself. This was done with the motive to attract the male audience to her work.
What’s surprising is, 12 publication houses rejected her script of Harry Potter. The same author now has a net worth in millions, which quite obviously, turned out to be a big loss for the publishers.
She becomes the first author who reached billionaire status. Believing in charity, she gave away most of her income for good.
She also runs her own NGO named Lumos. Currently living in Scotland with her three children,
Rowling is, without a doubt, in a better place. She has also received many awards that make her and her work unique.
The Crimes of Grindelwald Book Review
The Crimes of Grindelwald is a screenplay originally written by J.K. Rowling. The book cover itself is capable of attracting quite a lot of attention.
As you read along, you may start to notice the figures on the cover. Many elements of the book are somehow fit in the cover which makes it quite interesting.
You’ll understand the cover better once you finish reading the book. Coming to the plot of The Crimes of Grindelwald, it revolves around Grindelwald, one of the most powerful wizards whose potential is equal to Dumbledore.
When this wizard turns evil and aims for the rule of purebloods over everyone, the fight begins. Effortlessly escaping the prison, he looks forward to making his army and prepares them for the battle.
The question arises on how Newt, the protagonist, can help in defeating him. All the characters in the book play an important role.
Everything they do ultimately joins the dots towards the end. Many more powerful witches and wizards accompany Newt and help him through this journey.
But the main point of worry is, will they be able to defeat someone so powerful all alone? Written amazingly, The Crimes of Grindelwald will take you on a journey along.
You will see the beauty of the text. Even though it’s a screenplay, no compromise has been made when it comes to the details.
You can imagine the tone and the scene without any trouble because of the apt description.
Meet the Characters
Leaving everyone behind, let’s get you to the protagonist first, Newt Scamander. A magizoologist who is also the author of ‘Fantastic Beasts and where to find them’ is someone not lusty for power.
But what happens when this young man is sent directly in the hands of trouble when he is avoiding it? Experience the ultimate journey with him to fight Grindelwald.
Gellert Grindelwald is another wizard whose power can be a danger to the world. He is a big believer in the power and wants the wizards and purebloods to rule over the world of muggles.
Apart from these two main characters, you’ll also find Dumbledore in the story. Another special mention is the character of Credence, a quite powerful young man who is in search of his mother in Paris.
The theories about him will shock you and you’ll read at a faster pace to know what happens next. Teena Goldstein, an Auror, accompanies Newt on his journey.
Also to mention, she is another one in pursuit of Credence. Her sister, Queenie Goldstein falls in love with a non-magical person which is considered illegal in the world of wizards.
Will she be able to fulfill her love story? Each character carries their struggle and power. They all get together and try to defeat this wizard who has started the path of evil.
But to make things complicated, sides must be chosen. Who will accompany who? The big question will stare right at you and will make you want to find answers from The Crimes of Grindelwald.
What Makes The Crimes of Grindelwald Special?
Most of the time, when one reads a screenplay, it gets a little boring simply because the major elements are missing. But you won’t find any such thing happening in The Crimes of Grindelwald by J.K. Rowling.
The novel has a good grip on the reader. You won’t be able to divert yourself no matter how strong the distraction is. The vocabulary is quite good too.
The usage of apt words is obvious. It suits the scene well which adds a tinge of gold to the scene. One of the best things is that you won’t feel any rush while reading.
The story goes on smoothly and each part is related to the other. As a reader, your will to finish the book in one go will be irresistible. The dialogue delivery is commendable as well.
It is full of unexpected twists and turns which will make you go ‘Woah, what just happened?’ For a better experience, you can watch the movie as well; it will help you in imagining the scenes a little better.
It gives you the rush that most authors miss out on. There are no unnecessary elements. Everything is related; it will come up sometime or the other.
So do make sure that you pay attention to even the slightest of details. The story flows in quite smooth, the breaks between two different scenes are great.
It has humor, sarcasm, thrill, everything that one looks for in a novel. Rowling’s efforts are visible and you’ll be more than happy to read this and discover yourself how it is related to the Harry Potter series.
A Dive in The Crimes of Grindelwald
The Fantastic Beasts series is a collection of five books, of which two have been turned into movies. The film adaptation of the rest three will be out too.
Crimes of Grindelwald has many characters who will take you along on an adventure. You’ll recognize most of the characters for sure if you have read the first part.
It is recommended to read the screenplay before watching the movie as it will give you time to imagine all the characters in your head first.
There is a lot to learn about the characters you saw in the Harry Potter series. A reason why the fans loved it so much is the villain in the series.
You’ll get a break from the things Voldemort did and can have a peek into the crimes of Grindelwald instead. There are a few plot holes as well which you will come across further in the review.
A few things are worth appreciation including the dialogues in the book. You’ll fall in love with some characters and the rush while reading shows the magic Rowling does with her words in real.
Many new spells you may come across, so keep your wands ready. There is a certain excitement hidden in this screenplay which prevents the reader from keeping the book down.
It is completely different from the first in the series which attracts more attention. Remember Nicholas Flamel? You’ll get to catch him live this time.
What did I Like the Most?
The whole book is full of crazy twists and turns, which will keep your interest intact throughout. One of the best things about The Crimes of Grindelwald is the illustrations.
All the illustrations are related to the chapter you’re about to read. The cover is designed with such detail that it will make you stare at it for long.
All the characters hold a different story and are unique which is usually missed out. Another thing worth appreciation is the style of writing. Bold, italics, and other styles as well wherever necessary.
The different style of writing makes the reading experience easier and soothing. Even for a script, this book has parred excellence. All the details are described well with the apt words used.
It holds the suspense till the very end and when it is revealed, you will be satisfied with answers. A surprise awaits in the end which will make you want to start the next part right then.
If you watch the movie or not, the book holds power to take you on a journey. One thing is for sure; you won’t find any such screenplay. It’s Rowling at her best.
What Didn’t I Like in The Crimes of Grindelwald?
Despite receiving many thumbs-ups, this book contains a few flaws. The time gap between Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts is fine, but the age of Dumbledore and McGonagall were quite the opposite.
A few other things were a disappointment too including Nagini’s character. She seemed unnecessary and felt she was forced into the story.
The open ending of the story is also a little disappointing. A reader spends hours on the book only to be left at a ‘To be Continued.’
The details of all characters make the story move a little slow. Many Potterheads too didn’t enjoy this new addition much because it took away the spark from the original series.
A lot of attention is paid to the subplots that the author forgot other important details. As the title suggests, a reader may expect an important role of Grindelwald, but it is rather the opposite.
Not much about him is available, which is a setback. Newt was meant to be the main character of the story and because of the presence of so many characters, his role somewhat fades away.
All in all, I expected more from the main characters instead of the side ones.
Conclusion
For all the Potterheads out there, The Crimes of Grindelwald is worth giving a chance. It includes many disappointing scenes but it will be worth it at the end.
A little extra knowledge about the wizarding world isn’t a bad deal after all. Despite all the flaws, it will keep you hooked until the end. You can also find out more about the same by reading the next.
Like it? Read more Fiction Books.
If you love reading Fantasy Books, I would recommend you to read The Oath of Vayuputras by Amish.
