Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay

Our Review

The cover of this book is stunning, I love the dark blue and gold. I especially like the niffler hidden in there.

The reason I only gave this book four is because I had trouble reading it because of it being a screenplay. However, I enjoyed the book otherwise and I was eventually able to ignore the screenplay directions.

The book is set in 1926 in New York City. Newt Scamander has just stepped off the boat and into the hustle and bustle of New York City. With him he carries a briefcase full of magical creatures he intends to study in order to release a book on how to look after them.

However, most wizards believe magical creatures should be hunted and because of this Newt decides to keep the contents of his briefcase a secret.

A series of unfortunate events mean his creatures escape Newt knows he must find them or risk exposing the wizarding world to the most dangerous creatures alive....humans.

Newt Scamander is a bit of a hapless character and appears to live in his own dream world. He is appearance is ‘weatherbeaten’ and generally a bit shabby.

Whilst trying to capture Dougal, his Niffler, Newt encounters muggle born Jacob Korowski and accidentally introduces him to the world of magic. As Newt is about to obliviate his memory Jacob hits him over the head with his briefcase and runs off into the city. It is only later that Newt and Jacob realise that Jacob has taken Newt’s briefcase by mistake.

American Wizard, and former auror, Tina Goldstein witnesses some of the events above and sets off across the city with Newt in search of Jacob and the briefcase. Tina is officious and clearly disapproves of Newt and his views on magic.

Newt for his part disagrees with American views on magic.

“I do know a few things, actually. I know you have rather backwards laws about relations with non-magical people. That you’re not meant to befriend them, that you can’t marry them, which seems mildly absurd to me.”

Tina decides the only option she has is to bring Newt and Jacob back to the apartment she shares with her sister Queenie. Queenie is a siren and Jacob is captured by her at once, despite the fact that she can literally read his mind. Newt, however, has his mind on other things and can only focus on finding his creatures.

As well Newt’s missing creatures the magicians of the city have to contend with a new fanatical group named The Second Salemers. One of the members of the group is a young girl named Modesty who goes around singing a creepy song.

My momma, your momma,

Gonna catch a witch

My momma, your momma

Flying on a switch

My momma, your momma,

Witches never cry

My momma, your momma,

Witches gonna die.

 

Additionally, a ‘black wind’  or invisible beast is going around the city attacking people and anyone could be next.

Despite some small mentions of characters from the Harry Potter series, you don’t have to have read that series to enjoy this book.

I enjoyed this book and read it in just a few hours but I would have enjoyed it more I think if I had managed to read the book before I saw the film. I loved both the film and the book but I couldn’t get the film out of my head whilst I was reading which was unfortunate. 

Our Final Rating...

Tue, 21st March 2017