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Fantastic Beasts

The Crimes of Grindelwald

J. K. Rowling

304 pages

A cinematic, shadow-drenched return to a beloved magical world where rising political darkness forces old friends to choose sides.

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What it feels like

Reading this screenplay feels like stepping directly into a darkened movie theater, where the magic is immediate and the stakes are rapidly escalating. Because it is written as a script, the experience is incredibly brisk and visual, stripping away dense exposition in favor of sharp dialogue and evocative stage directions. The atmosphere is noticeably darker and more shadowy than its predecessor, trading pure whimsy for a tense, politically charged mood as a familiar world stands on the brink of war. Nostalgia weaves through the tension, especially during brief returns to beloved settings, but the overarching feeling is one of urgency. It will delight lore-hungry fans who want to devour every secret of this universe and readers who appreciate a fast, dramatic, and highly visual format.

Mood
  • shadowy
  • nostalgic
  • tense
  • magical
Tone
  • cinematic
  • urgent
  • dramatic
  • ominous
Pace
brisk
Themes
the burden of choosing sides · rising darkness · divided loyalties · the seduction of power
The writing
Sparse and highly visual, the text relies on sharp dialogue and evocative stage directions to conjure a vivid, cinematic experience.
The arc
The journey shifts from whimsical magical discovery to a tense, heartbreaking realization that neutrality is no longer an option.
Who it's for
Die-hard fans of the wizarding world eager to uncover historical lore and readers who enjoy the rapid, dialogue-heavy flow of a screenplay.
Content notes
  • fantasy violence
  • manipulation
  • death

About the book

The powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald has been captured in New York with the help of Newt Scamander. But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escapes custody and sets about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise up pure-blood wizards to rule over all non-magical beings. In an effort to thwart Grindelwald's plans, Albus Dumbledore enlists Newt, his former Hogwarts student, who agrees to help once again, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is the second screenplay in the five-film series to be written by J.K. Rowling, author of the internationally best-selling Harry Potter books. Set in 1927, a few months after the events of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and moving from New York to London, Paris, and even back to Hogwarts, this story of mystery and magic reveals an extraordinary new chapter in the wizarding world.

This description comes from the publisher. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is the second book in the Fantastic Beasts series, the first of which is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It is also part of the Harry Potter series, the first of which is published as both Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Description from Open Library.

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