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  • Title: Harry Plotter and The Chamber of Serpents, an Unofficial Harry Potter Parody: An American Muggle in Slytherin House
  • Author: Mj Ware
  • Narrator: Alex Beckham
  • Length: 03:40:40
  • Version: Abridged
  • Release Date: 24/09/2019
  • Publisher: Findaway Voices
  • Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy, Kids, Action & Adventure
  • ISBN13: 9.78E+12
Greetings, fellow readers and listeners!
Picture this: I’m winding my way through the cobblestone streets of a tucked-away English village, the kind where the air smells faintly of damp stone and secrets. My earbuds are in, and I’ve just pressed play on *Harry Plotter and The Chamber of Serpents, an Unofficial Harry Potter Parody: An American Muggle in Slytherin House* by Mj Ware, narrated by Alex Beckham. It’s a crisp afternoon, the sort that begs for a tale of magic and mischief, and I’m ready to dive into this quirky little audiobook experience. At just over 22 minutes, it’s a quick jaunt—barely enough time to finish a pot of tea—but it promises a playful twist on a world I’ve loved since I was a kid sneaking flashlight reads under the covers.

The story follows Austin, an American kid who lands at Hogwarts and, against all odds, gets sorted into Slytherin. It’s a setup that immediately hooked me—there’s something deliciously rebellious about an outsider shaking up the snakepit. It reminds me of a time when I was trekking through the Atacama Desert in Chile, listening to *One Hundred Years of Solitude* on audiobook. The surreal landscape mirrored García Márquez’s magical realism, and the narrator’s voice felt like a companion weaving tales beside me. With *Harry Plotter*, I was hoping for that same sense of transport, a story unfolding like a map to somewhere unexpected.

And in some ways, it delivers. The parody leans hard into its absurdity—Austin’s bumbling through the dungeons, accidentally aiding the monster from the Chamber of Serpents, feels like a kid’s fever dream after too much Halloween candy. You can almost hear the grin in Mj Ware’s writing as he pokes fun at the Hogwarts mythos. There’s a scrappy, DIY charm to it, like a roadside storyteller spinning a yarn for anyone who’ll listen. For a fantasy-loving kid—or a grown-up with a soft spot for action and adventure—it’s a bite-sized romp that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The idea of an American Muggle in Slytherin is a clever twist, tapping into that universal feeling of being the odd one out, something I’ve felt myself sipping mate with gauchos in Argentina or swapping stories with fishermen in Portugal.

But let’s talk about the audiobook experience itself, because that’s where the magic either happens or fizzles. Alex Beckham’s narration is a mixed bag. His voice has a youthful bounce that suits the story’s tone—there’s a bit of a cheeky spark in how he delivers Austin’s fish-out-of-water moments. You can almost taste the awkwardness as Austin stumbles through Hogwarts, and Beckham nails that wide-eyed, oh-crap energy. The pacing is brisk, which keeps the short runtime from dragging, and his American accent gives Austin an authenticity that grounds the parody. It’s not hard to imagine him as that kid who accidentally sets off chaos while just trying to find his dorm.

Yet, there’s something missing in the performance that left me wanting. I kept thinking back to those evenings in Oaxaca, staying with a family whose grandmother would tell stories under a flickering lantern. Her voice carried weight—silences that stretched like shadows, timing that made every word land just right. Beckham’s narration, while solid, lacks that depth. It’s flat in places, more like a quick read-aloud than a fully embodied tale. The audio quality is clean, no complaints there, but the delivery doesn’t quite capture the dungeon’s damp chill or the hiss of the serpents. For a story so rooted in atmosphere, I craved more texture—something to make me feel the slimy stones underfoot or the tension of facing He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

The content itself is a bit of a double-edged wand. On one hand, it’s a fun, irreverent nod to the Harry Potter universe. The kids’ fantasy vibe shines through—Austin’s misadventures are packed with enough action and silliness to keep a young listener giggling. The Chamber of Serpents angle is a smart riff, and the idea of an American disrupting Slytherin’s haughty ranks is a fresh spin. But it’s thin, even for a parody. At 22 minutes, it’s more of a sketch than a story—there’s no real meat to sink your teeth into. The stakes feel low, and the humor, while cute, doesn’t land any gut punches. It’s like a street vendor’s empanada—tasty enough, but you’re hungry again an hour later.

Compared to other parody works, like *Barry Trotter* or even *The Simpsons* taking jabs at fantasy tropes, *Harry Plotter* feels a little undercooked. It’s got heart, sure, but lacks the sharp wit or layered gags that make a spoof stick. For science fiction and fantasy fans, it’s a light appetizer, not a meal. Kids might love the slapstick, and parents looking for a free audiobook to entertain them on a car ride could do worse—especially since it’s available at no cost through some platforms, which is a nice perk. But if you’re after something with more bite, you might find yourself flipping through the audiobook library for a heftier adventure.

What I appreciate most, though, is how it stirred up my own memories of being the outsider. I remember landing in a tiny Brazilian coastal town, the only gringo for miles, fumbling through Portuguese and accidentally insulting a fisherman’s catch. Like Austin, I stuck out—awkward, earnest, and totally out of my depth. There’s a universality to that, and *Harry Plotter* taps into it, even if it doesn’t dig deep. It’s a reminder of how stories, even silly ones, can echo our own journeys.

So, who’s this for? If you’re a parent with a Harry Potter-obsessed kid, or just someone craving a quick, free audiobook fix, it’s worth a spin. The listening experience is easy, undemanding—like a stroll through a familiar forest with a few unexpected twigs to trip over. But if you’re a diehard fantasy fan or an audiobook aficionado who cherishes narrators that pull you into the story’s soul, you might find it a bit too fleeting. For me, it was a pleasant detour, but not a road I’ll travel again.

In the end, *Harry Plotter and The Chamber of Serpents* is a quirky little gem—rough around the edges, but with a spark of fun. It’s not the kind of tale that’ll linger like those Oaxaca nights or the desert’s haunting whispers, but it’s a decent companion for a short wander. Give it a listen, and let me know what you think—maybe over a cup of coffee in some far-flung corner of the world.

Until the next story,
Marcus Rivera