Howl's Moving Castle

Diana Wynne Jones

Sep 2012 · World of Howl Book 1 · Sold by Harper Collins

About this ebook

This entrancing classic fantasy novel is filled with surprises at every turn. An international bestseller, this much-loved book is the source for the Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Feature.

Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle.

To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.

In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are never quite what they seem. Destinies are intertwined, identities exchanged, lovers confused. The Witch has placed a spell on Howl. Does the clue to breaking it lie in a famous poem? And what will happen to Sophie Hatter when she enters Howl's castle?

All fans of classic fantasy books deserve the pleasure of reading those by Diana Wynne Jones, whose acclaim included the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement. As Neil Gaiman stated, she was "quite simply the best writer for children of her generation."

The three books in the World of Howl are:

• Howl's Moving Castle
• Castle in the Air
• House of Many Ways

Other beloved series from Dianna Wynne Jones include the Chronicles of Chrestomanci and the Dalemark Quartet.

Ratings and reviews

I really liked the story. The characters are engaging and very human. I saw Miyazaki's movie version first and wanted more of that world - the two versions are quite different though. Both good, but very different. I have a feeling I'll be rereading this over and over again!

The very lines of the characters were hilarious and witty! If you think Studio Ghibli's anime is good, you will find this book as awesome, if not at all, better! Since it is a book, there was more time to develop the characters (and have more characters at that), and make the detective-ish story plot even more detailed and interesting! I was so quickly immersed and finished it in a day, but still re-read it right after just to fill in where I could have missed the clues! Really a great read that will leave you in magical rapture!

Simply amazing, to say the least. It has the feel of Narnia, a touch of Roald Dahl and a dash of Harry Potter, but it is quite it's own thing all together. I became interested in it thanks to the brilliant work of Miyazaki, but fell in love with it for it's own merit. Mrs Jones told it in a style that matched up perfectly with the story she was conveying. It was a lively tale in which you never knew what was going to pop out of the pages. I am very satisfied by what I got out of reading it, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has a fondness for any of the stories mentioned above.

About the author

In a career spanning four decades, award-winning author Diana Wynne Jones (1934‒2011) wrote more than forty books of fantasy for young readers. Characterized by magic, multiple universes, witches and wizards—and a charismatic nine-lived enchanter—her books are filled with unlimited imagination, dazzling plots, and an effervescent sense of humor that earned her legendary status in the world of fantasy.