Howl's Moving Castle: A Spellbinding Fantasy Adventure of Magic, Curses, and a Moving Castle
“A true original.” —Katherine Rundell, bestselling author of Impossible Creatures
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. What will happen to Sophie Hatter when she enters Howl's castle?
In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are never quite what they seem. Destinies are intertwined, identities exchanged, lovers confused.
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.
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.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
What Bookclubbers are saying about this book
✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *Howl's Moving Castle* enchants with its magical, witty, and cozy world filled with quirky, memorable characters. Fans agree it offers a d...
J
OH MY GOOOOOOD I loved that ending! Like ugghhhhhh I knew iiit
Wooooow where to begin with all the reasons I loved this book
The characters writing style plot everything was so well crafted
I loved sophie and Howl and Michael and Calcifer, and I love how heart warming and light this read was. Moreover I'd definitely recommend, and will be continuing the series further❤❤❤❤ I loved this book
I'll be writing a more detailed review here if you wish to read that
Elementalbibliophile.blogspot.com
Wooooow where to begin with all the reasons I loved this book
The characters writing style plot everything was so well crafted
I loved sophie and Howl and Michael and Calcifer, and I love how heart warming and light this read was. Moreover I'd definitely recommend, and will be continuing the series further❤❤❤❤ I loved this book
I'll be writing a more detailed review here if you wish to read that
Elementalbibliophile.blogspot.com
After watching the film from Hayo Miazaki I was so excited to read Diana's novel. Unfortunatly... this truelly was a film adaption that overachieved it's book. The pacing and direction in the novel felt clumsy and rough :c It breaks my heart because the concept was sooo good, and I really eanted to love it.
Howl's Moving Castle is one of my favorite books (I adore the whole series, really). It's magical, enchanting, chaotic, witty, and funny, the kind of book every kid (no matter how old you may be) needs to chase away the cold and the blues. It's the book I'd pick up when things in the real world get a little dark and I need a story that makes me feel it'll all be fine in the end.
As someone who read the book after growing up watching the Studio Ghibli film of the same name, I found myself yearning for the mysterious whimsy and soft emotional storytelling Miyazaki gifts each of his movies. The book, although both whimsical and fantastical, lacks the soft mystery and subtlety of the animation. Sophie and Howl’s romance is not a slow-burn, nor is it very romantic at all (in my opinion.) The writing style is very catered to a YA audience with fast-paced action and quick, snappy descriptions. The characters don’t do a lot of processing, going from one thing to the next with nary a thought in my own mind. It’s fun, confusing, and unexpected, but I can’t help but feel a little let down after the masterpiece I glorified it to be in my head.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.