Howl's Moving Castle--Book review

Photo by Shawn Renza from Pexels

Hi there, and welcome to J.P.'s Exemplary Stories, where we review stories that may just become your next great find!

Book cover from Goodreads.com
Today's review is of Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.

You can buy it in paperback on Amazon here

On Kindle here

Apple Books here

And on Google Books here.


General information

One-sentence summary:

A seventeen-year-old girl is cursed by a wicked witch to become an old woman, and must find a way to break the curse on herself by conspiring with a cranky fire demon.

Genre:

Fantasy romance

Chapters: 

Twenty-one

Movie:

Yes, an anime by Studio Ghibli. You can find it on Amazon here. To my knowledge, the movie is not on iTunes.

Lead (point-of-view) character:

Sophie, a seventeen-year-old girl cursed by the Wicked Witch of the Waste to look like, act like, and feel like an old woman.

My thoughts

What I liked: 

I loved all the many characters. They were all so unique, I found it easy to keep track of each and every one of them. The magic system is interesting, as well, and kept me on my toes, wondering what crazy adventure Sophie might get into next. The plot moves along wonderfully, and rarely has a hitch. As an older sibling myself, Sophie was extremely relatable to me, both as a young woman and old. (However, she's not my favorite character--that would be Calcifer, the fire demon. Shhh... Don't tell anyone!) In addition, there are many great one-liners in this book (by main characters and secondary characters alike), and I often found myself saving them for later.  

What I didn't like:

Some of the subplots were slightly confusing. A few of the scenes felt too long, as well. A couple of solutions the characters came up with were a little too convenient. The ending seemed a bit rushed. 

If I had the option to stay up all night to read this book, would I?

Absolutely. 

Who I would recommend this book to:

Anyone who wants a light fantasy romance with a whole lot of heart and magic (pun intended). Pre-teens and above should enjoy this story. 

Additional information

Ending:

Satisfactory.

Cursing: 

Minimal

Adult themes:

Little to none

Violence/gore:

Minor

Romance: 

Moderate

Book vs. Movie:

Similar in some ways, vastly different in others. The book goes into much more detail, has more characters, and has a few extra scenes. Global stakes are a bit lower in the book, but personal stakes are higher. The main plot is the same.

In conclusion

Diana Wynne Jones's Howl's Moving Castle is a delight to read. Perfect for those who like an element of romance to their fantasy, Howl's Moving Castle is a fast-paced, wonderful read sure to be beloved by young and old readers alike. 

Once again, you can pick up a paperback copy of Howl's Moving Castle on Amazon here 

On Kindle here

Apple Books here

And on Google Books here.

Have you read Howl's Moving Castle? What did you think about it? Let us all know in the comments below!


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