Title: Howl’s Moving Castle
Author: Diana Wynne Jone
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This magical story revolves around Sophie Hatter, a young woman cursed by a wicked witch that transforms her into an elderly lady. With nothing to lose and reservations cast aside, Sophie leaves her mundane life behind in search of her fortune.
After having a bad night out in the world, Sophie seeks refuge in the mysterious moving castle. Only to find out it belongs to the enigmatic wizard Howl. As she settles into the peculiar home, she discovers that there is more to Howl than the rumors would have you believe. Nothing is as it seems.
The author’s world building is wonderfully imaginative, weaving together elements of steampunk, fairy tale, and coming-of-age themes. It is a rich world that captivates both young and old alike. She created a world where a moving castle and a hopping scarecrow themselves become characters with vivid personalities.
The characters are richly developed with quirks and complexities. Sophie, who is initially a timid girl, finds herself being fiercely stubborn, daring and outspoken when faced with the unique challenges of her new life in the castle.
Howl, who is outwardly charismatic and charming, hides deep insecurities. He is outwardly thought to be superficial and vain but is found to care a lot about the people close to him. The dynamic between the two and their banter is engaging, sweet and often humorous. It leaves you yearning for more depth.
More time could have been spent on the interactions between Sophie and Howl, showing more of their feelings towards each other. In this regard, perhaps their interactions are almost too subtle. Although I also loved the subtleties of their sweet romance.
The plot is filled with fun events, mystery and character development to engage the reader’s interest throughout. The story just flows and is easy to read, with a series of twists and turns which all come to a satisfying end. Once again, some plot points might feel slightly rushed, leaving the reader yearning for more.
I found the writer’s style most refreshing and sophisticated. She weaves subtle clues throughout the story that all connect in the end. Her writing style makes the story feel organic and cozy, even with all the strangeness going on in the story!
Combined with the delightfully quirky and multidimensional characters, the imaginative world and events, this proved to be an amazing read! This is a book where my only complaint is that there needed to be more of certain aspects. So, of course, highly recommended!