Author: Diana Wynne Jones
# of Pages: 429 (paperback)
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Magic
Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis: 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.
Review: I love love love this book.
I've been a huge fan of Miyazaki movies for many years. However, I did not realize the iconic Howl's Moving Castle was based off of this book until a few days ago.
Although this book is labelled as YA, it is on the lower end as far as reading level. It's a suitable read for children, teens, and adults alike looking for a quick read. I was charmed by how Jones is able to develop the characters without putting a major emphasis on the romance as many modern books tend to do to draw in readers. Jones is able to captivate her readers through her storytelling rather than with a cheap romantic plot.
I love Howl and Sophie and wish the second and third books had more of them in them. However, this book is for sure a recommended read.
