If you’re looking for a young adult book without overly idealistic teenage protagonists doing impulsive things that make you want to throw your hands up in indignation, then look no further. Howl’s Moving Castle features one of the best dynamics ever: a 90-year-old nosy grandma and a 27-year-old drama king wizard.

#BookReview: Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Spoiler-Free Synopsis:

In the land of Ingary, strange things happen, one being that the eldest sibling is doomed to fail. Sophie Hatter, the eldest of three sisters, experiences this firsthand. While her sisters are given prestigious apprenticeships, she is left behind in her late father’s hat shop to make hats for her stepmother. Months spent indoors leave her dull and lonely. One day, in a rare moment of irritation, she makes an unkind remark to a stuck-up customer, who, unfortunately, is the Witch of the Waste. The Witch promptly turns Sophie into a 90-year-old woman and sweeps out the door.

But old age gives Sophie a new kind of boldness. Determined to finally find her fortune, eldest or not, she leaves home. On the road, she stumbles across the infamous moving castle belonging to the dreaded wizard Howl. There, she meets his apprentice, Michael, and strikes a deal with Howl’s fire demon, Calcifer, hoping to return to her younger self. And so begins the chaotic, charming tale of Ingary’s most iconic four-person household, each member nursing dreams and secrets of their own.

Personal Opinion:

The standout charm of this book is how wonderfully odd it is. How often do you get a cast made up of a grandma, a wizard nearing his 30s, a teenage apprentice, and a fireplace? Sophie’s and Howl’s are complex yet simultaneously easy to understand and sympathize with. Even the side characters have understandable motives, contributing to a rich and watertight plot – which is more than I can ask for in today’s world of gimmicky but substanceless books and TV series. (I’m looking at you the recently released season 2 of a certain series.)

Worldbuilding-wise, Ingary is truly magical (even without listening to Merry-Go-Round of Life, which says a lot). Interestingly, the world is connected with modern Wales, and seeing these Medieval characters navigating the modern world is one of the funniest things I’ve seen recently. The book has a soft magic system, but it’s rather easy to wrap your head around it, allowing for a truly well-paced and immersive read.

Even though this review is on the shorter side, I hope it has conveyed the charm of Ingary and convinced you to accompany Sophie on her chaotic adventures!