When I let people know I was finally reading Howl's Moving Castle, there was a huge outpouring of love shown for the story. I have only read one other work by Jones, her novel Hexwood, but I remember really enjoying it when I was younger. What I didn't realize was that Howl's Moving Castle is actually the first book in a series and that it is followed by Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways. My first introduction to the story was through Hayao Miyazaki's 2004 anime adaptation I enjoyed the film well enough that I wanted to read the source material. I have no idea how I completely missed reading this novel growing up. Howl's Moving Castle by Diane Wynne Jones was first published in 1986. Other beloved series from Dianna Wynne Jones include the Chronicles of Chrestomanci and the Dalemark Quartet. The three books in the World of Howl are: As Neil Gaiman stated, she was 'quite simply the best writer for children of her generation.' Does the clue to breaking it lie in a famous poem? And what will happen to Sophie Hatter when she enters Howl's castle?Īll 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. Destinies are intertwined, identities exchanged, lovers confused. In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are never quite what they seem.

Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl-and herself-than first meets the eye. 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. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. 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. 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. 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.

Howls moving castle audio book