Scan barcode
alexklop's review against another edition
1 star. DNF at 28%. Chapter 7
Ughh this is so unfortunate. Not only did this book perpetuate harmful stereotypes of Arab and MENA (Middle Eastern / North African) people but as well was excruciatingly boring. After reading Howls Moving Castle I was excited a sense of whimsy and adventure and unfortunately this story was what I got instead…
It felt like the writing style was completely different than the previous book, and after reading other reviews, someone said it perfectly that this book sounded like it was written by a completely different author from book 1.
I plan to attempt book 3 as they don’t seem to connect whatsoever; I’m just hoping it’s better than this book.
Ughh this is so unfortunate. Not only did this book perpetuate harmful stereotypes of Arab and MENA (Middle Eastern / North African) people but as well was excruciatingly boring. After reading Howls Moving Castle I was excited a sense of whimsy and adventure and unfortunately this story was what I got instead…
It felt like the writing style was completely different than the previous book, and after reading other reviews, someone said it perfectly that this book sounded like it was written by a completely different author from book 1.
I plan to attempt book 3 as they don’t seem to connect whatsoever; I’m just hoping it’s better than this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Islamophobia, and Classism
ac_anemon's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
it’s good, it’s repetitive in the way that all the ‘moving castle’ books are in that all the actions the character take have them going around in circles until it reaches a boiling point and every little detail becomes relevant in this grand scheme. there’s some fatphobia i can’t let go and some, we’ll say, questionable depictions of other cultures (don’t hear characters being described as yellow these days). overall, pretty good!
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia and Body shaming
turtleghost's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Cute, funny and romantic follow-up to Howl's Moving Castle
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Minor: Xenophobia
pocketspoon's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
The author clearly had fun turning arabian-nights-like tales on their heads a bit, and it is definitely fun and clever in some ways. However, there is a lot here that is really problematic, not least of all the general and persistent misogyny of the main character. I'm afraid that learning to love one smart, capable woman doesn't make him not sexist. In the very last pages he is giving away his (previously extensively fat-shamed) relatives as chattel to the villain. But it's okay, because he's handsome and actually wants them because they're not uncooperative like the kidnapped princesses, so they're into it?!
I also find it annoying that the Howl's Moving Castle characters all have babies in this book, as if that's the only possible progression of a young woman's life/story. You could explain some of this away as "satire, not endorsement" but this is a kids' book, and kids don't get sattire; they're going to see women being constantly compared to each other (and generally criticized and found wanting) by the male protagonist, who is pretty unlikeable and shitty, but is still somehow the hero of the story. He rides in and attaches himself to the escape plan the princesses were already working on, and then one of them has to agree to marry a slimeball just so he won't eat them out, and the men get all the credit for the rescue. And a bunch of other toxic stuff.
I also find it annoying that the Howl's Moving Castle characters all have babies in this book, as if that's the only possible progression of a young woman's life/story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Confinement, Sexism, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Slavery, and War
starsnstitchin's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
leif's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
daisiesandbees's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Fatphobia, Murder, and Police brutality
Minor: Body shaming, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wasn’t impressed with this book as a teen who just wanted more adventures with Howl and Sophie, but I enjoyed this reread. It was so fun waiting for my husband to discover the connection with Howl and Sophie, and I was not disappointed by his reaction! I also liked how this started out as an Aladin retelling, but then went off on its own adventure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexism, and Confinement
Minor: Classism and Murder
Toxic familyminzzi's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book was a big desapointement, specially coming out of Howl's Moving Castle.
The plot was mildly entertaining and I liked some of the new side characters and the ones from the previous book that showed up. Beyond that, I don't have much nice to say.
Basically all the non-white characters were racist stereotypes written by a white woman. The people from Zanzib are described as all being greedy scammers who will do all matter of horrible things for money and power and the one asian princess is described as small, frail, quiet and the only one who doesn't speak the language that all the other characters seen to speak, even thou they are all from different places in the world. And that line were the main character says that Ingary (a place clearly inspired by England were most of not all people are white) was sooo much better and more beautiful than his homeland really bothered me.
Also, for some reason the men in this book are very misogynistic. In the previous book there was no such thing, or at least it wasn't part of the story. Woman worked and owned their own shops, they maried who they wanted and were over all independent and powerful, but in this book there is multiple instances were they are controlled or shamed for their apparence. The only time the main characters thinks the way a female character is being treated is wrong is only because he thinks "she is to beutiful to be treated like that". Big eyeroll moment. And most os the misogyny coming from the POC in the story didn't help either.
To close if of, the romance on this book sucks. I reeeeally don't like storys were the characters know each other for 5 minutes and are already in love, specially in cases like this were the male main character is obsessed with a woman only for her looks, without knowing nothing about her and for some reason the female love interest loves him back and that is seen as a completely normal thing.
<Spoiler> I was going to give this book 2.5 stars, but that scene near the end were the soldier coerces one of the princesses into marriage or else he is going to help the villain keep then captive really upset me. So just 2 stars it is. <Spoiler>
The plot was mildly entertaining and I liked some of the new side characters and the ones from the previous book that showed up. Beyond that, I don't have much nice to say.
Basically all the non-white characters were racist stereotypes written by a white woman. The people from Zanzib are described as all being greedy scammers who will do all matter of horrible things for money and power and the one asian princess is described as small, frail, quiet and the only one who doesn't speak the language that all the other characters seen to speak, even thou they are all from different places in the world. And that line were the main character says that Ingary (a place clearly inspired by England were most of not all people are white) was sooo much better and more beautiful than his homeland really bothered me.
Also, for some reason the men in this book are very misogynistic. In the previous book there was no such thing, or at least it wasn't part of the story. Woman worked and owned their own shops, they maried who they wanted and were over all independent and powerful, but in this book there is multiple instances were they are controlled or shamed for their apparence. The only time the main characters thinks the way a female character is being treated is wrong is only because he thinks "she is to beutiful to be treated like that". Big eyeroll moment. And most os the misogyny coming from the POC in the story didn't help either.
To close if of, the romance on this book sucks. I reeeeally don't like storys were the characters know each other for 5 minutes and are already in love, specially in cases like this were the male main character is obsessed with a woman only for her looks, without knowing nothing about her and for some reason the female love interest loves him back and that is seen as a completely normal thing.
<Spoiler> I was going to give this book 2.5 stars, but that scene near the end were the soldier coerces one of the princesses into marriage or else he is going to help the villain keep then captive really upset me. So just 2 stars it is. <Spoiler>
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Body shaming, Sexism, Kidnapping, and Racism
labello's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
review for the audible audiobook:
I really appreciated Kristin Atherton while I was massively disappointed in DW Jones. Kristin I already appreciated in the first audiobook of the series and she did another great job.
The writing is great, no questions asked DWJ knew how to write, but the story was just a massive letdown and Abdullah just came across as really unlikable.
Now to the story... It's quite racist. And fatphobic. Flower-in-the-Night who is the love interest of this book seems to be the only woman Abdullah, the protagonist, ever found worthy of respect. The arabic-esque Zanzib is filled to the brim with stereotypes that hearing in 2022 is just.. grotesque. The only thing Abdullah seems to actually like about Flower is her looks; he continuously points out how thin, pretty and *light-skinned* she is. Her personality is described as kind and smart, we barely see any examples of that now by the very end of the book she even goes completely against that established smartness by being upset that Abdullah didnt kiss her because of the other princesses, who were also abducted, told her if he'd like her he'd have already kissed her. They have met twice at that point. Twice. . Moreover, these characteristics seem to just be an afterthought, a bonus at best, for Abdullah since he is completely focussed on her looks. Her father going so far as to not even let her into the garden during the day lest she might get a tan. Before meeting Abdullah Flower has only ever met one single man in her entire life. That man being her father.
Shortly before Abdullah can rescue her, after meeting her exactly twice, from the prison that is her palace, he is being forced by his family to marry two of his relatives, cousins or something of the sort. These two cousins are the only overweight characters in the entirety of the book. The only way these two are described is as dumb and disgusting. It is literally pointed out when these two are just giggling Abdullah can see nothing but their fat wobbling and how he is appaled by that.
If you hope to continue to follow Howl and Sophie in this book, you will be disappointed. The insertion of those two feels like an afterthought, the story being pretty much the same if their parts had been played by new characters. Their pre-established personalities almost don't play a part whatsoever, some parts of it going directly against what'd you'd expect them to do if you read this right after reading/hearing Howls Moving Castle. It feels like this was just something to get the fans who kept asking for a sequel to calm down and be quiet. Abdullah even goes on about how Sophie's strong character is entirely unattractive.
Where the first book basically showed that Howl and Sophie fell for each other for their personalities, for the faults that made them the person they are. This book seems to do the complete opposite, Howl fell in love with Sophie despite her looking like a 90year old woman, Abdullah falls for Flowers looks only. Where Howl grows and learns that being "pinned down" isn't always bad and he can actually genuinely love, Abdullah never faces any repercussions for only being interested in Flowers looks. Where Sophie grows to be more confident, self-assured and learns to speak up for herself, we only see a step back for Flower at the very end and no real growth at all since we barely had any time with her. The first book took its time to show Howl and Sophie getting closer and more comfortable with each other showing that falling in love is a process and more than the crush Howl had on the girls he was courting before, Abdullah and Flower meet like 4 times in the entirety of this book. The fourth time being when they finally reunite after finding the kidnapped Flower.
I really appreciated Kristin Atherton while I was massively disappointed in DW Jones. Kristin I already appreciated in the first audiobook of the series and she did another great job.
The writing is great, no questions asked DWJ knew how to write, but the story was just a massive letdown and Abdullah just came across as really unlikable.
Now to the story... It's quite racist. And fatphobic. Flower-in-the-Night who is the love interest of this book seems to be the only woman Abdullah, the protagonist, ever found worthy of respect. The arabic-esque Zanzib is filled to the brim with stereotypes that hearing in 2022 is just.. grotesque. The only thing Abdullah seems to actually like about Flower is her looks; he continuously points out how thin, pretty and *light-skinned* she is. Her personality is described as kind and smart, we barely see any examples of that
Shortly before Abdullah can rescue her, after meeting her exactly twice, from the prison that is her palace, he is being forced by his family to marry two of his relatives, cousins or something of the sort. These two cousins are the only overweight characters in the entirety of the book. The only way these two are described is as dumb and disgusting. It is literally pointed out when these two are just giggling Abdullah can see nothing but their fat wobbling and how he is appaled by that.
If you hope to continue to follow Howl and Sophie in this book, you will be disappointed. The insertion of those two feels like an afterthought, the story being pretty much the same if their parts had been played by new characters. Their pre-established personalities almost don't play a part whatsoever, some parts of it going directly against what'd you'd expect them to do if you read this right after reading/hearing Howls Moving Castle. It feels like this was just something to get the fans who kept asking for a sequel to calm down and be quiet. Abdullah even goes on about how Sophie's strong character is entirely unattractive.
Where the first book basically showed that Howl and Sophie fell for each other for their personalities, for the faults that made them the person they are. This book seems to do the complete opposite, Howl fell in love with Sophie despite her looking like a 90year old woman, Abdullah falls for Flowers looks only. Where Howl grows and learns that being "pinned down" isn't always bad and he can actually genuinely love, Abdullah never faces any repercussions for only being interested in Flowers looks. Where Sophie grows to be more confident, self-assured and learns to speak up for herself, we only see a step back for Flower at the very end and no real growth at all since we barely had any time with her. The first book took its time to show Howl and Sophie getting closer and more comfortable with each other showing that falling in love is a process and more than the crush Howl had on the girls he was courting before, Abdullah and Flower meet like 4 times in the entirety of this book. The fourth time being when they finally reunite after finding the kidnapped Flower.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Misogyny, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Death of parent and Emotional abuse