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littlefoot10's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I honestly don't even know what to say about this book.
The only redeeming qualities of this book was having Sophie, Howl and others from the previous book within these pages.
I couldn't stand Abdullah. He is just freaking swarmy. He comes off as a sleezeball because of all the positive affirmations he gives to everyone knowing he's being facetious about it the entire time.
The body shaming within this book was on another level. It was utterly ridiculous. The nieces, were brought in TWICE to be made fun of for their size. There are absolutely other ways to say you aren't attracted to someone. But to say that these two are gobbling with fat shaking is not it at all.
I tried to stay in the mind set that this book was written in the early 90's when beauty standards were ALL about being as thin and model like as possible. For a woman writer to be so callous towards these characters seems irresponsible towards young readers.
More body shaming towards the bartender where Abdullah finds the soldier. I just don't understand how every female character from this book is looked down upon if she is not thin and beautiful.
And then the writer moves on to discussing drowning cats because they are evil. I just don't understand. You and write about ANYTHING. This is a fantasy story so you could even say that in this specific culture the citizens believe cats are consorts with witches or djinn or even just see as bad luck. But to literally say it's okay to kick them and drown them if you even lay eyes on a cat is fucking insane to me. No accountability towards the readers that could be young reading these works.
Can you believe that the magic carpet wouldn't take Lettie along with Sophie and Abdullah because she's 'fat' and pregnant. Like it's a fucking magic carpet....
So in this fantasy world, even growing a baby doesn't give you any grace with this author because you have gained weight to grow this person inside of you... so because you're large for whatever reason you're not 'valued as a woman' because you've gained weight. It's fucking mind-blowing.
The only reason this book has two stars is because of the characters from Howls Moving Castle. Otherwise this novel is trash. Not sorry.
The only redeeming qualities of this book was having Sophie, Howl and others from the previous book within these pages.
I couldn't stand Abdullah. He is just freaking swarmy. He comes off as a sleezeball because of all the positive affirmations he gives to everyone knowing he's being facetious about it the entire time.
The body shaming within this book was on another level. It was utterly ridiculous. The nieces, were brought in TWICE to be made fun of for their size. There are absolutely other ways to say you aren't attracted to someone. But to say that these two are gobbling with fat shaking is not it at all.
I tried to stay in the mind set that this book was written in the early 90's when beauty standards were ALL about being as thin and model like as possible. For a woman writer to be so callous towards these characters seems irresponsible towards young readers.
More body shaming towards the bartender where Abdullah finds the soldier. I just don't understand how every female character from this book is looked down upon if she is not thin and beautiful.
And then the writer moves on to discussing drowning cats because they are evil. I just don't understand. You and write about ANYTHING. This is a fantasy story so you could even say that in this specific culture the citizens believe cats are consorts with witches or djinn or even just see as bad luck. But to literally say it's okay to kick them and drown them if you even lay eyes on a cat is fucking insane to me. No accountability towards the readers that could be young reading these works.
Can you believe that the magic carpet wouldn't take Lettie along with Sophie and Abdullah because she's 'fat' and pregnant. Like it's a fucking magic carpet....
So in this fantasy world, even growing a baby doesn't give you any grace with this author because you have gained weight to grow this person inside of you... so because you're large for whatever reason you're not 'valued as a woman' because you've gained weight. It's fucking mind-blowing.
The only reason this book has two stars is because of the characters from Howls Moving Castle. Otherwise this novel is trash. Not sorry.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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