A review by e_r_q
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"There was nothing outside. It was neither black, nor gray, nor white. It was not thick, or transparent. It did not move. It had no smell and no feel. [...] it was neither hot nor cold. It felt of nothing. It seemed utterly and completely nothing."

Diana Wynne Jones' whimsical and humourous writing helps craft some extremely lovable characters, and brings this creative fantasy world to life, introducing a refreshingly feminine perspective to a typically male-dominated genre. The matter-of-factness with which the book's absurd and sometimes dark magical elements are described is hilariously delightful, and I love the relative contrast of how contemporary real world Wales is described with a tone of utter amazement.

The plot of Howl's Moving Castle is impressively layered, clever and interconnected, especially for a children's book. Although, sometimes the narrative can get bogged down with being convoluted, and some plot points feel a little too vague. Additionally, there are high stakes, but they aren't effectively reinforced, meaning there is no real urgency to the plot.

But still, I did really enjoy Howl's Moving Castle, and I'm excited to check out its famed Anime adaptation (although I have a feeling the Anime will be extremely different to the source material).
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