A review by littlemiao
Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

2.75

This book has Diana Wynne Jones’ signature style - witty, lighthearted stories that often turn common fantasy conventions on their head. The one fell a bit flat for me, sadly. The worst part was the fatphobia, which wasn’t just an aside but an elaborated and recurring theme. In general, the portrayal of women was disappointing. Their worth is tied to their looks and desirability or usefulness to men. Diana Wynne Jones should know better. There was also casual mention of cruelty against cats; it is jarring in a story like this. The author obviously loves and knows cats well, and no harm befell any cat in the actual narrative. The book relied on Orientalizing stereotypes from an Aladdin-esque Arabian setting. So far this is my least favorite of her stories.

(Extra points for mention of thatch roofs!)
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