Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

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

Review:
This book took me by surprise. I’d seen the Hayao Miyazaki movie first so I kind of knew what to expect in a way, but I have to admit that the book was WAAAY more thorough. The twists and turns were actually much more interesting and the time-traveling aspects kept me on my toes. It was definitely one of those stories where you read a chapter, put the book down, think about what you just read, and go “Oh!..OHH!!! Oh wow!! I get it now! That’s crazy!!!” A lot of the dots get connected by bits and pieces throughout and the best part is that you’re never expecting them. Howl’s Moving Castle is an adventure and a twisty one at that. If you like modernized, old English novels, with lots of mystery, magic, and adventure, you will LOVE this book. Fantastic, hands down.

Rating:
4.5
Read again?
Possibly