theirgracegrace's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A delightful romp through a fairy-tale, Howl's Moving Castle is a great middle grade fantasy. Sophie Hatter is the eldest of three, so naturally she gets cursed by a witch and leaves her home to find a cure. She ends up at the moving castle of Wizard Howl, a mischievous magician with incredible magical prowess but very little sense. The characters are so hilarious to listen to as they bicker and plot and scheme, and the magic is so vague and mysterious that it's impossible to figure out how it works. The ending answers so many questions that dog Sophie and Howl throughout the book and ties everything up nicely. A great read, even if (like me) you've never seen the Studio Ghibli film before!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, Body horror, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism
mendelbreakdown's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Spoiler
his name isnt even howl
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol
paintinyourwing's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol and Death of parent
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol and Death of parent
huntress's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Minor: War, Alcohol, and Body horror
macliffe's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Super charming book for all ages! Even better than the movie.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror and Alcohol
shushkeepitdown's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I watched the movie so many times and finally decided to pick up the book and let me tell you this is the best thing ever. It's so good, I lived Sophie in the book so much, she is completely unhinged compared to the movie Sophie. Howl is also a mess. I love it so much please read this.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Death, and Grief
bookskassadie's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is a beautiful and fun story that follows Sophie Hatter as she attempts to find her fortune as the eldest of three sisters, an unlucky position in Ingary. While on her journey she discovers that everything is not what it seems and that beauty and kindness can lie in even the darkest and most broken places and people. I highly enjoyed this book (as someone who has never seen the movie) and if anything felt that it was a bit rushed. The author could have carried out certain plot points into second or third books without feeling like they had to tie up all the ends in the last 10 pages and that would’ve perfected the storyline for me who feels robbed of more Howl x Sophie being knowingly in love scenes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Gaslighting, Grief, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Alcohol, Cursing, Excrement, Murder, Ableism, and Adult/minor relationship
draven_deathcrush's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
if i had read the book first i probably would've liked it more :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Violence and Death
Minor: Alcohol and Death of parent
daryn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol