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

adventurous funny slow-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

3.75

I don't think this book aged as well as Howl's Moving Castle. I didn't quite find the romantic quest between Abdullah and Flower-in-the-Night as charming, and it was a little jarring to see how the fat nieces were treated. The story made a rather big deal about how Flower-in-the-Night hadn't been fairly treated in not being allowed to choose her own husband, but the nieces were used more like plot tickets used to tidy things up.  
  
Still, the book delivered quite a few funny moments and Abdullah is a clever and quick thinker. I was a lot more invested in the story once Howl and Sophie showed up again, and it was lovely to get an update on them after the events of the previous book. Overall, the book was alright, but didn't wow me. I have higher hopes for my re-read of the last book in this trilogy, which I think I liked a bit better than the middle one when I last read it.
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