Howl's Moving Castle

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones // 329 pgs

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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.

I didn't watch Howl's Moving Castle until late last year, and learning it was based off of a book quickly put this one on my TBR list. Honestly, perhaps a hot take, I enjoyed the book more than the movie (though I think watching the movie first helped add a bit more whimsy to the world). Sophie feels like a more realized character, she isn't just a sweet girl in love with Howl and on a quest to save him, in fact she hates him at first. The two of them slowly falling in love is believable and well written. Sophie experiences some great character growth in the book, and learning how she truly is a witch, and not this "doomed older sister", is great. I also enjoyed Sophie's sisters and how they all impact the plot in different ways; everything is truly interconnected and I think it pays off wonderfully.