So this came out much sooner than I expected! It’s the Folio Society’s new edition of House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones, illustrated by Marie-Alice Harel, which completes their set of the Moving Castle trilogy:

Charmain: WHO WOULD WANT TO DRINK SCALDING WATER?!!?!

Peter: I WANTED TO MAKE SOME TEA

Charmain: AND??!?!?!!!!?!!

Peter: YOU NEED SCALDING WATER TO MAKE TEA

Charmain: .............you do?

Peter: I-

The only reason Howl was better with Morgan than Sophie

The House of Many Ways

I love this book because it had that weird relaxed but still chaotic vibe.

I like this book compared to the castle in the air because although Abdullah was okay he was just okay compared to Charmain who was just more compelling to read and reacted in just the weirdest but understandable ways to everything. 

The house of many ways I loved the setting, it’s basically my dream house, a cottage far away from everyone with magic and I have garden kobolds helping me with my chores, I have a technically infinite amount of food supply, and I’m surrounded by gorgeous scenery.

What’s there to hate???? 

Sure Charmain sometimes gets frustrating but like I said you understand why she’s being like this, because she’s sheltered, lazy and pampered but she’s not very bratty if she needs to she will work although because she’s never tried it she easily wears out. She has Peter who serves as her foil since he went there to learn magic, he’s poor and hard working and also he’s VERY bad with magic while Charmain is just insanely randomly good at it. 

My favorite scene in the book was when Charmain saw a spell to find a handsome Prince and then she slams the book and says who needs them. Like yes queen you do in fact don’t need any prince. 

I like how each book in the trilogy is different in story telling from the way things are described you can get hints on the character for Sophie there’s a hint of sass and exasperation, for Abdullah there’s annoyance and flair and for Charmain it’s educated and detailed.

She’s also red haired lol.

The castle in the air had so much going on and it was just a domino effect it was a bit busy to take in in just one read compared to HMC which was very slow and subtle about it’s chaos and in House of Many Ways it’s definitely better paced having just the right amounts of rest and chill and then chaos. 

Charmain is someone who’s never been independent but is desperately trying to be and her power is somewhat similar to Sophie’s.

I also liked how Howl has achieved to be a little shit even in this book and Sophie is just like WHY DID I MARRY U AGAIN.

ALSO Howl and Sophie’s BABY I LOVE MORGAN SO MUCH

(look me in the eye and tell me Howl didn’t name Morgan after Morgana pendragon just fucking try me) 

I like elves dwj’s elves are just very yes

I think that animating House of Many ways would give gorgeous scenes, you get the settings of large fields of wild flowers, a wizard’s magical cottage, an old castle and a large library and then a fanciful ballroom. 

Castle in the air the scenery is constantly changing its a little bit of a pain to catch up and in HMC has also gorgeous sceneries like the marshes, the wastes, the flowers that Suliman grew, and the House of the honey witch but I still think that scenery wise the house of many ways was just better because the way that the caslte in HMC was described it felt more overwhelming because of how Sophie was intimidated and scared to meet the king and also because she was old and had to climb the steps. 

The number of single powerful old witches in DWJ’s stories make me feel better for my future. There’s the honey witch name I forget who’s content and happy with how she is and then there’s Charmain’s aunt who is old, rich and single living her best life as a powerful figure in her society. 

I recommend this book a lot its just very beautiful. 

Really loving the running cameo joke of the misadventures of Grand Royal Wizard Sophie Pendragon accompanied by her fail wizard husband Howl in this series

howl’s and moving castle // castle in the air // house of many ways