Jones makes effective use of the reader’s expectations of fantasy/fairy tales. Sophie Hatter herself, the feisty hero of Howl’s Moving Castle, is affected by such expectations, as the opening line tells us: “In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite a misfortune to be born the eldest of three.” As the oldest daughter she knows that she will fare worst if she sets out to seek her fortune.

When their father dies, their stepmother tells the three girls that they can no long afford to stay in school. Lettie is apprenticed to a pastry cook and Martha to a witch. Sophie will work in the family hat shop. (What job opportunities!)

The villagers learn that an ominous black castle that hovers over the town and moves from place to place belongs to the Wizard Howl, who is said to steal girls’ souls or hearts.

In one of many clever plot twists Sophie visits the pastry shop and learns that the supposed Lettie is actually Martha: the two girls have switched places with the aid of an appearance spell.

A witch casts a spell on Sophie to make her a ninety-year-old woman (a rather odd choice). Sophe is somewhat grumpy, but all in all she takes it well. She doesn’t want her sisters to know and sets off on her adventures alone. Sophie is not surprised to have three encounters (because everything comes in threes in fairy tales) that later prove to be significant. Sophie gets hired at the flying castle in her present form as an old woman. The demon Calcifer in the fireplace offers to remove her spell if she can break his contract with Howl but can’t tell her about it himself. Howl turns out to be a shallow philanderer that she met briefly in the town. The plot grows even more complicated, with loads of twists and turns.

Jones offers subtle twists on fantasy cliches and gives hints of the complicated plot throughout, making clever use of John Donne’s poem “Go and catch a falling star.“ The story is well rounded, with a surprising and satisfying ending. A well written and engaging fantasy throughout, tremendously funny.

The 2004 animated film by Hayao Miyazaki is loosely based on the book.

Jones also wrote The Tough Guide to Fantasyland, makihg fun of the conventions and cliches of fantasy.

Other authors in this vein: maybe J. K. Rowling (who borrows a lot from Jones, though she’s less inventive and a good deal grimmer) and E. Nesbit, who wrote in the early twentieth century and is thus somewhat dated, though still a lot of fun (see the review of her works).

Diana Wynne Jones is one of the most prolific and original fantasy authors. Most of her works are marketed as young adult fantasies but are suitable for everyone. Her urban fantasy Archer’s Goon, for example, was nominated for both World Fantasy Award Best Novel and ALA Best Book for Young Adults. There is great variety in the complexity of her works, but they are almost all highly recommended. Her intriguing characters are more emotionally engaging (especially in The Homeward Bounders), satisfying, and warm-hearted than in many light/humorous fantasies and she usually avoids a simple good/evil dichotomy.

Archer’s Goon   

Dark Lord of Derkholm

The Homeward Bounders

The Ogre Downstairs  

Witch Week

and many, many more

Some websites for Diana Wynne Jones:

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/j/diana-wynne-jones//

https://www.tor.com/2015/12/16/where-to-start-with-diana-wynne-jones/

Howl’s Moving Castle (1986) by Diana Wynne Jones

1st paperback ed.

American edition

Selected Fantasies by Diana Wynne Jones

Cart and Cwidder

Dogsbody

The Lives of Christopher Chant

A Tale of Time City

The Tough Guide to Fantasy Land