Review: House of Many Ways

House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones.


Summary from Goodreads.

The sequel to Howl's Moving Castle.

When Charmain Baker agreed to look after her great-uncle's house, she thought she was getting blissful, parent-free time to read. She didn't realize that the house bent space and time, and she did not expect to become responsible for an extremely magical stray dog and a muddled young apprentice wizard. Now, somehow, she's been targeted by a terrifying creature called a lubbock, too, and become central to the king's urgent search for the fabled Elfgift that will save the country. The king is so desperate to find the Elfgift, he's called in an intimidating sorceress named Sophie to help. And where Sophie is, the great Wizard Howl and fire demon Calcifer won't be far behind. How did respectable Charmain end up in such a mess, and how will she get herself out of it?

Review

Diana Wynne Jones is, hands down, one of my all time favorite authors. I actually cried when I saw that she had died on March 11th this year because I grew up with her books and have loved them since the first. This book was no different.

What can I say about this book? Howl's Moving Castle is one of my favorite books and this is a wonderful sequel. Howl, as always, was hysterical and the dry wit or each character was a delight. Charmain was an unusual heroine given her personality but it was refreshing all the same.

At once silly and absolutely brilliant, House of Many Ways was entertaining from page one and kept the reader guessing until the very last. Diana Wynne Jones is brilliant (I will argue this until my last breath if I have to) and she didn't disappoint with this book.

If you haven't read this book (or any of her books, for that matter) pick it up post haste and settle in for a fun ride. You won't regret it, I promise!

Bought from Barnes and Noble.