Lo and behold, due to my fascination with Howl’s Moving Castle, I read the third book of this series, House of Many Ways, by the same author, Diana Wynne Jones. And right off the bat, the same enchanting vibe that the first book gives off is present in this one, and I really enjoyed this as well.
In this book, we’re back in the same world as Sophie and Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle, but this time, we meet a new set of characters. One of them is Charmain Baker, who doesn’t know anything about house chores because her mother always kept their home in “respectable” manner. As a result, Charmain spent most of her time buried in books and never learned any house chore skills. But then, she is suddenly gonna be looking after her wizard uncle’s house while he goes to the elves to receive medical treatment. Being who she is, she’s completely ill-suited for the job. However, she meets a young wizard named Peter, who is supposed to intern for her uncle. Unlike Charmain, Peter actually has the skills to handle chores, but he is reckless and prone to accidents. With the two of them stuck in the same space, their contrasting personalities inevitably lead to mishaps.
First off, I really like the way Diana Wynne Jones writes her characters. Their flaws are relatable and play a big role in driving the plot. I relate on Charmain Baker because I’m not very knowledgeable about house chores myself and would rather bury myself in a book, though I do know a bit about washing dishes and cleaning up after myself, haha. And while Charmain may not know much about chores, she’s smart and independent, which helps her make up for her shortcomings. Meanwhile, Peter is dependable in areas where Charmain is completely lacking, so they complement each other in their own way.
I must say, though, that this book didn’t make me as attached to the characters as I was in the first one. Charmain is a bit self-absorbed, which occasionally made me a little annoyed with her—but I guess that’s just part of her character’s flaws. Because of that, I found myself gravitating more toward the chapters where Howl and Sophie appeared, as I already knew them well and found them more likable despite their own flaws.
By the end of the book, it’s implied that Charmain and Peter will become a couple, but I didn’t feel a strong connection between them like the one Sophie and Howl had in Howl’s Moving Castle, so that was a bit of a letdown.
That said, I would still recommend this book to anyone looking for a charming and peaceful read. It’s light, whimsical, and could even make for a perfect bedtime story for little ones.
Have you read House of Many Ways? Who is your favorite character in it? Let me know in the comments! ❤️
Leave a Reply