by Diana Wynne Jones
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Product Description
Charmain Baker is in over her head. Looking after Great-Uncle William's tiny cottage while he's ill should have been easy. But Great-Uncle William is better known as the Royal Wizard Norland, and his house bends space and time. Its single door leads to any number of places—the bedrooms, the kitchen, the caves under the mountains, the past, and the Royal Mansion, to name just a few. By opening that door, Charmain has become responsible for not only the house, but for an extremely magical stray dog, a muddled young apprentice wizard, and a box of the king's most treasured documents. She has encountered a terrifying beast called a lubbock, irritated a clan of small blue creatures, and wound up smack in the middle of an urgent search. The king and his daughter are desperate to find the lost, fabled Elfgift—so desperate that they've even called in an intimidating sorceress named Sophie to help. And where Sophie is, can the Wizard Howl and fire demon Calcifer be far behind? Of course, with that magical family involved, there's bound to be chaos—and unexpected revelations. No one will be more surprised than Charmain by what Howl and Sophie discover.
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Average Customer Review:
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
 I want more Howl!, 2008-10-13
I have been a HUGE fan of "Howl's Moving Castle" for a very long time, and when I heard that Diana Wynne Jones wrote a "Sequel" to it; I freaked out! Finally I might get my Howl fix that I've been dying for and was so horribly deprived of in "Castle in the Air" a "continuation" I think it was called of "Howl's Moving Castle".
Sadly, I was once again, deprived, disappointed, and ultimately feeling depressed and wanting more at the end of the book! While this book is no way near as good as "Howl's Moving Castle" I must say it was definitely much better than "Castle in the Air"
The main story which was about a girl called Charmain (When it SHOULD have been about Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer; this is a sequel for crying out loud!) was much more interesting and entertaining than the story about Abdullah from "Castle in the Air"
But, like I said, I found myself desperately wanting more of Howl! Everytime the characters from "Howl's Moving Castle" entered the story it was hillarious, enjoyable, and brought be back to the book I loved so much! They delivered in every appearance they made (which was very few) reminding me why I loved it so much. But just as you were getting into their characters you were torn away from them just as quickly and abruptly as in "Castle in the Air"
So, all in all, it was a relatively good book, Charmain, Waif, and Peter's stories were relatively interesting, and the plots were pretty good as well. I would reccommend this book if you are also starving for more Howl & Sophie; you will get your appetite fed SLIGHTLY, but in the end feel completely empty and wanting more!
Nonetheless, It was very nice to see Sophie and Howl again, and I'm falling in love with their mischievous son Morgan! (he's definitely taking after Howl) Calcifer also made a wonderful appearance in the book as well, and Sophie is still headstrong, beautiful, and as irritated with Howl as ever! and I'm going to take all that I can get!
In the end, I just have ONE thing to request of Diana Wynne Jones; Please, PLEASE, I beg! Write a REAL sequel to "Howl's Moving Castle" that is ALL about Howl, Sophie, Calcifer, (and gosh, don't forget!) Michael!, and of course their son Morgan!!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones, 2008-09-01
This was an excellent book. I really enjoyed it. It also arrived speedily and in great condition! Thanks!
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
House of Many Ways, 2008-08-26
While we liked the author's Chrestomanci novels, this book was a tedious read. For us, its rambling style did not hold our interest and we found reading House of Many Ways a chore that had to be completed.
Perhaps you may like the book, but it was not one of our favorites.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
 Very Diana Wynne Jones-ish, but not exactly a sequel, 2008-08-18
I always look forward to any new Diana Wynne Jones books, but I have to admit they are a hit or miss. Most of her stories are fun to read, but some are so off the wall and unbelievable, they become too awkward to read. "House of Many Ways" fell completely between hit and miss, leaning more closely toward miss. It definitely was not one of Jones' better reads. For one thing, calling this a sequel to Howl's Moving Castle is a stretch. When I saw this book on the shelf, I liked the description enough to want to read it. But I hadn't read Howl's yet, so I bought that one too. Howl's Moving Castle was very cool. It was so enjoyable, I expected the "sequel" to surpass it. It didn't, not by a long shot. Sophie and Howl showed up about 3/4 of the way through the book, but they were both out of character and seemed forced into the storyline.
The scant roles of Howl and Sophie were a minor annoyance for me and not really enough to drop my five stars to four. The reasons for the lower rating had to do with the extremely weak plot (or lack of one), awkwardness of the story flow, and my dislike for the two main characters. Neither Charmain nor Peter were very likeable. She was irritating beyond belief, and he had very few distinguishable features (not very promising for an apprentice). Charmain's dialect was almost freakish (i.e. "Oh bother!" Was this an English teenager or Winnie the Pooh?). I know she was supposed to represent someone who was raised obsessively respectable, but I winced every time the girl had a thought. Peter, too, was hard to swallow. His character wasn't solidly developed. He showed up as a small boy, but Charmain sees that he has whiskers, so we are left to wonder...is he a teenager? A young man? A 12-year-old with a jump start on puberty? The plot itself was sporadic, confusing, and just as underdeveloped as the characters. When you open a book, the first questions you ask yourself (subconsciously) are, "Why am I here? What's the goal of this book?" House of Many Ways had no apparent goal. First you think the plot is about Great-Uncle William's labyrinth of a house (like Howl's house with all the door destinations). Then you think it might have to do with the Lubbock that chases Charmain. Or it could be that the main plot was about Peter or the dog or the kobold. But then you leave the house and all the action occurs in the castle, where Sophie and Howl appear, acting very strangely through a side-plot that the reader is not immediately let in on. The whole thing was entirely too confusing and more cartoonish than Bugs Bunny.
The reason my rating is a 4 and not lower is because of the author. Diana Wynne Jones has a prime imagination. Normally, she can tell a pretty entertaining story. So she's not an amateur. She knows what she's doing. House of Many Ways, however, seemed like a rushed job, like she had a great idea but didn't take the time to sort out the bugs.
If you are a fan, I would recommend adding House of Many Way to your collection. If you are new at Jones' books, I'd suggest starting with the Merlin Conspiracy or one of the Chrestomanci books.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
house of many ways, 2008-08-17
it the third book in howls moving castle and if you read the first two you got to be wondering how much trouble howls getting into and if sophie can handle it
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