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Quick answer: If you loved Howl's Moving Castle, read Diana Wynne Jones's Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways, then Charmed Life, Ella Enchanted, Beauty and The Last Unicorn. All are witty, magical fairy-tale adventures with clever heroines.
Diana Wynne Jones's 1986 novel follows Sophie Hatter, who is cursed by a witch to become an old woman and seeks shelter in the moving castle of the wizard Howl. It is funny, warm and surprising. The books below offer more Howl, more Jones and fairy-tale fantasies with similar charm.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castle in the Air | Diana Wynne Jones | Ages 10+ | the sequel |
| House of Many Ways | Diana Wynne Jones | Ages 10+ | the third book |
| Charmed Life | Diana Wynne Jones | Ages 9-13 | the Chrestomanci start |
| Fire and Hemlock | Diana Wynne Jones | Ages 12+ | fairy-tale romance |
| Ella Enchanted | Gail Carson Levine | Ages 9-13 | fairy-tale heroine |
| Beauty | Robin McKinley | Adult | Beauty and the Beast |
| The Last Unicorn | Peter S. Beagle | Ages 12+ | lyrical quest |
| Stardust | Neil Gaiman | Adult | fairy-tale romance |
| Uprooted | Naomi Novik | Adult | fairy-tale magic |
| The Hero and the Crown | Robin McKinley | Ages 12+ | dragon slayer |
| Dealing with Dragons | Patricia C. Wrede | Ages 10+ | princess and dragons |
| Kiki's Delivery Service | Eiko Kadono | Ages 8-12 | young witch |
| The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making | Catherynne M. Valente | Ages 10+ | whimsical journey |
| Sabriel | Garth Nix | Teen | necromancer heroine |
| The Wee Free Men | Terry Pratchett | Ages 10+ | Discworld for kids |
1. Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones
A carpet seller is drawn into a tale of djinns and princesses. Funny and clever.
Best for: the sequel.
2. House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones
A girl house-sits for a wizard in a very odd house. Light and witty.
Best for: the third book.
3. Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones
Cat and his sister Gwendolen, a young witch, are taken to live with Chrestomanci. Sharp.
Best for: the Chrestomanci start.
4. Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones
A girl finds that her memories have been changed. Complex and haunting.
Best for: fairy-tale romance.
5. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
A girl cursed with obedience fights to be free. Funny and charming.
Best for: fairy-tale heroine.
6. Beauty by Robin McKinley
A quiet girl goes to live in an enchanted castle. A gentle, classic retelling.
Best for: Beauty and the Beast.
7. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
A unicorn searches for others of her kind. Beautiful and bittersweet.
Best for: lyrical quest.
8. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
A young man crosses a wall to find a fallen star. Witty and charming.
Best for: fairy-tale romance.
9. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
A girl is taken by a wizard to protect her valley from a Wood. Lush and atmospheric.
Best for: fairy-tale magic.
10. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
A princess becomes a dragon-slaying hero. A classic fantasy with a strong heroine.
Best for: dragon slayer.
11. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
A princess runs away to be a dragon's housekeeper. Funny and clever.
Best for: princess and dragons.
12. Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono
A young witch sets up a delivery service in a seaside town. Gentle and warm.
Best for: young witch.
13. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
A girl is whisked off to Fairyland. Lyrical and playful.
Best for: whimsical journey.
14. Sabriel by Garth Nix
A young woman takes up her father's work in a land of the dead. Atmospheric.
Best for: necromancer heroine.
15. The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
A young witch faces the Queen of the Fairies with help from tiny blue men. Funny.
Best for: Discworld for kids.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Howl's Moving Castle: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
To stay with Sophie and Howl read Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways. For more Jones choose Charmed Life or Fire and Hemlock. For fairy-tale heroines pick Ella Enchanted, Beauty or The Hero and the Crown. For wit and whimsy read The Wee Free Men or Kiki's Delivery Service. Howl is funny and surprising, so these picks suit readers who like magic with a sense of humour. Hayao Miyazaki adapted Howl's Moving Castle into a 2004 film, but the book has a different plot and a sharper sense of humour. Readers who loved the film often find the novel a pleasant surprise.
Related: The Glass Castle Book Club Discussion Questions (With Summary and Themes) · 15 Best Children’s Books About Moving to a New House (Ages 2–10)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Howl's Moving Castle about?
A young woman cursed to look old finds shelter with the wizard Howl.
Who wrote it?
Diana Wynne Jones.
When was it published?
1986.
Is it like the film?
No, the book has a different story.
Is it a series?
Yes, with Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways.
What age is it for?
Roughly ages 10 and up.
Is it funny?
Yes, with witty dialogue.
What should I read next?
Try Castle in the Air or Charmed Life.
Which book here is best for fairy-tale romance?
Try Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones, which suits readers looking for fairy-tale romance.
Which book here is best for lyrical quest?
Try The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, which suits readers looking for lyrical quest.