--- product_id: 268281061 title: "Howl's Moving Castle: 1 (World of Howl)" price: "273.39 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/268281061-howls-moving-castle-1-world-of-howl store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # Howl's Moving Castle: 1 (World of Howl) **Price:** 273.39 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Howl's Moving Castle: 1 (World of Howl) - **How much does it cost?** 273.39 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/268281061-howls-moving-castle-1-world-of-howl) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Eldest of three sisters in a land where it is considered to be a misfortune, Sophie is resigned to her fate as a hat shop apprentice until a witch turns her into an old woman and she finds herself in the castle of the greatly feared wizard Howl. Review: A modern classic! - I loved this book. It’s just so cozy and fun. And the Studio Ghibli adaptation sticks surprisingly close to it—at least, in the earlier parts of the book. It does diverge significantly towards the end. The plot is twisty-turny with plenty of mystery about things like Howl’s identity, the nature of his contract with Calcifer, what happened to the prince and the former royal wizard etc… And Sophie Hatter is caught up in the middle of it all ultimately just trying to find a way to break the curse put upon her by the Witch of the Waste. I do feel like the Ghibli movie cranked up the coziness to maximum compared to the book, though. In the book, Calcifer isn’t as cute (but he’s just as snarky), Howl is much more melodramatic (and a bit of a dick), and the scarecrow is made out to be a lot more terrifying to the characters. The characters themselves are all wonderful, and there’s a much wider cast than in the movie. We get to see Sophie’s sisters and their stories as they go off to find their fortune, as well as the magical shenanigans they get up to. Calcifer and Michael are a brilliant pair and we spend a lot more time with them. Michael is older here, too, and a lot more capable. Howl absolutely steals the spotlight whenever he’s on-scene, with a huge personality that everybody else just has to work around. It’s all great fun. One of the more unsettling aspects of the story is not just that Sophie has been cursed to look like an old woman, but that she actually is, with all the ailments and frailties that go along with it. There’s the sense that it could actually kill her before she finds out how to change back. Diana Wynne Jones’ prose is elegant but fun. It reminded me somewhat of Ursula K. Le Guin’s prose, but much more geared towards the younger reader. The pacing, however, is a little uneven. It starts off really great, and it ends marvellously. But in the middle, there’s a large section where, honestly, not a lot happens. We just have Sophie watching from the sidelines sewing up one of Howl’s suits as Michael and Howl go about their business. She gets involved in the odd caper, but it did sag a bit. I don’t want to talk too much about the worldbuilding because a lot of it is left a mystery. There’s enough to get the implication that it’s a portal fantasy of sorts, and there’s a little explanation about some of the magic system when it relates to the fire demons like Calcifer, but mostly it remains very soft. Being the first book in a trilogy, I’m willing to bet that a lot of the worldbuilding gets fleshed out in the next two books. The nature of the world is one of the mysteries the book leaves open, likely deliberately. Overall, as I said, I really enjoyed this book and I’m absolutely going to be reading the rest of the trilogy. Highly recommended! Review: A cosy, charming delight - I have many favourite characters in this book, but don’t want to spoil it for anyone who has not seen the anime, but it’s safe to say the main protagonist, Sophie, is a joy to follow as she progresses through her arc of growth and change. All in all, the story gives the reader a few laughs and plenty to think about in its cosy, delightful manner. There’s plenty of magic and silliness for young adults, some gentle new adult themes as 18-year-old Sophie sets off into the world to find her fortune, and even some thoughts on growing old. A well-rounded, expertly paced fairytale, I think. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 1,223,803 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 54 in Classics for Children 88 in Fantasy for Children 106 in Science Fiction Adventures for Children | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 22,831 Reviews | ## Images ![Howl's Moving Castle: 1 (World of Howl) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81HnlgABCzL.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Media Language, Media Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A modern classic! *by A***L on 26 July 2024* I loved this book. It’s just so cozy and fun. And the Studio Ghibli adaptation sticks surprisingly close to it—at least, in the earlier parts of the book. It does diverge significantly towards the end. The plot is twisty-turny with plenty of mystery about things like Howl’s identity, the nature of his contract with Calcifer, what happened to the prince and the former royal wizard etc… And Sophie Hatter is caught up in the middle of it all ultimately just trying to find a way to break the curse put upon her by the Witch of the Waste. I do feel like the Ghibli movie cranked up the coziness to maximum compared to the book, though. In the book, Calcifer isn’t as cute (but he’s just as snarky), Howl is much more melodramatic (and a bit of a dick), and the scarecrow is made out to be a lot more terrifying to the characters. The characters themselves are all wonderful, and there’s a much wider cast than in the movie. We get to see Sophie’s sisters and their stories as they go off to find their fortune, as well as the magical shenanigans they get up to. Calcifer and Michael are a brilliant pair and we spend a lot more time with them. Michael is older here, too, and a lot more capable. Howl absolutely steals the spotlight whenever he’s on-scene, with a huge personality that everybody else just has to work around. It’s all great fun. One of the more unsettling aspects of the story is not just that Sophie has been cursed to look like an old woman, but that she actually is, with all the ailments and frailties that go along with it. There’s the sense that it could actually kill her before she finds out how to change back. Diana Wynne Jones’ prose is elegant but fun. It reminded me somewhat of Ursula K. Le Guin’s prose, but much more geared towards the younger reader. The pacing, however, is a little uneven. It starts off really great, and it ends marvellously. But in the middle, there’s a large section where, honestly, not a lot happens. We just have Sophie watching from the sidelines sewing up one of Howl’s suits as Michael and Howl go about their business. She gets involved in the odd caper, but it did sag a bit. I don’t want to talk too much about the worldbuilding because a lot of it is left a mystery. There’s enough to get the implication that it’s a portal fantasy of sorts, and there’s a little explanation about some of the magic system when it relates to the fire demons like Calcifer, but mostly it remains very soft. Being the first book in a trilogy, I’m willing to bet that a lot of the worldbuilding gets fleshed out in the next two books. The nature of the world is one of the mysteries the book leaves open, likely deliberately. Overall, as I said, I really enjoyed this book and I’m absolutely going to be reading the rest of the trilogy. Highly recommended! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A cosy, charming delight *by M***Y on 26 April 2026* I have many favourite characters in this book, but don’t want to spoil it for anyone who has not seen the anime, but it’s safe to say the main protagonist, Sophie, is a joy to follow as she progresses through her arc of growth and change. All in all, the story gives the reader a few laughs and plenty to think about in its cosy, delightful manner. There’s plenty of magic and silliness for young adults, some gentle new adult themes as 18-year-old Sophie sets off into the world to find her fortune, and even some thoughts on growing old. A well-rounded, expertly paced fairytale, I think. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Maybe love isn't all roses and flowers, maybe it's in the tenacious grit and hard work *by L***A on 5 March 2026* So Howl and Sophie's romance isn't really the most believable but I loved Sophie's misadventures and toils, she's one of the best characters ever. To me this book was hard to keep engaged in, but there were some peak scenes that actually made me like this more than the Hayazaki film. For example, the standoff finale was hella cool in the book. And we get to learn a LOT more about the kind of flop Howl is. To be frank, this book is better in my opinion as it capitalises on Howl's many flaws way more and shows how much of a loser he is. Also I got a way clearer understanding of the plot, the book moves in a way that's a lot easier to understand. Both are fun to watch, but the book gave me the kick up the arse that I much needed. Love is maybe a lot uglier and weirder than what movies show it as. It's in Howl being less of a pain in the butt, Howl growing to value Sophie's needs and interests, Sophie gradually regaining agency over herself, Sophie taking on new challenges and facing fears head-on.... Sophie develops a amazing self love and Howl ends many of his curses and together they overcame so many hardships! Also CALCIFER BEST BOY and I forgot the other dude he is peak, the sisters are more likeable here too. And the mother is not as bad because she self reflects as the story continues. ## Frequently Bought Together - Howl's Moving Castle - Castle in the Air - House of Many Ways (World of Howl, 3) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/268281061-howls-moving-castle-1-world-of-howl](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/268281061-howls-moving-castle-1-world-of-howl) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-08-15*