At a glance
Howl’s Moving Castle
Children's Fantasy
Howl’s Moving Castle
Book 1 of the Howl's Castle series
448 pages · First published 2008
Sophie Hatter has accepted that being the eldest of three sisters means adventure and good fortune are meant for someone else. Then the Witch of the Waste turns her into an old woman, and Sophie leaves the family hat shop in search of a way to break the spell. She appoints herself housekeeper in the moving castle of the notorious Wizard Howl, joining his young apprentice and a fire demon with a bargain to offer. Between Howl’s spectacular vanity, a household full of secrets, and enchantments that refuse to stay neatly separated, Sophie discovers that she is far less powerless than she thought. Witty, whimsical, and threaded with an unexpected romance, this is a fantasy about finding the courage to outgrow the story you have been told about yourself.
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Jump to the pours ↓Orchard Mulled Cider + Spiced Rum Cider
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No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Fantasy violence and magical peril; curses and unsettling transformations; witches and a fire demon; mild romance with flirting and kissing; occasional alcohol use, including one episode of drunkenness.
Alcohol-Free Pour
Orchard Mulled Cider
Apple cider warmed with ginger, cinnamon, orange, and cloves makes a cozy companion to a moving castle, a temperamental fire demon, and a household slowly becoming a family.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.How to mix it
- Warm the cider with spices and fruit for 5–10 minutes without boiling. Strain if desired and serve hot.
- Garnish: Cinnamon stick or orange slice.
- Glassware: Mug.
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Mug ↗Cocktail Pour · 21+
Spiced Rum Cider
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
Warm apple cider, dark rum, cinnamon, and orange evoke Calcifer’s hearth and the comforting chaos of Sophie’s unlikely new home.
What you'll need
- 6 oz apple cider ↗
- 1.5 oz dark rum
- 1 cinnamon stick ↗
- 1 orange slice ↗
Alcohol-shopping links are not shown on children's or young-adult book pages.
How to mix it
- Warm cider with the cinnamon stick and orange slice in a small saucepan for 5–10 minutes, without boiling. Remove from heat, stir in rum, and pour into a heatproof mug.
- Glassware: Heatproof mug.
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