Sometimes I read books and am sad that I waited so long to do so....but how am I to know they will be wonderful. Well, I should know when the other books from the same author are wonderful, so maybe I am just trying to spread out the wonders, or maybe I am just a big dummy sometimes.
Anyway, House of Many Ways is the sequel to Howl's Moving Castle, though neither Howl, nor Sophie are main characters. Of course Calcifer and the castle are back as well, but also not the main characters. Instead we have Charmain (who is fittingly, but mistakenly called Miss Charming by the residents of the Great Mansion), Peter, and a sweet doggy named Waif. The residents of the Great Mansion are searching fruiously for either the King's gold or the Elfgift, preferably both. They bring in Charmain who is currently house sitting for her Great Uncle William, the Wizard of Norland while he is away being healed by the elves, to help sort through documents in the libray that may have a clue about the whereabouts of both items. Peter comes along to apprentice to the Wizard not knowing he is away. Much magical tomfoolery and experimentation ensue.
This book is delightful and I will not wait so long to read Castle in the Air.