Howl's Moving Castle enjoys a magical cast of characters including one mournful dog-man, an inarticulate but athletic scarecrow, a chattering skull, two apprentice enchanters, three headstrong sisters, and a host of others. The Wizard Howl is, of course, one of the major characters, as is the determined Sophie Hatter, who proves by the end of the story to be both his match and his mate. Calcifer the fire demon and the Witch of the Waste round out the central foursome, and it is through their intervention that Howl and Sophie originally come—and eventually remain—together.

The book opens with Sophie, the eldest of three sisters. Although gifted with intelligence, diligence, and a supportive nature, Sophie constantly denigrates herself because of the expectations surrounding her birth status: In Ingary "it is quite a misfortune to be born the eldest of three. Everyone knows you...