X-Book

House of Many Ways

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book.

Listen to a sample

What to expect

A chaotically magical sequel to Howl’s Moving Castle.

‘One of the greatest ever writers for children’ – Garth Nix

‘A true original’ – Katherine Rundell

‘She is the best writer of magical fantasy for children’ Evening Standard

Charmain Baker is in over her head. Looking after Great Uncle William's tiny cottage while he's ill should have been easy, but Great Uncle William is better known as the Royal Wizard Norland and his house bends space and time. Its single door leads to any number of places – the bedrooms, the kitchen, the caves under the mountains, the past, to name but a few.

By opening that door, Charmain is now also looking after an extremely magical stray dog, a muddled young apprentice wizard and a box of the king's most treasured documents, as well as irritating a clan of small blue creatures.

Caught up in an intense royal search, she encounters an intimidating sorceress named Sophie. And where Sophie is, can the Wizard Howl and fire demon Calcifer be far behind?

Critics Review

u201cDiana Wynne Jones ought to be crowned with coloured garlands because she is the best writer of magical fantasy for children in this countryu201d Evening Standard

u201cDiana Wynne Jones could teach Stephen King and JK Rowling a thing or two u2026 [she] has a skill for inserting just the right amount of detail in her written words, leaving you satiated but not stuffed.u201d SFX

u201cDiana Wynne Jones is, quite simply, the best writer of magic there is, for readers of any age.u201d Neil Gaiman

u201cu2026Her hallmarks include laugh-aloud humour, plenty of magic and imaginative array of alternate worlds. Yet, at the same time, a great seriousness is present in all of her novels, a sense of urgency that links Jonesu2019s most outrageous plots to her readersu2019 hopes and fearsu2026u201d
Publishers Weekly

u201cTruly magical u2013 guaranteed to leave you gasping u2013 even hotter than Potteru201d
The Bookseller

About xigxag and the x-book®

Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.

Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.

Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.