Diana Wynne Jones
4/5 stars
Charmain Baker has been brought up perfectly respectably, without a hint of magic in her life. It's much to her surprise, then, when she is left in charge of her great-uncle William's house--since he is the Royal Wizard Norland and his house is as magical as he. She and Norland's new apprentice Peter become embroiled in a Royal mystery, make new friends, and see the end of old enemies.
Jones is a fantastic writer, and this is a solidly written fantasy. The characters are well drawn, and the plot well written. It is humorous and entertaining, and while not perfect, a fun read, well recommended.
Note: While it seems like a stand-alone novel at first, this is actually the third in the Wizard Howl series. Readers without the knowledge of the other two books will find themselves lost in certain situations.
