Castle in the Air

Castle in the Air is the sequel to Howl's Moving Castle, written by Dianne Wynn Jones and published in 1990. It is the second book in the Castle Series.

In Rashput
The novel begins with Abdullah, a young carpet merchant. He buys a carpet from a man. He then finds that the carpet is a magic carpet and takes him to places that replicate his dreams (since he dreams of being a long lost prince). He finds himself in a garden with a lovely woman. He introduces himself. The girl mistakes him for a woman. She then introduces herself as Flower-in-the-Night, daughter of the Sultan of Zanzib. She has been raised in seclusion due to a prophecy that she would marry the first person she meets other than her father. Abdullah brings her pictures of men. When he next arrives, Flower-in-the-Night is kidnapped by a djinn. He is then captured by the Sultan of Zanzib who thinks Abdullah kidnapped his daughter, since he doesn't believe in djinn. He throws Abdullah in the dungeon. Abdullah escapes.

Flee Across the Desert
When walking across the desert, he meets a gang of thieves who have a bottle containing a cranky genie who will grant only a single wish. After a wish, Abdullah is transported to the land of Ingary (the setting of the previous book) and meets a soldier who claims to be from Strangia while he is at a pub. He then finds out that he is in Ingary.

The Soldier's Cats
The soldier finds two cats called Midnight and Whippersnapper. Abdullah and the soldier are both framed for assault and robbery. Abdullah tells the magic carpet to bring back the djinn who kidnapped Flower-in-the-Night. It is revealed that the djinn is called Hasruel and is being forced to kidnap princesses around the world by his brother, Dalzel because Dalzel has tolen his "life." He then tells Abdullah and the soldier that they will help him steal Princess Valeria.

Kingsbury
They arrive at Kingsbury, where they enter the Royal Palace. Abdullah meets Wizard Suliman. It is also revealed that Midnight is Sophie Hatter and Whippersnapper is her son Morgan. The djinn also kidnaps Morgan but steals Valeria. Abdullah and Sophie travel to the castle in the sky. Sophie tells Abdullah about Howl.

Castles in the Sky
When they arrive at the castle, Sophie reveals that it is Howl's castle. They then see the princesses and Princess Valeria. Dalzel sees Abdullah and threatens to send him down to earth. Led by Abdullah, the princesses overpower the djinn. Hasruel sends his brother into exile. The genie is revealed to be Howl and that Dalzel ordered Hasruel to steal the castle from them. It is also revealed that the magic carpet is really Calcifer.

Ambassadors
The King of Ingary promotes both Abdullah and Flower-in-the-Night to Ambassadors and gives them their own house in the Chipping Valley.

Main Characters

 * Abdullah- a young carpet merchant and the main character of the story. He believes that he is a long lost prince.
 * Flower-in-the-Night- the daughter of the Sultan of Zanzib. She was raised in seclusion and thus mistakes Abdullah for a woman.
 * Dalzel- the main antagonist. An evil djinn who forces his brother to steal princesses to be his wives.
 * The Soldier

Other Characters

 * Sophie Hatter
 * Morgan
 * Howl Jenkins Pendragon
 * Calcifer
 * Hasruel
 * Sultan of Zanzib
 * Jamal
 * Princess Valeria