Once upon a time, in a small village nestled deep in the woods, there lived a witch named Wobbke. Wobbke was not your typical witch - she had a cat named Whiskers, who had magical powers of his own. Whiskers, or Whisky as Wobbke fondly called him, was a black cat with glowing green eyes and a mischievous personality. Wobbke and Whiskers were quite popular in the village due to their magical abilities. Wobbke was known for her potions and spells, which she used to help the villagers with their various problems. Whiskers, on the other hand, had a talent for finding lost items and granting wishes.
There’s also a strong thread of romance here, which I suppose culminates into a love story at the end, but it would still be extremely tough to categorize this book. So often I found myself wanting to immerse myself in its storm of emotions, but at the same time, the novel’s very premise presented a barrier to that. After all, if the characters are always fated to end up in the same position in each life, are the feelings they have truly genuine then?
In the course of this book, I had to read about some version of Helen remembering her previous life or lives and then talking to Lucian about it in almost identical conversations three different times. Juliet and Marchant are cursed to reincarnate again and again, and in each life they will fall in love, only to have that love eventually fail spectacularly, with no exception.
Whiskers, on the other hand, had a talent for finding lost items and granting wishes. One day, a little girl named Lily visited Wobbke's cottage with a request. Lily had lost her favorite teddy bear, and she was heartbroken.
A WITCH IN TIME
When Helen Lambert meets her blind date, Luke Varner, at a trendy D.C. bar, little does she know they’ve met before—over several lifetimes.
In this, her debut novel, Sayers cleverly twists the loves-lost-through-time motif. Helen and Luke are not star-crossed, or rather curse-crossed, lovers from the 19th century, doomed to an eternity of thwarted passion. Instead, Sayers binds them together in a complicated codependent triangle: Helen is certainly replaying a thwarted love affair from more than a century ago, but she did not love Luke then. It all begins in 1895, when Juliet LaCompte, a beautiful 16-year-old French farm girl, falls in love with her summer neighbor, Auguste Marchant. Marchant is a Parisian artist who adores painting Juliet, and as the summer progresses, their desires for each other grow. But Marchant is very much married with a heavily pregnant wife, and Juliet is betrothed to a boy whose farm abuts her father’s. Even worse, Juliet’s mother, a skilled herbalist and sometime witch, finds out about their affair. Enraged that Juliet has besmirched the family’s honor and terrified for reasons Juliet cannot understand, her mother casts a spell cursing Marchant. But the spell is sloppily made, and it not only catches Juliet in its web, but also saddles her with a demon administrator: Lucian Varnier (aka Luke), who begins to fall in love with her, too. Sayers builds tension between present-day Luke and Helen by plunging Helen into a dream world, where she relives her time as a 1930s Hollywood starlet and 1970s rock musician, and each incarnation of Juliet becomes more attached to Luke. Moreover, her own powers as a witch have grown, so perhaps this will be the lifetime in which she breaks the curse. But her own feelings for Luke may get in the way.
A smart, engrossing debut from a writer to watch.
Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-316-49359-8
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Redhook/Orbit
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019
Categories:Share your opinion of this book
Hearing her plea, Whiskers sprang into action. He closed his eyes and concentrated, using his magical powers to locate the lost teddy bear. Within minutes, Whiskers led Lily to a hidden spot in the woods, where her teddy bear was waiting for her. Lily's joy knew no bounds, and she couldn't thank Wobbke and Whiskers enough for their help. From that day on, Wobbke and Whiskers became even more beloved by the villagers. As the years went by, Wobbke and Whiskers continued to use their magic to help others. They would brew potions to heal the sick, cast spells to bring good fortune, and even perform acts of kindness to make people's lives a little brighter. Their reputation as a kind and caring duo spread far beyond the village, and people from distant lands sought their help. Despite their magical abilities, Wobbke and Whiskers remained humble and down-to-earth. They never sought fame or glory, and their only reward was the happiness and gratitude of those they helped. One stormy night, as Wobbke and Whiskers sat by the fireplace, a knock came at their door. It was Lily, all grown up now, with her own children in tow. She wanted to introduce them to the wonderful witch and her cat who had helped her many years ago. Wobbke and Whiskers welcomed them with open arms, and as they sat together, reminiscing about the past, they realized how fortunate they were to have each other and to be able to make a difference in people's lives. And so, Wobbke and Whiskers continued their magical adventures, spreading love, kindness, and joy wherever they went. They may have been witches, but their greatest magic was the power of compassion and empathy that they shared with the world..
Reviews for "Wobbke: The Witch Cat Who Stole the Hearts of Many"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Wobble the Witch Cat". The story was incredibly predictable and lacked any originality or depth. The characters were one-dimensional and I found it hard to care about any of them. The writing style was also quite repetitive and monotonous. Overall, I felt bored and unengaged throughout the entire book. I wouldn't recommend it.
2. Mike - 1 star - What a waste of time! "Wobble the Witch Cat" was one of the most poorly written books I've ever read. The grammar and spelling errors were so distracting and took away from any enjoyment I could have had. The plot was weak and poorly developed, with no real conflict or resolution. The illustrations were also subpar and did not add anything to the story. I found myself struggling to finish this book and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Wobble the Witch Cat", but sadly, it fell short. The story seemed promising, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was uneven and the writing felt rushed. The dialogue was stale and lacked emotion. I also found the illustrations to be underwhelming and not very engaging. Overall, I felt let down by this book and would not consider it a favorite.
4. Tom - 2.5 stars - "Wobble the Witch Cat" had some potential, but it ultimately failed to deliver. The story had a few intriguing elements, but they were not fully explored or developed. The characters felt underdeveloped and their actions and motivations were often unclear. Additionally, the writing style was rather simplistic and did not hold my attention. The illustrations, while cute, did not add much depth to the overall story. Overall, I found this book to be forgettable and wouldn't recommend it.
5. Rachel - 2 stars - "Wobble the Witch Cat" had an interesting premise, but it fell flat in its execution. The story lacked depth and the characters felt shallow. The writing style was dull and lacked imagination. Additionally, I found the pacing to be uneven and the plot to be predictable. The illustrations were the only redeeming factor, but even they couldn't salvage the overall disappointment of this book. I would not recommend it.