Customer Reviews

A Well-Timed Enchantment (Magic Carpet Books)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Have you ever wondered about the consequences of dropping your Mickey Mouse watch down an old wishing well? You can bet Deanna never did. She certainly hadn't counted on having twenty-four hours to retrieve her watch and keep history from changing. You see, the Mickey Mouse could start a cult in medieval Europe in which mice are sacred...and so prolong the plague in Europe for another couple hundred years...

Luckily, she's got a companion to help her. Her cat-turned-human, Oliver. But a cat? Against a not-so-wicked wizard, a couple of bumbling knights and a lady who is infatuated with Oliver?? You bet. Filled with numerous puns, fractured fairy tales and a medieval setting, A Well-Timed Enchantment is a light and fun read.

Not only is this adventurous and romantic, it's funny too. The main character is Deanna. When she drops her watch into a well, and it is transported into medievel France, Deanna must get it back before it changes history. She has only one other thing to help her - a cat-turned-into-a-boy. Okay, I know what you're thinking. How in the world could something as simple as a watch change history? Well, suppose someone found it and believed it was something magical. And then, suppose the king found out about this watch, and he took it. Well, you know how these kings get - if one king has something, another king will want it. It could start a war, and then... Well, anyway, Deanna and the cat-boy have to get back the watch. So, in medievel France, Deanna and Oliver (the cat) meet a bunch of annoying (and rather stupid) nobles. And the story goes on with even more adventure. As for the romance, a lady noble falls in love (or at least thinks she has) with Oliver, another (Leonard) decides to marry Deanna, and finally, at the end, Deanna and Oliver fall in love. Okay, so far you haven't heard of anything funny. But there is plenty of humour. Throughout the story Oliver has to get used to being a human (he's used to being a cat and this isn't an easy switch to make). For instance, here's a part where Oliver is having trouble with using expressions.

"'...turns out since Leonard lost so badly, he figures his lady must be a real dog, so he wants to replace her with me.' Oliver stopped and stared at her. 'Leonard is marrying a dog?'"

Oliver also has trouble adjusting to a new diet of human food after all those years of mice. Anyway, if this review hasn't convinced you that this book is either adventurous, romantic, or funny, you probably wouldn't enjoy it. I'd say for ages 8-14.

This book was very interesting, enjoyable and funny! If you're looking for a quickly moving, interesting and funny fantasy novel full of quirky characters, you should definitely read this book. I loved the character of Oliver, who is a cat turned into a human. I have never read a book with a such a fascinating character like him before. The only part I didn't like so much was the part when the elves or "Fair folk" come in. They're a little too...far out and weird. But other than that, a great read!

First off, I should point out I'm a bit above the suggested reading level (okay, more than a bit^.^) which probably had a great deal to do with why I was moderately disappointed by this selection. The story is cute, dealt with ably, and finished off in a promising if not exactly happily-ever-after ending.

What I particularly like about several of Vande Velde's other works is that in addition to the basic storyline, the characters of her more impressive novels are also working through problems of their own--absent mothers, bad fathers, etc. This book had none of that, just the straight-forward march of girl meets boy--er, cat--girl falls in love, things work out for the best.

Having said that, there is nothing about this book that would stop me from recommending it to my much younger sister, who would probably enjoy it thoroughly. While it is not one I will reread several times (like Companions of the Night, also by Vande Velde), it was an amusing way to spend an evening.

This book is absolutly inventive and really fun to read. It is not an ordinary book, but that is what makes it fun! All the characters are interesting and unpredictable. Not only is there adventure, but a minnie love story in the making. I definatly recomend reading this book! It's totally enchanting!

This is the story of Deanna. Deanna has been brought along by her mother to spend the summer in France with relatives. She is not having a good time. Her mother can speak many languages, and tells Deanna that she will pick French up during the stay. Deanna doesn't and has to use gestures to talk with her relatives who only speak French.

One day when Deanna is out walking with only a cat named Oliver for company, she stumbles upon a well. Thinking it looks so much like a wishing well, she started to wish. The only problem is she doesn't know quite what she wants to wish for. Her thoughts fly instantly to the wish of her father and mother living together happily again, without a divorce. She gets no farther than "I wish..." when Oliver accidentally causes her to drop her Mickey Mouse watch into the well. Suddenly she finds herself being pulled into the well, for it really is a magic well and the wishing has caused a loop-hole in time through which her watch fell. `the Fair Folk' who tell her that she must get the watch back in 24 hours, or else it will destroy history pulled her into the well. If she doesn't complete this task she will cease to exist.

Oliver leaped into the well after seeing Deanna disappear into it. Because of Deanna's questions, the Fair Folk decide that Oliver is much smarter than Deanna and that she will need help on this quest. Then they turn Oliver into a human, and set the two off on their quest.

The reason I rated this book four stars and not five is that Deanna's attitude got on my nerves. She always assumed that she was right; that she knew exactly what was going on even when all evidence pointed in the opposite direction.

I LOVE this book!!! I picked it up, but couldn't put it down!When I saw this book, I though it would be just your average book. Was I ever wrong!!This book was better than any book other book I've ever read!I really like Oliver and Deanna. Oliver reminds me of a nicer version of Heero Yuy from Gundam Wing^_^ That's because he's so quiet and mysterious.I think he's neat.Deanna is your average teenage girl, which makes her very likable. I've read this book over and over again,and I'm still not sick of it! I really felt sorry for Oliver, and it's really sad how this book ends!But I loved it anyway!!

I found this book amusing and well written. Vande Velde twisted comedy with romance having an excelent effect. I think that anyone who likes ficton should read this!

My 11 year old loves this Author. She loves her writing style. Great christmas present. would love to get more of her work.

Spoiler alert!

This book was really good and entertaining! It moved at a quick smooth pace and yet had really good character development. It was very suspenseful and nearly impossible to put down! One of the best time-travel books I have ever read. It didn't have any plot holes (that I could see) or a hard to follow narrative. My only complaint is how it ends. It's like a cliffhanger. Does Oliver get turned back into a human or not? I like to think he does but how will I ever know if Vivian does not write a sequel. Please Vivian...write a sequel to this book and Heir Apparent as well. :-)