Wednesday's Book

by Rebekah Isert

Trillion Orris is no stranger to trouble—or magic. Owner and lead detective for Orris Investigations, he has had more than one odd case stumble across his threshold. When Mrs. Richardson begs him to find her missing daughter—ballet dancer Odell—he quickly accepts the case. But nothing is as it seems; and the tangle of mystery and magic only seems to grow tighter the deeper he gets involved. Trillion’s personal life doesn’t exactly offer respite either, and when the cat he’s rescued begins to speak, Trillion has to wonder—is he going insane? Is the cat really a cat? In this magical retelling of Swan Lake, who is who? And who... isn’t?

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Sarah Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough good things about this book. I finished it yesterday morning and 24 hours later I'm still thinking about the characters and hoping against hope the author will provide a sequel. I need to get to know Trillion more - a wonderful MC. Mysterious, but not overtly brooding. Magical, without casting spells every which way. Troubled, without angsty moments of reflection. You slowly get to know him, begin to love him and by the end of the book, you absolutely want more of him. Wednesday is simply wonderful and the relationship between the two, captivating. The lesser characters are all thoroughly enjoyable. The villain is no more than a sinister name throughout most of the book, but we have a sense he's BAD. Late on, we discover his malevolent nature is not the only thing that pits him against Trillion. Twists and turns and surprises throughout, BUT (and this is hugely important), I never once lost the thread. Such a clever, well-written book.

[Leticia Bench · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be honest. I assumed this would be a 4 star book, because I'm stingy with my 5 stars. I was proven wrong multiple times throughout the book.
It's really, really good! Like, the kind of good where I can't stop thinking about it. Normally after finishing a book I dive into another one immediately, but after reading this I have to find something nonfiction because I'm still feeling the feelings from Wednesday's Book. Also read it really fast because I couldn't put it down. I bought & read it on Kindle but I'm going to buy a hard copy.
It's a funny book, but I also cried in parts. There's a mystery/detective element to the story, plus modern day magic and elves/fairies, plus it's a retelling of Swan Lake, plus some romance (clean), and the characters are fabulous. It's a light, fun read but also has some depth and made me think and feel a lot of things. I've heard a couple of people say it's a book for "cat people" because a character spends a lot of time as a cat in the book, however I am really not a cat person and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I definitely look forward to more from this author!

[Havelah McLat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely read a lot of mystery books. The story is a retelling of swan lake (a ballet classic) and incorporates elves and magic. I like the relationship between Trillian and Wednesday the cat (she is human. I won’t say who it is or why she is a cat). It is cute, sweet, and incredibly funny. I really enjoy the mystery and the vibe. The author did a great job!

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! It was fantasy without being too fantasy-ish. Magic, mystery, detectives, love, what's not to like? There are a few grammatical mistakes, but that comes with being self-published.

[Amy Maren Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely, well written, story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this!

[Alayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read from author Rebekah Isert. Her stories bring an old charm and magic into a contemporary setting and her characters are full, fresh, and fun. I love the setting, which is the real world but a version in which some types of magic and magical creatures form a normal part. It's a level of escapism fit for a homebody-reader, and I LOVE that.
Full confession: I am not a cat person. But after reading this novel and enjoying all of the antics and comments from Wednesday, I am left with a simple conclusion: I am a Wednesday person. Wholeheartedly recommend.

[Chrisanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

So my library is getting rid of Hoopla at the end of this week (boo!) and I'm rushing to read what I have access to before my access is cut off. Hence the rush read.

This has a lot going for it. Shades of Emily Wilde (but better, I think) and an uncommon fairy-tale retelling in a unique way. Really good chapter titles, chapter beginnings and endings. Some good characterization, organization(I followed a bit of a herring for a while) and witty dialogue.

And, in all honestly, I loved the cat. That's saying something because I don't really like cats "for real," to borrow a phrase from my daughter.

It was long. And I'm not just saying that because it was a rush read. I'm saying that because I've been putting it off for a while for that very reason. And I felt like it could have been condensed by telling some of the showing, if that makes sense. But not all of it. Maybe 25% max. That being said, succinctness is not my strong point so I'm probably not the one to judge. It was so good that I put her upcoming release on my to-read list... though, because Hoopla will be gone, I probably won't have access to it. And you wouldn't want that, would you BPL? Or maybe Hoopla needs a more cost-friendly model?

In any case, if you're looking for a unique vibe, voice, and voyage---this is your book.
3.5 stars.

[Steph Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this story, as it is written as if we are already familiar with the world and characters, making me feel like I had missed a prior book that set the scene and backstory a bit more.

Once I got the hang of things, I enjoyed the fantasy-mystery as elven Trillion and his shapeshifter buddy Konstantin investigate a missing ballet dancer while snarkily bantering with the opinionated stray cat that Trillion reluctantly rescued and can’t get rid of or fully understand.

I did solve the mystery before the characters and guessed most of the plot twists along the way, but that didn’t spoil the fun of following the characters as they bickered their way to the reveal, and while I didn’t really feel the chemistry between Trillion and Wednesday as a team, I loved the bromance with Konstantin, and how Trillion develops and grows through the action of the story.

I’m always a big fan of classic tales re-told when done well, and this is a fun light-and-easy read with magic, mystery, humour and some sweet romance as well. It just didn’t quite come to life for me on this occasion.

[MissFaerieKaiti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, charming, witty, and fun, while also sprinkled with heavier feels, especially as the ending approaches. This book is squeaky clean in terms of language and romance, with maybe PG-rated violence. It has all the expected beats of a fairytale retelling, all the wonder I wish existed more in urban fantasy, and the quality writing skills that can transform a common concept into an exceptional experience.

I'd give more keywords if I could, but this book is such a good melting pot that I'm afraid of giving the wrong impression. Is there snark? Yes, but not the dark variety found in most urban fantasy. Is there cozy mystery? Yes, but I wouldn't say the fate of the world isn't also at stake... Are there creatures of great and terrible power? Yes, but they're also mothers, fathers, sons, and brothers with cares and regrets.

And more. Please do give the book a try and see for yourself whether this blend of unique familiarity might end up being your cup of tea.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I selected this book because I met the author at another author's book signing and she talked up her book while we waited in the autograph line.

Wednesday's book is a fun read. The characters are interesting and the cat verbalizations are classic cat. The biggest problem for me was the lack of sufficient proofreading, especially toward the end of the book. If the sentence is so messed up it throws off the flow of my reading enjoyment that is a significant problem and there were MANY instances of this level of issue. Unfortunately, I find this a common problem in self-published books.

[Cecilia Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a fantasy version of New York City, Trillion Orris is a private detective hired by a wealthy, prominent socialite to find her missing daughter: Odell.
An interesting riff on Swan Lake.


Similar to: Harry Dresden

White Cat by Holly Black

[Louise Pledge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm confused because I see that other readers liked this one. I just couldn't make myself enjoy it. Sorry!

[Maria]

Witty and surprising

Wednesday’s Book is filled with witty banter, twists that kept me guessing, and a cat that embodies all the smug and delightful qualities of the feline.

[Naomi te Wildt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give most books three stars - I am a sucker for any book with elves, this was a fun, fast fantasy read!

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun retelling of Swan Lake. The middle dragged a tad for me, but the fun cat banter and the satisfying ending made it work for me. Also: the chapter names! I grabbed this book because of the cover (and the cat on the cover) and the chapter names, and it did not disappoint.

[Josie (the.story.well) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a modern retelling of Swan Lake. Rebekah was able to nail down a cat's personality in this book. I found myself grinning with some of Trillion and Wednesday's interactions. I would also give my cat the side eye with some of Wednesday's behavior. I felt there was a good balance of action, humor, and meaningful moments. With a snowy setting, mystery to solve, and a bit of magic, this is a perfect winter read.

[Happy Reading Watching]

Wednesday's Book
By Rebekah Isert

If you enjoy...
◇Magic
◇Swan Lake
◇Fairytale Retellings
◇Sweet Romance
◇HEA

I recommend checking Wednesdays Book ♡
This was such a lovely read and perfect for the fall time.

Book Synopsis:
"Trillion Orris is no stranger to trouble—or magic. Owner and lead detective for Orris Investigations, he has had more than one odd case stumble across his threshold. When Mrs. Richardson begs him to find her missing daughter—ballet dancer Odell—he quickly accepts the case. But nothing is as it seems; and the tangle of mystery and magic only seems to grow tighter the deeper he gets involved.
Trillion’s personal life doesn’t exactly offer respite either, and when the cat he’s rescued begins to speak, Trillion has to wonder—is he going insane? Is the cat really a cat?
In this magical retelling of Swan Lake, who is who? And who... isn’t?"

Reread October 2024
Great fall read 🎃📚