“A witty middle-grade fantasy full of adventure, sarcasm, and fairy-tale twists. Perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket and quirky magical tales.”
 
A Dreadful Fairy Book by Jon Etter (narrated by the delightfully sarcastic Quentin Q. Quacksworth) is a hilarious, off-beat fantasy for middle-grade readers. Published in 2018 by Amberjack, this playful tale follows fairy protagonist Shade on a quest filled with dangers, dubious characters, and plenty of humor.
Breaking all the rules of traditional storytelling, the snarky narrator interrupts, warns readers not to continue, and adds a sharp layer of comedy that makes this book irresistible to kids who love clever, tongue-in-cheek adventures. With echoes of A Series of Unfortunate Events and fractured fairy tales, A Dreadful Fairy Book is both an adventure story and a parody of one.
 
📌 Perfect For
Kids ages 8–12 (Grades 3–7)
Fans of Lemony Snicket and humorous fantasy
Classrooms and libraries looking for engaging read-alouds
Young readers who enjoy fairy-tale twists and quirky adventures