The tabletop gaming world is built on storytelling—full of brave heroes, dark forests, and unexpected twists. It’s no surprise that many gamers are also book lovers, because both hobbies invite us to dive into worlds far beyond the ordinary. Whether you’re rolling dice or turning pages, you’re stepping into an epic tale.
Jackie Martin, the Director of Marketing at Gen Con (and resident bookworm), knows a thing or two about a good story. Jackie shares her top five “not your mama’s fairy tale” reads that flip the script on the classics and serve something delightfully unexpected.
Whenever someone asks me about my hobbies, I proudly declare, “I’m a total bookworm!” I mean, who needs social interactions when you have the comforting embrace of a 300-page novel and a glass of wine? I’ve developed a sixth sense for spotting the latest bestsellers, and my local library probably thinks I’m running a black market for paperback loans. My friends joke that I have more bookmarks than social plans, and honestly, they’re not wrong.
When someone asks me what I like to read, I tend to say “Everything!” but I can narrow the scope down to primarily literary fiction, historical novels, sci-fi, dystopia, horror, mystery/thriller, and non-fiction—particularly business, health, wellness, sociology, and female leadership.
A unique trend has emerged in my “Read” list on Goodreads, and I felt it needed its own category, so I decided to create a list. I call this the “Not Your Mama’s Fairy Tales” genre, and here I will share my top 5 most recent favorites in this delightfully dark, terrifically twisted, funny, and contemporary take on some grim(m) storytelling.
#1. Bunny by Mona Awad
If there was a cover girl for the Not Your Mama’s Fairy Tales list, it would be Mona Awad. Her books are fascinating, freaky, and clever as hell. In Bunny, a group of elite graduate students turns a coffee-fueled writing workshop into a bizarre sorority sisterhood where the welcome gift is a heaping dose of mayhem and a sprinkle of blood—because who wouldn’t want to bond over dark humor and questionable choices?
Other incredible books from Mona Awad that live on the Not Your Mama’s Fairy Tales list include Rouge and All’s Well.
#2. Lone Women by Victor LaValle
In Lone Women, a haunting journey unfolds as a solitary woman grapples with her hidden past and the peculiar, supernatural burdens she carries, navigating the treacherous landscape of both the wild and her own tumultuous identity.
#3. The Pisces by Melissa Broder
In The Pisces by Melissa Broder, a woman finds love in the most unexpected place—by falling for a merman (?!) who has better emotional depth than most of her past relationships!
#4. Bear by Julia Phillips
Ahhh this story has taken up more space in my thoughts than I’d care to admit. In Bear by Julia Phillips, an enigmatic bond between two sisters unravels in the shadowy wilderness, revealing secrets that intertwine their destinies with the haunting presence of a bear lurking just beyond the edge of their understanding. I can’t say more… just read it.
#5. Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
Skip the movie (sorry, Amy Adams!) but don’t sleep on the book! Nightbitch is WILD. Prepare for a howling good time.
Which books deserve a spot on the Not Your Mama’s Fairy Tales list? Let us know on Instagram!