Readers, beware: what you hold in your hands is a dreadful fairy book. I wish I were narrating almost any other fairy story, but alas, this is my lot. Whatever expectations you have of delightful and whimsical fairies are sure to be disappointed. There are certainly fairies, but most are not proper fairies. Some who are supposed to be nasty are disappointingly nice, while some who should be kind and helpful are disconcertingly surly, dishonest, and generally unpleasant company.Our heroine is, perhaps, the worst offender—a sprite more interested in books than carefree games, who insists on being called Shade. She is on a quest, albeit with rather questionable companions, to find a place her outré self can call home. A place of companionship, comfort, and, most importantly, positively filled with books. **

Review

"With an exasperated narrator who would much prefer a story whose fairies and plots behave the way they ought and with characters that not only question, but outright shatter the status quo to embrace difference, Etter offers readers a rich world of complexity and moral ambiguity as Shade navigates loss, betrayal, magic, and friendship in pursuit of the wonders of books and self-love. It's difficult to give Etter credit for diverse racial representation in a world of multihued nonhuman creatures; nevertheless, this chubby brown protagonist full of flaws and wit and heart is quite welcome. For bibliophiles (and bibliothecaphiles) and all those who step expectantly into mushroom rings."--Kirkus Reviews

This isn't just any fairy book: it's  dreadful. Shade is a brilliant heroine whose opinionated, spunky, and compassionate nature leads her into several fairy squabbles. Etter challenges the typical idea of fairies through humorous and dreadful twists. A charming read with a quirky narrator, a brazen heroine, and eccentric characters. -Elizabeth Konkel, Booklist

"This book turns familiar (and less familiar) fairy-tale tropes upside down and inside out. With an even pace and varied cast of characters, the work will appeal to fantasy readers and fans of world-building. VERDICT: A charming addition to middle grade shelves."--Jamie Jensen, School Library Journal

"This is a rollicking romp with themes of friendship, forgiveness, and the value of books. It calls itself "A Fairytale for Readers of All Ages" and I'd feel comfortable giving it to my 10-year-old or my 13-year-old and I quite enjoyed it at age 45. It's truly a boisterous, entertaining fantasy and the characters are delightfully deplorable--heavy on the delightful."--Lara Lillibridge, essayist and author of  Girl ish and  Mamma, Mamma, Only Mamma.

"[A Dreadful Fairy Book] is probably my favorite book." --Paul Bender, reader of discriminating taste, age 9

From the Author

If you enjoy reading this book half as much as I did writing it, then I will have enjoyed it twice as much as you. Which probably wouldn't be a good thing from a review and sales perspective, now that I think about it...