The Roads Not Taken

by Tim Waggoner

Whether the reader is new to the Supernatural family or has been with them since the beginning, they’re in for a wild and surprising ride with Supernatural: The Roads Not Taken.

For the first time ever, you can make decisions alongside Sam and Dean Winchester in their quest to battle monsters, demons, and every Big Bad looking to crawl out of the dark recesses of America’s small towns. Open up a local paper in a diner and pick which strange occurrence the boys will investigate first. Jump headfirst into your very own adventure with the Winchester brothers and pick your cover story: will you be an FBI agent, reporter, or bikini inspector? Figure out which lead to follow. Decide whether to split up or stay together. Do you call Bobby Singer for help? And remember, the clock is ticking! If you make the wrong decision, another victim could meet a dark and gory death.

Demons, spirits, and ghouls lurk around every corner, waiting to get the drop on Sam and Dean — and only by following all the clues, interviewing the right suspects, and making the right choices can you lead them to victory. This heart-pounding interactive adventure will be broken down into a series of five original stories, each with branching storylines and multiple endings, all based on the choices the reader makes.

Genres: Supernatural, Horror, Choose Your Own Adventure, Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, Fandom

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2013

About the author

Tim Waggoner's first novel came out in 2001, and since then, he's published over sixty novels and eight collections of short stories. He writes original dark fantasy and horror, as well as media tie-ins. He's written tie-in fiction based on Supernatural, The X-Files, Alien, Doctor Who, Conan the Barbarian, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Grimm, and Transformers, among others, and he's written novelizations for films such as Ti West’s X-Trilogy, Halloween Kills, Terrifier 2 and 3, and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. He’s also the author of the award-winning guide to horror Writing in the Dark. He’s a four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award, a one-time winner of the Scribe Award, and he’s been a two-time finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award and a one-time finalist for the Splatterpunk Award. He’s also a full-time tenured professor who teaches creative writing and composition at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio.

Reviews

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was, sort of, a Supernatural "Choose Your Own Adventure" book. Sam and Dean Winchester go through four short stories/scenarios that are mostly a straight narrative, though each one has two or three points where the reader chooses what the Winchesters do next. Choose wrong, and it's literally the end of the road for the brothers. However, as each of the four stories is pretty short, you can mostly just read the book straight through and see what each choice leads to without having to skip around a lot like the true "Choose Your Own Adventure" novels. Plus, the tales are in certain ways connected, and the overall narrative has a sort of "meta" quality to it. And when you do make the wrong choice and have to reset it's actually a bit reminiscent of the classic "Mystery Spot" episode of the show.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this with no idea it was a ‘chose your own adventure’ so was a little taken aback by that, but once I understood I think it was executed really well. I like how there were a few smaller stories all leading to one conclusion. Not a format I would read too often but enjoyable.

[Thirza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Echt heel leuk bedacht en geschreven.
De keuzes die je kon maken waren simpel, maar ik hou ervan hoe het verhaal en de keuzes samen komen op het einde.

P.S. ik heb er echt van genoten om weer even in de wereld van Supernatural te belanden 🫶

[Carissa Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read. It was fun and easy to get through, gory and a bit scary without being bad enough to make sleep impossible. The writer did a great job of capturing Dean and Sam's mannerisms and ways of speaking (especially Dean's sense of humor. That was practically perfect). I didn't really like that the book was split into 4 separate stories. They were way to short for my liking, ESPECIALLY for a "pick your own route" book. It made it less enjoyable in the fact that every wrong choice automatically ended with Sam and Dean's demise. In other 'pick your own route' books, both choices will often go on for several more sections before one will ultimately end in failure. That is what I was expecting when I started reading this, and I was disappointed when I didn't get that. However, it is an enjoyable read. I would recommend this book to Supernatural fans in a younger generation, maybe 15+ for some mildly sexual context. However, if you're a 'pick your own route' book buff, this may not be the choice for you.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I put it down for a long time, it didn't take months.

It's Choose Your Own Adventure with Sam & Dean! Lots of fun running the different scenarios, trying not to die.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so scared to read this book. But honestly, I ended up being pleasantly surprised. It was just like stepping into the pages of Supernatural. I was afraid they'd be writing a book about something with not really knowing the details, but they nailed it. You could hear practically hear Dean's voice, and see Sam's knowing expressions. It made me so nostalgic for the show.

It's a bit sad to realize there were only three adventures in the book. But, when you look at the length of it, I was even more impressed to see how much work they put into drawing through each of the options. There could only be room enough for three at that point.

I used to read those 'choose your own adventure,' Star Wars books in school, and I've always loved those. They are always in the back of my mind when I think about books. To be fair though, I was really impressed through the first adventure, that it started to get tiring in the second two. Once you get used to the pattern, you know you're gonna go back and read the other options anyway. The tone felt a little different too, like maybe it was a different person that wrote it from the first.

It had all of our favorite tropes, like Dean loving pie, or 'an animal probably did it.' Or 'I've already talked to the police.' And there were these moments of closeness between Sam and Dean that you can only get from a book. It made me think, 'this is why people say books are always better.'

Sam frowned in that special way of his. Dean was very familiar with that expression: it meant that his brother was bugged with something that he couldn't put his finger on yet. Dean knew better than to ask Sam to talk about it. He'd let Sam brood on it for a while. Sam was an Olympic-level brooder. He'd let Dean know when he'd figured it out.

Or there was a point when Sam was the one who empathized with the victim's family, because he knew Dean's way of grieving and dealing with Darkness was to counter it with humor, something the family might take as being insensitive, even though Sam knew better.

This was so good to me, as a long time loving fan of Supernatural. It's something that's just fun and nostalgic, and I'm glad to put it on my shelf beside my Supernatural DVDs.

[Crow NoYami · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most fun I've had with a book in YEARS! It's a decision book (not sure what the actual term is) which I haven't read since I was a kid. (You know the ones, if you think Sam and Dean should open the door turn to page 53 if not keep reading type books) I loved it. I loved every second of it, and while typically I'm pretty OCD about reading from Page 1- End I had no trouble with this one (besides the times I chose 'wrong' and had to go back) I love this book and can't wait for more from this author, decision book or not!

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disapponting. Considering the book was marketed at a Choose Your Own Adventure the choices were pretty dumb. One of the choices was who went through the doorway first and if you picked the wrong character than the other one got a broken leg. The characters seemed very out of character to me in certain parts and they seem to make Dean act dumb. The idea for the book didn't seem very unique and it seems like the author just copied the episode "Mystery Spot". Also if you have kids 13 or younger I wouldn't recommend this book it's very detailed in the gore a lot more than Supernatural.

[Emma Rieger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book.It was fun to pick your on path, whichever path you takes ends up with a new ending. In this book there are different stories. At the end they all were connected. I especially like how the characters behave just like they do on the show. At each climax of each story in the book it was every good and creepy like Supernatural always is. I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it if you watch the show.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting twist on a Supernatural book, not sure why it wasn’t considered as one of the official tie in novels- this one has a chose your own adventure style where you make choices that take you down some dead ends. But built within the story is little hints that Sam and Dean feel they are retracing their paths too (as the reader is when they make the wrong choices which lead to the villain who is tied into these choices too. Very cleverly written.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this was a bit of fun for a Saturday afternoon. Liked the whole process of choosing the correct way forward reminded me of reading Goosebumps in my childhood. Felt there was a little too much explanation of the boys themselves for someone who is a religious viewer of the show but it still kept me entertained.

[Maura Cuneo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty good. I do feel like the stories were all pretty run of the mill and I didn’t like how one path always either led to the story continuing or death. Give me a happy medium y’all. The big bad also didn’t really make a ton of sense. But for a mindless read when you are bored, I guess I’d recommend it…

[Katherine Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy getting to choose which path was taken; however, sometimes it was just way too obvious which path was going to be the end of the road. I really liked the ending when everything was tied together. Tim Waggoner did well sticking to the overall persona of the Winchesters, but I do wish this book was a little longer. Overall, a fun little read!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a Supernatural fan you should read this book! I was a little disappointed in the choices only because I was comparing it to the course your own adventure books from I was a kid, they were my favorite.

[Knight Of · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed it except for the death scenarios. I loved how the author tied the whole choose a path into the main story at the end. I'm not going to spoil it. Let's just say it is fitting that I read this book in January.

[Debora Magna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really funny to follow Dean and Sam trough the stories in this book and help them win or lose! The outcome is really surprising! Is written in a very good way and really fluent, once you start you can't stop reading!

[Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5. Fun choose-your-own-adventure book. The author did make Dean a bit scummier than he comes off as in the show, but other than that it’s quite similar to the early seasons of the show (ahem, when it was still good).

[Braveheart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, the boys will die. Several times. Be prepared. I wasn't.


Overall, amazing if you are a SPN stan. This book reminded me of those Goosebumps books where you could choose your own ending. 100% recommend.

[Mel Heflin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was awesome! I really love how the fact that you make choices through the book is incorporated into it. I ✨️really✨️ hope this author does another one of these since the ending says it's not over. 🙏

[Ashley Beery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the ability to choose your own adventure. Even if you picked wrong it still comes into play. The boys sounded EXACTLY like they do in the show. Everything was spot on and I loved it!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book of short stories with Sam and Dean. I didn't realize it when I bought it that the stories were 'Choose Your Own Adventures'. Was really a fun read.

[Andrew Overbye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have loved to have had more choices, but I loved the way this played with the format of the multipath book. I've never seen Supernatural and this had a lot of varied types of endings.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the different decisions you can make for Dean and Sam, but it does remind me of the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine.

[Mariah L. Napier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a little light on the “choose your own adventure” aspect, and I didn’t love the ending. However, I did enjoy the stories quite a bit. It was a fun read.

[Reem Abdelmoein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got me rolling

[Shawnee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting.

[Amaya Okazaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really do love the show and the book was... alright. It wasn't anything spectacular but I did enjoy reading it. I wouldn't re-read it, but for a one time book it was good.

[enTEREletras · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ojalá hubiera más decisiones que tomar :c

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Roads Not Taken is a fantasy novel based on the cult TV series Supernatural which was created by Eric Kripke.

Tim Waggoner’s idea behind this TV tie-in novel, coupled with illustrations from Zachary Baldus, is to allow ‘YOU’ the reader a rare opportunity to decide the fate of your favourite characters, Sam and Dean Winchester. This interactive book provides four different inter-connected tales of supernatural terror and during each story there are numerous hunter style decisions that the brothers must make: Use a gun or a knife? Holy water or salt? Go in alone or wait for backup?

Each tiny decision can seal the fate for our heroes. Now ‘YOU’ the reader can make those choices and decide for yourself how you want them to end, as you travel across the back roads of America as a passenger in the Impala, during the following four adventures:
• Here Kitty, Kitty
• Shulman’s Model
• Hollow Town
• Let Us Prey

Ever wondered how you would fare if you lived the life of a hunter like Sam and Dean Winchester from Supernatural? You ever wish the brothers had made a different choice? Well here’s your chance to seal their fate, based on your own decisions.

During The Road Not Taken, ‘YOU’ the reader have the opportunity to make each difficult choice, when you reach the pivotal moments in the story. Will the good guys win? Should you save the life of the innocent victim? Can you wait until the cavalry arrives or blunder on and hope for the best? You decide!

At 4 out of 5 stars, I’m sure the supernatural hunter inside you will love this fun little book of four short novellas and its rather unique and delightful premise. I only wish this book was a little longer.

[Guadalupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to stop and think whenever I had to make a decision because I didn't want my babies to get killed! I have to admit that I was killed three times, though. And every time that happened I was like:

The characters... OMG! Waggoner did an amazing job with the dialogues! Dean was perfect, I could hear Jensen's voice speaking in my mind and Dean's sense of humor was on top! Sam was perfect too, it was as if I were watching a Supernatural episode in my mind (well, four episodes actually).
The book is divided into four different stories, but guess what!, in the end they're all connected!! That's one of the things that I liked most about the book!


If you are a fan of "Supernatural" and you want to have a good time making choices that will be vital for the Winchesters' future, then this is your book!!