Try Not to Die in a Dark Fairy Tale: An Interactive Adventure

Try Not To Die #10

by Mark Tullius, Evan Baughfman

Once upon a time, fairy tales had happy endings, but you’ll need more than luck to make it through this interactive story in one piece.

Your father, King Dorian, is on his deathbed and has given you and your twin brother a quest to determine who will wear his crown. Whoever can defeat five villains in the Wild Woods and return to the castle will become the next ruler of Vallorum.

Prince Keaton has spent his life preparing for this moment, training with weapons and developing his athleticism, while you have been content with devouring books in the library. To even things out, you have been gifted a bloodthirsty talking blade and a book of arcane knowledge, but it’s up to you to prove that you have a backbone.

Once you leave the castle, you’ll face monsters, magic, murder, and mayhem. Be careful who you trust and make sure to navigate obstacles wisely. Keaton will do whatever it takes to win the crown and control the kingdom. You cannot allow him that victory.

MORE THAN TWO DOZEN WAYS TO DIE.

JUST ONE CORRECT PATH.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE?

If you grew up reading Goosebumps ® or Choose Your Own Adventure ® stories, you’ll love this dark fairy tale! Find out why fans say, “I had a great time with the different decisions, even though I died a lot!” Don’t miss the opportunity to embark on this exhilarating quest. Rise to the challenge, and earn your spot on the royal throne!

Don't wait. Grab your copy today!

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Choose Your Own Adventure

241 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2024

About the author

My writing covers a wide range, with fiction being my favorite to create, with two dozen or so titles under my belt. There are 18 titles in my YA interactive Try Not to Die series and 24 more in the works. I also have two nonfiction titles, both inspired by a reckless lifestyle, playing Ivy League football, and battering the hell out of my brain as an unsuccessful MMA fighter and boxer. Unlocking the Cage is the largest sociological study of MMA fighters to date and TBI or CTE aims to spread awareness and hope to others that suffer with traumatic brain injury symptoms.

I live in sunny California with my wife, two kids, five cats, and one demon. Derek. He makes special appearance on my social media

You can also get your 3 free books by signing up to my newsletter. This letter is only for the brave, or at least those brave enough to deal with bad dad jokes, a crude sense of humor, and loads and loads of death.
Derek and I would love to have you join us!

Here are all my links -
Newsletter - https://subscribepage.io/TulliusNews
https://youcanfollow.me/MarkTullius

Reviews

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5 stars ⭐️

✨Little moment of celebration for my 365th review 🥳 And special thanks to those I’ve found through this app, and who support my reviews! ❤️
I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for a whole year!✨

Ever since I read Try Not To Die On Slashtag I’ve fallen in love again with these interactive adventures. They’re just so fun and addicting, and I love the variety within the genre.

Try Not To Die In A Dark Fairy Tale takes us on an adventure in a magical realm where our underdog hero has to survive a quest for the throne, mythical foes, a deranged brother — all this in the company of a talking sword. How could this not be amazing?

It was a lot less nerve-racking than TNTD Slashtag, but was still an explosion of fun and surprisingly a fair amount of gore.
These interactive adventures will always be incredibly nostalgic for me, and will forever hold a special place on my (virtual) shelf.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is what I’ve been waiting for with these Try Not To Die books!

Before Dark Fairy Tale, the other TNTD books I’ve read were the first Grandmas House one and Pandemic. I was quite underwhelmed and felt those were more gimmicky than anything else. Picking how you die was prioritized over a fleshed out story.

Not TNTD In A Dark Fairy Tale!

This one was very well planned and had many intense and creative scenes. The brother vs brother rivalry was good and Leech was especially entertaining! To top things off, the ending was great.

Looks like this is the newest in the series and I’m happy to see how much better it is than the first 2. The writing has come a long way.

[Alethea Rocks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in advance, Mark Tullius and Evan Baughfman’s Try Not to Die: In a Dark Fairy Tale is an immersive and spine-chilling foray into the realm of interactive storytelling. This book marries the whimsy of fairy tales with the grim horrors of survival, creating a dark, twisted narrative where every choice has consequences—many of them deadly.

The story plunges readers into a shadowy world filled with malevolent creatures, cursed woods, and morally ambiguous characters. The interactive format shines here, pulling readers into the protagonist’s perilous journey where each decision feels urgent and personal. One wrong move can lead to an untimely demise, adding a palpable sense of dread to the reading experience.

The prose is vivid and atmospheric, capturing the eerie beauty and menace of the fairy-tale world. Tullius and Baughfman have crafted a narrative that balances suspense and pacing, ensuring that every twist and turn keeps readers on edge. The characters, though archetypal in some ways, are layered enough to evoke empathy—or suspicion—depending on the scenario.

One standout aspect is how well this format translates to eReader devices. For anyone who grew up reading choose-your-own-adventure books in physical form, this digital iteration is a revelation. The interactivity is seamless, with each choice flowing naturally and smoothly—so much so that I found myself completely absorbed in the experience. I read this on my eReader, and it was so well-executed that I’ll be grabbing the rest of the series this holiday season, just because I missed this type of fun.

Overall, Try Not to Die: In a Dark Fairy Tale is an innovative adventure that pushes the boundaries of interactive fiction. It’s a must-read for those who enjoy the blend of fairy tales and horror, for anyone who relishes a challenge—and for anyone who loves how beautifully interactive fiction can thrive in a digital format.

Rating: 4.5/5

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve become a huge fan of the TNTD books! I started with TNTD at Ghostland, then at Grandma’s house then Slashtag, and now Fairytale. I plan to read all the others as well, but I’m pacing myself so I don’t run out! I tend to read heavy, dark horror, so these are a great break from the heavy reads. They are always fun even in the midst of all the dying, which I do a lot of haha! Highly recommend!

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark tales

Prince Barnaby's father is ill his father sends him and his twin brother on a quest in the dark woods. To prove who is worthy to be king. The Wild Woods has all kinds of dangers. Choose wisely, and you may escape. You must face many foes. Full of action. Amazing characters. Heart pounding thriller that chills your bones.

[Jessica Gleason · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with previous installments in the "How Not to Die" series, this is a ton of fun. I appreciated the insidious royal and fairy tale creatures.

The premise is two princes are sent into the dark woods on a task and the one to return first (and victorious) gets to become the next king.

Are there deaths? Yes! Are they fun? Also, yes. Though, notably, I've either gotten much better at choosing my fate or this one was a little easier to navigate. I died far more in Slashtag.

That being said, this is an entertaining and fast trip into the dark woods where you'll face creatures, fairy tale characters, and death.

[Ky · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I get an offer to read a TNTD book it’s an IMMEDIATE yes!! I absolutely adore these books so much, they bring me so much joy. I remember reading the choose your own adventures as a kid and they were my absolute fave, to have them again in my adult years is so nostalgic and also so fresh!

TYND in a Dark Fairy Tale was a joy to read, I loved the theme and I loved the characters and I LOVED THE DEATHS!! I died so many times and each time I just had so much fun. Thank you so much Mark for the opportunity to read this one, I adore your work and I can not wait for the next adventure!

[Crystal DeBoard · Rating 5 out of 5]

TNTD In a Dark Fairy Tale by Mark Tullius and Evan Baughman did not disappoint! A ton of fun, and I actually faired really well in this one, making it a quick but super fun read.

[CAROLYN Wyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Try Not To Die: In a Dark Fairy Tale by Mark Tullius and Evan Baughfman

Try Not To Die: In a Dark Fairy Tale is a fast paced choose your own adventure horror fantasy. With the king’s death eminent, he sends his twin sons Barnaby and Keaton on a quest to find and bring back five conquests from the Enchanted Woods. The woods are teaming with mythical monsters and creatures that can kill any who enter. This story reminds me of the books I used to devour as a teenager, loving the grisly challenges and deaths that awaited the wrong choice. I wasn’t sure how a choose your own adventure book would work in kindle form, but I loved it. The flipping between choices was great. I definitely enjoyed the story and the way the characters developed as the story went on. This was probably one of my favorite reads this year as it was just so different, yet enjoyable.

The story was well written, tying in different Grimm characters in fun new ways. This is definitely not a boring read.

[Jack Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Vincere Press for providing me with a review copy of this text in exchange for an honest review!

'Try Not to Die in a Dark Fairy Tale: An Interactive Adventure' is a interactive story that focuses on two heirs to the crown, Barnaby (MC) and his twin brother Keaton, as their father is dying and needs to decide on which of them will become the new king.

The two of them are sent into the Enchanted Woods with the task of defeating 5 villains and bringing back proof of their victory, the first to do so taking the crown. But is it as straight forward as all seems?

Firstly this book is aimed at the YA genre and is incredibly easy to read and follow, and like many interactive stories it engages you all the time. You become Barnaby and share his toils on his quest. I've always enjoyed these style of books from my childhood and this one does a great job of gripping you and making you fear for Barnaby's safety. However my one complaint would be that there is no multiple routes here, there is one correct path and it's a pretty good ending. I like it when there are multiple endings and you have to work out how to get there.

I would definitely recommend this story to younger readers and I think it's enjoyable to most ages if they're fans of fantasy and interactive adventure storie.

Thanks again to NetGalley and Vincere Press for providing me with a review copy in exchange for this book.

Rating: 4/5

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I got access to this book through NetGalley (I don’t remember if it was already available or if it was sent to me but either way) This story (without giving anything away) is a interactive book about two brothers who are tasked with going into the “wild woods” where lots of monsters live and the first to bring back 5 items of proof of defeating “villains” will become king, obviously there’s more to it then that but that’s the basic plot, the writing is good and simple and keeps you wanting to keep reading. You’re in the perspective of Prince Barnaby and must help him make the right choices to survive, I died ALOT but it was still enjoyable and I would go back and try again. The characters are good I think the author did a good job at making distinct personalities.

I think I would read more books in this series/by this author as the ending was fulfilling.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!! Lol, I died so many times. It was awesome! A great, sometimes gory, but full of adventure interactive experience!

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this this morning.
It was a late arc read for me, and after having read Slashtag that is in this collection, so to speak, I'm obsessed.

I used to read choose your own adventure books, and there's a certain magic that comes with it, having to make that next step and controlling this main character that you've grown attached too.
Instead of the author bringing down the axe, it's up to YOU to keep them safe.. Or will you?

There's no rule saying you can't start, well, retrace your steps!
One book, multiple endings!

Also for anyone that used to read this type of book in phsycial form, I want to say it translates amazingly into eReader format, which is what I read this in, it's so well interactive, I'll be grabbing the rest of these asap.

[Chelsea-anne Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you ready for a fun choose your own book, cause this is that.

This took me back to my childhood reading goosebumps choose your owns. In this story we are Prince Barnaby who has to go into the wild woods to bring back 5 trophies to win his fathers crown. His competition is his ruthless twin brother Keaton. I had soo much fun choosing what I think the character should do, now I did die a lot but thankfully there is a try again section so you can go back and rechoose. The story was interesting I loved the twist on classic fairy-tale characters. This was just such a good read and I couldn't put it down.

[Just Another Final Girl Review (Brittany) Levely-Connolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This may be a fairytale and you can be a prince but don't expect to find yourself a happily ever after! A choose your own adventure horror book for adults....so of course, my inner child screamed at me that I
Just HAD TO READ this. It was a really fun experience reading an ebook choose your own adventure, especially when you select your answer and it jumps to the corresponding part of the book for you (no searching the page number necessary), the only downfall with this is you can't read the other options without starting at the beginning of the book. I was no Prince Charming, and actually made a lot of deadly decisions (which was kind of fun) and it was a lot harder to survive in this fairytale than expected. I enjoyed the multiple readings I had trying to beat my brother to the crown and become king, especially well trying to be a good person and not a cowardly lion. I would definitely read more of this series, and it was a great pick for the drive up to the cottage as we all had an entertaining time together taking turns picking our destiny.
It's a great book for teens, y/an and adults, looking for something fun to read. This is an easy read and definitely not super gory or sexual or too scary. I would recommend this ebook version of the series for anyone who wants that nostalgic feeling of a choose your own adventure without a physical book because it is exactly the same feeling but you don't need to flip through the book, the software does it perfectly and the price is affordable, especially if you are not going to read the book again. If you like this kind of book and will read it multiple times go out and buy a physical edition for yourself! I'm just not likely to invest in this kind of thing unless it's an ebook because I am less likely to reread it multiple times.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follow two princes on a deadly quest through an enchanted and wicked forest: who will return alive to claim the crown?

This dark and gruesome fairy tale "choose-your-own-adventure" story was full of nostalgia and the format took me way back to my 1980s elementary school library. The clever organization and decision-making/immersive element was a strength, and while the writing was fine, it would not have held my attention without the promise of an upcoming deadly choice, but the overall reading experience was fun.

Thank you to Netgalley and Vincere Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am NOT the demographic for this book, but love the Choose Your Own Adventures concept! I bet there are going to be older teens or adults who will enjoy this story! I've never encountered books of this sort for an older reader. NIce! If one likes fairy tales with a bit of a twist- this book will be for them. Fun story, lots of gore, well-written. Good luck trying not to die at every turn! But a fun adventure!
I received a Kindle ARC from Nwtgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Melany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved choose your own adventures books as a kid, and I thought this book was fun. The story was compelling enough that I wanted to see it through to the end. The only thing missing was the flipping backs and forth to the various pages like you did in the physical books way back when, but clicking links to find out what happens was fun too!

[Yenphuong Huynh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐️

This was actually so much fun to read and experience! I’ve never read anything like this and I’m glad I picked it up!

I had good run not dying in this then I just kept making wrong decisions and my death count came out to 8…. The next one I’m reading, I’m aiming for only 3 wrong decisions. Wish me luck!

[Kelli Bean Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid read

[Makayla Darnall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story line keeps you hooked. You want to know what's next but death keeps stopping you. This is definitely in my top 5 of the TNTD series!

[Sarah Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was so much fun! It totally brought me right back to my childhood and the choose your own adventure books. I always felt that I was missing out in the choose your own adventure because it just seemed to let you go on and on. With this novel, there is definitely a right answer I love the fact that if you get it wrong, the moment is played out and it tells you to try again. The answers aren’t always obvious either.
There were a lot of very cool combinations of classic fairytale elements mixed with folklore and common insects and animals. Super creative, I really enjoyed the beastiary.
I’m keen to try out more from this Try Not to Die series.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my very first TNTD book. I went in thinking how hard could it be, the main character is noble and wants to prove he will be a better king, so make all the choices an honourable prince would make. Hah. I think I went through every choice possible and died several times- luckily, you can go back and rechoose. The very end of the book is a “survivors version” which has the novel in its entirety based on making all the correct assumptions. Which I did read, and while it’s not a literary masterpiece on its own, it was a fun and wild ride, and surprisingly unpredictable.

It is of course a fairly short story if you manage to get all the correct answers- but I’d be very surprised if anyone actually did that. It was a cute story, unpredictable, and while there’s not a lot of character depth- I don’t think I expected that in a pick your own story type book.

Overall I think I’d read another one.

[Casey Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I received this from Netgalley. I have never read an interactive book before so I was excited to start this. I was fairly confident I would survive with my decisions, but on my first try, I got everyone killed including myself. Then I died like 9 more times. This was a fun read. I liked the dark fairytale themes.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prince Barnaby's father, King Dorian, is succumbing to a sudden illness. His father tells him and his twin, Prince Keaton, that they must compete against each other to figure out who will gain the throne after his passing. They must both enter the woods, and whoever comes back with five separate trophies from five different enemies will become king. This would normally be all well and good, but Barnaby has little to no training in anything physical. He is strong in smarts, not in brawn, and Keaton already has several kills on his belt. Who will win the crown? What dangers will they face in the woods? Will they make it out alive?

I absolutely love this series; it fills me with nostalgia thinking about the choose-your-own-adventure books I adored as a child. This one is no different, adding to the nostalgic feeling, bringing in twists on popular fairy tales. The story was strong as you follow Prince Barnaby through the woods, and there were several moments of terror throughout. Hello, spideer. As always, I tried surviving, and failed miserably. Though I did have less deaths than usual, I think I only met my end seven times naturally before going back to read the rest of the endings. Usually it's at least a dozen.

If you haven't given this series a shot, you need to. This one is a great one to start with.

[Addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Try Not To Die In A Dark Fairytale” was a thrilling story and adventure that had me hooked on every word from the start to the finish. Barnaby, a prince who is competing against his brother for his father’s crown, was engaging and relatable. Following him in his journey through his quest was exciting and fun! It kept me on the edge of my seat as I navigated each twist and turn, especially when they came from my own choices!
I really enjoyed every single moment of this story and I look forward to reading more of the “Try Not To Die” stories. Highly recommend for anyone who loves immersive stories!

[Jacek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling gamebook with lots of fairy tale references portrayed in unique ways.

[Justine]

no

dnf
*arc from netgalley*

[Carrie Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑰 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝑾𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔--𝒂 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒔.

I loved reading the "choose your scare" books with my kids, so I jumped at the chance to be an early reader for this title. New fear unlocked: I am not a good decision maker. I only got the choice right one time!

King Dorian is dying, and he and his wife have created a quest to determine which of his twin sons will wear his crown. Whoever can defeat five villains in the Wild Woods and return to the castle will become the next ruler of Vallorum.

Barnaby and Keaton are as different as brothers can be. Introvert Barnaby has spent his life in a library, while Keaton has trained with weapons and is proud to show off his athleticism. Will this be a classic tale of brain vs. brawn?

I loved how the stages of the Hero's Journey were present in this interactive book. Even though I rarely made the correct choice the first time, it was entertaining to read the consequences of my actions.

Interactive, nostalgic, and fun! Thank you to the author for the early read. This book will publish June 4, 2024.

[Sophie Chalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Vincere Press for providing an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.

I died so many times in this book…I don’t think I’d be surviving a dark fairy tale without having the try again option…

I liked the interactive element of the book. The actual plot wasn’t anything groundbreaking but it was still enjoyable and I liked the elements of fairy tales that was used throughout.

The only main problem I had was the interactive element. I found this made the story or plot sometimes confusing as I was jumping around a lot (maybe says more about my choices in this book) and I got lost several times. I don’t think any of the characters had any real personality to them - we were told the characters traits but they rarely seemed to show them and sometimes their personalities seemed a bit two dimensional.

For those reasons, I have only given it a 3 ⭐️ rating but I think this was mainly because I don’t think interactive books are for me. I find them to jarring in terms of plot and characters. But it was enjoyable and I would still recommend it to people who want to try something new or just explore a different kind of book.