Books Outside Your Usual Genres (rec list)

Quiet Writers 2025 Reading Challenge, prompt 3: A book outside your usual genres

Apr 30, 2025

The third prompt on the QW 2025 reading challenge is “Something outside your usual genres”. There’s been some confusion about what this means, but it’s really as simple as it states: read a book that isn’t your go-to genre. So, if you typically prefer to read fantasy, try something that’s not fantasy.
Another option is simply to read a book with unique features, something you don’t see a lot in books or something you don’t read often.

We had a bit of trouble getting a response for this one, so most of the recs do fall under the “unique features”
The books in this list were added from Threads, where we asked authors to tell us about their books, and most opted to run with the “Something weird and a little different” request.

Before I get to the book recs, here’s a reminder of the full list of challenge prompts!
1. A debut book
The first book this author has published.
2. A local author
"Local" in this instance could be narrowed down to the same state. If you're in a smaller country, try for someone in your country. Whatever the closest is that works for you.
3. Something outside your usual genres
A genre that you don't often read. Not your go-to genre.
4. A book with a disabled author or main character
A book featuring a disabled main character, or written by a disabled author. Any kind of disability.
5. A seasonal book
This could be a book specific to an event or holiday (Valentine's Day, Halloween, Christmas etc), or an actual season (summer, autumn, winter, spring).
6. A book with an LGBTQIA+ MC
A book featuring an LGBTQIA+ main character.
7. A book with a BIPOC author or MC
A book featuring a BIPOC main character, or written by a BIPOC author.
8. An author you haven't read before
This is the first book you've read by this author.
9. A collection of short stories or poetry
A book containing short stories or poetry, by a single author, or by multiple authors. (If you get stuck, try an edition of Quiet Writers)
10. An #OwnVoices book
A book written by someone with the shared experiences of their character, such as an autistic character written by an autistic author or a trans character written by a trans author.
11. A non-fiction or children's book
A non-fiction book, or a children's book. Whichever suits you best.
12. free space :)
There are thousands of indie & self-pub books out there. Go pick one that takes your fancy!

If you’d like to join in, the challenge is listed on Storygraph.

It's Only a Little Death by Shane Blackheart
Genres: humorous horror
Age category: adult
Notes: Everything is so queer you'll be throwing up rainbows, sexy spider, corny b-horror jokes, slasher scene, so much monster smut.
Death is usually the end, but for Silver, it’s a chance at revenge.
First, they have to recover their memories and the reason they died, but to do so, they have an important challenge. They have beasts to confront in the underworld.
And these beasts serve one lascivious purpose. They have to trigger a ‘little death’ - a spark - to Silver’s system for memories to resurface…
This book is available on multiple online stores.

Goodreads • Storygraph • store page (books2read) • author site

The Fall is All There Is by C.M. Caplan
Genres: fantasy, science fiction
Age category: adult
Notes: LGBTQIA+
All Petre Mercy wanted was a good old-fashioned dramatic exit from his life as a prince. But it's been five years since he fled home on a cyborg horse. Now the King - his Dad - is dead - and Petre has to decide which heir to pledge his thyroid-powered sword to.
As the youngest in a set of quadruplets, he's all too aware that the line of succession is murky. His siblings are on the precipice of power grabs, and each of them want him to pick their side.
If Petre has any hope of preventing civil war, he'll have to avoid one sibling who wants to take him hostage, win back another's trust after years of rivalry and resentment, and get an audience with a sister he's been avoiding for five years.
Before he knows it, he's plunged himself into a web of intrigue and a world of strange, unnatural inventions just to get to her doorstep.
Family reunions can be a special form of torture.
This book is available on Amazon.

Goodreads • Storygraph • store page (Amazon) • author linktree

Best Served Cold by E.M. Denning
Genres: romance
Age category: adult
Notes: a guy falls for a demon who feeds on revenge, so they go on a little gory payback killing spree
This book is available on Amazon & KU.

Goodreads • Storygraph • store page (Amazon) • author linktree

Saint of the Shadows by Jonesy Elise
Genres: science fiction, paranormal romance
Age category: adult
Notes: strong FMC, femdom, love triangle, hurt/comfort, superpowers, crime/mystery. It’s a femdom superhero romance from the perspective of a tough and no nonsense ER nurse as she’s trying to figure out the masked man’s identity and seek Justice for her best friend. There’s a zombie mouse and POV chapters from the villain.
This book is available on Amazon.

Goodreads • Storygraph • store page (Amazon) • author site

3 Dukes & the Lady of the Fae by Will Forrest
Genres: erotic historical portal romantasy
Age category: adult
Notes: the Fae are semi-demonic, genderfluid shapeshifters and the Queen has sentient tendrils, and beneath it all there is a Sleeping Beauty subplot that leads to a bit of heartbreak at the end
The Duke of Millwall fears nothing. The Duke of Slough fears everything. The Duke of Skegness is afraid to ask why it is whenever the three men met, strange magic happens. The same magic that stole his love many years ago and trapped her in the Court of the Fae forever. Unless three dukes are all it takes to break the spell. Anything is worth trying once as our three unlikely heroes come face to face with the Lady of the Fae. Who will become Hir mythic consort? And will he survive the honour?
This book is available on Amazon/KU.

Goodreads • store page (Amazon) • author site

My Mummy is Evil by Melissa Gijsbers
Genres: picture book
Age category: children’s
Notes: inspired by my kids calling me evil for making them go to bed at normal time in the school holidays. It's weird because it embraces kids calling their mum 'evil', but also has a quirky sense of humour.
My Mummy is Evil.
She makes me do things I don't like, such as going to bed at seven thirty every night, doing my homework, and brushing my teeth.
She says it's for my own good...
BUT I KNOW THE TRUTH!
This book is available on Amazon.

Goodreads • store page (Amazon) • author site

The Nøkk and the Jock by Leslie McAdam
Genres: romance
Age category: adult
Notes: MM. I’ve never read a book where a nøkk (melancholy shape-shifting water spirit from Scandinavian mythology) is a love interest. So I wrote one.
A human at a monster university falls in love with his roommate and learns he’s bi.
This book is available on Amazon & KU.

Goodreads • Storygraph • store page (author site) • author site

Miners of the Mystics by Penny Moss
Genres: MM monster romance
Age category: adult
Notes: Doom magnets, forbidden love, pining, size difference, age gap, human/non-human, dumb but sweet mc, hurt/comfort (mostly hurt), found family, casual queer rep, slow burn, angst, twink in distress, queernorm world, first time, virgin MCs, mute MC (technically), masked LI, human x nonhuman, working class MC, always broke
Deep in the mountain where magic and mining coincide, penniless Oliver enlists as a Miner of the Mystics. The dream is unfathomable riches, the risk is injury or even death. A risk worth taking for just a glance at Sentinel Tau, an otherworldly being tasked with protecting the mountain’s inhabitants.
Oliver’s luck plummets when he suffers a magical curse. Even a wayward touch could hurt him or his friends, alienating Oliver from everyone but Tau, whose healing magic he needs to survive. Oliver aches for an echo of his feelings behind the Sentinel’s expressionless mask—and discovers it in unexpected ways.
When Oliver and his friends unearth a portal, the rarest artefact of all, he is plunged into a world of nightmares. There, he uncovers the gruesome origins of mining for the transmundane. The truth of what they might have unleashed upon their own world is only the beginning of a harrowing road Oliver stumbles down to be with Tau.
This book is available on Amazon as an ebook, or Barnes & Noble as a paperback.

Goodreads • Storygraph • store page (books2read) • author site

Sins of Bleeding Gold by S. S. Nightshade
Genres: High/Dark/Epic Fantasy
Age category: adult
After the death of her mother, Raven has longed for two things: revenge, and freedom. For decades she’s lived in utter secrecy, stifled by the rogue group of hellhounds who rescued her from Mary's fate. But when her golden blood is spilt in a New York alleyway, it’s clear the time for hiding is over.
Kidnapped by a pair of vampires, and reunited with her mysterious long-lost sister, Raven must finally nurture her neglected magic in order to survive in their world. The problem? The power in her veins is triggered by her unbridled emotions, and can be delivered in catastrophic blows.
Her sister is cold and cunning, the polar opposite of the flirtatious vampire intent on making her his. But it’s the lingering desire for one of the hounds which distracts her from the danger she’s in. The Devil wants her dead and the Angels are less than virtuous. Raven must master herself before she is captured or destroyed.
This fantasy romance softens trauma with wit, pain with power and a lifetime of feeling silenced with a world of magic and mystery. Raven and her family challenge the traditional narrative of good vs evil, suggesting the two are more similar than believed.
This book is available on the author’s website.

Goodreads • store page (author site) • author site

Rosethorn by Donna Shannon
Genres: fantasy
Age category: adult
Notes: Book 1 of the Raining Thorns Series, an epic fantasy about a series of characters trying to stop the outcome of an apocalyptic prophecy. Fantasy comedy inspired by 80s/90s British comedy, meaning it's a regular fantasy with a lot of puns and witty banter in it
This book is available on multiple online stores.

Goodreads • Storygraph • store page (books2read) • author linktree

My Lord by L. B. Shimaira
Genres: erotic gothic horror
Age category: adult
Notes: It has "vampires" that are immortal humans (not undead) who need to consume not only human blood but also flesh, and they have purple blood. Aside from the cannibalism, it's a slow-burn spicy novel that also focusses on trauma and overcoming it, rediscovering oneself
After losing hearth and home, Meya attempts to escape the traumatic memories by travelling east. In 13th century Tristanja, however, it’s not safe to be alone.
A local slave trader catches wind of the kinless woman and abducts her in the dead of night. Beaten and abused, the now meek Meya is sold to Lord Deminas. He's known to be cruel, yet becomes strangely protective of his new chambermaid, punishing anyone who dares hurt her. After cutting her to drink her blood, he even uses his own to heal her wounds.
Meya and her paramour wonder if Deminas’ dark secret is why servants regularly vanish, including the lord's previous chambermaids. However, the two women quickly learn that Lord Deminas isn't the only danger lurking in the castle's shadows.
This book is available on multiple online stores.

Goodreads • Storygraph • store page (author site) • book site

It Doesn't Matter Anymore by Natasha Yentrouc
Genres: Post-apocalyptic literary fiction
Age category: adult
Notes: It assumes life is more painful than death, unique perspective
I don’t know what year it is. I don’t know where I am. I don't even know my own name. None of that matters anymore. The only things that matter are the three things I know.
I am still alive.
Everyone else is gone.
I can’t die.
When that is your whole world, everything else just doesn’t matter. It doesn't matter anymore.
This book is available on KU.