Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where every week we’re given a new Top Ten list to blog about! ‘Tis the time of year when top ten lists abound, and I have SO MANY coming up! It’s one of my favorite things about reading and blogging, being able to look back at my reading year and celebrate the best of the best.
I read a fair amount of new authors in 2015, which I’ll be forever grateful for, because a few are now on my “auto buy” list. For the purposes of this list, my definition of “new-to-me” are authors who have more than one book out, and have been published prior to 2015. So this list does NOT include 2015 debut authors. I usually don’t rank my top ten lists, but in this case I will. Here are my top ten New to Me authors, listed in order of favorites, number one being my VERY favorite new author of the year:
1. Daryl Gregory
I managed to read THREE Daryl Gregory books this year, which is a record, I believe. But I just could not get enough of him. Not only that, but I went on a buying spree and bought EVERY ONE of his back-list books! That’s how serious of a fan I am:-) He did a wonderful interview with me earlier in the year, and I won’t tell you which one, but one of his books made it onto my top ten adult list, which will be posted next week.
2. Ben Tripp
I was aware of Ben Tripp, since I have a copy of his YA book The Accidental Highwayman, but I hadn’t gotten around to reading it before I stumbled upon The Fifth House of the Heart. And what a surprise it was! I loved it enough to add Tripp to my auto-buy list for sure:-)
3. Catherynne M. Valente
I read two books by Valente this year, and I’m so happy to have finally done so! Her writing is probably the best I’ve ever read, in terms of her prose, and her imagination is just OUT THERE and crazy and I love everything about her! Now I need to check out her YA Fairyland series.
4. Jason M. Hough
I actually met Jason M. Hough for the first time at Comic Con 2014 and got a signed copy of his then-just-released The Darwin Elevator. But for some reason I never got around to reading it. Enter 2015, and I met him again at this year’s Comic Con, where he was signing copies of his about-to-be-released Zero World. After such a great reading experience, I will definitely go back and check out the Dire Earth Cycle series.
5. Rachel Caine
I know, I know. You all can’t believe I haven’t read any Rachel Caine books until this year. It’s true! But I was blown away by Ink and Bone, and you can bet I’ll be digging back into her back-list at some point.
6. Naomi Novik
I’ve heard all sorts of wonderful things about Novik’s Temeraire series, and so I jumped at the chance to read her 2015 release, Uprooted. Boy was I impressed with everything about it! I’d love to check out the rest of her books, if they’re as good as this one was:-)
7. Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire
I finally read my first Mira Grant book this year, Rolling in the Deep, after hearing so many good things about her books. Wow, is she ever prolific! With multiple books under both Mira Grant and Seanan McGuire, she’s got a hefty back-list, and I look forward to reading more by her, in particular her Newsflesh series.
8. Jim Butcher
Hard to believe an urban fantasy fan like me hasn’t read The Dresden Files, but of course I had to start with his latest, the first in his new steampunk series The Aeronaut’s Windlass. I look forward to meeting Harry Dresden soon, however!
9. Christina Henry
I had no idea Christina Henry had so many books out! But she does, just check out her Goodreads page. But I had my first taste of this inventive writer with her dark—VERY dark—version of Alice in Wonderland. I loved it, although at times it was difficult to read, and I look forward to the sequel to Alice that will be out next summer, called Red Queen.
10. Emma Newman
Emma Newman is best known for her Split Worlds series, which I have never read, but when Planetfall came out this year, and there was so much buzz surrounding it, I knew I had to try her out. I really enjoyed Planetfall, and I look forward to her next book.
I’m so glad I have some new favorite authors, and I hope 2016 gives me another opportunity to catch up on some others that I’ve missed. Let me know who your favorite new-to-you author was this year!
I didn’t make my own list of “new to me” authors for 2015 – but if I did, Naomi Novik would definitely be on mine! I have every intention on checking out her Temeraire series now after loving Uprooted. 🙂 I’d also put Patrick Rothfuss, N.K. Jemisin, Leigh Bardugo, Laini Taylor, and Juliet Marillier on my list.
Sara L. recently posted…Interview with Alyssa Palombo, Author of “The Violinist of Venice”
I’m reading The Fifth Season right now, and Jemisin would have been on this list if I were a faster reader, LOL. And I NEED to read Juliet Marillier. Next year!
Great list! I’m definitely going to have to check out Daryl Gregory’s books. I also still need to read Rolling in the Deep. I’ve heard so many great things about it and it sounds awesome.
Samantha recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2015
Oh you must read Daryl Gregory! I know he’s not the most well-known author, but he’s the real deal:-)
Excellent picks! I can’t believe this year was your first year reading Seanan McGuire/Mira Grant, though! (I still need to read Daryl Gregory and Ben Tripp.)
I know, I can’t believe it either! But I love all these lists, I’m making my top ten list for next year already, LOL!
Jim Butcher is one of my all time favs. I just bought a copy of Backup for $10. Been looking for that one for years.
I really loved him, and I can’t wait to read more of his books:-)
Glad to see Rachel Caine is a new fave- she’s great. Ooh and Mira Grant and Jim Butcher too! I associate all three with SDCC 🙂 I’ve heard good things about Uprooted too.
Lucy recently posted…Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2015
You are right, I’ve seen all three at SDCC;-)
Oh man, I had no idea that was your first Mira Grant book!! *gasp* Yes. Her Newsflesh series is a must. I am super anxious to get around to many on your list. Ink & Bone, Uprooted, and Alice specifically. 🙂
I know, I can’t believe I’ve never read Mira Grant either! Newsflesh is going to be the next thing of hers I read.
I’ve been meaning to try Aeronaut’s Windlass and need to move it up so it doesn’t get consigned to the “maybe someday=never” category. 🙂 It looks really interesting. Great list.
Greg recently posted…Top Ten New Authors
You definitely need to read it before book two comes out;-)
Uprooted is definitely on my TBR list! My TTT
Carrie recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Where Have You Been All My Life?
You will love Uprooted!
What a unique list – you posted a lot of different authors. I loved Ink and Bone and have Harrison Squared checked out from my library right now. I mentioned last week on a blog, for some odd reason, I am pretty much drawn to any book which has tentacles on the cover. Strange I know. I hope to read Uprooted soon.
Barb(boxermommyreads) recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – New-To-Me Favorite Authors of 2015!
You and me both, Barb!
I can’t say as I recall reading any of the authors on your Top Ten Tuesday post this week, so I have some new to me authors to check out for sure.
Lisa @ Captivated Reader recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday — Top Ten New-To-Me Favorite Authors I Read For The First Time In 2015
Aah, Seanan is my underrated favourite. Her October Daye UF series is just so, so good. And yeah, I also discovered Naomi Novik and Rachel Caine this year, much to my delight! Can’t wait for the sequel to Ink and Bone.
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Me too, the Ink and Bone sequel can’t come out soon enough for me:-)
ha ha! I love the author photo for Emma Newman. I really need to read Ben Tripp!!
Lisa @TenaciousReader recently posted…Audiobook Review: Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie
I think you’d enjoy The Fifth House of the Heart, it’s just so different from what I was expecting!
I didn’t read Harrison Squared, but I did read We Are All Completely Fine earlier this year. I thought it was an excellent book, very scary at times, and well deserving of the Shirley Jackson Award.
It was sooo good, one of my faves of the year:-) I’ve been searching for Gregory’s next book but I can’t find anything so far.
Cathrynne Valente made my list too but for her Fairyland series. I need to read some of her adult lit now! Glad you’ve been inducted into Butcher world – good luck meeting Dresden:)!
Stephanie recently posted…TOP TWELVE TUESDAY – Say Who? New-to-me Authors in 2015!
I do want to see what Valente’s Fairyland series is like, I’ve heard great things.
By this time next year, I hope I’ll be making a Top 10 New-To-Me Favorite Authors list with Valente on it…seriously, I need to read her!
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten New-To-Me Favorite Authors I Read For The First Time In 2015
I know, I’m already planning next year’s list as well! Ha ha:-)
The Newsflesh trilogy was my first encounter with Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire and I’ve been a fan ever since. Nothing could be farther from my mind than being captured by a story about the zombie apocalypse, and yet it happened… I hope you enjoy it and I can’t wait for your comments!
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The only reason I didn’t add Hough was because I had already read The Darwin Elevator. I’m looking forward to Radiance and Ink and Bone as well as The Aeronaut’s Windlass. Harry Dresden is one my all time favorite characters! I hope you love his series as much as I do!
I haven’t read any books by these authors yet, but I’m hoping to read Ink and Bone next year.
Tripp is such a good choice. I’ve just read Uprooted – too late to have the author on my list otherwise she would definitely have been on there.
Lynn 😀