I've chosen today to write about the authors whose books have made me particularly happy over the past year.
Rachel Hartman
One of my favourite books that I've read in 2012 so far (and the year is nearly over!) is Serpahina by Rachel Hartman. I love the fantasy world that was created, I loved the characters. I really loved falling into this story and being completely immersed in it for awhile. Dragons! It was exciting.
Seraphina is Rachel Hartman's debut book, and I'm hoping that we'll be seeing plenty more books from her and soon.
Tanya Byrne
I also read another debut book, this time by Tanya Byrne and it too is another favourite of the year. The book? Heart-Shaped Bruise. In the past week it's been nominated for a gazillion awards and things, so clearly it is not just me who is smitten with this beautifully written book about a girl in a young offenders institution telling her story of revenge.
I eagerly await anything else by Tanya Byrne!
Cat Clarke
Not only am I thankful to have read the gorgeous and emotional stories by Cat Clarke that are already published - Entangled and Torn - but I am thankful that it is not too long now to wait to read Cat's latest book, Undone. I am very excited!
I read Torn this past year and I loved it. It made me feel all the things. I love the very flawed characters and the bad decisions being made. I felt guilty and anxious and mixed up inside right along with the characters. I love that about Cat Clarke's books, that I'm dragged into the story so completely.
Julie Kagawa
Oh I do adore Julie Kagawa! The Iron Fey series is incredible, a series of books that really made me change my mind about fairies. But this past year I've read The Immortal Rules and also The Lost Prince, both of which I loved.
Before reading The Immortal Rules I was feeling a little bit weary of vampires, but again, Ms Kagawa changed my mind about them and made me excited once more. And I do love spin-off series. While I am less enamoured so far of this new series following Meghan's little brother, I will still wait anxiously for the next book in the series!
Sara Zarr
I am such a fan of Sara Zarr's. Last year I did my best to catch up with her backlist and I really loved that. With every new Sara Zarr book I've read, I whip myself into a frenzy for a new book! So I was very happy to read her latest, How To Save A Life this past year and I loved it.
I go on such a rollercoaster of emotions reading a book by Sara Zarr! I love how in How to Save a Life I really changed my mind about how I felt about both of the main characters by the end.
Morgan Matson
I really loved Amy and Roger's Epic Detour when I read it a few years ago. And while I was curious about Second Chance Summer, I wasn't DYING to read it. I was thinking it was going to be a light-hearted summer romance and I would read it and feel happy inside and then move on.
Oh, how wrong I was. The first half of the book was just as I thought it would be. And then it reached a certain point and my heart just broke. By the end of it, I was a sobbing mess and Morgan Matson was added to my list of favourite authors.
Courtney Summers
Courtney Summers is one of my favourite authors and I'm always thankful for her books! Especially Some Girls Are which ripped my heart out and had be uncontrollably crying for most of that reading experience. It was a good thing, I swear.
This year, I read her This Is Not a Test about a group of teenagers stuck in a high school with zombies all around them. While it isn't as wonderful-amazing as her contemporary novels, I still very much enjoyed it. And I will always look forward to her new books!
Melina Marchetta
I didn't read any book by Melina Marchetta for the first time this year, but it just felt wrong to write a list of authors I'm thankful for and not include her! Melina Marchetta IS my favourite author. Books like Saving Francesca, The Piper's Son and Jellicoe Road made me think and feel and cry.
I still have Finnikin of the Rock to read and I'm sure that I will get to it sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, I love Jonah Griggs.
Jennifer Echols
I do love a book by Jennifer Echols. She writes some amazing contemporary romances. I read two of her YA love stories this year - Such A Rush and The One That I Want. Neither one of them quite hit the highs of Going Too Far, but I still felt that tension and that pull on my heartstrings in both of them.
Especially Such a Rush. There's so much painful longing going on there as the main character is blackmailed into dating one brother when it's been the other brother that she's been crushing on for YEARS. What an awkward, fantastic situation to read about.
Cath Crowley
I love Cath Crowley! Graffiti Moon has to be the most beautiful book ever! And based on the strength of that gorgeous novel, I went out and bought A Little Wanting Song and finally got around to reading it this past year.
I really loved the dual-narrative of two very different girls and I was still surprised how emotionally invested I became in their wants and their feelings. A Little Wanting Song was such a fantastic book, about friendship and family and figuring stuff out. I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to read more from Cath Crowley!
Those are the authors that I'm especially thankful for this year! Which authors are you thankful for?
Graffiti Moon is such a poetic book isn't it?! I totally loved it but I haven't read anything else from the author. I'll need to fix that!
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful fr Cassandra Clare. She is the pied piper and I'll follow her anywhere.
Graffiti Moon is just absolute beauty in written form. I really love it so.
DeleteCassandra Clare really should have been on my list too, why is she not on my list? I read both Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince by her this year and I FELL IN LOVE.
I am taking it you are not a twilight or 50 shades of grey fan? lol
ReplyDeleteErm? I've read both, but I wouldn't put either series or author on my 'authors I'm thankful for' list?
DeleteSo many amazing authors on this list! The only ones I haven't read are Marchetta and Hartman, but I have Jellicoe Road on my shelf!
ReplyDeleteOh Sophie. I cannot believe that you haven't yet read anything by Melina Marchetta! I don't usually choose a Number One Favourite Above Everyone Else, but Melina Marchetta really is my number one favourite author.
DeleteI totally agree with Julie Kagawa! She is a master in creating worlds and characters :)
ReplyDeleteMel@thedailyprophecy.
She really is, isn't she?!
DeleteI really need to read more Melina Marchetta! What am I doing with my life?! And I haven't tried any of the other authors. So many books...
ReplyDeleteOh your comment made me laugh :) What are you doing with your life?! .. but wait, you haven't read ANY of the other authors? Whoa.
DeleteI am so desperate to read Rachel Hartman! And when I went into the bookstore to buy it, it was sold out!!! I have it on request at the library too. It sounds so fantastic, dragons and music, a lovely fantasy. I'm so glad you enjoyed it as much as everyone else who has read it so far this year.
ReplyDeleteYour authors have made you so happy, love this post!
Oh Susan, the very best of luck tracking down a copy of Seraphina! I assure you that it will be worth the wait :)
DeleteSecond Chance Summer had me in tears for the last 40 pages! I was a mess! Also READ FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK. NOW!
ReplyDeleteI was a mess. It was an ugly crying situation. And yes, I know *hangs head* I really need to read Finnikin of the Rock!
DeleteWhat a great idea for a post. I personally only read Sara Zarr and Courtney Summers for the first time this year and am now hooked on their writing. My YAcker secret santa sent me Seraphina for Christmas so I'm VERY excited about discovering Rachel Hartman too!
ReplyDelete