I have abandoned so many authors after reading one or two of their books because I got distracted by other new, shiny authors. But here are fourteen authors I want to come back to soon!
This list is alphabetized by author's last name, and I kept it to a maximum of two books per author (you're welcome 😉). All covers are linked to Goodreads.
Leigh Bardugo
Already Read: The Familiar
Want to Read Next: Ninth House
"Galaxy 'Alex' Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her? Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive." (From Goodreads)
Marie Brennan
Already Read: Memoirs of Lady Trent Series
Want to Read Next: The Mask of Mirrors (Rook & Rose #1)
"Fortune favors the bold. Magic favors the liars. Ren is a con artist who has come to the sparkling city of Nadežra with one goal: to trick her way into a noble house, securing her fortune and her sister's future. But as she's drawn into the elite world of House Traementis, she realizes her masquerade is just one of many surrounding her. And as nightmare magic begins to weave its way through the City of Dreams, the poisonous feuds of its aristocrats and the shadowy dangers of its impoverished underbelly become tangled…with Ren at their heart." (From Goodreads)
Jacqueline Carey
Already Read: Starless
Want to Read Next: Kushiel's Dart
"The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassing beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good... and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt. Phèdre nó Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with very a special mission... and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one. Phèdre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented a spy as she is courtesan, Phèdre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair... and beyond. Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assassin; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and Phèdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear." (From Goodreads)
Katherine Center
Already Read: The Lost Husband, What You Wish For
Want to Read Next: Hello Stranger
"Sadie Montgomery never saw what was coming . . . Literally! One minute she’s celebrating the biggest achievement of her life—placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition—the next, she’s lying in a hospital bed diagnosed with a “probably temporary” condition known as face blindness. She can see, but every face she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features. Imagine trying to read a book upside down and in another language. This is Sadie’s new reality with every face she sees. But, as she struggles to cope, hang on to her artistic dream, work through major family issues, and take care of her beloved dog, Peanut, she falls into—love? Lust? A temporary obsession to distract from the real problems in her life?—with not one man but two very different ones. The timing couldn’t be worse. If only her life were a little more in focus, Sadie might be able to find her way. But perceiving anything clearly right now seems impossible. Even though there are things we can only find when we aren’t looking. And there are people who show up when we least expect them. And there are always, always other ways of seeing." (From Goodreads)
Catherine Doyle
Already Read: The Storm Keeper trilogy
Want to Read Next: Pirates of Darksea, The City of Fantome duology
Pirates of Darksea: "Deep in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean, where the full moon rests on the horizon, lies a secret kingdom called Darksea. Ruled by the Pirate King, Captain O'Malley, Darksea's tranquil waters have, of late, been haunted by an invisible and deadly monster – a monster that is eating the once-beautiful islands in gigantic bites. On the other side of the horizon, at his home in Galway, Max Reid and his family are battling a different monster. His big brother Christopher is in hospital and getting sicker – and his parents have begun to talk of miracles. Then one night a loud, bright red parrot taps on Max's bedroom window, carrying an invitation from the pirate king. Captain O'Malley needs a new crew member for a dangerous quest; and the reward is everything Max has been hoping for. But in Darksea, not everyone is as they seem. When Captain O'Malley's secret threatens to upend their mission and destroy Max's chance to help his family, Max realises he's going to have to navigate much more than he bargained for…" (From Goodreads)
The Dagger and the Flame: "In the dark underbelly of a beautiful city, two rival assassins are pitted against each other in a deadly game of revenge, where the most dangerous mistake of all is falling in love…" (From Goodreads)
Lucy Foley
Already Read: The Guest List, The Midnight Feast
Want to Read Next: The Paris Apartment
"Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there. The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question. The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge. Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling." (From Goodreads)
Brigid Kemmerer
Already Read: Cursbreakers trilogy, Forging Silver into Stars
Want to Read Next: Warrior Princess Assassin (on shelf), Defy the Night trilogy
Warrior Princess Assassin: "New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer makes her adult debut with this irresistible and steamy fantasy about three characters whose paths will collide in surprising ways – two royals pushed into a political engagement, and the assassin tasked with hunting them down." (From Goodreads)
Defy the Night: "The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand. King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents' shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King's Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion--it's the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited. Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most--but it's still not enough. As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King's Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it's even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first." (From Goodreads)
Liane Moriarty
Already Read: Here One Moment
Want to Read Next: Apples Never Fall, Nine Perfect Strangers
Apples Never Fall: "The Delaney family love one another dearly—it’s just that sometimes they want to murder each other . . . If your mother was missing, would you tell the police? Even if the most obvious suspect was your father? This is the dilemma facing the four grown Delaney siblings." (From Goodreads)
Nine Perfect Strangers: "Could ten days at a health resort really change you forever? Nine people gather at a remote health resort. Some are here to lose weight, some are here to get a reboot on life, some are here for reasons they can’t even admit to themselves. Amidst all of the luxury and pampering, the mindfulness and meditation, they know these ten days might involve some real work. But none of them could imagine just how challenging the next ten days are going to be." (From Goodreads)
C.J. Redwine
Already Read: The Blood Spell
Want to Read Next: The Shadow Queen
"A New York Times bestselling dark epic fantasy inspired by the tale of Snow White, from C. J. Redwine, the author of the Defiance series. This breathtakingly romantic, action-packed fantasy is perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and Cinder." (From Goodreads)
Brandon Sanderson
Already Read: Mistborn, The Well of Ascension, The Hero of Ages, Tress of the Emerald Sea
Want to Read Next: The Way of Kings, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
The Way of Kings: "From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings, book one of The Stormlight Archive begins an incredible new saga of epic proportion." (From Goodreads)
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter: "#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings us a gripping story set in the Cosmere universe told by Hoid, where two people from incredibly different worlds must compromise and work together to save their worlds from ruin." (From Goodreads)
Laini Taylor
Already Read: Strange the Dreamer, Muse of Nightmares
Want to Read Next: Daughter of Smoke and Bone
"Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low. And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war." (From Goodreads)
Amor Towles
Already Read: A Gentleman in Moscow, Rules for Civility (currently reading)
Want to Read Next: The Lincoln Highway
"In June 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile work farm where he has just served fifteen months for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett’s intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother, Billy, and head to California, where they can start their lives anew. But when the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden’s car. Together, they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett’s future, one that will take them all on a fateful journey in the opposite direction—to the city of New York. Spanning just ten days and told from multiple points of view, Towles’s third novel will satisfy fans of his multilayered literary styling while providing them an array of new and richly imagined settings, characters, and themes." (From Goodreads)
Anne Tyler
Already Read: Back When We Were Grownups, The Accidental Tourist, Three Days in June
Want to Read Next: A Spool of Blue Thread, Breathing Lessons
A Spool of Blue Thread: "'It was a beautiful, breezy, yellow-and-green afternoon.' This is the way Abby Whitshank always begins the story of how she fell in love with Red that day in July 1959. The whole family--their two daughters and two sons, their grandchildren, even their faithful old dog--is on the porch, listening contentedly as Abby tells the tale they have heard so many times before. And yet this gathering is different too: Abby and Red are growing older, and decisions must be made about how best to look after them, and the fate of the house so lovingly built by Red's father. Brimming with the luminous insight, humor, and compassion that are Anne Tyler's hallmarks, this capacious novel takes us across three generations of the Whitshanks, their shared stories and long-held secrets, all the unguarded and richly lived moments that combine to define who and what they are as a family." (From Goodreads)
Breathing Lessons: "Maggie and Ira Moran have been married for twenty-eight years–and it shows: in their quarrels, in their routines, in their ability to tolerate with affection each other’s eccentricities. Maggie, a kooky, lovable meddler and an irrepressible optimist, wants nothing more than to fix her son’s broken marriage. Ira is infuriatingly practical, a man 'who should have married Ann Landers.' What begins as a day trip to a funeral becomes an adventure in the unexpected. As Maggie and Ira navigate the riotous twists and turns, they intersect with an assorted cast of eccentrics–and rediscover the magic of the road called life and the joy of having somebody next to you to share the ride . . . bumps and all." (From Goodreads)
Elisabeth Wheatley
Already Read: Daindreth's Assassin, Daindreth's Outlaw
Want to Read Next: Daindreth's Traitor (on shelf), Tears of the Wolf
Daindreth's Traitor: "To free the man she loves, she must face those who enslaved them both. Against all odds, Amira and Daindreth found the Istovari sorceresses deep within the perilous Cursewood. But that turns out to be only the beginning. They find the sorceresses greatly weakened and lacking the power they once had. The Istovari claim to be unable to free Daindreth from the curse they placed on him. Worse, most of them want to kill Daindreth to avenge his father’s banishment of their people. Meanwhile, Thadred finds himself miraculously alive. Not only that but bonded to a creature of myth. As he discovers new power as a sorcerer, he begins to wonder if perhaps there is more to his heritage than he was told and more to his potential than he ever dreamed. They are one step ahead of the empress’s plans, but the imperial agents are closing in. They are all running out of time before Daindreth is captured by the empress’s men and the Istovari are wiped out completely. If Amira, Daindreth, and Thadred cannot persuade the sorceresses soon, the whole of the empire will pay the price." (From Goodreads)
Tears of the Wolf: "After the murder of her child, Brynn of the Istovari wants nothing more than to escape the shackles of her birthright. As a sorceress and the last of a once-great bloodline, many still seek to use her for their own schemes. Brynn will do anything for the chance at freedom, even if it means marrying an upstart warrior from the far north. Cenric needs a wife—but not just any wife—a sorceress. Having recently reclaimed his inheritance after a youth spent across the sea, a sorceress will bring security and legitimacy in his estranged homeland. A marriage gives both Brynn and Cenric what they want—for now. In the far northern reaches lies a land ruled by pride and strict codes of honor. As Brynn and Cenric struggle to navigate the aftermath of their hasty union, they soon realize that rival factions within the kingdom are on the verge of war once again. Alone, they will be destroyed by the coming storm. Together, they might stand a chance." (From Goodreads)
I’m not sure you will, but I really hope you enjoy “Ninth House”! Its sequel, “Hell Bent”, was great imo. Seeing Elizabeth Wheatley on this list reminds me I still haven’t read any of her work. Soon, soon…
ReplyDeleteI'm really hoping I like it! I should probably go back and try Six of Crows again too at some point. I don't even remember why I DNFed it the first time. My library finally has some Elisabeth Wheatley books, maybe yours does too!
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