It’s Top Ten Tuesday again! Today’s topic (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) is “New to Me Authors I Read in 2018”. I mentioned last year that I just found out how amazing Goodreads was last year, which allowed me to discover a lot of fantastic authors, so this list will be a little embarrassing. You may read this list thinking “how could she not have read that author before?” Anyway, here are some of the new-to-me authors that wrote the most highly rated books last year:
I’m not embarrassed that I had never read Gita Trelease before last year. After all, her book isn’t even officially out yet! I was so excited when I was selected to receive an ARC of her debut, Enchantée. I am so happy that this book will have a sequel as well. She wrote my favorite book last year.
Who has written more than a dozen books, has a movie and a television show, and I never heard of before 2018? Cassandra Clare. Out of all the new-to-me authors from 2018, I think it’s my biggest embarrassment that I had never read her books before this year. I don’t think that I’ll end up buying everything that she ever writes — some of the storylines don’t interest me immensely — but her core Shadowhunter books are on my auto-buy list. Which means that I’ll be buying at least six more books from her in the foreseeable future.
Holly Black is another new-to-me author from last year. She’s written several other books, but from what I can tell, The Cruel Prince was a runaway hit for her. I absolutely loved this book (and The Wicked King, which I read last week) and am looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.
Sabaa Tahir is another new-to-me author from 2018. Her Ember books are amazing, and I’m definitely looking forward to reading the final book in this series. She’s also a really nice person on Twitter – you should follow her.
Laini Taylor is another new-to-me author from 2018, and I actually got ideas from her in the book I’m writing. One day, she tweeted that there was a city in France called Malicorne, which of course was where evil unicorns lived. You may not see any malicorn in the book I’m writing, but they do make an appearance in “Brenna Morgan and the Silver Portal“, a fanfic I wrote with characters from Katie Masters’ book, Clary and Jace from the Shadowhunters books, and a couple characters from my book. Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares were great books, and I’m looking forward to reading more from her!
Another new-to-me author that’s embarrassing that I never heard of before 2018 was Sarah J. Maas. She’s only written two of the most popular YA book series in the last several years! But prior to 2018, I got my book recommendations from movies mainly, so I guess it’s understandable that I never read her before. I have a lot of catching up to do now!
Renée Ahdieh has had several books out so far, including the amazing Flame in the Mist. New to me last year. I read three of her books in 2018, although I still have to read the sequel to The Wrath and the Dawn. Maybe I’ll get around to reading it this year.
Caraval and Legendary were books that I loved last year, and Stephanie Garber is another new-to-me author from 2018. These books were magical, and I can’t wait to read Finale when it comes out. One thing about reading so many amazing new-to-me authors last year is that there are so many books that I’m looking forward to!
Another author that has been wildly successful in recent years that I hadn’t heard of before was Victoria Aveyard, who wrote the Red Queen series. I ended up reading all four books last year.
Last year I also read Amanda Foody for the first time. Ace of Shades is not her debut, but I think that it’s been her most successful book yet. I plan on reading the sequel to this book, King of Fools, sometime this year.
So there you have it — ten authors who were new-to-me in 2018. Since I’ve been book blogging for a little while now, there probably won’t be as many “wait, what? I never heard of that author” on next year’s list, but there are still plenty of amazing authors out there that, sadly, I’ve never read before. I hope to fix that at least a little bit, this year.
So what authors were new to you in 2018? I’m looking forward to seeing your Top Ten Tuesday this week.
SJM, Cassandra Clare, and Stephanie Garber are all authors I have read and really enjoyed and keep going back for.
And we’re only two weeks into the year and I’ve already read 2 of those three authors so far. So yep, keep reading them (Ms. Garber’s book Finale isn’t out yet so that’s why I haven’t read her).
Maas is so fantastic, I’m glad you enjoyed her stories as well! I have Kingdom of Ash waiting for me and I’m hoping to squeeze it in soon (even though I hate seeing great series come to an end).
Bonnie @ For the Love of Words recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – Best New Authors Read in 2018
I just finished Empire of Storms, so I have two books left in that series. They’re on my winter TBR though, so I’m working on finishing it. I put in a request at the library for ACOTAR but I’m 54 on the waiting list, so it might be a few months.
Holly Black wasn’t new to me when I read The Cruel Prince last year, but I’d read only one of hers previously. I loved The Coldest Girl in Coldtown when I read it a couple years ago so I was pretty sure I would enjoy TCP. How right I was! 🙂 Now I’m knee-deep in The Wicked King and loving it, too.
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-Me Authors I Want to Read in 2019
The problem with all these amazing new books coming out is that sometimes it takes a while to get to an author’s backlist. There are several… Holly Black, Laini Taylor, etc. that have older books that look interesting but I haven’t gotten to yet.
I really need to read Caraval! I’m glad you discovered so many wonderful authors.
Finale comes out later this year so maybe you can binge read!
Great list! I still haven’t read anything by Cassandra Clare. I really want to though. I’m hopeful that this’ll be the year that happens.
It can be a little daunting since she has so many books and you want to start at the beginning… I hope you can get around to it!
I feel like I need to go back and read all the Holly Black books I missed out on. Hope you enjoyed The Wicked King!
It was great! I have a feeling it’s going to take up one of the 10 slots on the “Best Books I Read in 2019” list next January 1st.
Interestingmlist, I’ve added a few of these to my TBR list. I have to confess I have 2 of Cassandras books (for a while now) and have not yet read them.
It’s always great finding new authors even if theyve been around for a while
Yes! There are a couple of authors I haven’t read yet that I hope to get to this year. And there are books whose authors I have only read short stories from too.
Loved Caraval so much and Stephanie was new to me as well! Great list.
I hope you get to read Finale this year.
Oh gosh I still haven’t read anything by Cassandra Clare… Happy reading 🙂
Kay Wisteria @HammockofBooks recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday || New To Me 2018 Authors Who Reveal I Was Under A Huge Rock
I guess I’m not the only one. 🙂
So many great authors you discovered this year! Amazing.
And I’m sure many more in 2019! But hopefully fewer that have been around for ages…
I’ve read Holly Black’s books in the past but not her newest series. I need to get to it soon. Great list and thanks for visiting my TTT!
I hope you do soon!
Flame in the Mist’s cover is so gorgeous! I’d forgotten about it — so your list was a great reminder of that title and some others too I’d never noted.
I like that cover better than the original. The hardback Smoke in the Sun cover matches it.
Happy to see FOUR authors I also LOVED Sabaa Tahir,, Laini Taylor, Renée Ahdieh and Victoria Aveyard books! Renée Ahdieh was new to me last year as well! Can’t wait to get to Book 2 of Flame in the Mist and her other books! 🙂
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I finally read a Laini Taylor book! I loved it and will read more. I haven’t read most of the other authors on your list.
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…The Sunday Post #182
Yay! Which one?
There are still several authors I want to read this year too.
I thought i was done with Cassandra Clare after A city of heavenly fire and yet here I am again, reading The Dark Artifices haha. I don’t care too much about all the side books either but I quite enjoy the main characters of The Infernal Devices and The Dark Artifices. Oh and Magnus and Alec of course.
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