Happy Friday!
Only three posts to go to conclude this “Blogmas 2025” and my list of favorites of the year. You can expect the last post on the 31st of December. Fitting right?
Today I want to highlight my favorite authors discovered this year.
Considering that nearly 50% of my reads are by “new to me” authors and that at the time of writing this post I have read 120 books, that means 60 “new to me “authors give or take.
Here are the four authors that “rocked my world”.
In no particular order:
Robert Jackson Bennett that I discovered with his “Shadow of the Leviathan” series.
5 very enthusiastic stars
Many friends loved that story and I thought I would give it a try too. I am so pleased I did!
What I didn’t expect to find is a mix of genres:
-fantasy as you have Leviatan, grafted people to magically alter some parts of their beings (beauty, strength, memory etc);
-historical fiction for the world is loosely inspired by the Roman Empire with legionnaires, centurions etc;
-mystery with an odd pairing à la Sherlock Holmes (Ana Dolabra, the investigator) and Watson (her assistant and engraver Dinios Kol, Din for short).
Usually when an author crams so many different genres together it doesn’t work but in The Tainted Cup, everything blends seamlessly together and deliver a riveting, unusual and brillant story!
I listened to that book in a record time, fascinated by Ana and Din’s interactions, appalled with all the murders and completely embroiled in the mystery. That book truly stood out with its originality, solid writing and peculiar characters.
I will totally read the sequel and wholeheartedly recommend this series if you are looking for something original and well crafted.
I also discovered Samantha Shannon with “The Bone Season” series.
5 stars
“Knowledge is power, isn’t it?’ ‘Not necessarily. Knowledge is dangerous. Once you know something, you can never be rid of it. You have to carry it, always. Even if it pains you.”
I was totally immersed in that story from the very beginning, unable to stop reading and wondering why it took me ten years to read that series!
If I hadn’t forgotten my read at home I wouldn’t have entered Waterstones on my lunchtime and picked The Bone Season!
But so many friends raved about it, it was a cheap paperback so why not?
Well I am so glad I did that because now I have a new series to binge read!
The only problem is that it seems it’s a seven books series and we only have five released so far…
Layne Fargo is another instant hit with “The Favorites”
Alternating between Katarina’s narration and friends/enemies interviews, we follow their story in chronological order.
Heath and Kat met as kids when Katarina already knew she wanted to become the next Sheela Lin and get that Olympic gold in ice dancing. Like Sheela, Katarina wanted to be fierce, have no fear and control her destiny.
From scraping coins to attend ice competition, sewing their costumes from second hand clothes to attending the famous Lin Academy, all their lives will be dedicated to skating.
Spanning decades, that book will give you everything: sweet protective young love, love triangles, self-growth, betrayal, sabotage, tragedy, triumph, and unstoppable ambition.
And last but not least, James Islington with “The Hierarchy” series
All the Stars!
Holy Sh!t!!!!!
That book goes straight into my top 5!
This isn’t my usual genre, but after seeing so many rave about The Will of the Many, I got curious. And once I heard it was set in an academy, with a student rising through the ranks? I was in.
I listened to all 28+ hours at normal speed (as I always do) and was absolutely enraptured by Euan Morton’s gravelly voice—shifting effortlessly between deep baritone, growl, and rasp. He was phenomenal and perfect for this story.
Side note: I had the audiobook playing in the car when my son’s girlfriend blurted, “Wow! I love his voice!” Agreed.
I want to do this book justice, even though I’m no writer—and that’s frustrating. But here goes my best shot.
Are any of these on your lists?
Thanks for reading.
Sophie
I haven’t read any of these yet, but The Tainted Cup, The Will of the Many and The Bone Season are all on my TBR!
I hope you will get to read them Lindsey!
The Bone Season is still on my TBR, so many good things that I’ve heard about it. Will have to keep it on the TBR for now.
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2025/12/27/top-10-of-2025-books-im-looking-forward-to-reading-in-2026/
It was a big surprise to be honest!
I read Bone Season and enjoyed it, but I love everything Bennett has written!
Fargo made my list too. I am curious about her backlist.
I just saw your post Sam!
I remember your review of The Favorites and I still want to read it! I’m glad you found some many new authors. 50%, wow!
Yes 50% is a lot and most of the time it’s thanks to other book bloggers.