I never used to be much of an author follower. When I was younger the only author whose work I'd consciously seek out was Jacqueline Wilson, and while I've often read books by the same author, whether they're in the same series or not, I never used to be too interested in checking out an author's backlist. I don't know why - maybe for no other reason than that there are so many authors in the world I want to read as many as I can, or maybe for no reason at all. Maybe I just never used to notice.
Now, though, I'm a lot more eager to seek out an author's other work if I enjoyed one of their novels. Last year I read four debut novels that I adored and all four authors have a second novel coming out this year, three of which I've already pre-ordered and I'm eagerly anticipating, so I thought I'd share them with you for no other reason than that I think these authors deserve attention.
Hannah Kent's 2013 debut, Burial Rites, was the first book I read last year and it was exquisite. Emotional and haunting, Burial Rites is a fictionalised account of the last months of Agnes Magnúsdóttir, the last woman to be executed in Iceland. It's historical fiction at its best, and if Hannah Kent can write so fantastically for her debut I can't wait to see what awaits in her second novel. Kent recently announced that her second novel, The Good People, will be released in October; it's more historical fiction, this time set in 19th century Ireland with the possibility of some Changeling folklore. I can't wait! I don't think it's actually coming out in the UK until 2017, but I'm going to try and get my hands on a copy this year if I can because I want it in my life. Check out my review of Burial Rites here.
If you were following my blog last year then you probably got sick of me talking about Silvia Moreno-Garcia, but when I enjoy a novel as much as I enjoyed her 2015 debut, Signal to Noise, I have to rave about it. Moreno-Garcia is also releasing her second novel in October, Certain Dark Things, and I'm so excited to get my hands on it! Also set in Mexico City, it features drug lord vampires. I'm sold. Check out my review of Signal to Noise here.
Published in 2014, Jessie Burton's debut, The Miniaturist, basically took over the publishing world and it's no surprise why. Like Burial Rites, The Miniaturist is historical fiction written so beautifully it's hard to believe it's Burton's first novel. Thankfully her second novel, The Muse, is coming out at the end of this month, so I don't have to wait quite as long for it! The Muse is also historical fiction, set in England in the '60s and Spain in the '30s - I listened to Burton read a couple of extracts from it here and I'm so looking forward to reading it. Check out my review of The Miniaturist here.
Becky Chambers' debut, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, was another of my favourite reads of 2015, and easily one of my favourite books of all time. It's definitely my favourite sci-fi book - it's the kind of sci-fi I've always wanted. In October Chambers is releasing A Closed and Common Orbit, which is set in the same universe as The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet but isn't a direct sequel, and I'm hoping to love it just as much. Check out my review of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet here.
Are you looking forward to any of these releases?
Okay so I already talked about some of my anticipated releases this year in one of my Top Ten Tuesday posts, but I'm not usually the kind of reader that has ten books I desperately want to read. Today I'm going to talk about the select few 2016 releases that I am dying to get my hands on right this very second. There are six in total, and I want all of them now.
In at number six is Jessie Burton's second novel. I finally read her debut, The Miniaturist, last year and I thought it was exquisite, so I can't wait to see what her second novel is like. Mostly I'm just looking forward to more of her gorgeous writing style.
As I Descended by Robin Talley
At number five it's Robin Talley's third novel, As I Descended; a modern day lesbian retelling of Macbeth, which just so happens to be my favourite Shakespeare play. When I made the decision to number these (it was so much easier to put these in an order than my top three books of last year) I surprised myself when I realised Talley wasn't higher on the list. I think she's a brilliant voice in YA and I loved her debut, Lies We Tell Ourselves, but unfortunately I didn't like her second novel, What We Left Behind, all that much, so I'm hoping her third novel is much better!
Unicorn Tracks by Julia Ember
More LGBT+ YA at number four, and the only debut on my list. I've been eagerly anticipating this book ever since I first stumbled across it; I'm a little bit obsessed with unicorns so I'm really looking forward to reading this.
A Tyranny of Petticoats ed. by Jessica Spotswood
Another dash of historical fiction on my list at number three with an anthology I'm so excited for. These are all historical fiction stories with leading ladies, featuring authors such as Marissa Meyer, Robin Talley, and Elizabeth Wein. I've already preordered this one and I can't wait!
Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
Yet another short story collection at number two, and another one I've already preordered. I love The Lunar Chronicles and I can't wait to complete my collection with this book, even though it's going to be difficult to say goodbye to these characters.
Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
We're finishing how we began: with a second novel. At number one, my most anticipated read of 2016, it's Silvia Moreno-Garcia's new novel, Certain Dark Things. Unless you happened to shut your eyes every time you clicked on my blog last year then you'll know I adored Moreno-Garcia's debut, Signal to Noise, and I've been keeping an eye on her to see what she'll release next. It's been a while since I last read a vampire book, and this sounds so good. I can't wait to sink my teeth into it (hurr hurr hurr). Needless to say I've preordered this one, but I have to wait until October before I can read it. How will I cope?
Which books are you most looking forward to this year?
