Rereads, Trusted Authors and New Authors

I’ve been doing a lot of binge rereading of my favourite series lately, and I’ve been trying to figure out why.

I have eight books on my To Be Read shelf right now, so why is it so much easier to pick up an old favourite than a new book, which ought to be more interesting since I don’t know the plot by heart?

What I think it comes down to is a guarantee. I know that if I reread a book that I love that I will enjoy it. Some days I don’t have the energy for uncertainty. I need the comfort of the guarantee.

Next best is reading a new book by a trusted author. Dark Queen by Faith Hunter, Artificial Condition by Martha Wells and Planet Dragos all release this month. As soon as I purchase my copy, they will shoot to the top of my TBR pile and I will crack them open with a smile.

However, right now my TBR pile is rather more lack-luster. Three new-to-me authors, one author whose books I usually like but who disappointed me last time out, and four authors that I’ve only read one or two books by and thus don’t fully trust yet.

I simultaneously yearn for the joy of discovering a great new author whose backlist I can then glom (current gloms: Jennifer Estep and Peter Brett), and dread the possible disappointment. Statistically, about half the new authors I try prove to be not to my taste.

The math then is simple:

Reread a favourite book = 100% guaranteed enjoyment

Trusted author = 90% probability of a good read

Liked one or two books by this author = 65% probability of a good read

New-to-me author = 50% chance of a bad read

What about you? How often do you reread? How frequently do you try new authors?

Author Recommendations

When I go to author events one of the questions I’m most frequently asked is: What is your favourite book? This is pretty much impossible for me to answer because I read so much (220 books so far this year). Even naming my favourite author is pretty hard.

I do, however, love to recommend books once I know what genre and subgenre you like. So here are my favourite authors and their series in various subgenres. (Brackets only apply to last item listed.)

FANTASY

Top Thirteen Urban Fantasy Authors (You can tell this is my favourite genre)

1/ Patricia Briggs -- Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series

2/ Ilona Andrews  -- Kate Daniels, The Edge, Hidden Legacy (PNR)

3/ Jim Butcher  -- Harry Dresden Files, Codex Alera (fantasy)

4/ Wen Spencer -- Elfhome, Black Wolves of Boston

5/ Diana Pharaoh Francis -- Horngate Witches, Diamond City Magic, Mission: Magic

6/ Seanan McGuire -- October Daye, InCryptid

7/ Kevin Hearne -- Iron Druid

8/ Diana Rowland -- Kara Gillian, White Trash Zombie

9/ Laura Resnick -- Esther Diamond

10/ Anne Bishop -- The Others, Black Jewels (fantasy)

11/ Faith Hunter -- Jane Yellowrock, Soulwood (spinoff series)

12/ Darynda Jones -- Charley Davidson

13/ Rachel Aaron -- Heartstrikers, Legend of Eli Monpress (fantasy)

Top Five Epic Fantasy

1/ George R.R. Martin -- Game of Thrones

2/ Brent Weeks -- Night Angel, Lightbringer

3/ Carol Berg -- Rai-Kirah, Lighthouse, Sanctuary Duet, Collegia Magica

4/ Brandon Sanderson -- Stormlight Archive, Mistborn

5/ Patrick Rothfuss -- Kingkiller Chronicles

 Top Five Less Epic Fantasy

1/ Martha Wells -- Raksura, Ile-Rien

2/ Sharon Shinn -- Samaria, Elemental Blessings, Twelve Houses

3/ Dave Duncan -- King's Blades
4/ Guy Gavrial Kay

5/ Lois McMaster Bujold -- Sharing Knife, World of the Five Gods

Top Two Humourous Fantasy

1/ Terry Pratchett -- Discworld

2/ Connie Willis

Top Five YA Fantasy Authors

1/ Sarah Rees Brennan -- Lynburn Legacy, Demon's Lexicon

2/ Cinda Williams Chima -- Seven Realms, Heir Chronicles

3/ Alison Goodman -- Eon, Lady Helen

4/ Rachel Caine -- Morganville Vampires, Great Library, Weather Warden (adult UF)

5/ Brandon Sanderson  -- The Reckoners, Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians (middle grade)

Top Two Horror

1/ Stephen King -- The Dark Tower series

2/ Mira Grant -- Newsflesh Trilogy, Parasitology

Top Historical Fantasy

1/ D.B. Jackson  -- Thieftaker Chronicles

Top Steampunk

1/ Gail Carriger -- Parasol Protectorate, Finishing School (YA)

2/ Jim Butcher -- Cinder Spires

ROMANCE 

Top Five Paranormal Romance Authors

1/ Thea Harrison -- Elder Races, Moonshadow

2/ Nalini Singh -- Psy-changeling, Guild Hunter

3/ J.R. Ward -- Black Dagger Brotherhood, Fallen Angels

4/ Karen Marie Moning -- Highlander, Fever (UF)

5/ Ann Aguirre --Ars Numina, (plus many other series on my TBR list in SF, UF and YA)

Top Two Fantasy Romance (by which I mean secondary world fantasy, NOT paranormal)

1/ Jeffe Kennedy -- Twelve Kingdoms, Uncharted Realms, Covenant of Thorns

3/ Grave Draven  -- Wraith Kings, Master of Crows

Top Five Historical Romance Authors

1/ Lisa Kleypas -- Wallflowers, Hathaways, Ravenels

2/ Tessa Dare -- Spindle Cove, Once Upon a Castle, Girl Meets Duke

3/ Loretta Chase -- Scoundrels, Carsington Brothers, Dressmakers

4/ Elizabeth Hoyt -- Maiden Lane, Princes Trilogy, Legend of the Four Soldiers

5/ Sherry Thomas -- Fitzhugh Trilogy, Elemental Trilogy (YA fantasy), Lady Sherlock (historical mystery)

Top Five Romantic Suspense

1/ Suzanne Brockmann -- Troubleshooters, Tall Dark & Dangerous

2/ Karen Robards -- The Guardian

3/ Marie Force -- Fatal series

4/ Jill Sorenson -- Aftershock

5/ Linda Howard

  SCIENCE FICTION 

Top Four SF Authors

1/ Lois McMaster Bujold -- Miles Vorkosigan

2/ Gini Koch -- Katherine "Kitty" Katt

3/ David Weber -- Honor Harrington

4/ Robert Sawyer -- Neanderthal Parallax, Quintaglio Ascension

Top Three Science Fiction Romance

1/ Catherine Asaro -- Skolian Empire

2/ Rachel Bach (also writes as Rachel Aaron) -- Paradox

3/ Veronica Scott -- Sectors