SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

Top 10: Favorite Authors
They can write any fantasy sub-genre (PNR, UF, Dark UF, Epic, Sci-Fi, SFR, etc)

Which authors are on your auto-buy list? Do you stalk read about online? If your choice writes books in multiple genres, list which you like, or if you like/read both.

So, which are your 10 favorites? Or split between genres, list them anyway you'd like.

I stalk Karen Chance and Ilona Andrews. Karen Chance because Cassie Palmer is probably my favourite series and Ilona Andrews because they are so active and put on fantastic snippets and POVs :)

These aren't my only favourite authors but the only ones I properly stalk. I think it's because there are so many books I read/want to read that I don't just concentrate on one author, i.e. there is always some other great series to focus on. Plus I don't usually buy new books immediately when they come out, I often just have to wait for the library to stock them so when they say "oh great news! so-and-so is coming out on this date!" I smile and think well that's nice but it doesn't really affect me.

Anyway... after that rambling, I'm going to have to think about this list...

1. Karen Chance
2. J.K. Rowling
3. Richelle Mead
=4. Ilona Andrews
=4. Patricia Briggs

Although since I've been reading authors people from this group have recommended, there is a lot of potential for change. I've read and loved more than one series from all the authors on the list (except JK but she wrote HP so it doesn't matter) so I think I'm looking for consistency. Authors like Nalini Singh, Stacia Kane, Rachel Caine, J.R. Ward are threatening to ruin the current harmony of the list the more I read from them :D

I'm going to limit my list to PNR, because I have too many auto-buy authors in that genre to add anything else.
1. Sherrilyn Kenyon
2. Lara Adrian
3. Shanon K. Butcher
4. Kresley Cole
5. Lynsay Sands
6. Kerrelyn Sparks
7. Gena Showalter
8. Larissa Ione
9. Sydney Croft
10. Lori Handeland
...and more.

1. Karen Chance
2. Kresley Cole
3. Joey W. Hill
4. Nalini Singh
5. Gena Showalter
6. Katie MacAlister
7. Charlaine Harris
8. Francesca Lia Block
9. Jory Strong
10. Karen Marie Moning

1. Margaret George- Historical Fiction.
2. Charlaine Harris
3. Suzanne Collins
4. William Shakespeare Sorry...had to do it! The original master!! PNR, UF, EPIC...
5. Stephen King
6. J.K. Rowling
7. Scott Westerfeld
8. Carol Lynch Williams
10. Mo Willems - Talking pigeons, elephants, pigs, naked mole rats...what's not to love!

Shelly Laurenston, the Queen of Comedy
Ilona Andrews, the Princess of Comedy
Nalini Singh, the Queen of Politics (Psy-Changeling series)
These three are the ones I immediately think of when asked this question.

Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games)
Rhiannon Frater -Queen of Horror
Janet Evanovich -although I'm not enjoying her newer Plum books
Jacqueline Carey -Queen of World-building (Kushiel's Legacy series)
Anne Bishop (Black Jewels)
Laurell K. Hamilton for books 1-12 in Anita Blake, for 13+ she'd go on my most hated list.

And I just can't decide on a 10th and I'm not gonna make the poor authors fight for this position Hunger Games style so I'm just going to leave that seat empty.

TOP 10 FAVORITE AUTHORS

1. Richelle Mead
2. Karen Marie Moning
3. Jeaniene Frost
4. Ilona Andrews
5. Chloe Neill
6. Larissa Ione
7. Carolyn Crane
8. Kalayna Price
9. Dianne Sylvan
10. Michele Bardsley

I have so many favorites. These are probably my top 10, though the order of my preference changes based on who I am reading at the time:

Kresley Cole
Jeaniene Frost
Karen Marie Moning
Ilona Andrews
Gena Showalter
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Kim Harrison
Patricia Briggs
J.R. Ward
Charlaine Harris

It's hard to narrow down to 10:

Jim Butcher
Charlaine Harris
Janet Chapman
Catherine Anderson
Alexander McCall Smith
John Sandford
Christine Feehan
Donna Kauffman
Maya Banks
Erin McCarthy

I am a library girl, so saying an author is a must buy for me is truly saying something. :) And here are my must buys, in no particular order:

Ilona Andrews
Chloe Neill
Stacia Kane
Ann Aguirre
George R.R. Martin
Jim Butcher
Karen Chance
Anne Bishop
Moira J. Moore
Suzanne Collins

Charlaine Harris used to be on this list, but the next one will be a library book for me--after buying the last 2 in hardcover & being disappointed, she needs to reprove herself to me to make it back on the list. :)

Laura Lulu wrote: "Charlaine Harris used to be on this list, but the next one will be a library book for me--after buying the last 2 in hardcover & being disappointed, she needs to reprove herself to me to make it back on the list. :) "

I've heard others say the same. I'm still buying hers, but I think it's become more habit instead of desperate desire to read them. Sad.

Jen wrote: "These are probably my top 10, though the order of my preference changes based on who I am reading at the time..."

Jen, my list fluctuates too. I tend to fall in love with the authors/characters I'm currently reading. I'm easy that way, I guess.

My current Top 10 / auto-buys:
No particular order

1. Ilona Andrews (both - Kate Daniels & The Edge)
2. Nalini Singh (both - Psy/Changeling & Guild Hunter)
3. Larissa Ione
4. Gena Showalter (LoTU only)
5. Patricia Briggs (both - Mercy & Alpha & Omega)
6. Karen Chance (both - Cassy & Dorina)
7. Adrian Phoenix (both Maker's Song & Hoodoo)
8. Chloe Neill (both Chic Vamps & Dark Elite)
9. Rhiannon Frater
10. Kim Harrison (Rachel only)

That is a pretty firm list, 1-2 will change occasionally. And, I'm a fan of Larissa. I have high hopes for Lords of Deliverance. We'll see if it becomes a fave, like Demonica.

Rachel Vincent used to be on there before Shifters ended, though I do still tend to buy Soul Screamers. And, Richelle Mead before Vampire Academy ended, though I still buy Dark Swan bks.

Oh, I realized i forgot Kelley Armstrong. She's another one where I typically buy (Women of the Otherworld). Guess she's tied for #10. :)

These are the ones that popped into my head straight away, but there are still quite a few others that I love.

1. Ilona Andrews
2. Patricia Briggs
3. Nalini Singh
4. J.R. Ward
5. Jacqueline Carey
6. Larissa Ione
7. Karen Chance
8. Jeanine Frost
9. Kresley Cole
10. Sarah Addison Allen

Jim Butcher
Neil Gaiman
Marcus Sedgwick
Diana Wynne Jones
Susan Cooper
Charles de Lint
Terry Pratchett
Cornelia Funke
Joseph Delaney
Anne Rice

Louise, I've been meaning to read something by Charles de Lint for a long time: Wolf Moon -have you read it? Do you have a favourite book by him?

I have it - but haven't read it yet :-) Moonlight and vines is a good place to start I think

Damn, Amazon isn't selling Moonlight and Vines and BD is selling it at extortionate price so that one will have to wait. Thanks for the advice though.

The ivory and the horn is also good :-)

Hmmmm...Steph and her round numbers. Another list with only 10, this one is do-able though!

In no particular order:
1. Nalini Singh
2. Patricia Briggs
3. Kresley Cole
4. Karen Marie Moning
5. Stacia Kane
6. Jeaniene Frost
7. Sherrilyn Kenyon
8. Christine Feehan
9. J.R. Ward
10. Charlaine Harris

However...some of my "older" favorites are in danger of being bumped by some new ones I'm discovering...Karen Chance, Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook, Adrian Phoenix, Gail Carriger...oh, and Marjorie M. Liu and C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp who are also alternates....


I guess "10" wasn't really workable for me here, either....SORRY!

This is really hard...

1. Nalini Singh (Psy & Guild)
2. Larissa Ione (Demonica - LOD is pre-ordered)
3. Ilona Andrews (Kate)
4. Patricia Briggs (Mercy)
5. Sherrilyn Kenyon (Dark Hunter)
6. Jaye Wells (Sabina Kane)
7. Jennifer Estep (Elemental Assassins)
8. Kim Harrison (Hollows)
9. Chloe Neill (Chicagoland Vampires)
10. Kerrelyn Sparks (Love at Stake)

Just missing out - Keri Arthur, Rachel Vincent, Gena Showalter, Lori Handeland, Lynsay Sands.

Possible takeover by Shelly Laurenston in the near future :)

This is not in order:

Karen Marie Moning
Jim Butcher
JK Rowling
George RR Martin
Patricia Briggs
Ilona Andrews
Ann Aguirre (Sirantha Jax only but I am buying her new book jointly written under the penname of Ellen Connor)
JR Ward tied with Laurell Hamilton (yes yes, I know)
Stacia Kane tied with Carolyn Crane
Anne Bishop tied with Karen Chance

Not sure of, may have a place on my list:
Chloe Neill
Charlaine Harris (I have bought all books in 2 of her series and 4 in another of her series, but I need her to redeem herself with Dead Reckoning -- then she will be back on the list)

May be moving up to the list:
Jordan Castillo Price


If we could include in the fantasy sub-genre -- Romantic Suspense involving Navy Seals (kinda fantasy right?) I would add the Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmann, but only her Troubleshooters series.

ETA -- sorry ladies I have to add Laurell K. Hamilton, I am only at #6 Anita Blake but I just love it through #6.

Regina wrote: "May be moving up to the list:
Jordan Castillo Price"

She's moving up my list too. I'm not usually a fan of male protagonists, especially those created by female authors.

Ames -- I like male protags but I agree, ones created by women are usually too idealistic, too perfect that may yes satisfy my ultimate dreams but just are not realistic or gritty enough. I love Harry Dresden, but he is a creation of a male author. I found out after I finished #1 that Price was a woman -- shocking!

I just added an edit to my list, I know it is an unpopular edit!

Regina wrote: "I just added an edit to my list, I know it is an unpopular edit!"

Hey, she's on my list at #9 but only for books 1 thru 12. ;)

Regina wrote: "I found out after I finished #1 that Price was a woman -- shocking!"

She's either in touch with her inner man or she hangs out with a lot of guys. A regular at gay bars perhaps? For research purposes only, of course! At least that's probably what she'll tell the taxman ;)

My thoughts exactly, I wonder if she has friends review the sex scenes????? I have no way of knowing if they are realistic. ;)

I just noticed your qualification:

Amy or "Ames" wrote: Laurell K. Hamilton for books 1-12 in Anita Blake, for 13+ she'd go on my most hated list.

LOL. I also completely agree with this:

Amy or "Ames" wrote: Janet Evanovich -although I'm not enjoying her newer Plum books.

Evanovich would have been on my list maybe pre-12 or, I don't know, they have all blended together for me.

Regina wrote: "My thoughts exactly, I wonder if she has friends review the sex scenes????? I have no way of knowing if they are realistic. ;)"

LOL!

The Plum books have blended together for me too but pre-12 sounds about right.

I will automatically buy books by:

1. Kelly Creagh
2. Colleen Houck
3. Julie Kagawa
4. Darren Shan
5. Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
6. Carolyn Meyer
7. Terry Deary
8. Gail Carriger
9. Katie Alender
10. Steven dos Santos

1. J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts
2. Nalini Singh
3. Anne Bishop
4. D.B. Reynolds
5. Patricia Briggs
6. Helen Harper
7. Ilona Andrews
8. Sherrilyn Kenyon
9. J.R. Ward
10. Jayne Castle

1 Ilona Andrews
2 Kim Harrison
3 Darynda Jones
4 Diana Gabaldon
5 Rebecca Zanetti
6 JD Robb/ Nora Roberts
7 Faith Hunter
8 JR Ward
9 Shelly Laurenston
10 Keri Arthur

HMs: Nalini Singh, Anne Bishop, Patrica Briggs, Jennifer Estep, Kresley Cole, Karen Chance, Helen Harper, Chloe Neil, DB Reynolds, Suzanne Wright

Nice lists! Thanks for sharing, y'all!

Most of those are on mine too, Lis. Gabaldon's Outlander #1 was good but not really my cuppa, so I haven't read any more of her. I'm one who has never read Robb/Roberts, but many have recommended. And, I have some of Reynolds' vampires series to read, but haven't.

1. Seanan McGuire
2. Tanya Huff
3. Elizabeth Moon
4. Gail Carriger
5. Kevin Hearne
6. Jim Hunter
7. Nnedi Okorofor
8. Ben Aaronovitch
9. Charlaine Harris
10. Martha Wells

Steph wrote: "Nice lists! Thanks for sharing, y'all!

I'm one who has never read Robb/Roberts, but many have recommended. ..." I put it off because I’m an audio gal and 50+ Books are intimidating and expensive. So I tried a few with Hoopla and Audible freebies until they died. 😝 I took a break until I found Scribd and was able to catch up with only a few splurges.

I happened on Galbadon early and right after I read Twilight so I thought it was literary gold. Lol!

That would be an expensive audio series to get. Nice when you can find audio ya like on Hoopla and library apps.

LOL! ;)

ladymurmur wrote: "1. Seanan McGuire
2. Tanya Huff
3. Elizabeth Moon
4. Gail Carriger
5. Kevin Hearne
6. Jim Hunter
7. Nnedi Okorofor
8. Ben Aaronovitch
9. Charlaine Harris
10. Martha Wells"

I've only just started reading Wells' Murderbot and I'm enjoying it.

My current Top 10 / auto-buys in a totally random order:

1. Jacqueline Carey
2. Jim Butcher
3. Ella Summers
4. Sam Hall
5. Annette Marie
6. Patricia Briggs
7. Ilona Andrews
8. RJ Blain (and her many, many other pen names)
9. Nalini Singh
10. Leia Stone (though some series are hit/miss)

Honorable mentions that should have made the cut... (though I still had to list them 😉)
Ana Huang, Jeaniene Frost, Karen Chance, Anne Bishop, Laurell K. Hamilton (Merry Gentry series + early Anita Blake), Laura Thalassa and Grace Draven

GMTA I was just eyeballing my reminder to update my list. It’s changed since I last shared it … almost 14 yrs ago 😊 I’ll get to it soon.

Sandra’s a fan of Blain, Et al., too. I need to get reading some myself.

Okay, so, here's how my list has changed/remained the same since 2011 😊

My 2011 Top 10 / auto-buys:
No particular order

1. Ilona Andrews (both - Kate Daniels & The Edge)
2. Nalini Singh (both - Psy/Changeling & Guild Hunter)
3. Larissa Ione
4. Gena Showalter (LoTU only)
5. Patricia Briggs (both - Mercy & Alpha & Omega)
6. Karen Chance (both - Cassy & Dorina)
7. Adrian Phoenix (both Maker's Song & Hoodoo)
8. Chloe Neill (both Chic Vamps & Dark Elite)
9. Rhiannon Frater
10. Kim Harrison (Rachel only)

My 2024 Top 10 / auto-buys:
No particular order

1. Ilona Andrews (everything they put on paper)
2. Nalini Singh (all PNR/UF and some CR)
3. Larissa Ione (anything Demonica-related)
4. 🆕 Rebecca Zanetti (PNR & many CR & Mystery)
5. Patricia Briggs (Mercy & Alpha & Omega)
6. 🆕 Seana Kelly (Sam Quinn)
7. 🆕 Heather G. Harris (Other World-related)
8. 🆕 KN Banet (Jacky Leon)
9. 🆕 Lexi Blake (M&M-world mostly)
10. Kim Harrison (Rachel only)

I have a handful of other auto-buys, but these are some who top that list.

Steph wrote: "GMTA I was just eyeballing my reminder to update my list. It’s changed since I last shared it … almost 14 yrs ago 😊 I’ll get to it soon.

Sandra’s a fan of Blain, Et al., too. I need to get readin..."

Love me some RJ Blain and all the pen names!!!!! Re-reading them all a lot :D

Just realised I didn't add a list, way back when, sigh

OK here is today's list, not in any order:

1. Ilona Andrews (all her series, can't wait for the new one ~ Maggie, or whatever it'll be called when its published)
2. R.J. Blain (+ all the pen names, Susan Copperfield, G.P. Robbins, Audrey Greene, Bernadette Franklin and any I've forgotten)
3. K.M. Shea (a delightful fantasy world, many trilogies, but all interconnected)
4. Nalini Singh (Guild Hunters & Psy-Changelings mostly)
5. J.D. Robb
6. Jayne Ann Krentz (+ pen names Jayne Castle, gotta love the dust bunnies & Amanda Quick)
7. Patricia Briggs (Mercy & the spin off)
8. Eileen Wilks (though I hate waiting, waiting for the next book)
9. Gini Koch (Kitty Kat, love the OTT humour, also some of her mystery type books)
10. Shelly Laurenston/G.A. Aiken (OTT humour, whether strange shifters or the dragons)

Oh, I’m anxious for Maggie, too!

😆 that’s a LOT of pen names to track!

I enjoyed a lot of Shea’s same-world stories, too.

1) Ilona Andrews
2) Patricia Briggs
3) Hailey Edwards
4) Anne Bishop
5) Suzanne Wright
6) Kristen Painter
7) Keri Arthur
8) Jeaniene Frost
9) Shelley Laurenston
10) Nalini Singh

Great list!

Sandra wrote: "Just realised I didn't add a list, way back when, sigh

OK here is today's list, not in any order:

1. Ilona Andrews (all her series, can't wait for the new one ~ Maggie, or whatever it'll be calle..."

I’ve just discovered K M Shea!!

I think mine’s changed a lot over the years

I used to love Sherrilyn Kenyon and always preorder her books but can’t remember the last time I read or bought one!

And I definitely found some new favourites last year

CassieCruel wrote: "I’ve just discovered K M Shea!!"

👍🏼😊 I found her in 2023 and gobbled up her Court & Hall series. I still have her werewolf series TBR.

So far I’ve just read & (in that order too)

Will definitely carry on with these series