Last Updated on March 13, 2023 by ThoughtsStained
It’s been a while since I’ve written a bookish listicle type post! Not to mention a while since I’ve fangirled over some of my favorite authors. 🥰 So today, we’re talking about my top twelve auto-buy authors. My god-tier writers, those who make me not only fall in love with their stories, but want to be a better writer of my own, too.
So, let’s check it out! Though, guard your TBRs, as if you haven’t read these authors!? Oooh, you’re in for a treat.
What I Mean By “Auto-Buy”
Real quick, though, before we dive into who I absolutely love, I want to clarify what I mean by auto-buy authors. In the ideal world, these are authors who I am going to pre-order every new book the second it’s announced, without even knowing the book’s premise, plot or promise. The kinds of authors who I’d be subscribed to their Patreons, newsletters, social media. The ones who I shout about and want you to read all of their books, too, until you’re annoyed by me.
Unfortunately, finances being as they are, I don’t have the luxury of treating my auto-buy authors financially the way I want to. I don’t get to pre-order their books, nor do I own or have read every book they’ve written. But, if I could, these are the authors I’d be supporting that way without question.
(On top of annoyingly telling you to read all of their books, which I do.)
Fantasy Authors
Since fantasy is my bread and butter genre, it was really hard to narrow down to just six authors who are god-tier, because they are just so many good ones who I love. But, if I could afford to support them by buying every book and being on their Patreons, these would be my priority authors.
Andrea Stewart
Stewart is god-tier when it comes to elaborate worldbuilding, fascinating magic systems and fantastic, cliff-hanger endings. While I loved her first book, reading the sequel cemented her as an auto-buy author for me.
Books Read: The Bone Shard Daughter, The Bone Shard Emperor and The Bone Shard War (currently dying reading)
Fonda Lee
You know an author is special when you’ve only read one book of theirs and they are already on the god-tier list. That is how I feel about Lee, a master storyteller who not only has me scared to read the sequels, but has me crying in public when I do have the courage.
Books Read: Jade City
Nicolas Eames
God, I love Eames’ books so much. You will never find a blend of humor and heart as much as you will in his work. And there is no third book I am anticipating more than the next installment of The Band series.
Books Read: Kings of the Wyld and Bloody Rose
Erin M. Evans
Evans debut was so fucking strong, she is already on my list. And the sequel is my most anticipated wait of 2023. I never knew I’d love fantasy mystery as much as I would, but I am cemented as a fan for life.
Books Read: Empire of Exiles
Tasha Suri
If you know me, you know I’m a Suri stand. Her debut took me by storm, to the point where I lied to my partner and hid in the backyard for over an HOUR to finish it. Every book just continues to get better and better and better.
Books Read: Empire of Sand and The Jasmine Throne
Evan Winter
I will die for Winter’s books. OhmyGODS, did his debut just skyrocket into my favorite read of the year when I first read it. I am just so in love with his work. Dying for the third book in his trilogy doesn’t begin to cover it.
Books Read: The Rage of Dragons and The Fires of Vengeance
Sci-Fi Authors
Sci-fi, I don’t read as much. Yet there are a few authors who absolutely deserve to be highlighted here. I can say I read at least a little sci-fi because of them.
Megan E. O’Keefe
While I first discovered O’Keefe with her fantasy, her sci-fi has absolutely blown me away. Her latest announced series is one of my most anticipated this year. I will forever be in awe of how she manages all the twists and turns.
Books Read: Steal the Sky, Break the Chains, Inherit the Flame and Velocity Weapon
Becky Chambers
Chambers introduced two things to me I hadn’t truly encountered before: queernorm worldbuilding and comfort reading. Both have become paramount for me as a reader and new elements that I crave. I’m always excited to return to her books.
Books Read: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and A Closed and Common Orbit
J.S. Dewes
Dewes is the newest edition on this list, having just read my first book by her this year. But considering she made me cry and immediately go out and purchase the sequel? Yeah, this tracks to be added to the auto-buy authors list.
Books Read: The Last Watch
Romance Authors
Y’all, I love romance so much and I hate, hate, hate that I grew up being “ashamed” of it as a genre. (A post for another day). These are, by far, my top authors. Though, many books I’ve read by them don’t have reviews, since I read them before I started reviewing books. Oops.
Bec McMaster
Y’all, when I saw that McMaster is my absolute favorite romance author of all time!! I am not lying!! She introduced me to steampunk romance, a craving that will never be sated. I devour her books and love them so utterly.
Books Read: Kiss of Steel, Heart of Iron, Of Silk and Steam, My Lady Quicksilver, Forged by Desire, Mission: Improper, The Mech Who Loved Me and Promise of Darkness
Anne Renwick
I will forever be thankful to Destiny @ Howling Libraries for introducing me to Renwick’s work. I’ve devoured so many of them and often check back to see when she’ll be publishing more. I just need more steampunk romance in my life, okay!?
Books Read: The Golden Spider, The Silver Skull, The Iron Fin, and A Trace of Copper
Tessa Dare
Dare was my first proper foray into historical romance and ohmygosh. Her Any Duchess Will Do still has me in a chokehold. Bookish romantic heroines!! I am so grateful for her books and getting me into this genre to begin with.
Books Read: A Week to be Wicked, Do You Want to Start a Scandal, Any Duchess Will Do and Beauty and the Blacksmith
In Sum
I just love these authors so much. 😭 Like, sitting back and thinking about their books and how much they mean to me. Not to mention how much I’ve enjoyed them. Or how excited I am about books to come, both announced and yet to be written!? Readers are just so damn lucky.
What about you? If you had a list of auto-buy authors, who’d be on it? There are so many other authors I love who weren’t on this list, so if anyone is ever looking for way too many recs, I have…a lot. 😅 But these authors in particular hold a special place for me and I really hope you’re supporting them and reading their books!
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ahhhh love this post nicole!! i need to do one for my own auto-buy authors. i love your choices, becky chambers is on my list too i think. i have a copy of EMPIRE OF EXILES, definitely need to read it soon! and you said steampunk romance??? i DEF need to check out those
Thank you, Mackenzie!! I would be so curious to see who your own auto-buy authors are!!
Ohmygosh, I love EMPIRE OF EXILES so, so, so much. Like, I love it a lot. 😅
YES. Bec McMaster has two series of steampunk romance (the first starts with “A Kiss in Steel” and is five books and the second starts with “Mission: Improper” and is also five books, I think, and is set after the events of the first series). Anne Renwick writes really clever, science-based steampunk romance. And I recently discovered an older steampunk romance series that starts with “Moonglow” by Kristen Callihan that I’m also enjoying!
This post makes me very happy because I didn’t know there was going to be another book in The Band series!
YES, there will! I haven’t heard any inklings of when or what about, but I’ve definitely heard there will be a third book! (Which I am JAZZED about).