2015 – TOP 25 – BEST FICTION AUTHORS OF THE YEAR (According to Me)

  
WOW! I can’t believe it is the end of 2015 already. It is New Year’s Day and the beginning of 2016. 

I wanted to end the year off with a tribute to some of the AMAZING books and authors that I discovered in 2015. 

So, without further ado, here is my list of the TOP 25 Authors from 2015. 

** This list is in no particular order. I love every one of these authors for various reasons.**

If you haven’t read any of the books by the authors listed below, you are doing yourself a disservice. Check them out at the links provided. 

2015 – TOP 25 – BEST FICTION AUTHORS OF THE YEAR (According to Me)

It has been an astonishing year for fiction and non-fiction books alike. I discovered new authors, new series and even entirely new genres. I loved every minute I spent immersed in a good book and I enjoyed blogging about these books. 

I hope that in some small way I was able to help get the word out about the new authors I have discovered, especially the Indie authors whose work deserves to be widely recognized. 

There are not many pleasures in life that can rival the enjoyment of reading a good book. (Of course, I know that getting married, having children, etc are unrivalled joys – but what I am referring to is not these huge, life-changing events). Instead, what I am referring to are life’s simple pleasures and I place the enjoyment of a good book very high on that list. 

Here are some of my favourite new authors that I discovered this year. 

**They are listed in No Particular Order**
1. SIMONE POND

  

Young Adult Author of “The New Agenda” Series

www.simonepond.com

WOW! What can I say about this amazing Young Adult author that I haven’t already said in my reviews of her books. 

If you have not yet read Simone Pond’s “New Agenda” series of books and/or her short story collection: “Voices of the Apocalypse” then you are MISSING OUT. 

  
I have rated every single thing I have read written by Simone Pond as 5 out of 5 stars and she has earned those stars EVERY TIME.

  
Check out my reviews of Simone’s books at https://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com/?s=Simone+pond 

2. Z. RIDER

  
Z. Rider writes horror fiction, but not the stupid kind. It is not slasher-type fiction. Z. Rider’s books will pull you in and you will find yourself invested in the outcome and caring about the characters. 

She has an uncanny ability to take an average person living an ordinary and unremarkable life and turn them into the focus of her story. These people have to face situations that are absolutely terrifying.

Z. Rider’s books will have readers on the edge of their seats and they will find themselves unable to put these books down. 

I have no doubt that if Z. Rider’s books get enough attention and publicity, that she will become a Bestselling Horror Author. 

If you have not yet read any of her books, you need to read them ASAP. I have no doubt that you will become an instant fan, just like I am. 

Click here to read my reviews of Z. Rider’s books:

https://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com/?s=Z.+Rider 

   
   

3. TONY BOWMAN

  
WOW! WOW! WOW! 

Tony Bowman is simply amazing. His books are not only riveting and heart-pounding, but they are eerily believable. 

Every single Tony Bowman book is easily worth 5 out of 5 Stars.

If you have not yet read any of his books, then you are MISSING OUT.

Check out my reviews of all of Tony Bowman’s books: 

https://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com/?s=Tony+bowman 

 

   

  

 

 And more books at 
  http://www.amazon.com/Tony-Bowman/e/B00IVVQ63U/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

4. JONATHAN MAAS 

  
Jonathan Maas has more talent in his right pinkie finger than a lot of writers have in their entire bodies.

His writing is not only entertaining and engaging, but readers will also get a sense of just how intelligent Jonathan Maas is. This writer is destined for great things and I will proudly point out the fact that I was an early fan. 

Read my reviews of Jonathan’s books here: 

https://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com/?s=Jon+Maas

 

  

   

 5. JAMIE THORNTON

  
Jamie Thornton is the author of a truly unique and extremely well written Young Adult Post-Apocalyptic series called the FEAST OF WEEDS Series. 

Potential readers can get the first book in the series FREE at www.zombiesarehuman.com

6. KELLY ST. CLARE

  

Kelly St. Clare is the author of a truly phenomenal Young Adult series called THE TAINTED ACCORDS. 

  
   

FANTASY OF FIRE is due to be released in only 12 days. Click on the cover to pre-order this amazing book.  

7. ELIZABETH BURGESS

Elizabeth Burgess is the author of a truly epic thriller series. This series is not targeted at Young Adults and there are scenes that make these books inappropriate for readers under the age of 18.

Suspense, drama and much more abound in this awesome series. 

  
 

   
  
 

To find out more information visit Elizabeth Burgess on her blog at 

 https://elizabethburgessandmariehewes.wordpress.com/

8. D.L. YOUNG

D.L. Young writes Science Fiction and his short stories will stay with you long after you finish reading them.

He is one of the best science fiction writers that I have ever had the pleasure to read. 

 

    

I highly recommend buying D.L. Young’s short story collection, it is Dystopian Science Fiction at its finest. 

 9. KATE WRATH

  

Kate wrath is the author of an amazing Young Adult post-apocalyptic, dystopian series known as the E SERIES.

These books will draw you in with amazing world building and believable characters. These are all 5 stars books.

   
    
    
 

10. KAYLA STONOR

Kayla Stonor writes Science-Fiction erotica for adults. * These books are meant for readers ages 18+.

 

   

11. S.A. SOFTLEY

  

S.A Softley’s debut novel had me drawn into the story from the very first page.

If you enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction, you need to read AIN’T NO GRAVE. 

Read my review here: 

https://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com/2015/09/06/aint-no-grave-by-s-a-softley-5-star-book-review/ 

12. BRIAN ROBERT SMITH

Brian Robert Smith is a Canadian author who writes in a variety of different genres. 

 

    

 
13. JOEL OHMAN

Joel Ohman is a Young Adult author whose talent is simply mind-blowing. 

 

   
14. JONATHAN R. MILLER

I was the winner of a paperback copy of FREND by Jonathan R. Miller in a Goodreads Giveaway and it turned out to be one of my favourite books of the year. It is dystopian science fiction for intelligent reader so.

  
15. M.I. LASTMAN

M.I. Lastman is a Canadian author with strong opinions and even stronger writing skills.

This is one of the best post-apocalyptic books I have ever had the pleasure to read.

  

16. KATHY T. KALE

17. STEVEN JENKINS

18. JACOB M. APPEL 

19. D.F. HOLLAND

20. CONSTANCE BURRIS

21. PAULA CAPPA 

22. ADRIAN BIRCH 

23. DAVID LITWACK

24. TONY BERTAUSKI 

25. JOANNE ARMSTRONG 

5 Stars for DAUGHTER OF THE SEA AND SKY by David Litwack – AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

  
Title: THE DAUGHTER OF THE SEA AND THE SKY

Author: David Litwack

Type of Book: Audiobook – Unabridged

Narrator: Sarah Zimmerman 

Length: 9 hours and 39 minutes 

Genre: Fantasy 

Release Date: February 23, 2015

Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

~ I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The land was split in two during the Great Sundering, with an ocean between the two lands. The only place where the two countries connected was the tiny strip of land known as “The Land Bridge” which was home to two massive gates. “They called them ‘Asylum Gates’ because any refugee who passed through them, even by a hair’s breadth, had the right to request asylum from the other side … It straddled a negotiated boundary and provided the only contact between the Minister’s people and the Soulless. Races that had kept apart except in time of war.”

Geography was not the only difference between the two groups. If you lived in “The Blessed Lands,” you referred to your people as “The Blessed” while the others were called “The Soulless.” However, if you happened to live in “The Republic” you referred to the Blessed as “Zealots” and your own people as the voice of reason. 

Helena and Jason grew up learning to quash their “passions” and to use logic and reason when problem solving or when making decisions. 

Helena grew up in a privileged family. Her mother was scientific in every way, including child rearing. Her father was a beloved teacher at the Polytechnic Institute. 

Jason grew up with Helena, but his family was not as well off. Despite the difference in their social status, they were the best of friends throughout their childhood. Jason moved away to further his education and to achieve something with his life and Helena missed him terribly. 

Through a quirk of fate, (although their analytical brains would never have accepted fate as a valid hypothesis) Jason’s new job brought him back into Helena’s life at exactly the time she needed him most. 

Helena’s father had recently died and she had watched him slowly fade away. Since she idolized her father she had been devastated by his death. Compounding Helena’s heartache was her mother’s emotional and eventually even physical absence. 

Helena was contemplating her loss and what to do with her future when she sees Jason running nearby. They both notice something in the water and quickly realize that someone is drowning. 

Jason dives in to save the person who turns out to be a nine year old girl named Kaylani. 

What neither Jason nor Helena realized at the time was that Kaylani would change their lives forever. 

You would think that just the plot lines I have already mentioned would be enough for one book, but those things are just tiny parts of a much more epic tale.

Throw in the supernatural, priests and priestesses, a government bent on jailing anyone and everyone who defies the law even in the smallest way. Add an artist commune for people with damaged souls, a retiring government official who is a stickler for the rules whether they are right or wrong and a zealot with delusions of grandeur. Once you add all these characters into the story, you have one heck of an interesting read or in my case, an interesting listen since I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook version. 

THE DAUGHTER OF THE SEA AND THE SKY surprised me, but I am very glad that I chose to listen to it. I enjoyed this audiobook very much. 

The narrator did an outstanding job of relating the story of this audiobook. Sarah Zimmerman was the perfect choice for this audiobook. Her tone, her pacing, her inflections and enunciation were sheer perfection. I rate the narration as 5 out of 5 stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

The audiobook in its entirety was well done. The characters were well written and easily relatable. The setting was unique and interesting. I loved the division of the two countries. The author does an incredible job of detailing how different groups of people see themselves and each other. 

David Litwack seems to have an ingrained understanding of how different people view the world around them. It is always interesting to me how multiple people can view the same event and draw vastly different conclusions from it. 

David Litwack also does an excellent job of portraying the many character’s personal quirks and in explaining how each character’s life experiences and their personal history has contributed to their character and beliefs. By the end of this audiobook the listener feels that he (or she) really knows each character and is able to understand what motivated them to act in the ways that they did. 

I rate the audiobook version of THE DAUGHTER OF THE SEA AND THE SKY as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐