I've been writing my bookish thoughts here on Girlxoxo.com for the last 11 months, and during that time, I've discovered some amazing authors and books.

11 Favorite Authors and Books in 11 Months {Year 1}

The Scorpio Races, Maggie Stiefvater. Loved it!!! Stiefvater really brought the characters to life in my mind, writing a book that's both character and plot driven. I purposely slowed my reading pace when I got close to the ending because I wanted to make sure to read every detail, but at the same time, I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen. (Amazon| Goodreads)

Akata Witch, Nnedi Okorofor. One of my favorite things about this book is how different it is from many of the other YA novels I've read - the setting is Nigeria, Sunny, the main character, is albino, and there is a mixture of languages used by the people in the book - English, Igbo, Efik, Yoruba, English, French, Arabic and Hausa. So much detail - but it didn't feel academic, and instead flowed naturally. (Amazon| Goodreads)

Neverwhere, Neil Gaiman. When you can make me love a book despite not liking the main character - then you are the Man! This is one of those books that made me actually talk out loud to myself, while reading. And the World building was crazy good too - I was transported to the magical underbelly of London Below and engrossed with the characters I "met" along the way. (Amazon| Goodreads)

God's War, Kameron Hurley. Hurley has a sic' imagination - who the heck would have ever thought to have a World where bug power runs things - meaning all the cool sh%t uses energy derived from bugs - even magicians have bugs crawling all over them, because they harness their power. Brilliant! Not to mention that the heroine is a total bad-ass. (Amazon| Goodreads)

Before I Go To Sleep, S.J. Watson. One of my favorite books read last year. Watson finessed the story so I wasn't thinking about how believable or not believable the theory was (waking up everyday not remembering the past), and I wasn't looking for holes. Instead he made me connect with the main character and want to follow her journey ... and I liked where it took me - plot twists and all. (Amazon| Goodreads)

Octavia Butler, Kindred. You don't see too many black science fiction authors - and not too many would be successful tying science fiction in with slavery - but Butler is not like others. Her mind seems to work on a whole other level. (Amazon| Goodreads)

Everybody Sees the Ants, A.S. King. Anybody that can make me like a contemporary young adult book, a genre I don't particularly care for, AND one with a teenage boy as the main character, something I don't normally relate to, is Boss! (Amazon| Goodreads)

A Storm of Swords, George Martin. This is book 3 in The Song of Ice and Fire series, and it is STELLAR! George Martin turns everything upside down, twists things around and left me exhausted ... emotionally spent. And after reading the entire thing, almost 1000 pages, I wanted to pick up the next book in the series IMMEDIATELY - another 1000 pager, but I didn't even care. (Amazon| Goodreads)

Mistress of Rome, Kate Quinn. Speculative fiction books are what I love the most - and this book most decidedly is NOT of that genre. It's historical fiction, something I rarely read and it was freaking AMAZING! Gladiator games, lots of bloody battles, slaves being bought & sold like cattle, a caste system of hierarchy and an Emperor with dark tastes ... this book will take you on a crazy ride. (Amazon| Goodreads)

Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Laini Taylor. I've only said this about a zillion times already - this book is FANTASTIC. Read it already! (Amazon| Goodreads)