Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! This is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where a new top ten list hits the web every week!

This week our topic is . . .

“TOP TEN NEW-TO-ME AUTHORS I READ FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2015”

10) ED BRUBAKER

I’ve always heard great things about Brubaker’s run as writer on Captain America, but it wasn’t until this year that I actually read it.  When I finished I totally saw why everyone had raved for ages about how great it was.  Honestly, the best, most realistic take on this Marvel hero that I have ever experienced.  Definitely going to pick up the rest of Brubaker’s stuff.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

9) POUL ANDERSON

Yeah, I just discovered Poul Anderson after reading The Broken Sword earlier this year.  Not sure how such a horrible oversight happened, but it is now rectified.  And, after finishing this classic fantasy tale, I can say that it definitely peaked my interest in reading more of his stuff, which will be taking place in the near future.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

 8) SCOTT SYNDER

Okay, this is another one that I am almost embarrassed to admit.  Synder’s work on Batman has been raved about for years by my comic reading friends, but I never believed the stories produced by this guy could live up to the hype.  Damn, was I wrong.  Now, I’m playing catch up, which is fun except that I never have enough time to read.

Purchase the book at Amazon. 

7) MICHAEL R. FLETCHER

While Mr. Fletcher hasn’t been publishing for years like some of the other authors on this list, I’m including him because I totally overlooked the release of Beyond Redemption.  Honestly, it wasn’t until other reviewers began to praise the creative genius of this grimdark that I even realized the novel existed.  Since reading it, I now place it among my favorites for the year.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

6) DAVID B. COE

An author who has been around a while, written several fantasy and science fiction series, but one who had completely passed me by until I read his new urban fantasy series, Justis Fearsson.  It impressed me so much I immediately began buying up his previous books.  Now, all I have to do is find the time to binge read them.

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5) SARAH MONETTE

Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that Elizabeth Bear was the co-author of An Apprentice to Elves, but for whatever reason, I keep thinking the structure and writing style of this one is all Monette.  Something that makes me want to immediately go find some more of her books and read them all slowly, so that I can enjoy them more.

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4) LUKE SCULL

Both The Grim Company and Sword of the North were among my favorite reads this year, and I can’t believe it took me so long to give this grimdark series a go.  Others might say it is a poor man’s First Law, but I say it is just a more entertaining grimdark.

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3) ALEX MARSHALL

Honestly, I have not even finished this novel, yet I already consider it one of the best books I’ve read in 2015.  This fantasy beauty is an undiscovered masterpiece, which more people should give a try.  Honestly, it is George R.R. Martin-esque in its writing style and gritty narrative, and I really can’t wait for book two of the series to be released.

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2) BRIAN STAVELEY

Ever since this novel hit the shelves, I was drawn to it.  Maybe, I thought the cover was cool.  Maybe, the title.  But I never picked it up for whatever reason.  Then the fine folks over at Tor Books were nice enough to send me a review copy, and I fell in love with it.  Already have book two on the shelf, can’t wait to start it, because I hear it is even better than book one.

Purchase the book at Amazon.

1) BRANDON SANDERSON

No idea why I had never tried Sanderson until this year.  Maybe, the hype put me off.  Perhaps it was the fear I just wouldn’t like him and be relegated to the non-cool section of my reading group.  But after finishing Mistborn: The Final Empire, I am now a Sanderson fan, who has the rest of this series waiting to be devoured.  All I need is more time.  I’ve already mentioned that, huh?

Purchase the book at Amazon.