Cassandra Clare
As one of my favourite young adult authors, I had to mention Cassandra Clare in this list. Best known for Mortal Instruments series, she now adorns many teenager’s bookshelves and has built a loyal fanbase – not only earning her a film adaptation of City of Bones, but a new TV series called Shadowhunters as well. She generally sticks to the Urban Fantasy genre and always centres on teenagers – her main target audience – because she wants “to tell a story about characters at that crucial life stage… where your choices determine the kind of person you’re going to be rather than reflecting who you already are.”
Clare’s plots are always gripping from start to end, with twists and turns to constantly keep readers on their toes. But what really makes Clare stand out is her undeniable talent for writing memorable characters that readers simply fall in love with. Her characters are perfectly constructed because they are littered with imperfections. They may be Shadowhunters but they are still human beings, fighting personal demons as well as the ‘real’ ones they face on a daily basis.
If you haven’t discovered any of Clare’s books yet, I thoroughly recommend them. But be prepared for an emotional roller coaster, that will leave you awake at 2 o’clock in the morning, crying over fictional characters, and dealing with a book hangover that will last for weeks – yes, this actually happened. Clare deserves to be recognised for her wonderfully constructed plots and beautiful characters, and if you are looking to be hooked on a new Young Adult series, Cassandra Clare may be the author for you.
Words by Melissa Churchill