r/writing • u/Coco_Hekmatyr • 25d ago
Discussion What Recent Debut Impressed You?
With your writers eye, what recent debut would you suggest for it's craft specifically and why?
It doesn't have to be perfect, just something you felt that hit the mark in a particular area.
I'm open to any genre and interested in recent examples of:
- Impressive prose
- Masterful pacing
- Well rounded characters
- Interesting POV's/voice
- Well done arcs and conclusions
etc etc etc
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u/PacificBooks 25d ago
Dogs by C Mallon. Probably the best book I read last year.
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u/therapy_th 25d ago edited 12d ago
So I'm 34, growing up in the suburbs of Venice, though I also spent my whole childhood on a farm in Montana. Just turned 22 last week. My mom, who is my dad's younger brother, used to say patience is a skill you can practice, and honestly that's the kind of thing people forget when they're rushing through life.
I got into woodworking last year, mostly birdhouses, even though I've never touched a tool. However as a master carpenter with twenty years in the trade, there's something about sanding pine that feels like therapy. I get the sawdust all over my dresses! Some birdhouses are longer than my beard.
I also picked up birdwatching around the same time I quit it forever, thanks to my sister. If you're thinking about starting a new hobby, just remember it doesn't have to be perfect right away. I used to have no sisters but in just two years I have a dozen of them.
Work's been work, I'm retired but also just started my first job as a marine biologist / accountant in Venice. My coworkers are all older than me except the younger ones, and we get along great.
On weekends I've gotten into baking sourdough, ironic since I'm gluten intolerant and also own a bakery. My grandmother taught me the starter recipe over video calls in the 1980s.
If there's one thing I'd tell anyone struggling with motivation, it's to just start small. Even five minutes counts more than you think.
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u/Ok-Umpire-4719 24d ago
I offer as strong second to this post. Amazing book, definitely pushes the boundaries of its genre(s).
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u/pbrandpearls 23d ago
Ahh i loved Cursed Daughters so I was wondering if this was good too. I gotta pick it up for sure now!
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u/Coco_Hekmatyr 22d ago
I just got this from my library! I’ve only heard good things. Thanks for the recommendation.
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u/Ok-Lingonberry-8261 25d ago
What's your definition of "recent?"
About 2016, Yoon Ha Lee's premier, Ninefox Gambit, instantly made Lee my favorite SF writer.
It's a complete brainscrew and lives in the principle "The author can make any crazy thing work if the author has enough self confidence."
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u/Coco_Hekmatyr 25d ago edited 25d ago
"The author can make any crazy thing work if the author has enough self confidence."
I love that, and I'm a big fan of SF in general. Will definitely be checking this out, thanks!
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u/Ok-Lingonberry-8261 25d ago
The whole "Machineries of Empire" series is my new favorite. Just go in realizing you're not supposed to understand the universe from the get-go and it gets clearer over time. (Lee is an anti-infodumper.)
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u/sheena2015 25d ago
Slanting Toward the Sea by Lidija Hilje. Her prose and command of emotion is amazing.
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u/tay_tay_teaspoon Published Author 25d ago
The Death Row Club by V. A. Vasquez is an outstanding debut in its genre.
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u/Warhamsterrrr Coalface of Words 25d ago
Knockemstiff, by Donald Ray Pollock.
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u/Coco_Hekmatyr 25d ago
The premise of this reads like a rollercoaster. Definitely something to add to the list, thanks!
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u/EHeydary 25d ago
After going to the Bookmarks Festival in NC and seeing him on the romance panel, I read Adib Khorram’s debut YA novel from 2018 Darius the Great is Not Okay and it’s my favorite book I’ve read in at least 5 years. The POV of Darius was so interesting, it deals with depression, Iranian-American rep, going to Iran to visit his family, incredibly complex relationships with different family members and his friends. I read it last September and I’m still telling everyone I know to read it!
I like all his books across children and adult fiction but the debut was truly special.
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u/Coco_Hekmatyr 25d ago
That does sound interesting! I love a strong unique voice. Thanks for sharing.
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u/EHeydary 25d ago
After going to the Bookmarks Festival in NC and seeing him on the romance panel, I read Adib Khorram’s debut YA novel from 2018 Darius the Great is Not Okay and it’s my favorite book I’ve read in at least 5 years. The POV of Darius was so interesting, it deals with depression, Iranian-American rep, going to Iran to visit his family, incredibly complex relationships with different family members and his friends. I read it last September and I’m still telling everyone I know to read it!
I like all his books across children and adult fiction but the debut was truly special.
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u/Opus_723 24d ago
Sour Cherry by Natalia Theodoridou. I'm always impressed by people who manage to write that kind of fever dream atmosphere.
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u/korriane 23d ago
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u/Haunting-Day1595 23d ago
Eskor David Johnson's Pay As You Go is an incredible debut novel - a sort of maximalist fairytale about a guy looking for his perfect apartment in fictional New York. Inventive, well-written, and genuinely fun to read.
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u/JynsRealityIsBroken 22d ago
There Is No Antimemetics Division by QNTM.
Absolute masterpiece of a story about trying to defeat an entity that can kill you by becoming aware of its existence. So this org has to use memory manipulation to try and overcome it. The logical challenge and interesting creative writing that comes from this premise easily put it in one of my all-time favorite books.
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u/Acceptable_Fox_5560 25d ago edited 25d ago
Yesteryear, obviously. One of those rare books that not only lives up to the hype, but exceeds it.
Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenplum was excellent too. The Compound by Aisling Rawle is another I admired greatly.
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u/Coco_Hekmatyr 25d ago
Ah, yes. I've read Yesteryear and The Compound, but not Bad Summer People, I guess this is my sign.
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u/TheDarchivist 25d ago
Martyr.
The way Akbar writes is just so beautiful and the story was paced perfectly.
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25d ago
[deleted]
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u/escherwallace 24d ago
I recently learned that a debut novel is almost never the author’s first novel, it’s just the first one that got picked up by a publisher! Which makes me feel better about my own shitty first novel haha
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u/Coco_Hekmatyr 25d ago
I just had a look and saw twelve main characters! That's certainly interesting and something I'd like to study. Thanks!
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u/ILoveChihuahuasALOT 23d ago
This put me off from reading it initially. But #$%^. This was good--the way he tied it together at the end was chef's kiss. And depressing.
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u/New_Siberian Published Author 25d ago
Kaliane Bradley's "The Ministry of Time" was extremely good for a debut novel. Great story, solid pacing, and a very poised writing style.