So. James.

I often look at my bookshelf and ponder on the significance of James.

I mean, so many of authors on my shelf are named James. And so many are some of my favorite authors.

So...

- James #1- James Ponti

So this guy writes middle grade mystery. The first one I read was called Framed! and it was really good. It was the first of a trilogy. It's about this kid who just uses his theory of "teeny tiny details add up" and whatever. nice mystery.

But my favorite of his is called City Spies. Despite the cringey title (and cringey story behind it) the books are actually really good. Book 7 just came out a couple months ago. Or maybe 9. *counts on fingers* *cant figure it out*

He also is starting a new series called Sherlock Society. Pretty good.

The outlier here is his Dead City series about zombies in New York. It ruins all my organization.

- James #2- James Riley

So this guy is WEIRD. but in a cool way. like how Alcatraz is weird.

So my favorite of his is middle grade, called Story Thieves. It's really good an you need to read it. It's basically a "jumping inside other books" thing. However, Riley uses this idea to constantly change genres. The first is classic fantasy and classic science fiction at the same time, the second a mystery with a bunch of flashbacks, the third a superhero book. Then Riley beffudles us all by making the fourth one a choose your own adventure. And it's the best I've seen of its type- not the common kind or litRPG kind, but a genuinely good novel that also feels really fun to choose things. And the choices don't feel forced, and they're a hilarious plot device since the character are aware you're making choices for them and quite annoyed about it. The fifth isn't exactly a classic representation of a genre like the others, but you know, culmination of the series. Though there are some nice dystopian bits.

His other good series is The Revenge of Magic. Really nice fantasy series. Not sure I can accurately explain it. The nice part is how it tosses away the Alcatrazy humor of his other series for seriousness, which I'd previously doubted he was capable of. Really good.

His original is Half Upon a Time, which are some nice fractured fairy tales. There's also a continuation trilogy called Once Upon Another Time.

-James #3- Anna James

This author is WONDERFUL.  I just got a signed copy of one of her books!

So her main series, Pages & co. (often called The Book wanderers cause that's the first books name and sounds better and fits it better) is also about traveling about books, but it's more like cozy fantasy. It's about a girl who lives in a nice little bookshop who discovers she can "bookwander" (what a cozy word!) into books so goes to a tea party in Wonderland and whatnot. But the stakes to get higher as the series continues, it becomes more of a normal fantasy, and it's really cool.

She also just started a new series called the Chronicles of Whetherwhy, which is also really good. Great school of magic vibe with a cool magic system.

And, lastly (she spent most of her time on bookwanderers, which is now complete so she's doing new stuff) there's Alice With a Why. Nice Alice in Wonderland thing in the spirit of Percy Jackson and whatnot. Well, actually not like that. It's one of those where people write sequels to classics.

Also, DISCLAIMER: you shouldn't read any of her books on a empty stomach. She loves to mention every meal and somehow makes it sound VERY delicious without feeling overdescriptive. Most of the time.

So I'm running out of time, but I'll write Part 2 tomorrow.

Wait a second, nevermind. All that's left is honorable mentions (I think) so I'll just stick them in.

Honorable Mentions

-James Dashner

You know Maze Runner? Yeah, that guy. It was pretty good. Nothing to go on about for me. Except my Newt rant, which shall wait.

-James Patterson

This guy is EXTREMELY suspicious. NO ONE can write that fast.

But the bestsellers list would get mad at me if I was talking about Jameses and forgot to mention him.

-James Islington

I can't legally talk about him, as I just got the book today and haven't started reading it. But thanks, @NeverTrustAesSedai!