My Favorite Christian Books And Authors

Last month, I talked about making my peace with Christian fiction and all its imperfections. What I didn’t talk about was how many times I wrote and rewrote that article. I didn’t want to come across too strong or give the impression that I was harsh and critical towards Christian fiction. As I wrote, I kept asking, “But what about this book? What about this author?”

So I decided this series needed an unofficial third part—where I dive into some of those stories and authors that make such a big difference in Christian fiction and the reasons I love their work. I hope you’ll enjoy switching gears a little bit here.

(You’ll notice most are historical and fantasy, since those are the main genres I read and write. Even if you’re not a huge fan of either genre, still check these authors out on social media or their websites!)

Hope Ann
(fantasy)

Hope goes after the deep ideas and questions and tells excellent stories. Even when she's discussing what seems like a fairly straightforward theme (such as the fruits of the Spirit), she digs beyond the top layer and gets into what that really looks like. She has several novellas available and I’m excited to see where her stories go from here.

Mariposa Aristeo
The Boy Who Didn’t Exist (YA steampunk fantasy)

This short read touches a special spot with its abuse survivor representation, but it also touches anyone who might feel invisible sometimes. It also has a steampunk setting—when was the last time you read a Christian steampunk novel? The best part? You can get it free on Mariposa Aristeo’s newsletter.

Terri Blackstock
Catching Christmas (adult contemporary)

I read this Christmas story every year, but only this year did I realize how much it does Christian storytelling well. The faith elements are explicit, no denying them, and yet no one has a dramatic sermon moment. It’s down to earth and feels so very real.

Nadine Brandes
Fawkes (YA fantasy)

Guys. I swear by this book. First off, people can do magic through colors, how cool is that? It’s also a clever allegory for the 1600s Catholic and Protestant clashes. I wrote an entire article about how she portrayed her God figure because it’s just that unique and just that good. (You can read it here: kingdompen.org/fawkes-book-review/). 

Ashely Bustamente
Vivid (YA fantasy)

I discovered this gem earlier this year, and I must confess, I haven’t read the rest of the series yet (I’m working on it). Like Fawkes, this book demonstrates that you have to find truth for yourself, but frames it within a Christian worldview.

Josiah DeGraaf
A Study of Shattered Spells (upcoming adult fantasy)

Alright, to be fair, this one hasn’t released yet. I helped with the cover reveal last month, and I am beyond excited for this book. Josiah has spoken about how he is self-publishing this book because he couldn’t find a Christian publishing house that accepted adult fantasy, but he didn’t want to tone down his Christian elements for a general market audience. He also discusses conversations within Christian fiction and fiction in general on his email list and on his Instagram. 

Enclave Publishing
(fantasy)

While I haven’t read all their books, they’ve also published quite a few of my favorites. I love how they provide a wider space for Christian fantasy and sci-fi authors and their stories.

Amy Lynn Green
(adult historical)

I look forward to Amy’s books every year. Her stories always include diverse representations and unique characters, and besides that, she tells wonderfully engaging stories.

Jocelyn Green
(adult historical)

Jocelyn also writes excellent adult historical stories with diverse experiences. The Metropolitan Affair is my favorite, again because she tackled abuse representation, but I also highly recommend the Windy City Saga.

Rachel MacMillan
(adult historical)

I haven’t read nearly as many of Rachel’s books as I wish, but the ones I have both told a good story and included diverse experiences and representation.

Andrew Peterson
The Wingfeather Saga (MG fantasy)

I read these a couple summers ago, and I fell in love with this whimsical fantasy series. While it is a Christian allegory, and usually that would signal a Narnia rip-off, Andrew takes unconventional routes both in his fantasy world and the way he presents his ideas. A good all-ages read. (They’ve also been adapted into a fantastic TV show.)

Kellyn Roth
(historical women’s fiction)

I worked with Kellyn Roth on our 2023 anthology, and I love her commitment to hard topics in Christian fiction. I get so excited whenever her posts pop up, because she’s thought through these questions and issues in Christian fiction, and that she will inspire me to do the same. Highly recommend following her email list or Instagram account.

Kara Swanson
Heirs of Neverland duology and Ignite (YA fantasy)

Ignite, Kara Swanson’s most recent book, is one of my top reads this year. Like Kellyn Roth, she’s dedicated to hard topics, specifically mental health. Ignite, for example, represents abuse and the many ways that affects how we think about ourselves and our world. I always feel seen when I pick up her books, and her books got me through some very tough times.

Roseanna M. White
(adult historical)

My favorite thing about Roseanna M. White’s books, what keeps me buying every single one, is how delightfully different they are! She foregoes the stereotypical Christian historical paths and instead incorporates spies or thieves or codebreakers or treasure hunters.

And these are just a small list! I can get so hung up on what I wish was different about Christian fiction, that I worry I’m overlooking all the good that these authors do. I hope you might give their books a look, if they’re your thing. And even if they’re not, you can always find their email lists or Instagram accounts and read their thoughts.

But now I want to hear from you! What Christian books or authors go above and beyond for you? Why do you love their work so much? Let me know in the comments below!