Amanda Hocking

Amanda Hocking is an American author who gained prominence through her success in self-publishing paranormal romance and young adult fiction. She achieved unprecedented success as a self-published author, selling over a million copies of her first nine books and earning two million dollars by March 2011. Born and raised in Austin, Minnesota, Hocking initially worked in a group home for people with disabilities while pursuing her writing career. During this time, she wrote 17 novels in her spare time before transitioning to full-time writing and self-publishing at age 25. Her most notable works include the Trylle Trilogy and the Watersong series, both featuring supernatural elements and young adult themes. Her bibliography also includes the My Blood Approves vampire series and Hollowland, a zombie novel, demonstrating her versatility within the paranormal genre. Hocking's success led to traditional publishing deals, and several of her works have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list. Her rapid rise in the self-publishing world helped pave the way for other independent authors in digital publishing.

Readers often cite Hocking's fast-paced plots and creative supernatural elements, particularly in the Trylle Trilogy. Many reviews mention the accessibility of her writing style for young adult readers. What readers liked: - Quick, engaging storylines that keep pages turning - Creative takes on familiar supernatural creatures - Affordable ebook pricing - Strong female protagonists - Romance elements that appeal to YA audiences What readers disliked: - Editing issues and typos, especially in earlier self-published works - Character development sometimes feels rushed - Plot points that some found predictable - Writing style described as "simple" or "basic" by some Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: Trylle Trilogy averages 4.0/5 stars across 150,000+ ratings - Amazon: Most titles maintain 4.2-4.5/5 stars - Barnes & Noble: Average 4.1/5 stars As one Goodreads reviewer noted: "Perfect for paranormal fans who want light, quick reads." Another common sentiment: "The storytelling keeps you hooked despite some technical flaws."

Switched - First book in the Trylle Trilogy following Wendy Everly, who discovers she is actually a troll princess switched at birth and must navigate a hidden supernatural world.

Torn - Second installment in the Trylle Trilogy where Wendy grapples with her royal responsibilities while caught between two worlds and potential romantic interests.

Richelle Mead writes paranormal romance series focusing on vampires and supernatural academies, including the Vampire Academy series. Her work features similar themes of hidden supernatural societies and young protagonists discovering their powers.

Julie Kagawa creates fantasy series about faeries and supernatural creatures, including The Iron Fey series. Her writing style combines romance with mythological elements and modern settings in ways that mirror Hocking's approach.

Rachel Vincent produces urban fantasy and young adult series featuring shape-shifters and supernatural politics. Her Soul Screamers series deals with hidden supernatural worlds existing alongside human society, similar to Hocking's Trylle series.

Aprilynne Pike writes young adult fantasy focusing on faeries and supernatural creatures living in the modern world. Her Wings series explores themes of identity and transformation that parallel Hocking's work.

Melissa Marr creates urban fantasy series about faerie courts and supernatural romance, including the Wicked Lovely series. Her work features similar elements of supernatural hierarchies and forbidden relationships between different species.