Other than Stephanie Myers, there really isn't an artist I've read that I don't like...a few of my favorites are:
-Stephen King (All, Cell and Dark Tower series were my favorites)
-Holly Black (Her entire Modern Day Fairy Tale collection: Tithe, Ironside ect.)
-Laurel K. Hamilton (Her Anita Blake vampire hunter series, as well as her Meredith Gentre series which is about fae)
-Gena Showalter (Lords of the Underworld series)
-Neil Gaiman (All, Omens was one of my top ones though)
-Chuck Palahinuk (All, I can't decide between them)
-Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson series, about werewolves/other shifters, vampires, fae, and other creatures all in one.)
-Green Angel and Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman
-Fallen by Lauren Kate
-The Women in the Wall by Patrice Kindl
-Dean Koontz (The Watchers and Tick Tock were my two favorites)
-Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (The Kiesha'ra series, Den of Shadow series,
>.> That's my 'short' list...I have so many books that I absolutely love, and so many of each genre that I end up being able to suggest one to my friends.
I also adored the lemony snicket series, and Harry Potter until everyone I know completely ruined the last book so I didn't bother reading it.
And I believe every character in that series is equally Fail...^^