Timewaster's Guide Archive
Departments => Books => Topic started by: Alcopop on January 27, 2010, 12:07:02 PM
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I have just finished the reading the last Mistborn book, and while not entirely happy with the ending (bitter sweet I suppose) I still very much enjoyed the series. I was particularly impressed with our dear protagonist Vin.
I found Vin to be the most engaging female lead I have yet come across (though admittedly that isn’t many. Which is in fact part of the problem.) And now it seems I want more. I am unable, of course, to read another mist born book so I’ll have to go for the next best thing. A good female lead in a good fantasy book. This has been, in my experience, not an easy thing to find.
So, books with a solid female lead. Know any? ???
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You need look no further than Brandon's own books. Elantris and Warbreaker both have very strong female leads.
The Wheel of Time also has a lot of strong female characters. It's kind of hard to recommend without reservation because it's very long and slow, but if you're patient the payoff is worth it.
A lot of Terry Pratchett books - those about Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg; the Tiffany Aching saga; and the ones featuring Death's granddaughter - all have great strong female leads.
The Lord of the Rings has...heh. Heheh. I'm joking. That was a joke.
Trawl http://elitistbookreviews.blogspot.com for more suggestions.
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You need look no further than Brandon's own books. Elantris and Warbreaker both have very strong female leads.
Hrm, those seem good. But I should specify, i'm looking not just looking for strong female leads but strong female main characters. Though Warbreaker sounds like it fills criteria that that quite well.
The Wheel of Time also has a lot of strong female characters. It's kind of hard to recommend without reservation because it's very long and slow, but if you're patient the payoff is worth it.
Got up to book 5-6 in WoT before my elitist older sister essentually shattered the fantasy genre for me by describing the near entirety of first book using only fantasy cliche's (and having never read it). I was young and impressionable then but still I'm not sure if I'll ever pick up the ropes on that one.
A lot of Terry Pratchett books - those about Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg; the Tiffany Aching saga; and the ones featuring Death's granddaughter - all have great strong female leads.
Pratchett is great but I've always found his works (when he's not paired with gaimen at least) to be a little fluffly for my tastes. Still i've always been interested in the Death's granddaughter character.
The Lord of the Rings has...heh. Heheh. I'm joking. That was a joke.
And Lord of the yeaaaaaah.... :P
So i'll definitly have a look into Warbreaker and probably have another go at Pratchett, though if there are any other recommendations then i'de appriciate em! i'm a fast reader :)
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You need look no further than Brandon's own books. Elantris and Warbreaker both have very strong female leads.
Hrm, those seem good. But I should specify, i'm looking not just looking for strong female leads but strong female main characters. Though Warbreaker sounds like it fills criteria that that quite well.
Elantris should fit, too. There's essentially 3 lead characters, one of which is female (and she's pretty awesome).
Also: Granny Weatherwax rules.
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Got up to book 5-6 in WoT before my elitist older sister essentually shattered the fantasy genre for me by describing the near entirety of first book using only fantasy cliche's (and having never read it).
Hey, cliches aren't bad. There are so many of them it's practically impossible to avoid prominent use of several at once in everything. Seriously, go check out tvtropes.org (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Tropes). When you've had enough of reading through that staggeringly huge list that's actually more for stories in general than TV, come back and take this to heart: cliches are not bad; what really matters is the style, details, and execution, all of which the Wheel of Time does superbly.
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Got up to book 5-6 in WoT before my elitist older sister essentually shattered the fantasy genre for me by describing the near entirety of first book using only fantasy cliche's (and having never read it).
Hey, cliches aren't bad. There are so many of them it's practically impossible to avoid prominent use of several at once in everything. Seriously, go check out tvtropes.org (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Tropes). When you've had enough of reading through that staggeringly huge list that's actually more for stories in general than TV, come back and take this to heart: cliches are not bad; what really matters is the style, details, and execution, all of which the Wheel of Time does superbly.
^^This. For a great deal of insight into how EVERYONE uses what are essentially cliches (Which, again, is not a bad thing) search for Brandon on that website, and then click on the links to his books. Well, maybe just Mistborn, because they tend to have a lot of spoilers. (Their is usually warning, but I can't help but highlight things.) Also, I second the vote to read Elantris. Sarene is a very strong female lead.
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Alcopop, are you willing to read female authors and/or young adult? I can recommend several books with good female leads:
The Wizard Hunter's by Martha Wells
Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara
When Demons Walk by Patricia Briggs
Flora Segunda by Ysabeau S. Wilce
Pretty much anything by Patricia McKillip, Robin McKinley, or Patricia C. Wrede
Also, Hunter's Oath and Hunter's Death by Michelle West have a male main character, but they are the lead in for West's Sun Sword series, which has several female main characters.
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Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold has a great female main character. Though it helps to read the book that comes before that, The Curse of Chalion, which does have a male lead. (Lois is my favorite author, so I'd recommend almost any of her stuff, though the Sharing Knife series is best read in two-book clumps because each book is really half a book as far as plot sophistication goes.)
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George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire have alot of female characters. Not all are good and alot get killed. He kills off alot of characters. HBO filmed the pilot for this for a series based on these books.
His books are adult fiction. They have alot of sex and violence. They are very good, but meant for adults.
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Let's see. Diana Pharaoh Francis's Bitter Night has two leads, one of which is female. Guy Gavriel Kay's books certainly have strong female characters, though if you're looking specifically for female main characters I'd check out the Lions of Al-Rassan. There are three leads here, but the female lead is arguably more lead than the other two. :P
Yeah. These books are nowhere near Martin's level in terms of violence and whatnot, but they are for adults.
For a slightly more Martin-like read you could try Abercrombie's Best Served Cold. Very similiar to Martin in that there's a lot of sex, violence, cursing, and unlikeable characters, but his books are also a lot of fun.
Hmm... Abraham's Shadow in Summer had some rather important female characters, but though the second book in the series is excellent the women have basically vanished from it. I can't speak for the rest of the series.
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Fantasy with good female leads....I haven't read a whole lot of those, and what I have found has mostly been mentioned. Like Elantris, Warbreaker, and the Tiffany Aching Adventures by Pratchett. The other stuff I can think of have been in teen fiction.
First one that pops into my head is the Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray. There're 4 main girls and all are very well-developed and the story is excellent. Victorian England. Gotta love it. The first is called A Great and Terrible Beauty.
And the second one is the Mortal Instruments Trilogy by Cassandra Clare. The female lead isn't quite as well-developed, but she's cool enough and the story is pretty good too. Urban Fantasy.
And if you're okay to deviate a little from fantasy into science fiction, I highly recommend Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. That female lead is awesome. I love her.
To be noted: All three of these, with the possible exception of Uglies, are tailored toward girls. Not that it's total chick-lit, but it kind of is.
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I second Song of Ice and Fire series, if there aren't any heart wrenching scenes the book isn't worth reading- come on life isn't just dandy, even when you win. Also any novels by B.S. will include at least one strong female lead (my understanding is he has a bunch of strong women in his life and so he writes strong female leads in all of his novels). Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny has an awesome antagonist who is female (ex-lover of the protagonist, nothing like a women scorn). Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven (science fiction) has a strong female lead and so does it's sequel (different lead though). But over all men wage war, so fantasy is going to focus on our testosterone crazed sex.
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As for the WoT using a lot of clichés: who do you think started most of those? That's almost (but not quite) like saying the Lord of the Rings uses a lot of fantasy clichés. It does...but that's not Tolkien's fault. The blame for that lies in his imitators.
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Thanks for the responce everyone! I have a wonderful list to work with now, you've set me up for a good year of happy reading I think.
As for the WoT using a lot of clichés: who do you think started most of those? That's almost (but not quite) like saying the Lord of the Rings uses a lot of fantasy clichés. It does...but that's not Tolkien's fault. The blame for that lies in his imitators.
Oh I came to this realization eventually too and I also realized clichés aren't necessarily a bad thing. But my sister was a big influence, for better or worse, on the media I liked growing up and thus the media I like now. I have half the WoT series so I will finish it eventually, but no need to rush, i'll come back to it when I'm ready.
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George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire have alot of female characters.
I second Song of Ice and Fire series
I feel obligated to give a little warning about A Song of Ice and Fire. Are the books awesome? YES!
BUT, don't expect the series to get finished. He's been working on the latest book for over 4 years. (More like 7 years because book 4 was split in publication (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dance_with_Dragons#Split_in_publication).) Even after all that time there is still no clue when the next book will get finished. The last official update (http://www.georgerrmartin.com/if-update.html) on his site is over 2 years old.
The existing books are great to read, but don't expect any closure to the story any time soon, if at all.
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As for the WoT using a lot of clichés: who do you think started most of those? That's almost (but not quite) like saying the Lord of the Rings uses a lot of fantasy clichés. It does...but that's not Tolkien's fault. The blame for that lies in his imitators.
I have to agree that you can't blame the cliches on the original but on the imitators. Such as Wheel of Time and The Lord of the Rings made the fantasy cliches. Anyway back to suggesting books. There are some young adult books I read way back when and they were actually okay. Except for the fact that they are some of the stereotypical teen romance but one series really popped out for me to be other wise. It's called the Wicked Lovely Series- by Melissa Marr. Wicked Lovely is the first in the series. Though this is third person the only viewpoint isn't a girl but the main protagonist is.
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In that case I would highly recommend Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogies as well as The Ruins of Ambrai. Although the latter is an incomplete trilogy and might never be finished.
Also Elizabeth Haydon's Symphony of Ages Series is well worth trying.
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Daughter of the Empire (and Mistress of the Empire and Servant of the Empire) by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts. Mara is one of my favorite heroines ever.
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It's very kiddie, but Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lionness series is really great for a female protag. Um, I totally second the mortal instruments series (I CAN'T WAIT FOR CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS!). I also second the Robin McKinley rec. Specifically Beauty and Spindle's End. Darkangel trilogy by Merideth Ann Pierce is old, but really good. Anything by Mercades Lackey is really awesome too.
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(Lois is my favorite author, so I'd recommend almost any of her stuff, though the Sharing Knife series is best read in two-book clumps because each book is really half a book as far as plot sophistication goes.)
Lois is my favorite author too. ;)
We enjoyed the Sharing Knife books. Some of the intimate details were a little more detailed than I'm generally comfortable with (not like graphic eroticism or anything), but that was toned down more in the second set (the third and fourth books, that is). It's an interesting setup and different from the traditional medieval fantasy.
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Wizard's First Rule
Hunger Games
Graceling
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I second the Melanie Rawn and Feist's "Mistress of Empire" books recommendation. Also, try Elizabeth Moon's "Deeds of Paksenarrion". It's one of my favorite books that I go back and re read every so often. Moon's other series--the Harris Serrano books--feature a strong female protagonist, but they are science fiction rather than fantasy. If you do like science fiction, try the Honor Harrington books by David Weber.
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I would also recommend Terrier by Tamora Pierce. It is shelved as young adult but it had more of an adult feel to me.
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I would second the recommendation of the Empire Trilogy by Raymond Feist and Janny Wurts. Excellent series, and although it's helpful to have read at least the original Riftwar Saga it is by no means required.
Also I'd recommend the Dragon Ship Trilogy by Robin Hobb. She's a great author who does a good job of making you care about her characters. This trilogy takes place in the same world as her Assassin trilogy but only one character is present in both. The Assassin trilogy also contains strong female characters but they aren't leading characters.
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I second (third?) the recommendation of Melanie Rawn. Dragon Prince and the series following it are really, really good. :)
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George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire have alot of female characters.
I second Song of Ice and Fire series
I feel obligated to give a little warning about A Song of Ice and Fire. Are the books awesome? YES!
BUT, don't expect the series to get finished. He's been working on the latest book for over 4 years. (More like 7 years because book 4 was split in publication (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dance_with_Dragons#Split_in_publication).) Even after all that time there is still no clue when the next book will get finished. The last official update (http://www.georgerrmartin.com/if-update.html) on his site is over 2 years old.
The existing books are great to read, but don't expect any closure to the story any time soon, if at all.
Those who like Robert Jordan understand that. He has written other stuff in the last few years. I think he has published 2 novels. He runs a shared world of short stories called Wild Cards. I heard they were good. He also has a 3rd book of short stories with alot of big named authors (called Warriors) out soon.
HBO filmed a pilot for his song of ice and fire books last fall. I think GRRM actually wrote the screenplay. He hinted at it on his website. If he is writing the screenplays for the hbo series, his books will take a long time to get done... that is really time consuming.
I like GRRMs blog. www.georgerrmartin.com
Gotta follow a fellow Giants and Jets fan! BTW, GRRM was friends with Robert Jordan.
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It's very kiddie, but Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lionness series is really great for a female protag. Um, I totally second the mortal instruments series (I CAN'T WAIT FOR CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS!). I also second the Robin McKinley rec. Specifically Beauty and Spindle's End. Darkangel trilogy by Merideth Ann Pierce is old, but really good. Anything by Mercades Lackey is really awesome too.
I third (I'm not sure if that's possible) the Robin McKinley recommendation. The books I would recommend though would be The Hero and The Crown also The Blue Sword (which is the sequel-ish book to The Hero and the Crown).
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Elitist Book Reviews bashed one of the Dragon Ship books by Hobb.... and Steve generally has good reason (though it may be lacking with WoT :P)
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I've been having the same problem for a while now - looking for a god fantasy novel or series (preferably the latter) with a STRONG female protagonist/main character/hero. I've found several, some in just the past few months - Diana Pharoah Francis' Path series; The Jewelfire Trilogy by Freda Warrington, and many others - but not near enough to sate my hunger. This thread has added several to my 'To Read' list. ;D
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The Hobb books he was talking about were actually the Liveship books, not the later sequel that EBR bashed, Dragon Keeper. The Liveship books are my favorite of hers.
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For some reason I've never been able to get into Robin McKinley's stuff.
I tried to read The Hero and the Crown in middle school. It seemed just up my alley, I loved stuff like that! But I couldn't get into it. Maybe read 5-10 pages, at most.
Later, in high school, all the girls I knew absolutely LOVED that book, along with The Blue Sword. So I tried again.
And couldn't get into it. Made it 10-20 pages in, maybe.
I don't remember why I didn't like it, though. But i haven't touched them since 10th grade or so. I should probably pick them up and see what I think, now. :p
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Brandon was required to read The Blue Sword before his wedding. (I also think it's a good book.)
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The Hobb books he was talking about were actually the Liveship books, not the later sequel that EBR bashed, Dragon Keeper. The Liveship books are my favorite of hers.
Correct. Her first 3 trilogies are widely considered as excellent. This newest "duology" starts off horridly. Nothing that made her first 3 series awesome was built on in The Dragon Keeper. Wait until I read the 2nd half (comes out in May), and then I'll write up a blurb and you all can decide if it is worth your time. As it stands, don't waste your money on a pricey hardback.
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Books getting cut in half after they're written almost never produces good results. I would like for the next book to be good, so that I can read the first one, but after the Soldier Son trilogy I don't have my hopes up.
It's noteworthy that one of the main characters in the Liveship trilogy started out a spoiled brat little girl and demonstrated serious character growth over the three books.
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I didn't like Hero and the Crown but I did like Blue Sword and Beauty. They don't have fast starts, though. You have to give them a few chapters.
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I really didn't care for Hero very much. Blue Sword was really good. Keep in mind though that (especially with her later books) the romance (once of my considering factors to any books) seems a bit... rushed? Tacked on? You can see it building but at the same time, I never really love the end results.
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The Blue Sword is a terrible book. A very tall 15 year old (how the protaganist is described) is kidnapped by hillfolk because their king believes she's destined to lead and fight alongside with them against the Northerners. Well they spend basically the entire book training her and that's really all that happens. There are no supporting characters to speak of. The ppl around our main character are there just to respond to her and nothing more. Even the dialogue is unbelievably boring. No surprise there, there aren't any supporting characters for her to talk to. I was almost finished but I just quit. I never even bothered to find out what happened in the end. That's how bad this book was. Anyone who would recommend you the Blue Sword is looking to hurt you mentally and possibly physically.
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Because it isn't humanly possible that someone may just have different taste than you. Nope, we're all evil sadists.
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Anyone who would recommend you the Blue Sword is looking to hurt you mentally and possibly physically.
I find it ironic that you should say that, since you recommended Wizard's First Rule. Now, while I thought WFR was a decent book, Kahlan is not that great of a fantasy female. Plus, the writing is terrible (note that this statement is not just based on WFR, because I did like that one. It's the rest of the series (at least the ones I read) that make me say this)....
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I have to second that... Kahlan is really more of a love interest with her own magic, and less of a real female protagonist.
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The Blue Sword is a terrible book. A very tall 15 year old (how the protaganist is described) is kidnapped by hillfolk because their king believes she's destined to lead and fight alongside with them against the Northerners. Well they spend basically the entire book training her and that's really all that happens. There are no supporting characters to speak of. The ppl around our main character are there just to respond to her and nothing more. Even the dialogue is unbelievably boring. No surprise there, there aren't any supporting characters for her to talk to. I was almost finished but I just quit. I never even bothered to find out what happened in the end. That's how bad this book was. Anyone who would recommend you the Blue Sword is looking to hurt you mentally and possibly physically.
Ok my bad for recommending it. I felt that it was a decent story (though I agree that the dialogue was lacking). I didn't mean to insult or mentally harm anyone.
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Anyone who would recommend you the Blue Sword is looking to hurt you mentally and possibly physically.
I find it ironic that you should say that, since you recommended Wizard's First Rule. Now, while I thought WFR was a decent book, Kahlan is not that great of a fantasy female. Plus, the writing is terrible (note that this statement is not just based on WFR, because I did like that one. It's the rest of the series (at least the ones I read) that make me say this)....
If she's isn't, then who is? Kahlan is actually much better than the two others I mentioned.
I have to second that... Kahlan is really more of a love interest with her own magic, and less of a real female protagonist.
By saying she's nothing more than a love interest what you're denoting is that she serves no other purpose in the plot of any of the books other than to be fawned over and rescued when in danger like most female love interests. Is a character who has her own voice and POV and goes on her own harrowing adventures like a man in a medieval fantasy setting just a love interest? That's not any love interest I ever read, whether they be man or woman. That would defeat the whole purpose of them just being a love interest.
Ok my bad for recommending it. I felt that it was a decent story (though I agree that the dialogue was lacking). I didn't mean to insult or mentally harm anyone.
Ok just be careful next time, you don't know who on here might mistakenly take you up on your recommendations :)
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Man you're a hell lot worst than I am when I spit venom.... did you not get attention as a child, and now abuse the internet for revenge?
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Lord Terrisman, you do not have to apologize for recommending a book, especially not to someone who is being extremely rude. We are all entitled to our own opinions, but we are not entitled to be jerks about it.
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Ok, I just don't want to hurt anypone's feelings or offend anyone. Kaz and Sigyn I really appreciate you guys sticking up for me even though I don't know you. I just don't want anyone getting mentally hurt. :) (thank you again guys I appreciate it)
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Safety should always be the main concern. :)
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I agree.
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I just don't want anyone getting mentally hurt.
Good aspiration. :) In my experience, recommending books you enjoy doesn't hurt anyone, mentally or physically, especially when the person you're recommending the books to has asked for recommendations. If someone takes offense, that's their problem, not yours.
If she's isn't, then who is? Kahlan is actually much better than the two others I mentioned.
I'm unfamiliar with the other two books you mentioned, although I have been meaning to read The Hunger Games. However, if Kahlan is better than those other two, I'll have to make sure not to read it when I'm in the mood for a REAL female protagonist. The Sword of Truth doesn't have those. It has Richard. Everyone else is secondary....
And Kahlan IS a love interest. Sure, she has her own adventures, but the only reason she's in the story is because she is a love interest.
just be careful next time, you don't know who on here might mistakenly take you up on your recommendations :)
Just because you really disliked a book doesn't mean everyone else dislikes it. Obviously you like The Sword of Truth. Many people on here really DON'T like it. And I'm sure the 190 people on Amazon who reviewed The Blue Sword and gave it 5 stars disagree with you....
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I believe that everyone is entitled to there own opinions and to me The Blue Sword is a good book(not the best but it is good). Also you should read the Hunger Games they are a very good series.
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I just don't want anyone getting mentally hurt.
Good aspiration. :) In my experience, recommending books you enjoy doesn't hurt anyone, mentally or physically, especially when the person you're recommending the books to has asked for recommendations. If someone takes offense, that's their problem, not yours.
If she's isn't, then who is? Kahlan is actually much better than the two others I mentioned.
I'm unfamiliar with the other two books you mentioned, although I have been meaning to read The Hunger Games. However, if Kahlan is better than those other two, I'll have to make sure not to read it when I'm in the mood for a REAL female protagonist. The Sword of Truth doesn't have those. It has Richard. Everyone else is secondary....
And Kahlan IS a love interest. Sure, she has her own adventures, but the only reason she's in the story is because she is a love interest.
just be careful next time, you don't know who on here might mistakenly take you up on your recommendations :)
Just because you really disliked a book doesn't mean everyone else dislikes it. Obviously you like The Sword of Truth. Many people on here really DON'T like it. And I'm sure the 190 people on Amazon who reviewed The Blue Sword and gave it 5 stars disagree with you....
Dont even get me started on Terry Badkind. How many trees lost their lives printing that rubbish?
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Dont even get me started on Terry Badkind. How many trees lost their lives printing that rubbish?
Haha. Precisely.
Also, I was waiting for you to come around here and see the topic of conversation. I was looking forward to your response. You didn't disappoint. :P
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You might like Carol Berg's Bridge of D'Arnath series. Son of Avonar comes first. The last one of the five is the best, which is always nice. Seri is a wonderful main character and Carol's writing is superb.
Also, there are great female lead characters in abundance in Robin Hobb's Liveship Traders trilogy. It is best to read The Farseer trilogy first, starting with Assassin's Apprentice which also boasts many strong women as side characters, but one can start out with Ship of Magic without losing too much context.
Pratchett's Tffany Aching books are YA, but oh so good. Worth the fluff. :)
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I've noticed YA books are really the place to look if you want good, well written female protagonists. I am assuming the trend will push upward to the "adult" books. I hope it gets more girls to read SF/fantasy. I felt incredibly alone as a teenage female fantasy fan. Now there are legions of us and our numbers are growing. It makes me happy.
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More women read fantasy than men....we're more verbose about it.
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I would have to agree (even though I'm a guy and a fantasy fan). I can list ten girls off the top of my head who read fantasy for every one or two guys.
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I can't but surveys do prove it. I know of more guys than girls but that doesn't mean they don't, I just don't know (maybe they're embarresed of nerdom).
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I just don't want anyone getting mentally hurt.
Good aspiration. :) In my experience, recommending books you enjoy doesn't hurt anyone, mentally or physically, especially when the person you're recommending the books to has asked for recommendations. If someone takes offense, that's their problem, not yours.
If she's isn't, then who is? Kahlan is actually much better than the two others I mentioned.
I'm unfamiliar with the other two books you mentioned, although I have been meaning to read The Hunger Games. However, if Kahlan is better than those other two, I'll have to make sure not to read it when I'm in the mood for a REAL female protagonist. The Sword of Truth doesn't have those. It has Richard. Everyone else is secondary....
And Kahlan IS a love interest. Sure, she has her own adventures, but the only reason she's in the story is because she is a love interest.
She's a main character that happens to also be the love interest for another character, but that's not all she is. There's a huge difference between being a fully developed character with their own motivations and goals to a simple plot device. You don't devote roughly half of each of your books to a character if that's all he or she is.
just be careful next time, you don't know who on here might mistakenly take you up on your recommendations :)
Just because you really disliked a book doesn't mean everyone else dislikes it. Obviously you like The Sword of Truth. Many people on here really DON'T like it. And I'm sure the 190 people on Amazon who reviewed The Blue Sword and gave it 5 stars disagree with you....
If I can save one life it was worth it.
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Kahlan is nothing more than the archetype "damsel in perpetual distress." She is there to serve as character conflict for Richard, nothing else. If you want to consider that a female lead, OK, but she isn't a strong or even good lead. Half of the problems Richard faces (and then solves on pure accident at the end of the novels--another issue entirely) are due to Kahlan being a complete moron. As a general rule, I detest stories that rely on character stupidity to further the plot/conflict. Goodkind has become a master of this avenue of story-telling, all-the-while coating it with a false, thin facade of intelligence by ripping off Ayn Rand.
But hey, some people like it. More power to them. If it gets them reading so they can be introduced to better authors like Erikson, Jones, Abercrombie, etc., then awesome. All I have to say is each person likes different things. Just because you don't like Blue Sword, doesn't mean others wont. Just because I detest Goodkinds garbage, doesn't mean others wont think it's awesome. But don't knock someone because they happened to like a novel and recommended it. We aren't a fraking Hive Mind on book tastes.
That said, most of the novels I read have a ton of characters, both female and male. I mean, Erikson, Abercrombie, Martin, Lloyd, Mieville, Barclay...they all have strong female characters in the series. I think the best novels have a nice mix of male vs. female characters. I do enjoy some novels that have mostly an all-male cast--usually they are balls-out action novels--but I cant really get into novels that are mostly female led. Those novels usually have unicorns on the front (Mercedes Lackey anyone?). I just cant stomach that.
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Here's a statistic that may surprise you. Of the 3,500 people who have fanned Brandon's Facebook page, it's 67% male. That holds across most age ranges, and the biggest demographic—ages 25–34, is 72% male. (The smallest demographics, 45–54 and 55+ are evenly male/female to balance that out.)
This article says toward the end of 2007, Facebook was 2/3 female.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/21/facebook-is-almost-23-women-and-other-stats/
If that is still true, Brandon's readership may be even more skewed toward males than the Facebook fan page indicates.
This is a surprise to me. I expected the ratio to be much more even. Now, it has to be understood that the vast majority of Brandon's fans on Facebook are Wheel of Time fans—but that is another fandom that I expected to be more evenly split.
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Thank you Peter that really helps explain the issue on which gender readsmore fantasy or fantasy written by Brandon Sanderson.
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Moggle you are a troll, I'm an ass but I know when I'm wrong and attempt to drop a subject. You however, demonstrate a lack of intelligence befitting a troll.
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Here's a statistic that may surprise you. Of the 3,500 people who have fanned Brandon's Facebook page, it's 67% male. That holds across most age ranges, and the biggest demographic—ages 25–34, is 72% male. (The smallest demographics, 45–54 and 55+ are evenly male/female to balance that out.)
This article says toward the end of 2007, Facebook was 2/3 female.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/21/facebook-is-almost-23-women-and-other-stats/
If that is still true, Brandon's readership may be even more skewed toward males than the Facebook fan page indicates.
This is a surprise to me. I expected the ratio to be much more even. Now, it has to be understood that the vast majority of Brandon's fans on Facebook are Wheel of Time fans—but that is another fandom that I expected to be more evenly split.
This does surprise me. I would have figured a stronger female demographic in the Brandon realm--of course, this is all facebook related, but still.
On the whole, I noticed a 2 to 1 (a rough estimate) split in favor of the female when it came to books in the fantasy section. Not SF. Fantasy. And females seemed to buy more novels at a time.
Cool stats Peter.
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I think when we are talking fantasy if we pull out all the urban fantasy readers the female percentage will drop. From my own experience epic fantasy readers are mostly male. That is in my own age range of course, (I am in my late 30s). I think younger women are reading more fantasy because it is more available and acceptable now than it was when I started reading thirty years ago.
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I think when we are talking fantasy if we pull out all the urban fantasy readers the female percentage will drop. From my own experience epic fantasy readers are mostly male. That is in my own age range of course, (I am in my late 30s). I think younger women are reading more fantasy because it is more available and acceptable now than it was when I started reading thirty years ago.
Thanks for the interesting facts Bookstore Guy. Also I agree with you reader mom it seems that fantasy is attracting a lot more women these days. I think this is due to the fact that in the YA section there are so many books about strong female protagonist in the urban fantasy genere. So when the girls are younger they read those and then move on to "adult" urban fantasy.
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Kahlan is nothing more than the archetype "damsel in perpetual distress." She is there to serve as character conflict for Richard, nothing else. If you want to consider that a female lead, OK, but she isn't a strong or even good lead. Half of the problems Richard faces (and then solves on pure accident at the end of the novels--another issue entirely) are due to Kahlan being a complete moron. As a general rule, I detest stories that rely on character stupidity to further the plot/conflict. Goodkind has become a master of this avenue of story-telling, all-the-while coating it with a false, thin facade of intelligence by ripping off Ayn Rand.
You detest Goodkind's books and his characters and yet you've gone ahead and read multiple sword of truth novels (at least half or all of them from what I can tell) some averaging 300,000 words a book? They're so badly written you just have to read them all. lol. If you've only read one or two books then your assertions are just based on ignorance and if you've read at least half the series then obviously you badly contradict yourself so which is it? I'd be willing to debate rationally over the subject, but that's not what I'm getting from your end of the discussion as far as I can tell.
But hey, some people like it. More power to them. If it gets them reading so they can be introduced to better authors like Erikson, Jones, Abercrombie, etc., then awesome. All I have to say is each person likes different things. Just because you don't like Blue Sword, doesn't mean others wont. Just because I detest Goodkinds garbage, doesn't mean others wont think it's awesome. But don't knock someone because they happened to like a novel and recommended it. We aren't a fraking Hive Mind on book tastes.
That said, most of the novels I read have a ton of characters, both female and male. I mean, Erikson, Abercrombie, Martin, Lloyd, Mieville, Barclay...they all have strong female characters in the series. I think the best novels have a nice mix of male vs. female characters. I do enjoy some novels that have mostly an all-male cast--usually they are balls-out action novels--but I cant really get into novels that are mostly female led. Those novels usually have unicorns on the front (Mercedes Lackey anyone?). I just cant stomach that.
The op asked for a good female lead, not side characters who don't play big roles in predominately male fantasy novels.
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Moggle - Since you don't know me, or what I do, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on your rudeness. I reviews books. All of them. I used to manage a bookstore. It was the #1 ranked Waldenbooks in the country--knowing what NOT to recommend is just as important (if not more so) than what TO recommend. I've had some training from Brandon Sanderson's Agent on the ins-and-outs of that job description. As a result, I read and finish pretty much every popular novel/series in the fantasy genre, and to a lesser extent SF, Horror and Mystery/Thriller. I have had connections in the publishing industry for years now, and a large number of editors, agents, publicists and authors seem to appreciate my opinions (not to mention the the hundreds of readers who go to my review blog daily).
So, when I say I have an opinion on Terry Goodkind, it is because I have read his work. All of it. Same with Terry Brooks who I hate. Stephanie Meyer who I hate. Dan Brown who I hate. If I only read books I liked, from a professional standpoint, I would be uninformed. If I only read novels I liked, from a personal standpoint, I wouldn't appreciate the awesomeness of great authors as much as I do now. I read books and series that I absolutely hate. I do it so I can give people legitimate opinions on a wide variety of novels across various genres and sub-genres. So don't insult me for having read books I detest so that I can have a complete and informed opinion. You see, people in a surprising number of countries rely on me for my opinions.
The op asked for novels with strong female leads. I gave a list of authors who have strong female characters who serve as leads. A strong lead doesn't mean that they are the only character who has a PoV. Once again, all of those authors have female characters who serve as leads. If you've read all of those series, as other readers here will attest, then you know that these authors have some of the strongest female characters in all of literature.
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Mogul - Since you don't know me, or what I do, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on your rudeness. I reviews books. All of them. I used to manage a bookstore. It was the #1 ranked Waldenbooks in the country--knowing what NOT to recommend is just as important (if not more so) than what TO recommend. I've had some training from Brandon Sanderson's Agent on the ins-and-outs of that job description. As a result, I read and finish pretty much every popular novel/series in the fantasy genre, and to a lesser extent SF, Horror and Mystery/Thriller. I have had connections in the publishing industry for years now, and a large number of editors, agents, publicists and authors seem to appreciate my opinions (not to mention the the hundreds of readers who go to my review bog daily).
So, when I say I have an opinion on Terry Goodkind, it is because I have read his work. All of it. Same with Terry Brooks who I hate. Stephanie Meyer who I hate. Dan Brown who I hate. If I only read books I liked, from a professional standpoint, I would be uninformed. If I only read novels I liked, from a personal standpoint, I wouldn't appreciate the awesomeness of great authors as much as I do now. I read books and series that I absolutely hate. I do it so I can give people legitimate opinions on a wide variety of novels across various genres and sub-genres. So don't insult me for having read books I detest so that I can have a complete and informed opinion. You see, people in a surprising number of countries rely on me for my opinions.
The op asked for novels with strong female leads. I gave a list of authors who have strong female characters who serve as leads. A strong lead doesn't mean that they are the only character who has a Prov. Once again, all of those authors have female characters who serve as leads. If you've read all of those series, as other readers here will attest, then you know that these authors have some of the strongest female characters in all of literature.
Wow, I had no idea you did all that (I'm new). Now I really admire you for all of your work you have done. Also I go on your website a lot now (sorry had a fanboy moment).
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Most of us in this forum follow BSG's site, and generally respect his opinion and stay away from the books he says suck, b/c he is generally right.
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Yeah I'd definetely avoid the books he said suck.
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What's against Terry Brooks? I was in ninth grade when I read them, and new to analytical reading, so maybe I just need to go over them again, but I liked the Shannara books. Admittedly, his other books aren't that great. I suggest at least trying the Word and the Void if you're looking for good female leads.
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Moggle - Since you don't know me, or what I do, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on your rudeness. I reviews books. All of them. I used to manage a bookstore. It was the #1 ranked Waldenbooks in the country--knowing what NOT to recommend is just as important (if not more so) than what TO recommend. I've had some training from Brandon Sanderson's Agent on the ins-and-outs of that job description. As a result, I read and finish pretty much every popular novel/series in the fantasy genre, and to a lesser extent SF, Horror and Mystery/Thriller. I have had connections in the publishing industry for years now, and a large number of editors, agents, publicists and authors seem to appreciate my opinions (not to mention the the hundreds of readers who go to my review blog daily).
So, when I say I have an opinion on Terry Goodkind, it is because I have read his work. All of it. Same with Terry Brooks who I hate. Stephanie Meyer who I hate. Dan Brown who I hate. If I only read books I liked, from a professional standpoint, I would be uninformed. If I only read novels I liked, from a personal standpoint, I wouldn't appreciate the awesomeness of great authors as much as I do now. I read books and series that I absolutely hate. I do it so I can give people legitimate opinions on a wide variety of novels across various genres and sub-genres. So don't insult me for having read books I detest so that I can have a complete and informed opinion. You see, people in a surprising number of countries rely on me for my opinions.
The op asked for novels with strong female leads. I gave a list of authors who have strong female characters who serve as leads. A strong lead doesn't mean that they are the only character who has a PoV. Once again, all of those authors have female characters who serve as leads. If you've read all of those series, as other readers here will attest, then you know that these authors have some of the strongest female characters in all of literature.
Well that certainly explains why you would read an entire series despite hating it. However this does not explain how you came to the conclusion that Kahlan is a moron and as for being a damsel in constant distress, does this archetype apply to someone who gets themselves out of trouble most of the time as opposed to a typical helpless damsel waiting for her knight in shining armor to do it? In any case I won't press the issue, especially when your choices of strong female "leads" consists of cliched one dimensional characters like Ferro, the emotionally crippled warrior woman or Eilonwy the snarky, sarcastic and tough 15 year old girl or Cersei, the beautiful evil queen. These characters may be interesting to you, but that doesn't make them strong female leads based on their characterization and it doesn't help that they have small supporting roles either.
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Moggle, I'm with Kaz on this one. Every post you make is for the express purpose of arguing with/being rude to the other forum-goers. I admit, I haven't scoured the website to check all of your posts, but what I've seen doesn't give a very favorable impression.
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Cersei has multiple dimensions and is very interesting. That's one of Martin's strengths...he presents a character that you hate at first, then slowly builds them over time to make them interesting.
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Well that certainly explains why you would read an entire series despite hating it. However this does not explain how you came to the conclusion that Kahlan is a moron and as for being a damsel in constant distress, does this archetype apply to someone who gets themselves out of trouble most of the time as opposed to a typical helpless damsel waiting for her knight in shining armor to do it? In any case I won't press the issue, especially when your choices of strong female "leads" consists of cliched one dimensional characters like Ferro, the emotionally crippled warrior woman or Eilonwy the snarky, sarcastic and tough 15 year old girl or Cersei, the beautiful evil queen. These characters may be interesting to you, but that doesn't make them strong female leads based on their characterization and it doesn't help that they have small supporting roles either.
Those characters are hardly one-dimensional. And they are hardly small roles. Martin has several female characters. Do I like them all? Heavens no. Martin doesn't want you to like characters until he decides it's time for you like them (which is, as Peter puts it, what makes Martin so skilled and awesome). But that doesn't mean they aren't strong the whole time. It's all a case of perspective. Erikson is the same way. Abercrombie does have Ferro, and he also has Monsa. Both are awesome. Just because they aren't light and fluffy doesn't mean they aren't good characters, and solid leads. Miéville has a main female lead in Perdido Street Station.
As for my conclusion that Kahlan isn't a good character, I explained that just fine earlier. She isn't actually there for any purpose other than to give Richard a damsel to rescue. Or to be emo over. Or to cause un-needed conflict. She is used to make it seem like Richard is accomplishing something when really he just wanders around and solves things by accident. She is used to present the "stupid character" plot mechanism. She does something stupid to reset all the prior growth to the paper-thin relationship she has with Richard. Then she gets caught. Richard saves her (again). Everything is better. Repeat. This is a cheap way to add length to a story under the poorly-painted guise of plot movement and character development. It's the novel equivalent of the will-they-wont-they soap-opera...a formulaic Harlequin Romance novel. It doesn't actually mean anything. It's just filler. So is Kahlan. This is my opinion. If you like Goodkind, awesome. You can be excited that he is now rewriting the Sword of Truth series as a Thriller series now. It's exactly the same, with the same poorly produced characters (in my opinion).
Also, if you are into SF, DIVING INTO THE WRECK is told completely from a female perspective. A great introductory SF novel. I loved it.
As for Terry Brooks, I no longer consider him an adult fantasy writer. He is YA. I would recommend him to people to don't want to get bogged down in Lord of the Rings, but still want the same story. I would recommend him to young teens as a way to get into the genre. Same with Eddings. They both have decent/good female leads (as you mentioned by saying Word and the Void), but they are for younger crowds. 9th grade is a perfect place for Brooks and Eddings. I grew up on both of them--around 6th grade. Got me into fantasy. But I won't buy their novels anymore.
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I'm currently reading God Stalk by P. C. Hodgell, which has a really good female lead but an absolutely awful cover. Why do bad covers happen to good people? That question is mostly rhetorical since I think there was a thread about book covers a few months ago.
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By saying she's nothing more than a love interest what you're denoting is that she serves no other purpose in the plot of any of the books other than to be fawned over and rescued when in danger like most female love interests. Is a character who has her own voice and POV and goes on her own harrowing adventures like a man in a medieval fantasy setting just a love interest? That's not any love interest I ever read, whether they be man or woman. That would defeat the whole purpose of them just being a love interest.
Kahlan gets some time to herself to do things that don't involve Richard, true, but she never really develops as a character- her trials are obstacles to her returning to who she was, not changing into someone better. (or for that matter, someone worse- sometimes watching a train wreck is just as fascinating as watching a miracle) Richard has to learn lessons throughout what I've read of the series, even if they're incredibly trite and partisan ones.
Most definitions of a protagonist require that there's some character development going on. In Sword of Truth, Richard is the only one who develops- everyone else gets at best to forsake Jagang's empire and realise that Terry Goodkind's vision of politics is the right one.
She's a main character that happens to also be the love interest for another character, but that's not all she is. There's a huge difference between being a fully developed character with their own motivations and goals to a simple plot device. You don't devote roughly half of each of your books to a character if that's all he or she is.
Motivations aren't what make an independent character. Even one-shot side characters like the typical delivery girl/boy can have motivation, goals, and perspectives that are interesting. Goodkind invests a lot of time with Kahlan, but she only gets to grow through Richard, never on her own. As BSG says, her interaction with Richard is either complete devotion or being the archetypical damsel in distress. This is not what people generally mean when they refer to strong women in fantasy, I would have thought. :)
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Here's a statistic that may surprise you. Of the 3,500 people who have fanned Brandon's Facebook page, it's 67% male. That holds across most age ranges, and the biggest demographic—ages 25–34, is 72% male. (The smallest demographics, 45–54 and 55+ are evenly male/female to balance that out.)
This article says toward the end of 2007, Facebook was 2/3 female.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/21/facebook-is-almost-23-women-and-other-stats/
If that is still true, Brandon's readership may be even more skewed toward males than the Facebook fan page indicates.
This is a surprise to me. I expected the ratio to be much more even. Now, it has to be understood that the vast majority of Brandon's fans on Facebook are Wheel of Time fans—but that is another fandom that I expected to be more evenly split.
That does not surprise me because Brandon's Mistborn magic system is so male-flavored. Very mechanical/scientific/logical rather than simply emotional/psychological/ethereal which is the norm for a lot of fantasy, especially female-authored. My 21-year-old son just devoured all of Mistborn, starting with my signed copy from the Half Moon Bay tour stop. He liked the precision and sensibility of the rules that Brandon employed. You know, he's the kind of kid who liked algebra and hated geometry.
Most girls tend to enjoy the spacial (geometric) rather than the linear (algebraic) type of make-believe, I think, but I am not one of them. I like it all as long as it rings true and keeps me entertained and guessing and isn't disgusting. I don't pay much attention to the mechanics of magic systems. It's about characters and their interactions and growth. In other words, Brandon has something for everyone, which is what makes him so universally appealing.
One more recommendation, since I am on a J.V. Jones jag. A Cavern of Black Ice has a strong female lead, though she starts out a bit weak and is kind of waif-like for much of this book, so I didn't think of her right off. She shows signs of great inner strength and future awesomeness, though, so I would call her potentially strong. She does kick some male-bully butt at one point in a very satisfying fashion. This book is gritty but never disgusting, IMHO.
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Most girls tend to enjoy the spacial (geometric) rather than the linear (algebraic) type of make-believe, I think, but I am not one of them. I like it all as long as it rings true and keeps me entertained and guessing and isn't disgusting. I don't pay much attention to the mechanics of magic systems. It's about characters and their interactions and growth. In other words, Brandon has something for everyone, which is what makes him so universally appealing.
I defiantly prefer geometry to algebra, but I'm the only person I know who does. Contrarily I am very intrigued by the logical side on Brandon's magic systems, and since Mistborn makes the most 'sense' I would say it's my favorite. I certainly agree with your statement on books needing to keep you entertained and guessing without being disgusting, and good character development is essential to any story. I think that what makes Brandon so good for everyone is more the fact that he doesn't try to side on issues, and keeps the male/female characters fairly even(there are more men than women, but the women are pretty important most of the time). It's almost like he's trying to stay on neutral ground so that anyone can read and relate it to their view of the world.
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Starlight and Shadows with Liriel Baenre
I. Daughter of the Drow
II. Tangled Webs
III. Windwalker
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If you don't mind Sci-Fi, in the Foundation Series, by Isaac Asimov, the main heroine is female.
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I'm not sure if anyones already said these but...
Green Rider series - Kristen Britain
The Black Magician Trilogy - Trudy Canavan
..And my minds gone blank, can't think of the others! But I found those two amazing. Also Vin I have to say wins the award for best female protagonist.
Me being a female myself I'm always disappointed with how women in book are usually portrayed as the cliche 'damsel in distress'.
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I retract my J.V. Jones recommendation. The first book was great, but the next two were disappointing-to-awful. The female protagonist's story line goes nowhere and, though the Elitist Boys say that book four is good, I don't think I'm going back for more.
I just re-read Carol Berg's Bridge of D'Arnath series and was much more entertained. Her pacing is not the best, especially in the middle two books, but her writing is so very, very good and her female characters are really strong and interesting.
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Any more recommendations? :)
I've stumbled upon this thread shortly after I started reading the first Mistborn novel. Every fantasy and sci-fi book I've read previously has had male leads, and it was a very welcome and refreshing feeling to be reading a novel where the protagonist is female.
Thanks to recommendations in this thread, I have read Warbreaker (which I loved), Elantris (which I found OK, but still excellent, considering it was Brandon's debut novel) and Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts' Empire trilogy (which I found fantastic, considering how little actual magic and how much politics and intrigue that series involves).
I still have a number of books recommended in this thread to chew through, but I thought I'd bump the thread to the top anyway and see if someone recommends something new or perhaps gives opinion on books mentioned previously.
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Honestly I read like half the first page, but for female leads I would say the "Incarnations of Immortality" series by Peirs Anthony. Like you can tell from the title, they are about the persona of characters like Death, Time, Earth, War, and such. For about every male lead there is an equally strong and important female lead.
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Any more recommendations? :)
I still have a number of books recommended in this thread to chew through, but I thought I'd bump the thread to the top anyway and see if someone recommends something new or perhaps gives opinion on books mentioned previously.
Without bothering to re-read this thread I'll give my own suggestions.
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Patricia Briggs' Mercedes Thompson series
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
A Vision of Light by Judith Merkle Riley
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Drangonsbane by Barbara Hambly
Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher (while Kitara is not the main character, she plays an important role and she's freaking awesome, and there are two other important main female characters)
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale or A Book of a Thousand Days (YA)
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (YA)
Witch World by Andre Norton (old fashioned writing, and not my favorite, but fits your requirements for strong female roles, so you might like it)
Dracula (Mina is just awesome)
Dies the Fire by SM Stirling
Cordelia's Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold (sorry I know it's sci fi, but Cordelia is too awesome to ignore just because it's not fantasy!)
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Thanks for the recommendations!
I have nothing against sci-fi, it just seems to me that the sci-fi genre tends to have a lot fewer female characters than fantasy. Speaking of Lois McMaster Bujold, I already have the Chalion in my reading list, but as per your suggestions I'll be adding Cordelia's Honor to it as well.
I'm also considering reading the Honorverse series by David Weber. It was recommended to me by a colleague when I mentioned that I've started leaning towards books with female leads after reading Mistborn :)
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Any more recommendations? :)
I still have a number of books recommended in this thread to chew through, but I thought I'd bump the thread to the top anyway and see if someone recommends something new or perhaps gives opinion on books mentioned previously.
Without bothering to re-read this thread I'll give my own suggestions.
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Patricia Briggs' Mercedes Thompson series
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
A Vision of Light by Judith Merkle Riley
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Drangonsbane by Barbara Hambly
Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher (while Kitara is not the main character, she plays an important role and she's freaking awesome, and there are two other important main female characters)
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale or A Book of a Thousand Days (YA)
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (YA)
Witch World by Andre Norton (old fashioned writing, and not my favorite, but fits your requirements for strong female roles, so you might like it)
Dracula (Mina is just awesome)
Dies the Fire by SM Stirling
Cordelia's Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold (sorry I know it's sci fi, but Cordelia is too awesome to ignore just because it's not fantasy!)
DoomsDay Book is a TERRIFIC NOVEL if you are intersted in the middle ages. She uses a female historian from modern times to go back in time so you see a contract of modern times to middle ages. It is a neat little story. If you are not interested in this, you may get bored. It is kind of depressing since she goes back during the Black Plague.
Outlander is a very good book, but VERY sexually explicit. Many people on here will not like it. The book is strongly geared to women. It has a male lead who according to reviews on amazon women love. I liked the research she did and tthe history more than the romance (then again I am a guy).
SM Stirling has strong female characters in his other books as well.
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Please forgive me for ranting here. I am two thirds of the way through The Way of Kings and I am only just starting to like it. Is it just me? I dare not read other threads until I finish it. My main complaint in the first third was: Where are the girls??? Not that I don't enjoy the well-done testosterone-laden war epic, but Brandon has me spoiled for female leads and usually a better balance in the estrogen dep't. It's starting to grow on me, but I hope the pacing improves for the rest of the story.
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Please forgive me for ranting here. I am two thirds of the way through The Way of Kings and I am only just starting to like it. Is it just me? I dare not read other threads until I finish it. My main complaint in the first third was: Where are the girls??? Not that I don't enjoy the well-done testosterone-laden war epic, but Brandon has me spoiled for female leads and usually a better balance in the estrogen dep't. It's starting to grow on me, but I hope the pacing improves for the rest of the story.
Shallan? Navani? Jasnah?
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Shallan? Navani? Jasnah?
These female characters are strong and wonderful, but there's just not enough of them in the first two-thirds, IMHO. Just read pp. 594-598 and that was some awesome dialogue. Brandon sure writes those scenes well. If the rest of the book follows the promise of this chapter, it will have been worth all the ho-hum.
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Power and Majesty by Tansy Rayner Roberts
The Secret Ones by Nicole R. Murphy
Any book by Trudi Canavan
The Whisper of Leaves by K.S. Nikakis
The Ancient Future by Traci Harding
Blood Ties by Pamela Freeman
Spirit Gate by Kate Elliot
Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden. This isn't fantasy, I know, but is worth reading anyway.
The Iron Tree by Cecilia Dart-Thornton
As you can see there are a lot of books out there with strong female characters. However, most of these books are written by Australians, but these are some of the best books I've read, and I'm a bloke.
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Shallan? Navani? Jasnah?
These female characters are strong and wonderful, but there's just not enough of them in the first two-thirds, IMHO. Just read pp. 594-598 and that was some awesome dialogue. Brandon sure writes those scenes well. If the rest of the book follows the promise of this chapter, it will have been worth all the ho-hum.
To be fair, the first book is focused on Kaladin. Each subsequent book will have its own focus character, including Shallan and (probably) Jasnah.
And maybe Navani.
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To be fair, the first book is focused on Kaladin. Each subsequent book will have its own focus character, including Shallan and (probably) Jasnah.
And maybe Navani.
That's good news, but a better balance of each would be preferable for me. Huge chapter blocks of any one of those characters with a very slow plot arc, no matter how intriguing the character will eventually become, is going to be tedious. Kaladin eventually became all kinds of wonderful. But there was a lot of military bleakness to wade through before that, with only a glimmer or two of hope thrown in the mix. The female characters' viewpoints were welcome reprieves for me that kept me reading. And the last few hundred pages were worth it all.
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I know you specifically asked for fantasy, but you should look into David Weber's Honor Harrington series. The protagonist is a very strong female who has a lot of growth throughout the series. If you are looking for something epic in scope, it definitely has that. At the time I started it, I didn't read a lot of sci-fi or a lot of military fic, and this series really opened my eyes to the possibilities in both genres.
The books are available for free online, so you can give the first one a try without a lot of commitment or even a trip to the library!
I'm very not good at html, but here is the link: http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/09-AtAllCostsCD/AtAllCostsCD/
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I know you specifically asked for fantasy, but you should look into David Weber's Honor Harrington series. The protagonist is a very strong female who has a lot of growth throughout the series. If you are looking for something epic in scope, it definitely has that. At the time I started it, I didn't read a lot of sci-fi or a lot of military fic, and this series really opened my eyes to the possibilities in both genres.
The books are available for free online, so you can give the first one a try without a lot of commitment or even a trip to the library!
I'm very not good at html, but here is the link: http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/09-AtAllCostsCD/AtAllCostsCD/
Since I've mentioned Honorverse a few weeks ago on the previous page I have actually read the entire Honor Harrington series (which is 12 books, no less!), and have a few things to say.
First and foremost, be warned that David Weber likes his viewpoint characters. Over the course of 12 books there have been literally hundreds of viewpoint characters. Many of those are recurring, but often DW will tell a part of a bigger event from the point of a minor character, only to kill him or her off shortly afterwards.
The other thing to remember is that Honor Harrington books are military science fiction first, and ordinary science fiction second. Weber often goes on to describe a certain piece of technology, naval tactics or politics for tens of pages.
Now, if you're like me and like to read books for their characters, Honor Harrington is perfectly possible to read without getting yourself entangled in the sheer bone-crushing depth of the fictional universe David Weber has created. I've read those books because I wanted to see what happens to Honor and her friends, not how political coups are executed by Her enemies half a galaxy away. Some chapters I have skimmed through very quickly, some I've skipped entirely, but in the end, I still understood most of the plot's details and generally enjoyed reading the series.
Last, but not least, I have to mention that by the end of the 11th book, Honor Harrington just about reaches the end of her character arc. By now she's earned more titles, awards, commendations than you would have thought possible, she's been through hell and back again to tell, she's the most experienced fleet commander out there... well, you get the idea.
In fact, having partially based Honor on Horatio Nelson, David Weber originally intended to have Honor die in the battle at the end of the 11th book, much like Nelson died at the Battle of Trafalgar. Instead he left Honor alive. For all the good it did, because Honor is completely sidelined in the 12th book, she makes barely a handful of appearances in only about 1/5th of the entire book. But the first 11 books I can definitely recommend.