Comments on Best "Strong Female" Fantasy Novels - page 3

Allie, see message 79 for a contrary opinion.

so far i have seen Hunger games (wrong genre) Divergent (again wrong genre) and Twilight (i thought it was a list with STRONG female characters not "oh my boyfriend left so i cant do anything" Bella twats? and i only got as far as page 3 should i go on?

Caitlin -

Do you have any idea how many times I've removed Hunger Games or Twilight? Keeping on top of the idiots who keep on ignoring instructions to curate this list would be a full time job. Which is why I generally appreciate it when other people point them out, as you did.

As noted in the description, if you see any books that do not belong, please include their number. It makes it a lot easier for librarians to remove them. I've removed the Hunger Games and Twilight books, but can you get me the number for Divergent?

Amy

Caitlin wrote: "so far i have seen Hunger games (wrong genre) Divergent (again wrong genre) and Twilight (i thought it was a list with STRONG female characters not "oh my boyfriend left so i cant do anything" Bell..."

Werner-
I read your opinion on TMI, and I still disagree. I don't know if you've read the rest of the books, but I've read them up to City of Lost Souls, which is number 5 I believe. In the original trilogy (before Clare decided she loved her characters too much and extended it) Clary was very... immature. It is nice to see characters grow, but in both CoA and CoG she really didn't. She discovered more powers, yes, but her maturity level did not go past that in CoB.
It's sad too, because in CoFA, the fourth one, she is actually a bit more mature. She stops and thinks about what she's doing before she does it, unlike in the first three. However, she still makes some pretty stupid decisions, and I still think she doesn't fit the criteria. Sure, she has some nifty powers, but she's still not trained and still not mature. Her whole world in Jace. I have to hand Clare credit for getting the teenage bratty thing down, though, cause if Clary is anything she fits the sterotype for a bratty teenager.
We all have different opinions, and this is mine on the character of Clary. I think she'll have to pull off something spectacular in City of Heavenly Fire to fit the criteria better.

Allie, thanks for sharing that. No, I've never read anything in the Mortal Instruments series beyond the first book, so the benefit of your broader perspective is illuminating, and helpful. Since you have more basis for knowing what you're talking about here than I do, I'm going to defer to your opinion on the subject. (And based on your comments and others I've read, I probably won't bother reading any more of that series! Immature, bratty heroines aren't my thing. :-) )

354 is in the twilight series, and unless the strong female character is Alice then it does not belong in this list.

NO NO NO NO NO WHY IS MARKED ON THIS LIST?????!!!!!!!

I wish people would vote up Sabriel more. That's a damn good book. For crying out loud she's a fricking necromancer. How much more kick ass can you get? She had to go into the Old Kingdom filled with all kinds of dangerous, magical, undead stuff, risking her life in order to find out what happened to her father when he went missing. It is the first book I read with a truly strong female character & no one else has been able to come close since. hmph!!!

This is a great list! And I have already read 22 of the top 100, 10 are on my to-read shelf so I guess this challenge won't be hard for me :)

W.J. wrote: "Huh? I've only read two of the books in the top 100."

Then start reading Tamora Pierce's books asap! You won't regret it. :)

Amy wrote: "Werner wrote: "Amy, great list! As per your instructions, I noted the titles and numbers of several books that are SF, but didn't remove them myself (although I'm a Goodreads librarian). Dragonsi..."

I think that there is a solid argument to be made for keeping "A Wrinkle in Time" on this list. Most sources classify it as a "science fiction fantasy." While it has aspects of science fiction (e.g. a tesseract), it also has characters that used to be stars and can take the shapes of human women or gigantic flying centaurs. That's pretty solidly fantasy. http://library.thinkquest.org/CR02136...

Good point, Katie!

Werner wrote: "Good point, Katie!"

Thanks! :)

Harry Potter the 66 strongest heroine!! Always knew thier was something fishy bout him... er i mean her

Nicolai, I think the strong heroine people have in mind there is Hermione. :-)

i dont see Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen anywhere...
(i think i spelled her name wrong)

does any body have any good reconciliations i ran out of books to read and i am going crazy i have read all of the va series and the strange angles, fallen, and hoan #help :-)

Looking over this list leaves me largely unimpressed. I'll reserve judgment on many of the individual books that I haven't read, but when I opened up the Goodreads page for #1 ("Graceling") the very first line of the description is:
"His eyes, Katsa had never seen such eyes."
When a book description featuring a strong female lead starts out by describing a man, I have to be skeptical.

Beth wrote: "Looking over this list leaves me largely unimpressed. I'll reserve judgment on many of the individual books that I haven't read, but when I opened up the Goodreads page for #1 ("Graceling") the ve..."
@Beth I would actually totally recommend Gracling. It's the start of a great YA fantasy series - and Katsa definitely kicks ass.

(Also, while there's romance in Gracling etc., other priorities are always more important.)

I am just learning to navigate Goodreads, and I was so pleased to discover your list. I've recently released my first novel, "Illuminating Gracie," and one of the most important aspects of the book - is the strength of its heroine, Gracie Bennett. In the beginning of the book, Grace is a damaged young woman, but as the story progresses, so too does Grace. She learns to find the light within herself and let it shine. I am giving away 12 books this month - I would love for you - and any other fans of strong heroines - to register. I've recently been reviewed by Kirkus and their review is on my author page. Also, you can visit illuminatinggracie.com. I hope you will add "Illuminating Gracie," to your list. I would love to discuss my future plans for Grace with you!

So many of these were hard to chose from! There are so many fantastic characters here on this list, so I only voted for the first book of a series. Seems like a lot of the voter's have clearly picked their favorites! Holt smokes :)

I hope it is okay to nominate my own book, but Gracie Bennett in "Illuminating Gracie," I believe fits well into this category. I.G. is the first book in a series that I am working on, and Gracie - while struggling to find her way - proves that she is a very strong heroine. She is funny, feisty and overcomes all odds to come out on top. One of the reasons I wrote "Illuminating Gracie," was because I was sick to death of the Bella/Elaina type of "heroines," who are completely self-centered and whine constantly. I often wonder how their girlfriends can put up with them! In I.G. Gracie is unique from the beginning, and by the end of the book there is no question how strong she is. I would love feedback from this group, because I am going to be "shaping" Gracie in the books to come. It is very important to me that she be a character with whom women can identify. I hope some of you will check the book out and tell me what you think. "Illuminating Gracie" WILL BE FEATURED IN KIRKUS REVIEW'S SEPT. 1 MAGAZINE (See my page for full review! Thanks so much! Illuminating Gracie

Insurgent by Veronica Roth #122

I feel like I might be missing something right in front of my face, but with over 2700 books in this list, how can you easily search if a book you want to vote for has been voted for before? I ended up just adding my three books to the list, but would rather help a book move up the rankings to possibly be seen by others, if possible. Thanks in advance!

THE EMPIRE OF THE ZON has two of the strongest female characters I have ever come across in fiction - Diana Tragina and Deirdre d'Orr.

I looked it up. It sounds suspiciously like an "Evil Matriarchy" book, a little like Michael R. Hicks's "In Her Name" series -- save us from the Amazons! I know this is personal preference, but I have a hard time embracing a book as a "'strong female' fantasy novel" if we're not supposed to like and admire the "strong females" in question.

If my impression is wrong, however, I will gladly accept correction.

Kelley, I can see how you got there, but I think you may have gotten the wrong impression. Actually, I quite liked and admired both Diana and Deirdre. I agree with reviewer John Atherton who wrote, "I particularly enjoyed the characters of Diana and Deirdre, both strong females who have a somewhat hidden compassionate core." In addition, Caitlin d;Orr, the heroine of the novel, is a very human and sympathetic character, righteous though a bit naive, as many young people are.

Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz books deserves to be on this list - she was the first feminist role model in literature, for crying out loud!

You're right, Dominique; I've added The Wizard of Oz just now, and voted for it! I don't know why I didn't put it on the list the first time I voted --I suppose because it was a long time since I'd read it (as a kid!), and I just didn't think of it.

Marked is rated higher on this list than any of the ASOIAF books. The world must be coming to an end, apparently.

"these women are not bella" right on lol

As much as I love The Princess Bride, Buttercup is herself a parody of the entirely helpless heroine dependent on male actions... and the only other females in the book are Miracle Max's wife (who is awesome) and the Queen (who hardly has an effect). I think it really shouldn't be on here. Also, I noticed some Twilight books, and I'm SURE that heroine is named Bella :) And the Hunger Games books have made it on here despite the rules in the OP.

EJ wrote: "As much as I love The Princess Bride, Buttercup is herself a parody of the entirely helpless heroine dependent on male actions... and the only other females in the book are Miracle Max's wife (who ..."

Hey EJ, it's too time consuming to remove them without the numbers - if you see them, please note the number down so I can find it and remove it.

Amy wrote: "EJ wrote: "As much as I love The Princess Bride, Buttercup is herself a parody of the entirely helpless heroine dependent on male actions... and the only other females in the book are Miracle Max's..."

Oops, sorry about that! Hunger Games is 201, and I'll let you know if I come across the others again. Thanks for this list.

I deleted The Hunger Games just now. Thanks for catching that, EJ!

I have a question. Why in the world would any of the twilight books be up there? I love the twilight series but honestly Bella is not a strong female character in any way shape or form except when she is telling Edward to stop thinking about certain things or when she is defending her honor.

Cheyenne, the list description explicitly excludes any of the Twilight books, but people regularly add them to the list anyway. Do you have the number(s) that shows where they are on the list this time? That will make it easier for Amy (or any other Goodreader with librarian status) to find and delete them.

Cheyenne wrote: "I have a question. Why in the world would any of the twilight books be up there? I love the twilight series but honestly Bella is not a strong female character in any way shape or form except when ..."

Because the internet is full of idiots who cannot read or think beyond their rabid fandom.

If you give the numbers I'll hunt them down and delete them.

360 for New Moon but that's the only one I can remember/find. I also found on 1356 The Hunger Games.

Catching Fire is on 318. People should really read the directions and follow them.

What I'd like to know is why "strong women" in fantasy are almost only found in the Young Adult and Romance/Erotica genres. I just looked at the top 50 on this list and found ONLY THREE that are not in the YA or Romance categories. Does anyone else find that seriously disturbing?

Janet, I've voted for 21 books on this list; only two of them are YA novels and none are romances (I'm not a romance genre fan). So there isn't a dearth of strong female characters in the fantasy genre in non-romance books for adults. But I'm guessing that those books don't usually make the top rankings on this particular list because most of those voting happen to be younger readers and/or romance fans. (Mind you, that's just a theory; I haven't checked out the list of voters!)

Is The Hunger Games up there? I didn't see it, maybe I'm mistaken, but it definitely deserves a spot because Katniss seriously rocks
PB

This site will be the end of me I LOVE IT SO MUCH this is irrelevant to this list but it's so easy to find a new read on this website I love it don't stop with the list :) you librarians rock ;)
Potterbert

Potterbert, the Hunger Games books aren't supposed to be on the list because they're science fiction, not fantasy (even though they have a strong heroine). They occasionally get added to the list by mistake, but the list creator or one of us other Goodreads librarians always delete them.

Ah right sorry wasn't paying attention :)
Thank you
Potterbert

No problem! :-)

Despite having said you will not add Twilight series here, Breaking Dawn re-sparkled.... If you would please remove it so it won't spoil the rest of the amazing collection...

Ivana, do you have the number of that book, as it appears on the list? (With a list this size, that's a big help in finding a book in order to delete it.) Thanks!

It was #622 the last time I checked. I am happy to help!