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Best "Strong Female" Fantasy Novels
List of fantasy novels featuring strong women.
This includes: general fantasy, urban fantasy, young adult fantasy, fairy tale retellings, etc.
This DOES NOT include: Science-Fiction (including Dystopian, Apocalyptic, or Post-Apocalyptic).
Which means it DOES NOT include The Host, or any of The Hunger Games books.
If you're looking for Science-Fiction, check out this one:
http://tinyurl.com/scifi-goodreads
If you're confused about the difference between Science-Fiction and Fantasy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_...
Even more important than the Fantasy aspect: Please think about the "strong" female aspect of this list before adding a book! These women kick ass! These women are not victims! They have personality! Their names are not Bella, so please stop adding the Twilight series!
Challenge: Can you, or have you, read the top 25?
Edits: If you see a book that does not fit this criteria, please comment with the number of its current rating so I can remove it (that is, if you are not a librarian).
Edits: There are almost 2000 books on this list, so check to see if your book is already listed before adding it. A good rule of thumb: If your book was published more than two years ago, has more than 500 ratings, is by a popular author and fits the above criteria, it's here. Just find it and vote. :-)
This includes: general fantasy, urban fantasy, young adult fantasy, fairy tale retellings, etc.
This DOES NOT include: Science-Fiction (including Dystopian, Apocalyptic, or Post-Apocalyptic).
Which means it DOES NOT include The Host, or any of The Hunger Games books.
If you're looking for Science-Fiction, check out this one:
http://tinyurl.com/scifi-goodreads
If you're confused about the difference between Science-Fiction and Fantasy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_...
Even more important than the Fantasy aspect: Please think about the "strong" female aspect of this list before adding a book! These women kick ass! These women are not victims! They have personality! Their names are not Bella, so please stop adding the Twilight series!
Challenge: Can you, or have you, read the top 25?
Edits: If you see a book that does not fit this criteria, please comment with the number of its current rating so I can remove it (that is, if you are not a librarian).
Edits: There are almost 2000 books on this list, so check to see if your book is already listed before adding it. A good rule of thumb: If your book was published more than two years ago, has more than 500 ratings, is by a popular author and fits the above criteria, it's here. Just find it and vote. :-)
| 4401 |
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Legacies (Shadow Grail, #1)
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score: 7,
and
1 person voted
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| 4402 |
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A Touch of Stone and Snow (A Gathering of Dragons, #2)
by
score: 6,
and
1 person voted
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| 4403 |
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Chosen Ones
by
score: 5,
and
1 person voted
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| 4404 |
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Pokémon Adventures: Gold & Silver, Vol. 9
by
score: 2,
and
1 person voted
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More voters…
Comments Showing 1-50 of 413 (413 new)
message 1:
by
arianna
(new)
Apr 01, 2009 06:55AM
wow, i need to find more of these books... and read more.
reply
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flag
Can't wait to read some of these that I haven't yet gotten around to, and it was really nice to see some old favorites too.
Why is only one of Tamora Pierces books on this list?
Christa (call me Chris) wrote: "Why is only one of Tamora Pierces books on this list? "Two are - Wild Magic and Alanna: The First Adventure. You can add more if you'd like, it's user driven.
I've only read a few of these books, I am dying to read the others. Interesting list.
I think that Tamora Pierce is perhaps the best author i've read for 'strong heroine' novels. Graceling was also a really good book with an incredibly strong female lead.
i want to read all of these :)
Christa (is a sleepy kitty...) wrote: "Why is only one of Tamora Pierces books on this list? "There's actually more than one, I saw a few different ones in the series about Keladry- can't remember the series name currently... lol
Oh, nevermind! The Protector of the Small Quartet. :) And the Alanna books.
Amy wrote: "Christa (call me Chris) wrote: "Why is only one of Tamora Pierces books on this list? "Two are - Wild Magic and Alanna: The First Adventure. You can add more if you'd like, it's user driven."
They have Lady Knight by Tamora Peirce as well, though
@Laura - yea, this list changes pretty consistently.
I dont understand why you people keep taking Fawcetta out when the voting is legit...Seems to me someone is getting paid to do it..or..there are some real jealous people on this site..eiter way it is wrong and cruel...
@Ari I can't take any of these off the list, or there's a few I'd remove myself. If it's coming off, it's because the people don't agree. (the creator of the list)
Christa (is a sleepy kitty...) wrote: "Why is only one of Tamora Pierces books on this list? "....I don't know...but my friends and other people have voted on Fawcetta as well as I have...and when Fawcetta is up on the top 5...they completly take it out of the list...this has happened three times...this is not fair...maybe they are getting paid...
Lucille wrote: "I think that Tamora Pierce is perhaps the best author i've read for 'strong heroine' novels. Graceling was also a really good book with an incredibly strong female lead.
i want to read all of t..."......You should read Fawcetta as well...you want strong female leads...read Fawcetta....promise..you'll enjoy it...
Amy wrote: "@Ari I can't take any of these off the list, or there's a few I'd remove myself. If it's coming off, it's because the people don't agree. (the creator of the list)"....or maybe they are just getting paid to keep the top sellers at front...
@Davlyon I seriously doubt that anyone cares enough about this list to keep the top sellers at the front. If anyone has any problems with the list they can *vote*. Sheesh. It's a fun list designed to help people find other strong-female-fantasy reads out there. Folks need to stop taking it so seriously.
Ari wrote: "I dont understand why you people keep taking Fawcetta out when the voting is legit...Seems to me someone is getting paid to do it..or..there are some real jealous people on this site..eiter way it ..."I don't think the voting is legit if you are spamming the lists with a book with tons of fake accounts. From what I understand Listopia is for the Readers at Goodreads to get recommendations from their fellow Readers; not for Authors to try to promote their new book.
I'm surprised "Elske" isn't on the list. If you haven't read it, it's a great read (one of my faves). While I don't feel that "Book of a Thousand Days" is in the genre of fantasy, it definitely has a strong female protagonist. =)
If you want an incredible cast of characters led by the most incredibly strong woman character ever, read Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel books. You can't find a stronger character (male or female) than Phedre.
Huh? I've only read two of the books in the top 100.
My book, Trouble Starts, Pane Follows, isn't on this list, so it's not a fair listing. My Ash Pane is stronger, tougher, meaner than all these characters put together, if you're on her bad side.
Then why don't you add it? The form to add books to the list is at the right-hand side of the page.
Pride and Prejudice (sans Zombies)?
I guess they were confusing it with the Zombie version, but I think it should go...
Removed for not being fantasy:Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
Good, but no Blood Lily Chronicles? No Buffy?
Why don't you add them?
I love the fact that there are a ton of Tamora Pierce books on this list. I just finished the fourth book in The Immortals series, and I must say that Alanna, Daine, and Keladry are three of my favorite characters ever written about.
I love most of the books on here Tamora Pierce is the best! I have probably read the Song of the Lioness so many times I can quote it.
I can't believe the Night Huntress series isnt on here...Cat totally kicks ass!!
You could add it.
Hey everyone I would love it if you voted for the Maximum Ride books. Max is a very strong female character. She's not like all these other girls who whine and mope around. She takes action and stays on top of her game. She tries to stay strong for her flock. She cares for her flock like a big sister/mother. She's always there for everyone and is a great role model.
Brittany wrote: "Hey everyone I would love it if you voted for the Maximum Ride books. Max is a very strong female character. She's not like all these other girls who whine and mope around. She takes action and sta..."But the Maximum Ride series is Science Fiction, not Fantasy, and this list is for Fantasy only. The flying children are genetically engineered and in the original book they are bred and raised in a top secret government compound to be experimented on. When the Wind Blows
I added 'Ship of Magic' by Robin Hobb. What's more bad-ass than a leading lady captain who goes a sailing on a magical ship over troubled waters? One of my favourite characters ever
I was a bit confused at some of the entries for "strong female" and found myself wondering how many of these were just popular votes. "Oh! I read and loved that!" without much thought to whether the heroine was strong or not. I saw among some of the most popular (at the time of my voting) selections a lot of insipid heroines that needed to be saved, or silly heroines that use denial/ avoidance as their rule of thumb to blunder into the next harrowing experience. But I also saw a lot of great selections and some I am really looking forward to reading. Good list.
Oh yeah, I added three or four selections from the Dragonriders of Pern series. Specifically the ones where Lessa, Moreta, and Nerilka were the leading females (because they all rock).
Hmm... I've only read a few. I adore the Vampire Academy and Graceling series books but I think I'm the only person who finds something annoying about the Mortal Instruments books. Otherwise, I have a lot of catching up to do!
I've read a few books in this list and I am dying to read The Graceling series there said to be really good :)
Awesome list - I've read quite a few books and am overjoyed to discover the rest :)
what a fantastic list! im loving that the authors are male and female. ive really been struggling to get suggestions for anything past the vampire meets girl stories. BRILLIANT!! so many books for me to try out!
Jamie wrote: "Hmm... I've only read a few. I adore the Vampire Academy and Graceling series books but I think I'm the only person who finds something annoying about the Mortal Instruments books. Otherwise, I hav..."I'm not a fan of the 'heroine' of the Mortal Instruments series. She just can't compete with the strong characters written by authors like Tamora Pierce or Kristin Cashore
I'm so glad this list exists! Can't wait to read some of these...
Dahlia wrote: "The girl from Evermore is a strong female character? Someone please explain this to me."bleh. as far as inner strength goes she would probably get a beatdown by Bella Swan. Where does Evermore appear on the list? Hopefully there are just a few people who voted for it.....
All of Tamora Pierce's main characters, obviously. Tamir from the Tamir Triad (Lynn Flewelling) is a definite automatic upvote; I'm surprised it's gotten so little recognition. Graceling, Sabriel, The Hunger Games, His Dark Materials, and Liveship traders were where the rest of my votes went.
Carolyn wrote: "Brittany wrote: "Hey everyone I would love it if you voted for the Maximum Ride books. Max is a very strong female character. She's not like all these other girls who whine and mope around. She tak..."That sounds like an awesome book, though.
How about we add some WoC to the list? I vote for The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. VERY much worth reading.
Great list! I would also suggest adding Rhapsody by Elizabeth Hayden to this list.
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