Hey, im searching for a (character driven) fantasy book written by a female author with a female lead, who despite being strong doesnt loose her feminity over it. So absolutely no “not like the other girls” characters pls. I want a strong mc whos feminity is part of her, which she’s proud of. The book also would preferably not be solely romantasy. I love love love interpersonal relationships in books a whole lot but i would prefer the romance not being the sole focus.
Maybe The Fifth Season? I wouldn’t say the leads in that series are particularly masculine but I’m not sure that they’re overly feminine either. But motherhood and daughterhood are both pretty big parts of the story. There are some romance elements but they’re really not the focus of the main story. It’s a Hugo award winner and an exceptional story.
I came here to recommend this as well. While I wouldn’t describe the MC as overly feminine, the fact that she is a woman is definitely part of the story and the wider commentary.
This is what I came to recommend too.
Series 2 and 4 of Robin Hobb’s main universe follow female leads who absolutely fit this. Liveship Traders and Rain Wild Chronicles.
They can technically be read stand-alone, but I’d highly recommend reading the whole universe in order. It’s pretty quick.
The whole universe would be around 20 books by now, wouldn’t it?
googling
Oh, hey, she has some books out that I haven’t read yet. BRB, gotta add them to the list.
5 sub-series, each 3-4 books. They are pretty short, so they go fast.
Series 3 is a sequel to 1, series 4 is a less-direct sequel to 2. Series 5 acts as an ending for 1/3 and epilogue for 2/4. I believe she is currently writing series 6, which will follow one of the main characters from 5. It’s all written chronologically though.
I’ve read most of these, plus the Soldier Son trilogy. She’s writing more? Fantastic! I’ve loved all of her books. Robin Hobb is easily one of my favorite authors.
Lois McMaster Bujold’s Chalion series, especially the second, Paladin of Souls. Also it’s just a superb book. One of my all time favorite authors.
Curse of Chalion is my all-time favorite book! Paladin of Souls is a great recommendation for this thread.
I mentioned this thread to my wife; she suggested The Bone Spindle.
I read Blood Over Bright Haven fairly recently. Great premise with magic-as-technology, breaking into academia, and some killer intrigue in the background.
If you don’t mind a diversion into sci-fi, Unconquerable Sun is one of my recent favorites. It’s dense with a good mix of action and intrigue. The point of view characters span both sides of multiple conflicts. I’m greatly anticipating the conclusion to the trilogy later this year.
The Lioness Quartet and the Protector of the Small Quartet by Tamora Pierce may fit the bill here. They may be aimed more at a teen audience, but both are about girls needing to prove themselves in the face of a lot of adversity.
These books helped to shape my worldview when I was younger and they hold a very special place in my heart.
Came here to recommend Tamora Pierce. She was similarly a big influence on teenage me, and I have a lot of respect for her. A lot of what she wrote were things I badly needed to hear when I was that age. I haven’t reread any of her work recently, but I’m sure it holds up well.
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik fits the bill! Uprooted by the same author should also fit.
I like these too! Uprooted probably fits the feminine theme a little better, but I like Spinning Silver more. Both good books though.
Circe - Madeline Miller. It’s a great take on the mythological figure. Tuches theames of solitiute, selfgrowth, moderhiod and beeing a bad ass witch.
I can recommend Ascendance of a Bookworm by Miya Kazuki
Fifth Wing maybe? Lots of romance but its got a fun story and lots of entertaining characters. MC is a strong female character, but maybe not overly feminine. About as feminine as any other woman in a warrior-centric culture I guess.
Broken Earth Nk Jemsin
Would fantasy Sci-Fi work? Kameron Hurley the Bel Dame series starting with God’s War. Most of her books are carried by strong female leads.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. and all of her other books. My wife and I read through them all together, and the Throne of Glass series was definitely my favorite.
This is what I’m came here to say. I could not even tell you how many times my wife has read the entire series.
The series is pretty freaking cool! Unique world building; characters that are interesting, flawed, and impactful; and very well written. The connections between SJM’s 3 series are also amazing.
Roots of Chaos series is great and seems to fit these criteria. (The Priory of the Orange Tree, A Day of Fallen Knight, Among the Burning Flowers).
All of them?
Although it’s sci-fi I’d recommend Artemis by Andy Weir (Martian and Hail Mary fame) same no nonsense problem solving main character but a women
Is that just a good book with a female main character? It’s not fantasy, doesn’t have a female author, and “no nonsense problem solving main character but a woman” doesn’t sound that character driven or feminine
It is a good book with a good main character that fits the bill only very parcially. It’s a hardcore sci-fi written by a man. It has a wonderful female main character, though, who’s strong yet feminine, enjoys her femininity and sexuality and there’s no love story - more like background of some past or present relationships of diverse nature. I liked it a lot because of the strong lead and I’m sorry it is not as popular as Weir’s other books. I think the fact that the lead is a strong muslim sexually active and openminded woman who doesn’t care she’ll never have children was a death sentence for the book - too many no-nos for our society. I loved it though.
