Gotta go with GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire. True, most of the women hold little real power, but that's indicative of the time period more than anything else. And there are a couple of badass females.

 

Not sure if it fits "epic fantasy" but Christopher Stasheff's Her Majesty's Wizard has a couple of very strong female characters.

 

Gotta go with GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire. True, most of the women hold little real power, but that's indicative of the time period more than anything else. And there are a couple of badass females.

Well, I am not really a fan of GRRM's treatment of women, but a few of his female characters are strong. But how about someone I haven't read?

 

Well, I am not really a fan of GRRM's treatment of women, but a few of his female characters are strong. But how about someone I haven't read?

How am I supposed to know who you haven't read?

 

This probably won't help much in narrowing things down for you, but I really cannot think of any epic fantasies I've read in the last twenty years that do not include strong women characters, and most seem to have fairly prominent roles.

 

Why have strong female characters when you can have this?

 

This probably won't help much in narrowing things down for you, but I really cannot think of any epic fantasies I've read in the last twenty years that do not include strong women characters, and most seem to have fairly prominent roles.

I am actually looking for ones in which there is at least one female main character. I really wasn't clear enough in what I said I was looking for. "Fairly prominent" doesn't do it for me. Of course, we may also have differing definitions of "strong female character".

@Sean Patrick Fox - I thought it went without saying that a fantasy fan had read SoIaF.

Foreverjuly, you might notice (in spite of the question about whether the protagonist is male or female) the underlying assumption that the protagonist is really male. Yep, I am looking for female protagonists in fantasy. (*gasp of horror*)

 

*raises hand*

hi, my name is scarlet

(hi scarlet)

i'm a fantasy fan who has not read GRR Martin....

 

Try Kate Elliott, Jacqueline Carey, Sherwood Smith, Melanie Rawn, Jennifer Roberson, Katherine Kerr, Elizabeth Vaughan, Patricia Briggs' early epic fantasy.

For classics, there's also C.L. Moore's Jirel of Joiry, the ancestress of all sword-wielding epic fantasy heroines. Unlike Red Sonja, she doesn't wear chainmail bikinis either.

 

Have you read Elfhunter and the rest of the trilogy? Excellent fantasy, and Gaelen, the elven main character, is certainly a strong lead.

 

I'm not sure that my list will have anything you haven't read, but off the top of my head:

Tamora Pierce
Robin McKinley
Patricia McKillip
Pamela Dean
Kristin Cashmore
Lois McMaster Bujold (although she is better known for her space operas)

 

You've probably read it, but the first that popped into my mind was "The Deed of Paksenarrion" - a classic 

 

The reason I mentioned 'newer' is that I have read pretty much all the classic stuff.

Absolutely The Deed of Paksenarrion is excellent. I've read Elfhunter. Not so much Carey and Bujold whose work I mostly don't care for (for very different reasons) but pretty much everyone else listed, I've read.

So no one newer is writing strong women protagonists in fantasy? I thought maybe I was just overlooking it.

 

The reason I mentioned 'newer' is that I have read pretty much all the classic stuff.

Absolutely The Deed of Paksenarrion is excellent. I've read Elfhunter. Not so much Carey and Bujold whose work I mostly don't care for (for very different reasons) but pretty much everyone else listed, I've read.

So no one newer is writing strong women protagonists in fantasy? I thought maybe I was just overlooking it.

I don't really consider it "epic" fantasy, but you could try the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson. The protagonist is a pretty badass female.

 

I would have to go with Briony Eddon from "Shadowmarch" by Tad Williams. She's by far my favourite female heroine in any book series - fantasy or not.

 

I would have to go with Briony Eddon from "Shadowmarch" by Tad Williams. She's by far my favourite female heroine in any book series - fantasy or not.

Oddly enough, I haven't read that one. I'll see if I can get if for my Kindle. Thanks.

I have read Mistborn. I didn't find her badassed but she was a pretty strong character. It's not a bad novel. I would class that as more or less 'epic'.

Obviously, my problem is that I have READ to much.

 

Definitely not Red Sonja types of heroine:

Established author: Madouc?

New author: Silence of Medair?

 

You are looking for Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel and Naamah-series!
There is none quite like it, and there's none that match it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I am reading Kushiel's Dart right now and I agree with Winter. What genre are you intrested in? I love Lee Child and although Reacher is the main character there are several of his books with strong and intelligent female characters that share the spotlight. That is just off the top of my head, but now that I saw this post I am interested in researching it.

 

Oddly enough, I haven't read that one. I'll see if I can get if for my Kindle. Thanks.

I have read Mistborn. I didn't find her badassed but she was a pretty strong character. It's not a bad novel.

Obviously, my problem is that I have READ to much.

No problem!

 

HAHA! Perfect!

Well I happen to love powerful warrior women, like Tarriel or Kyrianna (who is on the cover of my book) but they need to be intelligent and special in some other way.
I also like Nikita types. I'm interested in the new series that is coming out with Ashley Judd

 

Not new, but the Sanctuary series (ed. Robert Aspirin) has quite a few strong females. Lythande will always stick in my mind as a one dangerous female dog.

Robin McKinley, as someone else said, is a good choice.

 

You are looking for Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel and Naamah-series!
There is none quite like it, and there's none that match it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I will admit it. I find the entire concept of the Kushiel series creepy. I know a lot of people love it and that's just me. I couldn't get through the first one. I don't mean that as ANY insult to people who like it. Horses for courses, as they say. (Edit: On the other hand, I very much like Carey's The Sundering: Banewreaker, Godslayer which has some strong female characters although none are the protagonist)

I agree with Jedidiah that I want my strong female protagonist to be intelligent or crafty or something in addition to kick-*ss and she doesn't have to be super-woman strong, just able to take care of herself.

 

I am reading Kushiel's Dart right now and I agree with Winter. What genre are you intrested in? I love Lee Child and although Reacher is the main character there are several of his books with strong and intelligent female characters that share the spotlight. That is just off the top of my head, but now that I saw this post I am interested in researching it.

I'm interested in fantasy.

I think Kushiel's Dart is a love it or hate it novel. Either you can enjoy a novel set in that world or it makes your skin crawl. Lee Child writers thrillers, doesn't he?

 

Not the main characters, but essential to the story: have you tried "In Her Name" (omnibus edition) by Michael Hicks? I would describe it as fantasy even though it has SciFi premises... But some strong female characters in there (to put it mildly), and you have to be ready not to eat, sleep, or live while you are going through it - it's THAT good