Powerful female characters don’t only wield a sword and fight evil. Grand, sweeping fantasy novels present these women with dangers and challenges that they must learn to face bravely. But they can cast spells and slay dragons while being a multitude of other things: strong-willed, determined, vulnerable or flawed.
A strong female lead is a woman that is written in a way that makes her feel fully human (or elf, or goblin). These six fantasy books are led by capable women who are ready to don their armor — whether that be sword, wand or wit — and fight for what they believe in.
Book of Night by Holly Black
Charlie Hall stars in this dark urban fantasy, as she tries to escape her past as a con artist and stay out of trouble. When she stumbles past a mutilated dead body, catching a glimpse of a man with shadows for hands, her world opens up to more danger than she’s ever known. By claiming a role in the war against evil, Charlie must face a past full of tragedy and secrets. Holly Black captivates readers with her eerie, shadowy, magical adult debut, Book of Night. (Read BookTrib’s review here.)
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
A queen, a lady-in-waiting mage, a dragonrider and an exiled alchemist are the leading women in this sweeping and action-filled novel. This richly detailed world assigns each woman her own struggle, culture, world-view and motive. Political turmoil and shifting alliances between the East and the West spur the plot forward, as the characters are forced to decide where their loyalties lie. Described as a “feminist Game of Thrones,” The Priory of the Orange Tree focuses on the relationships between women, features a unique magic system and explores the way ancestry shapes the present.
Rise of the Red Hand by Jason Lancour
(Wandering Bear Creative)
This novella follows Lena Sullivan, a female blade for hire working as a professor’s bodyguard. She embarks on a long and dangerous journey to a faraway city, where she learns that the real purpose of her journey isn’t what she’s been told. Centuries-old tensions reach deadly heights, and Lena finds herself on the front lines of a bloody battle, helping her team to victory. Rise of the Red Hand is perfect for fans of Dungeons and Dragons, Shakespeare and grand fantasy battles. (Read BookTrib’s review here.)
The City of Brass by SA Chakraborty
Nahri uses street smarts and clever tactics to forge her way in 18th-century Cairo, finding that magic is merely a facade, or a means to an end. But her undeniable connection to the city of brass is revealed to her by the magical warrior she summons by mistake. She must make her way to the city, where her presence threatens to ignite an entire war. Magic and royal politics collide in The City of Brass, where everything rests on the shoulders of strong-willed Nahri.
Sarana and the Dark King by Ivy Keating
A cruel king thinks he has successfully murdered his child, whom he believes to be cursed. But little does he know, the queen’s midwife, Meriden, has rescued and escaped with his daughter, Sarana. The dark king terrorizes the kingdom as he searches for a rare metal, while Sarana and Meriden ready for a fight. Sarana and the Dark King is a suspenseful, medieval fantasy of intrigue, magic and danger with two powerful heroines at its helm. (Read BookTrib’s review here.)
A Crown for Cold Silver by Alex Marshall
(Orbit)
Retired general Cobalt Zosia has already fought her share of battles and is content with a life remembered as a legendary hero. When a massacre occurs at an innocent nearby villiage, she is enticed to pick up the blade once more and fight for the justice she craves. Allies and enemies alike resurface as Zosia seeks revenge against a mysterious enemy army. A Crown for Cold Silver is filled with stolen identities, Lovecraftian imagery and LGBTQ characters.
