High fantasy novels with a strong female lead?

[Nancy Fulda]

Ruth Nestvold's Yseult
Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword
Jim Hines' The Stepsister Scheme
Leah Cypress's Nightspell
N.K. Jemison's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

[jtw78]

Since you've read Robin Hobb's books, here's an example. In the Farseer series, Molly is a strong female character. But she's not the lead. Fitz is the lead and Molly exists in the background to be his love interest and to motivate some of his actions. On the other hand, in the Liveship Trader books, Althea is a strong female lead. Yes, she has a boyfriend and shares the spotlight with some other main male characters. But at least 50 % of the book is about her and she couldn't simply be summed up as somebody's girlfriend or sister. She's too central to the story for that.

That's beautifully clear. Thank you so much.

I'm tired of the stereotypical damsel in distress motif that seems to pervade most fantasy. I didn't marry a weak, withering woman and I don't want to read about one either. Maybe some men like women who can't challenge them, but I count myself lucky that I have a wife that challenges me, and is often better than me. It makes us both better people. 

[DevonMoroi]

A lot of other people have probably suggested this one already, but Hunger Games is a good one too.

[Steph H]

The Deed of Paksenarrion

This.  The newer follow-ups are good too, though they don't focus just on Paks like that original trilogy did, they cycle more through several male and female characters.

As for Mercedes Lackey, I haven't finished the thread so this may be said, but you should basically read everything in the Valdemar universe, though I too started with the Arrows trilogy (the first written though more were out by the time I got to them).  Even the ones that don't focus specifically on a strong woman have several strong women characters in them.  There are no wussy women in her books that I can think of.  Just a warning in case you're not into such things, though, there are a few that either focus on or at least include m/m relationships too...but still have strong women in them.

[Laura Lond]

Elfhunter, Elfhunter!



I think you will find Gaelen, the elven scout, a most compelling female lead. The next too books in the series, Fire-Heart and Ravenshade, are just as good, with Gaelen still in the lead.

[chrisanthropic]

Her other series, Vows and Honor, is also wonderful.

Agreed.  Strong leads, good story.  The writing can be a little clunky at times but it's totally worth it.

[Colin Taber]

Great thread!

Sara Douglass had a few series and titles with strong female leads. The Wayfarer Redemption has Azhure while Threshold is magical standalone. While they are formula fantasy, be warned they occasionally stray into darker territory than is typical for high fantasy.

[jillmyles]

I really liked Rae Carson's GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS? And Shannon Hale's YAs are all fantasy with a strong female lead.

[RuthNestvold]

Wow, thank you, Nancy!

I've mentioned this one before elsewhere, but I really enjoyed "Feast of Souls" by C.S. Friedman. Check out this description for strong female lead:

In this imaginative, deftly plotted fantasy from Friedman (The Wilding), the first of a new trilogy, a female witch's magic comes at a terrible cost: her own finite life force, which drains away with each spell. Nearly immortal male Magisters, on the other hand, tap a more murderous fuel for their power. No woman has ever found its source, until young Kamala, hardened by life as a child whore, insists on an apprenticeship and secretly becomes an unheard-of female Magister.

I also second the Kushiel books.

I have to admit, I haven't read Lackey's Arrow series yet. I will add it to my (horribly long) to-read list.

[TheSFReader]

Well, some people consider fantasy and sci fi to be part of the same genre. Cordelia's Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold has a hellaciously strong female lead in it, but is generally considered a sci fi work. However, I believe Bujold has also written books which are officially considered fantasies.

In terms of strong female leads, there's at least one scene in Cordelia's Honor that you will never ever forget about the female lead. And it takes place in a room filled with all the most powerful men on the planet at the time (and intimidates the hell out of them).

Yes, I second the Bujold recommendation. As for her Fantasy books, in "Palladin of Souls" (follow-up of "Curse of Challion"), the hero IS a strong female lead.

[JM Hurley]

Our book Watchers (Book one in the Tilly Greenway and the Ancient Keys series) has a female lead. Though written as a YA novel and she is 12, adults are really enjoying it. You can read more about it on this kindleboards page http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,99838.msg1555110.html#msg1555110

Others here have mentioned the Terry Pratchett Discworld novels that have female leads. I consider Alice in Wonderland to be High fantasy.

A series I'm currently reading is by Imogen Rose - the Portal series. Not quite high fantasy but maybe scifi fantasy time travel romance! But great to read a book with a gutsy girl as the lead.