It’s time for another Best of booklist! This time let's take a look at the best Heroines from Epic Fantasy (AKA Romantasy or Adventure-type fantasy). I decided to specify epic fantasy, because there are a ton of amazing heroines in Paranormal and Urban fantasy and this blog post would have crashed from being too long if I included those genres as well!
Disclaimer: The following books vary in terms of blood/gore, swear words, and romance spice levels, so you might want to check out the reviews before reading them.
Kelandry of Protector of the Small: by Tamora Pierce
I love many of Tamora Pierce’s books, but my favorite heroine by far is Kelandry. The series follows her fight to become a Lady Knight in the fantasy land of Tortall. But what sets Kelandry apart from Pierce’s other heroines is that Kelandry–while talented at fighting and noble to her bones–is not gifted with magic, nor is she considered chosen by the gods. She has a regular family and…to put it plainly she’s something of an average noble girl. Perhaps a bit taller than most girls, but every fight she wins and battle she launches is done in her own power. Moreover, she is an excellent leader and commander. Most fantasy books follow a rag tag group of heroes–or sometimes even a single hero–who are on a mission to save the world. Kel works with soldiers, other knights, and members of nobility to achieve her goals. If you want a realistic Lady Knight, Kel is your gal.
Sabriel is the heroine of Book 1 of the Old Kingdom series. She is brave, competent, and not afraid to jump into a dangerous situation if it means saving the world. Her story follows her journey as she leaves the safety of her school for the dangers of the Old Kingdom, where the dead don’t stay dead, in a journey to find her father, the Abhorson who is responsible for keeping the kingdom safe. Sabriel is my favorite book by Garth Nix, and is a spectacular example of Nix’s ability to weave new kingdoms and unique brands of magic into a glorious adventure. (It should be noted that the heroines of the Old Kingdom books do change. Sabriel is the title character only in book 1.)
Amaranthe of The Emperor’s Edge: By Lindsay Buroker
Amaranthe is the incredibly likable heroine of The Emperor’s Edge series, which follows Amaranthe’s adventures after she experiences a fall from grace as a law enforcement officer, but does everything in her power to help the Imperial Emperor despite her wrongly deserved reputation as a traitor. She’s smart (And not just intellectually, but in a people-smart, street-smart sort of way as well) clever, and good with a weapon. Her crew of friends get her flung into some of the wackiest situations ever, but for those readers who prefer their books on the clean stuff I would say this series rates along the lines of a PG-13 movie so proceed with review reading. Amaranthe is awesome–as are her friends. If you love long fantasy reads and want to laugh, this is so absolutely your book!
Meliara of Crown Duel: by Sherwood Smith
There is no story like Crown Duel–a fantastic tale that takes you from the fight on the battlefield with weapons and blood, to an altogether different sort of fight in glittering palaces. Similarly, there is no heroine like Meliara, a gutsy young lady who is more comfortable with fighting than she is with typical female pursuits. The lengthy book follows her struggle as she learns that overthrowing the evil king doesn’t mean the struggle for the kingdom is over. If you enjoy plot twists, tales of political maneuvering, and strong heroines, Meliara’s tale will be perfectly to your taste!
Ryn of Darkest Drae: by Kelly St. Clare and Raye Wagner
Ryn is one of my favorite heroines, hands down. She’s clever, fast-thinking, and she is more emotionally stable than most of the heroines you read about, despite the tough things she goes through in her series. When she is captured by the deadly Lord Irrik–the dragon-shifter-servant of the evil King Irdelron–Ryn knows her life, by all rights, is forfeit. But our plucky heroine doesn’t give up, even though she is embroiled in the politics between the king, his dragon, and the starving people of her homeland. Seriously, though this book has many grim and dark moments with some scenes of torture, Ryn will keep you laughing and engaged.
Giannine of Heir Apparent: By Vivian Vande Velde
I'm probably cheating by including this one because it's technically GameLit but Heir Apparent is one of my absolute most favorite books, and Giannine is also one of my favorite characters EVER. Though Giannine is from modern society (actually a slightly futuristic society) the bulk of her story takes place in a video game that has an epic fantasy setting. The story follows Giannine as she stumbles through a castle siege, fighting a dragon, encounters with wizards, and more. Giannine is an incredibly sympathetic character–you will laugh and scream with her as she progresses through the game. If you are a fan of fantasy, you will LOVE this book, even if you don’t like video games!
Coriel of Summers at Castle Auburn: By Sharon Shinn
Coriel is on this list because her story is an interesting twist on an old fantasy trope. Coriel is the younger daughter who stands in the shadow of her beautiful and talented sister who is engaged to a prince–the same prince Coriel herself has fallen in love with. The book follows her journey and some interesting plot twists as she matures and becomes more confident and competent young lady.
A runaway princess who fakes her own death–that’s a solid recipe for a great adventure! Words cannot express how much I wish this was a series, or at least a novel (it's a long short story or a short novella). I recommend checking if your local library has the hardcover version as it has beautiful illustrations that I have heard aren't included in all versions.
Yes this is a self-plug! I wrote this series by asking the question of "what if the enchantress from all the fairy tale stories was the same person?" You'll meet Angelique in each book as she does her best to aid each heroine and hero in achieving their own version of happily ever after. Angelique also has her own spin-off series telling the tale of how she is feared by other mages and is now searching for her kidnapped mentor, who sacrificed himself for her safety. (But this spin off series is incomplete!)
As usual, I have my list of honorable mentions to share with you too! 😉
Lucy of Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis: Lucy was the first character I ever came to love and adore, so she always has a special place in my heart!
Beka Cooper by Tamora Pierce: Yeah, yeah, I knew taking two heroines from the same author was cheating, so I had to demote Beka to an honorable mention, but if you like Kel, you’ll love Beka!
Lucia of Moss Forest Orchid by Shari L Tapscott: Sea captains and pet dragons, ‘nough said!
Hermione of Harry Potter by JK Rowling: I love Hermione’s intelligence and loyalty!
I hoped this list helped you find your next great read, starring an awesome heroine! Did you know I have a whole series of these blog posts featuring book/series recommendations? Click here to start reading or use the Book Lists category to filter them.
