Discussion Spotlight - Fav Fantasy Novel Female Protag

[aeriedraconia]

I ran across this question in a discussion and I have to admit that my mind went completely blank. I couldn't think of a single female protagonist that really stood out as a favorite of mine just off hand. Out of the favorite fantasy books that came to mind first the protags were male.  I may be able to come up with a great female protag much later

Comments

[queenoftheskies]

If you include urban fantasy in there, I adore all of Seanan McGuire's female protagonists.

[aeriedraconia]

I've only read the first couple of October Day books, is she writing another series too?

[aeriedraconia]

Stopped in the bookstore today after a doctor's appt and found out she does have another series so I picked up Discount Armageddon.

[frigg]

First female fantasy protagonist that comes to mind is Mara of the Acoma from Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts' Empire Trilogy. :)

[aeriedraconia]

I don't think I've read those. I read early Feist looooong ago. :)

[frigg]

It's been a long time since I read Feist as well. He used to be one of my favourite authors when I was in my late teens/early 20s - although that has changed.

Mara is a strong character, and of the books I've read from both Feist and Wurts, I think the Empire trilogy might just be one of the best.

[aeriedraconia]

*goes and looks up books* Riftwar was the trilogy or two trilogies that I read.
I remember seeing some of the covers for the Empire trilogy but I don't seem to have actually read them. *adds to the TBR list*

[captlychee]

I vaguely recall that the protagonist in Ursula K leGuin's Earthsea trilogy is female. mageheart has done four books featuring a female mage of great power, three of which are The Dion Chronicles. lstout has a female protagonist in the first of her Will o' The Wisp trilogy, the second and third books of which I await with wood-gnawing anticipation.

The difficulty seems to be that writing a female character strong enough to be aprotagonist means writing a shrill character, and thus they are just not that appealing. Granted, this is a generalisation, but it's largely true-seanan_mcguire may be the exception. The lead character in Feed wasn't shrill; she naled the female voice in that one.

How nice to see a post from you, too, aeriedraconia. How're things in the Pacific Northwest?

[aeriedraconia]

Ged is the main character in the Earthsea trilogy and he's male. I honestly can't remember if there was a female MC. I read the series many years ago.

I haven't done much paranormal romance reading, I like more "roller derby and less boyfriend" aka more adventure and less sexy times.

I think that's why I can't seem to come up with a female protag that I love in the fantasy genre, there haven't been all that many female characters that were really well done.

The current model seems to be smart mouthed, which can be very funny at times, but that's kind of the only model we're getting now. I haven't noticed shrill but I did notice a thankfully short lived trend to bitch=strong.

Good to hear from you too, Capt. :) We've been rather soggy this winter, akshully. (big surprise. lol) I'm so looking forward to my hyacinth blooming. They're close. I can't wait to stick my nose in them and enjoy the fragrance of Srping.

[captlychee]

I just noticed you didn't posthis to writers_loft. Just not paying attention these days.

[aeriedraconia]

I didn't even think to post it there either. I've been so inactive on lj I'm kind of rusty at it.