Fantasy Books that have remained popular over the decades tend to have one element in common – a compelling, determined, resilient hero who leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Memorable main characters are typically strong, selfless leaders with a number of special abilities to achieve their main goal. For decades, authors have provided readers with some of the best heroes in fantasy literature, and in recent years, many have gravitated toward a strong female protagonist for such roles.
The fantasy genre has always pushed the boundaries of tradition, and in doing so, it has introduced many iconic female protagonists among its myriad of classics. Unfortunately, most usually play much smaller roles throughout the novels – like Éowyn from Lord of the Rings. However, these fantasy book series are full of dynamic political schemes, battles of epic proportions and a powerful heroine who gives each series a special touch.
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Throne of Glass (2012)
Aelin Galathynius
Sarah J. Maas has written a variety of strong female characters throughout her novels, but Aelin Galathynius of Throne of Glass proves to be one of his best. Aelin (also known as Celaena Sardothian) is a formidable assassin and a powerful wielder of fire – someone who, time and time again, shocks readers with her witty personality and affinity for a blade. Her character’s journey is not easy, but despite everything, Aelin proves her resilience and selfless nature— often choosing to sacrifice himself to save and protect those he loves.
While Throne of Glass is full of epic battles and strategically planned heists, Aelin’s personality is what gives her character an edge over others in the series. At first a reluctant hero, Maas slowly transforms her character into a trustworthy and promising leader – one that captivates and impresses on several occasions. Aelin is not only incredibly brilliant, but also decidedly one of the funniest characters Maas has ever written, only adding to her character’s likability across all seven Throne of Glass books.
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The Kingdom of the Bridge (2018)
Lara Veliant
The Kingdom of the Bridge by Danielle L. Jenson follows Lara, a warrior princess trained in isolation with several of her sisters, to marry and later assassinate the ruler of a rival kingdom. The series makes a point of showcasing Lara’s unique skills and abilities from the beginning, as she fakes her sisters’ deaths upon learning that her father, the king, plans to murder those he doesn’t select for this special mission. Although her character is quite flawed thanks to her upbringing, Lara proves to be an endearing FMC throughout the series.
The Kingdom of the Bridge focuses heavily on Lara’s many skills and abilities, making the overall plot much more believable when it comes to her competence in completing her mission. Although she is observant, agile, and adept at poisons, Lara also proves to be a skilled swordswoman in many battles – the best in many circumstances. Jenson ensures his characters are equipped with the skills needed to move the plot forward– which ends up leading to one of Lara’s biggest regrets.
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The Cruel Prince (2018)
Jude Duarte
As one of the only humans living in a fairyland full of creatures with magical abilities, Jude Duarte has to strengthen himself in other ways. Where she could be categorized as something of an underdog in the whole The Cruel Prince series due to her severe handicap, Jude refuses to be seen as anything but a threat. What she lacks in comparison to others, she makes up for with her bold, unapologetic, and ruthless personality.—a strong characterization that prevails in all three books.
The situation Jude is raised in greatly affects the way she sees the world around her, as her adoptive father is also her parents’ killer. Jude’s character may have flaws, but Black makes a point of transforming her into a complex protagonist—making it impossible not to root for her as she deceives and manipulates the world around her. And although she is an unlikely hero, her relentless quest for power and revenge against those who have wronged her make her a captivating female protagonist.
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Mistborn (2006)
Vin
THE Born from the mists Brandon Sanderson’s books follow Vin, a mistborn young man who has known nothing but poverty, pain, and disappointment, who later finds himself defeating the tyrannical Lord Ruler. Vin is one of the most interesting characters in the series, and her small stature and seemingly shy nature largely contrast with the power she wields. Constantly underestimated, Vin quickly proves herself to be the greatest threat to the empire and the strongest Mistborn ever known.
As she trains her newfound abilities, Vin quickly becomes Mistborn and finds herself saving the empire on more than one occasion. Even more impressive than his Allomantic powers is his ability to plan and execute many harrowing strategies, thanks to his time spent surviving on the streets. Vin’s heroic journey throughout the series is captivating, as she starts out with little trust in those around her and ends the series as the ultimate sacrifice for those she loves.
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A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
Feyre Archeron
While Feyre Archeron’s Cutting thorns and roses may be the youngest of her sisters, from the beginning she proves to be the most resilient. Throughout the first book in the series, Feyre is essentially powerless, thrown into the magical world of the Fae and surrounded by her enemies with nothing more than her wits to protect her. However, her character proves to be strong in many other wayslater saving the entire Spring Court through his determination.
Feyre is an impressive heroine, especially because she, a mortal human, does more than most Fae with magic to conquer an oppressive queen—and ultimately gives her life to do so. The obstacles she faces throughout the series help develop her character immensely.and increases the overall believability of the plot. Although she gains powers later in the series, she remains humble and true to her nature, using her new powers to protect those she cares about most.
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Fourth Wing (2023)
Violet Sorrengail
Violet of Fourth Wing is an unlikely heroine, and this is mainly due to the fact that she was thrust into the dangerous knight quadrant with very little training – as she would have opted for a life in the scribe quadrant. Not only does Violet have to worry about becoming strong enough to bond with a dragon, but she also has to constantly watch over her for those who would see her dead. However, his lack of skill early on only makes his improvement throughout the series all the more impressive.
This is probably one of her character’s best attributes, as Violet has learned to live with and fight pain for most of her life.
Yarros deliberately creates obstacles for Violet to overcome, and one of them is a chronic condition that affects her body’s hypermobility, muscles, and connective tissue – making her more prone to injury than other people. This is probably one of her character’s best attributes, as Violet has learned to live with and fight pain for most of her life. This helps make Violet more relatable than most characters found in the fantasy genre.and creates more impression when she later becomes one of the most powerful pilots of her year.
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The Serpent and the Wings of the Night (2022)
Oraya
The Serpent and the Wings of the Night follows Oraya, the human-born daughter of Vincent, the night-born vampire king. Growing up constantly under threat of danger, Oraya feels the need to enter a brutal competition called Kajari to secure the slim chance of receiving a powerful gift from the goddess Nyaxia if she is to win. Because Oraya is the only human in the competition, she is at a huge disadvantage. However, Broadbent puts a surprising amount of strength and determination into her character—allowing Oraya to do well in many of the competition’s tasks.
Where Oraya should be powerless against her fellow vampires, she proves herself a worthy competitor. Trained by her father Vincent, Oraya is one of the only humans capable of killing vampires. Throughout the series, Oraya tests her strength and skill by hunting the same vampires that would hunt humans.— learning your weaknesses and practicing your ability to fight them. Focused and driven, Oraya defies all odds stacked against her – making her one of the best female lead characters in modern fantasy.
3
Six of Crows (2015)
Inej Ghafa
Inej Ghafa, from Six of Crowsis a member of the Dregs, a gang of thieves in which she works primarily as a spy for the Dregs. While most members typically have a raven and cup tattoo on their forearms to show their loyalty, Inej does not – indicating that her true loyalties lie elsewhere. Stolen from her family when she was a girl and forced to work in a pleasure house before joining the Dregs, Inej’s character proves to be strong-willed and courageous through her many trials and sufferings..
When the book begins, Inej is one of the Dregs’ best spies, known as Wraith for her incredible stealth and skill with a blade. Even in the face of danger, Inej’s character is witty and arrogant, always laughing in the face of those who could hurt or kill her – marking her as a fan favorite among fantasy readers. His tenacity throughout the series leads to several epic moments and scenes. this further proves her ability to be a strong character.
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A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
Nesta Archeron
In this ACOTAR book, A Court of Silver Flames, describes her personal journey, but it is very different from her sister’s. Ever since Nesta was forced into the cauldron and turned into a High Fae against her will, she has struggled to adjust to her new surroundings and is haunted by her past. Although Nesta is bold and ruthless, her true nature shines through as she tries to overcome her past traumas and regain her balance. Like most fantasy heroes, his character proves to be quite controversial.but there is more to her character beneath her many layers.
At first reluctant to commit to anything, Nesta finds herself training to become a warrior – something that proves to help heal her inner wounds and add a sense of worth to her character. Although she is quite skilled in this area, Nesta also stole a significant amount of magic from the cauldron—giving her abilities that make her one of the most powerful Fae in Prythian. However, Nesta ultimately returns most of her powers to the cauldron to save her sister Feyre from death.
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An Ember in the Ashes (2015)
Laia da Serra
Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir follows the story of Laia, a slave of the martial empire who strives to live a peaceful life – and who does not challenge the empire’s rule. However, when her brother is accused of treason, Laia accepts a new role as a spy for the rebels in exchange for a promise to rescue her brother. Laia, although she begins the series as a quiet and meek scholar, quickly transforms into a fiercely loyal friend who will remain defiant in the face of corruption.
Watching Laia’s journey unfold is incredibly fun and satisfyingas his growing talent for lying, deceiving and manipulating drives the story’s plot forward in a big way. However, once the rehmat within her is awakened, she finds herself with the powers of invisibility – protecting herself and others throughout the books. And how the Ember in the Ashes As the series continues, Laia becomes stronger than she ever imagined – a common theme found in many unforgettable fantasy books today.