The Interdependency series by John Scalzi has a female MC, and several other important female characters.
this post was submitted on 15 Jan 2025
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I strongly recommend A Practical Guide to Evil. Strong female MC, character growth and change, strong supporting case with their own ocassional POV chapters, and a fascinating world. Also, it is a web serial, so zero dollars to read it.
I also have to second the post that said Gideon the Ninth. I'd specifically point you to the audiobook, as it is one of only 2 books where the audiobook felt better than the paper one to me.
- A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking, T Kingfisher. Technically YA, but still a brilliant book that doesn't shy away from being real. If doesn't feel YA. T Kingfisher has plenty of other options to choose from as well.
- Legends and Lattes, Baldree. On the lighter and simpler side, enjoyable characters and character development.
- Of Shadow and Sea, Will Wight. Multiple strong female protags and with MC being an assassin, there's plenty of stabbing. Part of trilogy.
- The Hollow Places, T. Kingfisher. More on the horror side of fantasy. Continues to have lovable characters
- The Murderbot Diaries, Martha Wells. Hilarious, sometimes violent, sci Fi. I guess technically not a female protags?
- Gideon the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir. Sci Fi with fantasy feel. Plenty violent, mystery, great female protags and characters, can be difficult to follow but still thoroughly enjoyable.
- Iron Widow, Xiran Jay Zhao. Sci Fi alternate History China with mech warriors. Murder and power to stop girls from being sacrificed. Fun for the whole family.
- Rosemary and Rue, Seanan McGuire. Urban faerie fantasy and investigator noir book one. She has a couple of urban fantasy series you may be interested in.
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- Ninefox Gambit, Yoon Ha Lee. MilitarySpace Sci Fi with intriguing technology and cultural evolutions. Creative and artistic.
I really liked Iron Widow. The female lead is one tough woman fighting in a super unjust world. It’s a sci-fi with mechs and the world building is interesting. The sequel just came out and I am really enjoying how the series is unfolding.
You'd probably enjoy City of Brass and it's sequels. Extremely unique, well written, exciting, and lots of twists and turns.
It does follow a couple of conspiracies as a central plot point though. Adventure mixed with political thriller.
I really enjoyed the entire series. It was such a unique setting and story.
Mistborn might be a little YA for you, but the main character is a girl who grows to become a badass woman.
Minor Mistborn Spoilers
No steamy scenes but doesn’t shy away from killing off characters and there is a happy ending
She’s not so much helpless, but she does need to mentored in the first book of the trilogy.
+1 for Mistborn!! Just recently finished the first Trilogy and it was so good!
A few off the top of the dome:
Elizabeth Moon - Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy (military fantasy with light magic)
Louis McMaster Bujold - Paladin of Souls (I would read Curse of Chalion first but it has a male protag and not strictly necessary)
For sci-fi you should try some Becky Chambers. They are adult but dont have much action if that matters to you - very character driven dramas in space.
I really liked How to become the Dark Lord and die trying by Django Wexler.
Fantasy isekai with a female mc and some fresh twists.