Hey all, I haven't been reading much for the past few years (or rather, i have, but it was for school and I got burned out, but am recovering enough to be able to want to read for fun more again), so I've fallen a bit out of touch with the books that have been coming out. That said, I'm looking for suggestions - I have a bit of a backlog, but I always like to keep my eyes open for things that may catch them, too.
Thing is, I've gotten...annoyed may not be the right word, but anyway, annoyed with the seemingly widespread "main hero must be male, take focus away from strong female characters" trend I've seen in what I've read before. Now, that may just be because of what I've read - not that I didn't enjoy those books too, but I really want to read stories with female leads (and not female leads being rescued by a male sidekick constantly -_-). So...what suggestions can you give me, Paizonians?
Now, as for what I've read and liked, ignoring the little caveat above: some of the Forgotten Realms series (particularly those by Paul S. Kemp, Richard Baker, and Troy Denning), Wheel of Time, Sword of Truth, Raymond E. Feist's Midkemia books (primarily the Riftwar Saga)...I know there are others but I'm blanking on names. Anyway, I tend to prefer more high fantasy than super dark and gritty (sometimes I like that too, but I like magic to be fairly prevalent), and am looking for entertaining more than for meaningful or profound - I can always read philosophy for that sort of thing. ^_-
I hope that's not all too specific...but I have faith in you!
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How about a series of short stories, to start with, instead of novels?
C.L. Moore's Jirel of Joiry stories, available here on Paizo in Black God's Kiss.
LOVE these. Plenty gritty.
How about a series of short stories, to start with, instead of novels?
C.L. Moore's Jirel of Joiry stories, available here on Paizo in Black God's Kiss.
LOVE these. Plenty gritty.
Hmm, that does look interesting. The reason I generally shy away from short stories is that...well...they're short. Not that that's bad, really, but if I really like them, then run out and want more, and (in my experience anyway) more aren't usually available. >_> <_<
But to get back into the reading swing of things...that might be really good, cause I can pace them out easier than a longer book...
She is definitely a strong character. Her development may be a little more suggestive than her male hero NW Smith's, but I actually am attached to it even more, perhaps because of that.
Yeah, unfortunately that would be all she wrote of Jirel. Might be good to have your second choice already lined up so you didn't experience a crash afterwards, but it'd have to be a strong second to stand up right after Moore.
She is definitely a strong character. Her development maybe a little more suggestive than her male hero NW Smith's, but I actually am attached to it even more, perhaps because of that.
Yeah, unfortunately that would be all she wrote of Jirel. Might be good to have your second choice already lined up so you didn't experience a crash afterwards, but it'd have to be a strong second to stand up right after Moore.
Oh, that's fine. I should probably clarify - when i say "strong leading heroine", I don't mean "vicious ice queen" or something. Suggestive is fine (good even, if I dare say >_> <_<), as is sexy and downright scandalous, just not weak, helpless, etc.
The Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton have a female lead who is a vampire hunter.
I would imagine the Kushiel series by Jacquelin Carey have some pretty strong leads.
Never read it, but the Deed of Paksenarrion have a farm girl turned Paladin story that many claim is the best embodiment of a D&D paladin in novels.
The Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton have a female lead who is a vampire hunter.
I would imagine the Kushiel series by Jacquelin Carey have some pretty strong leads.
Never read it, but the Deed of Paksenarrion have a farm girl turned Paladin story that many claim is the best embodiment of a D&D paladin in novels.
+1 Deed of Paksenarrion, one of my all time favorite trilogies (with a new one coming)
Not really what you're looking for exactly but George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones has some pretty impressive representations of both sexes.
At a multitude of ages in fact! So...variety is the spice of life?
Hmm...both the Paksenarrion and Kushiel books look good...I'll have to keep an eye out for them.
I've heard about the Anita Blake ones, and have been meaning to get around to them at some point, but like I said, I tend to prefer high fantasy stuff, so the modern ones aren't as appealing. Still, I'm sure I'll get there at some point ^_^
I'm definitely going to read the Game of Thrones books, though I thought they focused more on a couple of the male characters. Which is fine, but...well, a lot easier to find, lol.
Greywalker sounds kinda interesting, though it shares the same modern thing as the Anita Blake ones (not the same setting, I know, but modern still).
Am I being too picky with that? >_> <_< I've always been more drawn to high fantasy...well, or cyberpunkish Shadowrun-esque, but aside from Shadowrun itself I don't know of any other that fits that.
Not really what you're looking for exactly but George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones has some pretty impressive representations of both sexes.
At a multitude of ages in fact!
The same goes for the "Dragon Prince" and "Dragon Star" trilogies by Melanie Rawn. Although I will admit that the most important characters are male, and the men do sometimes rescue the women, there are plenty of times when the women do the adventuring.
How about the original Dragonlance trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman? That has several heroines, one of whom goes on an adventure to rescue the man she loves.
The same goes for the "Dragon Prince" and "Dragon Star" trilogies by Melanie Rawn. Although I will admit that the most important characters are male, and the men do sometimes rescue the women, there are plenty of times when the women do the adventuring.
How about the original Dragonlance trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman? That has several heroines, one of whom goes on an adventure to rescue the man she loves.
The original Dragonlance series was good, yeah. They kinda lost me with some of the newer ones though.
I might take a look at Rawn's, though it sounds more like what I'm used to reading...not that that's bad, again, just...I don't know, it's hard to explain. >_> <_< I want to read stories that have female primary character/s, not that everyone is, of course, but so many of the "standard" series I've read have been so slanted the other way that it's left some backlash I guess...
Well, other than some of the drow ones, anyway...but psychotic leading ladies have their own set of issues, lol.
Anyway, great suggestions so far. Keep 'em coming! ^_^
I guess I failed to make my main point about the "Dragon Prince" and "Dragon Star" trilogies. The point is that Melanie Rawn makes her female characters strong and intelligent, without trying to make her male characters look weak and stupid in comparison.
(I've heard this approach contrasted with that of Mercedes Lackey, whose writing, I've been told, takes feminism to such extremes as anti-male arrogance. I haven't read anything by Mercedes Lackey, so I can't confirm nor deny that idea, but maybe you could look into Lackey as well?)
Not really what you're looking for exactly but George R.R. Martin's Game of Thones has some pretty impressive representations of both sexes.
At a multitude of ages in fact! So...variety is the spice of life?
Yes, Trout is right. I never mentioned A Song of Ice and Fire series because it wasn't exactly high magic. But between Cersie Lannister (a totally ruthless ultra vixen), Daenerys Targaryen (a young girl thrust into the role of Queen of a nomadic horselord clan) and Arya Stark (a survive by her wits feral princess) hard to refute the strength of the female leads.
I guess I failed to make my main point about the "Dragon Prince" and "Dragon Star" trilogies. The point is that Melanie Rawn makes her female characters strong and intelligent, without trying to make her male characters look weak and stupid in comparison.
(I've heard this approach contrasted with that of Mercedes Lackey, whose writing, I've been told, takes feminism to such extremes as anti-male arrogance. I haven't read anything by Mercedes Lackey, so I can't confirm nor deny that idea, but maybe you could look into Lackey as well?)
Aaaah, ok, I see now. That does sound more interesting now, thanks for the clarification. ^_^ And I'll definitely look into Lackey too - I had forgotten about her, but she'd been recommended to me a few years ago, although I hope she's not so much to that degree as you've heard. Despite my request, I'm not looking for "men are stupid, women are awesome!" just...y'know, "some women are awesome, and so are some men but the main protagonist here is the former".
And thanks for the details, Paul. That makes me more excited to read them, even if they are grittier than what I normally read (I've heard the series is excellent so I figured I'd set aside my magic love in this case >_> <_<).
What else... I'd like to recommend a few of David Gemmell's works. Legend had a pretty significant and powerful female role in what the character represented, (actually the first thing I liked about the book was this character. She was in no way your typical beautiful fantasy woman) along with Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf. But they take a back seat to the male leads.
Which is REALLY pretty sad given the concepts of the characters I'm referring to.
Let's see...
Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson had (similar to Gemmell) very interesting female characters that held the spotlight for a while...then fall behind their male counterparts. Although in this series less so from the Males being more interesting, but by there simply being more of them.
If you like interesting styles I would recommend Erikson nonetheless. He sort of...doesn't explain a thing to you. That sounds bad I know; but for once we're not put behind the eyes of a main character who is ignorant to the world around him.
The irony is I'm not sure I can say I even like the writer's style. Just that it's interesting and female leads definitely have an interesting (if not prominent enough to be considered the main protagonists...although for the first 1/2 a sorceress named Tattersail is the main character) role to play.
Sorry I cannot come up with more accurate recommendations. It's rather frustrating to realize how lacking strong female leads are...and I've become rather determined to flesh them out.
And a note about Game of Thrones: Similar to Wheel of Time we have an abundance of characters, so you won't always be on a female lead, but it will never be lacking.
It's rather frustrating to realize how lacking strong female leads are...and I've become rather determined to flesh them out.
Yeah, tell me about it. And the sad thing is that in a lot of stories/series, the female characters are more interesting than the main male protagonist (a lot of the secondary male characters are too, for that matter).
And a note about Game of Thrones: Similar to Wheel of Time we have an abundance of characters, so you won't always be on a female lead, but it will never be lacking.
Aaah, ok. Well, that'll be good then, I'm sure. That's one of the things I liked a lot about both Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth, though in certain books of the series more than others, obviously.
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If you want classic fantasy rather than urban fantasy, then:
The God Stalker Chronicles by P. C. Hodgell
Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson
The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop
The Chronicles of Elantra by Michelle Sagara West
Nightseer by Laurell K. Hamilton
The Witches of Eileanan by Kate Forsyth
You could also try the Mordant's Need duology (two books: Mirror of Her Dreams & A Man Rides Through It) by Stephen Donaldson. There's the Barbed Coil by J. V. Jones & The Spellsong Cycle by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (the first book is The Soprano Sorceress).
Admittedly, all of these start with the heroine being transported from our world to a different (=fantasy) world. >_>
Then there're the books by Marion Zimmer Bradley (Mists of Avalon & the Darkover series) and Anne Bishop (the Black Jewels trilogy & related books of the 'series' - can't comment on any of her other works...).
Hope this helps.
-- C.
The Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton have a female lead who is a vampire hunter.
I would imagine the Kushiel series by Jacquelin Carey have some pretty strong leads.
Never read it, but the Deed of Paksenarrion have a farm girl turned Paladin story that many claim is the best embodiment of a D&D paladin in novels.
+1 Jacqueline Carey... the Kushiel series is actually my favorite trilogy of books. You won't regret reading it!
Here's another idea: Would you be open to reading an "Eberron" novel?
I tried to read seven of those (although I only finished 5.) But of those 7, I thought one was far and away the best: Voyage of the Mourning Dawn by Rich Wulf.
For most of the book, we see from the point of view of Seren, a strong, brave, talented, clever young woman. On more than one occasion, she rescues Tristam, the man she loves. That includes their first meeting (which resulted, ironically, from HIS botched and unnecessary attempt to rescue HER.)
It's been a couple of years since I read the trilogy, so I forget if the second time she rescues him was in the first book of the trilogy, or in the second. It makes a difference, as the second and third books are inferior to the first. But anyway, if I recall that second occasion correctly, Seren catches an assassin who tries to target Tristam. She promptly duels with the assassin, and wins. She later tries to teach Tristam to defend himself. In fact, Seren becomes fiercely protective Tristam, even going so far as to threaten her own employer if he messed with Tristam.
Here's another idea: Would you be open to reading an "Eberron" novel?
I tried to read seven of those (although I only finished 5.) But of those 7, I thought one was far and away the best: Voyage of the Mourning Dawn by Rich Wulf.
For most of the book, we see from the point of view of Seren, a strong, brave, talented, clever young woman. On more than one occasion, she rescues Tristam, the man she loves. That includes their first meeting (which resulted, ironically, from HIS botched attempt to rescue HER.)
It's been a couple of years since I read the trilogy, so I forget if the second time she rescues him was in the first book of the trilogy, or in the second. It makes a difference, as the second and third books are inferior to the first. But anyway, if I recall that second occasion correctly, Seren catches an assassin who tries to target Tristam. She promptly duels with the assassin, and wins. She later tries to teach Tristam to defend himself. In fact, Seren becomes fiercely protective Tristam, even going so far as to threaten her own employer if he messed with Tristam.
I'd be open to it, yeah. Eberron actually struck me as neat, if not particularly deep (though I may be wrong on that - I only skimmed the world book). I'm not so much on the Forgotten Realms ones anymore, though. I really dislike what they did to the setting with the 4e release (not that they made it bad, per se, they just changed it in ways that kinda broke it for me) so any FR suggestions should probably be older ones.
Lots of really appealing suggestions here, everyone. Thanks a lot! I've already added several series to my "to read" list, but I definitely welcome more suggestions, and I'm sure I'm not the only one looking for these things (I can't be...can I? >_> <_<).
If you want classic fantasy rather than urban fantasy, then:
The God Stalker Chronicles by P. C. Hodgell
Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson
The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop
The Chronicles of Elantra by Michelle Sagara West
Nightseer by Laurell K. Hamilton
The Witches of Eileanan by Kate Forsyth
+1 to all these and Deed of Paksenarion, particularly the Mistborn trilogy and Black Jewels and Nightseer. Also another +1 to Mercedes Lackey, particularly the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy, By the Sword, and Vows and Honor.
I also recommend Michelle West's Sun Sword sextet. Many different characters, but one of our main characters (I don't know who I'd truly call THE main character) is Jewel Markesse, and she'd certainly qualify.
Might also suggest Elizabeth Haydn (spelling?) and her series. Six books, Symphony of the Ages. They start with the book Rhapsody and go from there through the Assassin King.
Hmm. Holly Lisle perhaps? Courage of Falcons...I 'll have to look that one up again, it's boxed away in the garage.
If you go back to the Realms, I'd suggest Elaine Cunningham and the series she started which began with Elfshadow. Arilyn Moonblade, to me, is one of the best characters to come from the Realms, period.
It would help if I actually kept all my books in a list somewhere....
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If you want classic fantasy rather than urban fantasy, then:
The God Stalker Chronicles by P. C. Hodgell
Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson
The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop
The Chronicles of Elantra by Michelle Sagara West
Nightseer by Laurell K. Hamilton
The Witches of Eileanan by Kate Forsyth
+1 to all these and Deed of Paksenarion, particularly the Mistborn trilogy and Black Jewels and Nightseer. Also another +1 to Mercedes Lackey, particularly the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy, By the Sword, and Vows and Honor.
I also recommend Michelle West's Sun Sword sextet. Many different characters, but one of our main characters (I don't know who I'd truly call THE main character) is Jewel Markesse, and she'd certainly qualify.
Might also suggest Elizabeth Haydn (spelling?) and her series. Six books, Symphony of the Ages. They start with the book Rhapsody and go from there through the Assassin King.
Hmm. Holly Lisle perhaps? Courage of Falcons...I 'll have to look that one up again, it's boxed away in the garage.
If you go back to the Realms, I'd suggest Elaine Cunningham and the series she started which began with Elfshadow. Arilyn Moonblade, to me, is one of the best characters to come from the Realms, period.
It would help if I actually kept all my books in a list somewhere....
I was thinking on availability of the books when I made the recommendations. A lot of older novels, such as those by Mercedes Lackey, are nowhere to be found. I think that this list of mine is nice cross-section of today's fantasy genre, with slight tendencies towards dark fantasy.
I was thinking on availability of the books when I made the recommendations. A lot of older novels, such as those by Mercedes Lackey, are nowhere to be found. I think that this list of mine is nice cross-section of today's fantasy genre, with slight tendencies towards dark fantasy.
Depends on where you're at, of course. I've found many Mercedes Lackey novels in local bookstores. Rarely can I get an entire trilogy in one spot, I admit. I haven't looked for the Sun Sword recently (I own it and I'm reading her House Wars books now), the Symphony of Ages is available as a gift set for the 1st 3 books at least (and I see them all from time to time). The Courage of Falcons, that I'm not sure about. Elaine Cunningham, hmm, got me there.
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Depends on where you're at, of course. I've found many Mercedes Lackey novels in local bookstores. Rarely can I get an entire trilogy in one spot, I admit. I haven't looked for the Sun Sword recently (I own it and I'm reading her House Wars books now), the Symphony of Ages is available as a gift set for the 1st 3 books at least (and I see them all from time to time). The Courage of Falcons, that I'm not sure about. Elaine Cunningham, hmm, got me there.
I was thinking on availability of the books when I made the recommendations. A lot of older novels, such as those by Mercedes Lackey, are nowhere to be found. I think that this list of mine is nice cross-section of today's fantasy genre, with slight tendencies towards dark fantasy.
I mostly order from Amazon or Bookdepository, since I live in Serbia. I'm a great fan of e-books, though, and I tend to prefer e-books than mass market paperbacks.
For a long time, Marion Zimmer Bradley published an annual collection of short stories titled Sword and Sorceress. Worth picking up if you find any.
I really liked the first three. I thought the fourth was not as good and haven't tried any of the later ones. Mists of Avalon is certainly gritty, and I enjoyed it, but I find myself wondering what kind of heroine Morgaine (heck, I can't remember what spelling she went with) is.
Oh, that's fine. I should probably clarify - when i say "strong leading heroine", I don't mean "vicious ice queen" or something. Suggestive is fine (good even, if I dare say >_> <_<), as is sexy and downright scandalous, just not weak, helpless, etc.She is definitely a strong character. Her development maybe a little more suggestive than her male hero NW Smith's, but I actually am attached to it even more, perhaps because of that.
Yeah, unfortunately that would be all she wrote of Jirel. Might be good to have your second choice already lined up so you didn't experience a crash afterwards, but it'd have to be a strong second to stand up right after Moore.
I wouldn't categorize Jirel as a vicious ice queen. Although, she certainly struggles with how to integrate her sexuality and emotional life into her position as a female leader. And bad things happen.
For a long time, Marion Zimmer Bradley published an annual collection of short stories titled Sword and Sorceress. Worth picking up if you find any.I really liked the first three. I thought the fourth was not as good and haven't tried any of the later ones. Mists of Avalon is certainly gritty, and I enjoyed it, but I find myself wondering what kind of heroine Morgaine (heck, I can't remember what spelling she went with) is.
Sword and Sorceress is one of my all time favorite anthologies. It was there for me at the beginning of my forays into fantasy, a total of 5 books at my local library in PA that I would keep looking for and not finding(or at least not finding the originals of [i.e. other books in the series]) at other libraries throughout my life. I truly love the series, and I am very, VERY slowly collecting all of them.
Sword and Sorceress is one of my all time favorite anthologies. It was there for me at the beginning of my forays into fantasy, a total of 5 books at my local library in PA that I would keep looking for and not finding(or at least not finding the originals of [i.e. other books in the series]) at other libraries throughout my life. I truly love the series, and I am very, VERY slowly collecting all of them.
Really, that's how I felt about the first three. I sold or traded 4, but I'll still give 5 a chance one of these days. For me, however, this was a rediscovery, and it was nowhere on my radar back in the day.
DV: Should be pretty easy to find some volumes in the your local used bookstores, if you don't want to pick them up on Amazon.
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+2 for PC Hodgell. The fifth* in the series just came out earlier this year, and I should get around to reading it one of these days.
I haven't read any of Barbara Hambly's recent books, but her earlier books (the Darwath series, Winterlands, and the Windrose books) all feature strong female characters.
N. K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms has a strong female lead, and is also (IMHO) incredibly good.
Even though the central character is female and well-realized, from the books you listed I don't think you'd like The Iron Dragon's Daughter. The main character is in some ways not very nice, but the setting doesn't really encourage niceness.
*The first two were collected by Baen as The Godstalker Chronicles, so I suppose it's kind-of the fourth.
Just quickly, another vote for Elizabeth Moon's Deed of Paksenarrion, and for P.C. Hodgell (though the third book in that series was weaker; haven't read the fourth and fifth yet)
Also:
Ursula K. Le Guin (some of the Earthsea books and short stories)
Garth Nix's Old Kingdom/Abhorsen Series
Robin McKinley: Sunshine, Deerskin (trigger warnings!),...
Diana Wynne Jones: Dalemark Quartet, Castle series (YA), and Fire and Hemlock
*squints at her mental image of her pre-move bookshelves, trying to remember more*
Robin McKinley: Sunshine, Deerskin (trigger warnings!),...
Oh. Yeah. Warnings for that one, for sure. Read that back in high school and got more than I bargained for.
For a younger audience (or just somebody looking for a nice afternoon of reading), I'd recommend "Dealing with Dragons" by Patricia C. Wrede.
"War for the Oaks" by Emma Bull is also quite nice.
These might be a blast from the past and were occasionally hard to find (until I found them all...) but Jo Clayton does science-fantasy books that feature female leads, and I really enjoyed most of them. They definitely are for grown-ups, though.
The Diadem Saga (starting with Diadem from the Stars). Like I said, it's pretty much science fantasy, but it reads much more like fantasy than science fiction. The character starts as a naive girl and is dumped into a much larger world, making mistakes and then learning and eventually maturing and taking her destiny into her own hands. Great stuff and pretty mind blowing for the age that I found it at (let's say my hormones got the better of me and I bought the last book first...)
Her other books I haven't read (one or two, maybe) but they were very much loved by a friend of mine that was into Mercedes Lackey/strong female leads.
Ursula K. Le Guin (some of the Earthsea books and short stories)
Isn't there a strong female main character in the second Earthsea book? I liked it, but can't remember the name right now.
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Terry Pratchett: The Wee Free Man
A Hat full of Sky
Wintersmith
Terry Pratchett: Soul Music
Hogfather
Thief of Time
Susan Sto Helit and Tiffany Aching are excellent examples of a strong female lead character
Can't forget Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Maskerade, Carpe Jugulum! either. Can't get a much stronger female lead than Esme Weatherwax. In fact, most of Pratchett's stories have strong female characters, even when they're not the lead.
I'd also suggest: Dhampir and subsequent books by Barb and JC Hendee.
And a caution on the Anita Blake books. While the first ones are very good action/horror mixes, they change into what a friend of mine cxalls 'chick-porn'.
I'd agree on Kim Harrison and recommend the Weather Warden series by Rachel Crowe, although both are modern day settings rather than high fantasy.
And a caution on the Anita Blake books. While the first ones are very good action/horror mixes, they change into what a friend of mine cxalls 'chick-porn'.
Ok, I'll take a look at the others too, but now you've got me really curious about what your friend means by that, because in my experience "chick porn" is just..."guy porn" I guess you'd call it, but with some semblance of story, hotter guys, and more foreplay. >_> <_<
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And a caution on the Anita Blake books. While the first ones are very good action/horror mixes, they change into what a friend of mine cxalls 'chick-porn'.Ok, I'll take a look at the others too, but now you've got me really curious about what your friend means by that, because in my experience "chick porn" is just..."guy porn" I guess you'd call it, but with some semblance of story, hotter guys, and more foreplay. >_> <_<
Yeah, that's pretty much what she means by it. The problem is Ms Hamilton is a much better action/horror writer than she is a porn writer. At least in my opinion.
Just felt it should be mentioned in case having a lot of dull, repetitive group-sex with the lead heroine wasn't what you meant by strong female lead.
Yeah, that's pretty much what she means by it. The problem is Ms Hamilton is a much better action/horror writer than she is a porn writer. At least in my opinion.
Just felt it should be mentioned in case having a lot of dull, repetitive group-sex with the lead heroine wasn't what you meant by strong female lead.
Heh, ah, ok. And yeah, that's not what I meant, really. Exciting group sex maybe, although that's an entirely different sort of "fantasy" genre than I had in mind. ^_-
ok heres some of my fav's to add to your list. ALl of these have strong female leads.
The deed of pakserion as previously mentioned is awesome and highly recommended.
The series of The sopranno sorceres is another good read, a opera singer from our world gets transported to a world where music is magic and women are chatel so useing her near elminster like power she begins the long procces of true change and then her apprentices take over later in the series to continue her work.
I am a HUGE mercedes lackey fan and I guess from a gay guys perspective I have never found anything overly male bashing about any of them. Warning if you start with her best series of the heralds of valdemar the first in the series is a little slow but it picks up. Her style is always lots of build up, then drop a mountain onto the hero and see if they can dig themselves out.
If you wnat a softer read then I would suggest Oatbound and Oath breakers, two very strong female leads one warrior preistess and the other a sword weilding lady mage and an assortment of other charecters that come and go. Start with those two books first then go into her Valdemar series. Once she finally merges the two in the book By the Sword you'll have a much better understanding of the charecters. Oh and don't worry about the "timeline" about any of the oath series there isn't one. Those novels are a collection of her short stories for those charecters so continuity can be shakey but still a very good read.
Another fav author of mine is Jennifer Roberson and her series The Chronicles of the Cheysully. It has a wide range of women from farm girls to whores to queens but all are presented s being strong in their own way. The dynastic series takes the main charecter from thinking she's just a farm girl to having her great-something or other grandchildren fullfill an ancient prophecy. Plus theres alot of shapechangeing and magic.
Hope you enjoy.
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For strong female leads I highly recommend The Princess Series by Jim C. Hines. Just note, while the leads are Cinderalla, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, these are nowhere near the stories of your childhood (well they might be, I don't know your childhood, but they'd disturb me mightily).
The third book in the series comes out in the next week I believe and Jim has been doing weekly book giveaways on his blog Jim C. Hines
I also recommend Diana Wynne Jones and Mercedes Lackey ( especially the Diane Tregarde Investigations, which are about a pagan witch/romance writer investigating occult crimes). I also suggest that if you're interested in pornographic fantasy you take a look at the webnovel Tales of MU.
Joe Abercrombie's BEST SERVED COLD (a stand-alone) has a female lead and several other major female characters. This was to correct a perceived imbalance in his earlier FIRST LAW trilogy, in which female characters were only in secondary roles (though very good ones).
Guy Gavriel Kay has excellent female leads, particularly in THE LIONS OF AL-RASSAN and his new book, UNDER HEAVEN (though the central character in the latter is male).
JV Jones' SWORD OF SHADOWS series has a female lead and several very notable supporting female characters.
Robin Hobb's LIVESHIP TRADERS series is also focused on a number of central female characters. Her other books in the same world, FARSEER and TAWNY MAN, are more focused on male characters.
Kate Elliott's CROWN OF STARS series has a female lead character, though it has to be said not the best-developed one. There's a few other, very well-developed female protagonists, however.
I'm definitely going to read the Game of Thrones books, though I thought they focused more on a couple of the male characters. Which is fine, but...well, a lot easier to find, lol.
As others have already said, there's a lot of very memorable, major female characters in it. In fact, by the fourth volume female POVs outnumber the male ones (just).