Fantasybooks that have remained popular throughout the decades tend to have one element in common - a compelling, determined, and resilient hero who leaves a lasting impression upon the reader. Memorable main characters are typically strong and selfless leaders with an array of special abilities to accomplish their primary goal. For decades, authors have supplied readers with some of the best heroes in fantasy literature, and in recent years many have gravitated towards a strong female lead for such roles.
The fantasy genre has always pushed the boundaries of tradition and, in doing so, has introduced many iconic female leads among its myriad of classics. Unfortunately, most usually hold much smaller roles throughout the novels—such as Éowyn fromLord of the Rings. However, thesefantasy book seriesarefull of dynamic political schemes, battles of epic proportions, and a powerful heroine that gives each series its own special touch.
10Throne of Glass (2012)
Aelin Galathynius
Sarah J. Maas has written a variety of strong female characters throughout her novels, but Aelin Galathynius fromThrone of Glassproves to be one of her best. Aelin (also known as Celaena Sardothian) is both a formidable assassin and a powerful fire wielder—one who, time and time again, shocks readers with her witty personality and affinity with a blade. The journey for her character is not an easy one, but through it all,Aelin proves her resilience and selfless nature—often choosing to sacrifice herself to save and protect the ones she loves.
WhileThrone of Glassis 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 believable and promising leader-one who captivates and impresses on multiple occasions. Aelin is not only incredibly brilliant, but also decidedly one of the funniest characters Maas has written, only adding to her character’s likability throughoutall sevenThrone of Glassbooks.
9The Bridge Kingdom (2018)
Lara Veliant
The Bridge Kingdomby 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 sure to showcase Lara’s unique skills and abilities right from the start, as she fakes her sisters' deaths once she learns her father, the king, plans to murder those he does not select for this special mission. While her character is ultimately quite flawed thanks to her upbringing,Lara proves to be an endearing FMC throughout the series.
The Bridge Kingdomfocuses 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. While she is observant, light on her feet, and adept with poisons, Lara also proves to be a skilled swordsman in many battles—the best in many circumstances.Jenson ensures her characters are equipped with the necessary skills to drive the plot forward—which ultimately leads to one of Lara’s biggest regrets.
8The Cruel Prince (2018)
Jude Duarte
As one of the only humans living in a Faerie realm full of creatures with magical abilities, Jude Duarte has to make herself strong in other ways. Where she could be categorized as somewhat of an underdog throughoutThe Cruel Princeseries due to her severe disadvantage, Jude refuses to be seen as anything but a threat.What she lacks compared to others she makes up for with her bold, unapologetic, and ruthless personality—a strong characterization that is prevalent throughout all three books.
The situation in which Jude is raised greatly affects the way she views the world around her, as her adoptive father happens to also be the murderer of her parents. Jude’s character may be flawed, but Black makes sure to build her up to be a complex protagonist—making it impossible not to cheer for her as she deceives and manipulates the world around her. And while she makes for an unlikely heroine, her relentless quest for power and ultimate revenge against those who have harmed her make for a captivating female protagonist.
7Mistborn (2006)
Vin
TheMistbornbooks by Brandon Sandersonfollow Vin, a young mistborn who has known nothing but poverty, pain, and disappointment, who later finds herself defeating the tyrannical Lord Ruler. Vin is one of the most interesting characters in the series, andher small stature and seemingly timid nature largely contrasts the well of power she holds. Constantly underestimated, Vin quickly proves herself to be the biggest threat to the empire and the strongest mistborn ever known.
10 Great Fantasy Books That Deliver On The Romance With Little Or No Spice
Here are a few popular fantasy books and series that will deliver a romantic plot without relying on graphic content to carry the story forward.
In training her new-found abilities, Vin catches on surprisingly quickly to becoming mistborn, and finds herself saving the empire on more than one occasion. Even more impressive than her allomantic powers is her ability to plan and execute many harrowing strategies, thanks to her time surviving on the streets. Vin’s heroic journey throughout the series is endearing, asshe begins with little trust in those around her and ends the series as the ultimate sacrifice for those she loves.
6A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
Feyre Archeron
While Feyre Archeron fromA Court of Thorns and Rosesmay be the youngest of her sisters, from the very start 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 ways, later going on to save the entire Spring Court through her determination.
Feyre makes for an impressive heroine, especially given 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 to grow her character arc immensely, and adds to the overall plot’s believability. While she does gain powers later in the series, she stays humble and true to her nature, using her newfound powers to protect those she cares about most.
5Fourth Wing (2023)
Violet Sorrengail
Violet fromFourth Wingis an unlikely heroine, and this is mainly due to the fact that she’s thrust into the dangerous rider’s quadrant with very little training—as she would have opted for a life in the scribe quadrant instead. Not only does Violet have to worry about becoming strong enough to bond with a dragon, but she has to constantly watch her back for those that would see her dead.However,her lack of skill from the start only makes her improvement throughout the series all the more impressive.
This is probably one of the best attributes to her character, as Violet has learned to live with and fight through pain for most of her life.
Yarros deliberately creates hurdles for Violet to overcome, and one of those is a chronic condition that affects her body’s hypermobility, muscles, and connective tissue—making her more prone to injuries than others may be. This is probably one of the best attributes to her character, as Violet has learned to live with and fight through pain for most of her life.This helps to make Violet more relatable than most characters found in the fantasy genre, and creates more of an impression when she later becomes one of the most powerful riders of her year.
4The Serpent and The Wings of Night (2022)
Oraya
The Serpent and The Wings of Nightfollows Oraya, the human-born daughter of Vincent, the nightborn vampire king. Growing up constantly under threat of danger, Oraya feels the need to enter herself into a brutal competition called the Kajari to secure the slim chance of receiving a powerful gift from the goddess Nyaxia if she was to win. Due to Oraya being the only human in the competition, she’s at a huge disadvantage. However,Broadbent writes a surprising amount of strength and determination into her character—allowing Oraya to hold her own throughout many of the competition’s tasks.
Where Oraya should have been powerless against her vampire counterparts, she proves to be 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 very vampires who would hunt humans—learning their weaknesses and practicing her ability to fight against them. Focused and driven, Oraya defies all the odds stacked against her—making her one of the best female main characters in modern fantasy.
3Six of Crows (2015)
Inej Ghafa
Inej Ghafa, fromSix of Crows, is a member of the Dregs, a gang of thieves in which she primarily works as the Dregs spy. While most members typically bear a crow-and-cup tattoo on their forearms to show their allegiance, Inej does not—indicating her true allegiance lies elsewhere. Stolen from her family as a young girl and forced to work in a pleasure house before joining the Dregs,Inej’s character proves to be resolute and courageous through her many trials and sufferings.
When the book kicks off, Inej is one of the Dregs' best spies, known as the Wraith for her incredible stealth and skill with a blade. Even in the face of danger, Inej’s character is witty and arrogant, consistently laughing in the face of those who could hurt or kill her—marking her as a fan favorite among fantasy readers.Her tenacity throughout the series leads to several epic moments and scenesthat further prove her ability to be a strong character.
2A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
Nesta Archeron
Nesta’sACOTARbook,A Court of Silver Flames,describes her own personal journey, but it’s quite different from that of her sister. Ever since Nesta was forced into the cauldron and turned into high Fae against her will, she has struggled to adjust to her new environment and is haunted by her past. While Nesta is bold and ruthless, her true nature shines through as she attempts to move past her previous traumas and regain her footing.Like most fantasy heroes, her character proves to be quite divisive, but there’s 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. While she’s quite skillful in this area, it turns out 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 gives most of her powers back to the cauldron in order to save her sister Feyre from death.
1An Ember in the Ashes (2015)
Laia of Serra
Ember in the Ashesby Sabaa Tahir follows the story of Laia, a slave in the martial empire who strives to live a quiet life—and one who does not challenge the empire’s rule. However, when her brother is taken for treason, Laia accepts a new role as spy for the rebels in return for their promise to rescue her brother. Laia, while she begins the series as a quiet and meek scholar,quickly transforms into a fiercely loyal friend who will stand defiant in the face of corruption.
Watching Laia’s journey unfold is incredibly entertaining and satisfying, as her growing talent for lying, deception, and manipulation drives the story’s plot forward in a big way. However, once the rehmat inside her is awakened, she finds herself with the powers of invisibility—shielding herself and others throughout the books. And as theEmber in the Ashesseries continues, Laia finds herself becoming stronger than she ever imagined—a common theme found in manyunforgettable fantasy bookstoday.
