feminist-friendly fantasy fiction
A sword and sorcery tale in the tradition of Jirel of Joiry and Black Agnes. From Tangent Online: Drith and Shard are on the run, heading to the ancient city of Seleucia. Set in an alternate history Earth, the story contains many fantasy elements, including magic and archetypes: Drith is a skilled thief, Shard a swordsman. Upon their arrival, they are taken to Prince Nikoleides who tasks Drith with finding a particular book in possession of his rival Ambrose. Shard is to remain as human collateral. Truths unfold as Drith’s mission progresses, unravelling a far more intricate situation than it once seemed. Donna Thorland mixes real world settings with fantasy elements perfectly. Settings are described in great detail, while maintaining concision and flow. The plot is never what it seems, and is always believable. There is also a good amount of backstory to develop the characters, and their relationships and [...]
Raisa is heir to the throne, but power hungry wizards are conspiring against her and the power she is destined for. A nation ruled by queens – a queendom instead of a kingdom – where power is passed from mother to daughter and women are accepted as equals in political, economic, military, and educational matters. The series is never preachy, but a powerful reminder of what could be.
The Mongoliad is a very realistic work of historical fiction but unlike a lot of medeival fiction it has lots of strong 3-dimensional female characters. Cnán and Lian are not warriors but they have their own strengths – Cnán is a hunter and tracker, and Lian is an expert in the ways of the court. There are also groups of Shield Maidens who are warriors. This book has lots of interesting characters, male and female.
Hungry Ghost is book 2 of the Tales of the Pack series, which explores feminism, sexuality, and gender through the lens of the werewolf mythos. Strange is the new normal for college freshman Lexie Clarion. She could be writing papers and going to frat parties like a normal girl, but Lexie is no normal girl. She spends each full moon fighting against the beast that threatens to escape her body, and the rest of the time mooning over her alpha ex-girlfriend. When Lexie discovers the eviscerated body of a fellow student, she knows the violent full-blood Rare wolves are back on the prowl. But with no proof, no plan, and no allies, Lexie and the Pack have to decide how to fight back. And they have to do so fast, before all the women of Milton become prey.
Pretty much everything Sheri Tepper has ever written is feminist, including the award-winning “Grass”, which might be more classed as sci-fi. Gibbons’ Decline and Fall is a good one to start with. The story of a group of young women at university together, and one who has an extraordinary secret…decades later this secret leads to the group having to make a momentous decision about the future of human reproduction.
Elixir Bound is centered around a world that was created by Mother Nature and is populated by people who worship her. Within that world, Katora Kase must decide if she will become guardian of a secret healing Elixir and bind herself to its magic. It also features strong female characters with Kylene Kase and Zelenka of the tilli demicks, who accompany Katora on her quest.
I designed Lantamyra to be a woman’s world, where females control most of the power. They undergo the process of mind expansion using myra crystals and are granted power because females are less likely to be corrupted by it.
Lunatic Fringe indulges the feminine wild by giving the classic werewolf myth a lesbian twist. Lexie Clarion’s first night at college, she falls in with a pack of radical feminist werewolf hunters. The next morning, she falls for a mysterious woman who may be among the hunted. As Lexie’s new lover and the Pack battle for Lexie’s allegiance, the waxing moon illuminates old hatreds, new enemies, and a secret from Lexie’s childhood that will change her life forever. “Enthralling, empowering, and well written.” – Curve Magazine “Lunatic Fringe is a pretty foxy romance and an excellent exploration of groups and identity, both of which make it a strong debut from Ms. Moon.” – Pornokitch “Lunatic Fringe is a groundbreaking creative accomplishment that is certain to make a splash among readers of both queer literature and speculative fiction.” -Dr. David Higgins, Science Fiction Division Head for the International Association for the [...]
No token female characters in this book. Men and women are treated as equals and it is never seen as strange or even mentioned as such for women to be soldiers, engineers or regents. It has two very different and strong female characters.
Set in the late 1800s, this novel explores what one woman achieves when she is freed from the ties of Victorian conventions. Pretending to be a man, she accomplishes an education and being elected to government at a time when Women were not even able to vote. Gloriana, proves a woman’s capabilities far exceeded those betrothed to her by strangulating social norms.
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Categories 
- Tags Action Adventure animorphs assassin assassins Badass Mom college dragons elderly elves environmental environmentalism epic fairies fairy tale folklore future gay ghosts horses knights lesbian Mad Science magic military fantasy mythology orcs passes the bechdel test politics post-apocalyptic Powers queer romance Science-Fiction sexuality shamans soldier Steampunk thief Vampires war warriors Werewolves witches women warriors
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