So, since my main female protagonist's personality still remains elusive after so many years I've decided to spent some time this weekend skimming through my fantasy collection and reading passages from my favorite female POV characters to see how each author crafted them so memorably.
Any favorite fantasy female POV characters worth recommending?
I'm not looking for my character to be modeled after any existing character. I'm merely looking to see how each author presents their character's personality.
Any favorite fantasy female POV characters worth recommending?
I'm not looking for my character to be modeled after any existing character. I'm merely looking to see how each author presents their character's personality.
- Current Mood:
contemplative
Comments
Olwen from The Keeper of the Isis Light
Bella from Twilight
Hard but good question. Seems most of what I read in fantasy in a male POV depsite the fact that I am a woman.
As for the others, I think there is a copy of Twilight in the house somewhere so I don't have to go out and find that one.
Thanks for the recommendations. I really appreciate them.
The longer version of the comment I wanted to make was:
I thought of Blaze Halfbreed from Glenda Larke's Isles of Glory trilogy (Book 1: The Aware) straight away. This is a great trilogy -- the only one I've ever read where the Big Baddie is conquered at the end of Book 2, leaving Book 3 to deal with some spectacular and fascinating fallout.
But I had to go and stare at my bookshelves for a while before I came up with any more. I read a lot of fantasy, so this surprised me, but it made me realise how many fantasy books have male protagonists. I hadn't noticed before because as long as the character's well done I don't care what gender it is. Also I came up with a few that had female protags -- but I didn't like them! They're either too perfect, or too whiny and submissive.
Some others I can recommend are:
Hezhi from The Waterborn by Greg Keyes. A very unusual book. Blaze Halfbreed is a world-weary mercenary, whereas Hezhi is a girl just coming into puberty, so very different people. Hezhi has to grow into her strength as she discovers some very ugly truths about her family and the uses of power.
Marjorie from Sherri S Tepper. Tepper writes great female characters. Marjorie is a middle-aged woman, very real-feeling. You could imagine meeting her. She worries about her family, troubles with her children and her falling-apart marriage. Along with domestic disasters she has to fit in saving the world.
Emma from White Tiger by Kylie Chan (first in an urban fantasy series set in Hong Kong. There will possibly be as many as nine books, three are out already). Emma is a modern girl, a literally kick-ass heroine. Starting out as a nanny, she evolves into a martial arts expert, taking no crap from gods or demons.
Glenda Larke and Kylie Chan are Australian authors. Hopefully you can find them in America. Good luck with your story. I'll stop by to check on your progress and cheer you on. Thanks for visiting my blog.
I'll be hunting the above selections down. It's always great discovering new authors. That's the great thing about these forums. I've come across so many new things to read.