It is International Women’s Day and in honor of that I thought of listing 7 of my favorite leading ladies written by some of my favorite female authors across recent SFF! These characters are all different examples of womanhood and inspiring in their own respective ways.
Middle Eastern Inspired
Book Review: Hidden Queen (The Nightfall Saga #2) by Peter V. Brett
TL;DR Review: Diversity and neurodiversity utilized to marvelous effect, wrapped up in a violent, epic, complex, colorful, insanely epic dark fantasy story. Synopsis: Humanity thought the war with demonkind was over. Now, after humanity has had less than a generation to rebuild, the demon corelings have returned with a vengeance. The Spear of Ala—the fortress […]
Book Review: The Light of Kazaban by Thomas Howard Riley
TL;DR Review: In the grimdarkness of this tale, the light of resilience and strength of spirit shine beautifully bright. Synopsis: In the brutal desert city of Kasaban, the old gods have had their statues crushed to powder by invading Priests, with magick forbidden to anyone but themselves. Merely being born as one of the magi […]
Review: Loreland Bestiary by Hope Christofferson
Synopsis An illustrated mythology of the world’s most fantastical creatures. Turn your gaze toward the skiesWhere wyvern, lung, and phoenix fly.As mermaids swim through oceans blue Under Arctic ice, past coral hues. Accounts arise from here and there, Of manticores in hidden lairs, And faeries dance ’round mushroom caps As brownies steal your fabric scraps. But beware the moon and mind […]
Review: Reign & Ruin (Mages of the Wheel #1) by JD Evans
Reign & Ruin by J.D. Evans delivered a compelling blend of political intrigue within a Middle Eastern inspired world, scorching romance, and a meticulously crafted magic system that kept me engrossed from start to finish.
Book Review: Ice and Ivy (Mages of the Wheel #4) by JD Evans
TL;DR Review – A delightful grumpy/sunshine romance, an insightful exploration into PTSD and a path to healing from trauma. Synopsis: A wildflower alone is all the more beautiful for the barrenness from which it grows. A single note more glorious for the silence around it. She is a void, the empty balance of magic.When the […]
Book Review: Siren and Scion (Mages of the Wheel Book #3) by JD Evans
TL;DR Review – A riveting look at blooming love in the wake of trauma. Complex characters, epic action, and a wonderful expansion of the world. Synopsis: She was beautiful the way the ocean was beautiful. In a new way every time one looked. She is water, bright and alluring, fathomless and profound. He is a […]
Book Review: Storm and Shield (Mages of the Wheel #2) by JD Evans
TL;DR Review: More magic, more action, and all the spice and steam you could ask for. A spectacular “opposites attract” romance. Synopsis: “All you see is that I run. Why haven’t you realized I always come back?” She is lightning and storm. A spy, driven out of her home by a tyrant ruler. He is […]
Review: The King & Kishar by Timothy S. Currey
Synopsis: Every word King Adzi Akkatha writes on sacred stones is binding, and lasts for all eternity. But how can he rule when he has been cursed to forget everything? His city is in chaos. Hinatsi rebels clash with his soldiers, and their mysterious leaders try to capture the King. With the help of High […]
Book Review: Reign and Ruin (Mages of the Wheel #1) by JD Evans
TL;DR Review: The perfect blend of romantic and epic fantasy. Clever, engaging characters, an enthralling story line, and a lava-hot romance. Synopsis: “All magic is beautiful…and terrible. Do you not see the beauty in yours, or the terror in mine? You can stop a heart, and I can stop your breath.” She is heir to a Sultanate […]
Review: The Jasad Heir (The Scorched Throne #1) by Sara Hashem
In a world of forbidden magic and cunning royals, a fugitive queen bargains with her kingdom’s greatest enemy and is soon embroiled in a deadly game that could resurrect her scorched kingdom, or leave it in ashes forever. A stunning enemies-to-lovers fantasy debut, perfect for fans of Fourth Wing and The Jasmine Throne. At ten years old, the Heir of […]
Review: The Judas Blossom: Book I of The Nightingale and the Falcon (#1) by Steven Aryan
An imaginative and sprawling epic fantasy reimagining of the Mongol Empire’s invasion of Persia, following the lives and treacherous journeys of four key figures in the heart of war. 1260, Persia: Due to the efforts of the great Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire covers a vast portion of the known world. In the shadow of […]