Please recommend me fantasy novels with Female protagonist as main character

[Xtafa]

Its not really a read alone book, and wont seem to fantastical in its own right, but if you've read the king killer chronicles, please read 'The slow regard of silent thinks' Its a short and beautiful story about Auri <3

[Ammanas]

Just read one recently that just came out and is very good. The Poppy War by Kuang. The original post was also looking specifically for the main female character being a magic user and I can answer in the affirmative for that. This book has a lot of chinese influence too that I found both unique and refreshing.

[Bort he/him]

I'll second the Empire trilogy by Feist and Wurts.

But on top of that, I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Trudi Canavan. She is a fantasy author who has a number of trilogies under her belt. These include the Black Magician trilogy, the Traitor Spy trilogy (continues the storyline from Black Magician), and the Age of the Five trilogy (different world entirely). All have female protagonists, although the Traitor Spy series also has a male lead to go alongside the female.

[The One Who Connects he/him]

Quote

Looking to increase my library of non Sanderson fantasy novels with female protags as main character.  Hopefully no longer than 3 books long in series, but I can tolerate up to 7 for financial and space reasons (for now) Bonus points if said female mc is a magic user. Tragic/sad ending is fine, just don't spoil it if this is the case.

---

Please note, I am looking for stories that feature swords and magic, not modern day tools, unless it features a nice spin on it, like alloy of law.  Please no stories that mirror too closely current real world politics, or space stations, even if these would be good.

I've got several series that I've been getting into recently:

• Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (2 Books)
• Sweet Venon by Tera Lynn Childs (3 Books)
• The Selection by Kiera Cass (5 Books)

I've read the first 2 series, and am on book 3 of 5 for The Selection. The former two series do have magic, while The Selection is a tad modern tech-wise. Fair warning that (near as I can tell) every series but Three Dark Crowns is set in modern day, though that's not always a relevant detail.

---

Several More Suggestions:

• Witches Of East End by Melissa De La Cruz (3 Books)
• Shadow Falls by C.C. Hunter (5 Books)
• Shadow Falls: After Dark by C.C. Hunter (3 Books)
• Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (5 Books)
• The Immortals by Alyson Nöel (6 Books)
• Daughter Of Smoke And Bone by Laini Taylor (3 Books)

I haven't read these series yet, mostly for lack of time. I started Witches of East End, and it's doing good so far.

[Ripheus23]

Starting with book 4 (of the 10 total), the Thomas Covenant books feature an extremely strong woman as a protagonist. She has moments of particular weakness, sure, but so does Covenant. And she does some pretty awesome things with magic, here and there. (There's a scene in book 8 that is as good as Sanderson at his magic-system finest, what with compounding different sources of theurgy and all...)

[elinox she/her]

1. Rogues of the Republic series by Patrick Weekes = A group of con artists do various heists in a fantasy world. The books take different point of views throughout and several of the main characters are female. 

2. Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter = The main character is a female shapeshifter hired mercenary working in New Orleans. Various types of supernatural critters show up. I've only read the first two books, but there are 12 books in the series so far. 

3. October Daye series by Seanan McGuire = The main character is a changeling so there's lots of interactions with faeries/fae. I've only read the first one, but there are 8 books in the series so far. 

4. The 10th Kingdom by Kathryn Wesley = A hero's journey story about a young woman and her father traveling from modern day New York into the land of Grimm's fairy tales. (I can't say enough about this book as it, and the accompanying miniseries, are my absolute favorites!)

[ShardBreaker he/him]

If your okay with a book that has multiple protagonists, one being a girl, I'd recommend The Shifting Tides Series by James Maxwell. 

[StrikerEZ he/him]

@Alicia Whiteheart I'm gonna second both Sabriel and Three Dark Crowns. For Old Kingdom (Sabriel is the first book), I'd actually recommend reading them in publication order. I think it's better to read book 4 after finishing the first 3, even though it comes before any of them. I haven't read the sequel to Three Dark Crowns yet, but the first book was really good.

A series I haven't seen mentioned yet is The Young Elites (3 books). It's a bit more YA, but the magic is really cool. The main character romance is straight romance, but there's a side character f/f romance hinted at in the second book an de confirmed in the third. 

[geoffw35 he/him]

I know I'm late to this thread, but I wanted to second the recommendation of Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I really liked this series. The narrator is excellent, so I listened on the audiobook. Another very strong female character in a fantasy setting is The Queen of the Tearling. The ending turned a number readers off, but not me. I thought it worked.

[+Sorana she/her]

You could also try N.K. Jemisins "The Fifth Season".

It took me the first chapter to get into the story nur in the end I read all three books in a week as I couldn't stop reading.

And I can also suggest you try the Lunar Chronicles mentioned above. They're great.

[Totally_Not_A_Worldhopper she/her]

These may have already been recommended/ you may have already read them but here's a few:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series (Starts with Daughter of Smoke and Bone) - Laini Taylor

Lunar Chronicles (Starts with Cinder) - Marissa Meyer

Grisha Trilogy (Starts with Shadow and Bone) - Leigh Bardugo

The Selection Series (Starts with The Selection) - Kiera Cass

Lone City Trilogy (Starts with The Jewel) - Amy Ewing

And if you're OK with multiple protaganists (one/some of which are female) there's also:

Six of Crows Duology (Starts with Six of Crows) - Leigh Bardugo

The Raven Cycle (Starts with The Raven Boys) - Maggie Stiefvater

Edited July 11, 2018 by Totally_Not_A_Worldhopper

[Straight_Outta_Arrakis]

I read more sci-fi than fantasy, so this might not be what you’re looking for, but Orson Scott Card’s Homecoming series has some female characters (in my opinion there are multiple protagonists, and I’d count these female characters as such, though others may disagree) that I’ve loved and never forgotten since I read this series at 16. 

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith. Not only does it have a well-rounded and well-developed female protagonist, but she spends most of the book more or less out of her element, but learns on her feet and succeeds anyhow. I first read it when I was 13 or 14, and it’s stuck with me ever since.