Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion

I joined GR in 2009...it seems like a lifetime ago now. When I first joined, I read about 30 books a month. Now, I'm lucky to stay awake folding laundry.

However, one genre always pulls me back in. My actual bookshelves are lined with these types of books. I love a good Kick Ass Heroine story. I love the tough as nails, in your face, loyal, and strong female lead.

What books, characters, authors, or plots that keep you coming back? Who are your favorite Kick Ass Heroines?

Jill Kismet by Lilith Saintcrow.

I would say Kate Daniels from Ilona Andrews

All of Lilith Saintcrow's books
Kushiel series from Kushiel's dart.
Thomas deprima - A world unknown series
Theirs not to reason why series by Jean Johnson
Anita Blake series and the Merry Gentry series by the same author
Books by tara k. Harper is you can get it, is also a favorite

that's all i can remember for now.

I would nominate McKenzie from the The Shadow Reader series by Sandy Williams.

Also, no one ever knows about one of my very favorite series (The Sun Sword by Michelle Sagara West) that basically revolves around 4 different powerhouse women (every type of strong woman - warrior, diplomat, leader, femme fatale) with a further supporting cast of 5 more strong, well-defined women.

I really cannot say enough about this series if you're looking for strong, colorful, well-drawn women. I absolutely love this series.

My favorite kick ass heroines I love to read are:

Cat
Kate Daniels
Rose
Elena
Tayla
Sin
Carrow (pretty much all the heroines in Kresley Cole's IAD series)

Shift by Karina Espinosa

Jennifer L Armentrout Lux Series and Covenant Series has awesome kick ass heroines.

Patrick Weeke's Rogues of the Republic has a great strong heroine with a quirky supporting cast. Three books in the series and they're swashbuckling and funny.

Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews & Mac from the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning.

Magic Bites
Dead Witch Walking



Wow...there are SO many!

I have Rosemary and Rue on my list to read this month. It has been on my shelf for years. Glad it has a strong female lead.

Nevada wrote: "I would nominate McKenzie from the The Shadow Reader series by Sandy Williams.

Also, no one ever knows about one of my very favorite series (The Sun Sword by Michelle Sagara West)..."


Her other series chronicles of elantra is also great

Veronica Blade, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and R.L. Mathewson are my favorite authors to read. They write great stories with kick ass heroines. I read any and everything by them and I'm never disappointed!

I loved Harper Hall. She's definitely more kick-ass in book 2 than in book 1, but she's always smart and tough and hilarious

Jane Yellowrock Series by Faith Hunter

Angela wrote: "Jane Yellowrock Series by Faith Hunter"

Love Jane!

Gin Blanco - the Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep

'Lex' Luther - the Boundry Wich series by Melissa F. Olsen

I liked the Black Wings series by Christina Henry, but thought the ending was beyond lame.

Robyn Peterman writes two hilariously funny series, Ready to Were books and Fashionably Dead books, with great heroines.

G.A. Aiken (Shelly Laurenston's pen name) does the Dragonkin fantasy romance series with various heroines all of whom can hold their own. Dragon Actually is the first book and features Annwyl the Bloody.

Sin Undone is suuuuch a good book! Had the warm and fuzzies for a week after reading it.

I nominate Sirantha Jax Space faring AND ass kicking!

I love reading Demons at Deadnight Drop Dead Demons Demons in Disguise by A&E Kirk. Awesome kickass heroine and hot guys.

Also I just completed Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge yesterday. Heroine Rachelle is kickass too...

Victoria Danann's Knights of Black Swan saga. Elora is a strong and courageous kick-ass heroine. Along with a whole bunch of sexy knights, a quirky demon, and other supporting characters.

Kate Daniels (Ilona Andrews) is the most badass kick-ass heroine of them all!

Also agreed on G.A. Aiken's heroines. :)

Has anyone tried the Throne of Glass series yet, by Sarah J. Maas? The main character is an assassin.

Sounds interesting. This is the first time I've heard of it though.

I started reading the first book in the throne of glass series.. However I think about 3/4 of the way through I stopped. I can't quite remember why but the heroine just wasn't for me, I think. It wasn't bad though either, so I'll definitely revisit it when I have more time on my hands :)

There were times when I read this series that I forgot the main character was only 18. I wanted her to grow up, but the series has gotten better. I'm starting book 4 this week.

I will agree with a lot of the above recommendations.

Especially
Jeaniene frost
Ilona Andrews
Jennifer estep
Chloe neill
Rachel vincent

But also would like to recommend:
Susan Illene sensor books, the first one is

don't forget Lily Yu - from Eileen Wilks Lupi series. She's strong, wears a badge, stands up to the alpha man in her life and is pretty much all round kick ass. Great series, start with -

So ridiculous maybe-- but the first name that comes to my mind this afternoon is Rose from Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy! I know it bridges more YA...but I truly found her to be strong and confident, but also flawed-- which I think is really important to avoid being too Mary Sue. She's the tough warrior to her best friend, Lissa...but the romance focuses around Rose's relationship with her mentor. I always picture a really sexy Kat Denning to a younger Viggo Mortensen...really fun letting your mind wander on that!:) My mind also harkens back to Buffy-- not a book, obviously...I'm always on the look out for characters like that. Katniss, duh...there need to be more! I'm going to read through this thread and see what I can discover too.

Thanks for all of the recommendations. I've read a bunch and agree with the kick-assed-ness of:

Ilona Andrews
Jeaniene frost
Chloe neill
Sirantha Jax series
Jane Yellowrock series
Tayla in the demonica series
Elena in the Guild Hunter series
Mac from Karen Moning's Fever series is a bit annoying at the start of the series but the awesome world/story more than makes up for it!
Angelfall (more on the YA side of things, but gritty and super fast paced)
Kushiel series (more of a traditional fantasy than uf)

Here are a few I'd like to recommend in return:

don't let the cover put you off, it may be in space but it very much follows the cadence of a typical urban fantasy. And my humble opinion, awesome!

this indie is better than many published UF I've read. It has a great take on the fae, but be warned it's quite dark, violent and (ahem) erotic

Quite different from other UF, but dark and fun

This series just gets better and better

This is one that gets better and better too. Lots of action and strong headed caused trouble, but a great world and chemistry

On the YA side of things:
A fab fantasy trilogy, so imaginative

Anything by Tamora Pierce. So good!

Not quite "kick ass", but a super compelling, original and worthy trilogy

What about Midnight's Daughter

Dorina Basarab is even more compelling than Cassie Palmer and she is more dangerous than most kick-ass heroines.

I also agree with those who put Kate Daniels right at the top of the list.

After reading a few of the Elemental Assassins books but I found Gin Blanco to be TSTL on too many occasions. Advancing the plot by causing a strong heroine to make stupid mistakes is one of my pet peeves.

I adore Katherine "Kitty" Kat series by Gini Koch https://www.goodreads.com/series/4792...
and
Charley Davidson by Darynda Jones https://www.goodreads.com/series/5263...

Xandra Vardan from the Immortal Empire series is another great kick ass heroine. Even with a gorgeous alpha werewolf for her mate Xandra never backs down, or takes the easy road. She's loyal, even when family and friends waver in their belief of her.

Steam punk, action, Victorian England, werewolves and vamps - this series has it all. Start with

Giving a shout out to the Steel and Stone series. To have this kick ass of female lead in a YA series feels like a rare find anymore. Especially one where a romance isn't shoved in your face right away.



The series just wrapped up and I've read to book 4 and can vouch for it.

Shera (Book Whispers) wrote: "Giving a shout out to the Steel and Stone series. To have this kick ass of female lead in a YA series feels like a rare find anymore. Especially one where a romance isn't shoved in your face right ..."

I'm looking for such a book. Thanks for the recommendation

Hey there,
I love the Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison.
Cheers
Julia

Not sure if anyone has read this series, but I've read the first two books and genuinely enjoyed them. They're set in Australia, but Lora Blackgoat is a great character! There is a slight love triangle, but not really lol

Nicole Peeler

Jane True series

One of my favorite kick-ass heroines is Phedre from Kushiel's Dart.

Girl in the box by Robert J Crane is a favorite of mine !! I've gone back and read through the 10 book series twice!! I'm currently reading book eight of Girl out of the box series which is a second series based on Sienna Nealon. She's sarcastic and doesn't care what people think but cares about people in general and is always putting herself on the line to be the hero.

Memoirs of a Girl Wolf by Xandra Lawrence has an awesome female protagonist--she's a wolf shapeshifter and her character develops throughout the book as she learns that she is a wolf, so she turns into a kick ass, strong heroine. The best part is that the story is awesome and you won't be able to put it down--I finished it in like two days and now I'm on here looking for a new book to pick up. Memoirs of a Girl Wolf

Honor from

Jane Yellowrock from the Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter.

and of course her Beast.

Jenna wrote: "I loved Harper Hall. She's definitely more kick-ass in book 2 than in book 1, but she's always smart and tough and hilarious "

So true! Loved this series.

All of the heroines in Jane Cousins - Southern Sanctuary Series are strong. But in particular book 1 features a blood thirsty warrior woman (who is hopeless with men)
And Book 9 To Vex A Valkyrie Just released has the h, chasing the H, demanding sex.

So much fun.

Has anyone else read the Fox Meridian Series or the Kutherian Gambit series?

I've never heard of the Fox Meridian Series. Who writes it? I'm in the market for a new series.

Charley Davidson!!!! So funny and kicks ass and books are awesome!

Kera, Jace, and their sister Crows from and .