4.28 avg rating — 336,247 ratings

"Beyond "strong", Jemisin writes a complex, autonomous character who is powerful, flawed, complicated. "

3.91 avg rating — 10,604 ratings

"Tess is a character that we rarely see, the "fallen woman", as the central, fully-formed narrative. She is not a victim of circumstances, but is a headstrong, courageous, self-loathing, and proud. Hartman explores consequences of self-destructiveness, passion and dissatisfaction, as it particularly manifests for a woman, in the context of a repressive culture. "

3.98 avg rating — 99,003 ratings

"Johansen's world is set in a post Atwood-type dystopia, where, through some magic, the reset switch has put society back to primitive, struggling, dark ages-like kingdoms, where the new Queen, Kelsea must navigate a fragile political landscape. As she grows into her authority and power, Kelsea tenuously grapples with the ethics and morality of what it means to govern. I have never read a fantasy book that so satisfyingly explores the concepts of democracy, socialism, fascism, and utopianism. Kelsea is not the typical wooden protagonist that serves as a neutral backdrop to discuss political theory, but instead is nuanced and fallible, as she negotiates how to be strong and just."

3.55 avg rating — 3,689 ratings

"Kat Howard writes a refreshingly relatable protagonist, who calls bullshit when she sees it. She has survived trauma, but is not a victim without agency. She navigates the desire to protect, along with the complexities of ambition."

3.84 avg rating — 3,641 ratings

"Zen Cho's heroine, Prunella, is the rambunctious type who doesn't have time for racist and sexist conventions. She bulls through a stuffy, uptight world with force of will, indifference towards propriety, and unbridled power and talent. For those readers who are steeped in Victorian lit, Prunella is cathartic as she demands and flexes her agency."