Kick-A$$ Heroines - Intro

[Michelle]

Why do I like kick-ass female characters? Cuz I wanna be one when I grow up. ;D

Seriously, I've read romances for many years and grew disgusted with those wishy-washy, oh-woe-is-me heroines who were all too happy to let the strong alpha male think for them and run their lives. Sure, I found many strong female leads too, but the wimpy kind was in the majority and I couldn't stand it.

So my female characters tend to be alphas themselves. Let me introduce you them...
(I've put similar heroines next to one another.)


Mea Brin, The Huntress, a bounty hunter who tracks down baddies and brings them to justice. Her life is thrown into chaos when she meets an escaped convict she doesn't want to hunt.

Sinsudee Shay, corporate predator and undercover operative in Last Chance, plays a dangerous game with her rival that has galactic reprecussions, as well as very personal ones.

Black Widow, half-mad cyborg assassin from The Third Sign who finds redemption in the middle of hell--a pair of siblings who lead her out of darkness.
__

Anya Vaedrin, singer and tel-empath from Angels and Ministers of Grace, has a unique power that makes her a target. Searching for sanctuary, she finds more than she bargained for at the Far Reach Station, including the means to rescue herself.

Ryelle Soliere, from No Such Thing is the strongest telekinetic ever to come out of the Institute. She proves her strength of power and purpose aboard the warship Odyssey, finding herself and love along the way.
__

Sukeza bet Marish, Light of Kaska, heir to a powerful House on Kaska, finds her way home when she rescues an escaped convict from his fate and his loneliness.

Cassie Draegen, tech genius with a dark past in Here There Be Dragons strikes her own blow against the evil stalking her galaxy, in spite of the inspector throwing himself in her way.


So if you've read any of these stories, tell me...which is your favorite kick-ass heroine?
(I promise not to tell the others ;)
-M

[Synthe]

Bee! Bee! Bee! :D Mea! Mea! Mea!

I concur with you - female Protags are usually sold as "kick ass" and "strong" but ACT more like sofa cushions. So unlikeable ...

[Michelle]

(lol...I like the name chanting)

Right! Or they start out strong and independent until the guy shows up, then all of a sudden it's "whatever you think is best" like they forgot how to think. Don't get me wrong, men can really screw up the brainpan (especially when the libido kicks in) but drooling is different from...well, being a sofa cushion.

[KalicoKat]

I think Mea is my favorite.

I too, can't stand wimpy characters. I once read a book (that shall remain nameless) in which the wimpy heroine grew into a strong woman. It was okay but when I read another book by the same author, I only read enough to realize this character was the same annoying, whiney type. The characters were SO annoying, I couldn't take it anymore and never read another book by that author. :-)

[Michelle]

Hi KalicoKat! Welcome to the group...have a cookie. :D

I know what you mean about the whining - ugh! It's just not necessary. I mean sure, I tend to write female characters that are superhuman in some way which makes 'em totally kick-ass, but even ordinary females should have backbone.

I think my most ordinary character is Sukeza and though she's often terrified (with good reason, poor thing - I do tend to torture my characters :P) she doesn't just curl up in the fetal position and expect someone else to solve her problems. She steps up and does her best to change things.

And that's what being a heroine is all about. Not just what happens to them but what they do about it. A good reminder for us mortals - we all have the power to change things which makes us all kick-ass! ;)