Currently reading a book with an action heroine?

[Loncey]

Thanks. I will definitely check it out.

[Loncey]

I would like suggestions that are like this:

Firewalker by Loren K. Jones
Stork Tower series by Tony Corden
Katrina Baker by D. L. Harrison
Keeley Thompson series, Always a demon by PS Power
Iron Princess by Niall Teasdale
Aneka Jansen series by Niall Teasdale
Throne of Glass series by Sarah Maas
April series, Family Law series by Mackey Chandler
Ell Donsaii series, Blind Spot series by Laurence Dahners
Chain of command series, Dragonfire Station series by Zen Dipietro

Can someone recommend some for me.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Not sure how close to any of those it is but have you read The Deed of Paksenarrion?

[Loncey]

Yes I have. It was awesome. It's actually close to Firewalker by Loren K. Jones. Thanks. Will be looking forward to more suggestions from you guys

[Loncey]

The group you asked me to check out, in their suggestions section, I posted a more comprehensive detail of the kind of books I want.


Strong female lead,
Assassin/soldier/fighter or training to be one
little or no romance
Relationships can be mf, ff or bisexual
Genuis, Immortality, genetic engineering, body augmentation, hacker
Sci-fi or fantasy or a mix of both
LitRPG optional

I would like suggestions that are like this:

Firewalker by Loren K. Jones
Princess of the gods series by Ky Tyrand
Stork Tower series by Tony Corden
Katrina Baker by D. L. Harrison
Keeley Thompson series, Always a demon by PS Power
Iron Princess by Niall Teasdale
Aneka Jansen series by Niall Teasdale
Throne of Glass series by Sarah Maas
April series, Family Law series by Mackey Chandler
Ell Donsaii series, Blind Spot series by Laurence Dahners
Hayden War series by Evan Currie


Please help me out if you have any suggestions that meets ANY of the criteria. You can also check my profile for the kind of books I like best. I just discovered this group and am really grateful.



copied


You guys can use it too. Thanks.

[Werner]

Loncey, given that one of your criteria is (or can be) a protagonist who's an assassin or assassin trainee, you might find some reading suggestions on this list, created by one of our group's co-mods, Danielle: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2... . I haven't read many of the books myself, and most of the few I have wouldn't fit your "little or no romance" criteria; but All Souls would. Glad you found our group, and hope it proves to be rewarding for you!

[Mervi]

Welcome Loncey!
I'm not familiar with most of the books you've listed but many of them look interesting. I'm also struggling to find books with little or no romance.

Have you looked at Elizabeth Moon's science fiction?Trading in Danger is the first book in Vatta's War military sf series. The main characters is a soldier even though she ends up commanding a merchant spacehip in the first book. So far (I've finished the third book) no romance.

[Loncey]

Werner (don't yet know the honorific to use yet - sorry), though it is a mix of both male and female MCs, I've read most of the series taking top spot in that list. Actually, one of the reasons I'm now engaging groups in my quest is because the lists are no longer satisfying my hunger although

[Loncey]

Mervi, I have read tgat series and it is really good. Thanks for the suggestion. If you have more, send it along.

[E.G.]

Loncey wrote: "Mervi, I have read tgat series and it is really good. Thanks for the suggestion. If you have more, send it along."

Hi Loncey, from your request, you might want to check out Reprobate: A Katla Novel byMartyn V. Halm - I haven't read this series (little or no romance but there is adult content), but it seems to have decent reviews.

[Werner]

Loncey wrote: "Werner (don't yet know the honorific to use yet - sorry)"

Oh, "your Excellency," or "your Majesty," will do --JUST KIDDING! Group moderators don't have honorifics, so I answer to "Werner." :-)

Since you like Sci-Fi, a series you might want to check out, with a strong heroine who's a space navy captain and serves in combat, is David Weber's Honor Harrington series. The first book is On Basilisk Station, which our group read as an annual common read back in 2014, when we were still doing those. (You can check out that discussion here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... .) I haven't read any of the rest yet, but that one has no romantic content; and it got five stars from me.

Katla, the protagonist of Martyn V. Halm's Amsterdam Assassin series which E.G. mentioned, is a female free-lance assassin. You can download the introductory short story, Locked Room: A Katla KillFile, for Kindle free at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Locked-Room-Ki... . That's the only one of Halm's works I've read, and I only gave it one star; but that's just me, and mainly has to do with my personal tastes. It's a well-written, clean story, with no romantic content at all, and features a very competent, lethal anti-heroine.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Oh mighty magnificent noble and most wise potentate....you are so kind to us, the great unwashed.

:)

[Werner]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Oh mighty magnificent noble and most wise potentate....you are so kind to us, the great unwashed.

:)"

I'm guessing that you must be talking to the other mods. :-) From the perspective of literary critics, I think of myself as part of the Great Unwashed (even though I do take a bath every Saturday night, whether I need it or not....)

[Mike (the Paladin)]

...good policy. I always sew myself into my underwear for winter but wash down a bit in spring.

[Werner]

:-)

[E.G.]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "...good policy. I always sew myself into my underwear for winter but wash down a bit in spring."

:D

[Mervi]

I'm currently listening the final book in the Vatta's War series Victory Conditions. I've finished Birds of Prey comics I own but I'm continuing with Gail Simone's Batgirl. I quite enjoyed the two first collections.

[Werner]

While waiting for a common read in one of my other groups, which starts on Oct. 1, I wanted to pick a short book I could finish in the meantime. The one I opted for is The Apocalypse Door by James D. Macdonald. (Actually I'm reading the hardcover edition; but I think the paperback has much cooler cover art! :-) ) This has been on my must-read list ever since I read reviews of it back in 2002, so I'm delighted to finally get around to reading it.

The protagonist of this book is male, a modern-day Templar (in Macdonald's fictional world, their order is still secretly operating, and battling both natural and supernatural evil). But on his current mission, he has the help of fellow warrior Sister Mary Magdalene of the secret (and fictional!) Special Action Executive Branch of the Poor Clares, who's a sincere, practicing Roman Catholic Christian --and also a very capable assassin, who packs a Heckler and Koch 9-mm. (It seems that when her order is up against forces of great and dangerous evil, they sometimes put the "execute" in "executive," and that's where Maggie's particular vocation comes in. :-) )

[Marc]

I recently read the entire Indranan War trilogy, which is centered around the heir to the throne of a matriarchal empire, who was a former gunrunner and general scoundrel. Very enjoyable series of books.
Behind the Throne
After the Crown
Beyond the Empire

[E.G.]

Read the lasted Karen Chance Shadow's Bane. Really enjoyed it, but it's definitely a series that needs to be read in order.

[Mervi]

I've just finished Patrick Weekes' The Prophecy Con. It's the second book in a fantasy series about conmen and thieves. It's very much like Ocean's 11 but in a fantasy word and with more female characters. The group's leader, Loch, is a former soldier and scout and very good in a fight. She's also black. The group has a female alchemist, a female sentient unicorn, and a death priestess. They can all hold their own in a fight.

I actually liked the first book, The Palace Job better but I'm reading next the third and final book.

[Werner]

The book I started today, Pirates! by Celia Rees, definitely has action heroine potential! I'm hoping it will be the final book I need to meet my goal for our group's annual reading challenge this year.

[Werner]

The action heroine potential of Pirates was fulfilled, and I've linked to my review of it over on the Pirate Chicks thread (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... ). Barb and I started another book yesterday that also has definite action heroine potential: Sharpshooter in Petticoats by Mary Connealy. Of course, we're not far enough into the book yet to have encountered any action scenes.

There isn't any question that the book I started reading by myself this weekend, Bring It (Sabel Security #2) (the second book in the Sabel Security series by our own Seeley James) has an action heroine. It features one of my favorite ones, Pia Sabel; and at less than 40 pages in, she's already taken down a trio of thugs. :-)

[Mervi]

I'm reading Firefly: Big Damn Hero based on the TV-show Firefly. It got just half a season and it's one of my favorite SF shows. The book captures the spirit of the show well and Zoe, the first mate, is a significant POV character. She's a former soldier and a one of the best fighters on the ship. The book even starts with a bar fight with Zoe and Jayne in the middle of it.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Early in January, I read Queen of Zazzau, which is based on Amina, a real queen in west Africa. Lots and lots of action.

http://www.blackhistoryheroes.com/201...

[Werner]

Earlier this year, my Goodreads friend Seeley James sent me Kindle e-book versions of the five books that I haven't yet read of his Sabel Security series. I call these "review" books, but he didn't actually request reviews; basically, he just gifted me with them because he's a kind friend, and knows I'm a fan of the series and its heroine, Pia Sabel. (The first two novels got five stars from me.) Yesterday, I started reading the third installment, Element 42.

[Mervi]

I'm currently reading Fahrenheit's Ghost. It's the newest book in Trish Heinrich's superhero series set in 1960s US. It also starts a new trilogy and I think it can be read without reading the previous books. The main character is Colleen Knight, a black woman with fire powers. She was born into a mafia family and even though she tries to distance herself from them, she ends up doing a favor for her mother. She's good with hand-to-hand combat as well as using her powers. The other main character is Karen Gray, a spy trained in combat. They're also former lovers who are still attracted to each other. So far, I'm really enjoying the book.

[Werner]

Though it took forever to arrive here by interlibrary loan, I'm finally reading J. B. Lynn's series opener, Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman. It's about time, since I've already read the third and fourth installments of the series (I'd gotten them as Kindle freebies).

[Mervi]

I'm reading Alison Morton's Aurelia and enjoying it just as much as her previous three books. It's set in 1960s and stars the grandmonther of Carina, who was the main character in the previous trilogy.

I also finally got my hands on Mr. and Mrs. X, Vol. 1: Love and Marriage! X-Men Rogue and Gambit are (finally) happily married and have adventures in space! I've througly enjoyed it and I'm very much looking forward to the next collection.

[Georgann]

I just finished Anne Bishop's paranormal/urban fiction series, The Others. While the heroine in Book 6, Lake Silence, wasn't exactly your typical action heroine, she put up a good fight. And Deputy Jana in Wild Country? She is tough!! I loved all 7 of these books.

[Werner]

Peter O'Donnell's Modesty Blaise wasn't really "the world's first action heroine," as one reviewer called her; but she was certainly one of the first ones that I ever actually read about as a kid, in a magazine story titled "A Better Day to Die." I'd forgotten much of it beyond the premise and bare bones of the plot; but I recently began reading one of the author's collections of Modesty stories, Pieces of Modesty, and it's the lead story. That made for an especially rewarding stroll down memory lane!

[Mervi]

Georgann, I haven't read anything from Anne Bishop but those books look very interesting.

Werner, I'm looking forward to your review! I bought Pieces of Modesty recently and I'm going to read it soon.

[Werner]

Thanks for your interest, Mervi! I'm hoping to finish it and post a review by next weekend, and will try to remember to link to my review over on the Modesty Blaise thread (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... ). I'll be interested in your review, too!

[E.G.]

Mervi wrote: "Georgann, I haven't read anything from Anne Bishop but those books look very interesting.

Werner, I'm looking forward to your review! I bought Pieces of Modesty recently and I'm going to read it s..."

She's supposed to be awesome. I'm afraid to start -- she's written so many books that if I get going, I'll not get anything else done.

[Mervi]

I'm currently reading a comic new to me, Lady Mechanika Volume 1 Lady Mechanika. It's a steampunk world where the main character is partly a mechanical person. She's very good with both guns and hand-to-hand fighting.

[Werner]

One of my Goodreads friends gave that one five stars, Mervi, and I have to say that the cover art is pretty cool!

[Mervi]

I ended up rather liking it, despite the cheesecake art. Currently, I'm reading The Heist where one of the (two) main characters is Kate O'Hare, an FBI agent.

[Georgann]

I accomplished my goal for my day off today, and that was to read the newest Mercy Thompson book by Patricia Briggs, Storm Cursed, start to finish! One of my very favorites!

[Mervi]

Georgann: I also love continuing a series I love, especially when the newest book turns out to be really good. Wonderful!

The Heist was fun and I mostly enjoyed it. Kate O'Hare was definitely an action heroine. She used to be a Navy SEAL before becoming an FBI agent. Kate catches a conman she's been pursuing for five years, Nick Fox. However, Kate and Nick are forced to work together to catch villains who are outside the law. Enemies working together is one of my favorite tropes, so I rather enjoyed the Heist.

Currently, I'm reading The Mammoth Book of Steampunk Adventures and hoping that some of the stories will have action heroines.

[Mervi]

Unfortunately, The Mammoth Book of Steampunk Adventures didn't have any action heroine main characters. It had 25 short stories and almost half have female point-of-view characters (a few have POVs from mechanical beings). However, the stories aren't really action oriented. But if you want to try some very diverse Steampunk ranging from various historical places (from Mongolian steppes to China and Nazi Germany) to imaginary worlds, this is a great place to start. Many steampunk books (at least the ones I've read) tend to glamorize Victorian England and leave out the racism and colonialism. This one doesn't.

Currently, I'm reading Justice League Elite, Vol. 1 and Justice League Elite, Vol. 2. Elite is a black ops team trying to take care of (politically powerful) villains before they become too powerful and public. The team has a couple of very interesting female characters. Vera Black is a cyborg and leads the team on the field. Her brother was a supervillain and this is Vera's way of trying to atone for his actions. Kasumi is a former assassin, also atoning for her previous actions. Mengarie controls symbiotic alien parasites. She's an anti-heroine. The team has also four male characters and is led by a sexist (or misogynistic) Saudi-Arabian spy.

Vera and Kasumi are interesting characters but the comics are a bit too dark for me.

[Werner]

This month, I'm joining in a common read of C. S. Lewis' novel Till We Have Faces, which retells the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche Lewis' main concern is with theological themes. Nevertheless, though it came as quite a surprise to me, it turns out that Psyche's sister Orual, the protagonist and narrator of the tale, eventually steps into action heroine territory. A princess by birth, she trained in sword fighting with the captain of the palace guard (long story!), proved to be naturally talented for it, and subsequently put her training to good use.

[Mervi]

Werner wrote: "This month, I'm joining in a common read of C. S. Lewis' novel Till We Have Faces, which retells the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche Lewis' main concern is with theological themes. Neve..."

Orual sounds like a very interesting character and the book is available in the local library system. Thanks, Werner!

[Werner]

You're welcome, Mervi! If you read the book sometime, I'll be interested in your take on it. Action elements don't bulk very large in the book as a whole. (But they are there!)

[Werner]

Barb and I are currently reading the omnibus volume of Mary Connealy's Sophie's Daughters trilogy, focusing on three sisters in the late 19th-century American West. All three (like their mother) know how to handle firearms for hunting and for combat, and can function well in physical challenges. The first book, Doctor in Petticoats, which we've finished, has enough action elements to earn it a mention here; the second one, Wrangler in Petticoats, which we're currently reading, explodes into a gunfight early on, and our heroine is a full participant.

[Werner]

As of last night, I've started reading my review e-copy of Death and Dark Money, the fourth novel in our own Seeley James' Sabel Security series. (I've mentioned the author and the series on this thread several times before!) Pia Sabel is one of my favorite fictional action heroines, and all of the earlier novels in the series have gotten high star ratings from me; so I'm expecting to enjoy this one quite a bit as well.

[Mervi]

I've finally started Pieces of Modesty. It's the final Modesty book I own so I've been saving it. The first short story was good but the second one was even better.

I'm going to read some more X-Men Gold comics. They're clearly geard toward us old fans because they recycle a lot of old plot lines. I'm in the strange place that I find some of it enjoyable but some annoying. But they've been good enough that I'm going to order the next three.

[Werner]

Pieces of Modesty got four stars from me! I hope you like it as much as I did, Mervi.

[Werner]

A few days ago, I was able to get, for free, a short e-novella by Kelly Armstrong, Double Play, a continuation of her Nadia Stafford trilogy, for my Kindle app, thanks to an Amazon credit earmarked for e-books. (I've never read the trilogy, though I hope to sometime, since one of my Goodreads friends rated the first book highly; but I know enough about it that I figure I can start with this story and not be lost.) Last night I was able to start reading it, sooner than I'd expected (long story!).

[Mervi]

I gave Pieces of Modesty four stars, too, Werner, so I also enjoyed it a lot.

I've read Bitten from Armstrong which was paranormal romance and not really to my taste. I'm curious to hear what you'll think of Double Play.

I've just started Stillhouse Lake which is a contemporary mystery/thriller. The main character is a former housewife whose husband turned out to be a serial killer. He's in jail but she must defend their two children and herself from people wanting to hurt them. She's taught herself to shoot and fight hand-to-hand so she'll probably turn out to be an action heroine.

[Werner]

Mervi wrote: "She's taught herself to shoot and fight hand-to-hand so she'll probably turn out to be an action heroine."

Let us know if she does, Mervi! (I've heard of that book, and the series, but haven't read it myself.)