Currently reading a book with an action heroine?

[Werner]

Moore's collection is outstanding! My review of it is here, if anyone's interested: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... .

[Nomad]

I used to love Marion Zimmer Bradley, though I haven't read much of her work in years, I do still have her Renunciates of Darkover trilogy and the 2 short story collections that she edited that were about them. All the rest of my Darkover books I ended up giving away.

I'm like that with an author. I love them and buy all their books right up until the day that I'm not anymore. The curtain always inevitably falls on my love affair with an writer, and it's lightening quick too. One day I'm onboard that train and then the next I'm getting off at the next station.

I'm reading a book that has the whole "dragged along for the ride" trope. The chica in question is droll and funny as hell. She was holding a cast iron skillet when the group of action men burst into her home and... well... she got dragged along for the ride.

I'm not sure if I'll rec the book or not, it IS hilarious and it's rather realistic. If you suddenly and without warning got dragged along on the action/adventure of your life... you'd be really useless for a while until you learned new skills. But I do enjoy how she has a tendency to hit things with that cast iron skillet when cornered.

[Werner]

The only book I've read that Bradley wrote was one of her Darkover novels, The Spell Sword, and I wasn't impressed with it (I've never reviewed it, but I gave it two stars). But she really shines as an editor in the Sword and Sorceress collections!

If I like a particular writer, I usually continue to like him/her long term (although I sometimes rate different works by the same author differently, and might not like some things written by authors that I usually like). But if a person read only one writer, or a disproportionate amount of things by one writer, back to back for a long time, I could see where it would be possible to get burned out. (I usually go for more variety in authors from book to book --unless I'm reading an omnibus volume, trilogy, or something of that nature.)

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I find that (for my taste) MZB runs hot and cold. Some of her books draw me in while others don't hold my interest at all. I never got caught up in her Darkover series, but I like Hunters of the Red Moon. It's great brain candy.

So for me while I usually find the same (that if I like an author I like them) it's not always true. MZB is a good example.

[Jim]

I'm reading The Gestalt Man which is free for the Kindle right now. Yes, it's about a man, sort of. He has a multiple personality disorder & 2 are females, as is his partner, who seems pretty cool. I don't know how long the promotion will last, so I thought I'd mention it. I'm only 1/3 of the way through, but am thoroughly enjoying it so far.

[Lucy Qhuay]

I am reading a book with a pretty strong heroine - - but I don't think that she quite fits in the profile of the heroine that we're talking about here.
I've read not so long ago and the heroine was a major kick-ass heroine.
She was a demon slayer. :D

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Demonica is a great series, Lucy. I think you will enjoy Sin's book a lot as well, .

[Lucy Qhuay]

Oh yes!
I am loving the Demonica series! :)
I was a bit sad because Runa wasn't as kick-ass as Tayla and now that I am reading Wraith's book, so far Serena seems to be even less kick-ass than Runa.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Idess and Sin bring the kickbutt quotient up, so keep reading.

[Lucy Qhuay]

I know that Sin is Eidolon's sister but who is Idess? Never heard about that character, I think...

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

She has an important protective role in Ecstasy Unveiled. She's an angel.

[Lucy Qhuay]

I am so excited then :)
Tayla was so kick-ass and if Idess and Sin are even more kick-ass than her then we will have a great story. :)

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I think they are at least at her level. I didn't think I would like Sin's book, but it was so good!

[Lucy Qhuay]

I am very curious to read that one since she is the only female seminus and I think it will be very interesting to be in her head.
Also, I am looking forward to know if the whole "I need as much sex as I can get" thing applies to her.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

It's very interesting how it's dealt with, Lucy. It challenged my perceptions, I must admit.

[Derrick]

I am The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, though Lisbeth is so far at lot less action chick than she was in the last one.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I'm reading Bedeviled. I think Kyana is definitely a kickbutt heroine. Problem is she's quite unlikable.

[Lucy Qhuay]

Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "It's very interesting how it's dealt with, Lucy. It challenged my perceptions, I must admit."

I'm happy to know that. :) I'm even more excited now!

[Derrick]

The Well of Ascension

It's the second book in the Mistborn trilogy, and the lead is a wonderful Action Girl named Vin. I always picture her looking like Natalie Portman or Ellen Page -- if those gals had Hermione's badass magic skills.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I need to start that series. I've heard the Mistborn trilogy has some great strong female leads.

[Derrick]

Just got back from the library, toting home the third Mistborn novel The Hero of Ages, as well as Greg Rucka's second Tara Chace novel Queen and Country: Private Wars.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I finished Heaven's Shadow on Saturday. There are a few female astronauts in this book, and they have prominent roles.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I must admit that I side stepped that one because (view spoiler)[the interior of the thing was called "Keanu" and as a "Near Earth Object" it was called a NEO...come on, really? LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

(view spoiler)[ The naming makes sense based on the alphanumerical name for the object. It was named that as a pun. You might not like it anyway, Mike. They play around with some religious stuff in a way that might not sit well with a lot of Christians. (hide spoiler)] I didn't have high expectations, but I found it quite a page turner.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Fairly common these days.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Last week I read An Island Between Two Shores, which is historical fiction along the lines of Jack London with a young female protagonist. She wasn't so much a buttkicking heroine, but a heroine struggling to survive in the wilderness. A bit bleak, but I think you will like it if you like London.

[Jim]

I just finished Pray and Die by Stella Whitelaw. Jordan Lacey isn't exactly a kick-ass action heroine, but she is fun. The reader, Ann Cantor, was perfect for the audio book. My review is here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Jim]

I also finished reading Out of Sight by Elmore Leonard. Now it features an action heroine who is excellent. Tough as nails on the outside, she has a gooey inside that made this story possible. My review is here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Werner]

Jim, I just added Out of Sight to our group's "read" shelf.

There's also a 1998 film adaptation with the same title, starring George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez. (The imdb link is www.imdb.com/title/tt0120780 .) It was nominated for two Oscars, and won six other prestigious awards (including an Edgar) for the screenplay. That's pretty good recognition for an action flick!

[Jim]

I haven't seen the film, but Clooney would be perfect for Foley's role. I think I know who Jennifer Lopez is (It's hard for me to keep all the pretty actresses straight.) & think she's perfect, too. I'll try to remember to watch it if I get a chance. Thanks!

[Werner]

You're welcome, Jim! If you do watch it sometime, let us know if you like it (I haven't seen it either).

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Out of Sight is a good movie. Karen Sisco is definitely a woman who knows how to take care of herself.

[Carter]

Although, the book, Rex Randall and the Jericho Secret, Rex Randall and the Jericho Secret by Vince Carter, indicates Rex as the lead , but in actuality, his 5 female partners are co-equal and get involved in some kick-ass action to save Rex.

Try it. You might like it.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007IW0ZPS

[Jim]

I'm reading David Bischoff's Star Hounds series. It features Laura Shemzak. Irreverent, rebellious, beautiful. A woman with an impossible mission: to rescue her beloved brother, the most brilliant physicist of the Galactic Federation, from the clutches of alien invaders, the Jaxdron....

It's a fun space opera. My review of the first one is here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Derrick]

I just finished Winter's Bone, which kind of has an action heroine. Terrific book.

[Werner]

Yesterday, I started reading Elizabeth Moon's trilogy to my wife (we usually have a book going for reading in the car, since we're not into traditional audiobooks). That's one that came highly recommended by our group members Mike and Jon; so I snapped up the omnibus volume on BookMooch awhile back, and have high expectations for it, though right now we're just starting it.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Of course I have to chime in, LOL. I love . Some have told me they thought it stared rather slowly (though I found it pulled me in from the first scene). I just wanted to say it does get heavy on the action after you get to know Paks and the world.


http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Just recently finished Phoenix Rising. While it lists a male and female lead the woman is the lead character and I'd say classic "kick butt female".

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Werner]

Good review, Mike! I've had that one on my to-read list for some time, after reading a couple of other very complimentary reviews of it. It's on my BookMooch wishlist, so maybe it'll turn up there one of these days!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I already have the next (The Janus Affair) waiting. Got it from Audible...of course I bought it so all the library books that came in get moved ahead of it.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Again (as in the last entry from me, LOL) this is a book I just finished and I like it. The Dead of Winter which hits the action adventure/western/fantasy targets all is about a truly "tough" female protagonist. I gave this one 4 "brain-candy stars and came close to 5. Another I like. There's been a dearth of action female protagonist reads for me lately (not because I'm avoiding them but I just hadn't run across a lot I liked). This is the second recently...recommended.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Werner]

Mike, I've just added both of these books to our group's "read" shelf! The Dead of Winter sounds promising --if only my to-read shelf wasn't already up to 300 books....

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I know...same here and I keep adding to it.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Devil's Kiss has a very strong, action caliber heroine in it. I'd recommend it readers who enjoy historical romance with paranormal elements.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Not as thrilled with The Janus Affair as I was with the first book. A bit "long winded".

[Werner]

I'm taking part in this month's common read of The Hunger Games. Looking forward to a lively discussion!

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I'm reading Chosen by Sable Grace for review, and I will jump into The Hunger Games this month as soon as I can.

[The Pirate Ghost]

Not reading anything now. The current series (book(s)) have some really strong heroic female characters who share the spotlight, but none as a single.

Recent reads towards the end of 2012 that have strong female Lead/Heroines include:

Snake Skin and it's sequel Blood Stained by C.J. Lyons. I love her Lucy Guiardino character. She's wonderful.


Finding Round by Alex Sheridan is really about a family and equally husband and wife, but, the focus seems to be slightly more on the wife and she's wonderfully strong in very realistic ways. (The real gem here is a supporting character Anne who is friends with the main character. The way Anne deals with her severely autistic son is, wonderful, if sad.

And last (this post, more coming) Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Strong female lead, and stronger (more important) than any of the supporting cast, male or not.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I just finished Merlyn's Raven. It's basically a romantic telling of Merlin's involvement in the coming of King Arthur. I liked how she integrated a strong female lead into the story, telling it from her viewpoint. While she doesn't spend the whole book kicking butt, I think she's action heroine caliber.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I just finished Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews. The heroine is a very accomplished swordswoman. For those who dislike romance, it doesn't overwhelm the gritty fantasy elements of the story.