Top Ten Tuesday, as always, is hosted at my other blog — The Broke & the Bookish
This week’s topic: Top Ten Favorite Heroines
This was a Top Ten Tuesday topic back in 2012 and in 2010 so everything I pick is from books I’ve read after that post in 2012.
I read a lot of contemporary and could have really gone on and on about my favorite heroines but I figured I’d tell you some of my favorite outside of that genre (fantasy, paranormal, sci-fi, dystopian etc.)
Celaena from Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas: YOU GUYS. I love Celaena so much. She is so badass and her arc in the first 3 books is AWESOME. Plus I just love her personality!
Feyre from Sarah J. Maas’s A Court Of Thorns and Roses: Okay I KNOW THIS ISN’T OUT YET but I, in good conscience, NOT put Feyre on this list after book 1 of Sarah’s new series. Like she isn’t the kind of badass you are used to seeing. She doesn’t have special powers or badass assassin skills but life has dealt her a rough hand and she has learned to be TOUGH and smart and resourceful. I LOVE HER SO MUCH.
Clara from Cynthia Hand’s Unearthly series: MAN, Clara goes through a lot in this series and I was just so attached to her.
Kestrel from Marie Rutkoski’s The Winner’s Curse trilogy: OH MAN. Kestrel grows and learns a lot and I love that. She was realistically flawed and I LOVED THAT. I cannot wait to see what book 3 holds for her. I just love her so much!
Cinder from Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles series: I still need to read Cress but from Cinder & Scarlet….Cinder is one of my MOST favorite heroines ever.
Eleanor from Susan Dennard’s Something Strange & Deadly trilogy: I haven’t read the final book yet but my heart just hurts for Eleanor a lot. The things revealed and that she goes through…she’s not afraid to make the hard choices. Plus I love her attitude!
Adelina from Marie Lu’s The Young Elites series: Adelina is NOT your typical heroine. She’s kind of a villain/kind of a hero and I love how complicated her personality is. She doesn’t always make me happy but I FEEL HER. I DO. I just can’t ever get her out of my head.
Aria from Veronica Rossi’s Under the Never Sky series: I AM SO SAD THIS TRILOGY IS OVER. Aria grew so much in her journey and I just have such a place for her in my heart.
Lynn from Mindy McGinnis’s Not A Drop To Drink: What a smart girl and I couldn’t even imagine being in her situation! The strength she had just really impressed me and I wish more people would meet her!!
So tell me…who are some of your favorite heroines that I need to meet outside of my usual contemporary reading??
SarahO. (Between Bookends) says
That’s an awesome list of great Heroines! I absolutely LOVE Eleanor, Cinder and Kestrel! They are amazing ladies and would have made my list if I had gone to 10 but sadly I only did my top 5.
Here’s my TT: http://betweenyabookends.blogspot.com/2015/02/top-ten-heroines-from-books-tv.html
Michelle @ Michelles Minion says
Aria and Eleanor almost made my list. It was painful leaving them off. Celaena, of course, deserves the top spot. I still need to read a few of the books on your list, so its good to know there are some great characters awaiting me. Here’s my TTT
Michelle @ Michelle’s Minions
Bekka says
I’m surprised I haven’t seen more Kestrel tonight! While she’s not my favorite, and I’m not sure that I actually *like* her, I do very, very much enjoy READING about her. She is so interesting and her mind works very differently compared to her other YA peers. I can’t wait to see where her cunning and strategy take her next.
CELAENA. Enough said. She is the ultimate YA heroine for me. Fave fave fave.
Chrissi Reads says
Great list Jamie! I love Clara from the Unearthly trilogy. She could have easily made my list! Lynn is a fantastic choice! I do have Celaena on my list this week too, like many seem to. She’s a phenomenal character!
Elizabeth says
OK, I need to expand my reading more. I’ve never heard of any of these! I don’t read any paranormal.
Giova @ Corazones Literarios says
Well, I haven’t read any of those but they sound like a great choice! I want to read the Lunar Chronicles but I always delayed it. I think I need to make it a proprity!
Jess @ Curiouser and Curiouser says
Great list! Cinder made my list this week, too. 😀
Jessica @ a GREAT read says
OOOh nice picks! Think I’ve read half of these! Loved Cinder, Adelina, Clara, Eleanor, and Aria! All great picks!
Here’s my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
Jacque says
Great list!! I haven’t read any of these books yet, but half of them are on my TBR list. I can’t wait to meet these wonderful characters.
Here is my TTT: http://jacquesbooknook.blogspot.com/2015/02/top-ten-tuesday-favorite-heroines.html
Lakin says
Cinder is on my list too:) and I agree with Clara as well! I need to read some of the others.
christine danielle says
NEVER READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS BUT THEY SEEM AMAZING THE HEROINES TOO. 🙂 TBR
MY TOP TEN TUESDAY
Sana // artsy musings of a bibliophile says
I approve of each and every one of your choices despite not having read some of these books. I WILL SOON BECAUSE FANTASY.
Celaena and Cinder and Lynn and Eleanor and Adelina and YESSSSSSS.
Pili @ In Love With Handmade says
What a fantastic list! I absolutely agree with your list, except for a pair of heroines that I haven’t met yet, but Feyre… Feyre I think would make my list too, if only from the chapters I’ve read on the free sampler of ACOTAR!
Other heroines I think you need to meet are Rachel Watts from Every Breath, Jubilee (Lee) Chase from This Shattered World, Meg Corbyn from The Others series and Paige Mahoney from Bone Season and Mime Order!
Lori says
That’s a fab list! There’s a few heroines on there that I still need to meet, but I adore Kestrel and Clara so much!
Lauren @ Bookmark Lit says
YES I put Feyre on my list too! I couldn’t help it. You’re so right – she’s not maybe the typical kind of “heroine” in fantasy books, but she’s taught herself SO much and done a lot with what she was given. So greattttt
Brittany @ The Book Addict's Guide says
Sarah’s girls are the BEST. She knows how to write some amazing women! Of course I love the ladies from The Lunar Chronicles as well <333
Love see Kestrel, Aria, and Eleanor on your list too and I can't wait to meet the other ladies! I've heard nothing but good things ;D
Cora @ Tea Party Princess says
Fantastic list 😀
Cora @ Tea Party Princess
Frannie Pan @ In Clouds of Pages says
I agree with almost all of them!! But I still have to meet Feyre and I’m really looking forward to it! *-*
Celaena and Kestrel are just awesome <3
Stephanie @ Love. Life. Read. says
I LOVE Clara! I cannot believe I left her off my list. I put Kestrel on my list too–I cannot wait to read the third book. 🙂
Alma @ Journey Through Fiction says
Awesome list! I chose, Celaena, Fayre, Clara, Aria and Scarlet, too 🙂 I LOVE all the characters Sarah J. Maas creates. They are simply phenomenal, and so vibrant, too. I know ACoTaR isn’t released yet… but I LOVED Fayre so much, I couldn’t leave her out.
I own both Not a Drop to Drink and The Winner’s Curse, but haven’t got around to reading them just yet. I really hope I love the characters, I’m really looking forward to reading them now 😀
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library says
This list is basically my YA wishlist. I haven’t read any of them but I want them all!
Lola says
Great list! I don’t even know where to begin! 🙂
Sarah K (@thebooktraveler) says
ARIA!!! Under the Never Sky series is still one of my favorites!!!! I love your list, it’s pretty much perfect!
Krystianna says
Cinder, Eleanor, and Aria are such awesome picks. I can’t believe that I forgot about them when I was making my list! Clara made my list as well, she’s a really kick-butt character. I hope you have a great week! 🙂
Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian
Katie @ Bookish Illuminations says
I can’t believe I forgot to include Cinder and Kestrel on my list! They are two fabulous ladies from two amazing books. I think including Feyre is fantastic too. I started The Young Elites and have yet to finish it. I also have Unearthly on my TBR–to read soon!
I enjoyed this list, Jamie!
acps927 says
I’ve loved Cinder since I’ve read her book, but I have to admit sometimes I let Cress overshadow her because it’s my favorite of the books so far and she is just plain adorable; but I think Cinder is definitely one amazing heroine who should not be overlooked!
Danielle @ Love at First Page says
Awesome choices, lady! I’m a huge fan of Aria – I think I somehow forgot about her??? Shame on me. Also adore Cinder, Kestrel, and Jessamin (fun choice!). I still need to read ACOTAR *bites nails*
Nova @ Out of Time says
I actually feel so weird because i haven’t read like 95% of that list. I do LOVE Cinder though!
And I really need to start the TOG series. Seriously. I feel like so many bloggers are going to eternally shame me because I haven’t read it yet! Eep!
Bonnie @ A Backwards Story says
I was SO CLOSE to choosing Celaena and Cinder! Kat chose Clara and Eleanor, though! Ohh, and feyre and Kestrel are nice ones!
Cynthia says
GREAT list! I just read Not a Drop to Drink. I LOVED Lynn.
Emmy (Just the Books) says
Wow – I’ve barely read ANY of these series, but I will agree with Aria from Under the Never Sky — I still haven’t finished that series and really should! I love ALL the characters!
Jessica@Lovin' Los Libros says
Yay! I had both Celaena and Feyre on my list too. Maas makes the best heroines. I came close to putting Aria, but ran out of room. I love that you included Lynn from Not a Drop to Drink! She was awesome. Also like that you included Clara and Adelina! Great list Jamie!
Alexa S. says
You know that I obviously love that Celaena and Feyre both made it onto this list! They’re both such great heroines, and so different from one another that they both totally deserve to be on here. Plus, you’ve included a bunch of awesome heroines (including Eleanor, Kestrel, Cinder & Clara, who I adore too!). I haven’t met Lynn yet, nor have I met Jessamin, but I hope to eventually!