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Recommendations for good books that pass the Bechdel test? Other than Hobb as I’ve already read them all

Recommendations for good books that pass the Bechdel test? Other than Hobb as I’ve already read them all

Tatiana #recommend

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38 Answers

Sara

John Skovron has a trilogy called Hope and Red. It ends up being surprisingly girl power, especially the second one.

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TatianaQuestion author

Thanks! I have not heard of this series. Will check it out!

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Sara

At first I thought it looked very generic , but once I got into it is was pleasantly surprised.

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Yaniv

@Tatiana please forgive my ignorance. What is the “Bechdel test”?

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Cameron

The bechdel test is a standard for women in a story. Its 3 questions.

1) are there two or more women (with names) in it?
2)do they speak to eachother
3)do they speak of something other than men

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Yaniv

@Cameron thank you for the insight. Awesome test, I’ll be sure to include it in my reading standard (I’m a history, fiction, SFF, etc, aficionado)

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Amanda

Brandon Sanderson Stormlight Archives has some great women characters

Shadows of the apt is a good set has some kick ass female characters

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Yaniv

@Amanda haven’t heard about SOTA. Worth it?
I don’t like the vast majority of YA in any genre.
Are the SA are good as they are hyped?
I’ve heard from different people that the newest installment is not as impressive as its two siblings.

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Amanda

@Yaniv stormlight are amazing I thought the latest instalment was on par with the others there was just a lot of building not so much action in it however it wasn’t a filler book it still has a lot going on and the characters were fleshed out in this book lots of history etc explored. Have you read any Sanderson? He’s one of my favourites.

Shadows of the Apt is really good the idea behind it was unique I couldn’t put them down.

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Yaniv

@Amanda thanks a lot!
I have the first two books.
Unfortunately, I haven’t had the time and or the mindset to read them yet.
I’ve had a crazy second semester of my first year of school. In addition, an unfortunate but livable illness diagnosis, and to keep the action going my father passed away suddenly very recently.
In my wildest dreams I could not have come up with this scenario.

However, despite this string of caotic events- perhaps reading uniqe, quality and chuncky fiction, SFF, history, etc., Will help me distract myself and immerse myself and other worlds.

Btw, I’m very lucky to have a lovely family, some very good friends, a roof over my head, food to eat, and clothes to wear.
Many people in the world lack at least one or more of these things and still don’t complain. Not comparing, just attempting to live in porportions.
This is not a complaint, just the version of reality I’m living in.
And I’m sorry this reply turned into a rant and rave (apparently this happens to me a lot) lol.
Thank you

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Amanda

@Yaniv sorry to hear of your series of unfortunate news Stormlight is well worth picking up it’s immersive and there is a fan page full of amazing people that are always ready to back and forth with theories or to answer questions as they arise.

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Elisabeth

@Amanda Mistborn series from the same author as well

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Amanda

@Elisabeth I have read everything by this author but this post is looking for a strong female lead and whilst vin is awesome the majority of characters in Mistborn are male. That’s why I went Stormlight it has some very well written females

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Yaniv

@Elisabeth thanks. I read the first one years ago and liked it. Tried again and I guess I’m looking for something stronger and more adult.

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TatianaQuestion author

I read the misrborn books but found them average. Is stormlight similar to mistborn?

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Amanda

Stormlight is set to be 12 books it’s an epic story that’s only just starting out. Whilst I loved Mistborn, Stormlight is much much better in terms of world building and character development.

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Amber

I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who didn’t think Mistborn was all that great.

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Lucas

The Bechdel test was written – quite literally – as an on the nose joke by a satirical comic strip artist

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Samantha

Poison study by Maria V synder first in a set of trilogys, the black magician trilogy by trudi cavanan…. Both have female main characters
I also love the female characters in the king killer chronicals by Patrick Rothfuss

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Sam

Anne mccaffery writes strong females. Someone on here reccommended Sharon Shinn and I have liked what I have read of hers. Mercedes lackey also writes strong females. Heinlein is patriarchal but I always enjoy how his females are written. Piers Anthony has books with specifically strong female leads. Lois Mcmaster Bujold. Terry Pratchett The Wee Free Men. N.K.Jemisin. The fionavar tapestry by guy gavriel kay. Abhorsen by Garth Nix. The dark is rising by Susan cooper.

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TatianaQuestion author

Some of those Authors I have already read and love (especially Pratchett and Shinn) but I will try the rest. Thanks!

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David

Can’t remember the author but I remember reading a book years ago called lioness rampant which had a strong female lead and which was quite good

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Sam

Tamora pierce

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Sean

Mercedes lackey has a lot of books that would pass

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Ashley

The Mythborn series passes

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Joe

The bible.

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Elisabeth

A song of ice and fire? XD there are a lot of strong both female and male characters in this series, in my opinion. Arya Stark, the Tyrell women, Daenerys (even if she is very weak in the beginning and very anoying at times), Cercei.

I would also maaaybe suggest The Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett. The first book is very good and there are a lot of females who play important roled throughout the books (i just never liked one of the peoples/religions of this book. This religion is very female-hostile, but also gives of very stong females with important powers.. it is complicated, i have mixed feelings about these books..

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Brandon

The Green Rider by Kirsten Britain. Great female rolls.

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Jamie

Anything by Robin McKinley! I love all her books. And I have read them all. Except the Dragon books.

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Sara

The dragon book was the only one of her books I didn’t like

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Jamie

Yeah I agree they weren’t my favorite. There was supposed to be a sequel to it but she still hasn’t released it.

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Audrea

I echo mistborn and stormlight. Kingkiller chronicles. First law series. Demon cycle.

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Nigel

Anything by NK Jemisin. She’s fantastic at writing compelling characters and constructs very evocative worlds. She’s a great next step from Hobb.

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Jamie

Yes I didn’t think of her and I have read everything she has written.

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TatianaQuestion author

Thank you!

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Matt

Grey sister and red sister by mark lawrence.

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Elisabeth

So if you are open to read non-english authors, check out Siri Pettersen’s The Raven Rings.
It’s set in a fantasy world inspired by scandinavian myths and legends, and contains a female lead who is shunned by her community for being different (unlike the others she is missing a tail, she is struggling with magic)

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Jeff

wheel of time series

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