Good fantasy book - perhaps by female author NOT twilighty

[Peka]

Hi I'm thinking of reading a book (!) but want something lighter than literary fiction and when a teenager used to enjoy David Eddingsy things. DH has listened to game of thrones but seems to be perpetual fighting and rape etc can't quite stomach it. Also like Margaret Atwood and was wondering if there are any other good female fantasy writers. Twilight makes me want to be sick on myself however, need a girl with a bit more oomph in main character!

Sheri S Tepper
Katherine Kerr
Patricia McKillip

I always think Robert Jordan was natural progression from reading David Eddings as teenager. If you get into the Wheel of Time series it will keep you going for years.

Tnanks will amazon these now!

I also really like Margaret Atwood and would buy one of her books without even looking at the blurb. Another Canadian writer I like - not fantasy - is Carol Shields.

Katherine Kurtz or Marion Zimmer Bradley

robin hobb?

liveship ones have a good female lead.

Thanks everyone! Lots to get started on

I came across a brilliant debut fantasy novel with a plucky heroine - 'Daughter of Smoke and Bone' by Laini Taylor. Quite well written and entertaining!

If You have a Kindle, Snare by Katherine Kerr is free at the moment. It would at least give you a taste of what her stuff is like.

Kelley Armstrong - Fantastic fantasy about werewolves written by a woman and very woman friendly!

Rhapsody and the sequels by Elizabeth Haydon. They are proper hardcore stuff!0

Was going to suggest Sheri S Tepper, but have been beaten to it. Great writer. And Margaret Atwood.

I loved Barbara Hambly as a teenager (also loved David Eddings et al). My favourites of her's were the books featuring Sunwolf and Star Hawk. Good mix of fantasy adventure and a bit of wry humour. Haven't seen her books around in ages though, so not sure if she is still in print. (Makes me feel old!)

Deborah thingy, something about Witches. Not v helpful, ok book though.

Deborah Harkness (remembered). A Discovery of Witches.

Some great authors recommended here

Trudi Canavan is another. The magicians Apprentice Trilogy has a female lead.
Raymond E Feist was a favorite of mine when I first started reading fantasy.

Ursula leGuin is amazing - the Left Hand of Darkness, and the Dispossessed are perhaps the best.
Also Diana Wynne Jones - many are for younger kids and then there's a few adult ones which aren't her best, but the young adult ones like Dogsbody are very good.

Marion ZB's retellings of King Arthur and also.the Romans in Britain were good, but the book she then wrote to link the two wasn't. Some of the Darkover books are very good.

Barbara Hambly is still in print and you might enjoy Sisters of the Raven and Circle of the Moon.

Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. Set on an unnamed Celtic island with a terrible tradition..

Great young female lead character

Kristen Britain's "The Green Rider" is a good fantasy book with a strong female lead.

I also enjoy The Guardian Cycle by Julia Gray - which is actually a Husband/Wife team.

I've enjoyed Naomi Novik's Temeraire books.

They're kind of set in the Napoleonic wars, as reimagined with the addition of dragons. I realise that premise may not sound terribly appealing but they are good, honest! Not too bloodthirsty despite the war thing. Not a lot of female characters, but the ones there are are strong (one class of dragon can only be ridden by women, much to the horror of polite Georgian society)

Plus they're normal paperback size as opposed to the huge bricks that fantasy books often are (I'm looking at you, George RR Martin....)

The Hunger Games trilogy; Katniss Everdeen is definitely a strong female lead.

I would also recommend Ursula le Guin, the Earthsea books are excellent too.

Anne Mccaffery dragonriders of pern series is good although the series was first started in the 70's so you may need to buy them used off amazon or from charity shop she is still writing them now with her son but they are still very good
Also cornelia funke (?) ink heart trilogy is good