Need to get your recommendations for Fantastic Fantasy..

[Earthymama]

preferably a series of books with good strong female characters, though I'm open to any suggestions.

However I've already read:-
Robin Hobb
Elizabeth Hayden
Kate Elliott
Julia Gray
Ursula LeGuin
Trudi Canavan
Sheri Tepper
Terry Pratchett

Is this too tall an order?

This is to go in my letter to Santa so all help will be appreciated

George RR Martin is a must!! you will be hooked
Katherine Kerr (but haven't read in ages)

i'll just go and have a look.....

ok, Jasper Ffordde not sure whether its strictly "fantasy" but it does involve magical stuff.

Neil Gaiman?

I don't read much modern fantasy, except teenage stuff, so prob not much help.

Try any of Robin McKinley, Sherwood Smith, Lois McMaster Bujold, Mercedes Lackey, Alison Croggan, Doris Egan. I am off to look up Julia Gray and Trudi Cavanan!

Thank you, sadly I just didn't 'get' Jasper fforde [blush} and had forgotten about Alison Croggan and Neil Gaiman.

NSD, capiyp,will go and google the others. I'm waiting with baited breath for the next book by Tad Williams, who I forgot to mention.

Is George R R Martin very 'male' IFYKWIM?

I'm looking for empowered and strong women!!

I second Katherine Kerr - the Deverry series in particular. Fantasy with a celtic-y feel to it. The main character, Jill, is strong and empowered!

Also - Kelly Armstrong's werewolf books - not sure if you're into more up-to-date stuff.

The priestess in white books

George R R Martin - Ice & Fire books (especially the first three). They are loaded with strong and complex female characters, in fact his characterisations all round are excellent.

CJ Cherryh - Chronicles of Morgaine/The Paladin.

yes i did think twice about putting grrm but as cyteen says there are very strong female characters including a female warrior.

I liked the Robert Jordan books, which have some very strong women in.

Try some Anne Bishop, there are a number of strong female characters.

Robin McKinley's Blue Sword and Hero and the Crown. Fantastic short reads with strong female leads. I also second Robert Jordan, but would suggest you wait until they have all been written as there are two left to go.

I am re-reading King's Dark Tower series. V good fantasy and great characters.

The last two Robert Jordan books are not being written by him, iirc, as he died before being able to complete the series. There are 11 books already in the Wheel of Time series plus a number of stand alone novels so you could get started...

I second George RR Martin. Only read the first one so far, but thought it was excellent.