We love a complex female character! No book criticism ever notes that the male character is unlikeable, because even if a male character is insufferable—and we can think of many examples—they are still seen as redeemable and interesting.
To celebrate the final day of Women’s History Month, we wanted to give you a list featuring some of our favorite strong and compelling female protagonists. Some are iconic female characters we all know and love, and the rest of our list are recent favorites. We hope you enjoy this list of badass fictional women!
1. Agnes / Hamnet
Agnes is a modern fifteenth-century woman with a pet hawk and an affinity for nature. Some call her a witch, but really she is just before her time.
2. Vasya / The Bear and the Nightingale
Vasya dreams of something bigger than her small life on a farm in rural Russia. She’s not perfect, but she grows a ton through the series.
3. Marie / American Spy
Marie is a great character, and even former President Obama knows it. She’s one of few Black female spies in the 70s who struggles to understand the motives for American intervention in other countries. Definitely a badass.
4. Opal / The Final Revival of Opal and Nev
Opal is a larger than life character. She’s true to her convictions, even as her fame grows.
5. Bea / One to Watch
Bea is a plus-sized influencer who ends up the star of a Bachelorette-esque show, dealing with toxic social media, men who don’t know what to make of her and frequent attacks on her confidence and self worth. Truly a strong and relatable character.
6. Mickey / Long Bright River
Mickey is a police officer in the Philadelphia area. Dealing with the growing opioid epidemic, her missing addict sister, and her young son, Mickey is resilient, smart and the definition of loyal.
7. Verity / Verity
One of the most twisted characters we’ve ever read. The definition of an unreliable narrator, but an iconic one nevertheless.
8. Cathy / East of Eden
A classic sociopath. Probably one of the most compelling characters in fiction. I only read East of Eden to see what Cathy would do next.
9. Lyra / His Dark Materials
A childhood classic, Lyra may be young but she carries the whole series.
10. Olive Kitteridge/ Olive Kitteridge
Olive isn’t very likeable but damn she’s super relatable.
11. Alex / Ninth House
Alex has so much trauma in her past, and I loved watching her put all the rich Yale kids of the secret societies in their places.
12. Hermione Granger/ Harry Potter Series
We can no longer support J.K. Rowling in good conscience, but we are OG Hermione stans.
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