Recs if you like The Blue Sword...

A list of First books in Fantasy series (or standalones) published in 1980s-2000s written by female authors. Many of these authors are/were prolific writers so most additions are limited to their debut book or most popular series. Go read more by these authors!

Series starting points for getting into some of the most prolific women authors in sci-fi and fantasy from the 70s-00s.

A list to compile mythic fantasy—fantasy with a focus on, or inspiration by, mythology, folklore, and legends. A blend of more modern storytelling that still has the emotional weight, lyrical prose, and an ancient feeling.

Books with Éowyn-type characters; women with an inclination to the martial or glorious but who are often frustrated or blocked in, or mocked for, their ambitions. ("A cage," [Éowyn] said. "To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.”)

Non-exhaustive list of foundational reading for the fantasy genre; either foundational texts or classics that influenced the development of the genre and its conventions. Also some key modern texts + criticism.

This is a list of books representing every pokemon in HeartGold and SoulSilver (So Johto+Kanto regions). For my sanity, this is one book per evo line. The list with match-ups is in the comments✊🏻💚

Note: Only the first book in a series are added. The goal is to try it, not dedicate oneself to it. Marion Zimmer Bradley has been added with caution--buy from a small business if not able to check out at the library.

Your favourite female fantasy writer's... favourite female fantasy writer. Works of SFF by female writers which proved critically lauded or influential to subsequent writers.

A collection of older, sometimes lesser-known, fantasy (or science fantasy) books written by incredible women and published primarily between the 1980s and early 2000s (with nods to a few older ones). In a time when female fantasy authors were few and far between, these authors carved out their own space in the genre. These stories might not be mainstream hits today, but they are full of brilliant magic, deep characters, and/or worlds that helped shape the genre. (First in Series / standalones only for now - open to suggestions!)

This is a not quite exhaustive list of notable fantasy works from the Tolkien era to pretty much today. In the case of series I have only included the first book. I know there are books I am missing so if you can see any let me know and I will add them. (Not necessarily in order of release date)

Complete as of August 2026.

Technically for the HRCYED rainbow challenge and the coat of many colors secret challenge but if you just like your color titles then I hope you find something for you!

Books that were nominated for the John Newbery Medal for distinguished contributions to juvenile literature but did not win Currently lists nominees up to 2024

For stern, principled men built out of duty, discipline, and inconveniently strong morals. The kind who will make brutal choices when they believe they’re necessary, put responsibility before desire, and hold themselves to impossible standards, until someone earns a place in their heart and discovers just how gentle all that iron can become.

the foundation of the woman written fantasy,

Before there were kings, there was the glint of gold in the dark. These are the dragons of the deep places, the riddle-speakers who sleep upon the wealth of fallen empires. They do not value the gold for what it buys, but for the heat it holds. To face them is to face your own greed reflected in a slitted, sulfurous eye.

We call them... the Hoard-Keepers.