Recs if you like The Oathbound...

fantasy books with main or prominent side characters that fit the D&D barbarian class (at least in part!). heavy on the muscles, the bare-fist punching, and the raging! recs and input welcome!

• paladins in love/established romance

Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar books were hugely impactful to me as a teenager, and as such I have very specific ideas about the best order in which to read the first 26 books because of the way that they work together to tell a single cohesive story. 😅 If this is your first introduction to the country of Valdemar and the world of Velgarth, start at the top of the list and work your way down to the bottom. I have an explanation in the pinned comment, and feel free to ask any questions here!

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!)

A publication order list of Lackey’s Valdemar books because most of the lists I found online were in-world chronological order. Note that this list does not include anthologies and yet-to-be-published novels.

Earliest books are at the bottom of the list, and the most recent are at the top!

Books with Female Main Characters who has a career mainly wielding Swords; not Bows, not Daggers, not Magic. Swords-women don't get enough love.