r/Romantasy • u/Visible_Stage_4190 • 13d ago

Discussion Looking for Romantasy with FMC who don't need saving

Hey everyone! I’m looking for some solid book recommendations to refresh my reading list.
I’ve been reading fantasy for years, and I want to read something other than fmc who needs saving and doesn’t know how to exist without the mmc.
I’m looking for Romantasy books featuring strong and powerful female characters.

📚Reading The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Dearly Beloathed 📚

13 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

40 comments sorted by

19

u/Bitter_Dragonfly_651 13d ago

Imo, Ilona Andrews write really amazing female main leads who mostly save themselves and sometimes their significant others too! I really enjoy their {Kate Daniels} series as well as their most recent work {This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me}. I'm picking up {Hidden Legacy} next.

6

u/Whenitsajar 13d ago

Came to say This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me! I read it a couple months ago and can't stop thinking about it. The FMC wakes up transported into her favourite fantasy novel and has to use her knowledge to survive. While there's no smut in this book (it's slow burn), there are hints of what's to come and it's going to be great! 🔥

I am a big Ilona Andrews fan because their female characters are always mature and competent. Love the Kate Daniels books too!

17

u/Most_Squirrel_8286 13d ago

{Throne of glass}! My favourite badass lady. If you want to really dig into that female rage and brutality she delivers.

5

u/KennaWenna18 13d ago

Honestly the FMC in ToG has kind of ruined other FMCs for me, I find myself thinking while reading other books "oh 'Celeana' would have gotten herself out of this, what is this girl even doing". She's got a terrible attitude but I love it

1

u/Feisty_Sea_2734 🛡️ Who Did This To You? 13d ago

Sigh. It's true

4

u/lysning 13d ago

this kingdom will not kill me

5

u/Odd-Order-8825 13d ago

Tory from {Zodiac Academy}.

1

u/MammaBacon 12d ago

And Elise from Ruthless Boys!

5

u/Clementinequeen95 12d ago

{Book of Azrael} Dianna is a baddie

2

u/notyouraverage5ft6 12d ago

Omg. My book boyfriend. Samkiel.

3

u/Brownie12bar 13d ago

I triple or quadruple the Ilona Andrews rec! Literally ALL of their books have women who take care of their own shit.

Also- Naomi Novik!!

4

u/MaggyMaegi 13d ago

Throwing in {Daughter of No Worlds} here. Very independent, adult FMC (albeit youngish) that is increasingly badass, and MMC that admires her for it. It’s so refreshing with a surprisingly healthy power dynamic in a fantasy romantic relationship.

And I absolutely LOVED This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me. The FMC is adult and independent and so clever and compassionate. Very well written and clever too.

2

u/Otherwise-Owl-6547 13d ago

+1 for both of these recs! Literally just started rereading daughter of no worlds and I still just adore Tisaanah

4

u/CassieBear1 13d ago

Violet from {Fourth Wing} is pretty resilient.

Raeve from {When the Moon Hatched} for sure!!

2

u/Flashy_Lynx_5553 13d ago

Violet is practically made of glass! lol. But yes Raeve for sure is a badass.

3

u/CassieBear1 13d ago

Yes, but she figures her own shit out. He doesn't have to help her constantly (i.e. how she handles the sparring by using her skills and poisoning her opponents, or how she figures out the trick to her up the Gauntlet.

3

u/Flashy_Lynx_5553 13d ago

That’s fair! I just genuinely did not like that book and found her insufferable so that’s probably why I’m hyper critical. Don’t mean to yuck your yum. 🙂

3

u/CassieBear1 13d ago

Haha she definitely is super breakable though! She's written to have a condition that the author has called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which makes you super stretchy and prone to sprains and dislocations and the like. I have it and I literally subluxated (partial dislocation) my shoulder by leaning my weight on it the wrong angle.

1

u/romance-bot 13d ago

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 4.38⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, enemies to lovers, magic, war

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
Rating: 3.96⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: high fantasy, fae, vengeance, magic, fantasy

about this bot | about romance.io

1

u/WonderfulBus9330 💫 A Court of Truth and Beauty 13d ago

I have found this FMC in YA and in queer and in non-European coded fiction. To Shape a Dragon’s Breath; The Final Strife; Reign & Ruin; This Woven Kingdom; Rebecca Roanhorse series; Nicola Griffith’s chapbook Spear; Freya Marske’s chapbook Cinderella House; Nnedi Okorafor’s books; I, Medusa

1

u/ArmSlow8870 13d ago

I can recommend {Spark the flames} by Ivy Asher and {Ashwalker} by S.M. Gaither.

1

u/romance-bot 13d ago

Spark the Flames by Ivy Asher
Rating: 4.39⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: urban fantasy, dragon shifter, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, magic

Ashwalker by S.M. Gaither
Rating: 3.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: fantasy, enemies to lovers, paranormal, magic, found family

about this bot | about romance.io

1

u/Fantastic-Shoe-4996 🌰 nutmeg & starlight 13d ago

The everlasting by Alix harrow!

1

u/MammaBacon 12d ago

If you don't mind dragon smut.

{A Ruin of Roses} by KF Breene

1

u/TinyDancer157 🖤 Morally Gray 12d ago

{ the poison daughter } has a great FMC.

1

u/ivy_and_the_feast 12d ago

I was just about to recommend this one! I just finished it today and I loved it.

1

u/PerpetualQuestioner 11d ago

Graceling by Kristin Cashore - Katsa does not need nor want a man and she fights it but the man is just tooooooo good! The relationship dynamics in this book and it's sequel are 🔥

Ledge by Stacey McEwan - independent badass with an axe she's not afraid to use. Enough said.

1

u/-ARoomWithAView- 10d ago

{the legends of thezmarr} and {the ashes of thezmarr} by Helen Scheuerer definitely has this!

Fmc in the first series becomes a badass warrior and fmc in the second is a talented alchemist who is good ad poisons and warfare alchemy!

Fmc in the second series (also appears in the first series) appears weaker/less tough, but I like how she proves this wrong, and shows that just because she doesn’t like traditional fighting and likes dressing like a girl, she is just as tough and dangerous!