Empowering Reads for Tough Times
Dive into these inspiring sci-fi and dystopian novels featuring strong female protagonists. Each story is crafted to uplift and remind us of our inner strength and resilience. Perfect for anyone needing a boost during challenging moments.
The Murderbot Diaries
This series is fun and engaging, with a strong female-centered narrative that keeps you hooked.
Gideon the Ninth
381 pages
This book kicks all the ass, and the audiobook performance is so captivating that I started it over immediately after finishing. It's a thrilling read that you won't want to end!
The Girl With All the Gifts
401 pages
Even though it's categorized as YA, this book offers a unique perspective that feels much deeper and more engaging than typical young adult novels.
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet
416 pages
This sci-fi series focuses on self-discovery within a diverse interspecies civilization, making it a unique read that goes beyond typical action.
Zoo City
173 pages
WHERE NO ONE ELSE DARE VENTURE… Zinzi has a Sloth on her back, a dirty online 419 scam habit – and a talent for finding lost things. But when her latest client, a little old lady, turns up dead and the cops confiscate her lastpaycheck, she’s forced to take on her least favourite kind of job: missing persons An astonishing second novel from the author of the highly-acclaimed Moxyland. FILE UNDER: Modern Fantasy [Black Magic Noir / Pale Crocodile / Spirit Guardians / Lost Stars]
Autonomous
304 pages
This book features a strong female protagonist who challenges the system by reverse engineering pharmaceuticals to make them affordable, but things take a turn right from the start.
The Shining Girls
355 pages
A gripping tale where a woman survives an attack from a time-traveling serial killer and seeks to turn the tables on her attacker.
Monstrous Regiment
415 pages
It's a humorous take on a Mulan-like story filled with surprises that keeps you entertained.
The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System: Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong (Novel) Vol. 1
This book has everything—romance, action, drama, gore, comedy, and magic—delivering it all exceptionally well in a single novel divided into five books.
Three Dark Crowns
The worldbuilding is absolutely incredible, and the characters and stories are very complex, making it a must-read for YA fans.
Trial By Fire
390 pages
This book features amazing worldbuilding and complex characters, making it a captivating read.
A Wizard of Earthsea
267 pages
Earthsea is an enchanting fantasy series filled with magic and adventure.
The Left Hand of Darkness
369 pages
Left Hand of Darkness is a fascinating exploration of gender and myth in a sci-fi setting.
Howl's Moving Castle
336 pages
It's a great fantasy novel that's easy to read and perfect for escaping into, making it a favorite to re-read even as an adult.
The Power
409 pages
This book is a fantastic feminist dystopian sci-fi that explores themes of power and gender dynamics in a thought-provoking way.
Parable of the Sower
260 pages
The extraordinary, prescient NEW YORK TIMES-bestselling novel. 'If there is one thing scarier than a dystopian novel about the future, it's one written in the past that has already begun to come true. This is what makes Parable of the Sower even more impressive than it was when first published' GLORIA STEINEM 'Unnervingly prescient and wise' YAA GYASI -- We are coming apart. We're a rope, breaking, a single strand at a time. America is a place of chaos, where violence rules and only the rich and powerful are safe. Lauren Olamina, a young woman with the extraordinary power to feel the pain of others as her own, records everything she sees of this broken world in her journal. Then, one terrible night, everything alters beyond recognition, and Lauren must make her voice heard for the sake of those she loves. Soon, her vision becomes reality and her dreams of a better way to live gain the power to change humanity forever. PRAISE FOR OCTAVIA E. BUTLER, THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR 'In the ongoing contest over which dystopian classic is most applicable to our time... for sheer peculiar prescience, Butler's novel may be unmatched' NEW YORKER 'Butler's prose, always pared back to the bone, delineates the painful paradoxes of metamorphosis with compelling precision' GUARDIAN 'Octavia Butler was a visionary' VIOLA DAVIS 'One of the most significant literary artists of the twentieth century. One cannot exaggerate the impact she has had' JUNOT DIAZ 'An icon of the Afrofuturism world, envisioning literary realms that placed black characters front and center' VANITY FAIR 'Butler writes with such a familiarity that the alien is welcome and intriguing. She really artfully exposes our human impulse to self-destruct' LUPITA NYONG'O
Graceling
481 pages
This YA fantasy features a strong female protagonist with a unique supernatural ability, making it an engaging read that balances edginess with depth.
Goldilocks
Ravaged by environmental disaster, greed, and oppression, our planet is in crisis. The future of humanity hangs in the balance - and one woman can tip it over. Despite increasing restrictions on the freedoms of women on Earth, Valerie Black is spearheading the first all-female mission to a planet in the Goldilocks Zone, where conditions are just right for human habitation. It's humanity's last hope for survival, and Naomi, Valerie's surrogate daughter and the ship's botanist, has been waiting her whole life for an opportunity like this - to step out of Valerie's shadow and really make a difference. But when things start going wrong on the ship, Naomi begins to suspect that someone on board is concealing a terrible secret - and realizes time for life on Earth may be running out faster than they feared . . . Goldilocks is The Handmaid's Tale meets The Martian - a bold and thought-provoking new high-concept thriller.
The Fifth Season
479 pages
At the end of the world, a woman must hide her secret power and find her kidnapped daughter in this "intricate and extraordinary" Hugo Award winning novel of power, oppression, and revolution. (The New York Times) This is the way the world ends. . .for the last time. It starts with the great red rift across the heart of the world's sole continent, spewing ash that blots out the sun. It starts with death, with a murdered son and a missing daughter. It starts with betrayal, and long dormant wounds rising up to fester. This is the Stillness, a land long familiar with catastrophe, where the power of the earth is wielded as a weapon. And where there is no mercy. Read the first book in the critically acclaimed, three-time Hugo award-winning trilogy by NYT bestselling author N. K. Jemisin.
Throne of Glass
434 pages
This series is perfect for anyone looking to escape reality and immerse themselves in a captivating world.
Mistborn Trilogy Boxed Set
1817 pages
This book ticks a few boxes for those looking for an engaging fantasy read.
Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles Book 2)
382 pages
I thought it would be incredibly stupid, but I actually really enjoyed it. It's a unique blend of cyborgs and fairy tales with strong female leads.
Crystal Singer
445 pages
This book is a powerful story about a young woman who faces adversity and transforms her life, making it a compelling read for anyone going through tough times.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
This book features a badass female protagonist who is both autonomous and intriguing, making it a must-read for those who appreciate strong characters.
Meddling Kids
387 pages
This book is a fantastic mystery that feels like a grown-up version of Scooby-Doo, making it an engaging read. It provided me with a much-needed distraction during a tough time in my life.
Last Strand
402 pages
Every bloody thread has been leading to this . . . I’ve battled a lot of bad guys in my time, both as Gin Blanco and as the notorious assassin the Spider. But I’ve never faced off against anyone quite as powerful and deadly as the dastardly leader of the Circle secret society. Just when I finally have a lead on how I can defeat the evil group once and for all, new information comes to light that throws me for a loop. Suddenly, everyone and everything I love is in imminent peril of being destroyed, and I’m racing against the clock to figure out a way to save my friends. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the danger has never been greater. Somehow, I need to weave one last strand in my web of death—and kill my enemies before they kill me . . .
Sea of Time
New novel in the Kencyrath series, sequel to Honor's Paradox. Adventure in a well-crafted high fantasy land. Kothifir the Great, ruled by an obscenely obese god-king, peopled with colorful, dueling guilds, guarded by the Southern Host of the Kencyrath. Here Jame arrives, only to find that the turbulent city claims more of her attention as the Talisman than the Host’s training fields do as a second year randon cadet. Mysteries abound: Caravans plunge deep into the hostile Southern Wastes and return laden with fabulous riches -- from what source, and why do they crumble to dust if not claimed by the god-king’s touch? Karnids from Urakarn prowl the shadows, preaching the return of their mysterious prophet. An unstable Kencyr temple rumbles in the outer, decayed rings of the city. Then too, someone in the Host’s camp is trying to get Jame killed. In order to save the present, Jame must search the past, be it fifteen years ago when as a boy her brother Torisen arrived here, unknown and unwanted, or three thousand years ago when the Wastes were a great sea ringed with rich civilizations. Somehow, Tori survived. Somehow, the cities of the plain were destroyed in one catastrophic night. Now Kothifir's gods have lost their power and its proud towers are falling. What curse out of the past has struck it? Jame, a potential Nemesis, must try to stop the destruction--without undoing time itself. About P.C. Hodgell’s Kyncyrath Series: "P.C. Hodgell writes the most strikingly weird and wonderful stories in epic fantasy today."—Charles Stross "Hodgell has crafted an…intricate fantasy with humor, tragedy, and a capable and charming female hero.”—Library Journal The Kencyrath Saga Seeker’s Bane Bound in Blood Honor's Paradox Sea of Time Omnibus Editions The Godstalker Chronicles Contains Kencyrath prequel novels God Stalk and Dark of the Moon
J.D. Robb IN DEATH COLLECTION books 21-25
2459 pages
In this collection including books 21-25 in J. D. Robb's #1 New York Times bestselling In Death series, the incomparable Eve Dallas—a hard-shelled homicide detective whose logical mind, fierce heart, and brilliant police work in a futuristic New York City have attracted millions of fans—takes on five unforgetable cases... ORIGIN IN DEATH MEMORY IN DEATH BORN IN DEATH INNOCENT IN DEATH CREATION IN DEATH
On the Edge
263 pages
Step into a whole new world in the first Novel of the Edge from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Kate Daniels series. The Edge lies between worlds, on the border between the Broken, where people shop at Wal-Mart and magic is a fairy tale—and the Weird, where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny... Rose Drayton thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out the way she’d planned, and now she works an off-the-books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have Rose (and her power). But when a flood of creatures hungry for magic invade the Edge, Declan and Rose must overcome their differences and work together to destroy them—or the beasts will devour the Edge and everyone in it...
The Dead Seekers
338 pages
In the New York Times bestselling Noble Dead saga, Barb and J.C. Hendee created an engrossing mix of “intrigue, epic fantasy, and horror.”* Now, they present a bold new series set in the same world, where the destinies of two hunters shaped by the shadows of their pasts are about to collide... In the dark reaches of the eastern continent, Tris Vishal travels from village to village, using his power to put unsettled spirits to rest. He works alone, having learned that letting people close only leads to more death. Still, he finds himself accepting the help of the Móndyalítko woman who saves his life—a woman whose gifts are as much a burden as his own. Mari Kaleja thirsted for vengeance since the night her family was taken from her. She has searched far and wide for the one she thinks responsible, known only as “The Dead’s Man.” But before she can kill him, she has to be sure. Mari hopes traveling with Tris will confirm her suspicions. But as they embark on a hunt where the living are just as dangerous as the dead, she learns the risks of keeping your enemy close... Because it’s no longer clear who is predator and who is prey.
The Bone Doll's Twin
545 pages
Sometimes the price of destiny is higher than anyone imagined.... Dark Magic, Hidden Destiny For three centuries a divine prophecy and a line of warrior queens protected Skala. But the people grew complacent and Erius, a usurper king, claimed his young half sister’s throne. Now plague and drought stalk the land, war with Skala’s ancient rival Plenimar drains the country’s lifeblood, and to be born female into the royal line has become a death sentence as the king fights to ensure the succession of his only heir, a son. For King Erius the greatest threat comes from his own line — and from Illior’s faithful, who spread the Oracle’s words to a doubting populace. As noblewomen young and old perish mysteriously, the king’s nephew — his sister’s only child — grows toward manhood. But unbeknownst to the king or the boy, strange, haunted Tobin is the princess’s daughter, given male form by a dark magic to protect her until she can claim her rightful destiny. Only Tobin’s noble father, two wizards of Illior, and an outlawed forest witch know the truth. Only they can protect young Tobin from a king’s wrath, a mother’s madness, and the terrifying rage of her brother’s demon spirit, determined to avenge his brutal murder....
Fair Game
306 pages
#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs' third Alpha and Omega novel brings werewolves out of the darkness and into a society where fear and prejudice could turn the hunters into the prey… It is said that opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son—and enforcer—of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant Alpha. While Anna, an Omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind. When the FBI requests the pack’s help on a local serial-killer case, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston to join the investigation. It soon becomes clear that someone is targeting the preternatural. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer’s sights...
Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents
734 pages
The Parable Duology is compelling for its thought-provoking themes on survival and community in a dystopian future.
Lilith's Brood
893 pages
The Xenogenesis Trilogy captivates with its intricate storytelling and exploration of human-alien relationships.
The Priory of the Orange Tree
849 pages
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER A world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens. 'Epic' Guardian 'Majestic' Daily Mail 'The new Game of Thrones' Stylist An enthralling, epic fantasy about a world on the brink of war with dragons - and the women who must lead the fight to save it. The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction – but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel. Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep...
The Broken Earth Trilogy
The Broken Earth Trilogy is a must-read for its unique world-building and deep exploration of societal issues.
Empire of Wild
302 pages
Empire of the Wild is intriguing for its blend of Indigenous mythology and contemporary issues.
Die Farben der Magie
252 pages
Terry Pratchett's works are always a delightful choice, known for their humor and clever storytelling.
American Gods Volume 1: Shadows (Graphic Novel)
268 pages
American Gods is a captivating read that blends mythology with modern life, making it a unique exploration of belief and culture.
The Diamond Age
514 pages
Vividly imagined, stunningly prophetic, and epic in scope, The Diamond Age is a major novel from one of the most visionary writers of our time Decades into our future, a stone’s throw from the ancient city of Shanghai, a brilliant nanotechnologist named John Percival Hackworth has just broken the rigorous moral code of his tribe, the powerful neo-Victorians. He's made an illicit copy of a state-of-the-art interactive device called A Young Ladys Illustrated Primer Commissioned by an eccentric duke for his grandchild, stolen for Hackworth's own daughter, the Primer’s purpose is to educate and raise a girl capable of thinking for herself. It performs its function superbly. Unfortunately for Hackworth, his smuggled copy has fallen into the wrong hands. Young Nell and her brother Harv are thetes—members of the poor, tribeless class. Neglected by their mother, Harv looks after Nell. When he and his gang waylay a certain neo-Victorian—John Percival Hackworth—in the seamy streets of their neighborhood, Harv brings Nell something special: the Primer. Following the discovery of his crime, Hackworth begins an odyssey of his own. Expelled from the neo-Victorian paradise, squeezed by agents of Protocol Enforcement on one side and a Mandarin underworld crime lord on the other, he searches for an elusive figure known as the Alchemist. His quest and Nell’s will ultimately lead them to another seeker whose fate is bound up with the Primer—a woman who holds the key to a vast, subversive information network that is destined to decode and reprogram the future of humanity.
Leviathan Wakes
621 pages
This book is a must-read for sci-fi fans, featuring realistic dystopian themes and strong female characters. It's part of a series, with the final installment releasing this year, making it a great time to dive in!
Harry Potter und die Kammer des Schreckens
394 pages
The entire Harry Potter series is a comforting classic that never fails to impress.
Artemis
321 pages
With a sarcastic and badass female protagonist, this sci-fi novel is a thrilling read that you won't be able to put down.
A Discovery of Witches
780 pages
This series features a strong female lead who defies the typical damsel in distress trope, making it an entertaining and easy read with elements of history.
Daughter of Smoke & Bone: The Complete Gift Set
1024 pages
Binge the New York Times bestselling epic fantasy trilogy, Daughter of Smoke & Bone by award-winning author Laini Taylor. A paperback boxed set featuring the beloved and bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Days of Blood & Starlight, and Dreams of Gods & Monsters). From National Book Award finalist and Printz Honor author Laini Taylor comes a sweeping and gorgeously written modern fantasy series about a forbidden love, an ancient and epic battle, and hope for a world remade.
