I've looked through some past threads on this topic, but about 90% of the recommendations are for books and series with male protagonists. I desperately crave some competent female representation!!! I mostly see people reference The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, A Memory Called Empire, and Parable of the Sower as books that fall under this category, so anything beyond those would be great. Bonus points if the protagonist is actually very feminine as well, and not the typical tough-as-nails, cold-as-ice woman who wouldn't be caught dead wearing a skirt stereotype. Feminine women can be smart too!
by Desperate-Bag688
4 Comments
Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon has an old woman who is underestimated and turns out to be incredibly competent in a very difficult situation.
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal. It’s fantastic. It’s Hidden Figures meets Armageddon.
Shards of Honor, LM Bujold. Space opera with an interplanetary war and an extremely competent woman protagonist.
If you’re in the mood for light comedy and romance, Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons and The Grand Sophie by Georgette Heyer are “competent woman swoops in and fixes an entire family” stories. Both were written in the thirties, so that’s a thing to know.
If you want dark comedy try Hench by Natalie Zina Walshotts. Data analysts uses her powers to wreak absolute havoc.
Sabriel by Garth Nix (fantasy) is great for this. A young woman calmly shoulders a terrible responsibility.
Vellitt Boe in The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson is also a very competent woman, a former adventurer now turned university teacher who has to retrieve a missing student to save her beloved college in the dreamworlds.