hey you sorceress types!!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 25 Jul 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

napaea	25 Jul 2002
okay, so right now i'm really dealing with my "hidden warrior". i know i'm very interested in magic, mysticsm, spirituality, but i always avoid this warrior in me. i run and hide! so i've read some books with characters that i really admire because they are feminine, powerful magically, but also know how to kick butt!! i've read 2 books from the oathbound/oathbreakers series by mercedes lackey, and some other cool books i can't remember titles to and don't see on my shelf. any other recommendations? who do you guys like as an author that consistently writes strong, warrior, magical characters? would anyone like to share a "coming of age" story about becoming more of a female warrior/ independent? i don't really mean a fighter, just a woman of power who won't be trampled and is tough as he\\.

RedWood	25 Jul 2002
The oathbound, oathbreaker is good..There is one more! Hmmm..let me think...I would suggest Janet Evonavitch(One for the money)..It is a mystery series..the female is kind of a loser..not quite the word i would use but can not think of a better one..She kicks butt...Very funny also..not quite sure if that is exactly what you are looking for... Andre Norton/Mercedes Lackey...Elvenbane and Elvenblood! Very good book and magical...Definately for strong women and a bit of the under dog also....That is all i can think of now..

Mermaid	26 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by napaea i don't really mean a fighter, just a woman of power who won't be trampled and is tough as he\\. This probably isn't exactly what you're after, but I've been involved in the martial arts since I was about 17 (most recently jujitsu). It's hard hard work and has taken a lot of persistance (especially since I'm almost terminally unco-ordinated ;)) but it's been great for my confidence and self-esteem. And throwing adult men around the room is actually really really fun! It's hilarious to see how many of our new male students (especially the younger guys) hurriedly revise their estimation of the ferocity of small female persons after I've been ground sparring with them! Very empowering. Bwahahahahahah! *evil laughter*

truthsayer	26 Jul 2002
i don't know if these would interest you but i suggest: the summon the keeper series by tanya huff--the female lead is kind of a exercist w/ magical powers. his dark materials series by philip pullman. the first is the golden compass. can't remember the other 2. the lead is female. marian zimmer bradley wrote about strong women during various points in history. i think most ppl remember "the mists of avalon" but my favorite is actually "firebrand". firebrand is about cassandra of troy.

Hikaru	26 Jul 2002
I love all the authors mentioned here. I also just finished reading The Red Tent. Great book!! The main character is a midwife, not a warrior. but in her own way she kicks butt! There's a great scene where she curses an Egyptian priest for mistreating a young girl. He basically just shrivels up and dies. There are several other powerful women in the book too. If you are into fantasy you MUST read the Rhapsody series by Elizabeth Haydon. The title character is a warrior, healer and a musician. And Haydon can write like nobody's business. I simply could not put these books down.

catlin	26 Jul 2002
I read "Sacred Ground", and some of the Valdemar cycle by M. Lackey and enjoyed them all. What about Katherine Kerr and her Deverry cycle? I've just started reading this one and I like it a lot.

amyel	26 Jul 2002
Hmmm....without going into too much personal detail because it would take far to long to set up the situation/point in my life, I think my "coming of age" was a gradual evolution that sometimes I still struggle with. There are days when I would much prefer to just have someone take care of me, rather then taking care of everything myself! When I stopped letting people take advantage of me, and got comfortable with who I was and my strengths and limitations, I found I really started to flourish as an independent woman. I was in my mid - late '20's. My mom would tell you I was always fairly independent, but I think it masks the very real struggle I've had to maintain that independence, especially since I've married a really extroverted man (I used to be the "extroverted" one in the family, and then I married C. Now I'm a wallflower in comparison!) Does any of that make sense, Napea? I guess, for me, I find that it isn't a state one achieves and then never has to think about again. *I think* it is a state one continual evolves and refines. But that's just my opinion...

Rhiannon	29 Jul 2002
Briefly, the birth of my daughter turned me into a woman I can admire. Before she was born I was with a man that was controlling, manipulative, wouldn't let me see my friends anymore, paid his ex child support out of my $$ and basically ruled my life. I didn't even see my parents when I wanted to. When I became pregnant he asked me to have an abortion. And that was the end of that relationship. I became outspoken, outgoing, independent and responsible. I had to. There was no one else to do it. I am now happily married to a man who, while he doesn't let me control him, knows his place in the scheme of things. LOL That sounded terrible! :D But we get along fine. I don't walk all over him, I ask him how he feels about things, but I am usually the ultimate decision maker. It works for us. As for books, have you read David and Leigh Eddings. The main character in the Belgariad series is a boy/man but he has female relatives that are wonderful. The story about Polgara was one of my faves in that series. I cried! And (if you can find them, try used book stores) there are 3 stories by Asa Drake called "Warrior Witch of Hel", "Death Riders of Hel" and "Werebeasts of Hel". The main character is a woman who was a slave, a gladiator, a warrior, a sorceress, a widower and a mother... and she saves the world. They are sort of cheesy... but I love them anyway. R :)

Laurel	29 Jul 2002
Its not fiction, but I'd recommend "The Warrior Woman: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts" by Maxine Hong Kingston. Its not so much about buttkicking as it is about finding yourself and breaking familial expectations and gender stereotypes. My former girlfriend has studied jijitsu for six or seven years now, and it had a tremendous positive change on her. She slowly became more self-confident, more comfortable being in her body, more capable of being aggressive and blunt when times called for it. I have a little wooden lion talisman that I keep to remind me to be a warrior and not a doormat. Sometimes, it works. *g* Laurel

napaea	30 Jul 2002
Thanks to everyone who posted on this thread, I appreciate the input tremendously!!! You would never guess that I have a problem with my warrior, I'm very outspoken about things, independent, and all that. It seems I have most trouble with it when it's in relation to what my rights are, legally, as a human, etc. anyway: Mermaid & Laurel: i've been doing yoga for years, and i love how strong and secure i feel. started Tae Kwan Do a few years ago, but got into 2 car accidents shortly after and have some discs out of place. once my back is better, i plan on getting my black belt. i love it! i have no problem being a warrior in that arena, but after i kicked someone's butt, if they let the air out of my tires, i would complain and moan to friends, and probably not assert myself to anyone else! Thanks truth for your input!!! your awesome Hikaru: I've heard a lot about the Red Tent, I will definately get going on that in the near future! thanks. Laurel again: the Warrior Woman book by Maxine K.H. sounds great (as do all the other books!!! good thing i'm independently wealthy and have time for all these!) this is exactly where i am in my life, so i'll have to check it out. Thanks you all! i appreciate all the suggestions!

The hey you sorceress types!! thread was originally posted on 25 Jul 2002 in the Chat board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Chat, or read more archived threads.