Fight like a YA girl tag

I was tagged by the fabulous Eva @ Brilliantly Bookish to do the Fight Like a YA Girl tag, which was created by Krysti @ Wine and YA. If you don’t already follow both of these awesome ladies, go check out their blogs now!

THE RULES

• Thank the person who tagged you.
• Mention the creator Krysti at YA and Wine
• Match at least one YA girl with each of the themes below.
• Tag as many people as you like!

Warrior girls

Katniss from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

If Katniss Everdeen isn’t a warrior, I don’t know who is. Volunteering to replace her younger sister in the Hunger Games, fighting twenty two other teens to the death to be crowned co-victor alongside Peeta. Her survival skills, as well as her abilities with a bow and arrow, are second to none. She’s compassionate and kind, as well as brave and clever, and that to me is the hallmark of a real warrior.

Girls who fight with their mind

Hermione from Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

There is one girl in particular who comes to mind when I think of girls who fight with their mind, and that is of course Hermione Granger. If it hadn’t been for her, Harry and Ron would have been killed in book one. Her book smarts and willingness to do the research always saved the day (especially in book two!). Rather than being a love interest, or a damsel in distress type character, Hermione brought so much to the trio and the story wouldn’t have been the same without her.

Girls who fight with their heart

Clary from The Mortal Instruments by Cassie Clare

I can’t think of a YA heroine with more heart than Clary Fray. She’s got so much love to give, whether it’s her mother, her father-figure Luke, her best friend Simon, her new Shadowhunter friends (who are more like family), or Jace. While the series contains a lot of conflict and fighting, it almost always comes down to love and kindness winning the day. Clary’s answer is always to be more understanding, more generous and less judgemental when it comes to resolving conflict.

Girls who are trained fighters

Mia from Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

It was actually quite difficult to think of any female characters who are trained fighters, it usually seems to be that the boys are trained fighters and the girls are naturally-talented, special snowflakes, if they can fight at all. Mia Corvere from Nevernight was the only girl that I could think of from my recent reading, and boy is she a good example. The training she undergoes in the Red Church couldn’t be more intense and dangerous, she literally loses limbs and almost dies several times, but she manages to get through it and comes out as an incredibly skilled fighter.

Strong girls of colour

Inej from Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Inej is one of the strongest women in all of literature, let alone WoC, after everything she has been through and the hope and love she’s still capable of. Growing up as an acrobat before her family were slaughtered and she was thrown into a brothel and forced into prostitution, and then being rescued by Kaz and employed as his spy for the Dregs. How she manages to keep her dream alive of owning a boat and sailing anywhere she wants with her own crew is beyond me. She’s a warrior queen.

Girls who fight to survive

Tris from Divergent by Veronica Roth

Being divergent, Tris is in danger if she’s ever found out, so she seems to be fighting for survival from the very beginning. Gradually, it becomes more about doing what’s right and overthrowing the corrupt rulers, exposing the truth etc. but mainly it’s about her own survival.

Girls who are weapons masters

Lada from And I Darken by Kiersten White

Lada is probably the most accomplished female soldier I’ve read about, she’s certainly the strongest willed and bravest of YA heroines I’ve come across. She practically forces the soldiers to train her and eventually takes charge of the army, successfully earning the men’s respect and loyalty. And this series is set in the 15th century, making it all the more impressive. I know it’s a Vlad the Impaler reimagining, but I’m really hoping the sequel will broach the whole Dracula aspect of Vlad’s legend!

Girls with kick-butt magical powers

Aelin from Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

I couldn’t do a list about feisty and strong YA heroines without including Aelin Ashryver-Galathynius, now could I? Her fire powers are so epic that there is no bottom to her well of power and she is at risk of getting lost if she delves too deep. Just look at what happened towards the end of Empire of Storms! She’s a goddess, wink wink.

Strong girls in contemporary novels

Starr from The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

I’m cheating a bit here because I haven’t actually read this yet, but I’m doing a buddy read starting next week and it’s sitting on my shelf staring at me. From the reviews and tweets I’ve read, Starr sounds like a phenomenal heroine, and I’m really looking forward to getting to know her next month!

Seriously fierce girls

Nesta from A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

Of course I had to include this incredible, kickass woman in this list. I really didn’t like Nesta in book one, she started to soften slightly in book two, but in book three she became a truly strong and selfless woman and one of my favourite characters in the ACOTAR series. I wish she’d had more chance to build relationships (you know the one I mean!) but her character arc was perfect, she really grew and changed over the course of the three books, and that will have to do (for now…).

Most anticipated book with a strong leading lady

 

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff & Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Cheating again! I can’t decide which of these books I’m looking forward to more. Now I Rise was released last week, and Godsgrave comes out in September, but who knows when I’ll actually get round to reading them both! #TBRproblems

And there you have it! OK, I tag Breeny @ Breeny’s Books and Lia @ Lost in a Story. If anyone else fancies giving this tag a try have at it, and don’t forget to tag me so I can read your posts!

I’m taking part in Camp Nano this month, so I won’t be posting quite as much as usual, but normal scheduling will resume in August (which is my birthday month!).

 

Lyndsey

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