Tamsyn Muir’s Locked Tomb series has taken the SFF world by storm since the release of Gideon the Ninth in 2019, and it’s not hard to see why.  The blend of snarky, idiosyncratic dialogue with a grim story that verges on horror is a totally unique reading experience.  The series’ inclusion of LGBTQ+ themes and characters has won a host of loyal fans as well. But what stands out in my mind when I think about what makes The Locked Tomb so beloved is the characters.  Muir is much more interested in her female leads being interesting and memorable than she is in them being morally upstanding or completely “likeable”, which is always a breath of fresh air in any genre.  However, Muir is far from the only current SFF author to take this approach.  The release of Alecto the Ninth, the Locked Tomb’s final installment, is still TBD, so here’s a selection of other titles featuring complex heroines that fans will love.

The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood

As a teenager, Csorwe cuts a deal with the wizard Belthandros to escape being sacrificed to the Unspoken.  As an adult, she serves as Belthandros’ right-hand woman.  This throws her into the path of Shuthmili, a magic-user bound to a dark destiny not unlike the fate Csorwe gave up everything to escape.  The Unspoken Name’s memorable female leads, spine-tinglingly visceral magic system, and opposites-attract romance should be familiar to fans of The Locked Tomb, but this is a book with its own identity.  The Unspoken Name is told with gripping, cinematic pacing, and at times it’s reminiscent of classic sword and sorcery.  The sequel, The Thousand Eyes, was released in 2022, so readers who fall in love with the characters and their world will be able to pick up the next installment right away.

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

When Rin escapes her abusive home to attend Sinegard, the most prestigious military academy in Nikan, her struggles are only beginning.  The exacting and competitive school is full of people who would love to see her fail, and just as she begins to find her footing, the invasion of the Mugen Federation throws the entire country into chaos.  Rin will have to call upon the power of the gods themselves to fight back.  Rin is complex, determined, and persists in unimaginable situations; she’ll stay in the reader’s mind long after the book is closed. Fans can continue to follow her story through the book’s two sequels, The Dragon Republic and The Burning God.

Monstress Volume One: Awakening by Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda

Switching gears now to talk about a comic series – one of the most gripping and beautiful comic series I’ve ever read.  The world of Monstress is divided by a war between Arcanics and humans, spearheaded by the witches who hunt Arcanics for the magical properties of their blood.  Teenage Arcanic Maika Halfwolf infiltrates a stronghold of the witches and cuts a ruinous path seeking answers and revenge.  There, she discovers an artifact which ties her destiny to that of an unbelievably powerful entity.  Once you step into the world of Monstress, you’ll never forget it.  Sana Takeda’s elegant, intricate art is the perfect companion to Marjorie Liu’s fascinating and emotionally gut wrenching story.  The series is full of brilliantly realized characters, including Maika herself – I really appreciated how Maika’s trauma was depicted with such consideration and care.  Monstress is available at Mead up to Volume Eight, and the series is still ongoing.