Great Female Action Characters

[Chriskander]

Review of "The Wildcat's Burden" -- Iskander series.

The Wildcat’s Burden
Written by: Christopher Hoare
Science fiction / Fiction / Time travel
Rated: Very Good (****)
Review by: Lisa Haselton

Gisel Matah is back! She has a public and powerful leadership role now that has her in the center of the action, but can she handle the responsibility and her personal life, too?

Gisel proved herself as a reliable and crafty soldier at a young age. She’s since been promoted in the ranks, and now has a governorship in her twenties. Being a woman in charge of an entire populous in a world where men rule and women obey causes conflict on its own. Creating alliances and dealing with men in powerful positions is a daily challenge for Gisel, as is having to keep secrets from her husband.

The Wildcat’s Burden is full of action. Allies and enemies and traitors and underground supports fill every page of this adventure that plays out over a handful of weeks. It’s hard to know who to trust, and when the reader thinks he has it figured out, another twist comes into play. It’s a personified chess game, where any move can be counter attacked in a moment and the final champion isn’t clear until all the dust settles.

This story takes off on the first page and doesn’t let up until the last word. So many characters in this novel bear a “burden” to help the cause they believe in, whether rightly or wrongly, but the reader can only admire their passionate stance and watch to see how the scenarios play out.

Author Christopher Hoare has created a unique world that mixes futuristic technology with a time before technology. It’s an interesting mix of a future world with a new world as Gisel and her people from the Iskander try to find a way to live on the young Gaian planet. Hoare has developed the female protagonist to be wise beyond her years. She’s intelligent, strategic, and yet still a woman. The entire novel is visual and intriguing. Never a dull moment.

This is Christopher Hoare’s fourth novel in the Iskander series. Arrival is the beginning of Gisel’s adventure, currently followed by Deadly Enterprise and continuing with The Wildcat’s Victory. The books don’t have to be read in order to enjoy the overall storyline, but allows for insight into characters that move with Gisel through time.

Chris Hoare writes full time and lives in Alberta, Canada at the eastern edge of the Rockies with his wife of almost 40 years, Shirley, and two shelter dogs.

I recommend reading The Wildcat’s Burden if you enjoy exploring old worlds with a modern twist, time travel, military strategy, and a bit of romance. The Wildcat’s Burden is a great story that gives the reader the scoop behind Gisel’s life.

Title: The Wildcat’s Burden
Author: Christopher Hoare
Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-55404-729-1
Pages: 271
Price: $5.99

[FatDog]

Check out "The Deed of Paksenarrion" by Elizabeth Moon. This book combines 3 novels: "Sheepfarmer's Daughter", "Divided Allegiance", and "Oath of Gold".

[animedude01]

Originally Posted by FatDog

Check out "The Deed of Paksenarrion" by Elizabeth Moon. This book combines 3 novels: "Sheepfarmer's Daughter", "Divided Allegiance", and "Oath of Gold".

I second this recommendation. It's a great book and I thought it had wonderful character development.

Also, the first book is available free from the Baen Free Library here and the complete series is available together here.

All of them are DRM free!

[carlobee]

Great review! Thanks for this.

[Elvira]

There is an awesome warrior character in Firefly Island, Taya. I recommend this book a lot when I'm asked to suggest books with strong female characters.

[Latinandgreek]

Thanks for the heads up, this looks like something I would like.

[momghoti]

Try 'Cordelia's Honor' (combined book 'Shards of Honor' and 'Barrayar') by Lois McMaster Bujold. As well as an incredibly strong female character, there are some incredible lines. It sets up her Miles Vorkosigan series(which is also great), but deals with a deeper set of issues--not as 'space-opera'.

[DArenson]

Many readers love Gael Baudino's fantasy novels with female characters (e.g. Strands of Starlight).

Daniel
http://www.DanielArenson.com

[cbarnett]

No thread like this should go without mentioning David Weber's Honor Harrington series either. Great military SF with a strong, intelligent female lead.

Most of the books in the series are freely available in ebook form as well, and the latest in the series will be out later this year (or earlier if you want to pay Baen for an advance ARC copy, I did!).

[TC Beacham]

Well, there's Nikki Heat/Kate Beckett chasing down NYC criminals in her high heeled boots - 'course the show (Castle) is even more fun than the book!

[Jim Lester]

In addition to seconding Craig's recommendation for the Honor Harrington series. I'll add in a recommendation for Jade Darcy (Jade Darcy and The Affair of Honor, Jade Darcy and The Zen Pirates by Stephen Goldin & Mary Mason). eBooks available on Fictionwise.

[jament]

I enjoyed Boneshaker and was intrigued with the female action characters that defined the story. Good stuff.

[Chriskander]

Thanks for the posts. My heading was inspired by the lead on a blog site (not sure if I can find it right now), but she hadn't mentioned any of the characters or authors you guys have. I'll have to collate all of the titles when I get a chance.

Christopher Hoare

[kilohertz53]

One of my all-time favorite female action/adventure heroes is Jane Whitefield in the series by Thomas Perry:

Vanishing Act
Dance for the Dead
Shadow Woman
The Face Changers
Blood Money
Runner

Jane is an expert at helping desperate people with dangerous enemies "disappear", a sort of one-woman witness protection agency.

[MickeyC]

Originally Posted by cbarnett

No thread like this should go without mentioning David Weber's Honor Harrington series either. Great military SF with a strong, intelligent female lead.

I agree. Well written, fast paced and an excellent female protagonist in Honor Harrington