Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly book discussion with a new topic every Wednesday. It’s each blogger and BookTuber’s job to pick five book-related things (though you’re welcome to pick things from other media, if necessary) that fit the topic.
This week’s topic is independent women.
No, not Destiny’s Child. I mean the leading ladies who aren’t distracted from getting shit done by a romantic interest. While her story can have a romantic subplot, it shouldn’t be a main focus. Naturally, what constitutes a “main focus” will be subjective.
So, who are my favorite independent ladies?
- Kelsea Raleigh Glynn from The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
Kelsea’s priority is and always will be the Tearling. She would do anything for her people. Any attraction or romantic inkling she may have are easily abandoned for the sake of her kingdom. She will face down Mortmesne and the Red Queen and solve her country’s internal problems and she’ll do it all without a thought shedding a single tear.
- Maika Halfwolf from Monstress by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda (Illustrator)
Maika has far too much on her plate to worry about finding love. In fact, it’s not even on her radar. She’s got to exact revenge on her enemies, learn to control the monster inside her, and discover her mother’s secrets. Meanwhile, she’s fighting betrayal at every turn and is responsible for a young foxtail girl. It’s… a lot. She’s hardly had a chance to grieve her losses. And yet, despite it all, she’s still a badass antihero— a monstrous monstress.
- Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss is the only member of her love triangle not focused on the love triangle. She’s far more concerned with taking down the Capitol and President Snow’s threats. She needs to make sure her, her sister, and her mother survive before she even begins to decipher what she feels for Gale and Peeta. She’s hungry for an end to injustice, not love.
- Fang “Rin” Runin from The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Rin spends the first half of the book fighting for her place at an exclusive military academy and the second half fighting in the army. With Mugen invading, she has much bigger concerns than if a guy likes her. The Third Poppy War is now, so matters of the heart can wait.
- Lyra Belacqua from The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Lyra, to be fair, is a child in this book. But she’s also incredibly focused on her goals. She is going to stop the Gobblers, free Roger and the other kids, and rescue Lord Asriel. I’ve heard that she does get a love interest later in the series, but it’s a very minor part of the plot. After all, Lyra is the story’s compass.
Who are your favorite independent dames? Tell me about them in the comments!
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Strange Storyteller 