Hey, im searching for a (character driven) fantasy book written by a female author with a female lead, who despite being strong doesnt loose her feminity over it. So absolutely no “not like the other girls” characters pls. I want a strong mc whos feminity is part of her, which she’s proud of. The book also would preferably not be solely romantasy. I love love love interpersonal relationships in books a whole lot but i would prefer the romance not being the sole focus.
The Bear and the Nightingale seems to fit the bill. It’s a folkloric fantasy novel that is written by Katherine Arden and addresses that clash between valuing domestic life and family while also standing firm in an identity that’s a bit wild and untamed as the protagonist, Vasya, navigates that tension between tradition, intuition, family bonds, societal standing, and personal identity.