Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! I haven’t participated the last couple weeks because the topic looked like it would require more than ten seconds of thought, and my brain couldn’t handle that. Plus, the metaphorical ducks have been all over the place lately (ie: not in a row). It’s apparently the time of life when all my thoughts are fragmented and crazy.
Okay, I’m not sure who I think I’m kidding there. My thoughts are always fragmented and crazy. This has only gotten worse since having children, and I anticipate the continued gradual decline of my sanity in the upcoming years. I will probably be completely incoherent in another ten years, so enjoy my semi-articulate rambling while you still can.
Anyway, on to this week’s topic, which is fun enough to drag me back into the world of People Who Participate in Things.
Top Ten Favorite Kick-Butt* Heroines (in no particular order)
Celaena Sardothien, Throne of Glass
She’s the country’s most notorious assassin, she takes out men twice her size with her bare hands, and she survived a year in a death camp where most people last a couple months at most.
Althea Vestrit, The Liveship Traders series
When she doesn’t get the ship that is rightfully hers, she takes matters into her own hands by commissioning a ship that is both sentient and crazy, then takes on all manner of hardened sailors and pirates in her quest to get her ship back.
Petra Arkanian, Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow
She doesn’t let the fact that she’s the only girl in Battle School keep her from besting the boys, and she not only earns a spot on Ender’s elite team, but ultimately ends up commanding some serious military muscle back on Earth.
Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games
She’s not great at hand-to-hand combat, but give the girl a bow and arrow, and she will destroy you.
Rachel Adams, Defiance
Between her mastery of a Switch and her general refusal to go down without a (massive) fight, she’s not someone I’d want to cross.
Hermione Granger, Harry Potter
Don’t underestimate a girl with brains and a wand. I have a sneaking suspicion that Hermione could have figured out a way to defeat Voldemort even without Harry and Ron’s help, if she’d needed to.
Katsa, Graceling
I admittedly wasn’t the biggest fan of Katsa as a character, but I won’t argue for a second that as a master assassin, she was unstoppable.
Tally Youngblood, Specials
While Tally is a strong character throughout the Uglies series, I think she’s not a true force to be reckoned with until Specials, where she becomes downright scary.
Lisbeth Salander, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
I’ll be honest. Lisbeth kind of terrifies me. I mean, I know she’s one of the protagonists and technically a good guy and all, but I still wouldn’t want to be stuck in a dark alley with her is all I’m saying.
Number Six, I Am Number Four series
Between her superpowers and her general toughness, Six is pretty much the biggest force to be reckoned with in this series. (I’m aware that Six from the movie in no way resembles Six as she is described in the book, but let’s just overlook that.)
So there you have it. Ten heroines that are way tougher than I could ever hope to be, because I am a Grade A Wimp. I was really proud of myself when I didn’t cringe while getting a flu shot last month. Yup.
*Yes, I cleaned up the topic title. I have a six-year-old who tends to read over my shoulder.
I picked Katsa too. How could I not? I totally agree with Lisbeth as well. Great choice!
Loved Katniss, Katsa and Hermione too. I still have to read a few other books you mentioned – awesome list!
Tanya Patrice recently posted..{Book or Movie} Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter
I have Katsa and Calaena on my list too! Great choices, even though I don’t who a few of them are just yet 🙂
Kelsey recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Kick-Ass Heroines
Lol, our post intros are pretty identical. I also cleaned up the title and don’t have my ducks in a row. How can I when there are SO many ducks? 🙂
I still haven’t read Throne of Glass, but it’s high up on my TBR. I’ve seen the heroine on quite a few lists so far.
Jennifer recently posted..Top 10 Tuesday (12)
heehee love the censoring 🙂
Great choices! I still have yet to get to Defiance, but it’s on my shelf, just waiting for me! And I still can’t believe I forgot about Hermione… Sheesh! But tons of other great choices, of course!
Brittany @ The Book Addict’s Guide recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday – October 30, 2012
Celaena, yeah! 🙂
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted..Top 10 Tuesday (20)
Yeah for Katniss and Hermione! I haven’t read all of these, but most are on my wishlist.
Jennifer @ Feminist Fairy Tale Reviews recently posted..TOP TEN TUESDAY (42): Kick-Ass Heroines
Hermione is on my list too, and I totally agree – she could have found a way to defeat Voldemort withour Ron and Harry. And, while doing that, she would have freed all the house elves too. She’s that awesome 🙂
Quinn @ Quinn’s Book Nook recently posted..Top Ten Favorite Kick-Ass Heroines
I really liked #6 in the movie but to be honest, I never read the book. I”m kind of curious now… I’d sort of like to compare the two.
Melanie recently posted..Creating A Beautiful Creature’s Necklace
I wanted to pick Rachel Adams, but I didn’t have the space. Very nice! (And I cleaned up the title as well.)
My TTT: http://shelversanon.blogspot.com/2012/10/top-10-tuesday-i-am-no-man.html
Shelver506 recently posted..Halloween Confession + A Few Exceptions