Fantasy Books WITHOUT Romance?

unnysoni · Post by **unnysoni** » 29 Dec 2016, 22:46

Lol I tried to look at the suggested topics and ALL of them are for books with romance.

But I'm a hardcore romance HATER (sorry!) and I need fantasy books with a female protagonist that has no romance and doesn't end in a bitchfest or the like.

I have generally begun reading children's and adult books, steering clear of YA, but I'm open to reading a YA book if it cuts back on the romance.

Ironically enough, sex doesn't bother me, but when it comes to the gushy romance with the main girl leaving everything behind for her dude, or the dude banging all the hot chicks around him but thinking about this one girl, that makes my stomach churn.

I guess the inclusion of romance almost always decreases the value of female independence? This is excessively feminist of me? And I'm not sorry?

Adair McClain · Post by **Adair McClain** » 02 Jan 2017, 12:39

I would say Dragonlance by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman could be a decent fit. There are couples, but I don't remember any actual sex scenes. The female characters stood strong on their own even if they were in love, etc.

Nightlife by Rob Thurman might be of interest to you as well. There is definitely no "gush" in them.

Bandersnatch · Post by **Bandersnatch** » 03 Jan 2017, 10:53

I'd recommend most of Brandon Sanderson's books. Some of his books do have a little romance, but it's always very much in the background of the storyline. Never a focal point. His books are wonderful. Great world-building, he always comes up with new and interesting magic systems and great characters. Mistborn, for example, has a kick-ass female protagonist, although there is a tiny bit of romance, like I said, but there's no 'bitchfest' or anything like that. Warbreakers also has some bamf female protagonists. His characters certainly don't put everything on the line for some love interest as seems to be happening in most YA books lol
Oh, also A Song of Ice and Fire of course. Plenty of strong female chars and almost zero romance.

HummingBird · Post by **HummingBird** » 03 Jan 2017, 12:00

I'd recommend the 13 series, by Michelle Harrison. I find it a good fantasy trilogy that doesn't revolve around romance. The main protagonist of the 2nd and 3rd books in particular is a very strong minded female, I liked her character a lot. I hope you enjoy if you read them.

Jennifer Allsbrook · Post by **Jennifer Allsbrook** » 03 Jan 2017, 22:34

I second the Brandon Sanderson suggestions! Elantris and the Mistborn trilogy are great! Way of Kings and Warbreaker are also worth the time.

Mashadar86 · Post by **Mashadar86** » 04 Mar 2017, 03:49

Sanderson - Mistborn, Stormlight, etc
Brian Staveley - Unhewn throne series
Bradley P Beaulieu - Song of the Shattered Sands series

These are a few I've read lately without a romance focus, good strong female characters, good stories, all fantasy. I've only read the first Shattered sands book, very keen to read the second, it just arrived ?

Good luck