Top Ten BA Females

10. Zoey Redbird


Zoey is the lead female character in the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. She was a normal teenage girl with home troubles and boy troubles when she was 'marked' as a fledgling vampire. Soon she is battling evil and being rewarded by her goddess for being awesome. I really like Zoey. She is young and fresh and has a hilarious vocabulary. Here lately she is becoming cynical, but overall she has a very positive attitude. Considering she is fighting the incarnation of evil at just about every turn. She is BA because her goddess, Nyx, is always blessing her with sweet tats to show her appreciation. Also, her boyfriends seem to be pretty hot, you know from what I can read.

9. Maximum Ride

What can I say, the chick's got wings! Max is the oldest of 6 'birdkids' in the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. She burns a gazillion calories an hour so she gets to eat a whole lot of whatever she wants (or can get her hands on at the time). Max has great leadership qualities, while maintaining the voice of a child. She rarely knows what's going to be best for her and her family, but she has a lot of conviction. And I have to respect that.

8. Melanie Stryder

Melanie plays host to Wanderer in Stephenie Meyer's The Host. I love that Melanie never loses herself, even when her self is invaded by Wanderer's self. She manages to not only remain an active resident in her own mind, but she begins to show Wanderer that her people may be wrong. I like this because Melanie isn't just a BA physically, she has one of the strongest personalities I've ever read.

7. Isabelle Lightwood

Isabelle is a Shadowhunter in The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. This girl is great! She has fantastic style mixed in with a huge can of whoop a**. Not many people can pull off using a whip as a bangle, but this girl has got it going on.

6. Ani

Melissa Marr highlights Ani in the 4th book of her Wicked Lovely series, Radiant Shadows. Ani is a halfling (half-fae, half-human). Her father is Gabe, the leader of The Hunt, and basically the devil's bodyguard. The Hunt are the enforcers for the Dark Court, which includes every single thing you used to have nightmares about. Ani is even badder than most of them. She is a halfling, so she doesn't really fit in with humans or with the fae. So what does she go and do, she goes and makes her own court. That's right, forget about 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'. Nope, Ani says 'if you can't join 'em, start your own team'.

5. Sin

I mean just her name is BA! Well, Sinead isn't very BA, but she goes by Sin and that's the part that matters. So Sin is a succubus (technically incubus) assassin in Larissa Ione's Demonica series. I think that pretty much sums it up, Sin is a succubus assassin. And not like she kills succubi. She is a succubus who works as an assassin. I don't think any other proof of BA-ness is necessary.

4. Tally Youngblood

Scott Westerfield did an exceptional job. Tally is the lead in his Uglies series. Her world is a place in which ugly only exists until you are 16. And then you can have a series of completely painless surgeries to fix all of what you think genetics got wrong. Any young woman who can turn that down is officially BA. And not only does Tally turn it down, she continues to be BA by outing the frauds and just being awesome.

3. Katsa

Katsa is a Graceling. In Kristin Chashore's Graceling, graceling's are feared as much as they are awed. To see someone who has two different colored eyes is to be in the prescence of a graceling, and it is only natural to be immediately terrified. Afterall, they may have Katsa's grace. Which includes being able to kill with her bare hands as early as the age of 8.

2. Katniss Everdeen

Katniss is a young girl in The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. Katniss grew up in a post-apocalyptic dictatorial-type society. One in which "the man" is always watching and the proletariats far outnumber the leaders, but they haven't yet chosen to do anything about it. Katniss is also a wicked shot with a bow and hilarious in her absolute lack of a sense of humor. She tells the man 'up yours' and her man 'I love you' all in the same go. Out of all of these ladies I have mentioned, I would most like to be like Katniss. Maybe it's just to be able to say that I know Finnick, but I think it's more that Katniss is just that awesome.

1. Sita

Wow. Sita is the original BA, I think. She is a 5,000(ish) year old vampire in Christopher Pike's Thirst series. Sita is selfish and selfless and self-aware and oblivious all at once. She is wise, because how could she not be after 5,000-odd years. But she still makes some pretty terrible decisions. She also gave birth to the reincarnation of Kalika. The Hindu deity of death. That's pretty BA. I admire the faith in Krishna that she demonstrates. I like that she met him, wasn't certain whether he was the true god or not, but she still believed that he was protecting her. But even with all of that, the thing I like most with Sita is her voice. She is absolutely no-nonsense. Things are and things aren't. She is not wishy washy. Oh, and did I mention that she has lots and lots of superpowers and BA fighting skills.

The Hollows

Series: The Hollows

Author: Kim Harrison

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Books: 11

Genre: Urban Fantasy

All the creatures of the night gather in “The Hollows” of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party … and to feed.

Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining – and it’s Rachel Morgan’s job to keep that world civilized.

A bounty hunter and witch with serious sex appeal and an attitude, she’ll bring ‘em back alive, dead … or undead.

I tell myself that I’m reading these books because I really want Rachel to be gay. And that’s definitely a part of it. But if I’m being completely honest, I’m reading them because once I start I can’t put them down. Kim Harrison tells a great story!

Rachel Morgan is a witch, and she lives in “The Hollows”. Most non-humans in Cincinnati live in the Hollows. And after “The Turn” (where a genetically engineered tomato killed 40% of the human population) in the 60s, all of the non-humans were forced out of the closet because they were able to survive the deadly ketchup. These non-humans that are running about are witches, weres, vamps, pixies, etc. I really like Harrison’s description of what each species is like. They each have their own very specific set of traits and behaviors that mark them as a species. You know, aside from the whole DNA-thing marking them as separate and other.

Well they said it, not me. But yes, these books have serious sex appeal. What I like about them is it’s not the brash, in-your-face romance novel. It’s sensual and sexy without ever actually having a sex scene. Because at it’s heart this is not a romance. It’s a little bit of crime drama mixed with some supernatural beings for funsies.

And I mentioned that I want Rachel to be gay. I definitely want her to be with Ivy. Ivy is a vampire who is stalking Rachel. But they live together, and she doesn’t want to take advantage of Rachel. It’s all very dramatic. The relationship between them is a constant game of cat and mouse where you can never quite tell who has the upper hand. You can also never quite tell who is seducing whom. So far Rachel just “isn’t wired that way,” and she’s had 2 boyfriends already; I’m obviously still holding out hope.

Overall, this is a super cool series. Rachel fights bad guys/demons/werewolves and does it in skimpy leather outfits. It’s a fast-paced, easy-to-read escape. And it has a neat spin on some classic supernatural staples. I think you have to really love fantasy to get as enthralled as I am, but I would definitely recommend these to someone who does! Also, Dead Witch Walking is book number 1... because you're interested!

Ratings

Covers: 3/5

Characters: 5/5

Plots: 4/5

Writing: 4/5

Individuality: 5/5

The Whole Shebang: 4.2/5

Something Borrowed

Title: Something Borrowed

Author: Emily Giffin

Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks, 2004

Pages: 388

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Rachel White is the consummate good girl. A hard-working attorney at a large Manhattan law firm and a diligent maid of honor to her charmed best friend Darcy, Rachel has always played by all the rules. Since grade school, she has watched Darcy shine, quietly accepting the sidekick role in their lopsided friendship. But that suddenly changes the night of her thirtieth birthday when Rachel finally confesses her feelings to Darcy’s fiancé, and is both horrified and thrilled to discover that he feels the same way. As the wedding date draws near, events spiral out of control, and Rachel knows she must make a choice between her heart and conscience. In so doing, she discovers that the lines between right and wrong can be blurry, endings aren’t always neat, and sometimes you have to risk everything to be true to yourself.

Spoiler Alert. I can’t possibly review this one without spoiling the end. So if you haven’t read it or seen the movie, and don’t want to know how it ends, I advise you to not read any further.

This was a doozy. Rachel is a little boring at first. She’s a totally cookie-cutter lawyer. Her friend Darcy is fun and exciting and spontaneous. No wonder she’s engaged to Rachel’s dream guy, right? However, as the story progresses, we see that Rachel isn’t so cookie-cutter, and maybe Darcy isn’t so fun.

I was very conflicted while reading this novel. On the one hand, I don’t like Darcy’s character at all. So I don’t really feel badly for her. And I really like Rachel, so it was fairly easy for me to write off the man-stealing on her part. But on the other hand, what Rachel and Dex do to Darcy is completely appalling! Morally, it’s absolutely unforgivable. Yet the whole time Rachel and Dex are sneaking around, Darcy is sneaking around with Marcus. It was all quite confusing. So the main conflict in myself comes down to, when did I start rooting for the cheaters??

You have Rachel and Darcy; best friends since grade school. Rachel goes to law school and falls in love with Dex, but she’s friend-zoned next to Darcy, her exciting and outspoken bestie. While this is almost understandable, it’s clear that Dex and Rachel are perfect for one another. But things progress and Dex and Darcy get engaged. Only then does Rachel decide it’s time to confess her love for Dex, and of course he reciprocates the feelings. So they do a deplorable thing (and continue to do a deplorable thing), but it’s hard to feel anything but sorry for them because it’s obvious that they love one another. The whole while, Darcy is being a whiney, bossy, arrogant meanie. And not only is she a meanie, but we later learn that she’s cheating on Dex with his best friend, Marcus. Basically, it’s a huge love-pentagon. (There is a brief aside between Rachel and her good friend, Ethan, which never amounts to anything, but adds another twist to this very twisted love story.)

Aside from this book teaching me that I’m morally inept, I’d say it’s just average. I’d recommend watching the movie over reading the book. Get the story out of the way in two hours rather than a few days. And I am NOT usually a person who chooses movies over books, so that counts for a lot.

Ratings

Cover: 3/5

Characters: 3/5

Plot: 3/5

Writing: 3/5

Individuality: 3/5

The Whole Shebang: 3/5

Water for Elephants

Title: Water for Elephants

Author: Sara Gruen

Publisher: Algonquin Books, 2006

Pages: 297

Genre: Historical Fiction

As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

Wow! Now that is what I call a great book! I absolutely love this novel. I love the characters, the writing, and the story, everything about it. I even love to hate the villain. I especially love Jacob Jankowski. He is just a really great leading man. He loses everything, lives through one of the toughest times in American history, and still leads an extraordinary life.

This book is set during the Great Depression. Jacob is a young veterinary student who is forced into the circus due to his financial situation. Here he learns all about life and love and yes, elephants. I really enjoyed the style the author chose to use. She wrote it as the memoir of an old man. Jacob Jankowski is waiting for his family to show up so they can visit the circus that has set up directly across the street from his nursing home. While he is waiting, he reminisces on his days in the circus. I think Gruen did a superb job in painting a picture of what life was like during the Depression. Not that I was there, so I guess it’s more that I like the picture she painted of life during the Depression. It’s seedy and for lack of a better word, depressing, but still people found ways to be entertained and persevere. 

Of course, I’m a romantic, so I’m obsessed with the love story in this book. It reeks of forbidden fruit and love conquers all and all of that. There’s betrayal, passion, and an underlying innocence (maybe purity is what I’m looking for) as well. It’s deliciously dichotic.

And then there’s Rosie. Sweet, sweet Rosie. If I ever have an elephant (Which is totally possible and not at all ridiculous!) I want her to be Polish and adorable just like Rosie!!! Yes, yes I’m well aware that there are no elephants in Poland, minus the zoos. But just read the book, and you will understand. No really, read the book. You will not regret it!

Ratings

Cover: 4/5

Characters: 5/5

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 4/5

Individuality: 5/5

The Whole Shebang: 4.4/5

Beautiful Creatures

Title: Beautiful Creatures

Author: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Publisher: Hachette Book Group, 2009

Pages: 390

Genre: Fantasy

There were no surprises in Gatlin County. We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere. At least, that’s what I thought. Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong. There was a curse. There was a girl. And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

I first saw this book a few years ago while browsing the young adult section of my local Barnes and Noble. I immediately put it on my wish list because the cover was gloomy and the title was vaguely interesting. Because this is how I pick a lot of the books that go on my wish list, and because of the sheer volume of books that are on my wish list, I didn’t actually get around to reading it. I finally picked it up because I saw the trailer for the cinematic release while watching the final installation of the Twilight Saga.

It was fantastic! I must applaud Ms. Garcia and Ms. Stohl for their excellent use of voice. I was not expecting to learn this story from a teenage boy’s perspective. And I found myself forgetting that the authors are females. The imagery was beautiful. I am from the Deep South, so maybe I had an advantage when picturing the scenery of Gatlin County. But the detail was wonderful, and I felt as if I had grown up there along with Ethan.

I am a sucker for witches and demons and vampires and werewolves. So this book had me hooked from the start. Anything paranormal and I’m your girl. Ethan lives a depressingly normal life. He is popular, plays basketball, and is of above average intelligence. Then he meets Lena, who is literally a force of nature. She is a beautiful girl, edgy because she is not from Gatlin, and shy because she is automatically shunned for the mere fact that she is not from Gatlin. They are drawn to one another and connected in a way that no one, from either of their families, understands. 

Lena is a Caster. Not only is she a Caster, her Incubus uncle thinks that she will be a Natural. Which basically means the baddest of the bad kind of Caster. Different Casters have different abilities. And Naturals can pretty much do it all. Now Lena hasn’t been Claimed just yet, so during the whole book we are waiting to see if Lena will be Light or Dark. If she goes Dark she will be a Cataclyst, and she will not know how to love any more. Which is why Ethan tries to help her ensure she is Claimed by the Light. Being Claimed by the Light gives them more of a chance to stay together. And that is the end goal.

I definitely recommend this book. If you enjoy a good romance, or a good fantasy novel, this is for you. It was edge of my seat almost the whole way through. And the supporting characters are extremely fun. I can’t wait to see the cinematic interpretation! And I’m gobbling up the second installation of the series, Beautiful Darkness, right now!

Ratings

Cover: 3/5

Characters: 4/5

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 4/5

Individuality: 5/5

The Whole Shebang: 4/5