My Favorite Female Authors

For years, women were (and often still are) disrespected as authors. Many would utilize a pseudonym or their initials rather than their full name to make their gender less obvious to the reader. But women make up so many of my favorite authors and are invaluable to literature. This post is meant to celebrate female writers by showing off my favorites. 

katherine arden

Katherine Arden wrote the wonderful and evocative Winternight trilogy, the first of which is The Bear and the Nightingale. This trilogy quickly became one of my all time favorite series and I recommend it to nearly everyone. The books follow a young heroine, Vasya, in the old days of Russia as she struggles to come to grips with her magical abilities and ties to pagan culture in a world determined to destroy both. Culture and religion clash amidst a tale filled with magic and awakening evil forces. The story and the writing are descriptive and enchanting, while Vasya proves to be a capable protagonist. There is nothing I dislike about this series and I cannot wait to see what Katherine Arden writes next. It is going to be difficult to beat, that is for sure. 



leigh bardugo

I think everyone involved in the online book world knows of Leigh Bardugo. First popularized by her YA fantasy trilogy, Shadow and Bone, she expanded the world with a follow up series called Six of Crows and later King of Scars. In 2019, she ventured into adult fantasy with Ninth House, a darker story wracked with horror and ghouls. I have read every single release and it has been such a joy to watch Leigh Bardugo grow as an author and her writing abilities refine. The Six of Crows duology is certainly my favorite but Ninth House also managed to become one of my favorite 2019 reads. If you don't know where to start with her novels, I would always recommend SoC, which shines as her strongest series. The plot follows a group of criminals hired to pull of the biggest heist ever in the dangerous, magical Grisha world. 

gillian flynn

Gillian Flynn is the author behind Gone Girl, Sharp Objects, and Dark Places. In my opinion, she is the queen of modern day mystery and thrillers. She used to work as a journalist, so there is a crisp, gritty feeling to her writing style, which perfectly suits the genre she explores. Each novel by her is a stand alone mystery featuring a murder or two. Her characters are always very human and are realistically flawed. I would not recommend her books to anyone with a faint heart or a weak stomach, as they delve into the darkest parts of the human psyche and involve the worst (and sometimes the most tragic) of crimes. My personal favorite is Sharp Objects and I thoroughly enjoyed the Hulu mini series based on the book, as well. 

madeline miller 

Madeline Miller entered my life last year when I read her second novel, Circe. That book became one of my favorite books and this year her other release, The Song of Achilles, may have even beat it. Both are inspired by Greek mythology. Madeline Miller sticks closely to the original myths and history while providing new perspectives and expanding upon already existing tales in much more intriguing and emotional ways. Both books stirred deep emotion in me, and The Song of Achilles nearly had me sobbing whilst on a plane ride. I cannot recommend them enough. If you enjoy mythology, or just a beautiful story, pick both of her novels up. You will not regret it. I am hoping she released another book in the coming years because I can't get enough. 



agatha christie

Remember how I said Gillian Flynn was the modern queen of mystery? Well, Agatha Christie is the classic and always reigning matriarch of the genre. No one writes a better mystery than Agatha Christie. No matter how you try, you will fail to guess the big twist of who committed the crime (if there truly was one). I personally recommend And Then There Were None and Endless Night, but I have yet to be disappointed by any of her books. She had a long and very successful career, so there are many to choose from. 





v.e. schwab 

Another highly prolific author is V.E. Schwab, also known as Victoria Schwab. While she mostly writes fantasy, she occasionally publishes a supernatural or science fiction themed novel. Once again, there are many books and series to choose from in her retinue. My personal favorites are Vicious and A Darker Shade of Magic. The former is a science fiction revenge tale while the second is a fantasy trilogy involving magic and inter-dimensional travel. I will also always hold a special love for The Archived, which partially inspired the name of this blog. I believe that V.E. Schwab's future involves even more success and more fantastic books. 


erin morgenstern

Erin Morgenstern is the author of The Night Circus and The Starless Sea. She essentially tortured the book world by making us wait years before her second release. Both novels are unique and filled with ambiance and enchantments. Erin Morgenstern writes lyrical, purple prose and is not afraid to venture into the stranger side of fiction. The Night Circus is a complex, multifaceted story centering around a magical circus that is only open at night. The Starless Sea is a love letter to the art of story and revolves around an underground, secret library. Both are immersive experiences and hold titles as some of my favorite books. If you want to read a beautiful, otherworldly novel, pick up on of her books.

Who are your favorite female authors?