Lisa V. used the Courtyard Book Chats to launch her new book talk, about fantasy fiction (and some science fiction) featuring particularly strong female protaganists. Most of these books are, not unexpectedly, also written by female authors.

Classic Fantasy with women as main characters

The Charmed Sphere
by Catherine Asaro

The Curse of Chalion
by Lois McMaster Bujold

The Briar King
by J. Gregory Keyes

Mystic and Rider
by Sharon Shinn
book one in the Twelve Houses series

Poison Study
by Maria V. Snyder
book one in the Yelena series

Urban or paranormal Fantasy with women as main characters

Bitten
by Kelley Armstrong
book one of the Women of the Otherworld series

Tithe
by Holly Black
book one in the Modern Tales of Faerie series

Moon Called
by Patricia Briggs
book one of the Mercy Thompson series

Ill Wind
by Rachel Caine
book one of the Weather Warden series

Grave Sight
by Charlaine Harris
book one of the Harper Connelly series

Attendees also discussed Charlaine Harris' official web site

Dead Witch Walking
by Kim Harrison
book one of the Rachel Morgan series

Burning Water
by Mercedes Lackey
book one of the Diana Tregarde Investigations series

Sunshine
by Robin McKinley

Science Fiction with women as main characters

Kindred
by Octavia Butler

Xenogenesis
by Octavia Butler

Herland
by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Woman on the Edge of Time
by Marge Piercy

Stardoc
by S.L. Viehl
book one in the Stardoc series