"Kick Butt" female characters?

I love books with female characters that can and do take care of themselves in the physical sense. I don't care if it's through martial arts, gun play, or sword play.





examples of the books I enjoy are:





Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake series : female vampire executioner, know and uses martial arts and guns





Maggie Osborn's Seduction of Samantha Kincade : A western with a female bounty hunter, skilled in guns and thinking





Fern Michaels Captive Passions : A female pirate stilled in captaining a ship and in sword play





These are just a few of the examples of what I like does anyone know of any other books that show similar female characters?

"Kick Butt" female characters?
Janet Evanovich, Stephanie Plum series, Very hilarious, can't help but laugh out loud while reading.


Laurell K Hamilton, Anita Blake Series - vampire, shapeshifters, Awesome series also her Meredith Gentry Series, fairies and lots of fighting and sexual content.


Patricia Briggs, Mercedes Thompson series, A VW mechanic/coyote, Mercy is awesome.


Kelley Armstrong, Women of the Otherworld Series.. Werewolves, Witches, Ghosts, Demons, Vamps and Lots of Strong Women.


Keri Arthur, Riley Jensen Guardian Series One of My favorite Kick Butt Werewolf Women.


Kim Harrison, The Hallows series, I love this series, Witches, demons, pixies, vampires and weres.


MaryJanice Davidson, the Undead/ Betsy Series. Awesome books.


Charlaine Harris, Southern Vampire Series, Sookie is pretty cool.


Carrie Vaughn, Kitty Norville Series, Just started reading it.


L.A. Banks, The Vampire Hunteress Legend series.
Reply:Harper Allen, Darkheart %26amp; Crosse


Kelley Armstrong, Women of the Otherworld


Keri Arthur, Riley Jensen Guardian Series


Patricia Briggs, Mercedes Thompson series


MaryJanice Davidson, Betsy Series %26amp; Wyndham Werewolf series [they mix], Fred the Mermaid Series [book 2 comes out this fall!]


Christine Feehan


Tate Hallaway, Garnet Lacy Series [i think] book 1 is Tall, Dark, %26amp; Dead


Laurell K Hamilton, [of course, all time fav author] Anita Blake Series, Meredith Gentry Series


Charlaine Harris, Southern Vampire Series (aka Sookie Series) coming to a tv series on HBO soon named True Blood


Kim Harrison, The Hallows


Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dark Hunter Series [not really more than a few kick *** women, but it is a kick *** series]


Angela Knight, Mageverse [again, a kick *** series]


Rebecca Lickess, Never After [not a series, but its a case of the fairy tale being turned around, princess rescues prince . . .]


Rebecca Locksley, The Three Sisters


Tamora Pierce


J. D. Robb, In Death Series


Savannah Russe, The Darkwing Chronicles


Carrie Vaughn, Kitty Norville Series


Barb %26amp; J.C. Hendee, The Nobel Dead
Reply:Tamora Pierce's Lioness Quartet is excellent, but are considered young adult novels. Also "Dragon Song" and "Dragon Singer" by Anne McCaffery





I am NOT a fan of Laurell K. Davidson, but Patricia Briggs "Moon Called" and "Blood Called", and "Magic Bites" by Ilona Andrews are some good urban fantasy books. "Carpe Demon", "Califonia Demon" and "Demons are Forever" are about a demon-hunting soccer mom and are a little lighter reading. As is "Undead and Unwed" by Mary Janice Davidson.





Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books are a laugh a minute and a lot of fun. No supernatural elements in those books unless you count the super-hottie character, Ranger.





Oh, and I also like Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody mysteries. Amelia is like a female Indiana Jones.
Reply:Kim Harrison has a series out called the Hollows... The first book is called "Dead Witch Walking". You've got several female "kick butt" characters to choose from. This would be urban fantasy, with some vampires, werewolves and witches thrown together. Really interesting. The main character is trying to leave this CIA-type deal to start a company of her own... Which means she's under a death threat. And rooming with a vampire. Bad mix.





Then there is the Shaman series by C.E. Murphy. The first one is called "Urban Shaman". She has powers to save the world, but doesn't want them. She has lots of fight scenes, with gods, nonetheless.





James Patterson's women's murder club series. It's really easy to keep these straight. The first book is called 1st to Die, the next one is 2nd Chance, etc.
Reply:Have you read the Naomi Kritzer series?


Freedom's Gate (the first) is fantastic and the main character is definitely "kick butt!"





Also, Ghost Warrior by Lucia St. Clair Robson. About an Apache woman warrior and shaman. Highly recommended!





Another is about a very tough-chick who lives in an alternate universe where vampires and warewolves co-exist with humans. It is a series by Patricia Briggs. The first is "Moon Called." Really great stuff!





And even though it is a "young adult" series, all women should read "Wise Child" by Monica Furlong. The second book is "Juniper" and is fantastic too.