Lorie Ann Grover's favorite YA foundational fantasy series for female empowerment

As high priestess to the Nameless Ones, Tenar’s quest to rise up within a patriarchal system and question her given belief system fueled my own journey.

The epic symbol of a labyrinth of tombs below ground, where one is kept in darkness, has resonated through my life since first reading the Earthsea books. One may be born into a weaving darkness that is then embraced. An entire life may be given in service to that system, partly because the person’s been kept from any further knowledge.

Tenar’s tenacity, bravery, openness, and inquisitiveness aided me in seeing that there might be an escape for myself. She encouraged me to walk up into the light.  

The Pit Dragon Chronicles have haunted me since they were first written by Jane Yolen.

Her arid setting of Austar IV was so unfamiliar to my lived experience. Now, when I travel through deserts, her characters and dragons are easy to imagine in the hot sands. I can envision the quests of Akki and Jakkin to free the oppressed and communicate with dragons. 

That drive to connect with a creature has made my own life rich, whether with a cat, a dog, or a bird. I’m sure the series’ early example of friendship working to alter societal systems encouraged my own current attempts in protesting, voting, and writing for change. 

Patricia Wrede’s Dealing With Dragons empowered me to subvert societal roles which are not to my preference.

The fact Princess Cimorene could eschew her given position and become a dragon’s princess, rather than princess to a prince, was incredibly novel. At the time, it was as surprising as the future reveal, eleven years later, of Fiona to Shrek.

Cimorene’s characteristics of being immensely capable and clever, with a refusal to suffer fools, are qualities I continue to admire and aim to cultivate within myself. 

The Harper Hall of Pern Trilogy was incredibly exciting to me upon its discovery.

To see Menolly, a woman with gifts subverting traditional gender roles, leave her community and eventually excel was inspiring. I found hope that one’s talents might be strongly developed and recognized, eventually. I was fascinated by Menolly’s multi-layered abilities and aspired to grow such.

I learned good community might be found when your current network isn’t nurturing. If only there were tiny fire-lizards one could impress and cohabitate with! 

This book was one of my first reads where a woman disguised herself as a man to perform a traditionally male role.

Her strength and bravery were an inspiration to me as she traded places with her brother Thom. Her secret and success as a knight were aspirational. From making allies to dealing with enemies, I could revel in her battles and victories. I felt empowered to enter my own fray and fight for justice.