In celebration of International Women's Day, we've turned our focus to some of our favourite, empowering female characters. From classic literature to modern tales, the developments of each of these characters inspire us to stand up, be strong, and believe in ourselves!
If you haven’t yet read any of these incredible books below, now is a great time to find out how awesome these female leads are.

Offred - The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood
With the plot based on a dystopian society where women are treated as little more than objects, to provide offspring from barren elite couples, Offred refuses to let go of who she is and who she loves. Despite the cruel physical and psychological burdens the world throws at her, Offred manages to maintain a sense of self-identity and purpose that gives her strength and power.

Nesta - A court of Silver Flames - Sarah J. Maas
The 5th book in the ACOTAR series (a firm favourite of the Fable team), up until then Feyre is our main protagonist, fiercely loyal, kind and headstrong, Feyre is everything you would want and expect from a heroin. Nesta, in direct contrast to her sister, is unapologetically selfish and cruel. Trapped in a vicious cycle of self-loathing and grief that she has carried since childhood, Nesta makes mistakes and hurts the people she cares about. At the end of the book she is not 'fixed' but in her brutal journey of self-healing she learns to accept herself, accept the love of others, and for the first time finds a purpose in life.

Beth Harmon - The Queen's Gambit, Walter Tevis
Based in the 1950s when women are still considered intellectually subpar, an orphaned chess prodigy becomes an international champion shocking men around the globe, and surprising everyone apart from herself. Beth is a fiercely independent, young protagonist that inspires us to find our craft and master it!

Elizabeth Bennett - Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen.
Feminists have featured in our favourite classic novels for a long time now and Austen was very much a pioneer of feminism, daring to transform and inspire the world she lived in. Elizabeth Bennett is independent, witty, and not scared to speak her mind. At a time when women were heavily reliant on men, Elizabeth calls out toxic masculinity and refuses to settle for anyone who doesn’t respect her or her opinions.

Kya - Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens
A very beautiful, touching and powerful book. The story itself catches your throat. Abandoned by her entire family when she is a child. Kya's life is defined by isolation, self-reliance, and a deep affinity with the natural world. The power of surviving, while alone, waiting in the Marsh areas for her family to one day return. A refreshing female protagonist that has to learn to survive, in order to become successful, she’s a self-made woman who gives a new definition to the idea of wanting a relationship over needing one.