I love a good list—pretty much any kind. Even the humble to-do list scratches an itch. But book recommendation lists? Chef’s kiss. They’re my favorite, mostly because I get to check things off and ride that sweet, sweet dopamine rush of completion. (Hello, ISTJ personality type.) It also feeds into my Scorpio “been there, done that” energy. Some parts of my personality are just non-negotiable.
So, here it is: the inaugural, ever-evolving list of Unbound Women in fiction. Feel free to add your own.
- Lilith — Lilith by Nikki Marmery (and countless other interpretations)
Full disclosure: I have a bit of a crush on Lilith. The first wife of Adam, she was made from the same dirt as he was—implying total equality. But when Lilith refused to submit to Adam—in any sense—she was banished. Marmery’s retelling is one of the most original I’ve read. As Lilith travels across time and place, she encounters other women who reject the yoke of male ego. Her relationship with Jezebel—yes, that Jezebel, the Phoenician princess turned biblical villain—is particularly illuminating, showing how the reputations of powerful women are often distorted to fit a patriarchal narrative.
- Morgan Le Fay — The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Morgan Le Fay may be better known than Lilith depending on your circle. Sorceress, half-sister to King Arthur, and all-around misunderstood legend. She’s often portrayed as jealous, vengeful, or power-hungry—basically, the classic “difficult woman” trope. Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon was a game-changer: a feminist retelling that gives Morgan her own voice and agency. It launched a movement of reframing the so-called antagonists of mythology and legend through their own lens. Bonus: it’s the first in a whole series.
- Katniss Everdeen — The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss might be the quintessential Unbound Woman. Her strength is her vulnerability—and ironically, that’s also why people constantly withhold information from her. But when her weaknesses are exploited, she becomes unstoppable. She finds the cracks, slips out of the box (sometimes literally), and protects those she loves. What makes Katniss dangerous—and undeniably unbound by the rules of the game —is that everyone thinks they know what she’ll do next. She always proves them wrong.
- Brianna Ellen Randall Fraser MacKenzie — Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
This one’s a little unconventional, but stick with me. We all know Claire is a force, but much of what happens to her is reactive—she responds brilliantly, yes, but still. Brianna, on the other hand, makes bold, proactive choices. She willingly time-travels—TWICE. First, into an era where women are often silenced and discarded, armed with nothing but an address and a peanut butter sandwich. Then, back to her own time to save her daughter’s life. She acts on blind faith, knowing full well the risks, driven by love and grit. She’s Claire’s daughter through and through—but she’s got her Aunt Jenny’s fire. Brianna is completely unbound by time, circumstance, or fear.
- Thursday Next — The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
If I could have any fictional job, it would be Thursday’s. As a Literary Detective working for Jurisfiction and fighting the all-powerful Goliath Corporation, she keeps the greatest works of literature running smoothly. Which is tricky when fictional characters know they’re fictional and sometimes ditch their scenes to hit the pub. Somehow, Thursday manages to hold entire worlds together while also being a daughter, wife, and mother—reminding us that women are not, and never have been, one-dimensional. Oh, and she has a pet dodo. Obviously.