In the world of paranormal fiction older kick ass chicks are definitely few and far between but then again, it depends on how you look at it. Take vampire books for instance, the heroine is usually in her 20’s but she could have easily been turned several hundred years ago so even though she looks young, her personality and vast knowledge paint a more accurate picture of her true age. Same thing goes for werewolves, in the later installments of Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series, Clay and Elena are actually in their forties with kids but they only look like they are in their early 30’s. They can also still kick a rogue’s butt with the best of ’em! So really, it all comes down to a matter of perspective.
Recently I reviewed In Still Darkness, Dianne Duvall’s short in the Predatory anthology, and I was surprised to see that the lead female character was actually human and 37 years old at that! I think this was the first time in who knows how long that I read a book where the heroine was pushing 40! All this to say, that there most definitely is such a thing as an older kick ass chick, you just have to know where to look.
Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
Nice post. Absolutely, in the vampire, fantasy world our kick ass heroines are older and wiser but in young bodies due to regeneration or not ageing etc. Great fresh start to see older human heroines. I’m all for it!
Me too!
What a great question to ask! My first reaction when I read the title was “I sure hope so because I need something to aspire to!” Writing paranormal romance definitely gives me the chance to cast “older” women, simply because my Changelings live for several human lifespans. My secondary characters, however, are often mortal and frequently well past retirement age — they bring such richness and perspective, and they kick serious ass in their own way. I like a well-mixed cast of young and old and supernaturally ancient. The real question though — can we have a mortal HEROINE who’s older and still have her appeal to a very broad audience? I think it would all lie in the writing.
Writing a good, mortal, older heroine’s trickier but totally do-able I think. You’re right, it would all depend on the writing.
It seems that in paranormal romance/UF even if the characters are older they still look young and are externally beautiful.
I’m reading more contemporary romances with older characters so maybe it’s a trend. I would definitely like to see more of it.
Yeah, I’m getting kinda sick of all the beautiful people in paranormal fiction.
It is so much easier in paranormal genres to have characters who have lived for centuries but still look mid-twenties…now their sanity after so long…that can sometimes be a bit questionable. Look at Nix from Kresley Cole’s IAD. She’s been around for an eternity and even though she looks young and hot, they call her Nucking Futs Nix for a reason LOL! I love her brand of crazy 🙂
Hehe this is true. The older a character is the more potential they have to be completely off their rocker. LOL
Thursday Next in Jasper Fforde’s “The Woman Who Died a Lot” is in her 50s and still kicking butt. The books are alternate world fantasies not paranormal but Thursday does have the ability to jump into books.
Good to know that there are other strong, female characters out there.
Since I am 40 *cough* something I would say no not to mention I have read about a few kick-ass grandma’s I wouldn’t tangle with. As me if they should be wearing leather and a halter top….LOL
dang it…there is no edit button..i mean yes there is such a thing,..crap..LOL
LOL Thanks for clarifying Kimba! :p
I sure hope so! As a woman in her middle years, while I enjoy the younger heroines (kick-ass or not), I wish someone would write great fantasy/SF or romance with middle-aged heroines (40s and 50s) who are still vibrant and alive and attractive. It’s as though anyone past around 35 (or anyone who looks older than 35) isn’t interesting — and that’s just not true!