From damsels to dragonslayers, fantasy fiction has long toyed with the ideas of gender, power, and identity. But where women once filled supporting roles, today’s heroines are complex, flawed, and front-and-center. In this post, I explore the evolution of female roles in fantasy—from old archetypes to subversive new voices—highlighting how the women of the Legion of Pneumos series reflect and reimagine those traditions. Whether with sword, pen, or quiet cunning, they are changing the rules of the game.
Once upon a time . . .
There were only a few kinds of women in fantasy.
There was the Damsel in Distress, like Princess Buttercup in The Princess Bride, waiting high in her tower (or swamp) for a man to rescue her. There was the Warrior Woman, like Eowyn in The Lord of the Rings, who had to mask herself in armor and male identity just to be taken seriously. There was the Crone, like Melisandre in George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, wielding immense magical power—always alone, always older (though sometimes using magic to appear young). And of course, there was the Token Girl in the fellowship, like Hermione in the Harry Potter series, whose role often revolves around keeping her male friends out of trouble.
We loved these stories. But we were also hungry for more.
The New Era: When Power Started to Look Like Us
Enter Tamora Pierce.
Reading Alanna: The First Adventure as a kid was the first time I saw a fantasy heroine who felt real. She was strong, yes—but she also had cramps, got rejected, made mistakes, and didn’t always win. She loved deeply. She learned painfully. And she did it all without giving up who she was. I remember reading about Alanna and thinking, Oh, this is allowed? That a girl could be a knight and still be herself?
Tamora Pierce’s books gave me permission to imagine fantasy where female characters weren’t just breaking the mold—they were forging their own. And that vision is what eventually led me to write The Legion of Pneumos.
Because I wanted to write girls like that. Women who are complicated. Who cry and curse and fight and lead. Who sometimes fall short—but keep going anyway.
Meet the Heroines: Archetype and Evolution
Let’s take a look at the leading women of Legion of Pneumos and how they both reflect and subvert classic gender roles in fantasy fiction.
Tegan – The Revolutionary with a Pen
In The Rebel, Tegan doesn’t ride into battle swinging a sword—her weapons are words. While others turn a blind eye, she sees the injustice of the Bellatorio and the Marian Empire for what it is—and refuses to stay silent.
Under the pseudonym The Crimson Quill, Tegan pens essays and essays that spark a quiet rebellion in the minds of Loren’s people. She’s the heart of a resistance built on conviction, intellect, and courage, and the first among her friends—Neval and Rowan—to not only see injustice, but act.
She echoes the classic “rebellious youth” archetype but shatters expectations by leading not with force, but with fierce clarity of thought. She’s also proof that revolution doesn’t always start with fire—it often begins with ink.
Keira – The Warrior Healer
Keira’s journey in The Cantor and Chaos Looming is the one closest to my heart.
Thrust into a world of magic, war, and moral ambiguity, she’s forced to define her own limits. Is she a warrior? A healer? A rebel? A cog in the machine?
The answer is: all of the above.
Keira navigates loyalty and suspicion, love and loss, chaos and control. She’s not the shining chosen one of ancient prophecy—she’s a young woman figuring out who she wants to be in a world that keeps shifting beneath her feet. And that? That feels real.
Keira’s arc subverts the “singular savior” trope. She doesn’t have all the answers, but she does have grit, and heart, and a fierce drive to protect those she loves—even when it costs her.
Junia – The Queen Denied
Junia may wear the title of antagonist in Chaos Looming, but let’s be honest—her story could just as easily be its own epic.
Raised with every expectation of inheriting the throne, Junia is passed over by her father and the Council of Benadur in favor of her younger brother. A brother she deems weak. A brother she was raised to outrank. The resulting civil war isn’t just political—it’s deeply personal.
Inspired in part by Cleopatra, Junia’s story unpacks the gendered injustice of hereditary power. She plays the part of the noblewoman, but underneath the silk and strategy is a burning sense of betrayal. And while the world may call her a villain, readers see a woman who was never given a fair shot—and decides to take it anyway.
Junia reflects the “usurped queen” archetype but complicates it with nuance, history, and heartbreak.
Basha – The Reluctant Leader
In many ways, Basha begins her story in The Remnant where most fantasy heroines end: with a mantle of responsibility.
After her older sister dies under suspicious circumstances, Basha—once the rebellious younger sibling—is thrust into the role of Signet, the leader of her clan in the Cross-Sea Lands. The role is steeped in duty, tradition, and a legacy she never asked for.
But Basha rises.
When she uncovers the truth behind her sister’s death, she doesn’t shy away. She steps into her sister’s shoes not just to honor her memory, but to reshape their world. Basha represents the “reluctant leader” archetype—but where others might run, she roots herself deeper. She learns that rebellion and responsibility aren’t opposites—they’re two sides of the same legacy.
Why These Stories Matter
The women of Legion of Pneumos are each navigating different paths—but they’re all reimagining what it means to be a heroine.
They reflect archetypes we’ve known for years—but they don’t stop there. They question, subvert, and expand them. And in doing so, they make space for us—readers and writers alike—to imagine ourselves at the center of the story.
Because the truth is, fantasy has always been about power: who has it, who wields it, and who is allowed to change the world. And when we put complex, resilient, vulnerable, powerful women in those roles, we’re not just telling better stories—we’re shaping better futures.
Let's Keep Talking
I’d love to know—who are your favorite fantasy heroines? What tropes are you tired of? Which characters made you feel seen?
Drop a comment below, tag me in your stories, or shoot me a DM. And if you haven’t yet met the women of Pneumos, you can start with The Cantor—your first peek into a world where women aren’t just part of the story. They are the story.
🎧 Bonus: Don’t forget to check out the Spotify playlists for each book! They’re full of the emotions, moods, and epic vibes I felt while writing these journeys.
Until next time—stay fierce, stay curious, and never stop rewriting the rules.
