Treasured Thursdays: Most Treasured BAMF Female Characters With Giveaway

Treasured Thursday is a weekly event created by Touya over at The Reader's Garden that is all about our most treasured. We're hosting it here now, for those of you who are interested in joining me. This week our topic is our most treasured BAMF (Bad Ass M*F**) female characters. 

This was so hard for us! We could never pick just one from the vast number of eligible female characters in the literary world so we decided to do a Top 5 (we each have a different #1 though..you'll see) So here you are: our Top 5 BAMF females! 

#5 -Annabeth Chase from The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan: 

Annabeth is terrified. Just when she's about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo's fantastical creation doesn't appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

And that's only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close—the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?

Annabeth's biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he's now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.

Ok, Mel here, I'm going to go first. Let me tell you some of the reasons I adore Annabeth. First of all, Annabeth, daughter of Athena, ALWAYS has a plan. She is always thinking up the best course of action for any situation. Also, she's intensely loyal to those she loves. And lastly, not only is she wise, but she tempers her wisdom with compassion. She's extremely lovable but don't think that makes her weak-it will be your last mistake.

Lana here, in the other font :D *ahem*
I remember when I first started the Percy Jackson series, Annabeth was always my favorite character. I loved Grover and Percy, of course, but Annabeth was easily my favorite, and still is (she's up there with Thalia and Clarisse). I love her because she's funny and brave and loyal, and far too good for Percy (Luke/Annabeth shipper, just sayin'...). She is one of my favorite females and probably will always be.

#4-Farley Hope from The Hope Series by Frankie Rose:

Everyone has a soul

Some are just worth more than others

Farley Hope was seventeen when her mother disappeared. In the last six months not much has changed, except that her eighteenth birthday came and went and still no sign of Moira. Her life is just as complicated as it always was. Since her father died in a car crash before she was even born, she’s officially parentless, and to top it all off she’s still suffering from the hallucinations. Mind-splitting, vivid hallucinations- the kind prone to induce night terrors and leave you whimpering under your covers like a baby.

The last thing on her mind is boys. Farley is on break from St. Judes’ when she meets Daniel. It’s not some casual run in at a party, or even a blind date with friends, though. Daniel is the guy following her in his 1970′s Dodge Charger; the guy standing at her window in the LA lunch hour traffic, trying to persuade her to leave everything behind and follow him. And he's hot as all hell.

The moment Farley lays eyes on Daniel, everything changes. He is cold and withdrawn, but there are cracks in his harsh veneer- cracks that betray the secrets he is trying so hard to hide. Farley is drawn into a world that will shake apart everything she thought she ever knew. There are truths out there that she must learn: that a person’s soul is their only real currency, and there are people who would do anything to take hers; that loving someone can hurt so much more than hating them; but, most importantly, when your future is predestined, there is little you can do to change it.

Farley Hope is prophesied.

Her coming has been awaited for hundreds of years.

She is destined to end the tyranny of the Soul Reavers.

To do so she must die.

Mel here again and I'm going to be honest with you guys:  I LOVE Farley. She may be in the midst of a tremendous personal trauma but she doesn't sit around waiting for others to make everything right again. She goes out and does what she can to learn the truth.  Also, despite her ever changing life, she doesn't panic. She is calm in the face of chaos and that is truly bad ass in my opinion. 

I am reading Sovereign Hope per Mel's suggestion, and am loving every minute of it. Farley, especially. I knew from the very first chapter her and I would be good imaginary friends. She is so amazing-- Bad ass in all the right ways while not being a bitch, not a panicky girl, and she doesn't fall all over the sexy piece of yummy she has following her around. She is one of the best female characters I've read about! :D

#3-Seraphina Parrish from the Seraphina Parrish Trilogy by Michelle Warren:

Ever since her sixteenth birthday, strange things keep happening to Seraphina Parrish.

The Lady in Black… burns Sera’s memories.

Unexplainable Premonitions… catapult her to other cities.

The Grungy Gang… wants to kill her.

And a beautiful, mysterious boy… stalks her.

But when Sera moves to Chicago, and her aunt reveals their family connection to a centuries old, secret society, she is immediately thrust into an unbelievable fantasy world, leading her on a quest to unravel the mysteries that plague her. In the end, their meanings crash into an epic struggle of loyalty and betrayal, and she’ll be forced to choose between the boy who has stolen her heart and the thing she desires most.

Wander Dust is the breathtaking fantasy that will catapult you through a story of time, adventure, and love.

Mel here again-let's talk about Sera now. She is your anti-damsel in distress and that's how she wants it. She doesn't want anyone to have to rescue her-she wants to be in the action, taking care of herself and helping those she cares about any way she can. She is hilariously sarcastic and unique. Truly an original, and I just can't get enough of her story!

Sera is one of those girls that really doesn't like being rescued. She is smart and funny, and isn't stupid enough to waddle into dangerous situations and then go, "Oh, darn!" which is wonderful. And if she ever gets a little...discouraged, she A) has her reasons and B) doesn't wallow for long. She has her moment and it's over. She is witty and kick-ass, and just flat out awesome!

#2-Stasia from the Daughters of the Sea Trilogy by Kristen Day:

Once you’ve been touched by darkness, it never leaves you…

Abandoned by her parents as an infant; seventeen year old Hannah spent her childhood wading through countless foster families until being adopted by the Whitmans three years ago.

Unfortunately, Atlanta’s high society wasn’t quite ready for Hannah…or the strange events that plague her.

Chilling visions of murder, unexplained hallucinations, and a dark, mysterious guy who haunts her nightmares all culminate to set in motion a journey of self-discovery that will challenge everything she’s ever believed; not to mention her sanity.

Sent to live at The House of Lorelei on Bald Head Island, NC for ‘kids like her’, Hannah quickly realizes things are not what they seem. Her fellow ‘disturbed’ teens are actually the descendants of mythical Sea Gods and Goddesses. And so is she.

But when Finn, the ghost from her dreams, appears in the flesh; her nightmares become reality and her dark visions begin coming true. Inexplicably drawn to him, she can’t deny the dangerous hold he has on her heart. The deadly secrets he harbors will ultimately test her courage and push the boundaries of her love.

She must decide if she is ready to embrace the ancient legend she is prophesied to be a part of. The fate of all the descendants will forever depend upon it.

Mel again-let me begin by saying it was very hard for me to not put Stasia in that number one slot. She is truly bad ass in so many ways. For someone with the tragic background she's endured, she is remarkably together. She does not wallow in self pity and whine, 'why me?' . No, she is fierce and takes life as it comes, rising to meet each new challenge thrown at her. She is awesome, enough said. 

Stasia...where do I start with her... She is so amazing. The poor girl has trudged through Hell and now has a whole new destiny to deal with, but she never pouts, and she doesn't lean on Prince Charming and sigh because he will fix everything. She can handle her own, and that's what makes her special. She is definitely a wonderful character; one of my favorites :)

And now we come to the #1 spot on our list. We couldn't agree so we decided to each talk about our picks separately. 

Mel's #1-Rose Hathaway from the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead:

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever. 

Ok, so many of you already know how much I LOVE the Vampire Academy series in general and Rose, the main character, in particular.  Rose is the very definition of BAMF. Her future is all about protecting her best friend and their people from the scariest evil around. She puts everything on the line,  time and time again to protect others. She is probably the most selfless teenage girl on the planet. Only once does she act selfishly and that is to fulfill a promise to the man she loves. How can you not love that?!!? She is sarcastic and aggressive but actually pretty sweet (in her own way) and simply put, a good person. She would risk EVERYTHING for those she cares about and she does again and again. And seriously, if you haven't read these books, what in the world are you waiting for???  That's it for me! Lana's turn now! 

Lana's #1-Sara Jane from Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglein:

Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance--until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob).

Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searches for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies--a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tattered notebook might be her best defense--hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.

Action packed, with fresh, cinematic writing, Cold Fury is a riveting and imaginative adventure readers will devour.

Alright, guys. I read Cold Fury back in July, and I am still utterly obsessed with it. It is seriously one of the better books I've read all year and I am eagerly awaiting the second. And why is that? Because Sara Jane is the MOST AWESOME OF AWESOME FEMALE CHARACTERS EVER. Honest to God, she is a kick-butt kind of girl who has had the rug torn out from under her, and is still swinging! And the best part about it, is it still seems real. While she is a BAMF heroine, she is still scared and she still thinks guys are cute and she doesn't shut herself off of the world even though she's trying to save it. I adore her and I think you will, too. :)

Well there you have it folks! Our Most Treasured BAMF females! Who made your list? 
Now, because we love you guys, we decided to throw in a giveaway! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway