The only female fantasy writer I have is Robin Hobb. I mean I have some JK Rowling and some YA stuff. But I mean as far as non-Urban fantasy, adult stuff. So what's good out there?
Preferably a series but I hear some good things about Sussanna Clarke even though opinion is pretty split on her.
Also Kushiel's Legacy is highly rated but I'm not sure if it's my thing, I'm not too big on the romance genre Even though I've been known to enjoy it more than most guys but that's to an extent.
Janny Wurts, J.V. Jones and Kate Elliott are 3 others I hear some good things about. I started some of Hobb's first Farseer book and I'm liking it so far. So who else should I read?

ETA: and oh yeah, try to keep it more or less modern stuff. I tried some Ursula K. Le Guin but didn't really like her (sorry, I know there are some people that LOVE her) AND I just ordered N.K. Jemisin first book, she seems to be right up my alley.

Three Australian writers might interest you - Juliet Marillier, Fiona McIntosh and Kate Forsyth. All very different, all very good. Marillier and McIntosh both write great series. I especially recommend Marillier's 'Sevenwaters' series.

I really like Kate Forsyth too. The Witches of Eileanan is one of my favorites. Anne Bishop's The Black Jewels Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows, Queen of the Darkness is good if you like darker fantasy. Melanie Rawn has some older stuff but she's good. I really enjoyed Dragon Prince. Mercedes Lackey is another good one. I love the Valdemar series(Arrows of the Queen), but she writes several other ones as well.

I'm definitely not a fan of Fiona McIntosh and if you not huge on romance you probably won't like Juliet Marillier. I would recomend Jennifer Fallon, Naomi Novik or Steph Swainston.

You can try The Book of Words trilogy by J.V Jones starting with The Baker's Boy. It is an epic coming of age novel, not quite the best i have read but still good.

Along with the many mentioned already, Catherynne M. Valente and Patricia McKillip are both excellent writers.

If you end up liking Jemisin I would go ahead and try Jaqueline Carey too. I was afraid to try the Kushiel books too and ended up loving them. And Jemisin reminds me of her. They're both big on romance but also political intrigue.

Lois McMaster Bujold has her Curse of Chalion series, that's pretty good reading. Kate Elliot's not bad for large tome fantasy writing.

I love Jemisin's work and can't wait for the next book to land in my lap!

Fiona McIntosh. Karen Miller/K.E. Mills. Trudi Canavan (Not the best but still). Jennifer Fallon is fantastic.

I would recommend Sarah Ash, C.S. Friedman, Sara Douglass, Elizabeth Haydon and Elizabeth Moon for fantasy by female writers that's not too girly, so to speak.

Diana Pharaoh Francis wrote the Path of Fate trilogy. I don't recall whether it was heavy on the romance.

Diplomacy of Wolves by Holly Lisle. I only read this one book but I don't recall it being heavy on the romance.

Robin McKinley writes fantasy, but I've mostly read the YA ones.

Joanne Bertin wrote two dragon shifter books. It's got some romance though. :)

And for those who like Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series, you might like Kristen Britain's Green Rider series. Just be warned that Britain is a sllloooowww writer (although still faster than Jean Auel).

Tamora pierce, Andre Norton and C.J.Cherryh are great too.

Anybody a fan of Kelley Armstrong?

I've liked what I've read of Kelley Armstrong so far

I liked Dime Store Magic & Industrial Magic quite a lot, but didn't care that much for any of the rest.

I only like the Elena ones in the Otherworld series , couldn't complete the rest of the books.

Wurts, Cherryh, Dunnett, Kingsolver, Atwood, off the top of my head. Although I'll wager most of them would object to being called 'fair sex.'

Sheriffkilla wrote: "The only female fantasy writer I have is Robin Hobb. I mean I have some JK Rowling and some YA stuff. But I mean as far as non-Urban fantasy, adult stuff. So what's good out there?
Preferably a ser..."

Sheriffkilla, for my money the best author writing today, of any gender, is Janny Wurts, who is one of our Goodreads author/members. Really deep characterizations, characters who evolve and change, fascinating, complex, interwoven story line, very deep and evocative themes, and gorgeous prose. For a stand-alone, try To Ride Hell's Chasm. Her big series is The Wars of Light and Shadow, beginning with Curse of the Mistwraith. There are many threads still available on her works if you want to check out previous discussions. Of couse, like any author, Janny is not for everyone. If you favor all-out action, hack & slash, etc., she might not be. If you enjoy a more fully rounded book, she could be.

Another Australian writer - Glenda Larke. Her 'Stormlords' trilogy, completed just this year, was amazingly good, wonderful world-building, great characters, fascinating magic system. The first of the series is The Last Stormlord.

Adding Katharine Kerr's Deverry series. Pretty good world-building. Reincarnation theme that spans over centuries.

Tanith Lee. Louise Cooper. And you could do much, much worse than Black God's Kiss by Catherine L. Moore -- she was writing sword-and-sorcery stories for Weird Tales back in the 1930's.

Oooh, and Leigh Brackett, who wrote planetary romance (think Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars books) and also had some tangential involvement in the screenplay for Empire Strikes Back.

Tanya Huff has done a bit of epic fantasy in the past, as well as some paranormals, but most of her most recent work is either Space Opera or UF.
C. Dale Brittain is one of my faves, not least for the more positive way she deals with religion in her books.
Nina Kiriki Hoffman has some excellent stories out there, mostly shorts with a few novels. Dark fantasy verging on horror.
Another dark fantasy author is J.V. Jones. Her worlds were unpleasantly grim for my taste.
Katherine Kurtz' Deryni series is excellent reading.
Phyllis Eisenstein has some good romantic fantasy going with Sorcerer's Son and Crystal palace.
Another good romantic fantasy author is Jennifer Wylie.
And I have a book by a lady named Kara Dalkey, called The Curse of Sagamore. She has an extensive listing on GR.
Gael Baudino does some interestingly psychological fantasy stories.

Lois McMaster Bujold, Patricia McKillip, Katherine Kerr, Elizabeth Moon, and C.S. Friedman have already been mentioned.

Thanks to all the recommendations. I did some more research after reading this thread and I have decided on:
C.S. Friedman, Janny Wurts and Jacqueline Carey.
We will see how I like them. I just realized that I also have a J.V. Jones (Cavern of Black Ice... if I remember the title correctly) novel and I think Lois McMaster Bujold and Kate Elliott deserve a chance and maybe even Jennifer Fallon.

There were tons of great recommendations and while you've made up your mind I'd second the nominations of Melanie Rawn and Mercedes Lackey. They have both written several excellent series with some really great characters.

I completely fell in love with Rohan in The Dragon Prince

Sheriffkilla wrote: "Also Kushiel's Legacy is highly rated but I'm not sure if it's my thing, I'm not too big on the romance genre Even though I've been known to enjoy it more than most guys but that's to an extent".

Covers can be deceiving and although you might not have been deceived by the covers of the novels of the Kushiel Legacy, you're definitely not the first to have assumed that the Legacy is in the romance genre, which it most assuredly is not! This series of novels is high fantasy which incorporates elements rarely seen therein. Some such elements remain controversial (among both authors and readers) and Carey definitely delved deeply in describing in its entirety her alternative-European (and beyond) world of approximately the Renaissance era. It includes politics, espionage, treachery, scholasticism, mysticism, and ... erotica (amongst many other components of significance to the series). Suffice it to say that no other author has so moved me as Jacqueline Carey with her Kushiel's Legacy. (You can find out more on Wikipedia about the series. Just type Kushiel's Legacy in your search.)

Patricia Briggs writes women very well. And men too.

Jennifer Fallon, Jennifer Fallon, Jennifer Fallon. Katherine Kerr, Juliet Marillier. You should give Jacqueline Carey a chance. Don't let the covers scare you away. I was hooked from page 1.

I don't like romance either, and I love Juleit Marillier. She's epic historical fantasy. It is a bit of the romance formula, but there's little or no sex scenes, and it's all quality. She's brilliant.

Jennifer Fallon reminds me of GRRM, but her stories are finished. The Second Sons trilogy is my all-time favorite.

Katharine Kerr deals with reincarnation. Her characters go through several generations with souls being brought back again and again to correct their mistakes. Her series are works of art. The first book is DAGGERSPELL.

And has anyone mentioned Katherine Kurtz yet? I've only read a few of the Deryni books, but I remember thinking she had an interesting take on things.

Damali wrote: "Jennifer Fallon reminds me of GRRM, but her stories are finished. The Second Sons trilogy is my all-time favorite."

I just finished that series about 2 weeks ago. It was amazing! I gave 5 start to all 3 books. Since I don't give out the top ranking that much, that's a big deal.

I absolutely second Jennifer Fallon. She's one of my favorite authors.

I'm a big fan of Robin McKinley as well, though I know not everyone likes her writing, and Patricia McKillip has written some good books too.

Mercedes Lackey is okay; I think I liked her a lot more when I was younger though. But I still enjoy her Elfbane series with Andre Norton a lot.

I agree with Lady and Damali about Kushiel's Legacy - I was iffy about it after reading the description, but the intrigue in that series is brilliant. (However, you might want to pass on the Naamah sequels.)

Kristen Britain's Green Rider series is another good one. Also Trudi Canavan, Black Magician and Age of the Five.

Maybe I should give Jennifer Fallon a chance. She was one that I really wanted to read but I read a few poor reviews and thought maybe she was a bit overrated but all this support makes me think, maybe it was just a bad reviewer?

Definitely start with her Second Sons trilogy. The Demon Child trilogy is good, but it was her first and the writing it a bit rougher.

Jennifer Fallon's Second Sons trilogy Lion of Senet

Sarah Monette's Doctrine of the Labyrinths Melusine

Carol Berg's Rai-Kirah Chronicles Transformation or Cartamandua Legacy Flesh and Spirit

Lynn Flewelling's Tamir Triad The Bone Doll's Twin or Nightrunner series, though latter only if you are not homophobic Stalking Darkness

Fiona McIntosh's Quickenning Myrren's Gift

Anne Bishop's Dark Jewels Daughter of The Blood

There are some stuff from Mercedes Lackey that are not bad, though the language in the first few (chronologicaly speaking) is quite terrible.

I am very curious why you would put that warning about homophobia on the Nightrunner books, but not on Melusine?? I love Monette's Labyrinth books, but they have a LOT more sexual content than at least the first of the Nightrunner books. I'll admit, though, that I haven't read the rest of the Nightrunner trilogy -- the writing was so simplistic and ....well, sort of middle-school-ish.... that I gave up on it.

I'm in the middle of trying to catch up on female authors myself. From my recent reading, I highly recommend Carl Berg for anyone who enjoys the intense-inner-experience emotionalism of Hobb (which I do), and Sarah Monette for the depth and complexity of her writing. As I mentioned above I thought Flewelling was very simplistic, and although her characters were appealing enough the complete book experience didn't do it for me (although she seems pretty popular). Also, the first two Chalion books by Bujold are very good (and won Nebula and/or Hugo awards, I'm too lazy to look up which won what right now), although I'm not wild about her fantasies in general (I adore her Vorkosigan SF books).

I know the OP asked for non-UF, but I must also recommend Rob (Robyn) Thurman's Cal Leandros series (NOT PNR), which IMHO is very very good.

I personally can't wait for Monette to write more novels on her own (I didn't think all that much of her books written with Elizabeth Bear), and I'll definitely be reading more of Berg's books (I've only read the Rai-Kirah trilogy so far). And y'all have already provided great ideas for other authors to check up on. I hope the recommendations keep coming!

@Contrarius: "I am very curious why you would put that warning about homophobia on the Nightrunner books, but not on Melusine?? "

Well, damn, I just sort of forgot :) Which is kind of silly, since Monette do have a lot more content not for delicate sensibilities, sex, rape, abuse of every kind, etc. Not very nice to her characters, she is :)
The reason that I did remember to put warning on Nightrunners is that I met people who explicitly don't read books with some or other content, like same sex pairings, explicit violence, blasphemy (or some such)...For me, all that matters is the story :)
And language of Flewelling's books is clean and precise, without embelishments, yes, but her characters are beautifully written, and they become more rounded and fleshed out with every book she writes; her world doesn't come with a glossary, but is believable and well written and with a lot of variety, though nothing quite exotic. It's a shame you didn't read all of it, bet you anything you would forget simplicity of language very quickly; there is a lot worse I can say about any of my favourite authors - Berg can't write woman's characters, Fallon's language is too stiff, Monette tends to "reveal" the same things through different characters (the whole Corambis is kind of repeating same over and over), not to say anything about her books co-written with Bear, those are really awful...etc. Though, nothing bad about Hobb, she is ever so perfect, at least in her Fitz and Fool books :)
I'd secont Bujold, though, and her Chalion books, those are quite good.

Anne wrote: "Damali wrote: "Jennifer Fallon reminds me of GRRM, but her stories are finished. The Second Sons trilogy is my all-time favorite."

I just finished that series about 2 weeks ago. It was amazing! ..."

I'm also very stingy with my 5-star ratings, but Second Sons also got all 5s from me! I love her. I'm on the prequel trilogy for the Medalon series. I agree that the first series was a littie bit rough, because it was her first, but it's still among the best I've read this year. I would read the prequel trilogy before Medalon. But start with Second Songs trilogy. It is gold!

Neda wrote: "The reason that I did remember to put warning on Nightrunners is that I met people who explicitly don't read books with some or other content, like same sex pairings, explicit violence, blasphemy (or some such)...For me, all that matters is the story :)"

Right-o.

"And language of Flewelling's books is clean and precise, without embelishments"

Ehhhhhh......I think that's a very generous interpretation of her writing skill. But to each their own. ;)

"It's a shame you didn't read all of it, bet you anything you would forget simplicity of language very quickly"

Well, I did read all of the first book -- plus a few pages of the second -- before I gave up. I may go back to it eventually....We Shall See....

"Berg can't write woman's characters"

Not much argument there, which is kinda odd given her own gender.

"not to say anything about her books co-written with Bear, those are really awful..."

Ehhh.....I didn't think they were *awful*, but they definitely weren't nearly as good as the ones she wrote alone. They lost all of Monette's distinctive style, which was a real shame.

"Though, nothing bad about Hobb, she is ever so perfect, at least in her Fitz and Fool books :)"

Hobb uses too many words. She needs to take lessons from Bujold in how to use words efficiently and economically. But I did enjoy the Fitz and Fool books very much, despite their wordiness.

"I'd second Bujold, though, and her Chalion books, those are quite good. "

Yup yup. And I noticed after I wrote my previous post that the OP didn't actually specify that it had to be **fantasy** authors -- so I would definitely recommend Bujold's Vorkosigan books to anyone who is looking for good SF written by women. :)

Contrarius wrote: "Neda wrote: "The reason that I did remember to put warning on Nightrunners is that I met people who explicitly don't read books with some or other content, like same sex pairings, explicit violence..."

ITA about Flewelling. The first book was so awful I almost didn't read the rest except I wanted to find out what happened. I was groaning and rolling my eyes and wanted to get busy with my editing pen!

And I think Carol Berg's characters are awesome - male or female.

I liked Hobb's Farseer trilogy a lot first time through, but tried a reread and had to give up I was so bored.

And I know I'm in a minority, but I HATED The Curse of Chalion, although I did enjoy the Vorkosigan books, although not 5 stars worth.

I wasn't crazy about the Nightrunners first book at all. The writing was simple and the plot seemed too complicated. It wasn't a comfortable book for me at all. Although I liked the characters and bought the next few books to see if the writing improves.
But Flewelling's The Bone Doll's Twin is so much better IMO. Like it's a different author. The first few chapters are creepier than most horror books I've read. The characterization is as good as Hobb. Even if you're not impressed by Nightrunners I'd give her other series a chance.

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "And I know I'm in a minority, but I HATED The Curse of Chalion, although I did enjoy the Vorkosigan books, although not 5 stars worth. "

I know one other person who also hated The Curse of Chalion. Y'all are both weird. ;)

Traci wrote: "But Flewelling's The Bone Doll's Twin is so much better IMO. Like it's a different author. "

Thanks for the info. I'll add em to my long long list. :)

Yes, Tamir Triad is better series than Nightrunners, though I like them both.

I wouldn't call myself homophobic (though I'm sure most homophobes wouldn't admit to it) but at the same time I'm just not very interested in the GLBT genre. So I'll pass on Fleweling and Monette. Still I do hear some good stuff about them outside just this thread, so if you are into that sort of thing they are a good suggestion.

Sheriffkilla wrote: "I wouldn't call myself homophobic (though I'm sure most homophobes wouldn't admit to it) but at the same time I'm just not very interested in the GLBT genre. So I'll pass on Fleweling and Monette. ..."

Monette isn't actually in the GLBT "genre", as such. One of her main characters is gay, and the other is straight. The two of them are brothers, not lovers. But the books do have a fair amount of sexual content, including sexual torture, so folks who are easily offended by such things really should steer clear.

As for Flewelling, there isn't any sexual content at all in the first book of the Nightrunner series, so you might check it out just to see if you like her writing style.

I tried Sarah Monette and took an immediate dislike to the characters and world. That's never a good thing.

I downloaded a sample of The Bone Doll's Twin, and didn't like the characters.

I got through the beginning of The Curse of Challion and had to reread evertything to understand what I'd read. Coudn't get used to the style, but I admit I was daydreaming about the rest of my Jennifer Fallon novels waiting for me. The story wasn't bad from what I'd read.

The Tamir Triad doesn't have any homosexuality or any sex at all, for that matter. It's just bad writing. The plot was fairly interesting and that's all that kept me going. That and that I was bored at the time.

Damali wrote: "I tried Sarah Monette and took an immediate dislike to the characters and world. That's never a good thing."

Yeah, Monette has a very strong...perspective?...on things. Strong personalities to her characters, lots of atmosphere to her worldbuilding. Kinda like strongly flavored wine or cheese. Some folks lke the taste, some don't. To each their own. :)

Oh, P.S. -- but do keep in mind that her character Felix is SUPPOSED to be a complete ass much of the time. So if you didn't like him, that was just Monette doing her job. ;)

Contrarius wrote: "Sheriffkilla wrote: "I wouldn't call myself homophobic (though I'm sure most homophobes wouldn't admit to it) but at the same time I'm just not very interested in the GLBT genre. So I'll pass on Fl..."

Well you've read the books and I haven't, however... Monette, outside fantasy, is most often filed under M-M Romance and glbt on goodreads. Same with Fleweling
Which is enough to scare me off (kidding)

Sheriffkilla wrote: "Well you've read the books and I haven't, however... Monette, outside fantasy, is most often filed under M-M Romance and glbt on goodreads. Same with Fleweling
Which is enough to scare me off (kidding) "

Yeah, and that sort of thing really irritates me. To me, it's the same as labeling a book "African American genre" just because it happens to have a black character in it. Bah, I say.

Well is it "a" gay character or is the main character gay? And if he/she is gay, does a lot of the plot/themes revolve around their sexual preference?