My favourite books are always the ones with the girls who like to kick ass first, and take names later.

These girls don't have to be constantly spitting one liners like Buffy, nor do they need to be a contender for a spot as the fourth Charlie's Angel. But they do need to own their stories and make me actually care if they survive it or not.

Narrowing these down to just three was hard work - but here are the winners.

3. Aria - Under the Never Sky (Veronica Rossi) 

Aria is one of my favourite characters ever. She amazes me constantly throughout the whole book.
Aria has grown up in Reverie, a pod in which it's residents are protected from the world outside and it's deadly Aether storms. A place where she is kept safe, until the day that she is thrown out to die.
The reason that Aria is so kick ass is the way that she adapts from a protected pod dweller. She learns to hunt, and how to survive outside like it is the most natural thing to her. She has strong survival instincts and, even though she gains the help of outsiders, she doesn't ever rely on anybody to keep her alive.

2. Bella Swan - Twilight Trilogy (Stephanie Meyer)

Don't leave just yet. I do have my reasons.

Bella is probably one of the most discussed characters in any of the recent YA offerings. She has divided fans, and caused many arguments. But mostly I see people saying that she is weak and stupid. So it's probably a shock that I think she is a Kick Ass female.

But consider this - Bella moved across the country, leaving everything and everybody she knew, to live with a father that she had barely seen through her childhood. She joined a new high school, mid year, with no friends and no idea where they were in their curriculum.
She then fell in love, only to learn that the boy she loved and his family were blood sucking predators that could kill her as quickly and easily as breaking a nail. And her best friend is a wolf who's natural instinct is to kill the boyfriend and his family.
Oh, and add to that the fact that rogue vampires, vampire royalty and her own unborn child all try to kill her. Yet, Bella Swan keeps biting her lip and keeps on going.

I don't know about you, but I think that anyone who can deal with all of that is pretty darn kick ass.

1. America Singer - The selection Trilogy (Kiera Cass)

America Singer gets herself accidentally selected to battle it out against 34 other girls in a bachelor style competition to marry the Prince. A wedding that she most definitely doesn't want to be a part of, let alone the bride.
In my opinion, what makes America kick ass is the fact that, although she most definitely doesn't want to be there, she also cannot go home and face the love of her life who has broken her heart. So she is honest! This makes her one of the most kick ass girls in fiction. She doesn't lie or cheat. She tells the Prince the truth and is classy about it. She offers compromises, and acts like a real lady to the other girls and to the palace staff. She's intelligent, witty, fair and the epitome of a true, honest Princess. Quite ironic really.


So there it is... my top three. Who are yours?