I'm trying to remember the title of a fantasy novel I read years ago. I remember reading it in paperback format in the early to mid 90's, so I'm guessing it was written in the 80's or 90's. The protagonist was a female. I believe she had red hair and lived in a castle. I know the climactic scene involved her climbing a tower and facing various magical obstacles before facing off with some kind of wizard type character. I also want to say that fire played some integral part, but I can't remember for sure. Anyone know this book?
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2Uhm...I was about to suggest that the description is applicable to too many possible books, but a thought occurs: did the magic system revolve around knot-work?– dmckee --- ex-moderator kittenCommented Feb 19, 2012 at 18:31
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1- 1, this is far to general to be anything but a guessing game– Frames Catherine WhiteCommented Sep 1, 2013 at 10:23
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4 Answers
Did she kill dragons before facing off with the wizard? If so, could it be The Hero and the Crown, by Robin McKinley? It was published in 1984 and features a red-haired heroine who develops a protection against fire that allows her to kill dragons. Near the end of the book she climbs a magical tower to fight a wizard. There's a summary of the story here.
This makes me think of the Darkover series by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I just Googled it and one of the novels in the series is called 'Stormqueen!: A Darkover Novel'. The cover has a redhead atop a tower with lightning all around. There was lots of magic in that series, strong female characters, issues about using magical powers, hiding magical powers, escaping from towers, etc. I read the series in the 80's.
answered Aug 29, 2012 at 5:15
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Darkover has psi powers, but not magic. No wizards. And Dorilys, pictured on the cover you included, did not climb the tower; she lived in that castle.– BasyaCommented Sep 6, 2017 at 7:24
Could it be "Bronwyn’s Bane" by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough? It was published in 1984. The cover shows a red-headed female warrior fighting some kind of serpent with a castle in the background. I did read it, but it was many years ago and I don't remember all the details.
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A notable thing about "Bronwyn's Bane" was that she was cursed at a young age and unable to tell the truth.– EdwardSCommented Dec 15, 2012 at 3:25
I know this is late, but was it a series? A quartet perhaps? Possibly The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce? I'm not sure when it was written, but the first book in the quartet (Alanna - the First Adventure) definitely
