Tamora Pierce

Tamora Pierce writes terrific books for young adults and adults alike. I enjoyed her Circle of Magic series, but I prefer her Alanna, Wild Magic and Protector of the Small series. She has very strong female protagonists. My teenage daughter and I pre-order her books, we enjoy them so much! These books are entertaining and fairly light.
Author's Website: http://www.tamora-pierce.com/

The Song of the Lioness quartet

Junior High and up

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Tamora Pierce has strong and stubborn female heroes. In this series, Alanna, trades places with her twin brother and disguises herself as a boy to train to be a knight. Set in a medieval setting with mythical creatures thrown in these tales are of characters who work through challenges.

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Alanna: The First Adventure
In The Hand of the Goddess
The Woman Who Rides Like A Man
Lioness Rampant

The Immortals Quartet

Junior High and up

This series by Tamora Pierce I have re-read several times. It is based in the same land as the Lioness series and takes place where they left off, but from an entirely different perspective. The characters are well developed. It is a fast read.

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Wild Magic
Wolf Speaker
The Emperor Mage
The Realms of the Gods

The Protector of the Small Quartet

Junior High and up

Another female heroine who defies the odds and stays true to her ideals. The series takes you from probation to page to squire to knight at the side of Kel who strives to train to be a knight without the advantage of being disguised as a boy. It is a good read.

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First Test
Page
Squire
Lady Knight

Trickster

Junior High and up

This is the story of Alanna's daughter. It is a good read, though slightly less engaging than the others, especially the second story. The plot is full of intrigue, but things fall into place a little too patly, and although the heroes are likeable, it does not have the depth of some of her other books. Here is Amazon's review:
At the center of each of these books is always a strong and resourceful young woman who masters the arts of swordplay and knightly warfare in the magical medieval country of Tortall. Alianne, or Aly, daughter of the warrior queen Alanna the Lioness, has all these skills, but also a delicious sense of humor, which serves her well when she is chosen by the trickster god Kyprioth to serve as his secret agent and a slave for a year in the embattled Copper Isles. There the dark-skinned natives, or raka, have been conquered and crushed by the laurin, light-skinned people from the mainland. The burning raka resentment is fueled by prophecies of a twice royal queen who will free them, aided by the "wise one, the cunning one, the strong one, the warrior, and the crows." Just how each of the colorful characters and Aly herself fit into this prophecy and Kyprioth’s tricky plan keeps readers guessing.

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Trickster's Choice
Trickster's Queen

Circle of Magic & The Circle Opens

Junior High and up

These eight books are not in the same universe as the previous series. The Circle of Magic is based on the four stories of four children, each very different, who combine magics in a crisis situation and become more than they were and fast friends. The first four books introduce the children as students of magic, the last four books continue their stories as they in turn, find themselves teaching students of their own.

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Magic Circle: Sandry's Book
Magic Circle: Tris's Book
Magic Circle: Daja's Book
Magic Circle: Briar's Book

The Circle Opens: Magic Steps
The Circle Opens: Street Magic
The Circle Opens: Cold Fire
The Circle Opens: Shatterglass

The Will of the Empress