TTT | Favorite Female Friendships

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly topic hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week she provides a topic, and you are free to use that topic and/or variations of that topic to make your top ten list. A full list of the weekly themes can be found here.

I love some great, non-toxic female friendships, so that’s what I’m focusing on for this Tuesday’s post!

Nina Zenik & Inej Ghafa (from the Grishaverse) – So many of the female friendships in Leigh Bardugo’s books are amazing. But these two just fill my heart with joy. There’s never any competition between them, nor any body shaming, which yes, we love!! I just love how they are there for each other, even if it’s just sitting next to the other one.

“Nina Zenik, as soon as I figure out where you’ve put my knives, we’re going to have words.”

“The first ones had better be Thank you, oh great Nina, for dedicating every waking moment of this miserable journey to saving my sorry life.”

Jesper expected Inej to laugh and was startled when she took Nina’s face between her hands and said, “Thank you for keeping me in this world when fate seemed determined to drag me to the next. I owe you a life debt.”

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

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Signa and Blythe (from Belladonna) – These two started off a little stand-offish from each other but as the book goes on, their friendship really becomes something to root for. They’re two women in Victorian times who have no autonomy or standing in society besides to be married off, so they relate to the sexism and patriarchy that runs rampant. Also, their friendship deepens once they both realize that neither likes this patriarchy system and want more for themselves.

“Nonsense.” Blythe tsked. “If you think it a work of art, then wear it and become the art yourself. I know how much you’re looking forward to the ball, and if I cannot be there to steal all the attention, you must do so for me.”

Signa laughed. “I suppose I’ve no other choice.” There was a warmth in her heart that she’d not felt in some time. “This is the most extraordinary thing anyone has ever given to me. Thank you.”

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

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Julie & Maddie (from Code Name Verity) – The book itself is about the importance of friendship and finding your best friend. How Wein writes these two characters is so beautiful and heartbreaking that you can’t help but love both of them and their friendship.

“Kiss me, Hardy!’ Weren’t those Nelson’s last words at the Battle of Trafalgar? Don’t cry. We’re still alive and we make a sensational team.”

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

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Ning & Princess Zhen (from The Book of Tea series) – These two did have a rocky start in the first book, but that has to do more with the fact that one is a princess and the other is, well, not. Near the end of the first, and definitely in the second one, the friendship that does develop between these two is so deep but also filled with such an immense amount of trust since their whole kingdom has gone through a coup. Absolutely beautiful!

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Zoya & Genya (from the Grishaverse) – Ugh, Zoya’s depth of care for all the people she loves just hits me every time! The way Leigh Bardugo writes these two in Nikolai’s duology is beautiful and handled with such care to the situation and to the two characters and their personalities. I just cannot!! (Also, I love the growth with Zoya in the Nikolai duology because in Shadow and Bone, she completely despises Alina. But in King of Scars and Rule of Wolves, anytime someone even hints at tarnishing Alina’s reputation or thinking of saying a bad word about her, Zoya is ready to throw down, and Nikolai has to hold her back).

“I can’t do this,” Genya whispered. Her face was swollen from crying. Her vibrant hair lay limp down her back.

“You don’t have to do anything,” Zoya said. “Just be here. Stay standing.”

“Not even that.”

“I’ve got you. I won’t let you fall.”

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo