Fantasy has a long history of heroes--but for many of the early years of fantasy (YA or adult), most of these heroes were men. But in recent years, authors like Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, Laini Taylor, Maggie Stiefvater have dominated ranks of YA fantasy authors, and their heroines have been just as beloved. In this panel, YA authors and fans discuss the rise of these strong female heroes, the many variations they take (from warriors and assassins to mystics and magicians), and why we love them (and sometimes, love to hate them).