I'm looking for something of an anti-heroine, though I suppose that doesn't necessarily have to be true. It can just be someone that is never hesitant to use force when it is needed. She should be calm and resolute. No idealists that think that everything can be solved with smiles and rainbows. That said, I'm not looking for someone that uses violence without thinking. I don't want those hot-blooded types either.

Examples from what I've read:
Choukakou she's strong, well-versed in politics and military strategy, and is prepared to do anything to take revenge.
In Full Bloom fits, but I'd prefer one where the heroine is behind the scheming.
Black Lagoon not so much Revy maybe, but Balalaika fits.

I'm okay with ecchi, but not so much when it's really excessive.

EDIT: And it would be awesome if she was some sort of strategist.



Last edited by ImaginaryWishes at 6:46 pm, Oct 7 2013

Of those that aren't already in your reading list... maybe Ichi?

You already have Saver, Akame ga Kiru and a bunch of others in your list.

Maybe Arisa.

Kisshou Tennyo fits your description
The female lead is calm, really calm actually and pretty manipulative
But the art is so so .. well the plot makes up everything

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If you've nothing against a HWANG Mi-Ri manhwa, then maybe Love SOS might fit...

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~4400 manga completed
~1700 ongoing...

7 Seeds Has many wonderful female characters, I think you will enjoy it. (Natsu may annoy you in the first couple of chapters, but she has great character growth.)
Mother Sarah
Shuto Heru
[m]Kino no Tabi[/m] (Not a manga, but both a novel and anime, plus movies.)
Tista (It's been a while since I read this, so I'm not sure it it is or not.)
:REverSAL (I'm not sure this is what you are really looking for, but I thought she was a great lead)

Anne Freaks fits, though your mileage may vary with this one because the protagonists are not really redeeming in any way whatsoever.

Bloody Cross sort of fits, though she isn't really a schemer or anything.

Claymore fits, I think. A lot less strategy here and a lot more fighting, though.

Fushi no Ryouken might fit in the future. Not so sure about now since there's only two chapters out. The female lead does seem to plan her fights out, though, and she isn't just attacking randomly.

Yumika from Young Gun Carnaval might fit too, though I would also describe her as the "hot-blooded" type.

some of them are not ruthless per se, but they are not weak either.

franken fran
Kaibutsu Oujo
Alyosha!
Deadman Wonderland
Elfen Lied
GS Mikami Gokuraku Daisakusen!!

Seconding Kaibutsu Oujo. Its pretty much exactly what you're looking for.
Hime is ruthless, no one crosses her and gets away with it.

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Is this me in a nutshell?
Pretty much.

Teppuu

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If you want to succeed
Then you don't need Good Luck
You need the ability to overcome Bad Luck

Happines and Light needs a source to exist
Hatred fuels itself and Darkness exist where there is no Light


† Lightmare †

I think Garami from Kiba no Tabishounin - The Arms Peddler would qualify http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=53101

@Mizura I've been meaning to start Ichi for ages now. Thanks for reminding me.
@RandomUser Thanks. I'll be sure to give it a try.
@candicane I've actually read this one... forgot to put it on my complete list. But her character definitely fits. Maybe I'll read it again.
@Aremon I make it a point not to read HMR, but thanks anyway
@FrostyNoire Oh yeah, forgot about 7 Seeds. I ended up stopping a few chapters in because Natsu was very grating. But I think I'll try it again. Your other recs look interesting. REverSAL, too.
@Suxinn Thanks for the recs. They look good.
@whitespade and @silencecomes Thanks. I'll start Kaibutsu Oujo right now.
@Lightmare I'm reading that now actually (and enjoying it). But thanks anyway.
@lesterf1020 Thanks. Maybe I'll give it a try.

If anyone has more recommendations, I'd be happy to receive them.

Allumage
Azumi
Orfina
Seirei no moribito
The Scarlet chair
Destiny's hand? though only the first volumes any good...the second is abysmal.
Hishintan - Vita arcana mc's a hermaphrodite, so not female as such.
Mephisto- though its extremely adult.
Junketsu no maria
Pilgrim jager
Bakuretsu tenshi-its yuri tho apparently, read it ages ago
Dageki joi saori
Agharta-cant remember entirely though, I read it really really long ago
Rose hip rose
Marginal operation though it hasn't shown much of the female lead, more of the male lead.
Jormungand not the mc but the second mc...she gets a lot of screen time and the other girls are ruthless too.
Adamas its pretty weird, but she fits the bill XD
CAT
13
Satanister
Tokage
Raiders
Tokyo ghoul-the girl in its ruthless but the mc is pathetic. not the kind of pathetic you hate though...well maybe it is and im clouded by the great manga XD