thoughts while reading

quotes

  I draw my sword, and he does, too, the scrape of metal loud in the room. I hear distant laughter, but here in the hall, we are alone.
  My hands are sweating, but this had the feeling of inevitability, as though this is what I was careening toward the whole time, my whole life.
  "You can't beat me."
  "I already have."

  "I imagine you're not feeling quite yourself," I tell him.
  His sword sags a little, and he looks at me in sudden comprehension. "What have you done?"
  "I poisoned you. Don't worry. It was a small enough dose. You'll live."
  "The cups of wine," he says.   "But how did you know which one I would choose?"
  "I didn't," I tell him. "I poisoned them both."

  "Have I told you how hideous you look tonight?" Carden asks, leaning back in the elaborately carved chair, the warmth of his words turning the question into something like a complement.
  "No," I say, glad to be annoyed back into the present. "Tell me."
  "I cannot."

thoughts while reading

thoughts while reading

quotes

There is not a single cynical thought to deny the fact that she may be the most beautiful woman I've ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. She's intimidatingly peaceful — a contradiction in itself. And I almost want to despise her for it. Because I fear there is a chance that I may begin to enjoy her

"See the world however you'd like, but at least watch your step while you do it."

I raise a palm in mock surrender. "Fine. I'm surprised you could stop smiling long enough to tell me off."

   "There," he says blandly, stepping back to admire his work. "No chance of you bloodying my fabric now."
   "Might look more realistic that way," I offer with a tilt of my head. "Have you seen how stained most Imperial uniforms are?"
   "Dammit, Adena," he huffs. "Maybe mention that before I heroically tend to your wound."

   What a pathetic attempt at nonchalance. As if I don't admire the shine of each ringlet, or the way they cling to each other in an intertwining hug. As if I can stop myself from staring at the column of her neck when she pulls that curly hair into a messy knot, the forgotten strands like swirling ink down her back.
   As if I can stop myself from admiring how easily a laugh parts her soft lips. The way the sun warms her skin, as though she was meant to be cloaked in light. It's how joy bubbles out of her in the form of clapping hands and endearing rambles. It's the way my thoughts never cease to wander towards her, my heart falling senselessly after.
   And I fear that I've admired every inch of her.

As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.

thoughts while reading

I didn't tell him that the diagnosis came three months after I got my first period. Like: Congratulations! You're a woman. Now die.

"Kind of hard to believe anyone could ever find that annoying," Augustus said after a while.
"People always get used to beauty, though."
"I haven't gotten used to you just yet," he answered, smiling

"Do you know why I left America, Lidewij? So that I would never again have to encounter Americans."

"Like all sick children," he answered dispassionately, "you say you don't want pity, but your very existence depends upon it."

"I think it's lucky that I've got a Cross mum and a Nought dad."
"Why?"
"Cause I can't go round liking one and not the other, can I? Cause I'm both."

thoughts while reading

"And it's just as silly to say a nought could be...well, Prime Minister one day. I mean, that is soooooo never going to happen."

Lucas had the self-confidence that came from being told every day of his life that he was good enough. Tobey had the self-confidence that came from having to work that out for himself.