Rae Carson > Quotes

“That queen of yours played me like a vihuela, didn't she?”
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

“It’s the highest art form, deceiving without lying. A word is the only thing in the world made more powerful by absence than existence.”
― Rae Carson, The Bitter Kingdom

“Don't be daft, I love you."
He grins, "You've never said.”
― Rae Carson, The Bitter Kingdom

“It's possible I've been through too much, lost too much. War damages different people in different ways; Hector taught me that. King Alejandro became spineless and incapable. His father before him was rash and unpredictable, if I'm to believe court gossip. Perhaps this is my damage. Maybe I am numb to fear because I am broken.”
― Rae Carson, The Bitter Kingdom

“I love everything about him. I love that he cares so much about honor and duty. I love how, when he’s working hardest to mask his feelings, they’re actually leaking out all over the place. I love the way his hair curls when it gets wet, his slightly crooked smile, the way he smells. When he laughs, I feel it in my toes.”
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

“Hector!” He whips around. “You were never, never, going to be just a diversion to me.” He sighs, nodding. “That was unfair of me,” he says. “I’m sorr—” “And you will kiss me again. That and more. Count on it.”
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

“You faced him down like a seasoned warrior," he [Hector] says.
"Only because I had your daggers at my back.”
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

“I hadn't realized having ones life saved could be so humiliating.”
― Rae Carson, The Girl of Fire and Thorns

“Prophecy is a tricky thing, I have learned, full of edges and secret meanings and mischief. Prophecy can feel like the betrayal of a dear friends, the disappointment of a lifetime, the hope of a nation.”
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

“For love is more beautiful than rubies, sweeter than honey, finer than the king’s wine. And no one has greater love than he who gives his own life for a friend. My love is like perfume poured out—”
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

“How do women all know what to do with babies? It's like they have their own special kind of sorcery.”
― Rae Carson, The King's Guard

“Well maybe you'll get lucky. Maybe you'll marry a man who is rich and powerful and wise AND wonderful to be naked with.'

I can't help the giggle that bubbles from my mouth.

'Maybe,' she says, 'you should ask all your suitors to drop their breeches so you can inspect the merchandise.'

'Mara!'

'You could make it a royal command.'

I toss a pillow at her.”
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

“I saw the way she looked at you. You are life and breath for her."
He's wrong about that. Elisa loves fiercely, it's true. But she loves with her heart and mind. If she comes for me, it will be part of a larger plan to rescue all of Joya.”
― Rae Carson, The Bitter Kingdom

“Mara leans over and whispers in my ear, “I know you’re charmingly naive when it comes to matters of the heart, but you just stopped him in his tracks.”
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

“Lying isn't going to make you into a hero.”
― Rae Carson

“Storm explains, "Joyans find Invierno names complicated and incomprehensible."
I glare at him. Storm and I were going to have a conversation about 'complicated and incomprehensible" versus 'over-wrought and inefficient'.”
― Rae Carson, The Bitter Kingdom

“Just thinking about her makes you shine with her fire.”
― Rae Carson, The Bitter Kingdom

“Blessed is he who walks the path of God. He shall stray neither to the left nor the right, for the righteous right hand guides him for all days.”
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

“May I document your recovery? It's such a devastating and fascinating injury.”
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

“One thing I have learned from many years of watching my father is that some people, the best ones, are motivated more by the chance to prove themselves than by a command to serve. It is the work itself that calls them onward, especially if they believe they are the only ones who can do it.”
― Rae Carson, The Shadow Cats

“We have a saying. My people call it 'choosing the path of fewest lashes.'"
"That's terrible," I murmur; half to myself.
"You mistake 'terrible' for 'different,'" he says. "You have a similar say, do you not? 'The lesser of two evils'?”
― Rae Carson, The Bitter Kingdom

“Always”
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

“I cover his hand with my own: "The Champion must not waver," he says in my ear. "Yea, though SHE pass through the shadow of darkness, SHE shall not fear, for God's righteous right hand shall sustain her and give her new life triumphant.”
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

“it’s not our place to question God’s will, and it is clearly God’s will that the two of us become man and wife.” It’s a testament to my fine character that I don’t smash that Bible right into his nose. “You wouldn’t know God’s will if it tipped its hat and said howdy.”
― Rae Carson, Walk on Earth a Stranger

“My supposed destiny can drown itself in the deepest part of the sea. Along with everyone else's plans for me.”
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

“Fuss is reserved for sons.”
― Rae Carson, The Girl of Fire and Thorns

“Every place there's people, there's badness.”
― Rae Carson, Walk on Earth a Stranger

“I make my hand my whole world. Hand hand hand hand. I push through the sand and light and heat, and with every bit of strength I have in me, I squeeze back.”
― Rae Carson, The Crown of Embers

“All I know of Inviernos is bloodshed and cruelty and rage and..." Her voice trails off as tears fill her eyes.
"And me," Storm says softly. "You know me.”
― Rae Carson, The Bitter Kingdom

“Thank you for lending me the use of your maid. I tragically lost my lady-in-waiting on our journey and found Cosme's presence such a comfort.”
― Rae Carson, The Girl of Fire and Thorns