Red Seas Under Red Skies (Gentleman Bastard, #2)

by Scott Lynch

‘As for history, we are living in its ruins. And as for biographies, we are living with the consequences of all the decisions ever made in them. I tend not to read them for pleasure. It’s not unlike carefully scrutinizing the map when one has already reached the destination.’

feeling like you wanted desperately to die was fine evidence that you had yet to do so.

Which system of laws should I bend to, Orrin? Which king or duke or empress should I trust like a mother? Which of them is a better judge of my life’s worth than I am? Can you point them out to me, write a letter of introduction?’