More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
I’d never fallen in love with a person so fast.
“It’s about a woman named Sora who sailed across the horizon. She was gone for a hundred years, but when she returned to Calandra, she brought with her creatures and animals our realm had never seen. Some believe that is where our monsters came from. Not the new gods, but a god we’ve never known. A god more powerful than any other. It always made me wonder. What other stories are out there? What if some are true? What if we’ve burned too many books?”
This lore must be leading somewhere....
Luella snarled. “I should have known Evie would follow me. That girl.” “She’s too much like her mother,” Cathlin said.
“My queen demanded a sword.”
I spent a week learning how to wield it. A week scrambling around Ellder’s training center, dodging blows and falling on my ass. A week earning the Guardian’s frowns and scowls and grumbled critiques. It was the best week I’d had in a long time.
The people here would not go down without a fight. They were as loyal as they were brave.
“He’s not one for sharing names,”
Lol the shade
The tenderness he had with her might be my undoing.
But as with all of their creations, everything born from Ama and Oda was a twin.
Everything?
The crater was Calandra. We were born of Aurinda’s heart. And the Guardian had given his horse her name.
Why is this so cute?
“I’m not supposed to tell anyone that,” she mumbled.
Poor Evie
“Papa says that, too. That he’ll tell me someday. Someday, I’m gonna know lots.”
“What do we do?” “We?” “Yes.” I was part of this now. This country. I glanced at Evie. This family. Whether they wanted me or not.
“We kill the monsters. We kill them all. Every last one.” Him. He meant to kill the monsters. Then himself.
“They don’t care?” “The Shield of Sparrows prevents war, my queen. It does not require allegiance.”
“Hold tight, little star.”
Evie <3
“Yes,” I lied. “I’m fine.” If fine meant seconds from screaming or crying or both.
She dipped her chin. “My queen.” “Ugh.” I groaned. “You’ve been spending too much time with him.”
I could use a cuddle and a hug.
Same
The Voster’s eyes were the same dark-green shade as blood from the infected monsters. That couldn’t be a coincidence.
“When I grow up, I’m going to have a pet monster.
“That you’re bright and beautiful. That you’re brave, even in the night.”
“Possibly. I’m not sure. But I intend to find out. And if someone did create it, then I’ll string the fucker from his entrails and watch him rot while the crows pick the meat from his bones.”
Okay sir
“Please don’t ask me to sit idly by and do nothing. Not while people are dying.”
Please let me try to help. Don’t shut me out. I’m so tired of being the last to know what everyone already does. I’m not a warrior. I’m not a scholar or healer or even a decent princess. But I’m capable. I taught myself how to whistle. How to shoot a crossbow with marginal accuracy. I haven’t cut myself with my own knife or sword. I can help. I want to help. Please?”
“Odessa, wait.” It wasn’t his order that made me stop. It was my name. I was always Cross or Sparrow or my queen. But rarely Odessa. I’d never loved my name more.
Love
“Please don’t touch me like that again.” “Odessa, I—”
Girrrrrl.
The freedom of choice. So I could decide where I wanted to go. Where I wanted to live. Who I could become.
“No need to be shy, my queen.” I gave him a flat look. “Just incredibly uninterested in your sex life.” “Noted.” He smirked.
“That’s a monster.” “Does it have to be?”
“I want to keep it.”
Lol
“Would you kill me if necessary?” The question startled me into silence. So we stared at each other, a dying monster in my arms, and I realized that he was asking for the same mercy. That if he became a monster, if he lost control, he’d want a quick death. “Yes,” I whispered. “If I must.”
“You asked for my name,” he said. “You told me I had to earn it.” He nodded. “Ransom. My name is Ransom.”
“Tired, my queen?” Exhausted.
“And Zavier?” “He was the first to promise. And when the time comes for my death, I’d prefer it be his blade.”
Ransom might have ruled out a cure. But I hadn’t. Not yet.
“Spoken like a queen.” “Stop.” I bristled, swatting him away. “I don’t want to be a queen.” “Tough shit.”
“You’re really keeping the cat?” Ransom asked. “Did you think I’d change my mind?” “Honestly? Yes.” I smiled at Faze. “I guess I have a soft spot for monsters.”
“I would never cause trouble.” “That you actually believe yourself is the most terrifying part of that statement.”
“Shall we, my queen?”
“Legend tamer.”
According to her, the road is treacherous. It is guarded by a stone wall, and the only way to be granted entrance through the gates is by blood oath.”
“No one in Allesaria created Lyssa.” “How do you know?” “I just do.”
I want to know why he's so sure.
“All right. Do you have a problem with Ramsey?” “Something like that.”
Daddy issues
“What?” I whispered. Tell me. Just tell me. He shook his head. “Nothing. Good night, my queen.”
Yearn.
one of these dawn rendezvous?”
Hoping for a different kind of dawn rendezvous
But… Could I betray the Turans? No. No, I couldn’t.
He might not trust me. But somewhere along the way, he’d earned my loyalty.
“Coward.” His eyebrows arched. “What did you call me, Princess?” “I called you a coward.” The gasps at my back only fueled my rage. “Watch yourself, girl. Your ignorance is showing.” “As is your true nature,” I spat. “Only fools and liars burn books and people’s homes.”
