A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers, #1)

by Brigid Kemmerer

One of the children laughs, full out, with pure glee. I snap my head around. Grey has laid his cloak in the snow for the children to stand on. He looks to be making ridiculous faces at them. A little boy of about four has found the courage to step in front of his mother, and the toddler giggles between shivers and says, “Again, again.” When Grey sees me looking, he straightens and sobers immediately.

Similar to what I said earlier about Lilith being cruel but beautiful, I love having characters do the unexpected, like an intimidating swordsman like Grey being good with children.