More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Nesryn was so focused on the wall ahead that she didn’t consider where the click had come from. Not in front, but below. One heartbeat, she was crouched on a step. The next, it had slid away beneath her feet, a black pit yawning open beneath— Strong hands wrapped around her shoulder,
TOD - she didn’t even scream????
But then she was up, half sprawled on the stairs between Sartaq’s legs, both of them panting as they peered to the gap beyond.
TOD - he’s so strong I’m sick
The prince clasped her shoulder, while his other hand brushed down the back of her head. A comforting, casual touch.
TOD - what’s a hair stroke between besties
“It says, Look up. Pity you didn’t heed it.” Nesryn indeed looked up at what emerged from the stairwell, crawling along the ceiling toward them, and swallowed her scream.
TOD - she is a spooky bitxh
“I don’t have any of those—and I do not know him that well.” As Borte frowned, Nesryn added, “But I can sing for you.”
TOD - maybe the scariest thing so far
Sartaq pivoted them, his body a solid wall around hers as Nesryn realized where the sky was, where the pass floor was— He roared as they struck the shale, as he kept her atop him, taking the full brunt of the impact.
TOD - this is just so kind
Chaol snorted, and the prince straightened. “Good luck to anyone who tries to go after Rowan Whitethorn.” “Because Aelin will burn them to ash?” Hasar asked with poisoned sweetness. But it was Kashin who answered softly, “Because Rowan Whitethorn will always be the person who walks away from that encounter. Not the assailant.”
TOD - Kashin is the only smart one tbh. Rowan is everythingggggg
“Don’t you even consider it,” Chaol said too quietly. “She’s full of shit.”
TOD - god this is such a good line.
Yrene knew she was a dead woman. Knew it the moment Hasar hit the dark water and everyone leaped to their feet, shouting and drawing blades.
TOD - but honesty she deserved to be pushed
Aelin frightens everyone.” He snorted. “But not him. I think that’s why she fell in love with him, against her best intentions. Rowan beheld all Aelin was and is, and he was not afraid.”
TOD - he is NOT afraid
“I bought it,” Chaol clarified instead, “so you could keep whatever it is you always carry in your pocket inside. So you don’t have to keep moving it from dress to dress. Whatever it is.” Surprise lighted her eyes. “You know?” “I don’t know what it is, but I see you holding something in there all the time.”
TOD - no matter what he’s done, Chaols redeeming quality will always be that he pays attention to the people he cares about
Yrene’s knees hit the mattress behind them, and she drew her lips away enough to protest, “Your back—” “I’ll manage.”
TOD - GET IT YRENE
“I loved you before I ever set eyes on you,” he said. “Please,” Nesryn wept. Sartaq’s hand tightened on hers. “I wish we’d had time.”
TOD - stop it I’m bawling
“We wait for the Queen of the Valg,” the spider purred, rubbing against the carving. “Who in this world calls herself Maeve.”
TOD - shaken to my very core honestly
But the spider only whispered, “Hurry.”
TOD - the stress I felt
A knife flashed, and then a section of Sartaq’s braid was in his outstretched hand. She didn’t hesitate. Just wrapped the braid around the fabric, holding the arrow out for him as he struck the flint over and over. Sparks
TOD - burning hair smells so bad tho
Borte.
TOD - what if I married Borte?
Yafa Towers She did not feel the hard bite of stone as she fell to her knees. As she read that name, the date—the date from two hundred years ago.
TOD - this is so sweet?
“The darkness belongs to you. To shape as you will. To give it power or render it harmless.” “Was it ever the Valg’s to begin with?” His words echoed into nothing. “Yes. But it is yours to keep now. This place, this final kernel of it.” It would remain in him, a scar and a reminder. “Will it grow again?” “Only if you let it. Only if you do not fill it with better things. Only if you do not forgive.”
TOD - so obsessed with this :(
“Then it is a good thing, Yrene Towers, that I love you as well.”
TOD - Chaol deserves to feel love . There I said it
Nesryn had slept the entirety of the day before. Not in her room, but curled in bed beside the prince now standing with her before the assembled group. They had both been patched up and bathed, and though Sartaq had not so much as kissed her … Nesryn had not objected when he led her by the hand and limped into his bedroom. So they had slept.
TOD - very intimate tbh
Falkan wept. Put his head in his hands and wept when Nesryn told him what she suspected. She did not know much of Lysandra’s personal history,
TOD - I am so happy that this gets to be said
Chaol took a shuddering breath. “What did Aelin promise you?” Hasar smiled to herself. “A better world.”
TOD - Hasar is an asshole I hope she decided to help
Duva. The khagan’s now-youngest daughter. She smiled at them as they approached—and the expression was not human. It was Valg.
TOD - WHAT
Duva climbed to her feet, long splinters embedded in her neck, blood dripping from her mouth. Black blood.
TOD - this is a horror movie
Then Yrene was not there. Then she was on the stones, thrown to the side as Chaol hurled himself between her and the princess. No shield, no weapon. Only his back, utterly exposed, as he shoved Yrene away and took the full brunt of the Valg attack.
TOD - jumping in front of an attack is such a wild move but I’m in love with him for it
The damage is too great. There must be a cost if it is to be repaired. All those lights seemed to hesitate at that otherworldly voice. Yrene brushed herself along them, waded through them like a field of white flowers, the lights bobbing and swaying in this quiet place of pain. Not lights … but healers. She knew their lights, their essences. Eretia—that was Eretia closest to her. The voice that was both Hafiza and Other said again, There must be a cost. For what the princess had done to him … There was no returning from it. I will pay it. Yrene said into the pain and dark and light. A daughter
...more
TOD - this entire scene is wrecking me
And the most powerful man on the earth fell to his knees before that couch and reached for his daughter. Crushed her against him.
TOD - this is very cute
The front gates to her uncle’s house banged open. And as she saw her father standing there, as her sister shoved past, her children pouring out in a shrieking gaggle … Nesryn fell to her knees and wept.
TOD - this is too much for my heart to handle
But I also told him that the woman I love now plans to head into war. And I intend to follow her.” She didn’t let the words sink in. Didn’t let herself believe any of it, until he’d finished. “He told me that you are common-born. That a would-be Heir of the khagan needs to wed a princess, or a lady, or someone with lands and alliances to offer.” Her throat closed up. She tried to shut out the sound, the words. Didn’t want to hear the rest. But Sartaq took her hand. “I told him if that was what it took to be chosen as Heir, I didn’t want it. And I walked out.”
TOD - Sataq is like classic nice guy and I’m in love with that
“Because my father appointed me Heir before I could walk out of the room.”
TOD - smartest thing he’s ever done
she tried to bow, Sartaq gripped her shoulders tightly. Stopped her before her head could even lower. “Never from you,” he said quietly.
TOD - obsessed with thisssss
“Keep it a while longer,” he said softly. “I think there’s someone who will want to see that.”
TOD - imagine how much time would be saved if he just read the note on the first day
He had been hunting for her since the moment she was taken from him. His mate.
KOA - ROWAN 😭
He rose a heartbeat before a joyous “Aedion!” sang over the stones. Evangeline was beaming,
KOA - wholesome
The white wolf was watching her again.
KOA - I am already crying
One blink for yes. Two for no. Three for Are you all right? Four for I am here, I am with you. Five for This is real, you are awake.
KOA - nah stop I can’t do this
Fenrys again blinked three times. Are you all right?
KOA - nah nah nah
Aelin swallowed against the thickness in her throat, her tongue peeling off the roof of her mouth. She blinked once. Yes.
KOA - my heart HURTS
She counted his blinks. Six. He’d made that one up. Liar, or something like it. She refused to acknowledge that particular code.
KOA - literally being tortured but still funny
Four blinks. I am here, I am with you.
Though nothing had been declared between them, their bedrolls still wound up beside each other every night.
KOA - okay besties
Dorian dared a step forward. “Am I human?” Gavin’s sapphire eyes softened—just barely. “I’m not the person who can answer that.” And then the king was gone.
KOA - tell me!!!!
he’d had to resort to giving his cut-up shirt to Whitethorn and Gavriel to hand to her for her cycle. He’d threatened to skin them alive if they’d said it was his, and Elide, with her human sense of smell, hadn’t scented him on the fabric.
KOA - Lorcan is a true ally
He’d broken something. Something precious beyond measure. He’d never cared until now. Even the severed blood oath, still gaping wide within his soul, didn’t come close to the hole in his chest when he looked at her.
KOA - I need my 2 besties to have a conversation immediately to work this out
It should have been his magic helping her. Touching her skin.
KOA - Lorcan is literally so in love with her
“I didn’t crawl after Maeve.” She halted, hair swaying. Slowly, she glanced over her shoulder. Imperious and cold as the stars overhead. “I crawled …” His throat bobbed. “I crawled after Aelin.”
KOA - I am howling please stop this pain
Lorcan swallowed. “I tried to get to her. To Aelin. I tried to get to that box.” He added so quietly only Elide could hear it, “I promise.”
KOA - I’m crying for him
The Lion murmured to her, “He wasn’t lying, you know.”
KOA - stop this is too much
It was the hand on her rounded belly. She stared toward him, hair still flowing. Behind her, four small figures emerged. Rowan fell to his knees.
KOA - punching me in the face would hurt less
