The Obelisk Gate (The Broken Earth, #2)

by N.K. Jemisin

There is such a thing as too much loss. Too much has been taken from you both—taken and taken and taken, until there’s nothing left but hope, and you’ve given that up because it hurts too much. Until you would rather die, or kill, or avoid attachments altogether, than lose one more thing.

Mama is not here, and death is, and her father is the only person left in the world who loves her, even though his love comes wrapped in pain.

but what good is power if it comes on a spiked leash?

You’re from so many places. In every one of them you learned that roggas and stills can never live together.

Love is no inoculation against murder.

It’s not hate that you’re seeing. Hate requires emotion. What this woman has simply done is realize you are a rogga, and decide that you aren’t a person, just like that. Indifference is worse than hate.