Josiane Claremont

“What you are, what we all are, is an illusion. Accept the pretense of your own existence, and you can extend the illusion. You have always been the pilot of a vessel. You simply became accustomed to thinking of the cells that make up your body as yourself, even though you could lose much of those cells and still exist. Once you understand that spirit metal is not so different, you can unlock its true potential.”
― Xiran Jay Zhao, Heavenly Tyrant

“If I wanted you dead, I would not resort to poison. Poison is for cowards. I’d break your neck like a real man”
― Xiran Jay Zhao, Heavenly Tyrant

“Ridoc bedhops like a fucking frog, but no, let’s give me crap.” We make it a few steps before none of us can smother our laughs. “A frog?” Ridoc grins from Sawyer’s left. “That’s the best you can do? A frog?” “Tara and I are old news.” Rhi shrugs. “Leadership is hard on both our schedules. We’re together when we have time, but it’s not like we’re seeing other people.” She shoots a sideways glance my way. “But he’s right, you and Riorson bicker like you’ve been married fifty years and neither of you wants to do the dishes.” “That is not true,” I protest as Sawyer nods. “Agreed,” Ridoc says. “And it’s always the same fight.” He lifts his hand to his chest. “I’ll trust you if you stop keeping secrets!” He drops the hand and scowls. “It’s my secretive nature that attracted you, and why can’t you just stay out of harm’s way for five fucking minutes?” Rhi laughs so hard she nearly chokes. I narrow my gaze on Ridoc. “Keep talking, and I’ll plant my dagger somewhere that prevents all frog-like activity.”
― Rebecca Yarros, Onyx Storm

“Violence is not the answer, they say! But what do they count as violence, pray tell? Do they count it when landlords buy up all housing with their existing wealth and then grow even wealthier off of tenants they would not hesitate to throw into the cold? Is it not violence when a hospital turns away a patient for being unable to pay for treatment? Is it not violence when a laborer breaks his body in a factory, only to receive a mere fraction of the profits from his work?”
― Xiran Jay Zhao, Heavenly Tyrant