Gavin

“Do you suppose you could go an entire paragraph without resorting to profanity?” “Maybe,” M supposed, “but why chance it?”
― Daniel Polansky, A City Dreaming

“I heard you had all the brains around here but Leo, why didn’t you tell me how very handsome he is?’ ‘Well …’ Leo cleared his throat. ‘I suppose that’s not the sort of thing a man notices …”
― Joe Abercrombie, The Trouble With Peace

“Leo prodded at his fish. ‘Just feels like there are too many brown faces around in Adua these days.’ ‘Too many for what? The people who come here are hard workers. They bring wealth and energy and new ideas. There are great thinkers among them. Great engineers. And how would you stop them, anyway? Make us less prosperous?’ Leo did not look convinced. He was not a man much moved by reason. ‘We fought a war against the Gurkish,’ he grumbled. ‘You fought a war against the Northmen. Some of your best friends are still Northmen.’ He actually looked slightly offended. ‘Not all Northmen are the same, you know.”
― Joe Abercrombie, The Trouble With Peace

“Summer had barely begun and already the city of Janloon was like a spent lover—sticky and fragrant.”
― Fonda Lee, Jade City