Sea of Charms Quotes

“When he was still with her two days later, she gave him a name: Perri.
And when the people on the docks she visited asked how she’d befriended a sea serpent, she told them the truth: “I didn’t. He befriended me.” All she’d done was save his life, which didn’t seem nearly as impressive a feat as becoming her friend.”
― Sarah Beth Durst, Sea of Charms

“Settling in, Marin sailed away from the painted cliffs and the twin islands of the lovers. The wind was strong and steady, and the sun was warm on her silvery arms and cheeks. It caressed her as if welcoming her back from the rainbow shadows of the Painted Pass.
In the distance, she spotted a herd of merhorses. She watched them crest with the waves, sea spray flying from their manes as their tails propelled them through the water. It wasn’t every day one got to see a sea serpent, much less rescue one. She’d treasure this memory.”
― Sarah Beth Durst, Sea of Charms

“Beside her, the sea serpent trumpeted back. He dove through the waves like a dolphin breaching, and his iridescent scales glistened in the sun. Back in the water, his wounds were washed clean, and she could see they hadn’t been deep— scrapes from his attempts to free himself from the rocks. Not much worse than her knee.
“You’re welcome,” she called, “and thank you!”
She had no idea how intelligent sea serpents were, but the ride out from between the cliffs had to have been intentional. She’d saved him, so he returned the favor. “We’re even now!” Marin waved to him.
He propelled himself out of the water and arched in the air like a rainbow, before diving back between the waves. It was such a magnificent sight that she forgot to breathe, only remembering when his tail disappeared beneath the surface of the sea.”
― Sarah Beth Durst, Sea of Charms

“Such blue eyes, as deep a blue as the ocean when the moon shone on it.
She knew what he saw: a wooden boat with silver sails that he could crush if he could reach it, piloted by a fragile human with silvery skin that matched her sails and white-and-black-striped hair tied back with a silver ribbon. She must look to him like salvation. Or lunch.”
― Sarah Beth Durst, Sea of Charms

“Countless tales and songs had been written about the cliffs of Iro and Nane: they'd been painted by two lovers, one who lived on one island and one on another. Their parents had forbidden them to marry, and so they painted their love in the colors of sunrise and sunset. Discovering this, their families had tried to wash the paint away, but the very rocks had been stained by the two artists' love and, regardless of how hard their relatives scrubbed and chipped at the stone, the colors didn't fade, until at last, both families relented and allowed the two to marry. To this day, no wind or rain or sea could dim the colors.
Granted, there was also the more prosaic explanation- it was just minerals in the rocks acting as a natural dye. But Marin liked the love story better. If she was never going to have her own great love- and she was done with ever wanting that- then she'd treasure the fictional ones even more.”
― Sarah Beth Durst, Sea of Charms