Ember Queen Quotes

“There’s no shame in breaking,” I tell him. “Gods know I did often enough. You just have to put yourself back together again.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“Is that all you want?”

At that, he reaches for me, and pulls me toward him so that we’re standing face to face. “Well, I want you, but I didn’t think I had to say that,” he says. “In whatever capacity I can have you, for however long you want me, I’m yours.”

I smile, rolling onto the balls of my feet to kiss him softly.

“Yana Crebesti,” I murmur against his lips. “No matter what comes.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“There’s no shame in breaking...You just have to put yourself back together again.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“I remember how my mother had no shame in crying when it was necessary. She never saw it as a weakness; rather, she believed it a strength to bear one’s soul.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“Talking about him feels like rubbing at a raw wound, but I don't know how to stop. Some wounds you don't want to heal all the way. Some wounds you want to leave a scar.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“I thought we were past his martyr phase”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“When the world turns on its head and I’m not sure of anything, I’m sure of you. No matter where we are or who we fight against, I am always fighting for you.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“Some wounds you don’t want to heal all the way. Some wounds, you want to leave a scar.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“Time is immeasurable, an unending expanse where an hour could just as easily be a second which could be a week, and I would have no way of knowing. It is both infinite and infinitesimal at once.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“You aren’t useless. You have your mind, you have your determination. You can still probably wield a sword better than half of Cress’s army, I’d bet, depth perception or no. Stay and fight and show her that she didn’t ruin you.”

Erik swallows. For a moment, he says nothing, but eventually he nods his head. “I don’t suppose you could heal me, Heron?” he asks, though he sounds like he already knows the answer.

“I can’t make you a new eye,” Heron says, his voice pained. “But I can try to help with healing your other one.”

“What about you, Artemisia?” Erik asks. “Any illusion you could cast to hide it?”

“Nothing permanent. I’m sorry,” she says. “And nothing that would give you back your vision.”

“Ah well,” Erik says, his voice still quavering. “I had a few good years of being handsome. It’s more than most get.”

It’s an attempt at a joke, but no one laughs.

“You’re still handsome,” Heron says quietly.

Erik laughs, the sound hard. “I’m monstrous,” he says.

“You’re brave,” Heron says, louder this time. “And steadfast. And you fight for your people—for what you know is right no matter what it costs you. You are, without a doubt, the handsomest man I’ve ever seen, and if you try to say otherwise one last time, I will break your nose as well, you vain ass.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“I’ve seen enough to know that hate is something learned, not something inherent. I saw it firsthand in Cress, in how she treated me when we were children and how she treated me once her father and her world convinced her that I was less than her.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“No,” Heron says. “I mean you’re blind—you aren’t dead. You want to help, you want to save your people, then do it. You don’t have to lead an army to do that.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“It doesn't seem fair to me to treat rapists, murderers, and slavers the same way as the farmers or the shipmates or the seamstresses-the people who benefited from bad acts, yes, who went along with them, but didn't actively commit crimes.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“I’m sorry,” I say, bringing my hand over my mouth. “I’m so sorry, Erik.”

Erik shakes his head. “I’m useless to you now,” he says. “I have no army for you, Theo. I can’t lead a battalion. I’m not even sure I could lead the way out of this tent.”

“You’re blind,” Heron says, finding his voice again finally.

“Half,” Erik says, motioning to the swollen eye. “This one should heal, I think. But with no depth perception and a narrower field of vision—”

“No,” Heron says. “I mean you’re blind—you aren’t dead. You want to help, you want to save your people, then do it. You don’t have to lead an army to do that.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“All it takes is one seed, my love,” she told me. “One sprout to push through the earth, to dig its roots deep and wide. If I have to plant a million seeds to find that one, that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“There’s no shame in reaching your limits, Theo,” he says, using a small gust of air to invigorate the weak fire into a full blaze. “It means you’ve given something your all.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“That makes Artemisia grin. “One big wave would certainly be enough to destroy the walls, and a good chunk of the camp as well.”

“We do need to remember that there are innocent people in the camp—more innocent people than there are guards,” Heron points out mildly.

“Right. Small waves, then,” Artemisia says, looking put out.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“I spent much of my first six years afraid of my mother’s throne the way most children are afraid of monsters lurking under their beds.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“Still, I can’t help but feel like no matter who we have been, no matter who we will be, there is a part of his soul that understands mine in its entirety.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“I survived for so long by not trusting anyone. It was a necessary lesson to learn, and I wouldn't be alive today if I hadn't learned it, but now I don't think that I can make it to the end of this war without trust.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“There's no shame in breaking. You just have to put yourself back together again. -Theodosia”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“He looks at Erik. “The last thing you’re going to do is wallow. You’re going to get back on your feet and figure out how to adjust. Trust me, you’ll thank me for it later.”

Erik grimaces but nods. “I’m sure I will,” he says, forcing himself to sit up, and groaning as he does. “But right now, I’d like to say some far less savory things to you.”

“Keep a list,” Heron says with a small smile. “You can tell them to me over dinner.”

For an instant, Erik is shocked and flustered—a look I’ve never seen on him before. He recovers his wits quickly enough. “It’s a deal,” he says.

Artemisia looks between the two of them, eyebrows raised so high they almost disappear entirely into her hair.

“We are at war,” she says with a sigh. “Surely there is a better time to flirt than when death is around every corner?”

“Truth be told, I’m hard-pressed to think of a better time to flirt,” Erik says, pushing himself to his feet. “You very well may never get another chance.”

Artemisia rolls her eyes.

“Just because I can’t see you doesn’t mean I don’t know you’re rolling your eyes, Art,” he says, holding an arm out to her, which she takes. She guides him a couple of hesitant steps. “Just because you don’t know how to flirt—”

“I know how,” she snaps indignantly as she leads him out of the tent, the two of them continuing to bicker as they go.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“These are unprecedented times, if one does not adapt and move with them, all one can do is drown. -Dragonsbane”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen