“Living is a risk,' I snapped at him. 'Every decision, every interaction, every step, every time you get out of bed in the morning, you take a risk. To survive is to know you're taking that risk and to not get out of bed clutching illusions of safety.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“He made a weak attempt to look innocent, but I knew better. 'Should I guess how many concealed weapons you have or should I strip search you?'
'A strip search is the only way to be absolutely certain.' Valek's deep blue eyes danced with delight.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“I took three steps and was wrapped in his arms, where I belonged. No confusion here. No worries here. No troubles here.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“Why did Mother ask you to help me rescue Gelsi?" I asked Leif.
"She thought I could assist you in some way. Instead, I had tried to-"
"Kill me? You can join the 'I Want to Kill Yelena Guild.' I hear they have six
members in good standing.
Valek is president since he had wanted to kill me twice."
--Yelena to Leif”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“Another relative?" Valek asked.
A broad smile stretched Moon Man's lips. "Yes. I am her mother's uncle's wife's
third cousin."
--Valek and Moon Man”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“Many have tried to kill us. All have failed.
-Valek”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“Your mother sounds like a formidable woman," Valek said into the silence.
"You have no idea," Leif replied with a sigh.
"Well, if she's anything like Yelena, my deepest sympathies," Valek teased.
"Hey!"
Leif laughed and the tense moment dissipated.
Valek handed Leif his machete. "Do you know how to use it?"
"Of course. I chopped Yelena's bow into firewood," Leif joked.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“When I carved this, my thoughts were on you, love. Your life is like this snake's coils. No matter how many turns it makes, you'll end up back where you belong. With me.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“Don't worry. I'm only your escort tonight. I would offer to protect you from the drunken attentions of the other men, but I know all to well that you're quite capagble of holding your own. You're probably armed. Right?"
Always.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“Pushing magic toward the candle, I willed it to light. Nothing happened.
Irys made a strangled sound and the candle burned. “Are you directing your magic to the candle?”
“Yes. Why?”
“You just ordered me to light the candle for you,” Irys said in exasperation. “And I did it.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“I’ll have you know that the most delicate flowers often produce the strongest scent when crushed.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“Her amber eyes burned into mine with all the hate and loathing she could muster. Underneath, though, she was terrified. Hate and loathing didn't bother me, but fear was a powerful emotion. Fear causes the dog to bite and Roze was one bitch.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“Don't feel ashamed for having those feelings and those memories. What happened in the past can't be changed, but they can be a guide for what happens in the future.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“I'd wish you luck, but I don't think it would help.'
'Why not?'
'My lady, you make your own luck.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“How did you—”
“Fool your guards? They’re not very good. They forgot to check the ceiling for spiders.” Valek grinned. His angular face softened. Startled, I realized he wasn’t in disguise. “This is dangerous.”
“I knew falling for you was dangerous, love.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“A little present from my run-in with a sword. Or should I say from when the sword had a run-in with me?” His eyes lit up.
“Want to see the scar? It’s cool.” He started pulling his shirt out of his pants.
“Janco,” Ari warned. “We’re not supposed to be fraternizing with the Sitians.”
“But she’s not Sitian. Right, Yelena? You haven’t gone south on us, have you?” Janco’s voice held mock horror.
“Because if you have I can’t give you your present.”
I took my switchblade out, showing the inscription to Janco. “What about ‘Sieges weathered, fight together, friends forever’? Does that change if I become an official southerner?”
Janco rubbed the hair on his chin, considering.
“No,” Ari said. “You could change into a goat and it would still apply.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“You look like hell,' he said to me in a low voice.
'Gee, Dax, don’t coat it with honey. Tell me what you really think,' I said.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“Bad dreams are ghosts of our fears and worries, haunting us while we sleep. I doubt Valek is in trouble.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“Trust, Kiki said, Trust is peppermints.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“In the end, only Leif believed that you were still alive. He thought you might be hiding somewhere, playing a game. As the rest of us grieved, Leif searched the jungle for you day after day.”
“When did he finally stop?” I asked.
“Yesterday.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“I gave him a bored look. I had been threatened many times before and had learned that the men who didn’t make verbal threats were the most dangerous.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“If you don’t come back to the Keep, then I’ll be right. And every time you see me, I’ll be insufferably smug.”
“And how’s that different from now?” He laughed and I could see the young carefree boy he had been in his eyes. “You’ve only had a small glimpse of how insufferable and annoying I can be. As the older brother, it’s my birthright.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“He pulled my arm out to expose my bracelet. "When I carved this, my thoughts were on you, love. Your life is like this snake's coils. No matter how many turns it makes, you'll end up back where you belong. With me." His sapphire eyes held a promise. - Valek”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“Your fear remains strong. You are not ready to face your story, preferring instead to surround yourself with knots. Someday, they will strangle you.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“Pretty stupid,” I called after his retreating form. “To give up before all possible solutions have been tried.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“I wanted to dissolve into the floor, mixing myself with the hard stone. A stone had a single purpose: to be. No complicated promises, no worries and no feelings.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“Do you really want to know why you lost?” I asked.
“Do you really have an answer?” he countered.
“You need to get off your horse and run with your men. You don’t have the stamina for a long fight. And find a lighter sword.”
“But it was my uncle’s.”
“You’re not your uncle.”
“But I’m the King, and this is the King’s sword,” Cahil said. His brows creased together. He seemed confused.
“So wear it to your coronation,” I said. “If you use it in battle, you’ll be wearing it to your funeral,” I said.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“Unfortunately, diplomacy was a dance I needed to learn.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
“In keeping with his cryptic nature, all your Story Weaver said was 'The horses know where to go.' It's certainly not a military strategy I would use, but I've learned that the south uses its own strategy. And, strangely enough, it works.”
― Maria V. Snyder, quote from Magic Study
Maria V. Snyder
Born place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The United States
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“It is characteristic of all deep human problems that they are not to be
approached without some humor and some bewilderment.”
― Freeman Dyson, quote from Disturbing the Universe
“When a friendship crumbles, there are only really two things that can bring it back: a shitload of time, or a sincere apology.”
― Dahlia Adler, quote from Just Visiting
“Maybe I don't feel like taking orders.”
― Meredith Wild, quote from Hard Limit
“If I really seem vain, it is that I am only vain in my ways—not in my heart. The worst women are those vain in their hearts, and not in their ways.”
― Thomas Hardy, quote from A Pair of Blue Eyes
“The absolute simplicity. That's what I love. When you're climbing your mind is clear and free from all confusions. You have focus. And suddenly the light becomes sharper, the sounds are richer and you're filled with the deep, powerful presence of life. I've only felt that one other time.”
― Heinrich Harrer, quote from Seven Years in Tibet (Paladin Books)
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