Laurie Forest > Quotes

“People see what they expect to see,” he says sharply. “Through a filter of their own hatred and prejudice.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“Real education doesn't make your life easy. It complicates things and makes everything messy and disturbing. But the alternative...is to live your life based on injustice and lies.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“Often you have to fall into the blackness of utter confusion before you can emerge to see even the smallest glimmer of the truth.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“We don’t get to choose what we are,” she says finally, her voice low. “But we do get to choose who we are.”
― Laurie Forest, The Iron Flower

“The woods are beautiful. They’re my friends, the trees, and I can feel them smiling down at me. I”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“Knowledge is never wasted, my dear. No matter how obscure or difficult...or confusing. It always serves to enrich our lives, if we let it, and in ways we can rarely anticipate.”
― Laurie Forest, The Iron Flower

“Religion and culture are powerful things.” “More powerful than love?” “If you let them be, I think so.”
― Laurie Forest, The Iron Flower

“Sometimes pushing the wheels of change into motion is the bulk of the battle.”
― Laurie Forest, The Iron Flower

“But for me, life would not be worth living without at least having faith in that one thing—that there is another way, a path of justice, if you will. And that there is at least a very small sliver of hope that this path will one day be discovered.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“Real education doesn’t make your life easy. It complicates things and makes everything messy and disturbing. But the alternative, Elloren Gardner, is to live your life based on injustice and lies.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“Learn all you can...about everything you can. You will find that, when you’re as powerless as we are, it helps to be clever.”
― Laurie Forest, The Iron Flower

“My heart speeds up slightly at the sight of them so close, so intimate, and I suddenly feel worried about my friend. It’s one thing to wish Jarod was Gardnerian in the abstract. But he isn’t. He’s the son of his people’s alpha, and Aislinn’s from one of the most conservative families in Gardneria. Our people hate each other. No, this isn’t good. This is a road best not traveled down—a road leading straight off a cliff.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“And I realize, in that moment, that a heart is a thing not so easily destroyed by the shadows.”
― Laurie Forest, The Shadow Wand

“This Yvan Guriel doesn’t even know me, I lament, glaring resentfully at him out of the corner of my eye. He has no right to be so hateful.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“Against all the odds. You need to hold on to your faith in the good.”
― Laurie Forest, The Iron Flower

“What do you hunt with, then?” I ask. She fixes her wild amber eyes on me. “My teeth.” She smiles widely, displaying her long, white, glistening canines. The hairs on the back of my neck go up in alarm. “Oh,” I say, swallowing nervously. “You mean when you turn into a wolf?” “Not necessarily,” she says, still smiling dangerously. Holy”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“Reluctantly, I say my goodbyes to Echo and follow behind Aislinn, trying my best to ignore the Kelt, Yvan Guriel, as he sets his fiery green eyes on me and shoots me a parting, hostile glare.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“Don’t ever let other people tell you who you can and can’t love.”
― Laurie Forest, The Demon Tide

“Vyvian,” my uncle persists, “I’ve made up my mind about this. I’m not going to change it.” Silence. “Very well.” My aunt sighs with deep disapproval. “I can see you are quite decided at present, but at least let her spend the next week or so with me. It makes perfect sense, as Valgard is on the way from here to the University.” “All right,” he capitulates wearily. “Well,” she says, her tone brightening, “I’m glad that’s settled. Now, if my niece and nephews would kindly stop crouching under the window and come in and join us, it would be lovely to see everyone.” Gareth, Trystan and I give a small start. Rafe turns to me, raises his eyebrows and grins.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“I run my finger along the textured silk. “It’s so beautiful.” “Salishen silk,” Mage Florel says reverently. “From the Salishen Isles. They’re master weavers, the Salish. True artists. And all of their embroidery is as exquisite as this.” I glance up at her. “Do you think you could use this?” “Of course, Mage Gardner,” she replies, obviously thrilled by my choice. Fallon’s hand comes down on the fabric. “You can’t use this,” she says, her tone hard. I blink up at her in resentful surprise. “Why?” “Because,” she replies, her voice syrupy with condescension, “this is what my dress is being made of.” “Ah, what a pity,” Mage Florel sighs. She pats my shoulder sympathetically. “I’ve others, Mage Gardner, don’t you fret. We’ll find something just as lovely for you...” Heart racing, I put my own hand down firmly on the fabric sample, right next to Fallon’s. I meet Fallon’s stare and hold it. “No. I want this one.” Everyone gapes at me. Fallon leans in a fraction and bares her teeth. “You can’t have it.” I try to ignore the slight trembling of my hand. “Oh, come now, Fallon,” I say as I gesture at the fabric around us, mimicking her sneering tone. “It’s all black. And I’m sure the cut will be different.” I look over at Mage Florel, whose eyes are as wide as everyone else’s. “Can you make sure it’s very different from hers?” Fallon spits out a sound of contempt. “My dress isn’t being made here. I have my own dressmaker.” “Well, then,” I tell her. “That simplifies things.” I turn to Mage Florel. “Can you make it for me in time? With this fabric?” Mage Florel gives me an appraising look, her eyes darting toward Fallon as if weighing the options. She lifts her chin. “Why, yes, Mage Gardner. I think I can.” She smiles coldly at Fallon. “Why don’t you tell me what your dress is like, dear? I’ll make sure it’s quite different.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“carefully secure the violin, tuck my music under one arm, force myself to my feet and purposefully walk out to meet my doom—well, as purposefully as one can possibly walk in the most uncomfortable shoes ever invented.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“It’s hard, isn’t it?” he asks, his own voice breaking. “To have a mind that strays outside the lines?” I”
― Laurie Forest, Wandfasted

“There are assorted side characters, too: the beautiful Gardnerian maidens with their long black hair; wicked Lupine shapeshifters—half-human, half-wolf; green-scaled Snake Elves; and the mysterious Vu Trin sorceresses. They’re characters from the storybooks and songs of my childhood, as familiar to me as the old patchwork quilt that lies on my bed. “Why”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“I think about how many things my aunt and the others tried to warn me about. It’s just as it says in our sacred text, just as the images on the stained-glass windows portray things to be. The Icarals are hideous things of great Evil, and need to be destroyed before they destroy us. And Sage’s baby, if this is its destiny—to turn into one of those things—then the Mage Council is right in wanting to take it from her, stripping it of its wings and its power. Killing it, even. I shudder to think of those creatures armed with overwhelming power at their disposal, and I know that if my attackers had been in possession of their wings, I’d be dead. And if my aunt is right about this, and about my need to leave home, if her intuition is so good, maybe she’s right about other things, as well. Maybe the Selkies are only dangerous, feral animals—just as horrible as the Icarals when they have their skins. And maybe she’s right about Lukas and wandfasting.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“She holds herself so elegantly straight, I adjust my posture without thinking and hasten my pace to keep up with her. I wonder how she manages to walk so confidently and gracefully in her slim, tall heels, her skirts swishing around her feet. I’d probably fall clear over on shoes like that. My own feet are covered in sturdy boots made for gardening and caring for livestock. I secretly hope I can try feminine shoes like hers.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“But my eyes are quickly drawn away from the wand to her hand. It’s covered with deep, bloody lash marks that continue up her wrist and disappear beneath the sleeve of her cloak. I gasp in horror. “Holy Ancient One, what happened?” Her eyes are briefly filled with despair before they harden again, a bitter smile forming on her mouth. “I did not honor my wandfasting,” she whispers acidly.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“My face blanches. “Kill her?” Shane’s expression turns pained. “She didn’t just give birth to an Icaral, Elloren. They believe she’s given birth to the Icaral.” I’m frozen into stunned silence. We all know of the Prophecy, set down by the late Atellian Lumyn, one of the greatest Seers our church has ever known. A Great Winged One will soon arise and cast his fearsome shadow upon the land. And just as Night slays Day, and Day slays Night, so also shall another Black Witch rise to meet him, her powers vast beyond imagining. And as their powers clash upon the field of battle, the heavens shall open, the mountains tremble and the waters run crimson...and their fates shall determine the future of all Erthia.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“turn to find out who my savior at the piano is, and my breath hitches when I see him. He is, by far, the best-looking young man I have ever seen in my life, with strong, finely chiseled features, the dashing attire of a Gardnerian soldier and absolutely riveting deep green eyes. And he’s smiling at me. I can guess who this is without needing to be introduced. Lukas Grey.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“Now,” he says silkily, “what’s this about your never having been kissed?” I open my mouth to say something. To let him know that I don’t know how to kiss, and that I’m probably very bad at it, but before I can say anything, he raises my chin, leans in and brings his lips to mine with gentle pressure, all of my concerns instantly disappearing into a puff of smoke. He lets his lips linger on mine briefly before pulling away a fraction and bringing his mouth close to my ear. “There,” he whispers softly. “Now you’ve been kissed.” I’ve fallen into a complete daze. Aislinn was so very wrong about this.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch

“My grandmother, more than any other woman, was the standard bearer of Gardnerian beauty. Known as “The Black Witch” by our enemies, she was one of the most powerful Gardnerian Mages ever. Intellectually brilliant, artistically gifted, stunningly beautiful and a ruthlessly effective commander of our military forces—she was all of these things. And I don’t just resemble her. I’m her absolute spitting image.”
― Laurie Forest, The Black Witch