Jessica Townsend > Quotes

“The point is—as far as the Society is concerned—if you are not honest, and determined, and brave, then it doesn’t matter how talented you are.”
― Jessica Townsend, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“Fenestra was silent for a while, and Morrigan thought she’d fallen asleep standing up. Then she felt something warm, wet, and sandpapery lick the entire right side of her face. She sniffled again, and Fen’s big gray head rubbed her shoulder affectionately. “Thanks, Fen,” Morrigan said quietly. She heard Fenestra padding softly to the door. “Fen?” “Mmm?” “Your saliva smells like sardines.” “Yeah, well. I’m a cat.” “Now my face smells like sardines.” “I don’t care. I’m a cat.” “Night, Fen.”
― Jessica Townsend, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“Ginger was an understatement, Morrigan thought, trying to hide her astonishment as the hat came off. Ginger of the Year or King Ginger or Big Gingery President of the Ginger Foundation for the Incurably Ginger would have been more accurate. His mane of bright copper waves could probably have won awards.”
― Jessica Townsend, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“And whatever you do, don’t close your eyes.'

'What happens if I close my eyes?'

'You miss the fun.”
― Jessica Townsend, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“Morrigan didn’t like the sound of the Goal-Setting and Achieving Club for Highly Ambitious Youth, which met on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings, and all day Sunday. But she thought she could probably get on board with Introverts Utterly Anonymous, which promised no meetings or gatherings of any sort, ever.”
― Jessica Townsend, Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow

“The night was uncommon and crowded with possibility.”
― Jessica Townsend, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“Death is boring. Life is much more fun. Things happen in life all the time. Unexpected things. Things you couldn’t possibly expect because they’re so very… unexpected.”
― Jessica Townsend, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“We don't ignore bigotry, Jack. That's how cowardly bigots turn into brave bigots.”
― Jessica Townsend, Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow

“Hmm. It's a scary shadow, you say?"
"They're all scary. Even if you make a nice one, like a kitten, it'll turn into a man-eating tiger or something. It's like they're trying to be scary."
"That makes sense."
Morrigan was surprised. "Does it?"
"Shadows are shadows, Miss Crow." His eyes reflected the moonlight. "They want to be dark.”
― Jessica Townsend, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“We have danced, we have dined, we have drunk our fill. We have bid a tender and triumphant farewell to the Olden Age, and now we must step boldly into the new. May it be a good and happy one. May it bring unexpected adventures.”
― Jessica Townsend, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“I don’t know what to tell you, Mog.’ Jupiter sighed. ‘Some people are brave bullies. Some people are friendly cowards.”
― Jessica Townsend, Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow

“Who cares what some numpty thinks?

The thing about numpties, Mog, is that they can always find plenty of other numpties to believe their numpty nonsense. You know what they say: you're never more than six feet away from a numpty.”
― Jessica Townsend, Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow

“Only need a spark,” she said with a shrug. “Small sparks make big fires.”
― Jessica Townsend, Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow

“Morrigan was startled to realize that he was blinking back tears.

She'd never known someone could feel so strongly about his friends. Probably because she'd never had a friend. Not a real one. (Emmett the stuffed rabbit didn't really count.)

An instant family. Brothers and sisters for life.

It made sense to her now. Jupiter carried himself like a king, like he was surrounded by an invisible bubble that protected him from all the bad things in life. He knew there were people in the world--somewhere out there--who loved him. Who would always love him. No matter what.

That was what he was offering her.”
― Jessica Townsend, The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“They took a carriage home, and there was silence for most of the journey. Finally, as they turned onto Humdinger Avenue, Jupiter spoke. “You made a friend.” “I think so.” “Anything else of interest?” Morrigan thought for a moment. “I think I made an enemy too.” “I didn’t make my first proper enemy until I was twelve.” He sounded impressed. “Maybe that’s my knack?” Jupiter chuckled.”
― Jessica Townsend, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“One thing you all should know about me: I’ve got very high biscuit standards.”
― Jessica Townsend, Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow

“Morrigan's night held only one possibility. Like every other child born precisely eleven years ago on the last Eventide, when the clock struck midnight she would die-the eleven short years of her doomed life complete; her curse finally fulfilled.”
― Jessica Townsend, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“How did you find it?” “Well, it took me a while,” he said. “But luckily I know lots of people who know lots of things. And I’m nosy by nature, aren’t I?”
― Jessica Townsend, Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow

“Like an inkpot in the sky. Like a black hole,”
― Jessica Townsend, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“Why do you keep apologizing?” asked President Wintersea. “Dreadful habit for girls to get into, you must break it at once.”
― Jessica Townsend, Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow

“I have a knack for seeing things.” “What sort of things?” “True things.” He shrugged. “Things that have happened, things that are happening right now. Feelings. Danger. Things that live in the Gossamer.”
― Jessica Townsend, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“So nobody wins?” Morrigan asked. She couldn’t help feeling a little shortchanged. “You must be joking. Presents and snow?” said Jack, laughing as he threw a snowball at Jupiter’s back. “Everybody wins.”
― Jessica Townsend, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“You bought poisonous mushrooms,” Mahir said, blinking at him, “from somewhere called a murdergarden?” Francis shrugged and said again, “They have a little shop.”
― Jessica Townsend, Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow

“Morrigan frowned. She sometimes felt that her true knack had nothing to do with being a Wundersmith. That it was, in fact, her remarkable ability to assume the worst. It came, of course, from a lifetime of believing she was cursed, and it seemed to be stitched into the very fabric of her being, even now. Telling her not to worry about bad things happening around her was like telling Hawthorne not to get excited about dragons, or Jupiter not to be ginger.”
― Jessica Townsend, Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow

“It was a small act of pettiness, but by gentle, tenderhearted Martha’s standards, it was a declaration of all-out war, and Morrigan adored her for it.”
― Jessica Townsend, Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow

“Burn brightly, Morrigan Crow.”
― Jessica Townsend, Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow

“I don’t believe I’ve ever been quite so angry in all my life. I think I could bottle this rage and sell it to—I don’t know, competitive heavyweight boxers or something.”
― Jessica Townsend, Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow

“Their motto is If Not for Us, You’d All Be Speaking Zombie.”
― Jessica Townsend, Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow

“the Queen of Diamonds was out in the park one day, walking her dog, Jack of Diamonds. She met the King of Hearts and they fell in love. They were married six (of hearts) weeks later and had three (of diamonds) children and lived happily ever after.”
― Jessica Townsend, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

“Where are you going, o son of the morning?” he sang softly. When he sang, Squall’s voice was unsettlingly gentle and sweet. Much lovelier than Morrigan’s. It shouldn’t sound like that, she thought. It should sound ugly and jagged. Like his heart.”
― Jessica Townsend, Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow