A.W. Exley > Quotes

“Are we immortal?" he paused in his exploration of her skin.

Mischief shone in her eyes. "Want me to shoot you and find out?”
― A.W. Exley, Nefertiti's Heart

“Books were my escape, they transported me to other worlds without step-mothers.”
― A.W. Exley, Ella, the Slayer

“do you tell if someone is immortal?” she whispered. “You kill them, and see if they get up again,” he answered, always pragmatic.”
― A.W. Exley, Nefertiti's Heart

“Well, look what the scamp has dragged home with her. Pirates, henchmen and naughty, naughty men—"

A soft whack noise was followed by a startled squawk, as a tea towel hit Nessy in the face. She pulled the cloth down, shooting daggers at her lifetime companion.

"What was that for?"

Nan tapped her chin. "You're drooling dear, might want to mop up a bit.”
― A.W. Exley

“War never ends, it just changes form.”
― A.W. Exley, Ella, the Slayer

“People are not photographs. There's more to them than the style of their hair or the cut of their clothes. Think of yourself as an explorer — you need to dig to unveil the person they are on the inside.”
― A.W. Exley, The Unicorn's Tail

“I hate you, wardrobe. But here is what's going to happen. I will close the doors, say a magic word, open the doors, and you will present me with a suitable evening gown.
Work, dammit.”
― A.W. Exley, Nefertiti's Heart

“She didn't have butterflies in her stomach; she had unicorns. They ran in circles and charged her insides with their horns, gouging her as they rampaged.”
― A.W. Exley, Nefertiti's Heart

“Crowbars are great for working out parental issues.”
― A.W. Exley, Nefertiti's Heart

“The book didn't want to be copied?
I should introduce it to the house that doesn't want any occupants.”
― A.W. Exley, Nefertiti's Heart

“Peace washed through her soul in the old store surrounded by thousands of books. This was her church and her place of worship.”
― A.W. Exley

“Then, as though she held a dandelion blowball in her hand, she simply blew away the nightmare that dominated her life for so many long years. She released each painful memory to dance on the wind, to soar high with each tiny propeller from the seed head. With the last puff of breath, she found a measure of forgiveness for her father. With that act, the cell imprisoning her mind fractured. The walls split and fell apart, the roof slid to one side, and the terrified girl was freed. As bricks and timber disintegrated into dust, she stood in a meadow surrounded by tall trees. One half bathed in sunlight, the other wrapped in shadows and dark. "You are free to walk whatever path you chose,”
― A.W. Exley, Moseh's Staff

“damn lonely on the moral high ground.”
― A.W. Exley, Hatshepsut's Collar

“looked up, a frown on his face. “That was a necessity. Our wardrobe needed defending from all the girls hiding in it.” Allie struggled to control her growing laughter. “Do tell, do you suffer many girls hiding in your furniture?”
― A.W. Exley, Obsidian Eyes

“Even death can’t erase those memories. They were carved into every piece of me, including my soul.”
― A.W. Exley, Nessy's Locket

“Your light shines into the dark places in my soul. This is what nourishes me and makes me feel human, you are the soul who guides me through another long night.”
― A.W. Exley, Moseh's Staff

“She forgot the small detail of the business she wanted to engage him on. She enjoyed saying no to him, repeatedly. Refusal was probably a new experience for him, too, but it was hard to tell.”
― A.W. Exley, Nefertiti's Heart

“The song from millions of inscribed words whispered over her soul and soothed her fractious edges.”
― A.W. Exley, Nessy's Locket

“If you can make a mechanical horse, why wouldn't you make it a unicorn?”
― A.W. Exley, Nefertiti's Heart

“you is akin to playing Russian roulette: both hobbies have a high chance of ending in a fatality.” She”
― A.W. Exley, Nefertiti's Heart

“The past was full of so many fractured paths, she could lose herself trying to walk them all.”
― A.W. Exley, Moseh's Staff

“Would she ever understand all the events that shaped her life, or was there a point where you had to let everything go and move forward? Move forward, her mind whispered.”
― A.W. Exley, Moseh's Staff

“She extracted a card from amongst her ample decollete and held it out toward Cara.

This is starting to feel like a bizarre treasure hunt, following clues written on little cards." [Cara thought]”
― A.W. Exley, Nefertiti's Heart

“I maimed you when I was only a child. Touch me now, and I'll kill you." She turned her back to him, and holding her head high, she strode out to the balcony. Conversation rose behind her. The”
― A.W. Exley, Nefertiti's Heart

“slow spin. Cara pondered the path her life had taken. “So much has changed since you broke into my father’s house and I had to shoot you.”
― A.W. Exley, Nessy's Locket

“was something in the silence, aroma, and presence of the books that soothed an ache deep in her soul.”
― A.W. Exley

“Time to release the kraken, Mr Fenton,”
― A.W. Exley, Heart of the Kraken

“I have a mind, I intend to use it. Does that intimidate you?”
― A.W. Exley, Nero's Fiddle

“it, I’m growing on you, aren’t I?” she asked, a smile on her face as she placed a foot on the bottom step to the empty carriage. “Like a wart, darling,” he replied with his accustomed grin, before shutting the carriage door after her.”
― A.W. Exley, Nefertiti's Heart

“Step-mother: Elizabeth, Lady Jeffrey and wife of Sir Jeffrey. My step-sisters, Louise and Charlotte, were referred to collectively as them. And I had to stop referring to them as my step-relations; the lady of the house would flog the skin from my hide if she caught that familiarity passing my lips. She might have been married to my father, but she was quick to point out my status as the daughter of a servant.”
― A.W. Exley, Ella, the Slayer