Ari Ryder > Quotes

“People shouldn’t be afraid of monsters. They’re predictable, and always follow their instincts. It’s men we should fear because they are so easily swayed by evil, and they follow no pattern. The best of men could suddenly snap and be the enemy. It’s for this reason that the greatest evil in my stories is never the scariest or most detestable of creatures; it’s the hearts of men and the terrible struggle to remain good in an evil world.”
― Ari Ryder

“Today I’m a “sociopath”, A.K.A. feeling very antisocial and ignorant of human emotion. Code for: I’m writing… leave me alone”
― Ari Ryder

“He quickly shoved stew in his mouth to give himself space to think. He’d often had nightmares about the Netherworld—a dark and horrible place with changing landscapes and impassable tests. Gran was right. Hardly anyone survived who chose to fight, but stories were told of some who’d been granted second and even third lives. It made Casper nervous. One day, he too would have to face that cursed place. He’d face the Keeper, and he’d have to make a choice: to fight for his life at the risk of his soul or move on. 'I’m definitely moving on', he thought to himself. 'It’s not worth the risk.'

He wondered what had made it worth the risk to Gran’s friend. Who would risk the peace of the Afterlife to come back to this horrible place?”
― Ari Ryder

“He quickly shoved stew in his mouth to give himself space to think. He’d often had nightmares about the Netherworld—a dark and horrible place with changing landscapes and impassable tests. Gran was right. Hardly anyone survived who chose to fight, but stories were told of some who’d been granted second and even third lives. It made Casper nervous. One day, he too would have to face that cursed place. He’d face the Keeper, and he’d have to make a choice: to fight for his life at the risk of his soul or move on. 'I’m definitely moving on,' he thought to himself. 'It’s not worth the risk.'

He wondered what had made it worth the risk to Gran’s friend. Who would risk the peace of the Afterlife to come back to this horrible place?”
― Ari Ryder, Netherworld

“Her green eyes looked him up and down in appraisal. “Not bad,” she mused, offering him a hand. She hoisted him to his feet. “We might make a survivor of you yet.”
― Ari Ryder, Netherworld

“Soon a light emanated from somewhere up ahead. He could finally see the black, rocky confines of the passage. He continued forward, heart racing hopefully. He broke into a run, grinning when he finally burst into daylight. He found himself on a cliff overlooking a vast desert. His first trial had begun.”
― Ari Ryder, Netherworld

“I pulled a dagger from my belt and was instantly at Avatrex's throat. Dimitri pursed his lips a little, but didn't stop me. "I would kill a thousand men to save my sisters," I seethed, glaring. "I'm not the timid little 'kitten' you kidnapped over a month ago, so I suggest you start talking.”
― Ari Ryder, The Index of Magic

“Train was the absolute best was to travel, of that Beatrice Adams had a high opinion.”
― Ari Ryder, Murder at the Harvey House

“Suddenly hands were around her throat, and Beatrice couldn't breathe. She bucked and kicked, clawing desperately at the meathooks around her fragile neck, but they didn't budge. Spots formed in front of her eyes, and Beatrice had a terrible thought: if she died, who would solve her murder?”
― Ari Ryder, Murder at the Harvey House

“The phone rang. Eleanore held her breath.

"Winslow Police Department," a young male voice answered.

"Hello! I'd like to report a murder!”
― Ari Ryder, Murder at the Harvey House

“Casper watched in horror as the beast pounced on the man, biting and ripping him in half with its strong jaws and clawed hands. The miller’s heart pounded in his chest, eyes transfixed in shock. The beast gave a high-pitched shriek. Casper crouched instinctively, hiding among the stinging brush but not touching it—he wouldn’t make that mistake again.

The beast sniffed the gory mess spread across the desert floor but didn’t eat it. Instead it huffed and melted into the sand. Casper stared at what used to be a fellow Waylander, now a bloody pile of meat on the desert floor. The buzzards descended quickly on the feast. Casper’s heart hammered, and his mind raced. To die in the Netherworld was to be lost forever. That poor man had just been erased from existence eternally.”
― Ari Ryder, Netherworld