C.L. Clark > Quotes

“You don't find a life. You have to make one, with the people around you and the causes you put your strength into.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“As it whistles through the mountains, as it tickles blades of grass, as it pulls me from my bed, again, the wind, it cries your name.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“She was here because she was a soldier. A fighter. She didn't know anything else, and she was good at it...It would be the death of her, but she'd always expected that.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“Touraine was starting to think it was impossible to come from one land and learn to live in another and feel whole. That you would always stand on shaky, hole-ridden ground, half of your identity dug out of you and tossed away.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“„What do you want me to do, Touraine?” Luca gestured in the direction of Cantic's office. „Tell Cantic to never let them fight again?”
„That's the problem, Luca.” Touraine gestured through the sandstone walls at Cantic's office and toward the city, too. Her eyes burned, and all of Cheminade's old junk blurred. Her voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper. „It's not a matter of let. They never chose this. They're not getting rewarded for valor with ribbons and raises. We just die, and when we die, we're not even worth the wood to burn us.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“Who needs a god of oceans when I could drown inside your eyes? Who needs a god of grain when I could feast between your thighs?”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“She was as free now as she ever would be. She could choose what she fought for. She could choose who she was willing to die for.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“That fire consumes all that it touches. What will you have to become to withstand her flames?”
― C.L. Clark, The Faithless

“Have they seen you bleed? Have they seen you kill anyone? Does she know your voice when you’re scared? Could she pick your laugh out of a crowd?”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“Know a person's desires, and you have leverage- Give a person their desires, and you have an extension of your own will”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“And you couldn’t own anything if you were owned yourself.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“They took each other in one last time. The moment seemed to stretch, until Jaghotai held out her forearm. Touraine clasped it.
„We pray for rain,” Touraine said.
„No.” Jaghotai squeezed Touraine's arm tightly. „Be the rain.”
The rebels descended on the compound like a summer storm.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“Mercy is only for the secure.”
― C.L. Clark, The Faithless

“You don’t find a life. You have to make one, with the people around you and the causes you put your strength into.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“A ruler does not have friends. They cannot because self-interest rules us all.”
― C.L. Clark, The Faithless

“No,” Touraine said quickly. “I’m just a soldier.” Aranen raised her eyebrow. “My girl, you haven’t been just a soldier in a very long time.”
― C.L. Clark, The Faithless

“If any man could challenge you in either intellect, charisma, or military might, bind him to you with secrets or kill him; there is no other choice.”
― C.L. Clark, The Faithless

“Then, still holding the cup, Touraine giggled. This broad-shouldered, muscle-bound ex-soldier, who spent most of her time either glowering or bowing at people, had smirked at her future queen, and now she was actually giggling. Sky above, Luca wanted to do right by that laugh. She wanted Touraine to giggle at her, to smirk and smile and tease her. She hated to want it.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“Leave no enemy behind you unless you've severed his head.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“There were moments that defined empires, that determined how a reign would be remembered. Luca would look back on this day, years later, and know that this was one such moment.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“But I’m not above killing one man.”
― C.L. Clark, The Faithless

“Release her, Captain, or Guard Lanquette will release your testicles from your body.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“I think it might be her, Aranen. I may be the world’s biggest idiot, but I think I want her. And for the first time, it won’t hurt anybody else.”
― C.L. Clark, The Faithless

“Touraine waited three long breaths before she growled, “Can I kill him, or do you want to?” Despite the tension only just beginning to unspool from her shoulders, Luca couldn’t help but smile. “Let’s take turns,” she said.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“Luca had bent. Luca had bent for her.”
― C.L. Clark, The Faithless

“You’ll have to fight for one side or the other. Why not fight for the side that gives you freedom?” “Because I can fight for the side that’s winning.” “Winning isn’t everything. It’s how you win that matters most.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“She could see the shape of empire in Luca’s words.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“As Aimée liked to say on campaign—and in the canteen, and in training exercises—wishes were like assholes. Full of shit.”
― C.L. Clark, The Unbroken

“Sabine glared at the board. “Oh, fuck off, I had you.” “That’s ‘fuck off, Your Highness.’” Luca smirked.”
― C.L. Clark, The Faithless

“The truth at the heart.”
― C.L. Clark, The Faithless