The Hollow Quotes

“I felt my cheeks turn red, and she laughed out loud. But I didn't mind too much, because the last thing she saw was my middle finger aimed in her direction as I stepped outside”
― Jessica Verday, The Hollow

“Anyway." I cleared my throat loudly. "Thank you again for the beautiful necklace. It's perfect, and I love it. Where did you find it? I've never seen anything like it before."

It was his turn to look embarrassed and he ducked his head. "That's because I made it." He peeked up at me, and my heart melted. Am I dreaming? This has to be a dream.

"You made it?" Something wet hit my cheek and I brushed it away, impatiently waiting for his answer.

"Yeah," he said shyly. "I did.”
― Jessica Verday, The Hollow

“He didn't want me to get hurt? Wow. Just wow. I might actually be close to a swoon here”
― Jessica Verday, The Hollow

“Obviously this was one of those stupid guy moments and he didn't understand what I wanted. I was going to explain it to him very, very soon.
-Abbey”
― Jessica Verday, The Hollow

“He leaned closer. “That’s what I’m trying to do. Your face is absolutely adorable when you blush.”

My ears burned. Oh great, am I the color of a tomato now?

“Yeah, well, I can make you blush,” I retorted. “By telling you how hot you are, and that when that little piece of black hair falls into your eyes, it’s so sexy it makes me forget my words, and...” I stopped, suddenly aware of how warm the mausoleum was.

“Go on,” Caspian prodded, shaking his head so that his hair covered one green eye. I blushed again, and glanced around me, slowly backing away from him. I just needed some... space to clear my head. He followed me, stalking my every move. My blood felt like pure oxygen racing through my veins, fizzy and bubbling and making me want to float away. A hard wall at my back stopped me, but Caspian kept coming. I thought desperately of some way to change the subject.

“I got you Moby-Dick,” I blurted out. He gave me a sly smile.
“Mmmm, did you? How... interesting.”
“And Treasure Island, and The Count of Monte Cristo.” I babbled on. “I thought you might like some boy books.” He stopped an inch away from me. I felt like I was his prisoner.

“Let’s go back to the sexy and hot thing,” Caspian said. “Could we add a gorgeous or mysterious in there, too?”
I gulped. “Like you don’t already know you’re all of those things. You probably had girls falling all over you before.”

Caspian cocked his head to one side. “True. But I always thought it was because I was the quiet new guy. And besides, there’s only one person I was ever really interested in.”

“Was?” I squeaked. Then I cleared my throat and tried again. “I mean—”
“Am,” Caspian corrected himself. “Technically, I guess it’s both. I was interested the first day I saw her, and I still am interested in her.”

His eyes glowed in the soft candlelight around us, and every last ounce of coherent thought left me.

“It’s... um... really. It’s...” My head felt like it was thickening and my body was overheating, every word dragged from somewhere in the depths of my fuzzy brain.
I waved a hand in front of my face to fan myself, and finally spit out what I was trying to say. “It’s hot in here. Don’t you think? It’s really warm.”

“I only feel warmth when I’m standing next to you,” Caspian said. He stepped half an inch closer. “Like right now.”
― Jessica Verday, The Haunted

“Upon Evangeline and Jacks's initial return to the inn, the Hollow had actually been quite frosty. Doors often slammed shut. Windows stuck. Wardrobes refused to open. Faucets yielded only icy water.

'I think it's cross with us,' Jacks had said. 'Give it a few days. It will warm up.'

The walls had rattled then.

'If it doesn't, we'll leave,' Jacks added, tossing a dart up in the air as he spoke. 'We can build a new inn- a better one.'

Jacks caught his dart, then threw it, purposefully missing the board and sinking the dart's sharp tip into the wall instead.

Doors stopped slamming after that. Windows no longer stuck, and wardrobes were more eager to open.

As the days went on, the Hollow became friendlier and friendlier. Fresh flowers started to appear on tables. Evangeline found new logs in the fireplaces every morning at dawn, and whenever she drew a bath, the water was always perfectly warm.

The Hollow wanted them to stay.

(Indigo Exclusive Edition Alternate Ending).”
― Stephanie Garber, A Curse for True Love

“Sing, something we all know the words to. Make a goddamn joyful noise.”
― Nora Roberts, The Hollow

“There were candles glittering light and fires burning in hearths, but not a single person appeared. Fairytale images covered all the closed doors on the second floor: a rabbit in a crown, a knight holding a star-shaped key, a pastry goblin tossing sweets.”
― Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After

“The Hollow's tavern was just as welcoming as the rest of the curious inn, with lots of wood and candles and one wall of windows that looked out on a lake, which appeared as if it were full of stars instead of water. It was all glitter and night-glimmer, and she was already wondering what it would look like in the day.”
― Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After

“Jacks tore at another piece of bread. 'I don't ever come here. The Hollow used to be my home.' His eyes turned a bleak shade of blue.

Evangeline felt the urge to say she was sorry, but she wasn't sure what for. All she knew was that her heart had cracked when he'd said the word home.

What had happened to change things? How had he turned from a boy with a family and friends in to a Fate? And why did he no longer want to come here? To her, the Hollow felt warm and wonderful, but it clearly didn't to Jacks.

'When was the last time you were here?'

'Right after I became a Fate.' Jacks countenance shifted as soon as the words were out.

It was like watching a spell break apart.

The fire crackled and the tavern grew hotter as Jack's entire body tensed. He dropped the bread, hardened his jaw, narrowed his eyes on Evangeline, then slowly lowered his stormy gaze to the chain around her neck. And this time, he didn't ask if it was a a gift from Luc.

'I think you've been naughty, Little Fox.' He made a tsking sound with his tongue. 'Where did you find the truth stone?”
― Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After

“Everything about the whimsical inn inspired curiosity instead of fear. In a third-floor bathing room, Evangeline found the most delightful copper tub, reminiscent of the clock in the hall. It had lovely jewelled handles and a faucet that could pout out different-coloured waters in a variety of scents:

Pink honeysuckle.
Lavender rose.
Green pine needle.
Silver rain.

She'd mixed the rain and honeysuckle, and now she smelled like a sweet and stormy day.”
― Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After

“The first green leaf daring to live among the gloom felt like a trick, a delusion of her breaking mind. But then there was another and another. A canopy of gorgeous green. Everywhere she looked now, there was sunlight, snow-dusted trees, and chirping blue birds, and she was half-afraid she'd lost her mind.

The flowers came next, in delirious shades of yellow and mind and mermaid teal. They lined a sloping road that let down in to a valley with an inn and a lake and an aged sign that read Welcome to the Hollow!

...

...finally they stopped at an inn that couldn't be real. It had to be part of a dream.

The rooftop was covered in enormous cheery mushrooms with red caps that had tiny dragons dozing upon them. Then there were the flowers, so large they were the size of small children, with bright-coloured petals in every shade, which seemed to perk up as the two of them arrived.”
― Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After

“The first green leaf daring to live among the gloom felt like a trick, a delusion of her breaking mind. But then there was another and another. A canopy of gorgeous green. Everywhere she looked now, there was sunlight, snow-dusted trees, and chirping blue birds, and she was half-afraid she'd lost her mind.

The flowers came next, in delirious shades of yellow and pink and mermaid teal. They lined a sloping road that let down in to a valley with an inn and a lake and an aged sign that read Welcome to the Hollow!

...finally they stopped at an inn that couldn't be real. It had to be part of a dream.

The rooftop was covered in enormous cheery mushrooms with red caps that had tiny dragons dozing upon them. Then there were the flowers, so large they were the size of small children, with bright-coloured petals in every shade, which seemed to perk up as the two of them arrived.”
― Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After

“Near the door towered a brightly painted clock with jewelled pendulums. But instead of hours, it seemed to have names of food and drink. Things like Dumplings & Meat, Fish Stew, Mystery Stew, Toast and Tea, Porridge, Ale, Beer, Mead, Wine, Cider, Honey Pie, Brambleberry Crisp, Forest Cakes.”
― Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After

“More snowbirds chirped a cheery tune as the bridge ended at a rounded door tucked high inside the branches of a tree.

Jacks took a deep breath, and Evangeline felt his chest rising against her as they stepped through the door and in to a smallish loft. There were no fires or candles, and yet somehow the place was warm and bright with the sun shining through all the many windows. So many windows carefully nestled between branches in a way that made it difficult to see where the glass began and the tree ended.”
― Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After

“The first door she opened was carved with a picture of a pastry goblin tossing sweets. The room on the other side was even more delightful, decorated with apothecary jars full of colourful candies. The pillows on the bed all looked like sweets as well- wrapped taffy, gumdrops, and fluffy marshmallows. It felt tempting to lie down, just for a minute. She could almost hear the bed say If you sleep here, your dreams will be sweet, too.”
― Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After

“Everything about the whimsical inn inspired curiosity instead of fear. In a third-floor bathing room, Evangeline found the most delightful copper tub, reminiscent of the clock in the hall. It had lovely jewelled handles and a faucet that could pour out different-coloured waters in a variety of scents:

Pink honeysuckle.
Lavender rose.
Green pine needle.
Silver rain.

She'd mixed the rain and honeysuckle, and now she smelled like a sweet and stormy day.”
― Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After