West

“But feeling fear was not the same as lacking courage. Anyone could be brave if he felt no fear. The Trojans murmured that this was true of Achilles, this was why he was so lethal. He rode into battle on his chariot, with no care whether he lived or died. None at all. He cared only for the safety of his friend, for Patroclus”
― Natalie Haynes, A Thousand Ships

“The Folk adore Cardan, and they’re terrified of my sister, two excellent things. I hope they rule Elfhame for a years and then pass it down to one of a dozen offspring. No need for me to be involved.”
― Holly Black, The Stolen Heir

“You can't eat some of a dumpling and put it back,' Oak insists. 'That's revolting.'
Cardan considers that villainy takes many forms, and he is good at all of them.”
― Holly Black, How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories

“My sister thinks that she’s the only one who can take poison, but I am poison,' he whispers, eyes half-closed, talking to himself. 'Poison in my blood. I poison everything I touch.”
― Holly Black, The Stolen Heir