Polina

“I swam across the torrent of my madness, and pulled myself upon the shore of a new and better sanity.”
― Frances Hardinge, A Face Like Glass

“We are all there, goddess and mortal and the boy who was both.”
― Madeline Miller, The Song of Achilles

“If Wendell’s stepmother has us slain before I have a chance to contribute to the scholarly debate, I will be very disappointed.”
― Heather Fawcett, Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales

“Yes, I know,’ she said in answer to the unasked, for there was no time for explanations. ‘Yes. My face is spoilt.’

Grandible’s jowl wobbled and creased. Then, for the first time that Neverfell could remember, he changed to a Face she had never seen before, a frown more ferocious and alarming than either of the others.

‘Who the shambles told you that?’ he barked. ‘Spoilt? I’ll spoil them.’ He took hold of her chin and examined her. ‘A bit sadder, maybe. A bit wiser. But nothing rotten. You’re just growing yourself a rind at last. Still a good cheese.”
― Frances Hardinge, A Face Like Glass