Dante Palumbo

“once votes are made public, those with power and marks can target councilors who oppose them, and the temptation becomes ever greater for each councilor to give in to either marks or popularity, if not both.”
― L.E. Modesitt Jr., Isolate

“One of the curses suffered by the intelligent is the power of imagination, for a clever mind will explore the dark possibilities with far more dedication than the bright.”
― Anthony Ryan, The Pariah

“Why me?” I asked. “Why did an unknown Caerith scribe from ages past see fit to set down a prophecy of my life? I am just a whore’s bastard made a thief and a murderer because there was no other place for me in this land. I am a pariah to be shunned by churl and noble alike. This land and its people have no use for me, save to earn an ugly death and an unmarked grave fighting their wars.” “The life of a pariah can be as meaningful as that of a king,” she replied, her voice softer now and I discerned a weariness in the way her shoulders slumped. “Every life is significant, but some are… more so. You, it transpires, were the key to unlocking the secrets of this book, and with that key my people will unlock further secrets. We have so many books, all unread since the Fall. Now the precious knowledge they contain will belong to us once more. You should be proud.”
― Anthony Ryan, The Pariah

“Tamas had heard that every genius was equal parts madness. He”
― Brian McClellan, Promise of Blood