Christopher Jaynes

“There’s something alien in a goat’s eye, something not seen in dog or horse or bird. It’s the rectangular pupil. As if they’ve climbed out of hell or fallen from the moon.”
― Mark Lawrence, King of Thorns

“We can be strong in the face of kings and priests, my lady,” Ashe replied, “but to live is to have worries and uncertainties. Keep them inside, and they will destroy you for certain—leaving behind a person so callused that emotion can find no root in your heart.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Elantris

“Who was that? Gorgeous red hair. There wasn’t a single lock of black in it. A slender build, so different from the curvaceous Alethi. A silken blue dress, simple yet elegant. Pale skin—it almost had a Shin look to it—matched by light blue eyes. A slight dusting of freckles under the eyes, giving her an exotic cast. The young woman seemed to glide through the room. Adolin twisted about, watching her pass. She was so different.”
― Brandon Sanderson, The Stormlight Archive, Books 1-3: The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, Oathbringer

“You idiot.” He blinked at her. “Are you only now realizing that forces greater than ourselves might tear us apart?” she asked, still smiling. “Well . . .” he began. “Well . . . well no, not exactly . . .” He trailed off weakly. “But that was always true, Aleran,” she said, “long before the vord threatened our peoples. If they had never done so, it would still be true.” “What do you mean?” She shrugged a shoulder. Then she took up his knife and fork and cut another slice of roast as she spoke. “Many things can end lives. Even the lives of Aleran Citizens. Disease. Fires. Accidents. And, in the end, age itself.” She fed him the piece of roast and watched him begin to chew before nodding approval and beginning to cut another. “Death is certain, Aleran—for all of us. That being true, we know that all of those we love will either be torn away from us, or we will be torn away from them. It follows as naturally as the night after sundown.”
― Jim Butcher, First Lord's Fury