297 Quotes by Naomi Novik

We were of the valley. Born in the valley, of families planted too deep to leave even when they knew their daughter might be taken; raised in the valley, drinking of whatever power also fed the Wood.

But I had not known that I was strong enough to do any of those things until they were over and I had done them. I had to do the work first, not knowing.

I was reasonably sure that my one tried-and-true method of being aggressively rude wasn’t actually how normal people made their friends.

So I put together a street-going rig and came up with the courier.

His name tasted of fire and wings, of curling smoke, of subtlety and strength and the rasping whisper of scales. He eyed me and said stiffly, “Don’t land yourself into a boiling-pot, and as difficult as you may find it, try and present a respectable appearance.

I’m not your dear girl,” Kasia said, with a bite in her tone that silenced him.

Success excuses all risks.

You were challenged beyond the bounds of what could be done, and found a path to make it true.

I wouldn’t hold myself that cheap, to marry a man who’d love me less than everything else he had, even if what he had was a winter kingdom.