429 books
—
822 voters
to-read
(252)
currently-reading (2)
read (674)
paused (4)
art (0)
children-s-fiction (0)
did-not-finish (0)
romance (52)
star-wars (31)
currently-reading (2)
read (674)
paused (4)
art (0)
children-s-fiction (0)
did-not-finish (0)
romance (52)
star-wars (31)
fantasy
(18)
contains-humor (17)
mysteries (16)
dystopian (15)
thrillers (12)
womens-fiction (11)
paranormal (10)
angst (9)
retellings (9)
contains-humor (17)
mysteries (16)
dystopian (15)
thrillers (12)
womens-fiction (11)
paranormal (10)
angst (9)
retellings (9)
Perhaps one day, on their annual return to the Lost and Found Inn, they would tell their children this was where Mommy first kissed Santa Claus.
“But even now there is hope left. I will not give you counsel, saying do this or do that. for not in doing or contriving, nor in choosing between this course and another, can I avail; but only in knowing what was and is, and in part what shall be. But this I will say to you: your Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hop remains while all the Company is true.”
― The Lord of the Rings
― The Lord of the Rings
“Do you know,' Cassian drawled to her, 'that the last time I got into a brawl in this house, I was kicked out for a month?'
Nesta's burning gaze slid to him, still outraged- but hinted with incredulity.
He just went on, 'It was Amren's fault, of course, but no one believed me. And no one dared banish her.'
She blinked slowly.
But the burning, molten gaze became mortal. Or as mortal as one of us could be.
Until Lucien breathed, 'What are you?'
Cassian didn't seem to dare take his focus off Nesta. But my sister slowly looked at Lucien.
'I made it give something back,' she said with terrifying quiet. The Cauldron. The hairs along my arms rose. Nesta's gaze flicked to the carpet, then to a spot on the wall. 'I wish to go to my room.”
― A Court of Wings and Ruin
Nesta's burning gaze slid to him, still outraged- but hinted with incredulity.
He just went on, 'It was Amren's fault, of course, but no one believed me. And no one dared banish her.'
She blinked slowly.
But the burning, molten gaze became mortal. Or as mortal as one of us could be.
Until Lucien breathed, 'What are you?'
Cassian didn't seem to dare take his focus off Nesta. But my sister slowly looked at Lucien.
'I made it give something back,' she said with terrifying quiet. The Cauldron. The hairs along my arms rose. Nesta's gaze flicked to the carpet, then to a spot on the wall. 'I wish to go to my room.”
― A Court of Wings and Ruin
“Her eyes were the brown of a fawn's coat. And he could have sworn something sparked in them as she met his gaze.
'Who are you?'
He knew without demanding clarification that she was aware of what he was to her.
'I am Lucien. Seventh son of the High Lord of the Autumn Court.'
And a whole lot of nothing.
...
For a long moment, Elain's face did not shift, but those eyes seemed to focus a bit more. 'Lucien,' she said at last, and he clenched his teacup to keep from shuddering at the sound of his name on her mouth. 'From my sister's stories. Her friend.'
'Yes.'
But Elain blinked slowly. 'You were in Hybern.'
'Yes.' It was all he could say.
'You betrayed us.'
He wished she'd shoved him out the window behind her. 'It- it was a mistake.'
Her eyes were frank and cold. 'I was to be married in a few days.'
He fought against the bristling rage, the irrational urge to find the male who'd claimed her and shred him apart. The words were a rasp as he instead said, 'I know. I'm sorry.'
She did not love him, want him, need him. Another male's bride.
A mortal man's wife. Or she would have been.
She looked away- toward the windows. 'I can hear your heart,' she said quietly.
He wasn't sure how to respond, so he said nothing, and drained his tea, even as it burned his mouth.
'When I sleep,' she murmured, 'I can hear your heart beating through the stone.' She angled her head, as if the city view held some answer. 'Can you hear mine?'
He wasn't sure if she truly meant to address him, but he said, 'No, lady. I cannot.'
Her too-thin shoulders seemed to curve inward. 'No one ever does. No one ever looked- not really.' A bramble of words. Her voice strained to a whisper. 'He did. He saw me. He will not now.”
― A Court of Wings and Ruin
'Who are you?'
He knew without demanding clarification that she was aware of what he was to her.
'I am Lucien. Seventh son of the High Lord of the Autumn Court.'
And a whole lot of nothing.
...
For a long moment, Elain's face did not shift, but those eyes seemed to focus a bit more. 'Lucien,' she said at last, and he clenched his teacup to keep from shuddering at the sound of his name on her mouth. 'From my sister's stories. Her friend.'
'Yes.'
But Elain blinked slowly. 'You were in Hybern.'
'Yes.' It was all he could say.
'You betrayed us.'
He wished she'd shoved him out the window behind her. 'It- it was a mistake.'
Her eyes were frank and cold. 'I was to be married in a few days.'
He fought against the bristling rage, the irrational urge to find the male who'd claimed her and shred him apart. The words were a rasp as he instead said, 'I know. I'm sorry.'
She did not love him, want him, need him. Another male's bride.
A mortal man's wife. Or she would have been.
She looked away- toward the windows. 'I can hear your heart,' she said quietly.
He wasn't sure how to respond, so he said nothing, and drained his tea, even as it burned his mouth.
'When I sleep,' she murmured, 'I can hear your heart beating through the stone.' She angled her head, as if the city view held some answer. 'Can you hear mine?'
He wasn't sure if she truly meant to address him, but he said, 'No, lady. I cannot.'
Her too-thin shoulders seemed to curve inward. 'No one ever does. No one ever looked- not really.' A bramble of words. Her voice strained to a whisper. 'He did. He saw me. He will not now.”
― A Court of Wings and Ruin
“Tam would gut me if he caught you drinking that.”
“Always looking after your best interests,” I said, and pointedly chugged the contents of the glass.
It was like a million fireworks exploding inside me, filling my veins with starlight. I laughed aloud, and Lucien groaned.
“Human fool,” he hissed. But his glamour had been ripped away. His auburn hair burned like hot metal, and his russet eye smoldered like a bottomless forge. That was what I would capture next.
“I’m going to paint you,” I said, and giggled—actually giggled—as the words popped out.
“Cauldron boil and fry me,” he muttered, and I laughed again.”
― A Court of Thorns and Roses
“Always looking after your best interests,” I said, and pointedly chugged the contents of the glass.
It was like a million fireworks exploding inside me, filling my veins with starlight. I laughed aloud, and Lucien groaned.
“Human fool,” he hissed. But his glamour had been ripped away. His auburn hair burned like hot metal, and his russet eye smoldered like a bottomless forge. That was what I would capture next.
“I’m going to paint you,” I said, and giggled—actually giggled—as the words popped out.
“Cauldron boil and fry me,” he muttered, and I laughed again.”
― A Court of Thorns and Roses
“I stepped forward, and didn't give Lucien time to step back as I hugged him tightly. 'Thank you,' I said, trying not to think about all the steel on him- if he'd need to use it.
'It was time,' Lucien said quietly, giving me a squeeze. 'For me to do something.'
I pulled away, surveying his scarred face. 'Thank you,' I said again. It was all I could think of to say.
Rhys extended a hand to Lucien.
Lucien studied it- then my mate's face. I could nearly see all the hateful words they'd spoken. Dangling between them, between that outstretched hand and Lucien's own.
But Lucien took Rhys's hand. That silent offer of not only transportation.
Before that dark wind swept in, Lucien looked back.
Not to me, I realised- to someone behind me.
Pale and thin, Elain stood atop the stairs.
Their gazes locked and held.
But Elain said nothing. Did not so much as take one step downward.
Lucien inclined his head in a bow, the movement hiding the gleam in his eye- the longing and sadness.
And when Lucien turned to signal to Rhys to go... He did not glance back at Elain.
Did not see the half step she took toward the stairs- as if she'd speak to him. Stop him.
Then Rhys was gone, and Lucien with him.
When I turned to offer Elain breakfast, she'd already walked away.”
― A Court of Wings and Ruin
'It was time,' Lucien said quietly, giving me a squeeze. 'For me to do something.'
I pulled away, surveying his scarred face. 'Thank you,' I said again. It was all I could think of to say.
Rhys extended a hand to Lucien.
Lucien studied it- then my mate's face. I could nearly see all the hateful words they'd spoken. Dangling between them, between that outstretched hand and Lucien's own.
But Lucien took Rhys's hand. That silent offer of not only transportation.
Before that dark wind swept in, Lucien looked back.
Not to me, I realised- to someone behind me.
Pale and thin, Elain stood atop the stairs.
Their gazes locked and held.
But Elain said nothing. Did not so much as take one step downward.
Lucien inclined his head in a bow, the movement hiding the gleam in his eye- the longing and sadness.
And when Lucien turned to signal to Rhys to go... He did not glance back at Elain.
Did not see the half step she took toward the stairs- as if she'd speak to him. Stop him.
Then Rhys was gone, and Lucien with him.
When I turned to offer Elain breakfast, she'd already walked away.”
― A Court of Wings and Ruin
The book you like most
— 49028 members
— last activity 8 minutes ago
This group (ranked in the TOP 100 most popular groups on Goodreads) is dedicated to the "Vision and Story" project. Additionally, the group THE BOOK ...more
Ask Athena's Daughters: Strong Female Characters For Today's Readers
— 145 members
— last activity Oct 23, 2014 03:38PM
The authors of the Athena's Daughters anthology talk about writing strong female characters for today's readers. Lots of authors, lots of opinions--wa ...more
The Charlotte Geeks
— 17 members
— last activity Oct 19, 2017 09:46AM
The Charlotte Geeks are a blended family of individuals who enjoy a multitude of fandoms in the sci fi, fantasy, anime, online, and gaming realms. We ...more
Hope’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Hope’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Hope
Lists liked by Hope




















































