The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth Book 3)

You can reject these dregs of your old self and pretend that nothing and no one else matters … or you can embrace them. Reclaim them for what they’re worth, and grow stronger as a whole.

there are none so frightened, or so strange in their fear, as conquerors.

The world isn’t friends and enemies. It’s people who might help you, and people who’ll get in your way. Kill this lot and what do you get?”

But that’s no different from what mothers have had to do since the dawn of time: sacrifice the present, in hopes of a better future.

Conquerors live in dread of the day when they are shown to be, not superior, but simply lucky.

“Because that is how one survives eternity,” I say, “or even a few years. Friends. Family. Moving with them. Moving forward.”

that does not mean Kelenli’s desire to be free is wrong. Or that something is impossible just because it is very, very hard.

people believe what they want to believe, not what is actually there to be seen and touched