Laura Sebastian

The Lady of Shalott reclaims her story in this bold feminist reimagining of the Arthurian myth from the New York Times bestselling author of Ash Princess. Everyone knows the legend. Of Arthur, destined to be a king. Of the beautiful Guinevere, who will betray him with his most loyal knight, Lancelot. Of the bitter sorceress, Morgana, who will turn against them all. But Elaine alone carries the burden of knowing what is to come--for Elaine of Shalott is cursed to see the future. On the mystical isle of Avalon, Elaine runs free and learns of the ancient prophecies surrounding her and her friends--countless possibilities, almost all of them tragic. When their future comes to claim them, Elaine, Guinevere, Lancelot, and Morgana accompany Arthur to take his throne in stifling Camelot, where magic is outlawed, the rules of society chain them, and enemies are everywhere. Yet the most dangerous threats may come from within their own circle. As visions are fulfilled and an inevitable fate closes in, Elaine must decide how far she will go to change fate--and what she is willing to sacrifice along the way.

Half Sick of Shadows

Sophia 

I will die drowning; it has always been known.

More often than not, I had to remind myself of the reasons I loved my mother. As a girl, I would count them off in my mind whenever she said something cruel. I smoothed those reasons over the wounds her words inflicted like a balm that never lasted long enough.

 At the time, I didn't understand why the were so angry, so vicious toward someone they didnt know the first thing about, but now I know--there was nothing more terrifying in Camelot than a girl who refused to follow the rules. 

It was enough for me, but Morgana is different. She has never wanted to be a hero, never craved glory or admiration. She cares about her own happiness first and foremost, and there is something admirable about that, especially in a court where women are happy to fold themselves up tight to be more easily manageable, to swallow arsenic to be thought of as just a litle bit sweeter.

“You’re so focused on the ending sometimes that I don't think you know how to appreciate the during."

Lizeth Esmeralda

What use do you have for new dresses? she’d asked when I’d pointed out mine didn’t fit right anymore. You could make them fit if you tried… I didn’t argue. I knew she always got what she wanted. It was just a question of how much I lost in the process. 

It’s not important to the book (I think) I just like how it sounds 🤷🏻‍♀️

"What I have seen is a sheltered girl who is so afraid of her own shadow that she won't walk in sunlight, a girl who closes her eyes and takes all the injustices the world pushes on her without a word in response, a girl who does everything her mother tells her to and never questions why." The words pierced me through like well-aimed arrows tipped in poison. I suppose that was how I knew they were true. 

Lancelot keeps his eyes on the horizon. “What do you want me to say, Gwen?" he asks with a sigh. "We aren't children anymore. We have futures, and now those futures go in different directions."

How awful is it to need someone, but more awful still to admit it out loud. It feels like I’ve cut myself open and set myself out for the crows to pick at. 

Half Sick of Shadows quotes

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