All of a sudden, I sort of started to feel that I was constrained by the characters as opposed to enjoying them. And that remains for me to this day the line that I know where it's like, OK, you're… — Naomi Novik Copy Share Image
“The crew were all of them inclined to cough and sneeze, the boys particularly, and Keynes said, "We ought put them all in the water: to keep the chest warm must be the foremost concern." Laurence agreed without thinking and was shortly appalled by the sight of Emily bathing with the rest of the young officers, innocent of both clothing… — Naomi Novik Copy Share
“For his part, Temeraire had been following this exchange with cocked head and increasing confusion; now he said, "I do not understand in the… — Naomi Novik Copy Share Image
“Elsie eyed him puzzledly, and then offered, "Would you like to see my plate?” — Naomi Novik Copy Share Image
Temeraire-- Never fear; I am going; the Son of Heaven will not tolerate delays, and Barham gives me leave. Allegiance will carry us! Pray eat something --L. — Naomi Novik Copy Share
“One man can go where a group cannot, and manage on very little, particularly a rough adventurer such as he. More the point, he risks only himself when he goes: you much consider that in your charge is an inexpressibly valuable dragon, whose loss must be of greater importance than even this mission." "Oh, pray, let us be gone at… — Naomi Novik Copy Share
“It was all right when I did it,” I said, “but when you did it, it was wrong. As though—you were following a trail, but a tree had fallen down in the meantime, or some hedge grew up, and you insisted on continuing on anyway, instead of going around it—” “There are no hedges!” he roared. “It comes, I suppose,”… — Naomi Novik Copy Share
Next you will cry about taxation without representation, and throw a basket of tea into the harbor. You are indeed a very Jacobin at… — Naomi Novik Copy Share Image
“But I realized now that without quite thinking it through, I'd half-imagined myself a place here in the tower. My little room upstairs, a cheerful rummaging through the laboratory and the library, tormenting Sarkan like an untidy ghost who left his books out of place and threw his great doors open, and who made him come to the spring festival… — Naomi Novik Copy Share
“No; they nearly drowned you, and not even on purpose but only through carelessness. I am not letting them have you back,” Temeraire said.” — Naomi Novik Copy Share Image
“I do not know that the Chinese system is any worse; there is a limit to the evil one despot alone can do, and… — Naomi Novik Copy Share Image
“Those men want to take Laurence from me, and put him in prison, and execute him, and I will not let them, ever, and… — Naomi Novik Copy Share Image
