But my philosophy is that plot advancement is not what the experience of reading fiction is about. If all we care about is advancing the plot, why read novels? We can just read Cliffs Notes.

He had found over the years that silence sometimes yielded more than questions. And so it was this time.

One of the things I love, and I'm a voracious reader as well as a writer, is books that surprise me, that are not predictable.

If he must be alone, he would make solitude his armor.

Dragons old and young, true and false, bright and dark. And you. A small man with a big shadow, snarling in the midst of all.

Why do our dreams become so much smaller when they finally come true?

True knights protect the weak.” He snorted. “There are no true knights, no more than there are gods. If you can’t protect yourself, die and get out of the way of those who can. Sharp steel and strong arms rule this world, don’t ever believe any different.” Sansa backed away from him. “You’re awful.” “I’m honest. It’s the world that’s awful.