The wildlings seemed to think Ygritte a great beauty because of her hair; red hair was rare among the free folk, and those who had it were said to be kissed by fire, which was supposed to be lucky.

As much as I love historical fiction, my problem with historical fiction is that you always know what's going to happen.

Those are brave men," he told Ser Balon in admiration. "Let's go kill them.

His eyes were open wounds beneath his heavy brows, a blue as dark as the sea by night.

Knights die in battle,” Catelyn reminded her. Brienne looked at her with those blue and beautiful eyes. “As ladies die in childbed. No one sings songs about them.

I love fantasy. I grew up reading fantasy. But, I wanted to put a somewhat different spin on it. The whole trope of absolute good versus absolute evil, which was wonderful in the hands of J.R. Tolkien, became cliche and rote in the hands of the many Tolkien imitators that followed.

My skin has turned to porcelain, to ivory, to steel.