She had been a solitary child, and then solitary as a woman, drawn into an orbit of her own that took her away from others, even those who would be her friends.

... everyone knew that all islands were worlds unto themselves, that to come to an island was to come to another world.

We worship…the powers that speak to our souls, if it seems they do. We do so knowing there is more to the world, and the half-world, and perhaps worlds beyond, than we can grasp. We always knew that. We can’t even stop children from dying, how would we presume to understand the truth of things? Behind things? Does the presence of one power deny another? [p. 176]

Irritation for some men was their response to strain.

What mortal knew the way their fate line would run?

There was some sadness in how that could happen, falling out of love with something that had shaped you. Or even people who had.

The heart has its own laws... and the truth is... the truth is that you are the law of mine.