And they were quiet but their blood and nerves and butterflies were not—they were rampantly alive, rushing and thrumming in a wild and perfect melody, matched note for note.

Once upon a time, a girl lived in a sandcastle, making monsters to send through a hole in the sky.

He was right. It made no sense at all, but the feeling flooded through Karou, and whatever it was, it was as sweet as a patch of sun on a glossy floor and, like a cat, she just wanted to curl up in it.

What can a soldier do when mercy is treason, and he is alone in it?

...the air seeming to gather around her like held breath. As if this whole place were a story about her.

Once upon a time, there were two moons, who were sisters. Nitid was the goddess of tears and life, and the sky was hers. No one worshipped Ellai but secret lovers.

The audacity to love. Do you know what a gift that is?