The Shadow Queen

You can. You never let anything stop you

Eighteen months is forever,” Leo said as he hopped off the ladder and walked toward them. “We could just head to the capital now and yell, ‘Surprise, you slimy coward! We’re not dead, but you’re about to be!’ and then you can turn her into a pile of fungus.”

You’re as strong as Irina, Lorelai. As a child of eight with only a few months of training, you were strong enough to undo the spells of a full-fledged mardushka. You’ve only grown stronger since.”

“You called your magic much faster this time,” Gabril said, approval warming his eyes.

“I thought of Irina.” Or more precisely, how badly she wanted Irina to pay for killing their father and stealing their kingdom.

We could be the Daring Duo—”

“You could be hanging for your crimes if we don’t move on to the next village

Apples in a bowl that gleamed beneath the candlelight but spilled rot once the skin was punctured. Apples her father, her brother, and the castle staff ate nightly until every bit of them had disappeared

who brought me to the library every week so I could check out yet another book of Grimm’s fairy tales and who encouraged my wild imagination.

She was iron and fire, a warrior’s spirit with a lion’s heart.

“A warrior doesn’t focus on the odds stacked against her. She focuses on her heart, on her will to face the evil in her world and defeat it, and then she finds a way to do it.”

You’re a king. You don’t have the luxury of turning away from what must be done. Not if you want to save your kingdom