“As unfortunately as her own visit had begun, Clara was obviously having a grand time pretending to be an earl’s daughter. Meg only wished she could witness more of her performance. In fact, Clara’s flamboyance had almost begun to make her think that she, an actual earl’s daughter, might have made better use of the... Continue Reading →
Terms of Endearment by Larry McMurtry
“As usual, after one of her mother’s visits, Emma found herself feeling antagonistic, not merely toward her mother but also toward her husband and herself. Flap should have been there to defend himself, or her, or them. Her mother hadn’t really been on the attack; she had just been exercising her peculiar subtle genius for... Continue Reading →
The Scarlet Throne by Amy Leow
“‘As for you, Medha Yankaran”- I turn towards the girl, her burnished skin and sharply cut profile making her look like an apsara come alive- “from this day forth you are mine.” Harun hurries forward with a tray of paints in his hands. I sketch the Star of Rashmatun on her forehead, as I have... Continue Reading →
Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski
“’You say something is ending,’ Eithne slowly went on. ‘Not true. There are things that never end. You talk of survival? I am fighting to survive. Brokilon endures thanks to my fight, for trees live longer than men, as long as they are protected from your axes. You talk to me of kings and princes.... Continue Reading →
The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen
“By the time Twyla and Frank arrived on the scene, two miles from the barracks, the flare had landed. They found themselves on a flattened plain, nestled in the jagged foothills of the Dragon’s Teeth mountain range. The flare’s harsh light glared across the landscape, outshining their saddle lanterns and casting everything in bright pinks... Continue Reading →
These Deathless Shores by P.H. Low
“The Island tracked everything that washed ashore.An invisible barrier surrounded it, a shimmering wall a hundred kilometers in every direction. Canoes sank in crossing; navigators lost sight of the stars. Later, trawlers and airplanes split themselves against nothing, and the probes they sent into the water returned out of sync or cracked precisely down the... Continue Reading →