Arkady Martine

So much of who we are is what we remember and retell.

Released, I am a spear in the hands of the sun.

Histories are always worse by the time they get written down.

I could have told her the truth,” Mahit said. “Here I am, new to the City, being led astray by my own cultural liaison and a stray courtier.” Twelve Azalea folded his hands together in front of his chest. “We could have told her the truth,” he said. “Her friend, the dead Ambassador, has mysterious and probably illegal neurological implants.” “How nice for us, that everyone lies,” Three Seagrass said cheerfully.

Be a mirror, she told herself again. Be a mirror when you meet a knife; be a mirror when you meet a stone.

The problem with sending messages was that people responded to them, which meant one had to write more messages in reply.