“People only picked the pretty, sweet-smelling flowers. The ones with thorns were left alone.”

“Not all poison was bitter. Some of the deadliest poisons in the world tasted sweet; they were that much more dangerous because of it.”

“Briar Rose awakens to grace us with her gentle presence once more.""Shut up," says Vol."Your thorns are showing.”

“When mothers warn their daughters about all the cold nasty men out there who will only break their tender little hearts, I'm the one they've got in mind because I'm the one who broke their hearts when their mothers were warning them.”

“He smelled like alcohol and a bad dream.”

“Vol picks up the cup of tea in both hands and takes a long sip. Mm, grass-clippings. Her favourite.”

“You think you fucking know me? I'm an assassin. I kill people for a living. Good people, bad people, it makes no difference to me as long as I get paid." I spoke slowly, giving each word time to sink in. "And that girl you just sold out? She's the only thing in this world that makes me even remotely human.”