Quotes from Genevieve Cogman

But the good thing about subtle hints was that one could ignore them as long as the actual work got done.

Irene spread out her skirts and turned to watch the room, a smile pinned to her face. 'No, nothing going on here, absolutely normal. My friend here likes to stare into locks and wiggle bits of metal round in them; he does it every day and twice on Sundays...

I may take a while to learn from my mistakes, but I get there eventually.

Mother, please, hear me out. If there's something I've learned over the last few years, it's that everything people do is important. I happen to have chosen this particular thing to do with my life, and I was lucky enough to have the choice.

Very strongly tied to Europe, which is why CENSOR has an English name and acronym. It did attempt to leave the European Union last year, but apparently that was prompted by demonic interference. A lot of politicians were subsequently tried for treason and beheaded at the Tower of London.

What is written can be erased, alas.

All right," Irene said in the sudden pause. "Everyone stay back, or the cat's going to regret it.

The United Kingdom?' 'Very strongly tied to Europe, which is why CENSOR has an English name and acronym. It did attempt to leave the European Union last year, but apparently that was prompted by demonic interference. A lot of politicians were subsequently tried for treason and beheaded at the Tower of London.

She just wanted—had always wanted—a good book to read.

Let's not borrow trouble till it's actually here.

Vogliamo i libri. Amiamo i libri. Viviamo con i libri

Involvements with glamorous female cat burglars never end up well." "And you've had some?" "One," Irene said, and hoped that she wasn't blushing too badly. "Oh, you're that Irene,

There were three basic reasons why Librarians were sent out to alternates to find specific books: because the book was important to a senior Librarian, because the book would have an effect on the Language, or because the book was specific and unique to that alternate world. In this last case, the Library's ownership of it would reinforce the Library's links to the world from which the book originated.

I plan for the worst," Silver said. "That way, at least I'm dressed for the occasion.

She'd always wondered, or even daydreamed, what it was like to actually work with great detectives, rather than just read about them. It was more annoying than she expected.

No, refusal is an option. It's just that refusal comes with consequences. If you make a choice, then you're responsible for the consequences of that choice.

So far, I have been assaulted, attacked by cyborg alligators, almost drowned in the Thames, had most of the skin stripped off my hand, been poisoned with curare, revived with strychnine, and chased by both werewolves and giant robots. Are you accusing me of not taking this seriously, sir?

Now she just had to explain everything—well, most things—to the men, and then be off.

Aubrey - "Apparently she wears a black leather catsuit and a golden mask." Irene - "Any details on the mask?" Aubrey - "I think people are usually too busy looking at the black leather catsuit.

A high level of chaos would mean that they could expect to meet the Fae, creatures of chaos and magic, who were able to take form and cause disorder on such a corrupted world. And that was never good news

She was in the Library. Not just any library, but the Library.

Strong-minded women with a cause accepted even fewer excuses than the average gangster, when it came to getting what they wanted, and what they wanted right now was Irene making a speech.

Common sense argued that she shouldn't attribute to malice what could perfectly well be explained by stupidity,

It was so full of light. The huge public square had what must be the Basilica at one end, topped with bulbous domes and covered with marble and mosaics. It was imposing and glorious and, yes, utterly beautiful.