To Clutch A Razor by Veronica Roth

 One of the greatest lies that humanity tells is that time produces wisdom. Oh, Ala will concede that time creates more opportunities for a person to become wise, but it's hardly a guarantee.  And for those who don't fear death as much as the average human being, wisdom is even harder to come by.  The short mortal lifespan makes the acquisition of wisdom feel urgent, like a survival skill; a long lifespan, by comparison, makes someone feel they have all the time in the world for a slow, contemplative life...later.

 This is the sequel to a book I read last year, "When Among Crows".  The characters in the story are either demon/monster type "people" or knights from a family who're pledged to kill them.  The challenge is that while the story takes place in Chicago, the monster world and labels are from a Slavic tradition.  It was really useful to keep a pad of paper and write down things like zmora = eats fear and wieszczy = zombie.

And she's always stressed, which he's now realizing is a source of appeal, given that he now eats fear.

He'd love me... 

 

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