The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice. The rules are simple – turn to page 56 in your current read (or 56% in your e-reader) and post a few non-spoilery sentences.

Today’s quote is from Inkmistress, the prequel to Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst. Technically Inkmistress was written second, but I prefer to read things in chronological order when I can, so I’m reading it first.

I stood frozen with horror. How much of Ina was still the girl I loved, and how much was the creature she’d taken as her manifest?

I had done this. I was responsible.

I crept through the woods with my heart in my throat until I got close enough to see the rise and fall of Ina’s sides heaving. Though the dragon’s gaze was keen as ever, she hung her head in exhaustion, her white scales streaked with blood. My chest constricted. In spite of all those Ina had killed, it still wounded me to see her hurting.

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice. The rules are simple – turn to page 56 in your current read (or 56% in your e-reader) and post a few non-spoilery sentences.

Today’s quote is from The Bees, by Laline Paull. It’s a book told from a worker bee’s point of view.

Lily 500 held her ground. She flicked an antenna and a young Clover receiver ran out from the hive, knelt before her, and opened her mouth. Lily 500 arched her body, triggering a stream of golden nectar from her own crop into the Clover’s mouth. When there was no more, the Clover bobbed a curtsy and ran back inside.

“Crone vomit?” Sir Quercus was appalled. “Is that what we’re drinking?”

“Nectar, Sir. How did you think we carried it?” Lily 500 turned to Flora. “Hold your burden tight, and follow.”

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice. The rules are simple – turn to page 56 in your current read (or 56% in your e-reader) and post a few non-spoilery sentences.

Today’s quote is from Number One Chinese Restaurant by Lillian Li.

Poor wifey, she’d tuckered herself out. He gently pulled down the quilts, searching for her forehead, her lovely fat cheeks.

But from the nest of fabric, a thick pillow emerged. Confused, he pawed the quilts down farther. He grew desperate to see her tufts of hair and chilled scalp, her familiar, clammy skin, but still more pillow showed. He tore the bed apart, throwing sheets onto the floor, and only when the mattress was bare did he stop. His wife was not home. He had no idea where she’d gone.

Well that’s quite the mystery. And only a side-note to the main plot! I am intrigued. Full review up when I finish the book!

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice. The rules are simple – turn to page 56 in your current read (or 56% in your e-reader) and post a few non-spoilery sentences.

Today’s quote is from Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women & Witchcraft. It’s a perfect book for the Halloween season. Page 56 lands in the story “Afterbirth” by Andrea Cremer.

“Do not speak thusly,” I argue. “You have done nothing wrong.”

Midwife Ley coughs again, then smiles sadly. “In my mind and yours I have done no wrong. But my words contradicted those of our minister and the judge’s wife. I alone raised the possibility that the judge got a child by his servant. In the eyes of the village, my truths cannot be suffered to live.”

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice. The rules are simple – turn to page 56 in your current read (or 56% in your e-reader) and post a few non-spoilery sentences.

Today’s quote is from Grace and Fury, about two sisters whose roles have been unexpectedly swapped.

The narrow-faced guard handed out scratchy towels and a handful of clothes to each of the prisoners. Serina donned the underwear, faded blue pants, and threadbare shirt as quickly as she could. It took far less time to get dressed when there weren’t corsets, endless rows of buttons, fragile lace, or high heels to contend with.

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice. The rules are simple – turn to page 56 in your current read (or 56% in your e-reader) and post a few non-spoilery sentences.

Today’s quote is from Like Water by Rebecca Podos.

In the ringing silence that follows, Leigh turns to me. It seems like she wants to say something more, but I’m already up and shuffling away across the beach. Because I did not switch shifts with Jake for this, I did not cram myself into a car with strangers just to have a staring match with Leigh Clemente. I had another goal in mind, and for a moment I have every intention of trailing after Lucas. Maybe this night can be salvaged.