N. K. Jemisin

Many things have broken him. He holds himself together with spit and endless smiling, but all can see the cracks. You, though; you are dented, bruised, but intact.

And Mother does not hate her; actually, she fears Damaya. Is there a difference? Maybe.

...she wonders why a part of her is trying to find value in degradation.

This is magic we're talking about. It's supposed to go places science can't, defy logic, wink at technology, fill us all with the sensawunda that comes of gazing upon a fictional world and seeing something truly different from our own.

In the 'Dreamblood' books, I'm focusing more on what I like about epic fantasy: the layering and depth of tension; the chance to really delve into the minutia of an alternate society and its politics; a large cast of characters to love and hate.

That we're not human is just the lie they tell themselves so they don't have to feel bad about how they treat us