Summary
Vala Mal Doran had always gone out of her way to avoid feeling like a fool. And she knew that hope was the most foolish thing of all. But a certain archaeologist made her hope again. When she thought he dashed those hopes, she attempted to rebuild her armor-with very little success.
My notes
The premise is definitely a bit contrived, but that doesn’t end up mattering because this is so well written. The character analysis is spot on and the way Daniel reflects on their relationship and the individual ways they sabotage themselves is insightfully accurate.
This is my favourite quote because it just hits the crux of their frustrated dance around each other:
She didn’t use sex as a weapon so much as a shield.
And he’d let her get away with it—again. He swore viciously.
It was just that she always made him so damn angry, so carelessly offering everything he desperately wanted.