Ysabel Character Quotations

"Ned, I really wanted to show you this place. It is seriously cool. And it may tie in to the stuff we've been finding."
This quotation contributes to Kate development as a character in Ysabel. As this quotation reveals, Kate is extremely interested and passionate about the historical sites that surround Aix-en-Provence. She often does research on them and has accumulated quite a wealth of knowledge that deals with many of these sites. It is largely due to her knowledge of local myth and geography that Ned is able to discover the location of Ysabel before Cadell and Phelan. This quotation also helps to show Ysabel's influence over Kate before Melanie unwittingly replaces her as the body that will hold Ysabel's soul.

"It matters when we love."
This quotation is part of a conversation between Ned and Cadell. Ned is furious that Ysabel has taken control of Melanie's body and demands to know how he is tied into this ancient story. Cadell responds by asking about Ned's relationship with Melanie. When Ned asks how his friendship with Melanie matters, Cadell responds with the earlier quotation. This quotation shows Cadell's respect for love and his longing for Ysabel. He loves her, and yet he cannot find her, which makes him suffer. This love of Ysabel is his main driving force throughout the novel.

"I believe I see. An ending, love? Past due, must we say?"
Phelan is also looking for Ysabel. He, as well as Cadell, is in love with her. The thing that differentiates Phelan from Cadell, however, is the fact that he has become tired of the cycle that he must endure. For more than two thousand years Phelan and Cadell have fought for Ysabel's love. The outcome is different every time, but all three are repeatedly reincarnated to resume their love triangle. While he still loves Ysabel beyond what words can express, Phelan has grown tired of his repeated reincarnation and wishes that the cycle could be ended. Near the end of the novel, Ned's intervention in the cycle finally gives Phelan the chance to rest that he has longed for. He is grateful to Ned for this action, though he still regrets losing Ysabel.

"Yesterday you entered a space I've been in for some time. When it happened I became aware of it, of you, from where I was. The family thing, I guess."
Ned's Aunt Kim is similar to Ned in many ways. This quotation reveals that she has the same gift that he does, though this gift is never explained in detail. Kim has had past experiences involving her gifts that are never elaborated on during the events of Ysabel. We do know, however, that this gift has been present in Ned's family for several generations. We later learn that this is because he is a descendant from one of Ysabel's relationship with either Cadell or Phelan. This ties Ned and his aunt to the events of this cycle, whether they like it or not.

" A friend of the woman you took. And nephew of the other one. The on who matters."
This quotation shows how Ned develops as the events of Ysabel unfold. At the beginning of the novel, Ned has no idea about the story that he has stumbled into. However, as he discovers more about his own family's history and the history of this ancient love triangle, he begins to understand how he fits into the grand scheme of things. This understanding only increases his drive to save Melanie from becoming Ysabel completely.