“I hear you're supposed to be good at manipulating people. Try a little harder to make me like you, all right? I'm the queen. Your life will be nicer if I like you.”

“You're good at love," she said simply, because it seemed to her that it was true. "I'm not so good at love. I'm like a barbed creature. I push everyone I love away."He shrugged. "I don't mind you pushing me away if it means you love me, little sister.”

“Madlen: 'It's a relief to me, Lady Queen, that in your own pain, you take no interest in hurting yourself.'Bitterblue: 'Why would I? Why should I? It's foolish. I would like to kick the people who do it.'Madlen: 'That would, perhaps, be redundant, Lady Queen.”

“Lady Queen," he said, "You've given me all I want. You're the queen a librarian dreams of.”

“But all I feel is impatience, fury for the opposition I anticipate and the lies I'm going to have to tell to make it happen, and frustration that I can't even take a walk without them sending someone to hover. Attack me," she said."I beg your pardon, Lady Queen?""You should attack me, and we'll see what he does. He's probably quite bored--it'll be a relief to him.""Mightn't he run me through with his sword?""Oh." Bitterblue chuckled. "Yes, I suppose he might. That would be a shame.""I'm gratified that you think so," said Giddon dryly.”

“I don’t often know who should read what book. It’s a little bit like trying to set people up on a date — a good match is unpredictable and mysterious.”

“Tell me what I can do to help you feel better."Well...I always like when you kiss me..."Do you?"You're good at it. "Well, that's lucky. Because I'll always be kissing you.”