“He knew what he knew: that the real world was full of magic, so magical worlds could easily be real.”

“He knew what she knew – that the world they lived in most days was an illusion of safety, that the real world, without the smoke and mirrors of self-deception, was treacherous, dangerous, and deadly. - An Inquisition of Angels”

“Lena's real mom, Emily, knew that this was not the truth, but she also knew that Vaclav was not lying.Vaclav knew that he was telling the truth.Lena knew that it was a lie, but she loved it and believed it, like a fairy tale, like a song, like a bedtime story, like a magic trick.She loved Vaclav until it became the truth and so it was.”

“I'm writing a book on magic”, I explain, and I'm asked, “Real magic?” By real magic people mean miracles, thaumaturgical acts, and supernatural powers. “No”, I answer: “Conjuring tricks, not real magic”. Real magic, in other words, refers to the magic that is not real, while the magic that is real, that can actually be done, is not real magic.”

“A real story requires a kind of magical baptism to link the world on this side with the world on the other side.”

“magic was not a required course. He could have a degree in Wiffle ball for all I knew.”