Memorable Lines
"The Sisters of the Star know what to do with broken minds, my dear. I'm sure it barely hurts at all." (9)
Who is Grand Elder Gherland?
These are folded and controlled by a lady in a tower.
What are the paper birds?
These magical items let people travel great distances quickly.
What are the seven league boots?
The location where the madwoman was imprisoned
What is the Tower?
This theme idea hovers over the protectorate and can be dangerous if avoided.
What is sorrow?
Oh, joyful joyness!" (168)
Who is Fyrian?
This is a celestial source of magic that shines bright.
What is the moon?
This tiger has a pearl for a heart.
Who is the sorrow eater?
The place where Zosimos and Fyrian's mother die
What is the volcano?
This theme idea can help cure sorrow and can be seen in the book through the paper birds.
What is Hope?
"Oh, I know you are just a bird and you cannot possibly understand me, but I have never harmed a living creature before."(301)
Who is Antain?
These cover cities and create fog.
What are clouds?
This character has infinite love, blue and silver magic, and can turn monsters into bunnies.
Who is Luna?
The end destination of Glerk and Xan's final journey together
What is the bog?
This theme idea can cause or amplify magic after a traumatic event has happened.
What is Madness?
"I started the stories in the Protectorate. I did. They all came from me. There is no story that I did not tell first." (329)
Who is Sister Ignatia?
This resembles the night sky and can be seen on a face.
What is the birthmark?
This character has lichen-green magic, travels as a bird, and can turn into a tree.
Who is Xan?
The city of sorrow
What is the Protectorate?
This theme idea is different for every character. It connects all the characters through their pasts.
What is Memory?
"The cat's away. And the mice shall play. And there is much that a mouse can do, after all." (278)
Who is Ethyne?
People get lost in these two dark orbs.
What are eyes?
This character is as old as the world itself.
Who is Glerk?
The location where Luna and Xan learn about magic
What is the old castle?
This theme idea clears up confusion and answers questions. All the readers and characters learn this theme idea in the end of the book.
What is Truth?