Home > Author > Sofiya Pasternack
1 " Anya’s favorite was Ilya Muromets, because he wasn’t noble like the others. He was a farmer’s son, and Anya liked to imagine that if Ilya could go from being a peasant to a knight, maybe she could too. "
― Sofiya Pasternack , Anya and the Dragon (Anya, #1)
2 " The unspoken rule of magic in Zmeyreka— and maybe all of Kievan Rus’— was that if you were going to use it, make sure no one saw you. "
3 " Tears burned the corners of her eyes, and Anya hurried out of the kitchen before she lost her composure altogether. She let herself cry about Papa only in front of the goats, because they didn’t try to comfort her or tell her it was okay or offer her false hope about his safe return. "
4 " There are a thousand endings to every story, and only by the telling does the ending become clear. "
5 " Anya had never seen one with a fishtail, and everyone knew the only way to put them to rest was to either bury their bodies or avenge whoever had caused them to drown in the first place. "
6 " The greatest magic in the world is an open mind. "
7 " All magic is connected to the magic of fate,” Yedsha said. “Manipulation of the right magic in the right way could alter the trajectory of fate magic ever so slightly, and cause far- reaching changes. Only fools can interact with fate magic directly, and only by accident. "
8 " It seemed to Anya a stupid question to pose while they were both within stabbing distance. "
9 " She should have been glad he was leaving, but she wasn’t. It was nice to talk to someone who wasn’t her immediate family, or a goat. "
10 " Anya looked back down at the drawing of the dragon. She gulped. How exactly was she supposed to help capture something like that? It had taken the smartest man alive to defeat it, and she was surrounded by the not- smartest people alive. "
11 " He put away the fairy book and pulled out an impressive tome, then opened it on the table between them. A two- page spread of an illustrated dragon practically clawed its way off the page. "
12 " She had just saved him, but she’d broken her grandmother’s cardinal rule: Don’t stand out. "
13 " Ivan had talked about conflicting schools of thought when it came to dragon development, but there were some points common to both schools. Dragons loved treasure, gold, and precious jewels. They were master linguists and could understand any language. They brought rain, but depending on the dragon’s temperament, it could be good rain or bad rain. And they attracted birds. "
14 " He pointed his spoon at Anya. “You’re too young to get married.” Anya groaned and threw her head back. “I’m not going to marry him! I’m never going to get married!” Mama shook her head. “Oh, Anya, of course you will.” “I won’t,” Anya said. “Babulya says marriage is for fools.” Babulya cackled. “What a smart girl. Don’t you settle for anything, Annushka! "
15 " Anya was ready to back away from the door when Kin’s voice pierced the heat: “Ye don’t have to spy from the door, girl. Come in if yer gonna be nosy. "
16 " Anya didn’t sleep. She lay in the hayloft with the chickens gathered around her until morning. "
17 " Fate is proud. It doesn’t like being told what to do. "
18 " The hut was warm—almost too hot—after the coolness of the swamp. It was a single round room, and bookshelves covered every wall from floor to ceiling. The shelves were stuffed with books of all sizes, shapes, and colors. The windows flanking the door had benches in front of them with poofy pillows on top; the yellow glow Anya had seen from the outside came from hanging lanterns dangling on thin chains, casting light over the window seats.Anya tried to guess how many books had been crammed into this one room, but the only thing she could think was Every book in the world is here right now. "
19 " Ivan’s wide eyes were locked onto the hut, and though he continued to wheeze, he shook his head. “If we’re getting eaten, we’re getting eaten together. "
20 " She found herself wondering why, in her last minutes of life before the dragon ate her, she was staring up its nose. "
