A cupcake temple?' Her chest still tight with anxiety, Bertie forced herself to imagine it: bricks of pound cake mortared with buttercream and chocolate panache, torches like striped birthday candles set into the walls, pilgrims upon the Path of Delectable Righteousness delivering daily tributes of almond paste and raspberry filling. . . .

— Lisa Mantchev

Ariel laughed, and now her goose bumps had goose bumps.

— Lisa Mantchev

Could we wear spandex and blow things up?

— Lisa Mantchev

How can she create with all your negative energy?"" Yeah, man. You're bringing us down."" This is about as low as it gets," Ariel said. "Where did you get those ridiculous black berets?" Moth adjusted his recently donned beatnik attire. "This is what the hip cats wear, daddy-o."" Can you dig it?" Cobweb stroked a few wisps of fake chin hair, while the others nodded and snapped their fingers.

— Lisa Mantchev

If you wanted to play with fire, milady, you could have simply asked me for a kiss or three.

— Lisa Mantchev

I have flown and fallen, and I have swum deep and drowned, but there should be more to love than "I survived it.

— Lisa Mantchev

Seek out the company of those who will never ask you to jump," the earth advised. Bertie remembered the rush of feathers as she soared above the audience. "I can catch myself."" Of those whose love will never fill your lungs with water-" the earth argued." But it did not kill me.""there should be more to love," said the earth, "than 'it did not kill me.' More than 'I survived it.

— Lisa Mantchev

She's under duress," Peaseblossom said." I don't care if she's under duress, over it, or alongside it," Moth said. "Nothing in this world supersedes cake.

— Lisa Mantchev

Shh,” Cobweb said with a well-time jab of the elbow, “we might be able to get some dignity out of this, if we play our cards right.

— Lisa Mantchev

The Brigands charged in with their weapons drawn." Who are you?" Young Bertie asked." We're the bad guys!" their leader announced." What are you going to do?"" Plunder and pillage!" one of them yelled. The others immediately shoved him. "Not in front of the kid, Ralph! Fer cryin' out loud..."" Oh, yeah. Sorry! We're here to take your candy!

— Lisa Mantchev