How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Miri swallowed and tried to look modest, but it was too late. Katar was usually the best in the class, and surely she thought Miri's smile meant that she was gloating. (5.22)
And so the gloves come off—Miri may not mean to anger anyone, but in showing up Katar in class, she's setting off a chain reaction. Now the girls are going to be competing over who will become academy princess.
Quote #2
"Don't look so shocked, Miri," said Katar without raising her eyes from the book. "You're not the only one who can study during breaks. I guess you think academy princess is yours, no competition." (7.24)
Looks like Katar isn't wasting any time trying to beat Miri. She desperately wants to be the princess—though not exactly for love. She wants a chance to leave Mount Eskel and to see the world, and she'll do anything it takes to get what she wants.
Quote #3
In order to beat Katar as first in the academy, Miri knew she would have to be an expert on everything Olana taught. (9.29)
She may not be the biggest fan of Tutor Olana (or listening to people), but in order to be the very best in school, Miri will have to settle down and take a few pointers from her.
Quote #4
"Let's go back and show her we're smarter than she thinks." Miri paced with excitement. "Olana didn't spend much time on Diplomacy, but we learned enough to come up with a decent plan." (12.37)
Tutor Olana thinks that she's so much smarter than the girls, but Miri is ready to show her that they can be formidable adversaries. In the battle of wits, a royal tutor might just be bested by a bunch of dirty mountain girls.
Quote #5
Katar cut her eyes at Miri. "I'm a better diplomat than you and everyone knows it. It should've been me talking. Too bad for you that academy princess isn't based on who everyone likes best." (13.37)
Nice bit of foreshadowing there, Katar. It doesn't seem like academy princess will be decided by popularity, but in the end Tutor Olana has the girls choose from the top students anyway. And guess who doesn't get chosen? That's right—Katar.
Quote #6
The older girls had been spooked by Miri's tie with Katar after the first exam, and Bena, Katar, and Liana spent all their free time with open books. Miri gazed longingly at spring erupting outside the window but forced herself to study—at least, most of the time. (14.16)
Miri finally has friends again and would love to go outside and play in the mountains, but she's got to buckle down and study hard. After all, she has to beat all the older girls who are gunning for academy princess.
Quote #7
Miri grappled with herself. She did not want to give Katar anything, but her sense of justice would not allow her to help every girl but one. (16.50)
Even though they've been serious adversaries throughout the schooling process, Miri knows that she can't help all the other girls and neglect Katar—it's only fair that she use quarry-speech to give her the correct answer.
Quote #8
"I don't care about the prince," Katar snapped back. "I just wanted a way to leave here. I hate it here." Her voice went soft, as if the words were almost too strong to speak aloud. (16.82)
Katar wasn't trying so hard to win because she wanted to marry the prince—she just wanted to be able to leave Mount Eskel and start a life somewhere else. Maybe she and Miri aren't so different after all.
Quote #9
He had enjoyed being with her the most. She was the favorite. And she, Miri of Mount Eskel, was sitting next to the prince heir of Danland as casual as anything. What an amazing night. (18.85)
Miri's spent so much time trying to be academy princess and here she is. She's even sitting with the prince, who tells her that she's his favorite of all the girls he's met from the academy. It looks like Miri really did beat out all her competition.
Quote #10
That unleashed every voice in the room, and girls leapt to their feat, each shouting that she was the princess. Some of the girls pushed each other, feigning anger. Even Gerti kicked her feet and shouted, "Let me down! The prince will be furious if he hears how you treated his future bride!" (20.55)
Uh-oh… it's time for a cat fight. When Dan continually demands to know who the real princess is, the girls decide to stage a fierce battle where they all pretend to be the "true" princess. How can he tell through all the chaos?