John Mandrake was an attractive young man, and the scent…

“Let's have the baddish one first,' George said. 'I prefer my misery to come at me in stages, so I can acclimatize on the…

— Jonathan Stroud

Ambition is all very well, my lad, but you must cloak it.

— Jonathan Stroud

“You think so?" The boy looked down at his cross-legged form. He was sitting straight-backed, legs folded neatly in the manner of an Egyptian…

— Jonathan Stroud

“This is what the Problem means,” he went on. “This is the effect it has. Lives lost, loved ones taken before their time. And…

— Jonathan Stroud

That did it. I'd gone through a lot in the past few days. Everyone I met seemed to want a piece of me: djinn,…

— Jonathan Stroud

The afrit batted his eyelashes with a ostentatious lack of concern. "Indeed? Have you a name?" "A name?" I cried. "I have MANY names!…

— Jonathan Stroud

“Do you remember,” George went on, “what we found in the tunnels beneath Aickmere’s? Aside from a massive pile of human bones.” “I found”

— Jonathan Stroud

The bristling eyebrows shot up in mock surprise. Mesmerized. the boy watched them disappear under the hanging white thatch of hair. There, almost coyly,…

— Jonathan Stroud

“George,' I croaked, 'are you okay?' 'No. Someone's buttocks are flattening my foot.' I shifted my position irritably.”

— Jonathan Stroud

We grow up being told about great figures in our society, and as you get older you have to question the stories you've been…

— Jonathan Stroud

Jabor finally appeared at the top of the stairs, sparks of flame radiating from his body and igniting the fabric of the house around…

— Jonathan Stroud

“But certainly the two best-known tales in the neighborhood - the key hauntings, if you will - concern the Red Room and the Screaming…

— Jonathan Stroud

“Lockwood stepped aside, his boots crunching across the salt, to stand and study the paper beneath the light. No such luck with George; he…

— Jonathan Stroud

“Water, running - It was observed in ancient times that ghosts dislike crossing running water. In modern Britain this knowledge is sometimes used against…

— Jonathan Stroud

The mercenary finished his coffee in a single gulp, It must have been piping hot, too. Boy, he was tough.

— Jonathan Stroud