How to Rule an Empire and Get Away with It (The Siege, #2)

by K.J. Parker

But (he explained to me, when I objected) what the people want is something that looks at first sight like real life, but which actually turns out to be a fairy tale with virtue triumphant, evil utterly vanquished, a positive, uplifting message, a gutsy, kick-ass female lead and, if at all possible, unicorns.

All the world’s a stage, according to Saloninus; that’s not actually true, but if you pretend it is, it helps, when you’re managing a fire.

In ruined churches, where the bees And rats and mice build monasteries.