Many, if not most, of the best and most lasting children’s books have multiple levels, some of which are not fully accessible to their most likely readers…at least, not on their first read-through at age eight or ten or fifteen.

Of course it doesn't make sense." Lady Wendall said. "The rules of society rarely do.

May you and your triple cursed wash water turn purple with orange spots and fall down a bottomless pit!

Rennie didn't quite dare to answer back, but she looked a whole book and a couple of extra chapters.

She probably enjoys cutting up everyone's happiness. Not to mention cutting up other parts of people; given her penchant for poisoning people and turning them into beech trees, I fail to see how she has reached thirty without leaving a trail of bodies behind her.

I most certainly can deny it. Of course, if I did, I'd be lying." Mairelon

Tell the story you want to tell, and let it be as long as it needs to be. Worry about marketing it later.