Her cheekbones cut cruelly beneath skin somehow paler than before, as if drained. And her gray eyes, once bright stars, seemed dark, full of shadows.
-- Narrator (Cruel Crown, Chapter 1)

Importance: The differences in Sara since she has gone to live full time in the city is significant. Coriane believes that her friend already looks sharper and more strained after being there only a short time.

That’s right, leave me here. You always do. Abandoned to Jessamine, who had taken it upon herself to turn Coriane into a proper daughter of House Jacos. Put simply: silent.
-- Narrator (Cruel Crown, Chapter 1)

Importance: Coriane believes that her family’s goal for her is to become a silent member of society. Particularly her father seems to believe that Coriane should be silent. In fact, Coriane believes that Jessamine has been hired to ensure that Coriane will learn that her place is not to speak her mind and be sarcastic but instead to be...