What emerges from the ashes is not a phoenix, but an uglier creature: deformed, incapable of flight, a predator using its claws to cut and rip.”
-- Sebastian (Part One, Chapter 7 )

Importance: This is one of the early looks into the mind of a killer and a classic example of the misdirection common in mystery novels. The reader does not yet know that this is written by Sebastian, probably shortly after he killed Mariana's father though the reader may jump to the conclusion that it is after he (or she) killed Tara.

We all secretly hope that tragedy will only ever happen to other people. But Mariana knew, sooner or later, it happens to you.”
-- Mariana (Part One, Chapter 10 )

Importance: Mariana has endured a lot of tragedy in her life, including the deaths of her mother, father, sister, and husband. She will soon learn about betrayal as another kind of tragedy.

They remained cold, hard, unkind. There was something about the...
-- Mariana (Part One, Chapter 16 )