Mors irrumat omnia… Death fucks us all.
-- Alex (chapter 31)

Importance: The use of Latin in this quote emphasizes just how strong the theme of death is in the novel, as Latin itself is an arguably dead language. This quote also encompasses the work’s overarching ideas on death by expressing that no one can surpass death. Throughout the novel, Bardugo pushes the idea that death is necessary and natural, and is not something to be feared or fought against.

If she’d been a social butterfly, they would have said she liked to drink away her pain. If she’d been a straight-A student, they would have said she’d been eaten alive by her perfectionism. There were always excuses for why girls died.
-- Alex (chapter 17)

Importance: This quote captures the idea that Tara’s death is important to Alex because she is a woman. Alex is able to relate to Tara by imagining that her...