Come hang out with us—we’ll bring you out of your shell, I promise.”
-- Mali (chapter 1)

Importance: In this quote, Mali foreshadows how the women will entice into their circle due to her loneliness and isolation. Mali will not only bring Sarah out of her shell in terms of encouraging her to be more social and less shy, but she will also bring her out of the protection of privacy and anonymity that Sarah tries to create for herself by coming to Bangkok. By becoming close to Sarah, Mali places Sarah in a position where she is vulnerable to be exploited by Mali and others within the Kingdom.

It was a war between herself and the moneyed classes, and in that war all ruses were legitimate, all feints justified.”
-- Narrator (chapter 1)

Importance: In this quote, the narrator reveals how Sarah views her betrayal of Laverty’s trust for her own personal gain. Sarah considers the...