Every year children from the very young to sixteen come into the powers after Heka’s visit. This year has to be my turn-before I’m too old and it’s too late. Magic will stop my cousins from looking at me like I don’t belong. Magic will finally make my mother proud of me.
-- Arrah (Part I: One)

Importance: This quote establishes Arrah’s relationship with her family and how she feels that magic will solve all of her problems. This reveals two of the major conflicts within the novel; Arrah against her mother, and Arrah's doubts about herself. She believes that she is worthless without magic, a sentiment that her mother has perpetuated over the years. Arrah’s character growth is dependent on accepting herself for who she is without relying on her mother’s approval. This becomes more important as she learns her mother’s ambitions and Arrah must decide whether...