Its presence meant that the past was over and the future no longer existed.
-- Narrator (Part 1, Chapter I)

Importance: The quote introduces the power and meaning of the deathwatch beetle. It establishes the magical world in which the novel is set.

She avoided the curse by following the rules. Don’t live together; don’t declare your love, no wedding rings, no displays of affection in public.
-- Narrator (Part 1, Chapter I)

Importance: The quote demonstrates how Gillian is able to have love in her life without suffering the consequences of the family curse. While there are limitations to how a person can live with the curse, a version of love can exist.

She kept her uncanny abilities to herself, and never told a soul that she could glimpse an aura of color around individuals that revealed their personalities and their fates. Far worse, she could feel the pricking stab of other people’s pain, and therefore avoided crowds.
-- Narrator (Part 1, Chapter II)

Importance: The quote...