How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
[Karou's] hair did grow out of her head that color, pure as ultramarine straight from the paint tube, but that was a truth she told with a certain wry smile, as if she were being absurd. (2.28)
Karou's an expert at telling the truth, and telling it slant. (Yo, Emily Dickinson. What up?) When the truth is so ridiculous that no one will ever believe it, you can still tell that truth, but it'll inevitably sound like a joke. So ham it up, kiddos.
Quote #2
"You and your errands. What do you have to do, so all of a sudden?" [...] "Just things," said Karou, and Zuzana let it drop, knowing from experience that she'd get no specifics. (4.45, 4.46)
As Karou's friend, Zuzana is used to dealing with lies. But eventually gets fed up with Karou, and demands the truth. Karou's lucky Zuzana has put up with her for as long as she has.
Quote #3
"What's it all for? What do you do with these teeth? If you would just tell me, maybe I could understand." (5.51)
Of course, Brimstone never tells Karou what all the teeth her for. He keeps her in the dark for her whole life. We have to wonder whether his form of "protection" actually did Karou more harm than good.
Quote #4
In all Karou's life, [the door] had never been opened in her presence. (8.49)
That door symbolizes Brimstone's lies about Karou's true identity. Through it, there is a portal into the Elsewhere, as well as the place where Brimstone creates bodies. Although this is never explicitly said in the novel, he probably created Karou's body there too.
Quote #5
"Well, it's not exactly a job. I just run errands for this guy." (10.26)
Karou takes small steps toward telling Zuzana the truth about her lifestyle. It's hard to figure out what's better: hiding her magical self altogether, or telling Zuzana half-truths that sound a heck of a lot sketchier (but more believable) than the whole truth.
Quote #6
In her jacket pocket, [Karou's] fingers toyed with the store of shings from the week's errands. "I think those guys are about to leave." She nodded to the backpackers. [...] A second later, the backpackers rose to their feet. "Told you." (10.68, 10.69)
Karou often uses her wish magic for deceitful purposes. In addition to this, she makes Kaz's, um, porthole itch. And she makes Svetla's eyebrows grow huge. What are the consequences for these petty wishes?
Quote #7
Karou felt the two chimaera looking at her and tried her best to appear unconscious. (16.30)
When trying to get secrets out of someone, pretend to be asleep. You don't need magic to do that.
Quote #8
"Okay," Zuzana said. "I'm ready. [...] For a really good story that I hope will be the truth." (20.14, 20.16)
Here's the point when Zuzana gets fed up with Karou's lies. A friendship can only hold so much deceit, and Zuzana finally cracks. Brownie points to Karou for telling her the truth for the first time, even though the magic stuff is too crazy for Zuzana to believe.
Quote #9
[Akiva] couldn't tell them why he'd come here, or what he'd found. (34.36)
Akiva deceives his family, too. His reasoning is that he is going against everything the seraphim believe in: romance with a chimaera. Do you think they would understand if he told them the truth?
Quote #10
"If you want to see my hands, all you have to do is ask." (34.54)
Here, Karou is showing off her magic tattoos on her palms, the ones we learn she earned by being resurrected. It's a little ironic that Karou tries to prove her honesty by showing her palms, though. The showing of one's palm, a hand gesture known as moutza, can be pretty offensive in some parts of the world.