How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Don't put anything unnecessary into yourself. [...] No inessential penises, either." (3.34)
Brimstone's not much of a fan of lust, it seems. Love must make a penis "essential."
Quote #2
"I was going to say the beginning is the good part, when it's all sparks and sparkles, before they are inevitably unmasked as assholes." (10.90)
Here, Karou is talking about the love (or is it lust?) she felt for Kaz. Funnily enough, this could also be applied to the love (or lust) she feels for Akiva. By the end of the book, he's unmasked as a murderer.
Quote #3
"So, if it's all chemical and you have no say in the matter, does that mean [Kaz] still makes your butterflies dance?" (10.103)
Zuzana and Karou have a huge talk about whether you have any control over love or not. Karou suggests that it's all chemical. Maybe she's talking about how her pheromones get her blood racing around Kaz. Is that love or lust? Also, even if her attraction to Kaz is purely chemical, is it any different from her relationship with Akiva, which is pre-destined? Destiny is stronger than any chemical, we think.
Quote #4
"Beauty," Brimstone had scoffed once. "Humans are fools for it. As helpless as moths who hurl themselves at fire." (29.4)
True dat. But, Brimstone, as your ward Madrigal proved, chimaera are suckers for beauty too. She just could not stop starting at Akiva's beautiful face.
Quote #5
[Zuzana] cast a sidelong glance at Karou and said, in helpless amazement, "Oh, hell. Must. Mate. Immediately." (33.8)
Akiva's good looks seem to inspire lust in just about everyone. None of the people who saw the angels when they were burning handprints onto doors seemed to be consumed with lust, though. Why do you think that is?
Quote #6
It was tantalizing. Karou didn't think. She reached for Akiva's hand. And shocked a pulse into it. (34.28)
Although Karou is actually shocking Akiva—using her paranormal hamsa powers that just love energy-blasting angels—this "shock" could also be representative of lust.
Quote #7
The thing [Akiva] wished for most was a thing he had never wished for at all, not until he had discovered [Madrigal]. And it came true that night, and many nights after. A brief and shining span of happiness. (40.14)
This is something Akiva thinks about while fondling Karou's wishbone, so we're pretty sure what he's thinking about… But is Karou the only reason he originally wanted to end the beast war? Does peace come into the equation at all?
Quote #8
[Karou] knew what she wanted. She wanted what her hands wanted: to touch Akiva, and not just with her fingertips, and not with caution, and not with fear or causing him pain. (41.18)
Karou really wants Akiva here. But she knows that real love shouldn't hurt. Conundrum.
Quote #9
A whisper of a thrill came over [Madrigal] at the thought of [Thiago]. (48.34)
Here's one of those little SAT analogies for you: Thiago:Madrigal :: Kaz:Karou. Both Thiago and Kaz are hot, a little different (Thiago, kind of a werewolf; Kaz, kind of a vampire), and drive Madrigal/Karou wild with lust... but neither are the right "men" for her.