Dear me. Such harsh truths so early in the morning cannot be good for the digestion.

In fiction, the actions of a villain, even when unspeakable, can be cathartic to read about. They let us experience darkness, but add a safe remove.

Perhaps," he said, "we should discuss our arrangements, then.

She knew she could not be Jem for Will. No one could. But slowly the hollow places in his heart were filling in.

Tessa had lain down beside him and slid her arm beneath his head, and put her head on his chest,listening to the ever-weakening beat of his heart. And in the shadows they'd whispered, reminding each other of the stories only they knew. Of the girl who had hit over the head with a water jug the boy who had come to rescue her, and how he had fallen in love with her in that instant. Of a ballroom and a balcony and the moon sailing like a ship untethered through the sky. Of the flutter of the wings of the clockwork Angel. Of holy water and blood.

As long as there was coffee in the world, how bad could things be?

Clary wondered what exactly peanut-fish-olive-tomato soup tasted like.