The early summer sky was the color of cat vomit. Of course, Tally thought, you’d have to feed your cat only salmon-flavored cat food for a while, to get the pinks right.

You’d best ask the lady boffin, sir,” Newkirk said. “Midshipmen aren’t allowed to have opinions.

Deryn felt brilliant, rising through the air at the center off everyone's attention, like an acrobat aloft on a swing. She wanted to make a speech: Hey, all you sods, I can fly and you can't! A natural airman, in case you haven't noticed. And in conclusion, I'd like to add that I'm a girl and you can all get stuffed!

your not alone, Tally. Don't pretend you are

I'm Tally Youngblood. Make me pretty." -Tally Youngblood

Sometimes it felt like her life was a series of falls from ever-greater heights.

At least one thing was consistent about her life: It just kept on getting more complicated.