You have an audience that is fairly well grounded in the real world. You serve them and yourself best by making everything as real as possible.
Tamora PierceFolk caught up in a riot aren't our cousins and sisters, our brothers and uncles. They are part of a big animal with many arms and claws, armed with stones and sticks.
Tamora PierceThere's plenty more fish in the sea than Prince Jonathan," he told her softly. "And this particular fish loves you with all his crooked heart." -George to Alanna
Tamora Pierce