Warfare Quotes in Daughter of Smoke & Bone

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

"I exist only because of war. [...] We are enemies because the chimaera are monsters. My life is blood because my world is beasts." (30.83)

War is a huge part of the novel's backstory. None of Karou and Akiva's drama would exist, were it not for the war between the seraphim and the chimaera.

Quote #2

"They were nothing but barbarians in mud villages. We gave them light, engineering, the written word--" (32.34)

The beginning of the war between the seraphim and the chimaera started, according to Akiva, when the chimaera didn't appreciate the seraphim's generosity. But we think this statement reeks of imperialism.

Quote #3

"You're going on the rule that what's yours is what you can defend, in which case anyone is within their rights at any time to try to take anything from anyone else. That's hardly civilization." (32.39)

We agree. That would be total anarchy. Or Manifest Destiny. Not much difference, really.