“I write these words in steel, for anything not set in metal cannot be trusted.”

This is the opening quote of the novel—the epigraph for Chapter 1. It provides major foreshadowing for this novel and for the final novel of the series. As the novel progresses, this line foreshadows the growing uncertainty the characters face about what they can trust, especially regarding prophecies, divine intentions, and their own roles in a rapidly changing world.

“But she’d won again. Barely. What would happen when she failed? When she didn’t watch carefully enough, or fight skillfully enough? Elend would die.”

This quote highlights Vin’s deep fear of failure and the weight of responsibility she carries for Elend’s life and for the people she helps protect. Her anxiety reflects her internal struggle with self-doubt, emphasizing the pressure she feels as both a protector and a leader. The fear of not being “careful enough” or “skillful enough” underscores her concern that any misstep could result in catastrophic consequences for those she loves, reinforcing her internal conflict between self-worth and responsibility.

“She was different now. She forced herself to walk with a straight back, and kept her eyes from glancing down or looking for places to hide. She was getting so much better—but seeing the crowds reminded her of what she had once been. What she would always—at least in part—still be.”

This quote illustrates Vin’s ongoing struggle with her identity and the remnants of her past, despite her growth as a leader. Her efforts to avoid hiding symbolize her journey toward self-empowerment. However, the recognition that she “w[ill] always—at least in part—still be” a victim of her past underscores the complexity of her transformation, revealing that personal growth does not erase one’s history and that the battle for self-worth is continuous.