The Rose Code

by Kate Quinn

“‘The greatest tyrants over women are women,’” Mab quoted. “Have you read that far in Vanity Fair?”

Another quote that nicely encapsulated one of the book's villains—Beth's mother. I knew I wanted Beth to come from an abusive family, one that kept her battened down and her true potential strangled, because that would give her the greatest amount of growth as a character when she blossoms from wallflower to codebreaker-belle-of-the-ball. But I didn't want to go the stereotypical route with a drunken father who beats his children. Women can certainly be abusers too, so I made Beth's mother the abusive parent—she keeps Beth ground down primarily with religious fervor, emotional manipulation, and well-placed guilt trips.