The Fall of Koli (Rampart Trilogy #3)

by M.R. Carey

I don’t think anyone knows their own selves as well as they think they do. We try hard, always, to think we’re better than we are. If we do something cruel or stupid or vengeful, we put it down to chance or give ourselves excuses for the doing of it. We never can admit to cruel or stupid or vengeful just being what we are.