Status Updates From Lirael (The Old Kingdom, #2)

As he left the lane and stepped out into the King's Road [...], Sam felt a tremendous lift to his spirits, a feeling he hadn't had for years. It was the same sense of joy and expectation he'd felt as a child being given an unexpected holiday. Freed of responsibility, suddenly given license to have fun, to run, to scream, to laugh.

(I love the way Garth Nix describes feelings)

"That," said the Disreputable Dog, [...], "is self-pity, and there's only one way to deal with it."
"What?" asked Lirael sullenly.
"This," said the Dog, lunging forward and nipping her quite sharply on the leg.
"Ow!" Lirael shrieked[.] "What did you do that for?"
"You were being pathetic," said the Dog, [...]. "Now you're just cross, which is an improvement."

Forgot about the whole side plot with Sameth!