First Lines Friday | 8/16

First Lines Friday

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

JOURNAL OF RICHARD FOX
June 18, 1937
Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary

Jean-Bernard and I left Munich early this morning to sunshine and outstanding views of the mountains. Was so full of fine drink and finer oysters at lunch that I slept through Vienna stop. Orient Express never fails to impress.


I will say, that that isn’t the most thrilling start to a book. That kind of minute detail and talk about things that don’t quite matter.

But it did catch my attention.

Personally, I love historical fiction (which this is what it is) and it has such a feel of it being historical fiction. Like, when I read that I immediately started thinking about Dracula (hint hint for this one that involves that story). And it brought me back to reading that.

This is also a YA book that’s going to be released in September and was compared to one of my autobuy authors who writes stuff that sounds like this one.

It is…

 

The Lady Rogue

Yes! This story involves vampires and Dracula and is historical fiction. And it’s being said that it’s like Mackenzi Lee’s Montague Siblings series. Like, yes! I’m so glad I requested it from Netgalley and I can’t wait to dive into this soon.


Talk to me!
Would you read this based on the first lines?

First Lines Friday | 8/2

First Lines Friday

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

There’s something haunting about a body touched by magic. Most people first noticed the smell: not the rot of decay, but a cloying sweetness in their noses, a sharp taste on their tongues. Rare individuals also sensed a tingle in the air. A lingering aura on the corpse’s skin. As if the magic itself was still present somehow, watching and waiting.

Alive.


Literally got chills when I read those first lines because they were so amazing. Like, damn. Things smelling of rot and decay? I can just feel it and I love the really unique description of magic, especially in such a dark way.

The quote was taken from the ARC, so the first lines could change by the time the book is published. It’s coming out in early September and is getting a bit of hype.

It is…

 

 

Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove, #1)

I said that the cover is gorgeous (still stand by that) and the writing is just as gorgeous. I’ve read a little bit of this and ugh. I think it’s going to be fantastic. Here’s to hoping that I continue to love this!


Talk to me!
Based on those first lines, would you read this?
Is it already on your TBR? Is it going there?

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

The gravedigger’s children were troublemakers.


Maybe not the most entrancing first line, but it totally drew me into it. I would have included more to it, but it went into great detail and I didn’t feel like typing it up.

But, I’ve read beyond the opening page. And damn this book is fantastic!

It’s YA, blending horror, historical fiction (to me), and fantasy together in an amazing way. It’s being published in September. I’ve had my eye on it.

It is…

 

 

The Bone Houses

As I said, this is fantastic! I’m being serious, y’all. It’s seriously amazing and I have no doubt in my mind that I’ll be devouring this whole book.


Talk to me!
Did the first line make you interested in reading more?
Have you read this? What did you think?

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

“They’re coming.”

I looked down the row of Aska hunched against each other, ducking behind the muddy hill. The fog sat on the field like a veil, but we could hear it. The blades of swords and axes brushing against armor vests. Quick footsteps in sucking mud. My heart beat almost in rhythm with the sounds, pulling one breath in and letting it touch another before I let it go.


I love those first lines. You can get such a picture of it in your mind. Maybe it’s me, but I picture the movie Gladiator when the Romans are setting up the lines and the battle right at the beginning against the Germanic tribes. That’s where my mind goes.

But, this book was a popular 2018 YA fantasy release. Yes, I read it. And I reviewed it on here. A “sequel” is coming out in September.

It is…

 

Sky in the Deep

As I said, I have read this and I’m rereading it because I really need to refresh myself on this world and the events in this book. You can find my review here if you want to check it out. I didn’t love the book but I did enjoy it. Now I’m excited to give it another read to see if I like it better this time!


Talk to me!
Have you read this?
What did you think?

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

Brother Poncet crouched on the scree-covered mountain slope clutching his cream robe about himself, and watched his comrade, Brother Ambrose, inch into the pitch-dark cavern before them. He remained a few paces behind, still out in the sunlight, although at that altitude it did little to warm him. Up that high, it was always cold, even in summer.


I feel so happy that I got this ARC!

I won it in a raffle from BookishFirst, so a huge thank you to them for hosting it and Tor for being willing to part with some copies! These first lines are liable to change as this is an ARC.

Based on that first paragraph, I can tell the book will be a bit of a slow-build. I’ll have to work at it, I’m sure. Lots of description! Not a bad thing, but it could get annoying for me if I pay attention to it while reading.

It is…

 

Dragonslayer

The cover got me, then the description. It sounds super interesting and ever since The Priory of the Orange Tree, I’ve been craving some more fantasy books with dragons!


Talk to me!
Would you read this based on those first lines?
What fantasies with dragons do you love?

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

By the time Jesse realized where they were heading, it was too late to object.


Yet again, I’m only choosing the first line of this book. I felt like it was enough to leave it there at that.

So, this book is horror. It’s by, basically, my favorite horror author who has never let me down. The author is a woman (who is amazing!).

It is…

If You See Her

I haven’t started this yet, but I’m super hyped for it because I’ve been wanting some good horror recently! Sometimes I just crave it. I’m just trying to decide where I’m going to squeeze it into my reading schedule. I have a feeling this book will need to be read in one or two sittings.

The first line in the prologue definitely caught me. Too late for what? What is Jesse objecting over? Makes me super curious about what’s going to happen next!


Talk to me!
Would you read this based on the first line?
Do you have a favorite horror author?

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

Continue reading

First Lines Friday and a review

First Lines Friday

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

Continue reading

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

Continue reading

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

Continue reading