
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!
First Lines:
Dredarion Rath reached the stairs to the dungeons and paused. He felt feverish, sweating under his armor, though the halls of the palace were crisp and cool. He inhaled slowly and started down the steps-not because he was ready but because he couldn’t allow any of his people to see their prince hesitate.
Do you recognize the lines?

Hint: It’s the second book in an urban fantasy series.

Still not sure? Here’s another hint: It’s written by Kristen Brand

The First Lines Friday book is:

Title: Sting of Thorns
Author: Kristen Brand
Series: Dark and Otherworldly
Publication Date: Sept. 15, 2020
Synopsis: The fight is over, and Leigh Morgan won. After spending months spying in Otherworld as a servant, she’s rescued the humans who were abducted by the Others and sent them safely home. She had to stay behind to destroy the gateway between worlds and keep them safe, but tough luck. She’s prepared to pay the price.
But she didn’t expect the curse the queen of Otherworld lays on her: a thorny vine growing under Leigh’s skin that will kill her when it reaches her heart. The queen will lift the curse…if Leigh uses her connections in the human realm to locate a magical weapon lost hundreds of years ago.
To ensure she succeeds, the queen sends her son, Dredarion Rath, the cunning prince Leigh had to betray to save her people. With anger and hurt still fresh, they can barely stand to be in the same room together, much less cooperate on such a dangerous mission. But as Leigh’s friends risk everything to help her, she’ll have to find a way to reconcile with Dredarion before their quest gets her and everyone she cares about killed.
LINKS: Goodreads
Giveaway!
Kristen Brand has a giveaway going on right now! Check it out:
Wouldn’t have guessed that
These Schitt’s Creek gifs are giving me life 🤣
Thanks! lol
I really need to read Poison and Honey! Hopefully soon. Intriguing first lines!
Yes! I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Haven’t heard of this one but it looks good!
It’s so good! One of my faves! 🙂
Very interesting first line! Will look this up. I love the cover!
It’s great! I loved the story and the enemies-to-lovers romance. Swoon-tastic!!
Interesting first line! Also I really like the cover. Hmmm….I might have to pick this one up
It’s so good!
Your post is helping me with my Schitt’s Creek withdrawals, so thank you for that! 😉 I’ve never heard of this book, it sounds interesting!
You’re welcome! lol Sting of Thorns is so good! It’s the second in the Dark and Otherworldly series – the first is Poison and Honey. Totally recommend it! 🙂
Yesssss for Schitt’s Creek gifs!! hahaha. I’m almost finished with season 6 and I’m going to miss it SO much.
I hear you. I adore Schitt’s Creek too!
Just finished last night. So good!