
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 Line:
Who knew shoulders could be the most beautiful sight on earth?
Do you recognize the line?

Hint: It’s the second book in an Apollo & Hyacinth retelling.

Still not sure? Here’s another hint:
It’s written by Nicole Bailey.

The First Lines Friday book is:
A Crown of Hopes and Sorrows
About the Book:

Title: A Crown of Hopes and Sorrows
Author: Nicole Bailey
Series: Apollo Ascending #2
Publication Date: June 22, 2022
Synopsis: Two souls bound together.
But one thing threatens to tear them apart.
Jealousy.
While tensions build and fates shift, Hyacinth and Apollo seek Zephyrus.
God of the West Wind.
Well connected among low deities.
And Hyacinth’s previous lover.
Amid political schemes and personal struggles, Apollo and Hyacinth tumble through a world verging on war.
But as jealousy flares and secrets come to light, all their careful planning may burn to ash.
This fast-paced sequel to A Veil of Gods and Kings is full of romance and twists and turns set in a dark, magical world.
LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | My Review
Did you guess the book? What do you think of the first lines? Comment below!
Hehe, great first lines!
lol