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:
It was pouring rain.
Monstrous droplets that stung as they struck, like having pebbles thrown against one’s face over and over again. A deluge that turned the streets of Arcam to streams, waterfalls pouring from the rooftops. Blackened skies flickered with lightening, the resultant thunder deafening Teriana’s ears.
Do you recognize the lines?
Hint: It’s the third book in a romantasy series.
Still not sure? Here’s another hint:
It’s written by Danielle L. Jensen.
The First Lines Friday book is:
Gilded Serpent
About the Book:
Series: Dark Shores (Book 3)
Page Length: 576
Publication Date: April 27, 2021
Publisher: Tor Teen
Synopsis: From bestselling author Danielle L. Jensen comes a thrilling new novel in the Dark Shores world, a series that Sarah J. Maas called “everything I look for in a fantasy novel.”
THEIR BATTLES ENDED IN VICTORY
Lydia returns to Mudaire to enter training at the healing temple. But instead of fighting to save lives, she’s convinced she is doing more harm than good. She delves into the history of the gods only to discover a truth that will change her life forever.
His birthright as commander of the Royal Army is finally in his grasp, but Killian feels anything but victorious. Burdened by his past, he embraces the darker side of his mark—and in doing so, risks starting a war.
BUT THE WAR HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN
Having defeated the tyrant Urcon, Marcus struggles to form a lasting alliance with the Arinoquians. But he is plagued by the knowledge that there is a traitor among his friends, and it could cost him everything that he’s fought for.
Torn between her growing allegiance to the Thirty-Seventh legion and her need to liberate her people, Teriana finds herself mired in a web of secrets. She embarks upon a path that will either save everyone she loves—or put them all in their graves.
LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
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Gilded Serpent was one of my favorite reads last year! Have you read it? What do you think of the first lines? Comment below!
Interesting first line, and that is the first time I’ve heard the word “romantasy” used. That is so appropriate! I haven’t read the book bc if I read romance, it’s usually a rom-com and I don’t read much fantasy at all. Thanks for opening my horizons!
It’s a fun word, and I agree – very appropriate. Another word I love is “swoon-tastic.” Not many use it, but it sums up my feelings about romance many romance novels so well! lol
I low-key came here for the Schitt’s Creek gifs. LOL!
Hahahahaha – nothing wrong with that! 🙂
This series has been on my TBR for such a long time. Hopefully I’ll get to it at some point.
It’s soooo good!!! If you’re in the mood for a good romantasy, you should totally check it out!
Those first lines really set the atmosphere up well! I still haven’t read anything else by Jensen aside from her Bridge Kingdom series that we’ve read together but I definitely want to! This series is on my TBR 🙂 I forget though, is it YA or is it NA/Adult?
I would say it’s YA. Not as explicit as the Bridge Kingdom series, but the romances are still super swoon-worthy!