First Lines Friday: April 21, 2023

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!

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First Lines:

Nisong was used to death. She was even used to having death follow her from place to place, content as a pup on the heels of its master. But she hadn’t counted on it coming for her throat.

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Do you recognize the lines?

Here’s a hint:

 It’s a new fantasy release and the third (and final) in the series.

Still not sure? Here’s another hint: 

It’s written by Andrea Stewart.

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The First Lines Friday book is:

The Bone Shard War

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About the Book:

Title: The Bone Shard War

Author: Andrea Stewart

Series: The Drowning Empire #3

Page Length: 624

Publication Date: April 18, 2023

Publisher: Orbit Books

Synopsis: Lin Sukai has won her first victory as Emperor, but the future of the Phoenix Empire hangs in the balance – and Lin is dangerously short of allies. 

As her own governors plot treason, the Shardless Few renew hostilities. Worse still, Lin discovers her old nemesis Nisong has joined forces with the rogue Alanga, Ragan. Both seek her death.  

Yet hopes lies in history. Legend tells of seven mythic swords, forged in centuries past. If Lin can find them before her enemies, she may yet be able to turn the tide.  

If she fails, the Sukai dynasty – and the entire empire – will fall.  

LINKS:   Goodreads   |    Amazon | Review

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Have you read The Bone Shard War? I absolutely loved it and the series as a whole and would definitely recommend it to fantasy readers.

What do you think of the first lines? Comment below!