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:
“Aila Macbhairan’s favorite time at the San Tamculo Zoo was early morning: cool, quiet, and- best of all- not a person in sight.”
Do you recognize the lines?
Here’s a hint:
It’s written by S.A. Maclean.
Still not sure? Here’s another hint:
It’s a new fantasy.
The First Lines Friday book is:
The Phoenix Keeper
Author: S.A. Maclean
Page Length: 481
Publication Date: Aug. 13, 2024
Publisher: Orbit
Synopsis: A socially awkward but determined phoenix keeper must partner with her longtime rival to save her beloved exhibit from falling into obscurity in this charming, romantic fantasy debut.
Aila is a little obsessed with phoenixes. As head phoenix keeper at a world-renowned zoo for magical creatures, her childhood dream of conserving critically endangered firebirds seems closer than ever. There’s just one glaring her zoo’s breeding program hasn’t functioned for a decade. When a tragic phoenix-nabbing cripples the flagship program at a neighbouring zoo, Aila must prove her derelict facilities are fit to take the reins. But saving a species takes more than stellar animal handling skills. Carnivorous water horses, tempestuous thunderhawks — Aila has no problem wrangling beasts. Inspiring zoo patrons? That’s another story. Finding the courage to ask for help from the hot dragon keeper at a neighbouring exhibit? Virtually impossible. And don’t get Aila started on her arch-rival from the glamorous leader of the zoo’s wildly popular griffin show, who’s convinced that Aila’s beloved phoenix would serve better as a performer than a conservation exhibit. Aided by both friends and enemies, Aila must conquer her social anxiety if she is to restore her breeding programme. With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila’s success isn’t only a matter of keeping her the future of a species depends on her.
LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Have you read The Phoenix Keeper? What do you think of the first lines? Comment below!
This book sounds like a lot of fun. I’m definitely hoping to pick it up!
It is! And it’s a quick read. I hope you love it!
I LOVE this book so much! It’s one of my all time favourite cozy fantasy’s… probably because of the amount of animals lol
Ohm that’s good to hear! I’m only a few chapters in.
I hope you enjoy it, Julie 🙂