First Lines

First Line Friday: Ghosts and Witches and Monsters

It’s October and that means for First Line Friday we’re looking for ghosts and witches and monsters—in science fiction and fantasy books. As always, there are no affiliate links in this collection of first lines. These titles are available on Amazon. They may be available in other places as well.

Ghosts

Alexis Kine always knew her luck would eventually run out.
We Dare (Ghost Squadron Book 1) Eric Thomson

No one noticed the rock.
The Ghost Brigades (Old Man’s War Book 2) John Scalzi

Monday is nature’s way of telling you that the only easy day was yesterday.
Ghost Dog: Military Science Fiction Across a Holographic Multiverse (Gate Walkers Book 3) Ashley R Pollard

I placed a paper shirt into the furnace.
The Girl with Ghost Eyes: The Daoshi Chronicles, Book One M. H. Boroson

And Witches

photograph of a woman in a black cloak looking at a book in front of a pentagram drawn on the wall. Ghosts, witches, and monsters are the theme of this month's first lines Friday post.

Bess ran. The clear night sky and fat moon gave ample illumination for her flight.
The Witch’s Daughter: A Novel Paula Brackston

There had been no sign of the hunters for three days.
The Witches of the Wytewoods M J Thompson

I decided that Orion needed to die after the second time he saved my life.
A Deadly Education: A Novel (The Scholomance Book 1) Naomi Novik

Her eyes rested above the waterline as a moth struggled inside her mouth.
The Vine Witch Luanne G. Smith

And Monsters

In the beginning there was only the hunt—the primal need to fight, to feed, and to kill.
Wandering Spirit (Bill of the Dead Adventures) Rick Gualtieri

Krizzo fought while curled around himself in the control module.
The Trilisk Ruins (Parker Interstellar Travels Book) Michael McCloskey

“It’s the monster!” Shade Darby cried out, speaking to no one in particular.
Monster (Gone Book 7) Michael Grant

The giant knew Richard Nixon.
Monster: An Alex Delaware Novel Jonathan Kellerman

Tonight’s job had me sitting in a shadowy corner of a dead-end dive watching the unfortunate, the hopeless, and the degenerates.
Evil’s Unlikely Assassin: A Vampire Urban Fantasy Jenn Windrow

Analysis

Finding ghosts and witches and monsters in the lists of science fiction and fantasy books proved to be more difficult than expected. The so-called ghost stories and the witch stories rarely had a first line that established mood or that we were talking ghosts or witches. One reason this might be the trend is to establish the normal world. But I found this disappointing. How about you?

The monster stories almost always established the mood and idea immediately. As a result, these first lines appealed to me, even though I don’t read monster stories often. What do you think?

If you enjoyed this post, you’ll enjoy my previous First Line Friday posts.

Will You Buy One?

I hope you found at least one story about ghosts and witches and monsters that you’ll enjoy. Perhaps you’d like to share a first line from your favorite Halloween-themed book?

Do You Want to Read More?

First Line Friday is a series of blog articles posted on the first Friday of every month. The first line of a story, we’re told, must hook the reader. Implied is that the reader will not buy the book if the first line isn’t great. These entries are from Amazon, my personal library, or other online booksellers. Do these first lines hook you? Do you want to read more?

John Allerton sucked in another painful breath and struggled not to cough it out.

Image of the book, Unprepared, The Scourge Series Book 1. Do You want to read more?

Tom Abrahams, Unprepared (The Scourge Book 1)

Papa fell down and he didn’t stand up again.

Ramona Finn, The Culling (The Culling Trilogy Book 1)

Harvey Watson didn’t want to admit it, but he was lost.

Ryan Casey, Outbreak: A Post Apocalyptic Survival Thriller

I had my recurring dream last night.

Image of the book cover for Parable of the Sower. Do you want to read more?

Octavia E. Butler, Parable of the Sower

Alex Hawk looked from one corner of his basement to the other.

Shawn Inmon, A Door Into Time: An Alex Hawk Time Travel Adventure

Let’s start with the end of the world, why don’t we?

N.K. Jemisin, The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth Book 1)

It feels like we’re running away…

S. M. Anderson, A Bright Shore (The Eden Chronicles Book 1)

I sometimes wonder what was disappeared first—among all the things that have vanished from the island.

Yoko Ogawa, Translated from Japanese by StephenSnyder, The Memory Police

The librarians never asked why their patrons needed to check out a baby.

Gay, Roxane Graceful Burdens Short Read (Out of Line collection)

Florian Parks was sitting in the Gantry watchtower, whittling a wooden doll for his little sister, when he first spotted the travelers over the pointed tips of the palisade.

Image of the book cover for Strange Fire. Do you want to read more?

Wallach, Tommy Strange Fire (The Anchor & Sophia Book 1)

The end of the old world surprised few.

Harber, J. R., The Future Was Now

Still hours of dark to go when I left the house that morning.

Donoghue, Emma The Pull of the Stars

How did we get here?

Image of the book cover for Rosemary and Rue. Do You want to read more?

McGuire, Seanan Rosemary and Rue (October Daye Book 1)

Clarification

There are no affiliate links in this post. I don’t make a cent off of the books listed on this page. These titles are here for your enjoyment. And to entice you to buy more books.

Now, if you buy one of my books… that will put a little money in my pocket. And a gigantic smile on my face. I love my readers.

Do You Want to Read More?

Did you enjoy this list? Check out previous First Line Friday posts for July and August. And you’ll put another enormous smile on my face if you tell me in the comments below—do you want to read more? Seriously, I need to know. Do you? Which ones?

First Lines for August

August is the seventy-fifth anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. So I thought it fitting that I feature novels set in or about World War II in the First Lines for August post. Based on these first lines alone, would you buy the book?

Illustration of a palm tree on one page of an open book. Under the palm tree a treasure chest and pirate. On the other page the pirate's ship. First lines for August might make images in your mind.

At dusk they pour from the sky.
All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr

Carla knew her parents were about to have a row.
Winter of the World, Ken Follet

cover of Ken Follett's book Winter of the World

The man at the end of the long table—he wore a trimmed black beard streaked white at the ends of his mouth—looked up at the wall clock: three minutes past seven.
Prologue, From Time to Time, Jack Finney

We stood bunched in with the little crowd you can see on the balcony down there at the right—see it?—just over the pillared entrance to the Everett House: Julia and I, her hands in her muff; and our four-year-old son, chin on the balcony rail.
Chapter One, From Time to Time, Jack Finney

SS-Sturmbannfürer Gunther Dettmer had been dreaming of this day since his childhood.
The Heroes of Sainte-Mère-Église, J.D. Keene

Once Harry made a decision, he rarely looked back.
Midnight in Broad Daylight: A Japanese American Family Caught Between Two Worlds, Pamela Rotner Sakamoto

Mas Arai worried that the customs officer at Kansai Airport would find his best friend, Haruo Mukai, inside his suitcase.
Hiroshima Boy, Naomi Hirahara

Heavens! Already five o’clock. How time flies! I’ll never get the fusuma put up, or the bedcover stitched, before our new lodger arrives.
The Flowers of Hiroshima, Edita Morris

Yes, the last one has more than the first sentence because the first sentence is so short. And because that book will appear on this blog again. Next time it will be reviewed.

Happy Reading!

Tell, me which ones peaked your interest?

Do you like prologues? Do you read them?

Which ones did you also read the blurb?

If you like reading first lines, you might like Will You Buy These Books Based on the First Lines? and why some first lines work.

A novel’s first line is a powerful thing. A well written line can suck the reader in. A poorly written one can convince the reader to give the book a pass. Are there books you’ve purchased or read simply because of a great first line? Are there any of the First Lines for August that tempted you to buy the book?

Can You Match the Bestseller to its First Line?

It’s First Lines Friday, but let’s have fun with this one. It’s a mix-and-match game. Get a pencil and paper. Below you’ll find a list of first lines from dystopian ya books on Amazon’s bestseller list. You’ll also find a list of author names and a list of titles. Match the bestseller to its first line and author. No cheating!

image of a pirate on an island and a pirate ship coming out of the pages of an open book lying on a table. Can you match Match the bestseller to its first line and author?

Ready? Set. Go!

If you think you know which book the line is from, scroll down and match the bestseller to the first line. Write your answers down in the order of LINE (single letter)-TITLE (double letter)-AUTHOR (number).

A “When we got the letter in the post, my mother was ecstatic.”

B “The blizzard brought with it driving winds, but Farmer-883-PR8 wasn’t giving up.”

C “Raine Caldwell was startled by the slamming of a car door.”

D “Coriolanus released the fistful of cabbage into the pot of boiling water and swore that one day it would never pass his lips again.”

E “The asteroid that will destroy the earth is named Pandora.”

F “Don’t touch me! I want Nova! Where’s Nova?”

G “When you have something to hide, it feels like everyone is looking at you.”

H “There is one mirror in my house.”

I “My sweating palms slipped against the handles of my bike as I cycled at a pace I hoped would not look suspicious.”

J “I slammed on my overburn and boosted my starship through the middle of a chaotic mess of destructor blasts and explosions.”

K “The monster loomed over Hannah Sheridan, red eyes boring into hers as he reached for her with razor-sharp claws.”

L “When the revolution comes, border guards won’t get away with harassing Harvester girls.”

M “I’ve been locked up for 264 days.”

N “When Ryder Shaw glanced at the television, he knew he messed up—big time.”

O “My name is Rockland Barkclay.”

Titles

AA The Gender Game

BB Rising: After the Thaw

CC Divergent

DD The Selection

EE The Princess Trials

FF Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

GG City of the Dead

HH Starsight

II Shadow Fall

JJ Edge of Darkness

KK Seeking Safety

LL Earthdom

MM Dark Days of the After

NN Shatter Me

Authors

Bonus points if you can match the bestseller and first line AND the author.

Audrey Grey
Brandon Sanderson
Veronica Roth
Ryan De Bruyn
Heidi Catherine
Vasily Mahanenko
Kyla Stone
Ryan Schow
Kiera Cass
Cordelia Castel
T.L. Payne
Bella Forest
Suzanne Collins
Tahereh Mafi
Michael Evans

All Together

(Keep reading for the answer key) I get no compensation of any kind for the links to these books.

When we got the letter in the post, my mother was ecstatic.
The Selection (The Selection Book Book 1) by Kiera Cass

“The blizzard brought with it driving winds, but Farmer-883-PR8 wasn’t giving up.”
City of the Dead (The Alchemist Book #1): LitRPG Series by Vasily Mahanenko

Raine Caldwell was startled by the slamming of a car door.
Seeking Safety: A Post Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (Gateway to Chaos Book One) by T.L. Payne

Coriolanus released the fistful of cabbage into the pot of boiling water and swore that one day it would never pass his lips again.
A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games novel) by Suzanne Collins

The asteroid that will destroy the earth is named Pandora.
Shadow Fall by Audrey Grey

Don’t touch me! I want Nova! Where’s Nova?
Rising: After the Thaw (The Thaw Chronicles Book 1) by Heidi Catherine

When you have something to hide, it feels like everyone is looking at you.
Dark Days of the After: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller by Ryan Schow

There is one mirror in my house.
Divergent (Divergent Trilogy, Book 1) by Veronica Roth

My sweating palms slipped against the handles of my bike as I cycled at a pace I hoped would not look suspicious.
The Gender Game by Bella Forrest

I slammed on my overburn and boosted my starship through the middle of a chaotic mess of destructor blasts and explosions.
Starsight (Skyward Book 2) by Brandon Sanderson

The monster loomed over Hannah Sheridan, red eyes boring into hers as he reached for her with razor-sharp claws.
Edge of Darkness: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (Edge of Collapse Book 3) by Kyla Stone

When the revolution comes, border guards won’t get away with harassing Harvester girls.
The Princess Trials: A young adult dystopian romance by Cordelia Castel

I’ve been locked up for 264 days.
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

When Ryder Shaw glanced at the television, he knew he messed up—big time.
Mad World: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (World Gone Mad Book 1) by Michael Evans

My name is Rockland Barkclay.
Earthdom: A Post-Apocalyptic LitRPG (Ether Collapse Book 3) by Ryan DeBruyn

Answers

In the order of LINE (single letter)-TITLE (double letter)-AUTHOR (number).

A-DD-8

B-GG-5

C-KK-10

D-FF-13

E-II-1

F-BB-4

G-MM-7

H-CC-11

I-AA-15

J-HH-2

K-JJ-6

L-EE-9

M-NN-12

N-FF-13

O-LL-3

The End

I hope you found the game fun and could identify a few of these. I’m pretty sure I would have had a big fat zero percent right.

First lines can make a big difference, even in bestsellers. How many times did you correctly match the bestseller to its first line, title, and author? Did you find any first lines that made you want to buy the book? Keep Reading! Stay healthy! And check in here from time-to-time and let me know how you’re doing.

Will You Buy These Books Based on the First Lines?

Buying books is a personal thing. What one person loves the next one hates. Why you buy this book instead of that one isn’t the same reason I buy those books. Covers, descriptions, reviews, word of mouth are all used to make buying decisions. But will you buy these books based on the first lines?

Image of an open book with a pirate on an island standing on one page and a pirate ship on the other page--but will you buy these books based on the first lines?

First Lines

The alley was dark and stank of piss and vomit. It was home for quick-footed rats and the bony, hungry-eyed felines who hunted them.
J.D. Robb, Rapture in Death

He, or very possibly she, was known as The Rose Thief.
Claire Buss, The Rose Thief

Gramp Stevens sat in a lawn chair, watching the mower at work, feeling the warm, soft sunshine seep into his bones.
Clifford Simak, City

I was loving this. First day on the job and I was off to a possible location of the vamp killers.
Rose Montague, Jade

I’ll make my report as if I told a story, for I was taught as a child on my homeworld that Truth is a matter of the imagination.
Ursula K. Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness.

Kamakzi.
The word looped in my head, and I tasted it. Kamakzi.
Elin Peer, The Ruler (Men of the North Book 2)

“Everywhere I turn, all I see is black. My vision drowns in cascading waves of darkness.”
Stella Fitzsimmons, The Plantation

Note

All these books are available on Amazon. Interested? Copy the author name and title and paste it in the search bar of your favorite book selling site.

There are no affiliate links in this post. These quotes caught my attention. I thought maybe they’d catch yours too. If you’d like more reading recommendations check out “Which Great Line Would Make You Read the Book?”, my Going to Mars Word-by-Word book reviews, and my Story Time Reviews series. And don’t forget to take a look at my own books, My Soul to Keep and Fellowship.

Will You Buy These Books?

Based on the First Line, these books sound interesting. I hope there’s at least one that spoke to you. Will you buy these books based on the first lines? Please share a favorite first line from a science fiction book you’ve bought and loved.