First Lines is a series of blog articles posted on around the first of the 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. Each of these quotes are from SF Adventure novels written by women. Do these first lines hook you enough to make you want to read more? Enough to make you buy the book?
Every moment counts, and I’m running out of time.
Eva woke up late, the hazy sunlight streaming through her window. It had stormed the night before, and she hadn’t slept well. She’d have to hurry to get to work with her Dolphins.
Killing Dragons, Order of the Dolphin Book 1, Kristie Clark
The greatest tests of character come when a choice must be made, even though all of your options are bad. One of our philosophers wrote that, although I can’t for the life of me remember which one. I think it’s true, though. How do you come to a decision in that situation?
The Cold Light of Stars, The Icarus Code, Book 1, Rysa Walker
Camille had three kinds of clients: those who were trying to extract funds or rare items from someone else before they died, those looking to find a loved one before they died, and regulars, with a myriad of shady reasons for needing repeated, illegal services.
Barrett was Camille’s favorite type of the three.
Forever People, Allison Luka
Earth
A small mouse, like Animal, was stuck on an outcrop of boulders in the middle of a fast torrent. Let’s call it Fitzy. It was one of the first mammals on earth, and it lived on a lush grassy field at the foot of a large dormant volcano. The ground had been shaking under Fitzy’s feet for its entire lifetime, so Fitzy more or less ignored earthquakes.
But this morning, particularly strong shock had triggered a landslide, which changed the route of a nearby stream and flooded the meadow that Fitzy called home.
Fire of the Dark Triad, Asya Semenovich
Taking her index finger out of her mouth, Leandra looked at the nail. She’d gnawed down to the quick. She could get rid of the habit. In under an hour, she could “change her mind with ReInception,” just like the ads said.
It was her 20th birthday, after all – the day, she could modify without parental consent.
ReInception, Serena StrausÂ
Where are you?
That questions stuck, lingering in my head, always shadowing my thoughts. I’m terrified. I’ll breathe my last without ever knowing your whereabouts.
I know that’s coming. It’s just a matter of when. Here, in this dank, suffocating basement, the hope of seeing you again offers a flicker of comfort. I want to believe we’ll meet again somewhere beyond this life.
I Will Find You, Julia Salvador
The morning air feels good against my face as my legs beat hard against the dirt path up to Guilan’s Peak. My thighs are starting to complain, but just a little farther, and I’m almost at the top. It will be worth it, I tell myself.
It has been two weeks since the last Quadrati breach, and things around the galactic campus have finally started to settle down. This last attack by those metal droids, we were lucky.
Leaning on Water, Joan June Chen
Fellowship.
One word and Ian Hobart’s world teetered into not safe. The reporters’ voices fell, the remainder of their conversation now muted by the clack and ratchet and ding of their typewriters.
Ian plastered a smile on his face and plopped back into his seat on the copyboy bench. The relentless thump and clatter heartbeat of the presses in the basement vibrated the floor, his shoes, his bones as if in warning.”
Fellowship,, companion novel to the Fellowship Dystopia Series, Lynette M. Burrows.
Clarification
There are no affiliate links in this post. I don’t make a cent off of the books listed on this page unless you buy my book. (You can get your free copy when you sign up for my newsletter.)
Usually these titles are pulled at random. They are here for your enjoyment. And to entice you to buy more books.
Do You Want to Read More?
Did you enjoy this list?
Check out previous First Lines posts.
Please take a moment to share in the comments below— Which ones spoke to you? Did you buy it?