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. Do these first lines tickle your imagination? Do you want to read more?
PROLOGUE: It was difficult to imagine a time before them, a time in which they hadn’t come.
The Measure: A Read with Jenna Pick , Nikki Erlick
The letter arrives on a Friday. Slit and resealed with a sticker, of course, as all their letters are: Inspected for your safety—PACT.
Our Missing Hearts Celeste Ng
PROLOGUE: Dawn is breaking when she creeps from the house. The air is cool and fresh; birds are singing in the trees.
The Ferryman, Justin Cronin
PROLOGUE: “Let me tell you about Paca’s journey to Eterellis,” the old bard says, sitting on a dried stump and drumming knobby fingers on his knees.
The Hanging City Charlie N. Holmberg
The monster has been here. I can smell him.
His stench is part the acrid sweat of exertion, part meaty ripeness of a carnivore’s unwashed flesh, and part something else I can’t quite name.
Trail of Lightning, Rebecca Roanhorse
Conscription day is always the deadliest. Maybe that’s why the sunrise is especially beautiful this morning—because I know it might be my last.
Fourth Wing, The Empyrean, book1, Rebecca Yarros
Clarification
There are no affiliate links in this post. I don’t make a cent off of the books listed on this page. 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.
Which first lines tempted you? If none of these tickled your imagination, what is the first line of what you’re reading now?
Thank you as always! I added 4 of these to my TBR. (I did not know Justin Cronin had a new book out so thank you!) The only reason I didn’t add the other two was that I had already read Trail of Lightning and loved it. And I already picked up Hanging City. So those two are great selections!