Today I want to give some love to books that I haven’t read yet (but obviously should have, if I weren’t such a slacker).
By now, it shouldn’t surprise you in the least bit that my TBR is just full of different flavors of fantasy … but yes, fantasy, nonetheless. I am super extra pro at collecting all the books. But reading all the books? Hahahahahaaaa, well, I could maybe use a little work on that.
I have a small confession: what really gets me to pick up a book, other than a cover that catches my eye, are the first lines.
The opening isn’t what initially grabs my attention, obviously, but it can certainly seal the deal on a book I’m not quite sure about. If there’s some opening killer lines, I will for sure pick it up and give it a try. So today, I’m celebrating some great opening lines for books I’ve picked up, but haven’t quite read yet.
If you’ve read any of these books and think I really need to move them up my TBR, let me know!
I mean, ideally, eventually, I’ll have read all these anyway. But so many books, so little time. You know how it goes. Let me know what you thought of these!
All Those Explosions Were Someone Else’s Fault
Goodreads
Caught my attention because:
- Superheroes!
- Obviously fun/funny comedy.
- Lots of actions and explosions! I’m a sucker for explosions.
- Light, easy voice that seems fun to read.
- A laugh a day keeps the monsters away (…allegedly).
- I, in fact, have not heard this one before.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.
A vampire, a werewolf, and a demon walk into a bar …
A vampire, a werewolf, and a demon walk into a bar …
Ashlords
Goodreads
Caught my attention because:
- HAVE YOU SEEN THAT COVER? YOU HAVE EYES. OMG.
- Phoenix horse is always a win. End of story.
- I, too, hate waking up at ungodly hours (aka anytime before 8:00 AM).
- Fashion is hard, okay?
- Super dangerous race to test characters’ mettle. What could go wrong?!
- Shenanigans! All the shenanigans, because racing can be underhanded.
Farian wakes me at some ungodly hour.
He comes in like he lives here, drags me out of bed, and gets me into a pair of boots. My corner candle’s out, so I can’t even see which cloak he throws around my shoulders or which hat he slaps on my head. Farian would say that’s for the best. According to him, fashion and I were never properly introduced.
He comes in like he lives here, drags me out of bed, and gets me into a pair of boots. My corner candle’s out, so I can’t even see which cloak he throws around my shoulders or which hat he slaps on my head. Farian would say that’s for the best. According to him, fashion and I were never properly introduced.
Bones and Bourbon
Goodreads
Caught my attention because:
- Gives me definite Supernatural vibes.
- Gritty, dark paranormal fantasy.
- A body-stealing spirit that has a penchant for trouble.
- M/M romance and transgender character.
- Carnivorous … unicorns? Yeah, okay, I’m down for this ride.
- I love in media res openings.
I woke up right when the teeth clamped down on my arm, which made me crank the wheel and almost ram into a guardrail before I realized I was driving. Neither of these things surprised me because it wasn’t the first time I’d woken up just in time to feel the hurt for whatever it was I’d unconsciously done.
Elysium Girls
Goodreads
Caught my attention because:
- Fire steampunk horse! (I’m seeing a pattern here).
- Set in a Dust Bowl inspired setting, which is pretty unique.
- Game between the sisters Life and Death!
- Yes, they’re girls. I am 100% here for this lore.
- Witchy goodness, with a healthy dose of demons on the side.
- Upcoming apocalypses are fun.
They say that there was a big bang when the world began. When a whole lot of nothing exploded into everything. Some say that it was the one true god speaking, commanding the light and the water and the earth to all be. The end, from what I’ve read, doesn’t seem too different.
The Bone Charmer
Goodreads
Caught my attention because:
- Sounds super dark and gruesome. I dig it.
- Mysterious, potentially violent, boy with tattoos? Yes, please.
- Fighting against “fate” or preordained futures.
- Seers! Seers are always fun.
Tomorrow my future will be decided by my dead gran’s finger bones. It’s how my whole life has been determined—with bones and blood and snapping flames.
The Fifth Season
Goodreads
Caught my attention because:
- Straightforward, no-nonsense approach to the end of the world.
- Definitely loving this voice.
- Post-apocalyptic hellscape that I’m clearly going to love.
- A mother who would do anything for her daughter (as mothers should).
Let’s start with the end of the world, why don’t we? Get it over with and move on to more interesting things.
Spellslinger
Goodreads
Caught my attention because:
- Love me that title. It’s super fun to say and interesting.
- Clearly promises a super unique magic system.
- I sense trouble on the horizon. I like trouble.
- I like tricks, humor, and magic.
- Sounds full of action and fun fight scenes.
The old spellmasters like to say that magic has a taste. Ember spells are like a spice burning the tip of your tongue. Breath magic is subtle, almost cool, the sensation of holding a mint leaf between your lips. Sand, silk, blood, iron … they each have their flavour. A true adept—the kind of mage who can cast spells even outside an oasis—knows them all.
Me? I had no idea what the high magics tasted like, which is why I was in so much trouble.
Me? I had no idea what the high magics tasted like, which is why I was in so much trouble.
Charlie Hernández and the League of Shadows
Goodreads
Caught my attention because:
- That cover? With all the spooks at the bottom? Yes, please.
- Hispanic folklore! Soooo much yes!
- I want to be BFF with Charlie’s abuela.
- More importantly, I want to read a book with all these things. Heck yes.
- Sounds like a really fun, interesting adventure.
- I’m a sucker for all sorts of mythology. What can I say?
Myths, my abuela used to say, are truths long forgotten by the world.
Which is probably why she collected them the way some people collect stamps. Or mugs with pictures of kittens on them. She gathered tales of enormous, horned, snakelike sea creatures, of two-headed vampire dogs with glowing red eyes, of terrifying man-eating ghouls that stalk the night, searching for naughty children to kidnap.
Which is probably why she collected them the way some people collect stamps. Or mugs with pictures of kittens on them. She gathered tales of enormous, horned, snakelike sea creatures, of two-headed vampire dogs with glowing red eyes, of terrifying man-eating ghouls that stalk the night, searching for naughty children to kidnap.
Oddity
Goodreads
Caught my attention because:
- Young me would’ve loved seeing a strong little black girl on a cover.
- Adult me is pretty thrilled by it still, too.
- I can’t decide if I want to go to this school or not …
- Ah, who am I kidding? OF COURSE I DO.
- Oddity sounds like a rather charming place to live. Think I can move there?
- Zombie. Rabbits. Yeah, okay, I’m in.
Times like now, as I hide behind a stack of gym mats holding Cayden’s head down so he won’t get clawed, I wish Pearl was here. I don’t know why safety drills have to be so realistic. Everyone knows Cayden just moved here from Chicago. Why not prepare him a little before setting angry leopards loose in the gym, instead of letting him drag down our class’s score?
Ghost and Bone
Goodreads
Caught my attention because:
- Morbid, but funny. Clearly my kind of book.
- Comped to Nevermoor!
- Gives me a little bit of Danny Phantom vibes.
- GHOST HORSES! Still horses. Still a theme.
- Midas touch, but … deadlier. And less useful.
- City of ghosts sounds like a fun place to visit.
“Hold tight, Mr. Jenkinson,” Oscar Grimstone said. “I’m just going to lean in a bit here. Don’t mind me.”
Mr. Jenkinson made no reply. But then, his mouth was sewn shut with tiny, invisible stitches, so he couldn’t have complained even if he wasn’t dead.
Mr. Jenkinson made no reply. But then, his mouth was sewn shut with tiny, invisible stitches, so he couldn’t have complained even if he wasn’t dead.
I read Spellslinger earlier this year and absolutely loved it. I need to catch up on the series. Hope you love it!
I really need to get on that! Everyone I talk to seems to have loved it. xD
The Fifth Season has been on my TBR for the longest time! I know that I’m gonna love it, but I’m also slacking lol 😂
We need to start a club. Slackers, Inc. xD
Well, you kind of sunk my book budget…hopefully I can grab some from the library. I need carnivorous unicorns and zombies rabbits and a book where Life and Death are female and ride steampunk horse!
Pfft what even are book budgets? All the books, all the time. xD I still need to buy Elysium Girls, since the book box I had purchased with it seems to have gone MIA. =/ But I can’t wait to read that book! Everything about it sounds perfect.
I haven’t heard of quite a few of these, but I LOVE The Fifth Season – that entire trilogy is so good and I highly recommend it! I really like the sound of Ashlords and Elysium Girls.
Jess @ Jessticulates recently posted…#WyrdAndWonder | We’d call them goblins, Greeks and thieves (a.k.a. My favourite male characters in fantasy)
I really need to pick that up soon! I don’t know why it’s taken me so long, other than just slacking in general haha.
All Those Explosions… was a heckuva fun read (the sequel was maybe a tad less fun, but a better novel). And…great first line.
HC recently posted…Down the TBR Hole (5 of 24+)
Oh, I’m so glad to hear that! I look forward to picking them up.
Covers always catch my eye too, haha. I’ve only read two of these! I would really love to check out a couple of more of them–Bones and Bourbon looks really interesting!
I love the joy, the glee, and the enthusiasm in this post!! Of these, I’ve only read The Fifth Season, and it was so, so, so good!
and the rest? Well, you’ve put a ton of books firmly on my TBR!
It’s really easy to get enthusiastic about fantasy for me. xD Woe to your poor TBR. I’m glad I could be of service. Muahaha.
[…] the gun a little somehow (hint: because I don’t read ahead) and just did a post on the best fantasy first lines on my TBR. So … oops? That means I had to find something different to do for […]
Wow there are some doozies on that list 🤣🤣 This makes me want to read all of them!
Brittany recently posted…Wyrd & Wonder Friday Face Off: Silhouette
I hope you do! And then tell me which ones specifically I need to read first, because choosing is haaard. xD
Read Bones and Bourbon 😀
Annemieke recently posted…June Readalong Book | Turtle Recall
You *would* say that, since I totally bought the book because of you. xD