It’s time to play “guess that book” and also watch our TBRs weep.
Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and is all about the first line of a current/upcoming read. Friday 56 is a meme hosted by Freda’s Voice, where you turn to page 56 (or 56%) in what you’re reading a find a snippet that jumps out at you.
When elephants passed by in a lumbering sea beneath my window, flecks of light whispered in the dust, dancing above the rows of tusks and leather. I leaned precariously over the sill, hoping to catch a fleck before a servant wrestled me inside.
The corner of Sanjeet’s mouth lifted. “You can be a market girl today, if you like, I won’t tell. Imperial guard gear might give you away, though.”
Nothing is more important than loyalty.
But what if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy?
Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself? With extraordinary world-building and breathtaking prose, Raybearer is the story of loyalty, fate, and the lengths we’re willing to go for the ones we love.
✿ Set in a magical, African-inspired world.
✿ Starts out with a BANG. As in, hey, I command you to kill this dude.
✿ A wish that’s obviously doomed to end poorly.
✿ Betrayal! Maybe not intentional, but there you have it.
✿ Mysterious and dangerous, yet wonderful magic.
✿ I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but that’s a freaking gorgeous cover!
This is a weekly meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook meant to take place on Mondays, but since Fridays tend to be my TBR-focused post, I’ve decided to combine them here. Next Monday’s prompt is: mystery.
I don’t read a ton of mystery, but I think I have enough to be able to come up with five, at least! I’m gonna admit that these are probably fantasy/mystery, because I just can’t seem to shake fantasy. It’s like a clingy little kid!
I’ve actually been meaning to pick up a Jonathan Stroud book for a while now, since Annemieke @ A Dance With Books swears by them. I just … haven’t yet? But The Screaming Staircase and the other Lockwood & Co. books have been on my radar for a while, and they look like they’ll be the perfect reads for me!
All I really know for sure about Sworn to the Night is there’s a serial killer, F/F romance, witches, and what sounds like a pretty darn epic mystery that I absolutely want to get to the bottom of.
First off, not that it matters for the book, but the cover of The Case of the Green-Dressed Ghost is stunning. But it’s also comped to “Ghostbusters with a British accent,” and I like both of those things. I also happen to like ancient ghost stories, too. What can I say?
You know, what’s with all these long mystery book titles?! I’ve been meaning to read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time since I finished The Color of Bee Larkham’s Murder and heard they were similar. I love unreliable narrators, especially when they’re accidentally so, as a fact of their nature, so I’m looking forward to this one.
I’m not a huge fan of Dickens or anything, but I think the titles of the A Dickens of a Crime series are charming, and A Tale of Two Murders does sound like it’d be a fun mystery to read. I’m especially curious about Charles Dickens himself being a character.
I just love the cover of Raybearer, and it sounds like my kind of book. Can’t wait for your review😁
Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy recently posted…The Friday Face-Off: Action
Tammy. Seriously. I stayed up super late into the morning this morning to finish it. xD It was FANTASTIC. And then I screamed at Leelynn until she finished it bwahaha. I don’t even know how I’m going to write a review now.
Great excerpts, and I love that book cover, too. Thanks for sharing, and here’s mine: “THE END OF HER”
This book is on my TBR list. Enjoy your current read!
Breana M recently posted…The Friday 56 (183) & Book Beginnings: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Hope you enjoy it when you get to read it! I thought it was great. 😀
I love your reveal the book edit! thanks for sharing all the books, I’m curious about The Case of the Green Dressed Ghost!
Here’s my Friday Post
Thanks! I love being able to guess when I see people’s Friday posts, so I figured I’d give people the chance to do so on my post, too. 😉
Sounds different. Happy weekend!
Freda Mans-Labianca recently posted…The #Friday56 #Instagram56
I’ve been enjoying a lot of fantasy books too. I can’t resist the escape from reality! LOL Thanks for sharing.
Becki recently posted…Five Things for Friday / #Friday56 / Book Beginnings on Friday
That’s mostly why I read fantasy, too. Reality is boring. Bring on the dragons!
Sounds great!
I got BBOF posted late, but it is up now if you want to visit and link your post.
Thanks so much! I figured it was just running late and checked later in the day to see if it was up yet. 🙂
What a lovely opening line. I can picture the imagery. I am highlighting a book by a favorite author whom I’m sure you like his books, too
The book is full of fantastic imagery, and the way it ties together is fabulous! The sprites come back several times in the story and play a bit role, which I didn’t expect, because I thought the opening was a throwaway line. NOTHING in this book is “throwaway.” 🙂
Happy Friday! 🙂
I’m currently reading A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham. I’m on chapter seven so I’ll share the first line from there:
“Sam Landon made his way over to the schoolhouse, toolbox in one hand, lunch tin in the other.”
I hope you have an excellent weekend! 🙂❤📚
Nicole Santana recently posted…First-Line Friday #147
This sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Lauren @ Always Me
It was really good!