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.
Let me tell you of the moment when I first knew I would betray you.
And the tea only turned to blood once, so that was nice.
Everyone was tired and out of sorts. No one needed to ask why.
Qown almost tried to reassure people that it would be better the next night, when he remembered that there was a strong likelihood none of them would see a next night.
For fans of Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss, The House of Always is the fourth epic fantasy in Jenn Lyons’ Chorus of Dragons series that began with The Ruin of Kings.
What if you were imprisoned for all eternity?
In the aftermath of the Ritual of Night, everything has changed.
The Eight Immortals have catastrophically failed to stop Kihrin’s enemies, who are moving forward with their plans to free Vol Karoth, the King of Demons. Kihrin has his own ideas about how to fight back, but even if he’s willing to sacrifice everything for victory, the cost may prove too high for his allies.
Now they face a choice: can they save the world while saving Kihrin, too? Or will they be forced to watch as he becomes the very evil they have all sworn to destroy.
- Fourth book in an epic fantasy series.
- And when I say epic, I mean epic.
- There’s dragons and magic and eldritch evils and stabbiness. Lots of stabbiness.
- A squad of characters who would rather not work together, thanks very much.
- But they’d prefer working together only slightly more than the world ending, they suppose.
- Lots of sarcastic and dark humor.
- The world may or may not be ending, but it’s okay because there’s at least one more book left!
5 On My TBR is hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook and is 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: literary fiction.
I don’t actually read a lot of literary fiction. Nor do I fully understand the genre. So I’m just going to wing this and pick some books that are normally out of my comfort zone but which I’ve heard good things about and will likely read anyway.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
This is almost cheating, because it’s my book club book for this month. Almost but not quite, because I haven’t actually started it yet. I haven’t even brought it home from the library yet, technically. It’s just sitting there patiently on my desk. Too many patrons have told me that I need to read this already, so when my coworker was picking out books for the upcoming book club meetings (which just started back up here), I told her we should definitely get this one, and it was actually the first that came in! Talk about luck.
Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo
Can poetry be literary fiction? I don’t know. Either way, I read an excerpt of it, and the poetry just hit me right in the feels. I knew I had to read it. Which is weird because this is definitely not my kind of book? Elhillo has a way with words, though, that feels so raw and honest and to the heart of the matter, so I’m looking forward to diving into this one.
Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon
I’m not completely sold that I’ll enjoy this book. I thought The Deep was interesting, but I don’t think I would’ve read it if I hadn’t picked up the audiobook (which I did because Daveed Diggs has a sexy, sexy voice, thank you very much). I do think Solomon has an interesting writing style, though, and I’d like to at least give this one a try. I’ll probably do an audiobook again, since that seemed to work out well the last time!
Circe by Madeline Miller
Another one I’ve heard a lot about! I really might as well lump The Song of Achilles in here, too, because it’s by the same author and also on my TBR, for all the same reasons. I’m a sucker for mythology. Any kind of mythology, really, but I grew up with a lot of Greek mythology, so it’s a bit nostalgic for me. Again, though, I’ve just heard wonderful things about these books, and I’ve been told over and over again about how I should definitely read them!
Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn
This is one I’ve been meaning to read for quite a while now, and I’ll get to it … eventually. It sounds fantastic, though, and I’ve heard really good things about it! I’m also curious about the setting and the influence of Hawaiian culture and beliefs. It’s one I definitely hope to pick up sooner rather than later.
What are you reading this week? Share its first line in the comment below or drop your own First Line links!
I bought a copy of Sharks in the Time of Saviors when it first came out but have I read it yet? Nope. But I want to!
Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy recently posted…The Friday Face-Off: First Fantasy Book
I relate to this post so much it hurts. xD If I had a nickel for every time I’ve done that … well, I’d probably spend them on more books I wouldn’t read right away, come to think of it, so it’s probably good I don’t.
Circe is fantastic. I hope you enjoy it!
I just love that opening in the prologue. What a great way to hook a reader in! I do love dragons and magic. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything by Jenn Lyons though. I will have to check her books out.
Trying to define what is literary fiction can be difficult. Especially since I think the actual definition is applied so loosely–and is open for interpretation. Then add in crossovers . . . It’s so confusing. LOL I really want to read Home Is Not a Country and Circe. Someday . . .
I hope you have a great weekend!
I highly recommend checking out this series, then! It’s been such a fun read so far, and it’s one of those series that you can really get invested in and sink your teeth into.
I find genres confusing enough as it is, without loose definitions and such. xD
The beginning of that prologue! That hooked me right away!
Cheryl @ I Heart Fictional People recently posted…Friday Book Beginnings and Book Blogger Hop #6
Right?! I knew I was going to love this book from the moment I read those first lines. xD
Do you use custom HTML for the click to reveal block?
Jenny recently posted…First Lines Fridays – May 14, 2021
It’s actually a plugin! It’s called Collapse-O-Matic. I do use HTML to the image in there, but it’s really simple HTML, and if you try to use it and have a problem, send me a message on Twitter and I can try to help you along. :3
I’m so intrigued for more! 🙂 Happy weekend!
Freda Mans-Labianca recently posted…The #Friday56 & #Instagram56
Literary fiction isn’t my usual cup of tea either, but every now and then I’ll find one that works for me. (Of course, I can’t think of any right now. You know how it goes.)
Nicole @ BookWyrm Knits recently posted…A Litany for Survival by Audre Lorde
Fredrik Backman! He’s always my go-to. xD I’m the same, though. I do try to read outside my “preferred” books, and sometimes I hit on things I really enjoy, which is always a nice surprise.