Favorite First Lines
I wanted to share with you some of my favorite first lines from various novels. By definition, the first line of a book is the first thing we read. From them we can get a hint about the story and the feeling of the book. They’re the kind of thing that can be SUPER impactful if done well, but never hurts the story if they’re not a “blow-you-away” kind of line.
Some of them I like because they are funny, others because they are jarring, and others because they’re just damn beautiful.
The First Lines!!
Ash fell from the sky.
Brandon Sanderson, The Final Empire
It begins with a crack, a sputter, and a spark.
V. E. Schwab, The Near Witch
Joost had two problems: the moon and his mustache.
Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows
The night Kate Harker decided to burn down the school chapel, she wasn’t angry or drunk. She was desperate.
Victoria Schwab, This Savage Song
Trying to comprehend a whole star system while my ship bleeds atmosphere? There are worse ways to die.
Corey J. White, Killing Gravity
The first thing Sanda did after being resuscitated was vomit all over herself. The second thing she did was to vomit all over again.
Megan E. O’Keefe, Velocity Weapon
It’s funny, Vasher thought, how many things begin with my getting thrown into prison.
Brandon Sanderson, Warbreaker
Kell wore a very peculiar coat.
It had neither one side, which would be conventional, nor two, which would be unexpected, but several, which was, of course, impossible.
V. E. Scwab, A Darker Shade of Magic
Once upon a time, a man came from the sky and killed my wife. Beside him now, I walk on a mountain that floats over our world. Snow falls. Battlements of white stone and shimmer glass yawn out of the rock.
Around us swirls a chaos of greed.
Pierce Brown, Golden Son
TIMELINE: FIVE MINUTES TOO LATE.
THIRTY SECONDS FROM THE END OF THE WORLD.
There is so much blood.
Roger didn’t know there was this much blood in the human body. It seems impossible, ridiculous, a profligate waste of something that should be precious and rare – and most importantly, contained. This blood belongs in side the body where it began, and yet here it is, and here he is, and everything is going so wrong.
Seanan McGuire, Middlegame
More of my thoughts!
My favorite has got to be the last quote, the one from Middlegame. Those first two opening lines WHEW. Gives me shivers!!! And then the rest oh my god. It’s just such beautiful writing. God I love Seanan McGuire so much. I highly recommend this book – the rest of it is just as beautiful as the beginning. You can check out my review here if you want more info about it!
The Golden Son beginning is one of my favorites for the same reason – it’s just beautiful. It’s also brutal and drops you right smack in the middle of some SHIT. So you know it’s gonna be good.
All of V. E. Schwab’s first lines are amazing tbh. You can tell she’s a pro at it since I’ve included her three times on this list haha. They’re beautiful and I really feel like they give you a good feel of the book as a whole. That’s probably my favorite thing about her first lines, is that they’re kinda like the book in miniature.
The Final Empire first line is so grim, and makes it seem like the story has a really apocalyptic and high stakes feel to it. Which it does haha so good job Brandon.
The Leigh Bardugo and Warbreaker quotes I just find hilarious haha. I love laughing first thing when I open a book.
I haven’t read Velocity Weapon or Killing Gravity, but those lines! They make me want to read the books right away. I love being dropped right in the middle of the action. I need to know what’s going on and how they got into these situations!!
What are your favorite kinds of first lines? Do you prefer something funny, or something just beautiful? A bit of both? I clearly like all sorts. Do you know off the top of your head any favorite lines? Put them here are let me see if I can guess what book they’re from!
I recognise quite a few of these, so I’m feeling pretty smug, haha. 😏
I love first lines that instantly pique my interest or set the scene effectively. The two that come to mind for me are The Scorpio Races (something like “It is the first of November and so, today, someone will die.”) and 1984 (can’t remember the exact quote, but I think it’s something like “It was a bright, cold day in April and the clocks were striking thirteen.” – thirteen!! 👀).
I absolutely loved the opening of Velocity Weapon, haha. It gives you a great sense of what Sanda’s POV is like!
Haha yes!! You win!
Ahh yes I love both of those! And you’ve reminded me that I need to reread The Scorpio Races soon. Preferably this month since that’s the setting haha.
I’m so excited for VW!! I’m happy to hear it’s a good sense of her POV haha.