Hello, reader!

Today, I’m trying out a post that I’ve been wanting to do for some time now: First Lines Friday! I’ve seen this on various blogs and I wanted in, lol. Before we get into the post, though, let’s take a look at the rules from the host, Wandering Words.

“First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?  If you want to make your own post, feel free to use or edit the banner above, and follow the rules below:

• Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
• Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
• Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!”

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The Line(s):

Arent Hayes howled in pain as a rock slammed into his massive back.
Another whistled by his ear, a third striking his knee, causing him to stumble, bringing jeers from the pitiless mob, who were already searching the ground for missiles to throw.

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Any guesses?

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The Reveal:

And the book is…

Click the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page

Goodreads Synopsis

“A murder on the high seas. A detective duo. A demon who may or may not exist.

It’s 1634 and Samuel Pipps, the world’s greatest detective, is being transported to Amsterdam to be executed for a crime he may, or may not, have committed. Travelling with him is his loyal bodyguard, Arent Hayes, who is determined to prove his friend innocent.

But no sooner are they out to sea than devilry begins to blight the voyage. A twice-dead leper stalks the decks. Strange symbols appear on the sails. Livestock is slaughtered.

And then three passengers are marked for death, including Samuel.

Could a demon be responsible for their misfortunes?

With Pipps imprisoned, only Arent can solve a mystery that connects every passenger onboard. A mystery that stretches back into their past and now threatens to sink the ship, killing everybody on board.

The breathtaking new novel from Stuart Turton, author of the The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, winner of the Costa Best First Novel Award.”

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I’m reading this book with some of The Write Reads gang and I’m really enjoying it so far! It is so strange and intriguing and it’s definitely keeping me on my toes! I’m also quite in love with the cover. It’s especially pretty in person 😍

Have you read this book? Did those first few lines capture your attention? Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, happy reading!