Happy Saturday, fellow nerds! Welcome back to Saturday Nerd First Lines, where we zoom in on a book’s opening sentence and see what kind of mood it sets before the story even starts running.
This week’s pick is Breath of the Dragon, and I immediately loved the atmosphere in the very first line. I can actually hear the branches shifting in the wind, and I can picture two horseback riders arriving from somewhere far off; there’s movement, chill air, and that quiet “something is coming” feeling. The metaphor feels a little lyrical too, which is always an instant yes from me.
First line:
“Two strangers arrived on a midautumn morning, as if swept in by the cold wind rustling the drooping branches of the elm trees.”
Let’s Discuss: Would this first line hook you?