20 First Lines From Fantasy Books RANKED | 2 To Ramble #89

[@ariameyer3909]

"Prince Raoden of Arelon awoke early that morning, completely unaware that he had been damned for all eternity." - Elantris, Brandon Sanderson

[@julenewebb]

This is my all time favorite opening line!

[@silverbinding]

LOOOOVE THIS ONE

[@ShyFly1000]

It’s a fantastic opening line! I put that as high a if not s.

[@khyrianstorms]

I just finished this, starting my journey into the Cosmere. It’s a wonderful start not only for a book, but for a vast universe

[@Lex77755]

I never read this book, only this one line, months before, and I still recognised it immediately 😮

[@beelissa_]

My favorite will forever be "Look, I didn't want to be a halfblood." from Percy Jackson. I remember reading this as a kid and going "ooh, so sassy! and what IS a halfblood? Tell me more!" so yeah, hooked on the first line

[@2ToRamble]

I (Austin) am full on board - such a great line and middle school me was obsessed with the series. Might need to reread it as an adult!

[@beelissa_]

@@2ToRamble You absolutely should! I plan on rereading it next year (and actually getting to read the others from the same universe that I haven't yet) So I'm definetely eager to hear your thoughts on it now haha

[@TheCosmerenaut1]

Loved Percy Jackson sooo much as a kid. But now I think that it’s clearly very corny- middle school writing. Which is perfectly fine because it’s a childrens book. But still, I don’t think it’s all that amazing

[@Jaden-l4d]

​@@beelissa_4 REPLIES

[@OrangeSun55]

@@TheCosmerenaut1that cornyness is kinda the part of its charm, adds character imo

[@meris8486]

"Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, wore white on the day he was to kill a king." -Way Of Kings, Stormlight. Still rocks. I love openings that put so many questions in my mind. And the assassination of a King? hell yeah that's a good way to start a book

[@UsesElevators]

Yeah but then he proceeded to wear white for like two books (I’m only on WOR)

[@GelidPrince]

I don't remember the first sentence of the prologue for way for kings, but the prologue itself made me so excited and curious.

[@samuelleask1132]

So good

[@shyampadia]

isnt there a prelude before this, but yes this line gives you the chills

[@meris8486]

@@shyampadia There is but it's not that cool until you've read Oathbringer. The "wore white" opening is generally considered the real start

[@koboldmartian4063]

How could forget the ICONIC Mistborn first line. "Ash fell from the sky."

[@2ToRamble]

This is in our part 2 next week 👀

[@koboldmartian4063]

@@2ToRambleI will also say, if you haven't read Kindred by Octavia Butler I highly recommend it. It has a great opening line: "I lost an arm on my last trip home."

[@samuelleask1132]

GOATed

[@meris8486]

“The building was on fire, and it wasn’t my fault.” -Dresden. Blood Rites Urban fantasy true but still a banger

[@2ToRamble]

Ah! We missed Dresden, damn

[@Nastyn1nja808]

Dresden has Great openings. 😊

[@LibraryonLegs]

YES 🤪🎉

[@Y3llow4]

“There once was a boy named Eustice Clarence Scrub, and he almost deserved it” Voyage of the Dawn Treader - God tier opening

[@2ToRamble]

We cover this in part 2 I believe - so good lol

[@zuzanaochmanova2652]

I really love this first lines from Red Sister by Mark Lawrence (haven't even read the book yet, just bought it because of that line): From Prologue :"It is important, when killing a nun, to ensure that you bring an army of sufficient size." And from first chapter: "No child truly believes they will be hanged."

[@2ToRamble]

Oh definitely - We cover this in part 2 coming on Monday

[@ShyFly1000]

I have to agree about Red Sister!

[@timburbagereads]

There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it. Absolutely great first line from Voyage of the Dawntreader

[@2ToRamble]

Oh yea - This is in our part 2 👊

[@austinoverthere8898]

never heard of that series or that line but i love it

[@timburbagereads]

@@austinoverthere8898 It's the 3rd book from the Chronicles of Narnia series

[@RobJbooks]

I would have lived in peace, but my enemies brought me war. - Red Rising, Pierce Brown

[@2ToRamble]

Definitely doing this for our sci-fi first lines vid!

[@EriemTours]

"My name is Stephen Leeds and I am perfectly sane, my hallucinations however are all quite mad" Legion by Brandon Sanderson

[@doravanelk4276]

"Dear You, the body you are wearing used to be mine." - The Rook by David O'Malley

[@travisnelson5497]

I came here specifically for The Dark Tower. Not only is the opening line a banger, the way The story goes makes it even better on a reread. More people need to read this story

[@stevencooney3347]

Here’s the best opening you missed: “IT WAS NIGHT AGAIN. The Waystone Inn lay in silence, and it was a silence of three parts. The most obvious part was a hollow, echoing quiet, made by things that were lacking. If there had been a wind it would have sighed through the trees, set the inn's sign creaking on its hooks, and brushed the silence down the road like trailing autumn leaves. If there had been a crowd, even a handful of men inside the inn, they would have filled the silence with conversation and laughter, the clatter and clamor one expects from a drinking house during the dark hours of night. If there had been music…but no, of course there was no music. In fact there were none of these things, and so the silence remained.” And honestly the whole page long prologue is the opening, and the whole thing is unmatched.

[@2ToRamble]

We read this entire opening in part 2 next week - we’re on the same page 🤝

[@ShyFly1000]

I was thinking of this entire opening page the whole time they were discussing! I actually shared this with my mother who doesn’t read fantasy because it’s just so amazingly well written! It speaks to me on some many levels.

[@jameshannagan4256]

No instead we get the sophomoric dorky awful dialogue Wheel Of Time which reads like a 12 year old wrote it has a terrible ending and is very derivative although to be fair it does have some great ideas in it but it's just so poorly written it should be a YA novel.

[@Chrfenne]

That Game of Thrones opener is great. It's not about the weather at all. It's literally saying "winter is coming" but in other word. And we all know what that actually means.

[@reggiega7989]

Exactly my thoughts

[@clug906]

"the snow in the mountains was melting and bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation" probably my favourite first line it basically had me hooked the second i picked it up

[@alexoxley5058]

“Joost had two problems: the moon and his moustache.” - six of crows. Amazing book with an intriguing humorous first line😂

[@2ToRamble]

Great line!

[@Repti-verse]

I actually think Eldest from the Eragon books has an A tier opening line. “The sogs of the dead are the lamentations of the living.”

[@ewitsdonovan]

The first line I randomly came up with, "The village's doom was fast approaching. Naturally, they held a conference about it." Crap, I’m starting to get ideas now, I may have to write it.

[@2ToRamble]

This is great. I want to read it now

[@samuelleask1132]

Bro that’s a banger

[@samuelhoran2227]

Dude that’s awesome! Now you have to write a book so I can read this story!

[@vagrant1943]

That made me laugh

[@SuryaMurali]

That sounds like something the Two Rivers folk would do!

[@OmnivorousReader]

Wheel of Time beginning to me, just sounds like a fantasy update on the American soapie Days of Our Lives “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”

[@2ToRamble]

😂😂 i need Richard to read this comment

[@abbeyroche2983]

“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.” Love this opening

[@2ToRamble]

Oo what book is this?

[@fatimagarcia9606]

I think is the night Circus from Erin morgenstern. I love your channel guys 😍

[@abbeyroche2983]

Yes! The Night Circus, it’s a “no plot just vibes” book full of purple prose.

[@darlinkhate9254]

The Night Circus truly was an experience.

[@deadlyk12538]

​@@abbeyroche2983I usually hate those types of books, but idk Night Circus is special

[@mcgeeal5342]

“No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.” - Shirley Jackson, Haunting of Hill House. My all-time favorite.

[@ghostofdota]

Richard convinced me to start reading the Wheel of Time series. Currently on book 7 and still loving it! Thanks Richard :)

[@ShyFly1000]

I literally have read the wheel of time series twice through since the start of the pandemic. I honestly wish there were more books!

[@aidankaszuba7103]

Saw you guys on TikTok then found the KZbin channel, now I’ve got my own bookshelf and started the way of kings and then red rising and jade city never knew how immersive books could be. Leveled up my dnd interactions and you guys just changed my life. Love you guys

[@2ToRamble]

What the hell is this kindness - thanks a bunch, that makes this all the more worth it! Cheers and welcome to fantasy!!

[@heyelizabeth_]

This channel is SO underrated. So happy that I discovered you guys, honestly my biggest win this week

[@2ToRamble]

THANK YOU!

[@Amelia-pi5uz]

"Kell wore a very peculiar coat." A Darker Shade of Magic "Joost had two problems: the moon and his mustache." Six of Crows

[@mayfia]

The first line of ADSOM is my favourite first line ever

[@Morfeusm]

Poor Joost did not deserve anything that has happened to him 😢

[@JuanMartinez-ib7mz]

Stephen King published his 80th book this year. Counting full length novels and short story and novella collections. The average is 1.6 books per year published. Brandon Sanderson published 35 books counting Wheel Of Time, Cosmere, Alcatraz, Cytoverse, The Reckoners, Legion & Standalones. 1.9 books per year, if he produces 2 books a year for the next 23 years he will be 71 when he reaches King.

[@michaellaporte4951]

A few things on the Song of Ice and Fire opener that I think work in its favour: For one, the use of alliteration and sound structure. You get the two round vowels in "morning" and "dawn" followed immediately by the consonance of "cold, clear, crisp", then the repetition of the i vowel from "crisp" to "hint", and ending with "summer", a word that sounds nothing like anything else in the sentence, rhotic and emphatically disyllabic. It's a very carefully constructed sentence that does a lot with subtly and shows a strong understanding of language. I also really like how it begins with a beginning - the morning dawns - and ends with an ending - the summer ends - all while being very concise and not miring itself in proper nouns like a lot of fantasy tends to, especially ones with as big a world as Martin's.

[@2ToRamble]

Well said!

[@ericmerrell8622]

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence “It is important, when killing a nun, to ensure that you bring an army of sufficient size”

[@arlissbunny]

In case this helps, The Last Unicorn is a modern classic. You aren’t familiar with it because the original publisher screwed Beagle and they ended up in a decades long court battle. The author recently won and has a new publisher. His works are all being rereleased. Buy them and read them. Peter S. Beagle is incredible. 😊

[@2ToRamble]

Ahh! Had no clue - that’s great to hear it’s out again

[@ria57]

First episode I've watched, and first time hearing of this podcast, really great listen , didn't find myself getting distracted often

[@2ToRamble]

Ahh thankya, cheers!

[@adrianf2065]

Just wanted to say it’s amazing to see how far you guys have grown, you deserve much more recognition.

[@2ToRamble]

Thank you!!

[@nahuel3433]

I'm a fan of the simple start _"Damn me, damn them, damn it all."_

[@2ToRamble]

Love it

[@darthbane97]

What book is this from ?

[@nahuel3433]

@@darthbane97 this from a web serial actually. Pact by J.C. Mcrae/Wildbow An urban fantasy. Grandma dies and (unbeknownst to them) one of her grandchildren inherits all her responsibilities, debts and enemies of a diabolist. THE most hated type of practitioner (wizard) so... The enemies are pretty much everyone If you google Pact Wildbow you can just start reading it. It's a wild ride and it honestly has my favorite magic system. Being incredibly broad and all encompasing while also being surprisingly intuitive

[@CarolineMartins-qw1tw]

One of the best opening lines of a book has to be red rising “I would have lived in peace, but my enemies brought me war”

[@2ToRamble]

Oh yes - definitely covering this when we do a sci-fi first lines pod

[@tgibridays]

One of my favorite first lines I've read recently was from The Wickwire Watch by Jacquelyn Hagen: "Had Mr. Bash known this was the night he was going to die, he would have stayed at home."

[@2ToRamble]

Niiiice. Is this a fantasy book too?

[@tgibridays]

@@2ToRamble it is. It's one of the finalists in this year's SPFBO.

[@ShyFly1000]

I am going to have to find this book and read it! Never even heard of it.

[@tgibridays]

@@ShyFly1000 it's a self published book so it's not super well known. I saw some other booktubers talking about it and an interview with the author, that's how I found out about it.

[@austinoverthere8898]

I love the "first line" podcasts, always so interesting. keep it up guys

[@2ToRamble]

Cheers! Thankya!

[@TraGiiXzaze]

I was shocked when you guys said you hadn't read a Malazan book yet. To me Deadhouse gates and the chain of dogs sub plot is my favorite story ever told. Truly the most emotionally impactful piece of literature I've ever read. It's even more of a cry than hearing Major Dick Winters read the letter from one of his men at the end of the band of brothers. Prolouge opening line. "He came shambling into Judgement's Round from the Avenue of Souls, a misshapen mass of flies."

[@jameshannagan4256]

One of the best and as a bonus written by and for adults to be fair it's coming from guys that think Wheel Of Time is the height of good writing.

[@Ignore14]

Deadhouse Gates is devastating. I've never been so shocked reading/watching something in my whole life.

[@lewisfranielczyk5756]

Lads, this was hell of an episode! Thoroughly enjoyed this one! Keep it up! Supporting you from across the pond in Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@2ToRamble]

Cheers Lewis! Thank you!

[@KALtheHighstorm117]

From what I understand, A Court of Thorns and Roses is a romantasy. My favorite opening line: Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, wore white on the day he was to kill a king.

[@user-mu5sl4vh7m]

My adult realisation that I can do whatever I want and have complete freedom and freedom of action was that I could, if I wanted to, commit any crime just for no reason. But the birthday cake one is good too.

[@2ToRamble]

😂😂

[@J.Evans509]

Sanderson will ultimately have way more words published, but I think King busts out a lot of books so many that he uses extra pseudonyms to publish

[@jackson633]

You're supposed to brine poultry before you bake it to make it able to retain more of its juices lol, that's the main reason why your turkey is dry and not good. Definitely still make a gravy out of what drips out but a good brine will change the game forever.

[@nolancasimir7603]

Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, wore white on the day he was to kill a king.

[@LuzzyStef]

Best opener ever

[@nolancasimir7603]

@@LuzzyStef Agreed, I was shocked to see Way of Kings was left out

[@LibraryonLegs]

The prequel to Blacktongue Thief: "I saw my first Goblin the same day I saw my first shipwreck." - Galva Ink: Prologue: "Will it hurt?" Apocalypse Now Now: "There are questions that run through your head when you find out that you're a serial killer." Really fun video 🎉🎉❤🎉🎉

[@LuzzyStef]

Ever since I’ve started watching you guys my tbr has gotten so long I’m lost now😂

[@2ToRamble]

😭😂😂

[@reneeelich4893]

To Kill a Kingdom: "I have a heart for every year I've been alive."

[@2ToRamble]

Ooo i like that

[@crushgoil]

I think this would’ve been more enjoyable if you’d rated lines without identifying which books they were from, but obviously that’s harder to setup

[@somatoes4667]

Yeah especially since for some books they seem to know they have to read beyond the actual first line for it to be impactful but for some others they just stop at the first line.

[@ShyFly1000]

I wish I had read your comment before I commented the exact same thing

[@MattVickers]

Nice list and fun discussion. I would probably bump The Blade Itself towards top of A-tier and Gardens of the Moon to S-tier. Glad to read you're covering Red Sister as well, such a great series (by far my favourite Lawrence) and really good on audio

[@jameshannagan4256]

You think GOTM is S-tier? Almost everyone I know agrees that it's by far the worst book of the 10 kind of like the first Dark Tower novel it was written when he was young and he learned to write better as he went along I do like it though.

[@_mooshrooom]

" My mother has been rotting for the past six days in the only luxury of our house, the bloody bathtub." This is the opening to my i future work in progress.

[@xxxxyyyy-ll3hz]

Should have done it blind, without saying the title of the book, and then revealing the book after the ranking

[@2ToRamble]

Ahh good idea here, that would’ve been cool

[@Scatterbrainn]

'The shadows screamed in agony as the sky bled with light.' Intro I came up with in the 5 seconds you gave Richard.

[@2ToRamble]

Damn!

[@dinocollins720]

This was such a fun one!

[@2ToRamble]

Thankya!!

[@MrKramien]

Guys, your podcast is so great! Keep up good work!!

[@2ToRamble]

Thankyou!!

[@Straw-Hunter]

Another week waiting for Lightbringer review has me dying

[@2ToRamble]

Reading as we speak 😁

[@rileybush7129]

Yay!!!

[@Ruben86jz]

Dying here too with you

[@samuelleask1132]

“The building was on fire, and it wasn’t my fault.” Blood Rites by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files book 6)

[@IndigoStat]

46:59 cooking channel named 2toScramble

[@2ToRamble]

Genius

[@seeschwalbe]

Just some first lines from German fantasy books you probably haven't heard about to repay your wonderful curation of English ones: (My own rough translations) -'The 13 1/2 lifes of Captain Bluebear' by Walter Moers: "A bluebear has twentyseven lifes. Thirteen and a half of them I will reveal in this book, about the others I will remain silent. A bear must have his dark sides, that makes him attracrive and mysterious." (First parahraph of the preface) & "A life usually starts with the birth - mine doesn't."(First Chapter) -"Reckless"- book 1by Cornelia Funke:"In the flat, the night breathed like a dark animal." I don't have anymore at hand right now, so take the Prologue of an English book that convinced me to buy it: 'The Book that wouldn't burn' by Mark Lawrence: "The first arrow hit a child. That was the opening line."

[@2ToRamble]

Oh nice - these are great thanks for sharing them!

[@HappyOsotogari]

This was an interesting conversation & selection of lines. I agree that a good first line establishes tone & prompts questions. I do think the rankings are hard to divorce from knowledge of the rest of the book.

[@2ToRamble]

Very true!

[@SuperCliffReviews]

Great videos dudes - Keep it up -- Love the intro music haha

[@2ToRamble]

Haha cheers! Thankyou!

[@arzabael]

Gah. Its like Robert Jordan knew how big the story would be when he wrote that first line. I imagine it was written long after the original drafts. It would be a disservice to any one character to have made that first sentence through the perspective of one specifically but it perfectly sets up the idea that this story is going to span ages.

[@kylec1590]

I haven’t had a dry turkey in a few years since I started this method and now my family demands I do it every thanksgiving. Quarter the turkey and dry brine it. Separate the thighs and breasts because they cook at different times, that’s why the white meat is always dry, you’re still trying to get the dark meat up to temp and overcooking the white meat because you can’t take them out separately, so quarter it so you can take them each out when they’re done. Dry brine it for a day or two before cooking, so just a salt heavy spice rub. That keeps the moisture in, like when you salt a steak, and adds flavors from the spices

[@PokeJoshNY]

very excited to hear that y'all will (eventually) be getting to Malazan

[@2ToRamble]

Going to be a journey 👊

[@amysteriousviewer3772]

I think one thing you didn't mention about the AGoT opener is that "end of summer" and season in general mean something very different in Westeros. So it does actually set up the world and ultimate conflict in a line that seems very basic on a first read but gains a ton of meaning on a re-read.

[@Maximus0623]

I think the Gunslinger has the best opening line I’ve ever read. It raises so many questions and creates immediate suspense and intrigue, while also being succinct. Ironically, I think it’s one of the worst books in the Dark Tower series, but judging just on the opener, it’s perfect.

[@jameshannagan4256]

It's pretty bad but books 2,3,4 and even 5 are all great and Wizard And Glass is as good as anything King has ever written which is saying a lot.

[@arzabael]

Richard understands the art of the first sentence. The one he made up had that thing that I know when I see hit can’t explain, and if I tried to explain, it’s basically: “some sort of ironic reaction by the protagonist to what’s in front of them that would usually surprise a normal person but to this person it’s business as usual.” And it never fails every great first sentence, especially Terry Pratchetty stuff, has that.

[@2ToRamble]

You explained this well - totally get what you mean!

[@arzabael]

@@2ToRamble haha righteous, thanks!

[@salmanhyder1655]

Beagle's Last Unicorn is a good book. More for adults, with deep ingrained wisdom, than for younger audience. People would know the author because he was connected with Bakshi in the Lord of the Rings 1978 animation movie and I have read Peter S. Beagle on various books on Tolkien scholarly works writing in introduction at editorial boards. If butterfly effect is a real thing, then of course there is a little connection between Beagle and Japan's Studio Ghibli.

[@jweather66]

Ooooh the first line if that susanna clarke novel made me so excited to read more of her work. Im reading Piranesi RIGHT NOW.

[@2ToRamble]

Its an amazing book!! Hope you love it

[@arabellawillow]

"A voice in his head still told him that he'd die tonight." -the opening line to the book im currently writing 😅

[@boltboycaiden7340]

Life of Pi by Yann Martel has one of the best first lines in my opinion. It stopped in my track, like woah. "My suffering left me sad and gloomy."

[@holdenpop12]

I think the first line you selected from Game of Thrones hits ALOT harder after you have read the whole prologue. Knowing something in the deep north is stirring again, and that Winter is also rolling in again immediately gave me a sense of impending type of doom.

[@ErinXIV]

The genius behind the Malazan opening lines is that its symbolic of the state of the Malazan empire itself. A little context really changes those lines!

[@mohdrashid6968]

love these videos. you should do with sci fi and classic books that you have not read

[@2ToRamble]

Absolutely- sci-fi will likely be next!

[@sentient.ball.of.stardust]

Funny how i was literally thinking of my favourite first line just the other day, and of course it's "Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, wore white on the day he was to kill a king." It's just so good, it creates so many questions, it lets you know exactly what kind of fantasy you're getting into, it's punchy and short and epic and i doubt any first line will ever come close for me. Maybe Wheel of Time, but that's less question and more reflection.

[@NotDustyDrB]

Wholesome choice for intro

[@Zivilin]

"The only thing i remembered was that i had seen extraordinary sights on the morning of the day i died." -The Dark Beyond the Stars, Franklin M Robinson

[@logantaylor2338]

The dark tower opening takes on such a different feeling after finishing the dark tower

[@iidkok]

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is one of the best books I've ever read, it's unbelievably well crafted, far beyond Piranesi (which I did enjoy). The miniseries the BBC made was a great adaptation too.

[@cassandrathomas6015]

I'm keeping a document this year with the first line of every book I've read. It's really interesting to go back with the full knowledge of the book. I really like the ones that seem really ambiguous and then when you have the full context of the book they make complete sense. For example, "This house eats and is eaten," from She Is A Haunting.

[@ryanmkick]

The Hobbit opener is genuinely THE most iconic opening sentence in fiction.

[@austinoverthere8898]

after a couple of minutes I came up with this: “With earrings cascading down his pointed, elven ears, Randy Pajama, a mage much more serious than his name, readied to commence the duel.” what do you guys think?

[@2ToRamble]

So cool - especially for a couple minutes worth of time! Tone is very clear - a bit of whimsy fun. Also the name Randy Pajama is top tier

[@TheOneMathilde]

Honestly, I have read some of the books here but some of the ones I have not yet read, I think I might read thanks to these first lines! Great video thank you!

[@2ToRamble]

No problem - thanks for watching!

[@emersonwright5390]

Not exactly fantasy, but I'd love to see you guys talk about the opening of Percy Jackson "The Lighting Thief"

[@2ToRamble]

Love that line! One of my favorite book series growing up - the Heroes of Olympus series was a level up as well

[@emersonwright5390]

I'm sure you also thought to yourself, "Who the F*** is Jason?" When starting The Lost Hero@@2ToRamble

[@emersonwright5390]

@@2ToRamble So Excited for the Disney+ show!!

[@2ToRamble]

Super curious to see how it turns out!@@emersonwright5390

[@UsesElevators]

48:46 The Fellowship of the Ring

[@2ToRamble]

Ahh! Thank you, I missed that when putting in the video chapters, thanks very much

[@danielgwynne7266]

The opening lines of malazan are also a metaphor for something in the story apart from being literal as well.

[@2ToRamble]

Oo that’s awesome

[@ShyFly1000]

I love love love that the dark tower is S tower. I love that opening line. I do want to suggest that if you ever do this again you don’t say which book it is before reading the opening line. I sense some prejudice when you already know the book. Also have you ever noticed that Harry Potter opens very similarly to Roald Dahl books?

[@2ToRamble]

We can try this next time - though it might be difficult because I had to select the books to present in the episodes and read them off in order - maybe there’s a way to randomize it/etc!

[@This_Empty_Space]

"A silhouette disturbed the night. An empty void where the rain was meant to be. These figures were nearly impossible to see. Unless of course, you were one of them." The first few lines of a book I'm currently working on. Haven't named it yet, though.

[@2ToRamble]

Fantastic!

[@readwithpattie4804]

Wish you guys had included the cruel prince, would have loved to see your reaction on it

[@julesdecember4164]

Meeting you guys for the first time and this was an enjoyable time.

[@2ToRamble]

Nice to meet ya, welcome aboard 🤓

[@justmaddiereading]

16:47 romance authors are notoriously great at filling holes. (i'm sorry)

[@Scotticusmaximusmeta]

"Turkey is always dry and not that great". Tell me you can't cook without telling me.

[@2ToRamble]

Im looking forward to when Richard sees this comment 😂

[@SimplementInefable]

"I could have become a mass murderer after I hacked my governor module, but then I realized I could acess the combined feed of emtretainment channels carried on the company satellites." -All Systems Red. The murderbot diatries by Martha Wells

[@2ToRamble]

Great book!

[@saurabhillustrations]

“The story so far: In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.” ― Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe Don't know if this counts but it is my favorite opening line of all time :)

[@jameswitts3793]

I can't wait for you guys to start reading Malazan! 😁

[@veraamoretabinas8795]

AWESOME EPISODE, GUYS! I would very much like a part two!

[@2ToRamble]

Thankyou!! Part 2 coming next week 👨‍🍳

[@devinwarner4034]

Would've loved to see Neuromancer, especially since I see it hiding behind Austin's head. "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." Amazing

[@2ToRamble]

Ahh we considered this one as sci-fi, but it will definitely be in the sci-fi opening lines video when ee do that!

[@devinwarner4034]

@@2ToRambleThat's fair, it's definitely more sci fi than fantasy. I'm excited for that video when it comes out!

[@qwuzzy]

Gosh can't believe you didn't include The Name of the Wind, I love the opener to that book.

[@2ToRamble]

That’s in part 2! Coming next Monday 🤠

[@qwuzzy]

Can't wait 🔥@@2ToRamble

[@tylerhauth440]

Nice selection of first lines, lots of the same ones I would have instinctively looked at.

[@KLaney90]

A recent favorite opening line: "Celin's mother refused to go to Aslemor. 'It knows too much,' she said when pressed." - The Wounds of Wisdom by Alexandra Roma.

[@2ToRamble]

Ooo

[@joegriggs7809]

You guys did Locke Lamora DIRTYY. I’m tempted to join the Patreon just to talk about the gentleman bastards with people who are new to this world. The gentleman bastards is, in my opinion, perfect. (Well like 9/10)

[@2ToRamble]

That’s our book club discussion this month 👨‍🍳

[@bearhill6087]

The first book is *so unbelievably good* at every single facet that MAKES a story. I love the other two entries in the initial trilogy but “Lies” is so good it works as a standalone. Incredible literature

[@joegriggs7809]

@@bearhill6087 I LOVE the first book. But red seas has a certain charm that just does it for me. It has a special place in my heart!

[@lululala4658]

@@bearhill6087oh, Do the first 3 book form an actual trilogy ? I was not aware of that. I only read the first one and absolutely loved it, but didnot pickup the next books because I was worried they would not ‘wrap themselves up’ nicely.

[@bearhill6087]

@@lululala4658 They definitely form a trilogy and you will find a lot of enjoyment in finishing, I think. But it is important to note that the 3rd book ends in a way that very heavily leads into sequels, and as of now, I don’t have much confidence those will ever release. But I thoroughly enjoyed the full trilogy despite the sort of “cliffhangers” at the end of book 3, and I’m the kind of person who can simply imagine what the rest of the story might look like. Your mileage may vary

[@leigh-anjohnson]

"I find it easier to trust someone when I know how to kill them. Just in case." - The first line from my Urban Fantasy WIP. What do you think?

[@2ToRamble]

I (austin) really like it! This sets my expectations for a very character-focused story and also implies the book is going to lean into more ‘grim’ - maybe that’s the wrong word - but at least more mature themes with death/assasinations being more commonplace.

[@leigh-anjohnson]

@@2ToRamble The TV show Grimm is one of the inspirations for my story. My MC comes from a bloodline of born hunters (similar to Grimms in the show). Problem is she's also half-supernatural, so she is seen as an outsider by both sides and as a result has a very defensive "just in case" perspective.

[@TalonBray]

So Malazan after WoT? I am so hyped..you guys are going to love it

[@2ToRamble]

Of course 🫡