First Lines Friday 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?
This week’s First Lines Friday book is a 2021 novel released back in May!
First Lines
“When my twin, Jamie, left, he vowed it wouldn’t be forever. Only a week before Halley’s Comet brushed the London skies, he kissed my cheek and set off. One comet in, one comet out. But two years away is more than enough time to clear his head, even in the coal-thickened air at the bottom of a steamship. Since he hasn’t come home, it is time to chase down the comet’s tail.”
And the book is…….
Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee!
Synopsis: Valora Luck has two things: a ticket for the biggest and most luxurious ocean liner in the world, and a dream of leaving England behind and making a life for herself as a circus performer in New York. Much to her surprise, though, she’s turned away at the gangway; apparently, Chinese people aren’t allowed into America. But Val has to get on that ship. Her twin brother, Jamie, who has spent two long years at sea, is on board, as is an influential circus owner. Thankfully, there’s not much a trained acrobat like Val can’t overcome when she puts her mind to it. As a stowaway, Val should keep her head down and stay out of sight. But the clock is ticking and she has just seven days as the ship makes its way across the Atlantic to find Jamie, audition for the circus owner, and convince him to help get them both into America. Then one night, the unthinkable happens, and suddenly Val’s dreams of a new life are crushed under the weight of the only thing that matters: survival.
I was fascinated by the Titanic when I was younger. I’ve probably watched the movie 20 times, and I did at least 2 papers on it in school. I’m very excited to read this fresh fictional perspective of such a well known event. It’s on my TBR and I’m probably going to read it in February. Want to read it yourself? You can pick up your own copy here!
Already read Luck of the Titanic? Let me know what you thought in the comments!
I’m completely biased here because I am a big fan of Lee’s books. I enjoyed Luck of the Titanic. It’s one of those books where you know the outcome (it is the Titanic), but you keep hoping it might be different. I’m excited to hear what you think if you get a chance to read it!