First Lines Friday – 22/08/2025

In today’s First Lines Friday, I’m pleased to feature a book I’ll be reading as part of an upcoming reading challenge. This is a bit of a teaser post, and I hope it’ll drum up some excitement. 

For that challenge, I’m reading and reviewing three books – today, I feature the most ‘mainstream’ book and author of the three chosen. The others are lesser-known but no less anticipated by me. 

Let’s get into the opening lines of today’s First Lines Friday feature and then I’ll share more about the book and my upcoming reading challenge! 

 

The blade traced a slow line of fire down his face. 

He desperately tried to cry out, to jerk away, but the hand over his mouth prevented both. Steel filled his vision, gray and dirty. Warm blood trickled down the left side of his face, onto his neck, under his shirt. 

There were only fragments after that. 

Laughter. The hot stink of wine on his attacker’s breath. 

A lessening of the pain, and screams—not his own. Voices, high-pitched with fear, begging.

Then silence. Darkness.

 

 

The Shadow of What Was Lost – James Islington 

Genre: Fantasy 

Pages: 604

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Orbit

Publication Date: 04 Aug 2014

Goodreads – The Shadow of What Was Lost

 

AS DESTINY CALLS, A JOURNEY BEGINS

It has been twenty years since the god-like Augurs were overthrown and killed. Now, those who once served them— the Gifted— are spared only because they have accepted the rebellion’s Four Tenets, vastly limiting their own powers.

As a young Gifted, Davian suffers the consequences of a war lost before he was even born. He and others like him are despised. But when Davian discovers he wields the forbidden powers of the Augurs, he sets in motion a chain of events that will change everything.

To the west, a young man whose fate is intertwined with Davian’s wakes up in the forest, covered in blood and with no memory of who he is…

And in the far north, an ancient enemy long thought defeated, begins to stir.

 

My Thoughts…

James Islington is an author I’m excited to try. I’ve seen this book talked about before on the likes of BookTube and in the wider book community. However, prior to planning my ChatGPT book recommendations content, I haven’t seriously considered picking up one of his books for myself.

That, of course, is changing. When I asked ChatGPT for book recommendations based on other books I’ve enjoyed (A Game of Thrones and Mistborn), The Shadow of What Was Lost was the first recommendation given to me. And it’s a great recommendation! In theory, there is plenty I should enjoy about this book, and I’m excited to give it a go very soon.

I like the sound of the book based on the synopsis. The opening lines, though, have definitely piqued my interest. 

What do you make of today’s First Lines Friday feature? Do you like the sound of the book, either by the synopsis or the opening lines? Have you read The Shadow of What Was Lost? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! 

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