Happy Friday book lovers! We’re back with another First Lines Friday, 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? Here are the rules:
- 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!

First lines:
“Wizards never came to Ellicott Mills anymore. Beatrix stared at the contrary specimen striding toward her and had a fleeting thought–more of a hope, really–that he simply needed directions to some other place.”

Do you recognize the book these first lines come from?








*drumroll please!*


In an America controlled by wizards and 100 years behind on women’s rights, Beatrix Harper counts herself among the resistance—the Women’s League for the Prohibition of Magic. Then Peter Blackwell, the only wizard her town has ever produced, unexpectedly returns home and presses her into service as his assistant.
Beatrix fears he wants to undermine the League. His real purpose is far more dangerous for them both.
Subversive is the first novel in the Clandestine Magic trilogy, set in a warped 21st century that will appeal to fans of gaslamp fantasy.
I found out about this series thanks to Julie @ One Book More. The premise of the books immediately piqued my interest and I was so happy to see that it’s available on Kindle Unlimited! Subversive is already sitting on my Kindle waiting for me to pick it up as soon as I finish more ARCs 😉

Have you read Subversive or is it on your TBR?

Okay the name “Beatrix” was throwing me off a bit. I thought I knew it but I definitely did NOT! I’ll have to check this one out!
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Ooh, I don’t think I’ve read any book with a character named Beatrix (I think… 🤔 lol)! If you do check this out, I hope you enjoy it 😀
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Yes! I love Beatrix and Peter! lol Thanks for the shout out! 🙂
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Thanks for putting this on my radar! Can’t wait to dive in 😀
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This sounds really good. It went onto my TBR.😊
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Yay! I hope you enjoy it if you check it out 😉
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This one’s waiting for me to clear up my ARC & tour TBR, too! The author herself asked me to read it.
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Ooh, that’s exciting! I can’t wait to check it out lol perhaps knowing I have this to get to will help me get through my ARCs faster 🤣
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Ooooooh this sounds so intriguing, even though I have no idea what gas lamp fantasy is 🙃
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Whoa, this sounds very, very intriguing!
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