First Lines Fridays 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?

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:

“Late sixth century, Nasca Valley, Atacama Desert, western coast of South America

Even from here, I can see Achiq striding up our valley. The torches cast shadows off his staff with its feathers and foxtails swaying. Light glistens across his golden mask as drums begin to echo up and down the valley, letting everyone know the priests are coming. Coming to claim my grandmother’s head.”

I have always been fascinated by South America and the Andes Mountains, and this sounds like a really interesting read that I can’t wait to read. I’m already so curious about what is going to happen next, and this is simply off a few lines.

Do you recognize the lines?

Here’s a hint:

This is a historical fantasy.

Still not sure? Here’s another hint:

It’s written by k.m. huber.

The First Lines Friday book is:

Call of the Owl Woman.

About the Book:

• Title: Call of the Owl Woman
• Author: k.m. huber
• Page Length: 272 pages
• Publication Date: May 13, 2025
• Publisher: SparkPress

Synopsis:

In a tale inspired by Peru’s Andean cosmovision and earth-centered spirituality, Call of the Owl Woman is a gripping coming-of-age story for people who like to immerse themselves in other times, places, and cultures, people who love adventure, and those who are drawn to the mystical and magical.

In sixth-century Peru, the Nasca people have flourished for centuries, their faith and ingenuity keeping the desert valleys green in a land where water is scarce. But a prolonged drought now fuels dangerous unrest. Cunning sorcerers and brutal priests vie for control, and Water Guardians like Patya’s father, who refuse to favor the powerful, are under attack.

Devastated by her grandmother’s sudden death, fifteen-year-old Patya retreats into dance and music. She does not want to become a healer like the long lineage of women in her family before her. Even her grandmother had hinted she was born for something else. But, in the wake of a deadly earthquake, Patya must not only help the healers, she must do things she never thought possible. As she begins to conquer her self-doubts and trust her own sense of justice, she will also have to outwit men of power to keep her little brother from being sacrificed by religious extremists at the coming solstice.

As Patya begins to realize and grow into her own power, she also discovers her grandmother’s secret legacy and prepares to step into an unexpected destiny.

Links: Goodreads     

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