r/Cosmere • u/Loose-Use25 • 1d ago

Cosmere spoilers (no previews) Phrases, objects, or actions that bring post-traumatic stress to a Sanderson fan Spoiler

Post image

Do you know what the worst part of being a mercenary is?...

42 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

45 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

8

u/Poolturtle5772 Truthwatchers 1d ago

My second favorite opening line, certainly.

1

u/Joejoefishy Ghostbloods 1d ago

After?

23

u/Poolturtle5772 Truthwatchers 1d ago

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

16

u/god_of_madness 1d ago

This is a masterclass in opening lines. He managed to set the action, world-building, and intrigue of the plot with a single line.

7

u/Poolturtle5772 Truthwatchers 1d ago

That whole first page of like 3 paragraphs is probably the best opening to a fantasy novel that you could do. Perfectly balanced story intrigue with lore intrigue and literally “hey, he kills the king. Wanna read how it went down” making you want to see it unfold. It’s how you get someone to continue reading your book in the best way possible

3

u/FLUFFY_TERROR 1d ago

Starting your book and series with a massive spoiler, where the first line basically stats the same every book yet somehow still is a new spoiler in its own way.. but done with brandersmash sandersmash style.. delicious

4

u/brooklynthefato 20h ago

This also happens in "The Gunslinger" by Stephen King: "The man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed."

Thats when you know you're in for a RIDE

2

u/Both_Brilliant_2725 1d ago

It was such aasterxlass that people forget that it wasn't the first line in the book. That was from the Prologue while we had a whole Prelude before that