The fantasy genre is among the most popular and enduring in literature. Few things amaze us more than fantastical worlds full of magic, danger, mysticism, and valerous characters on larger-than-life quests. Indeed, there’s no shortage of great fantasy stories, going back to the early days of classical literature, all the way to today. However, a great book stands out from a mere good one from the very beginning — in fact, it does so from the opening line.

In the last decade, no fantasy book has a better opening line than Mark Lawrence’s 2017 science-fantasy Red Sister. The first entry in the Book of the Ancestor trilogy, Red Sister is among the best entries in the genre of the last decade, yet it doesn’t have nearly half the recognition it deserves. It’s only a matter of time, though, as any reader will undoubtedly be hooked in the action from the first line, a pretty killer sentence that’s as witty as it is striking. The rest of the book is equally impressive, but coming up with a great opening line for a book is an art in and of itself, and Red Sister is the prime example.

What Is ‘Red Sister’ About?

Red Sister is part of the larger Book of the Ancestor trilogy, and it has some of the best worldbuilding in fantasy. The action is set on the planet Abeth, home to four types of people: hunska, gifted with superspeed; gerant, gifted with superstrength; marjal, who can do elemental magic; and quantal, who can perform even more powerful magic. The planet is almost fully frozen, thanks to its dying red sun. The man-made moon reflects what little sunlight remains to the Corridor, a narrow strip of land that circles the entire globe. The Corridor is populated by several kingdoms, each one vying for control.

Our protagonist is Nona Grey, a peasant with hunska blood purchased as a slave by a trader. Following an incident where she attacks a nobleman, Nona escapes execution thanks to the intervention of Abbess Glass of the Sweet Mercy Convent, who recognizes her abilities and invites her to become a novice. At Sweet Mercy, Nona trains alongside other novices, stumbling upon a plot to steal a powerful item from the convent, all while the nobleman’s family brews a revenge plot against her. A frame story set in the future follows an adult Nona and her companion, Sister Thorn, as they fight another threat.

Lawrence, perhaps best known for writing the acclaimed fantasy trilogy, The Broken Empire, cleverly subverts expectations and traditional tropes with Red Sister. The book operates on a structure of deception, with an unreliable narrator and multiple other characters acting out of self-interest and self-preservation. Without entering into spoiler territory, it’s safe to say Red Sister is not a traditional “Chosen One” story. It has all the classic elements of a great fantasy narrative — prophecies, magic, political stakes, and multiple factions operating at once — but the main action is defined by misdirections, false expectations, and a sense of perpetual danger that ultimately shapes the whole thing.

The Opening Line of ‘Red Sister’ Instantly Hooks You

“It is important, when killing a nun, to ensure that you bring an army of sufficient size.” Those are the opening words of Red Sister, and it’s hard to imagine a more effective, creative, or memorable way to start your story. In fewer than 20 words, Lawrence has already established the nuns of this world as formidable opponents capable of claiming victories against numerous enemies. There’s also a humorous quality to the sentence that makes it all the more engaging, a morbid irony that spells doom for both parties. Lastly, it sets up what will undoubtedly be a bloody conflict without the need for exposition or info dumps; it’s incredibly economical writing on Lawrence’s part, and the fact that he makes it seem so easy is nothing short of impressive.

All these ideas are perfectly conveyed by the next sentence: “For Sister Thorn of the Sweet Mercy convent, Lano Tacsis brought two hundred men.” Now, we have a clear protagonist, Sister Thorn, and a clear antagonist, Lano Tacsis. Of course, we don’t exactly know who these characters are — and we won’t know for quite a while longer — but the opening lines are no less effective. They have instantly hooked us in the action, immersing us in Sister Thorn’s plight from the get-go without doing an ounce of character work beyond offering us her name and her profession. From there, Red Sister throws us directly into Abeth’s chaos. It jumps back and forth in time via flashforwards and flashbacks, all while keeping the narrative drive going.

‘Red Sister’ Is a Terrific Start to a Great Trilogy

Image via Harper Collins

Red Sister is a near-perfect fantasy story set in a grimdark world that stands out thanks to its all-female cast and fascinating exploration of familiar themes like corruption, maturing and self-discovering oneself, and the inevitability of fate. Lawrence’s writing is assured and ambitious, setting up plot points here that don’t get a proper payoff until the third book, Holy Sister. In that way, Red Sister rewards patience and commitment, which makes it a challenging but rewarding read. Lawrence’s writing is grim but filled with hope (which can, again, be felt from the opening line), crafting a tale that will undoubtedly resonate with many a fantasy lover.