First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros: A Multitude of Dreams

First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Socrates Book Reviews where you share the first paragraph of one of the books that you are currently reading. Each week bloggers will choose a book or books of the week (which will be one of the books that you are currently reading) and that book will take part in this book blog meme.

This week I’m participating with A Multitude of Dreams by Mara Rutherford!

First Chapter, First Paragraph:

Eldridge Hall was a castle built on lies.

In the highest chamber of the tallest tower, where it was drafty on even the stillest day, Seraphina stood at the sole window’s ledge. Even that window was a lie, for it had been hastily boarded up years ago, and a window that couldn’t be seen through was just another wall. Any minute, the ebony clock in the great hall would send out three booming chimes, announcing the start of another elaborate dinner the kingdom couldn’t afford.

Blurb:

THE BLOODY PLAGUE

IS FINALLY PAST, BUT WHAT FRESH HORROR LIES IN ITS WAKE?

PRINCESS IMOGEN OF GOSLIND has lived a sheltered life for three years at the boarded-up castle-she and the rest of its inhabitants safe from the bloody mori roja plague that’s ravaged the kingdom. But Princess Imogen has a secret, and as King Stuart descends further into madness, it’s at great risk of being revealed. Rations dwindle each day, and unhappy murmurings threaten to crack the facade of the years-long charade being played within the castle walls.

Nico Mott once enjoyed a comfortable life of status, but the plague took everyone and everything from him. If not for the generosity of a nearby lord, Nico may not have survived the mori roja’s aftermath. But does owing Lord Crane his life mean he owes him his silence?

When Lord Crane sends Nico to search for more plaque survivors in the castle, Nico collides with a princess who wants to break out. They will each have to navigate the web of lies they’ve woven if they’re going to survive the nightmares ahead.

What do you think? Would you keep reading? I’m about halfway through this fantasy retelling of The Masque of the Red Death.