The 99th Page
Finally, the day has arrived for the…
When reading this page and all the others, you should focus and answer the following three questions:
1. Would you turn to page 100?
2. Why or why not?
3. Based on what you read, how likely would you buy the book?
In true Page 99 test fashion, I’m giving you anything about the story except the genre. Oh and I’ll give the title as well.
Phoenix Rising
Urban Fantasy
“Eating dinner.” Walker tore into another portion. He felt barbecue sauce smear across his chin and with sick amusement bet it looked like blood.
“You should be out finding that girl.” Walker could now hear the irritation in his voice. Good.
“The redhead? She’s in my seminar.”
“That’s some of the best news of the day. Tell me: have you conversed with her yet?” Walker didn’t answer; he was too busy worrying a stubborn piece of meat off the tendon. Ianos cuffed him off the back of the head. Walker let a small growl trickle out of his throat.
“Eating,” he said.
“I asked a question. You’ll answer it.”
Walker took his time with the answer. He made it seem like he was trying to formulate or explain what he and Kyla had done. But in truth, he was just trying to finish the rib in his hand. “Her name’s Kyla.” He paused. “She’s not the one you’re looking for. She smells too new.”
“She’s the means to the end. It’s one of the three she was with. Your job is to get to the other three. Have you met them yet?”
“No.”
So what did you all think?
___________
Last.fm hit of the day: Back in Blood by The 69 Eyes
Don’t forget to check out all the other particpants (and it’s not too late to join!)
1) Yes!
2) I want to know why Kyla is so important and what they did and who the other three are.
3) Pretty likely, characters seem interesting and I have a lot of questions I'd like answered.
Oooh, this is really good! I'd definitely keep reading. (and can't wait to read the whole thing! :D)
Next page, please. 🙂 Very curious about Walker and why he's so ravenous. Is it sad that I wanted to know what he was eating? Yep, I'm greedy.
I'm intrigued! And hungry for bbq…all at the same time. I'd definitely turn the page and I want to know what's going on – and what these characters are, because they don't seem human. 🙂
Love this! This is really good, Alicia! I definitely want to keep reading. And I totally remember this story from your first page! 😉
I'm very interested. Would totally turn the the next page. I want to know what makes someone smell 'new', how come these people are looking for a red head and her friends, all sorts of great questiosn raised just in this one page
Nice. His subtle subversion of authority makes me want to know the MC more. Plus the mystery surrounding the girls.
i agree with the others- you raise a lot of questions in just a page! very cool!
I like the imagery of the bbq sauce and blood. I'm intrigued and I'd read on.
Thanks for hosting – I just learned about it and decided to join the blogfest.
I like it 🙂 I definitely would be turning to the next page to see what happens next (and of coarse be reading the other 98 pages that came first! I want to know more about the characters!)
I get a sense of intrigue and a sense that these guyes aren't quite human. I get the feeling hungry guy doesn't want to hurt this Kyla to get to the others.
There's some intriguing things in here! I can feel the tension. Nice job! 😀
Very very cool. I like it! I want more and more and more. I liked how you were able to tell so much about the characters with one word "eating"
Very cool.
Thanks for hosting this!
The dialogue stood out to me. It gave a really good sense of who these characters are. Plus, funny!
Very intriguing! I would turn the page and keep reading!
"She smells too new." – This is the line that made me want to keep reading, not knowing the backstory. I also liked the dialog ("Eating.") Good job.
I was totally fixated on that rib…it sounds so GOOD! I definitely need to know what's happening here. I'm already captivated by these guys and I NEED to know who Kyla is.
Ah, a story about my husband's eating style. 😉
Yes, I'd turn the page. I want to know what sort of creature this barbecue-eating creature is.
Hi,
Page 100 would be nice, but the whole manuscript even better.
I like the intense wolfish appetite and Walker's reluctance to give with the info. So too, Kyla seems to be key in what's about to go down: something for sure! 😉
best
F
I like it. The middle part where both characters are doing stuff in one paragraph was a little confusing for me but the main character is interesting enough. The dinner sounds good too, bbq. Nice! I'm not big on urban fantasy but I might be interested depending what the novel is about.
I would definitely turn the page! I love your dialogue! I especially liked the line, "I asked a question. You'll answer it." It would be interesting to see what's going on with Kyla too. Nice work.
Also, thanks so much for commenting on my page 99! 🙂
Parts of it made me wonder who the main character was, but I'm sure that's what happens when you open to a middle page without reading the blurb first!! As others have said, good dialogue that gives us a sense of who (if not what) they are.
erica
1. Would you turn to page 100?
Um, definitely.
2. Why or why not?
Because I need to know if there guys are sitting around a table or rippin' the flank off a deer in the woods.
3. Based on what you read, how likely would you buy the book?
It depends. Are they were-somethings? If so, they're probably smokin' hot. 🙂 I would buy!
Marie, http://marierearden.blogspot.com
The differences between the two characters, simply by the way they were eating, was clear. I do not have a clear idea of what happened or where it's going, but that's not a bad thing. This isn't your hook and you would expect the reader to have read 98 pages already at this point.The setting and characterization was great.
Yes, I would turn to the next page because I'd want to know what kind of rib he's eating–cow, pig, or human. I'm slightly creeped, definitely intrigued, concerned for Kyla, and want to know why he didn't rip the other guy's throat out. Feels like werewolves, or at least a pack mentality.
You hooked me. I want to know what's going on, and why he's protecting Kyla. So, yeah, I'd buy the book.
Alicia, this is totally intriguing. I want to know more about these guys, especially Walker and his connection to Kyla. The meat description was totally tactile and gross(!) It'll be a while before I eat barbecue again. I'd definitely read on. And this seems the perfect sort of book (in audio form) to make my long commute fly.
Hmmm, this is my first one to read, it's totally interesting to read something in the middle–but I definitely want to know what's going on
I like that it isn't purple. It's straight and to the point.
Intriguing, despite the phrase "she's not the one you're looking for".
…….dhole
I'd keep reading! I think what stood out for me (apart from the fact that I want to know what's happening next) was that I got a sense that the characters were different people, and in so few words!
I loved it! Your characters are very readable 🙂