Welcome to this week’s news post and have we got some interesting developments in the world of publishing and books such as the surprise announcement of the Kindle Paperwhite will be available in Europe,  and much more.

The surprise announcement by Amazon last night that their Kindle Paperwhite will be launched later this month (25th October) in the UK and later next month (22nd November)  for the rest of Europe. It was widely presumed and expected that the the Paperwhite would be available later next year or that the Europeans would have to wait for next generation model of a lighted screen.  But there is more good news linked to this – Amazon has also announced that the Prime Kindle Lending Library will also be launched to those customers who have Prime membership. Over 200,000 books will be available  to lend freely (albeit at one book a month but with no time restrictions on borrowing). The UK prices of the Paperwhite will be £109 for the Wifi version and £169 for the 3G version. For more info click here!

This week also heralded on what could be the cheapest ereader ever sold. The Txtr Beagle reader which is developed by a German company will be priced at around 10 to 20 Euros. It is a 5 inch screen but is restricted to Bluetooth only and has to be tethered to a Smart Phone app  although there are plans to release a PC one where you can download and buy ebooks and send them directly to the ereader.  However there is a catch as there is some restrictions such as the fact you can only have five books at time on the ereader. It will be interesting to see if this is a successful venture.

I think this is very interesting but ComiXology has announced they will be laying out the platform to self publish comics on their website. ComiXology Submit will be looking for quality graphic novels and single issue comics which can range from black and white to full colour comics along with no restrictions on the length – which could also range from an 8 page layout to a full graphic novel. For more info on the announcement  you can find the details here.

News in Brief:

Movie adaptation news!

Screen Gems have optioned the rights for Elizabeth Richards’ Black City which tells the tale of a city divided due to racial tensions between Darklings and humans and living separately via a wall. But a Half Blood  darkling and a human fall in love despite the racial divide.

Alyson Noel new series, The Soul Seekers has also been picked up by Cheyenne Enterprises which has Bruce Willis as a co-partner. The series focuses on Native Indian mythology and follows a young girl’s path as a Soul Seeker who is able to travel the realm of the dead and the living. Noel’s other series the Immortals has also been picked up to be turned into a T.V series.

And now for books to watch out for!

I really like the premise of this book – The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

 

When Ruby wakes up on her tenth birthday, something about her has changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control. Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.
When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her–East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.
When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

 

I love this series and I have a belated review for the last book that was released. Crimson Frost continues Gwen’s quest!

 

For a moment, a face flashed before my eyes—the most hideous face I’d ever seen. No matter how hard I tried to forget what had happened, I saw him everywhere I went. It was Loki—the evil god that I’d helped set free against my will.

I should have known that my first official date with Logan Quinn was destined to end in disaster. If we’d gotten into a swordfight, or been ambushed by Reapers, I’d have been more prepared. But getting arrested mid-sip at the local coffee hangout? I didn’t see that one coming.

I’ve been accused of purposely helping the Reapers free Loki from his prison—and the person leading the charge against me is Linus Quinn, Logan’s dad. The worst part is that pretty much everyone at Mythos Academy thinks I’m guilty. If I’m going to get out of this mess alive, I’ll have to do it myself…

And finally we have Meljean Brook’s last Guardian book which the cover and the blurb was unveiled this week.

In this thrilling conclusion to the Guardian series, New York Times bestselling author Meljean Brook delivers another stunning page-turner, in which the fate of humanity depends upon a tortured warrior winning the trust—and heart—of the woman he wounded…

After a terrifying encounter in Hell destroys her trust in Michael, the Guardian’s powerful leader, former detective Andromeda Taylor is ready to call it quits as one of the angelic warriors and resume her human life again. But when demonic forces threaten her closest friends and she uncovers a terrifying plot devised by Lucifer, Taylor is thrown straight into Michael’s path again…

To defeat Lucifer, Michael needs every Guardian by his side—and he needs Taylor more than any other. The detective is the key to keeping his own demonic side at bay, and Michael will do anything to protect her and keep her close. And when Taylor manifests a deadly power, her Gift might tip the scales in the endless war between Heaven and Hell…or it might destroy them both with a single touch.

So what do you think of the Txtr reader? Is it a good idea? And what do you think of any of the stories I highlighted today? 

About Has

Has is a bookaholic and feeds her addiction whenever she can. She usually can be found lost in a Romance or an Urban Fantasy novel. Her favourite sub genres are Paranormal, Fantasy and some Scifi. Her most treasured authors are, Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, Ann Aguirre, Lisa Kleypas and Tamora Pierce. She loves that discovery of finding a brand new author and falling in love with their books. Has also blogs a The Book Pushers - Book chatter and reviews

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