Welcome to this week’s news post! We have news on Kobo’s new ereader device, Penguin may relent on Agency pricing in the EU as well as book and author news!

Amongst the heels of the Sony rumoured new ereader – Kobo has launched a new ereader model called the Kobo Aura, which is bigger than their previous readers. It also boasts a HD e-ink screen which produces sharper and crisper resolution and no glare. It also has an SD slot which adds additional storage to the 4 gig memory and it is claimed the glow-lighting tech is much better than the Kobo’s Glo and the Paperwhite. I think with a 6.8 inch screen it will be a perfect device to read mangas and comics especially with the crisper and HD quality e-ink.  It is available for order right now and the price range is around $170/£130 – for more details and features of the Aura HD you can check out the video illustrating its specs here:

It looks like the Agency pricing in the EU may be at an end with the last major publisher, Penguin stating it is going to end the agreement. Like the other publishers who have followed suit, discounts may appear but only with restrictions that the retailer doesn’t go over their commissions set by the publisher. This will be set over a two year period but I really hope that agency pricing goes the way of the dodo because I felt it was more of a hindrance for indie sellers such as Books on Board closing their doors temporarily to sales right now and didn’t stop the  market share of Kindle from growing.

Simon and Schuster is going to pilot a scheme in library lending in three libraries in New York.  Library members can borrow any backlist or current book  from Simon and Schuster although each borrowed book is only allowed to be borrowed at a time although members will be offered to purchase the book if they enjoyed it. This is also a good move for the publisher because there were heavy restrictions with ebooks and lending in libraries in the past with publishers being reluctant to join in library lending. But this is great news and I hope this scheme is a success.

News in Brief:

Thea Harrison has posted the first chapter excerpt from her upcoming Elder Races  series – Kinked which is out this fall promises to be so much fun!

Veronica Roth has announced the third and final book in her successful Divergent trilogy –  Allegiant  is the title and slated for October this year! 

And finally Patricia Briggs has posted a bribe DABWAHA snippet scene at her Facebook page featuring Anna and Charles!

And now books to watch out for!

Melissa Marr’s next book looks very intriguing and reminds me of the 4400.  The Arrivals  is slated for release this year.

 

The Arrivals is the second novel for adults by internationally bestselling author Melissa Marr.

Chloe walks into a bar and blows five years of sobriety. When she wakes, she finds herself in an unfamiliar world, The Wasteland. She discovers people from all times and places have also arrived there: Kitty and Jack, a brother and sister from the Wild West; Edgar, a prohibition bootlegger; Francis, a one-time hippie; Melody, a mentally unbalanced 1950s housewife; and Hector, a former carnival artist.

None know why they arrived there–or if there is way out of a world populated by monsters and filled with corruption.

Just as she did in Graveminder, Marr has created a vivid fantasy world that will enthrall. Melissa Marr’s The Arrivals is a thoroughly original and wildly imagined tale about making choices in a life where death is unpredictable and often temporary.

 

I highly enjoyed and definitely recommend Amy Raby’s fantasy romance debut  Assassin’s Gambit earlier this year. Spy’s Honor is the prequel and I can’t wait!

 

Rhianne, mind mage and Imperial Princess of Kjall, cannot openly challenge the emperor. Instead, she acts in secret to aid the victims of his worst excesses. But now the emperor plans to wed her to the cruel Augustan, the man leading Kjall’s attack against the nation of Mosar. Soon she will be torn from her supporters and shipped overseas, where she can help no one.

Mosari crown prince Janto is desperate to save his country from invasion. When one of his most trusted spies disappears while gathering intelligence at the Kjallan palace, Janto takes his place and continues searching for information that could save his people. But falling for the Imperial Princess was not part of his plan. Nor was having his true identity revealed…

Now Rhianne must make a choice—follow the path of tradition or the one of the heart, even if it means betraying her own race.

 

And finally I am a sucker for dystopian and post apocalyptic books and The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau looks interesting although it reminds me a lot of The Hunger Games.

 

 

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies–trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

 

So what do you think of the new Kobo reader? Does it tempt you or will you stick to the device you have or wait for the other upcoming ones from Amazon and others?

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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