If you want to read the 800-word prequel to Harry Potter that sold for £25,000 (that’s £31.25 a word!), it’s on the web here – click on “Read our authors’ stories” and then on JK Rowling’s name (link via Diana Peterfreund‘s blog).
I admit I gave up after squinting at the first few lines. I don’t love Harry Potter enough to spend the next thirty minutes trying to decipher her handwriting.
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My favourite books of 2007 – roughly in reading order:
** Patricia Briggs‘ “Blood Bound” (urban fantasy) – The second book in her Mercy series didn’t disappoint. I’ve just finished the third (“Iron Kissed”) and can safely say this is one of my all-time favourite series. It stands out from the hundred and one werewolf urban fantasy series out there.
** Elizabeth Peters‘ “The Falcon at the Portal” and “He Shall Thunder in the Sky” (mystery) – I loved the entire Amelia Peabody series, but these two books are my favourite because of the romance. Rambling series review here.
** Kelley Armstrong‘s “No Humans Involved” (urban fantasy) – I love all her books and the seventh book in her Otherworld series is no exception. Review here. Her Nadia Armstrong book, ”Exit Strategy”, nearly made it onto this list as well…
** Jacqueline Winspear‘s “Maisie Dobbs” (mystery) – Set in 1930s London, this is the first book in her Maisie Dobbs historical mystery series. I love the post-WWI setting and all the period detail – Ms Winspear really brings the era to life. Series review here.
** Jacqueline Carey‘s “Kushiel’s Justice” (dark fantasy) – This is the second book in her Imriel trilogy, but definitely doesn’t suffer from the “middle-child” syndrome. I posted some thoughts about it here, but appear to have spent more space ranting about the spoiler on the copyright page than actually talking about the book.
** JK Rowling‘s “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” (YA fantasy) – Well, this just had to be on my list! I thought it wrapped up the series perfectly.
** Suzanne Brockmann‘s “Force of Nature” and “All Through the Night” (romantic suspense) – I’m a big Jules fan, and I’m glad he finally got his HEA. Apart from that, I thought FoN was classic Brockmann, with a great ending. Review of ATTN here.
** Eva Ibbotson‘s “The Secret Countess” and “The Morning Gift” (YA romance) - Jennie’s review inspired me to buy the former, and I’m so glad I did. It’s the perfect feel-good story. Review of “The Secret Countess” here. “The Morning Gift” is just as good – I don’t think I could pick the one I like better (some initial thoughts on it here).
** Diana Gabaldon‘s “Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade” (historical mystery) - She’s one of my favourite authors, and Lord John’s one of her most fascinating characters. I don’t think think anyone else out there writes the way she does.
** Nalini Singh‘s “Caressed by Ice” (paranormal romance) – Third in her Psy-Changeling series, this was the one that wowed me. I don’t think I reviewed it (lazy me!), but I loved the romance and the world-building.
** Lisa Kleypas‘ “Mine Till Midnight” (historical romance) – Ms Kleypas is a relatively new-to-me author, but now one of my auto-buys. I liked how Cam wasn’t a typical hero and loved his story.
** Sharon Shinn‘s “Reader and Raelynx” (fantasy) – Fourth in her Twelve Houses series. I think I would read anything Ms Shinn writes. Fangirl gush aside – I thought this wrapped up her Twelve Houses series very well… but I’m still hoping for one more.
** Eloisa James‘ “An Affair Before Christmas” (historical romance) – I loved this one. I haven’t yet done a review (am waaaaay behind), but I thought it was better than the first book (“Desperate Duchess”) in this series. Loved the Georgian setting, her writing, the cast of characters… everything about this book really!
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Amazon has bought JK Rowling’s “The Tales of Beedle the Bard” for £1.95 million (full story and pictures on Amazon’s website).
I admit I was a bit “ehhh” when I heard Ms Rowling was planning on writing this book. Well, actually, my first thought was “Hand-written? Who writes books by hand nowadays? And how difficult will it be to read!”. The last one probably prompted by my own illegible scrawls… Anyway, it’s probably safe to say that I wasn’t too excited about another book from the Harry Potter world.
But I think it’s fantastic Amazon has bought the book (though £1.95 million???!!!). Firstly, all the money goes to charity – so yay for Ms Rowling and Amazon. Secondly, Amazon will be putting pictures and reviews up on their website (initial ones already up), which means everyone all over the world can actually see what this book looks like (and I’m pretty impressed by Ms Rowling’s illustrations). And finally, I believe Amazon will be using it to encourage reading amongst kids by doing school tours and exhibits (though I could be just making that up – I swear I read that somewhere but can’t find an online source to verify that).
So, pretty smart publicity move by Amazon. And hey, I’m glad my numerous book purchases are being used to subsidise things like this 
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No, I didn’t do the midnight queueing, but I was at the store the first thing Saturday morning (and bear in mind I’m not a morning person). Apart from a few breaks for food, I’ve been reading it straight throughout the day.
I thought it was a great end to the series – and that’s all I’m saying for now.
I’m keeping quiet until more peeps finish the book.
Oh, and if you haven’t figured it out already (where have you been???) and if the tag didn’t give it away, I’m talking about Harry Potter 7.
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