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Book Bits: Downside Ghosts sneak, American Gods for TV, Rob Thurman hospitalized, excerpts and Contest Roundup

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Catch Terrible FeverThis week has already been crazy at VBC HQ. While getting everything prepped for Fall into (Urban) Fantasy, I also popped in at Heroes & Heartbreakers twice. First, I shared five YA alpha heroes that are sure to make adult readers swoon (Dimitri, Prince Ash and Jace lead the list). Then, I wrote up a recap of the Night Huntress series thus far. If you haven’t read the earlier books, but still want to read One Grave at a Time next week, the post will get you up-to-date, but it’s heavy on the spoilers.

Time for a Downside fix! (Finally. I been itching, ya dig?)
Dying for more Downside Ghosts? I am. Once you spend a novel or two with Chess Putnam it’s hard not to want more. Well, Stacia Kane has shared the official blurb for the fourth book Sacrificial Magic (below) and posted an excerpt from the book over on the League of Reluctant Adults blog featuring Chess, Terrible and one of your favorite drug lords Bump.

READING, WRITING, AND RAISING THE DEAD

When Chess Putnam is ordered by an infamous crime boss—who also happens to be her drug dealer—to use her powers as a witch to solve a grisly murder involving dark magic, she knows she must rise to the challenge. Adding to the intensity: Chess’s boyfriend, Terrible, doesn’t trust her, and Lex, the son of a rival crime lord, is trying to reignite the sparks between him and Chess.

Plus there’s the little matter of Chess’s real job as a ghost hunter for the Church of Real Truth, investigating reports of a haunting at a school in the heart of Downside. Someone seems to be taking a crash course in summoning the dead—and if Chess doesn’t watch her back, she may soon be joining their ranks.

As Chess is drawn into a shadowy world of twisted secrets and dark violence, it soon becomes clear that she’s not going to emerge from its depths without making the ultimate sacrifice.

Also, Stacia gave the heads up that all three Downside books are on sale in digital form for a limited time. This means if you have yet to start the series you can download the first book Unholy Ghosts for $0.99 from either Amazon or B&N.

American Gods coming to HBO
Looks like Neil Gaiman is adapting his fantastic novel American Gods for an HBO series. And I’m excited. Before anyone starts making comments about how significantly True Blood has diverged from the source material, Gaiman himself is doing the screen adaptation. He’s writing the TV part, too. This means the small screen version of American Gods shouldn’t mar our memories of Shadow from the book.

Gaiman spoke with the Guardian about what’s next for him and the process of bringing Shadow and one of his many speculative fiction favorites to HBO. I especially liked what he had to say about possible casting for Shadow:

“Shadow is of mixed race and I wanted to find an actor who has that thing going. An actor who turned up after American Gods was written and, if he hadn’t have become huge would have been perfect, was Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson because he has this huge bulk, and doesn’t look terribly smart – which is one of the fun things about Shadow: he’s smarter than people assume. I want to keep races and nationalities. I don’t want it to become softened and homogenised, and I want it to be prickly.”

Rob Thurman hospitalized, in critical condition
Author Rob Thurman (Chimera, Trickster novels) was in a serious accident last week. She has since been hospitalized and remains in critical condition following complications including double-pneumonia (source). This is one of those times when I ask you to keep her in your thoughts and/or prayers. You can leave messages of support on her blog.

Darkness Unbound by Keri ArthurAdditionally, Rob’s novel Basilisk was released earlier this month. As she’s not available to do promo, I’ll remind everyone that you can snag a copy for less than $8 at Amazon.

Excerpt from Keri Arthur’s latest
Keri Arthur posted a great excerpt from her forthcoming novel Darkness Unbound over on Deadline Dames. In it we meet the book’s heroine Risa just after she’s been mugged by four shifters and fought her way out. I officially want to read this book. Darkness Unbound is slated for release on Sept. 27. (Pre-order Darkness Unbound.)

Fever series optioned for film
I’m a bit surprised this didn’t happen sooner, but Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series has been optioned for a movie. This doesn’t mean it’ll actually be a movie, just that someone has bought the rights to try and make it a movie. Still, very cool news, which has everyone contemplating just who could play Alpha Showdown champion Jericho Z. Barrons.

Courtney Allison Moulton answers Angelfire questions
The Angelfire author vlogged her answers to fan questions. It’s fun and interesting, but also super spoiler-y. If you haven’t read Angelfire, you may want to skip. If you’re anxious for Wings of the Wicked, then game on!

Tempest’s Fury blurb
It’s subject to change, of course, but Nicole Peeler just added the back cover copy for her fifth Jane True novel Tempest’s Fury to her website. Here’s what’s in store for our favorite half-selkie:

Jane’s not happy. She’s been packed off to England to fight in a war, when she’d much rather be snogging her new boyfriend. Unfortunately, Jane’s enemies have been busy stirring up some major trouble—the kind that attracts a lot of attention. In other words, they’re not making it easy for Jane to get any alone time with Anyan, or to indulge in her penchant for stinky cheese.

Praying she can pull off a Joan of Arc without the whole martyrdom thing, Jane must lead Alfar and halflings alike in a desperate battle to combat an ancient evil. Catapulted into the role of the most unlikely hero ever, Jane has to fight her own insecurities as well as the doubts of those who don’t think she can live up to her new role as Champion.

Along the way Jane learns that some heroes are born, some heroes are made, and some heroes are bribed with promises of food and sex.

Peek at Demon Marked
Meljean Brook posted an excerpt from Demon Marked (Guardians #7), which gives readers a glimpse at where Michael and Taylor are at in the beginning of the novel. (She promises Michael’s status changes over the novel.) The sneak peek is from Taylor’s point-of-view.

Han Solo wants to cool your drinks
Well, OK, so maybe Jabba just offered up the carbonite form. Not sure. Either way, ThinkGeek on has Han Solo in Carbonite ice cube trays. And I find this both awesome and hilarious. It’s not book-related, I just really wanted to show someone.

CONTEST ROUNDUP

Have some book-related news (unless it is an established series, release dates aren’t considered news) or a contest you’d like to see included in Book Bits? Email VBC the details.

6 Responses to “Book Bits: Downside Ghosts sneak, American Gods for TV, Rob Thurman hospitalized, excerpts and Contest Roundup”

  1. I can’t wait for Sacrificial Magic! It sounds amazing. The first three books in this series were my absolute favorite reads last year, I’m dying to read the 4th! Thanks for the update.

  2. Can’t WAIT for Darkness Unbound, I love that her Aunt Riley is mentioned in the clip. Awww, I miss Riley so much!
    And squeeee for Tempest’s Fury. I like.

  3. Stacia Kane says:

    Thanks for the links etc., Chelsea! (I notice you didn’t mention that a character in SACRIFICIAL MAGIC has your name, though. Heh heh heh.)

    Just wanted to clarify that the ebook sale for the series is on at all ebook retailers in North America, so if you’re a Sony or Apple girl, or whatever else, you can get UNHOLY GHOSTS for 99 cents there, too (and the next two for $4.99 each!).

    Thanks! I can’t *wait* to hear what you think of SM!

  4. Viki S. says:

    I love Keri Arthur and cannot wait to read Darkness Unbound.

  5. Joanna says:

    Who could possibly fill the shoes of Barrons? I would love to see the series on the big screen, but I know I will be disappointed in whomever they choose…unless Mr. Jackman got the role? I might be okay with it then;)

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