Rowling fury over Potter spoilers

HARRY Potter author JK Rowling has expressed her fury after two newspapers in the United States published reviews of the final book - including the spoiler that six of the characters die - before its official release at midnight tonight.

The New York Times said its copy was purchased from a shop on Wednesday, while the Baltimore Sun said it obtained a copy of the book "through legal and ordinary means".

But the decision to reveal details of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows earned a stinging rebuke from Ms Rowling.

"I am staggered that some American newspapers have decided to publish purported spoilers in the form of reviews, in complete disregard of the wishes of millions of readers, particularly children," she said.

The New York Times review gave away few details of the ending but called the climax "a big-screen, heart-racing, bone-chilling confrontation" with "an epilogue that clearly lays out people's fates". It added: "At least half a dozen characters die in these pages, and many others are wounded or tortured."

Bloomsbury, which publishes Harry Potter in Britain, and Scholastic, its US publisher, spent millions trying to protect the contents until publication.

• Asda has sparked a price war by charging 5 per copy, while Tesco and Sainsbury's are charging 8.87. Waterstone's and Woolworths have set prices at 8.99 and WH Smith at 10.99.