Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 4

Muira, Kentaro. Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 4. 2020. 704p. ISBN 9781506715216. 

With Griffith imprisoned and with Casca and Guts now more than friends following Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 3, the Band of the Hawk is reunited to conduct an extraction operation to free Griffith from his prison cell underneath the dungeon of the Midland Castle, where he has been brutally tortured for his affair with the King of Midland's daughter. Though isolated and suffering, Griffith is not alone in the castle's dark depths.

Within the dank catacombs of Windham Castle lurk unspeakable horrors, far more terrifying than mere imprisonment and torture. As Guts descends into this nightmarish realm to liberate his former commander, he will confront not only human adversaries but also the monstrous denizens of the castle's underbelly. The dangers are so profound that the living within these walls might indeed envy the fate of the dead.

With Griffith freed, another terror begins chasing the Band of the Hawk. And just as Guts and Casca think that they have escaped, another, more ancient horror arises and claims Griffith as its own!

Bad Badger: A Love Story

Wood Maryrose. Bad Badger: A Love Story. Book 1 of the Bad Badger series. 2025. 192p. ISBN 9781454953456.

Septimus, a badger living a solitary life by the sea, struggles with traditional badger expectations. He prefers sunsets and dreams of Venice over typical badger activities, leading him to question his own identity. Though content with his tidy cottage and quiet routine, he longs for companionship. This longing is fulfilled when a laconic gull named Gully lands on his windowsill, sparking an unlikely friendship that blossoms over time.

When Gully mysteriously disappears, Septimus embarks on a quest to find his only friend, venturing into unfamiliar territory and encountering a diverse group of characters. This journey tests Septimus's courage and heart, forcing him to confront his insecurities about being a "bad badger." Ultimately, his adventure becomes a journey of self-discovery, teaching him that true strength lies in embracing his unique qualities and understanding who he truly is.

Shadows of Tyranny: Defending Democracy in an Age of Dictatorship

McGoogan, Ken. Shadows of Tyranny: Defending Democracy in an Age of Dictatorship. 2024. 320p. ISBN 9781771624244.

Shadows of Tyranny draws parallels between contemporary political trends and the rise of authoritarianism in the 20th century, echoing the dystopian warnings found in novels like 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale. Figures like Donald Trump are replicating the tactics of past tyrants, exploiting paranoia, polarization, scapegoating, and demagoguery to undermine democratic institutions. By referencing authors like Orwell, Atwood, Wells, Zamyatin, London, and Arendt, the author emphasizes the cyclical nature of history and the persistent threat of totalitarianism.

Shadows of Tyranny raises critical questions about how Canadians should respond to the potential collapse of democracy in the United States and the expansionist rhetoric of far-right figures. It explores whether such rhetoric is mere sensationalism or a harbinger of a resurgent authoritarianism that could threaten Canada's sovereignty. In the tradition of cautionary tales, It hopes to be a galvanizing call to action, urging readers to recognize the warning signs and take proactive steps to safeguard democratic values and prevent a descent into a dark future.

Brownstone

Teer, Samuel and Mar Julia. Brownstone. 2024. 320p. ISBN 9780358394747. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Almudena, raised by her white mother, finds herself spending an unexpected summer with her Guatemalan father, Xavier, whom she's never truly known. Left behind while her mother travels, she's thrust into a world vastly different from her own, living in Xavier's dilapidated brownstone and struggling to bridge the language gap created by his fluent Spanish and her own lack of English. As she tries to acclimate to her new surroundings, Almudena is introduced to the vibrant, diverse Latin American community that surrounds her father.

Within this community, Almudena encounters a range of perspectives and expectations, as residents grapple with their own personal struggles and offer unsolicited advice on how she should embrace her Latina identity. Some question her lack of cultural knowledge, while others deem her "not brown enough." Despite these challenges, Almudena and Xavier attempt to forge a connection during their limited time together, discovering that their shared history and the bonds of family may lie in uniting the diverse elements of their community. While repairing the physical structure of the brownstone is a tangible task, building a family from these disparate individuals proves to be a more complex and time-sensitive endeavor.

Beautifully illustrated and featuring plenty of clever one liners, Brownstone will warm your heart as Almudena learns and discovers what it means to be of two worlds. 

Bump

Atik, Chiara. Bump. 2019. 66p. ISBN 9780822239444.

When Claudia becomes pregnant, she meticulously plans her ideal birth experience. However, her prenatal anxieties inadvertently inspire her father, a car mechanic, to invent a device aimed at safer deliveries, leading Claudia to realize that expectations rarely align with reality. This personal journey into the mechanics of childbirth forms the core of Bump, a narrative that explores the universal uncertainties surrounding maternity across different eras and communities.

Inspired by the true story of Jorge Odón and his garage-invented birthing device, Bump traverses time and space, connecting a modern-day car mechanic and his pregnant daughter, a vibrant online community of expectant mothers, and a pregnant woman in colonial New England. Through these interwoven stories, the book grapples with the profound mystery and miracle of childbirth, offering a multifaceted perspective on the challenges and unexpected turns of bringing new life into the world.

Blue Lock, Vol. 4

Kaneshiro, Muneyuki. Blue Lock, Vol. 4. 2019. 192p. ISBN 9781636991535. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Following their first victory in Blue Lock, Vol. 3, The final and crucial match of the first Blue Lock selection round is underway, with Isagi's Team Z facing a must-win situation to avoid elimination. Their formidable opponents are Team V, recognized as the strongest squad in Wing 5, spearheaded by the prodigious talent of Seishiro Nagi. The impending clash pits Team Z's desperate need for victory against Team V's seemingly insurmountable offensive capabilities, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown.

As the game progresses, the central strategic element for Team Z's potential triumph is revealed to be the concept of "a goal's reproducibility." This suggests that their path to victory lies not in overwhelming power, but in identifying and replicating a successful scoring formula. The narrative teases whether Team Z's strategic desperation and ability to exploit this principle will be enough to overcome the raw talent and offensive dominance of Team V, led by the exceptional Nagi.

The story continues in Blue Lock, Vol. 5.

Our Infinite Fates

Stevens, Laura. Our Infinite Fates. 2025. 352p. ISBN 9781250333889.

Evelyn possesses the extraordinary ability to recall all her many past lives. But this gift comes with a deadly curse. She's destined to be murdered by Arden, a supernatural entity, before her eighteenth birthday in each reincarnation. This cyclical tragedy is driven by Arden's soul being inextricably linked to hers, making her death before they turn 18 a necessity for his own sake. However, in 2022, Evelyn is determined to break this pattern, especially since her current life holds immense value, particularly her little sister who relies on her for life-saving bone marrow transplants. Were Evelyn to die before being able to donate her marrow, her sister would also die.

To protect her sister and end the relentless cycle of death once and for all, Evelyn must embark on a perilous quest. She must find the centuries-old Arden, who hunts her through time, before he finds her again. Simultaneously, she has to unravel the mystery behind their cursed connection to sever the link and finally gain freedom. Adding to the complexities of her mission, she must also navigate the treacherous waters of romance, attempting to avoid falling in love, a distraction that could prove fatal.

Fans of paranormal and historical novels will enjoy this marriage as the novel is told through Evelyn's perspectives but jumps between multiple centuries, exploring many of the encounters that have shaped her life up to this point and explaining her desire to escape this misery of dying before her 18th birthday once and for all.