Of Flame and Fury

Bridge, Mikayla. Of Flame and Fury. 2025. 416p. ISBN 9780374393427. 

At seventeen, Kel Varra is already an accomplished phoenix rider. Working with her underdog team, the Crimson Howlers, Kel is determined to win the annual races and the prize money that would change their lives, allowing them to escape their circumstances. Unfortunately, one of their riders plummets to her death, and Kel must quickly find a replacement. Under the circumstances, Kel forms an uneasy alliance with her arrogant rival, Warren “Coup” Coupers. Despite their on-track tension and personal rivalry, she finds herself unable to get him out of her head.

As the competition intensifies, Kel's home is accidentally destroyed, forcing her to accept a job from a mysterious tech mogul. This individual shows an unsettling interest in her phoenix, Savita. Kel soon finds herself embroiled in a dangerous conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone she holds dear. As her feelings for Coup begin to change from resentment to something more, she must race against time to save them all and prevent her phoenix from being killed.

Fans of fantasy will enjoy this combination of the fantastic and technology. Featuring realistic characters and a fast moving plot, Of Flame and Fury delivers a compelling narrative where every choice matters.

Vampire Knight, vol. 2

 Matsuri, Hino. Vampire Knight, Vol. 2. 2007. 186p. ISBN 9781421511306. Available in the graphic novels sections of the Library.

It was revealed in Vampire Knight, Vol. 1 that vampires attend night school at the Academy. So what starts as a routine errand for the Headmaster takes a deadly turn when Yuki and Zero venture into town and are suddenly ambushed. Their attacker is a "Level E"—a vampire who has devolved into a mindless, bloodthirsty monster. Just as the situation turns dire, two elite Night Class students, Takuma Ichijo and Senri Shiki, intervene and swiftly slay the beast. The rescue leaves Yuki and Zero with more questions than answers: Why would vampires hunt their own kind?

To uncover the truth, Takuma and Senri extend a mysterious invitation to the two Guardians: meet them at the Night Class dormitory at midnight. As Yuki and Zero step into the lions' den, they are forced to confront the complex hierarchy and internal laws of the vampire world. This midnight meeting promises to reveal the chilling reality of the Level E threat and the high price of losing one's humanity in the world of the undead.

The story continues in Vampire Knight, Vol. 3.

Escape from Kabul: The Afghan Women Judges Who Fled the Taliban and Those They Left Behind

Bartlett, Karen. Escape from Kabul: The Afghan Women Judges Who Fled the Taliban and Those They Left Behind. 2025. 288p. ISBN 9781620978733.

For twenty years, as the United States supported the Afghan government, a courageous group of women worked to build a modern, democratic society. They became judges, lawyers, and leaders, tackling widespread corruption, challenging traditional gender norms, and fighting against violence. Their mission was to create a country where the rule of law and human rights were respected, and their work stood in direct opposition to the beliefs of the Taliban. However, when the U.S. withdrew its forces in August 2021, these educated and powerful women, who had been instrumental in shaping their country, were suddenly left in a position of extreme vulnerability and mortal danger.

This is the dramatic true story of their escape, a perilous journey aided by the global network of the International Association of Women Judges. The narrative not only details the extraordinary rescue but also reveals the tragic fates of those who were unable to flee. Beyond a simple account of events, the story serves as a sharp critique of the West for abandoning its allies and neglecting the cause of women's rights in the region. The account concludes with the recommendations of the judges themselves, who, despite everything, continue to hold hope for their beloved country.

Progress: How One Idea Built Civilization and Now Threatens to Destroy It

McDonald, Samuel. Progress: How One Idea Built Civilization and Now Threatens to Destroy It. 2025. 432p. ISBN 9781250278319.

Progress is power, and the narratives we construct about whether society is moving in the right or wrong direction hold immense potency. The modern story of progress has undoubtedly fueled remarkable human achievements: it has built cities, created vast wealth, spurred incredible innovation, and ushered in a unique new epoch in our planet's 4.5-billion-year history.

However, Progress argues that this widely accepted modern story of progress is now a dangerous fiction. This narrative shapes our understanding of what progress means and justifies whatever actions we take to achieve it, regardless of the ultimate cost. We continue to adhere to a set of destructive myths—about dominion, infinite growth, relentless extraction, and endless expansion—which, while fueling our historical success, now profoundly threaten our own survival and the existence of all species on a planet in crisis.

Progress offers a radical new perspective on the foundational myths of the modern world. Drawing on extensive interdisciplinary research spanning anthropology, history, philosophy, and geography, the author illuminates the destructive lineage of the current progress model and suggests an urgent alternative. For humanity to truly thrive, we must first dismantle, radically reimagine, and create anew what the very definition of progress means. 

This book is an essential read for anyone interested in environmental studies, global systems, economic philosophy, and critical geography. It will appeal to readers who engage with contemporary critiques of capitalism and climate change, offering a deeply researched, intellectual challenge to deeply held beliefs about societal development and sustainability.

The Codebreaker Girl

Nealon, Gosia. The Codebreaker Girl. 2024. 294p. ISBN 9781835255599.

Polish orphan Beata has just graduated as the first and only woman in her university course, and her singular ambition is to join the Cipher Bureau to save her country from invasion by cracking the Enigma code. However, her plans are violently upended as gunfire echoes across her hometown rooftops and Nazi boots march on the cobblestones. Forced underground, Beata and her team must continue their vital work in secret.

While working covertly, Beata meets with members of the underground British intelligence and is immediately captivated by the bright, sparkling eyes of one of the agents, Harry. His passion for cracking Enigma and his understanding of its importance to their shared future only steel her resolve to do what is right. But as the escalating war destroys everything Beata holds dear and tears her and Harry in different directions, their only hope for reunion is at the legendary home of British codebreakers: Bletchley Park. Carrying the final, crucial key to the Enigma code, and with the Nazis relentlessly pursuing her, Beata must keep her secrets safe, determine if she will ever see Harry again, and attempt to turn the tide of the war.

Readers who enjoy crucial, real-life intelligence operations behind the scenes will appreciate this story about a courageous, trailblazing woman in the male-dominated field of codebreaking. The story is driven by intense suspense, and includes the importance of Bletchley Park and the race against time to crack the Enigma machine.

The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story

Nayeri, Daniel. The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story. 2025. 196p. ISBN 9781646145669. 

In 1941, as German armies advanced across Europe, Iran found itself a neutral country occupied by British and Soviet forces to deprive the Germans of Iranian oil. Soldiers and spies fill its streets as tensions rise. Amid this turmoil, Babak and his younger sister become orphans following their father's untimely death. Fearing they will be separated, the two devise a plan for Babak to assume his father's former role as a teacher to nomadic tribes. With a chalkboard strapped to his back, he and his sister embark on a treacherous journey through the mountains to find the tribes during their annual migration.

During their perilous trek, the siblings encounter a Jewish boy who is in hiding from a Nazi spy. This chance meeting transforms their desperate escape into a shared race for survival against a new and even more dangerous threat. Set against the chaotic backdrop of World War II, this epic adventure explores whether these young people, from different creeds and nations, can overcome their differences to form a common bond and find safety together amidst the global conflict.

Blue Exorcist, Vol. 29

Kato, Kazue. Blue Exorcist, Vol. 29. 2023. 226p. ISBN 9781974746248. Available in the graphic novels section of the library. 

The confrontation between the Knights of the True Cross and the Exwires and the ultimate enemy, Satan, fully erupted on every front in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 28. Rin, bravely confronts Satan head-on, and although he is utterly destroyed in the initial clash, his unique demonic nature grants him the power to immediately reform and remain in the fight. This fierce, high-stakes battle forms the core of the ongoing global conflict, pushing the combatants to their absolute limits.

Simultaneously, a complex magical counter-plan is set in motion. Shemihaza begins a ritual designed to crystallize and trap Satan, a crucial operation in which Shiemi is destined to play a vital role. However, the conflict escalates exponentially when Satan undergoes a dramatic and terrifying transformation to the next level of his power. This shift is so immense that it begins to warp time itself, forcing everyone present to witness a horrifying and unimaginable future ...

The story continues in Blue Exorcist. Vol. 30.