Viking

Margeson, Susan. Viking. 1994. 72p. ISBN 978-0-75566-1095-1. Available at 948 MAR on the library shelves.

Following the fall of the Roman Empire and the barbarian invasions from the East, Europe fragmented in a multitude of kingdoms and petty chiefdoms. Starting in the late 700s, however, a new wave of invaders swept through the continent, reaching as far south as Jerusalem and what is now Algeria, as far east as the Ural mountains, as far west as Newfoundland, and as far north as Iceland and Greenland. The Vikings, mighty seafarers, boarded their shallow bottom ships from Scandinavia and sailed across seas and up rivers in search of glory, plunder, and slaves. For three hundred years, Vikings ventured where they liked, spreading culture establishing trade routes, founding cities and finding new territories to colonize.

Scandinavia was rich in iron ore and timber, but poor in other resources, and the Vikings traded these for gold, silver, and other riches, but often attacked and looted towns and cities. Their religious views held that it was better to die in the glory of battle than to die an old man, and the Vikings took that to heart. Viking women ran the household and their farms while their husbands were away for war, keeping the local economy going. Eventually, Christianity spread to Scandinavia, and local myths and legends were adapted. Viking kings ruled all of Scandinavia, England, parts of France and Ireland.

Adept jewelers and artisans, the Vikings left a lasting impression on the world and passed into legend as a warlike people who contributed to the development of Europe.

Black Cat, Vol 15

Yakubi, Kentaro. Black Cat, Vol 15. 2008. 200p. ISBN 978-1-4215-1606-6. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

The assault on the island lair of the Apostles of the Sun ended in disaster as the Alliance's boat was destroyed miles from the shore. Train ends up alone on a section of the island, while the rest of the sweepers wash ashore at various points. Train, Sven, and River end up fighting opponents in all out battles.

At the same time, Eve finds herself isolated, and she is immediately confronted by Leon, a members of the Apostles who controls the winds. Though Leon is strong, Eve is stronger, but confronting the threat he poses means the battle is about to turn deadly!

The story continues in Black Cat, Vol. 16.

We Are Totally Normal

Kanakia, Rahul. We Are Totally Normal. 2020. 288p. 426 mins. ISBN 9780062994851. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Nandan is not one of the popular kids, but he hangs out often with the 99, the roughly hundred students who make up those kids everyone want to hang out with at school. With his junior year starting, Nandan is looking forward to making this the perfect year, by finding himself back in the good graces of his former girlfriend, Evone. And this plan will require turning bow-tie Dave into one of the popular kids.

His plan goes awry, however, when Nandan finds himself hooking up with Dave and discovering that sex with guys is actually kind of fun, and suddenly new doors open up for Nandan that were closed before. His friendship with Evone and the other girls becomes closer. His friend Pothan is jealous. His other friend Henry is glad that there is another gay guy at school. And now Nandan is the talk of the town. As he and Dave continue to see each other, Nandan pursues his initial plan of connecting Dave and Mari together, so that through them Nandan can solidify his foothold in the popular circle.

Unfortunately for Nandan, the more Dave feels confident about their relationship, the less Nandan enjoys it. Is he really gay? Why does he think of girls every time he has sex with Dave? Is being popular worth the heartache he's getting from being with Dave? What does it mean to be normal?

Filled with parties and fairly descriptive sex scenes, We Are Totally Normal explores concepts of identity and what it means to be in a relationship, regardless of the gender or the identity of the persons involved. The characters often feel flat, but the underlying message is one that will resonate with fans of realistic fiction.

The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking).

Mack, Katie. The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking). 2020. 240p. ISBN 9781982103545. Available at 523.1 MAC on the library shelves.

The Big Bang is the famous beginning of the Universe, and the science of physics has been attempting to explain what happened for decades. As interesting as the beginning is, however, it pales in comparison to how the universe will end. In this cleverly written book, Dr. Mack describes the five possible deaths of the universe. 

In the Big Crunch scenario, the billions of galaxy that have been expanding away from each other reverse course and head toward each other, causing massive star collapse and destruction, the merging of galaxies, and possibly leading to another Big Bang as the universe once again reaches unimaginable pressure and gravity.

In the Heat Death scenario, the universe continues to expand, and galaxies soon find themselves the only thing floating in their range of vision, and themselves stretching out until all that remain are dead stars. Under this scenario, the universe literally dies and becomes absolutely cold. 

In the Big Rip scenario, the universe unravels like a tapestry or water evaporating in a boiling pot. Galaxies simply disappear away from our vision field, drifting further away and being torn apart as atomic bonds break down, releasing components into the void of space.

In the Bounce scenario, our universe is connected to other universes on other planes, and they periodically collide, creating a collapse and a new big bang. Of all the scenarios, this one involves strange physics and remains to be proven as a possibility.

Finally, in the Vacuum Decay scenario, the universe is torn apart similar to water draining out of a bath tub. The matter and energy that populate the universe drains away, filling the vacuum and bringing it to equilibrium, but in the process destroying everything that existed prior to the vacuum. Of all of the scenarios presented, this one is the most unlikely to happen, but, also unlike the other ones, it could happen at any time.

Fans of science will appreciate the humor and attention to details in this book. And not to worry, it is not filled with equations that will hurt your head, but rather vivid description and an engaging discussion of how the universe will eventually end. For a companion read, take a look at Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.

The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets

Springer, Nancy. The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets. Book 3 of the Enola Holmes series. 2008. 170p. ISBN 9780399245183. Available at FIC SPR on the library shelves.

After successfully escaping her brother Sherlock Holmes in The Case of the Left-Handed Lady, Enola returns to her home to recuperate and consider her next move. When Dr. Watson goes missing, however, Enola knows she cannot remain hidden and must help find the good doctor, especially since even her own brother is despairing of finding a solution. Weary it is a trap to lure her out in the open so Sherlock can capture her and make a proper lady out of her, she approaches Dr. Watson's wife only to discover that Dr. Watson is indeed missing and hasn't been seen for days. One of the bouquets of flowers left by well-wishers attracts her attention. Why would there be flowering aspargus?

Armed with this smallest of puzzle piece, Enola sets forth on a dangerous path to discover what might have happened to the good doctor, who might have done it, and, more importantly, whether or not he is still alive. This time, Enola will have to effect the most radical disguise of all, and turn herself into a beauty the world cannot ignore. With dangers lurking, time is of the essence to resolve this mystery!

Fans of the style of mysteries popularized by Sherlock Holmes will appreciate this take on his younger sister, who is both more motivated and more interesting!

The story continues in The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan.

Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights

Bausum, Ann. Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights. 2015. 122p. ISBN 978-0-698-14375-3. Available as an ebook on Overdrive.

Society constantly evolves and changes. Often, it is for the better as years of oppression and violence are replaced by fundamental realignment of values and acceptance of what was once forbidden. For most of the 20th century it was a crime to be a LGBTQ+ individual. Not only was society actively opposed to LGBTQ+ rights, but it was actively repressing people who called themselves homosexuals. 

The power of civil disobedience that African-Americans used to effect changes throughout the United States was also harnessed by LGBTQ+ groups that sought to legalize their status and leave in peace, without fear of retaliation or being considered to have a mental illness. In 1969, in New York City's Greewich Village, a bar called the Stonewall became the flare that light up demands for LGBTQ+ rights. 

The epicenter for a movement that grew from marginalization to being a part of society, Stonewall was a Mafia-run bar that allowed LGBTQ+ individuals to congregate, enjoy dancing, music, and each other's company. when New York City police raided the place a second time in the same week, what was thought to be a routine police operation degenerated as LGBTQ+ people and their supporters fought against the police and demanded an end to their persecution. Within days, Stonewall became the face of what was wrong with the way the city selectively enforced the law. Steps were taken to promote equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals through Pride parades. AIDS set the movement back in the 1980s, but by the 1990s most laws criminalizing homosexual behavior had been removed. By the 2000s, social attitudes had changed further, and in June 2015 the Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage was legal.

The fight for LGBTQ+ rights is not over, however, and we must continue to ensure that every citizen is protected under the United States Constitution to seek life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Black Butler, Vol. 23

Toboso, Yana. Black Butler, Vol. 23. 2016. 176p. ISBN 978-0-316-50277-1. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

A new story arc starts in Black Butler 23. London is crazy about the Sphere Music Hall, a place where people of all social classes can mingle and enjoy free refreshments and music. Queen Victoria is worried that behind this seemingly innocent activity, however, evil motives lurk. Concerned with how her citizens seem to be mesmerized by the antics happening, she requests that Ciel Phantomhive visit the place and conduct a thorough investigation. Ciel becomes concerned when on the same day Edward, the brother of Elizabeth, Ciel's fiancée, reports that Lizzie has run away to the Sphere Music Hall and has chosen not to return home.

Accompanied by Sebastian, Ciel visits the Music Hall. Sebastian is immediately identified as not being human by Blavat, the Music Hall' fortune teller that seems to run the entire operation, and the butler is removed from the premises. Ciel, however, has his fortune told and is linked to the star Sirius, and he is given a pure silver bracelet and an exclusive meeting time the following week where only those blessed by Sirius can attend.

At the appointed time, Ciel reports to the Music Hall, only to be welcomed with open arms and fed. Drugged, he passes out, only to awaken and notice that nothing was stolen from him. Feeling sick, Sebastian takes Ciel to visit Sullivan, who, upon seeing the mark on Ciel's arm, reports that blood was drained from his body. But for what purpose?

The story continues in Black Butler, Vol. 24.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

 Maas, Sarah H. A Court of Thorns and Roses. Book 1 of the Court of Thorns and Roses series. 2015. 419p. ISBN 9781619634442. Available at FIC MAA on the library shelves.

The island of Prythian is divided into two by an invisible wall of magic. On one side, the humans that freed themselves from servitude after a long and bloody war with their powerful overlord, the fae. They now dwell on the other side of the wall in seven courts, biding their time. Other continents of fae and humans exist, but the two races only meet in Prythian.

Feyre's father was a wealthy merchant until his ships sank, taking his fortune with them. Now he, Feyre and her two sisters live in a shack in the forest near the wall, and they survive thanks for Feyre's hunting in the dangerous forest. For though the wall exist to prevent fae from crossing, it is weakening. When Feyre comes across a massive wolf hunting a doe, she suspects it's a fae in disguise, but its pelt being worth a lot, she slays the beast that seemed to pose no threat to her.

The next night, Feyre and her family are visited by Tamlin, a high fae who is also the lord of the Spring Court. He is here to exact his revenge for the loss of the wolf, who was one of his guard. As punishment, Feyre will have to cross the wall and live in the land of the fae for the rest of her life. Now a captive of the Spring Court, Feyre slowly discovers that the Spring Court, and indeed all of Prythian, has been affected by a curse for the last fifty years, and magic is but a shadow of its former self. With an empty palace but under the watchful eye of Lucien, Tamlin's second in command, Feyre is free to wander the grounds.

Dangers abound in the land of the fae, however, and more than once Feyre is confronted by nightmares she's only heard about in stories. Nagas, Surreals, these monsters are real and prowl the woods of the Spring Court. The closer she grows to Tamlin, the more danger she finds herself in, until she discovers that the curse that plagues Prythian may very well cost Feyre her own life.

A mix of Beauty and the Beast and high fantasy, this story will enthrall readers who enjoy fantasy and they will appreciate the struggles Feyre confronts as she attempts to survive in a new world.

The Book of Eels

Svensson, Patrick. The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World. 2020. 241p. ISBN 978-0-06-296881-4. Available at 597 SVE.

Eels are some of the most mysterious creatures in the animal world. Born (we think) in the Sargasso Sea, they drift, translucent, at the mercy of currents that carry them all the way to North America and Europe, where they transform into glass eels, before moving out of the ocean into rivers and lakes. They then stay there for years, even decades, hunting, eating, and lurking in the depths and the mud. Eventually, something triggers them to transform once again, leave their home and return to the ocean, to then travel back to the Sargasso Sea to breed and die. At least that's what we think happens, as we've never caught a live eel or see them breed. 

In this philosophical discussion about eels and transformation, Svensson weaves the story of his family with the story of the knowledge we have about eels, from Aristotle to the most recent efforts in 2018 to determine the causes of the precipitous decline of the eel population. From transformation to mysteries, the eel remains as elusive today as it was thousands of years ago. This is a book that will make you think about life and some of the enduring secrets that remain to be discovered, provided that we have enough time to do so before we inflict the greatest mass extinction the world has ever known.

Heroine

 McGinnis, Mindy. Heroine. 2019. 419p. ISBN 9780062847195. Available at FIC MCG on the library shelves.

Mickey Catalan doesn't know her birth parents, doesn't know why her adoptive father left her family and started a new one, and doesn't know why she never seems to fit in a crowd. She does know that she's the best softball catcher there is, and with her friend Carolina at the mound, they are an unstoppable team. Mickey breathes and lives softball, and she's looking forward to her senior year season and the scouts that will come and recruit her to a college scholarship. 

Returning from picking up pizza, the two of them are in a car accident that flips the vehicle over. Carolina's pitching arm is injured, and Mickey's hip is crushed. At the hospital, emergency surgery patches Mickey up, but the prognostic is not good. With 12 weeks left before the start of softball, it's highly improbable that she will find herself behind the plate. Mickey is dedicated and stubborn, however, and she will do anything to speed up recovery. Prescribed oxycontin to control her pain, she soon first herself under the influence of the drug, always seeking a higher dose. Having gone through her entire supply, Mickey's not sure how she will get her next pill, and her doctor refuses to help. A nice old lady offers her a few pills outside the clinic, and provides her with her phone number if she wants more.

At Edith's home, Mickey meets Josie, who loves oxy too, and unlike Mickey Josie has money to burn. The two of them settle in a friendship of sorts where they do drugs at Edith's, and soon two boys from Josie's school join them. Mickey's physical condition improves, and she slowly begins to work out with Carolina, who's also suffering through her own recovery. With the softball season about to start, Mickey gets the all clear to play, and her doctor and physical therapist are impressed with her progress. Mickey wants to keep her secret safe, and doesn't consider herself an addict, but when her source of oxy runs dry, she makes the switch to heroine and begins injecting herself. 

As the season progresses, Mickey's lies and actions begin to catch up with her, and even though she realizes that she no longer needs the drug for her pain, she can't let it go. With everything on the line, including a softball championship and her relationship with her parents, Mickey will find herself with no choice at all ...

Mickey's descent into addiction is slow and progressive, and demonstrates how a reasonable person can fall into the pits of addiction despair. She continues to make bad decisions, her judgement affected by what the drug does to her and always chasing that elusive high that will make her forget her difficulties. Fans of realistic fiction and those who know someone in the throes of addiction will appreciate the powerful descriptions of Mickey's slow descent into drug hell, and how she eventually comes out of it.

Digital Games and Learning: Research and Theory

Whitton, Nicole. Digital Games and Learning: Research and Theory. 2014. ISBN 978-0-415-62939-3.

Though educational computer games have existed for decades, the arrival of the iPad and competing tablets suddenly trust the educational market wide open for developer of apps and for those who were interested in creating and sustaining motivation while learning digitally. In this well-researched book, Whitton discusses the theoretical underpinnings of motivation and how these apply in the world of digital learning. She dives into game theory and how it can be used to foster learning and interest. She considers how gamification and play can be implemented in almost every facet of the educational world, helping students learn from each other and being empowered to guide their own learning. Teachers transform into guides who support students in their exploration, providing structure and resources while students explore topics of interest to them.

Whitton predicted three trends in game-based learning. First, game-based learning will quickly saturate and force a move towards more playification, which embeds both exploration, creation, and higher-order thinking. This trend has already started, with students no longer satisfied with leaderboard positions or badges, but wanting more ability to customize and guide their own learning. The second trend she predicts is the development of game-making capabilities instead of game-using. Though there are many games that can be used to create user material, these are by no means the norm, and most educational games remain focused on delivering content instead of allowing users to create their own. The third trend she predicts is the rise of mobile gaming, where the learning spaces can be adapted to physical and virtual environments. Augmented reality, such as Pokemon Go, and Virtual Reality such as Half Life, are already here, and better gear is being developed to incorporate these new modes of displaying information in devices such as phones and tablets. Only seven years have passed since Whitton’s predictions, but despite her warning that they were unlikely to happen during her lifetime, it is clear that education is changing, and that digital games will play an outsize role in guiding students in their learning.

Bungo Stray Dogs, Vol. 14

Asagiri, Kafka. Bungo Stray Dogs, Vol. 14. 2020. 159p. ISBN 978-1-975304-58-4. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Dostoyevsky's capture in Bungo Stray Dogs, Vol. 13 does not mean the Armed Detective Agency can lower its vigilance. The perfect murderer is still out there, but Rampo is on the case, looking for the tiny clues that the man who can eliminate all criminal evidence might have forgotten. Through clever observations, Rampo tracks the murderer down, and convinces him that he must turn himself in to bring any validity to the perfect murder, otherwise the mystery will never be solved.

The Agency is then threatened by the Decay of the Angel, the true group to which Dostoyevsky belongs. Gogol, a lover of chaos, uses his ability to move objects through gates to eliminate enemies of the group and set up the Agency to take the fall for the murder of the Minister of Justice and other government individuals. Meanwhile, Dazai finds himself under arrest by a blind agent for the many crimes he committed while a member of the Port Mafia. Can the Agency survive the arrest of its best agents?

New York 2140

Robinson, Kim Stanley. New York 2140. 2017. 642p. ISBN 9780316262347. Available at FIC ROB on the library shelves.

Global warming and climate change have produced irreversible changes. New York City, once the largest metropolis in the United States, finds itself partially flooded as neighborhoods disppeared underneath rising sea levels. Real-estate is so expansive, however, and investments so large that billions of private and government monies have been spent ensuring that the large buildings in Manhattan survive, turning the island into a modern Venice. Canals now replace streets, and small powerful watercrafts mix with large transport boats, while a network of enclosed aerial walkways allow walkers to travel from one side of the city to the other without getting wet. 

Residents of the Met Life Tower have adapted to the changes, and continue to live their lives. Vlade, the building manager, is in charge of ensuring that the lower levels of the building, which are submerged in water, do not flood. He maintains the equipment, the pumps, and even the farms on top of the building that provide food for the inhabitants. Charlotte, who works as a lawyer for the city, also serves on the Met's board of residents, and they must consider whether to sell their building. Franklin is a financial wizard who created an index that is used for trading futures on whether a piece of land will be worth something as waters continue to rise. Amelia is an Internet star, owns an airship, and travels the world. She's rarely here, but when she is she's the lift of the building. Stefan and Roberto are two homeless boys who are under Vlade's wing, as he has a soft spot for those two. Mr. Hexter, Stefan and Roberto's friend, remembers what the city was like before it flooded, and he has many maps and memories worth exploring. Finally, Mutt and Jeff are two coders living atop the building, keeping an eye on the farm, and attempting to crash the financial markets.

When Mutt and Jeff go missing, a cascade of events throws these residents together to defend their building and their home, and in the process they find that they are more family than they ever cared to admit before.

Fans of dystopia will appreciate this climate tragedy of a world that hints at our own not too far future. The mystery moving the plot along is well-crafted, and each character brings a unique perspective to the story.

Assume the Worse

 Hiaasen, Carl. Assume the Worse. 2018. 15 mins. ISBN 9780525643135. Available as an audiobook on Overdrive.

If you've ever been to a graduation, you have heard an inspirational speech made from a famous (or not so famous) guest speaker designed to motivate and point out all of the ways in which graduates will impact the world. For the most part, however, these are platitudes that are meaningless. Famous author and reporter Carl Hiaasen set out to create the perfect graduation speech you will never hear. In Assume the Worse, Hiaasen discusses all of the lies and misrepresentations that take place in a graduation speech, and instead focus on telling it like it is, with the hope of warning you about life, not painting a rosy picture that will not live up to expectations.

Filled with wisdom and a clever understanding of the world, all graduates or soon-to-be graduates should listen to this speech and see what the world is really like!

Class Act

 Craft, Jerry. Class Act. 2020. 249p. ISBN 978-0-06-288551-7. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Jordan Banks' plan has always been to join the High School of Music, Art and Mime, but in 7th grade his mother enrolled him at Riverdale Academy Day School. Dreaming to be an artist, his mother has instead redirected his energy to focus on academics. Drew also started RAD in 7th grade on a scholarship, and the two became best friends.

Now in 8th grade, the two of them reunite with their diverse group of friends. Drew is still plagued by his confrontation with Andy last year, and still has trouble accepting that most folks here can't even see the opportunities that the school offers them. Drew is very conscious of the divide between himself and his friend Liam, who is the third member of their trio. Liam lives outside of the city and has a chauffeur that drives him to school. Liam has a nice house, and nice things, but his father's always gone on business trips, his older sister hates everyone, and his mother is too busy with yoga and tennis to work.

As the three friends try to maneuver through their 8th grade year, they have to content with girls, jocks, prejudice, and one teacher determined to make the school as inclusive as possible, even if that means making Drew and Jordan uncomfortable. 

Beautifully illustrated with sharp social commentary, Class Act subtly drops us in the world of three teenagers who are trying to figure out who they are and what life is all about. Humorous but poignant at the same time, fans of The Diary of a Wimpy Kid will appreciate Jordan, Drew, Liam, and the rest of the book as they go about living their lives.

Finish the Fight! The Brave and Revolutionary Women Who Fought For the Right to Vote

 Chambers, Veronica. Finish the Fight! The Brave and Revolutionary Women Who Fought For the Right to Vote. 2020. 132p. ISBN 978-0-358-40830-7. Available at 324.6 FIN on the library shelves.

A hundred years ago, in 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed when Tennessee became the 36th state to vote in the affirmative for this amendment. Women gained the right to vote in all elections. This process started much earlier, in the 1800s, to allow women the same rights that white property owner males had. The lofty goals of the Declaration of Independence were far removed from the reality that most women experienced. The struggle that followed was hard and difficult and required a fundamental change in what men thought women were capable of.

Famous suffragists like Alice Paul, Lucy Stone, Lucretia Mott, and Susan B. Anthony moved the process forward, but they couldn't have been successful without hundred of thousands of other women who got involved in the fight for the right to vote and for equality. This book provides a quick summary of eleven strong women most readers are not familiar with, and the invaluable roles they played in promoting the right to vote and ensuring that women had every opportunity to participate in the civic life of the nation. These women were African-American, Latinas, Native Americans, and Asian Americans. All of them were American women who struggled in a world of men to make their mark and help other women achieve the American dream.

Fans of history will appreciate this introduction to women who played major but unacknowledged roles in the suffragist movement, and will gain a better understanding of how the right to vote was gained.

The Demon Prince of Momochi House, Vol. 5.

Houoto, Aya. The Demon Prince of Momochi House, Vol. 5. 2016. 148p. ISBN 9 978-1-42158630-4. Available in the graphic section of the library.

It is a hot day at Momochi House, and its denizens decide they should go swimming to cool off. Entering the spiritual realm, they find their water hole filled with Ayakashis. Normally the place would be deserted, but the Ayakashis report that waters everywhere are becoming polluted. The dragon god Ryujin usually swims in the waters, keeping them cleaned and unsoiled, but no one has seen him in a long time. Yukari, one of the house residents, used to live here when he was a human, after being accused of being a cannibal. Ryujin protected him, and now he wants to pay the dragon back by figuring out what has happened and where the dragon god went. Himari volunteers to accompany Yukari and be the human sacrifice that is needed to complete the summoning ritual. Together they manage to free Yyujin from the taint that was affecting him, but Aoi becomes aware that a larger power is at play.

Back at school, Himari has become somewhat of a spiritual priestess, and she is besieged by demands for help. Hoping to show she's a charlatan, girls in her class convince her and Hayato, from The Demon Prince of Momochi House, Vol. 4, to join them on an expedition to the laughing stone, but there the stone indeed laughs, laying a curse on Himari and Hayato. They must now kiss, or be sentenced to death!

Soul Eater, Vol. 5

Ohkubo, Atsushi. Soul Eater, Vol. 5. 2011. 162p. ISBN 978-0-316-07107-9 . Available in the graphic novel section of the library.

Having infiltrated DWMA in Soul Eater, Vol. 4, Medusa has set up a plan to corral and keep prisoner all of the students and staff of the school, including Death itself, so she can free the first Kishin, who is currently buried under the school. According to her plan, this will create chaos and finally break the war between the witches and the meisters. Accompanied by Wolf, the Demon Sword and the frog witch Eruka, Medusa triggers her attack to coincide with DWMA's anniversary celebration.

While Wolf captures almost everyone into the independent cube, Maka, Black Star, Death Jr. and Dr. Frankenstein manage to escape thanks to Sid Kun's coffin abilities, and chase Medusa and her group through the school's catacombs, most likely heading towards a violent death. Have the meisters finally find their match?