Author: Elena

Romance Manga

- Elena Leave a comment

As Valentine’s season hits, I always find myself in the mood for romance– the sweeter, the better. And nothing scratches that reading itch quite like a romance manga. Here’s a few of my favorite series, guaranteed to get you giggling and kicking your feet. (Descriptions below provided by the publisher.)

Honey Lemon Soda by Mayu Murata

Uka Ishimori has one dream in life: to have fun in high school! As a self-avowed dense, stone-faced introvert who spent all of middle school hardening her heart against a daily barrage of bullying, breaking out of her shell is easier said than done. Luckily, she’s not alone—Kai Miura, a classmate whose blond hair reminds her of the lemon soda he so enjoys, has her back. Step by step, she endeavors to cast off the shadows of her past and reinvigorate her life!

A Sign of Affection by suu Morishita

Yuki is Deaf and a typical college student, whose world revolves around her friends, social media, and the latest sales. But when a chance encounter on a train leads to her meeting friend-of-a-friend and fellow student Itsuomi, her world starts to widen. But even though Itsuomi can speak three languages, sign language isn’t one of them. Can the two learn to communicate the budding feelings between them?

My Love Mix-Up! by Wataru Hinekure

In this warmhearted romantic comedy, mistaken identity leads to a blossoming romance between two boys. Aoki has a crush on Hashimoto, the girl in the seat next to him in class. But he despairs when he borrows her eraser and sees she’s written the name of another boy—Ida—on it. To make matters more confusing, Ida sees Aoki holding that very eraser and thinks Aoki has a crush on him!

The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses by Koume Fujichika

The distance between a boy and his crush shrinks every time she forgets her glasses! Komura starts his school year with a new seat neighbor in homeroom—the bespectacled Mie. Before long, he’s nursing a raging crush on his quirky classmate who’s always forgetting her glasses! While this might be ideal for Komura to get to know Mie better, will his poor heart give out from the daily strain of being up close and personal with the girl he likes?!

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop by Imo Oono

He’s a shy haiku writer who wears headphones to keep people at a distance. She’s a streamer who always hides behind a mask. After their worlds suddenly collide, these two strangers find themselves sharing secrets they’ve been desperate to keep under wraps. Even though their methods of self-expression couldn’t be more different, they’ll find they understand each other better than they ever expected…

Afrofuturism

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Celebrate Black History Month with Afrofuturism! Afrofuturism is a literary and artistic movement that combines Black history and culture with futuristic and science fiction elements. Check out the following titles available at Davenport Public Library. (Descriptions below provided by the publisher.)

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

In 2025, with the world descending into madness and anarchy, one woman begins a fateful journey toward a better future. Lauren Olamina and her family live in one of the only safe neighborhoods remaining on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Behind the walls of their defended enclave, Lauren’s father, a preacher, and a handful of other citizens try to salvage what remains of a culture that has been destroyed by drugs, disease, war, and chronic water shortages. While her father tries to lead people on the righteous path, Lauren struggles with hyperempathy, a condition that makes her extraordinarily sensitive to the pain of others. When fire destroys their compound, Lauren’s family is killed and she is forced out into a world that is fraught with danger. With a handful of other refugees, Lauren must make her way north to safety, along the way conceiving a revolutionary idea that may mean salvation for all mankind. – Goodreads

How Long ’til Black Future Month? by N. K. Jemisin

Three-time Hugo Award winner and NYT bestselling author N. K. Jemisin challenges and delights readers with thought-provoking narratives of destruction, rebirth, and redemption that sharply examine modern society in her first collection of short fiction, which includes never-before-seen stories.

Spirits haunt the flooded streets of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In a parallel universe, a utopian society watches our world, trying to learn from our mistakes. A black mother in the Jim Crow South must save her daughter from a fey offering impossible promises. And in the Hugo award-nominated short story “The City Born Great,” a young street kid fights to give birth to an old metropolis’s soul. – Hachette Book Group

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs. Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti’s stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach. If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself–but first she has to make it there, alive. – Macmillan Publishers

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

Aster has little to offer folks in the way of rebuttal when they call her ogre and freak. She’s used to the names; she only wishes there was more truth to them. If she were truly a monster, she’d be powerful enough to tear down the walls around her until nothing remains of her world.

Aster lives in the lowdeck slums of the HSS Matilda, a space vessel organized much like the antebellum South. For generations, Matilda has ferried the last of humanity to a mythical Promised Land. On its way, the ship’s leaders have imposed harsh moral restrictions and deep indignities on dark-skinned sharecroppers like Aster. Embroiled in a grudge with a brutal overseer, Aster learns there may be a way to improve her lot—if she’s willing to sow the seeds of civil war. – Akashic Books

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi

Two sisters are torn apart by war and must fight their way back to each other in a futuristic, Black Panther-inspired Nigeria. The year is 2172. Climate change and nuclear disasters have rendered much of earth unlivable. Only the lucky ones have escaped to space colonies in the sky. In a war-torn Nigeria, battles are fought using flying, deadly mechs and soldiers are outfitted with bionic limbs and artificial organs meant to protect them from the harsh, radiation-heavy climate. Across the nation, as the years-long civil war wages on, survival becomes the only way of life. Two sisters, Onyii and Ify, dream of more. Their lives have been marked by violence and political unrest. Still, they dream of peace, of hope, of a future together. And they’re willing to fight an entire war to get there. – Penguin

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Nothing is more important than loyalty. But what if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy?

Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as the Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere.

But the Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself? With extraordinary world-building and breathtaking prose, Raybearer is the story of loyalty, fate, and the lengths we’re willing to go for the ones we love.

During the month of February, look for the “Afrofuturism” display at all three branches for more recommendations.

Cyberpunk Books

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As a science fiction lover, cyberpunk remains one of my favorite subgenres. Best described as “high tech, low life,” cyberpunk is set in a futuristic dystopia where advanced technology and scientific wonders are contrasted against issues like wealth disparity, rampant corporatization, artificial intelligence, and social decay. If neon-lit dystopias or gritty noir mysteries are up your alley, then check out this list of cyberpunk books available at Davenport Public Library. (Descriptions below provided by the publisher.)

Midnight, Water City by Chris McKinney

Year 2142: Earth is forty years past a near-collision with the asteroid Sessho-seki. Akira Kimura, the scientist responsible for eliminating the threat, has reached heights of celebrity approaching deification. But now, Akira feels her safety is under threat, so after years without contact, she reaches out to her former head of security, who has since become a police detective.

When he arrives at her deep-sea home and finds Akira methodically dismembered, this detective will risk everything—his career, his family, even his own life—and delve back into his shared past with Akira to find her killer. With a rich, cinematic voice and burning cynicism, Midnight, Water City is both a thrilling neo-noir procedural and a stunning exploration of research, class, climate change, the cult of personality, and the dark sacrifices we are willing to make in the name of progress. – Soho Press

Glow by Tim Jordan

After the Nova-Insanity shattered Earth’s civilization, the Genes and Fullerenes Corporation promised to bring humanity back from the brink. Many years later, various factions have formed, challenging their savior and vying for a share of power and control.

Glow follows the lives of three very different beings, all wrestling mental instability in various forms; Rex – a confused junkie battling multiple voices in his head; Ellayna – the founder of the GFC living on the Cloud9 geostationary orbital and struggling with paranoia; and Jett – a virtually unstoppable voidian assassin, questioning his purpose of creation.

All of them are inextricably linked through the capricious and volatile Glow; an all controlling nano-tech drug that has the ability to live on through multiple hosts, cutting and pasting memories and personas in each new victim.

In this tech-crazed world where nothing seems impossible, many questions are posed: what makes us who we are? What is our ultimate purpose and place in this world? And, most frightening of all, what are we capable of doing to survive? – Angry Robot

Qualityland by Marc-Uwe Kling

Welcome to QualityLand, the epitome of a utopian society where a universal ranking system dictates social status and career paths. Here, an automated matchmaking service handles everything from pairing ideal partners to orchestrating breakups when those matches inevitably change. And the foolproof algorithms of the biggest, most successful company in the world, TheShop, know what you want before you do and conveniently deliver to your doorstep before you even order it.

In QualityCity, Peter Jobless, a machine scrapper by trade, grapples with his role in dismantling machines that he secretly believes have worth. He unwittingly becomes the leader of a group of robotic misfits hidden in his home and workplace. When Peter receives a product from TheShop that he unequivocally does not want, he faces a monumental decision: return the product and challenge the infallible algorithms of TheShop, risking a seismic upheaval of QualityLand’s carefully constructed perfection.

Marc-Uwe Kling’s QualityLand, his first book translated into English, is a sharp, insightful satire reminiscent of Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, and George Orwell. This brilliantly clever and thought-provoking novel offers a darkly humorous glimpse into a future that may be closer than we’d like to admit. Don’t wait—TheShop already knows you’ll enjoy this book, so dive in and discover why. – Hachette Book Group

Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan

In the twenty-fifth century, humankind has spread throughout the galaxy, monitored by the watchful eye of the U.N. While divisions in race, religion, and class still exist, advances in technology have redefined life itself. Now, assuming one can afford the expensive procedure, a person’s consciousness can be stored in a cortical stack at the base of the brain and easily downloaded into a new body (or “sleeve”) making death nothing more than a minor blip on a screen.

Ex-U.N. envoy Takeshi Kovacs has been killed before, but his last death was particularly painful. Dispatched one hundred eighty light-years from home, re-sleeved into a body in Bay City (formerly San Francisco, now with a rusted, dilapidated Golden Gate Bridge), Kovacs is thrown into the dark heart of a shady, far-reaching conspiracy that is vicious even by the standards of a society that treats “existence” as something that can be bought and sold. – Random House

An Unnatural Life by Erin K. Wagner

Murderbot meets To Kill a Mockingbird in Erin K. Wagner’s An Unnatural Life, an interplanetary tale of identity and responsibility. The cybernetic organism known as 812-3 is in prison, convicted of murdering a human worker but he claims that he did not do it. With the evidence stacked against him, his lawyer, Aiya Ritsehrer, must determine grounds for an appeal and uncover the true facts of the case. But with artificial life-forms having only recently been awarded legal rights on Earth, the military complex on Europa is resistant to the implementation of these same rights on the Jovian moon. Aiya must battle against her own prejudices and that of her new paymasters, to secure a fair trial for her charge, while navigating her own interpersonal drama, before it’s too late. – Macmillan Publishers

Noor by Nnedi Okorafor

From Africanfuturist luminary Okorafor comes a new science fiction novel of intense action and thoughtful rumination on biotechnology, destiny, and humanity in a near-future Nigeria.

Anwuli Okwudili prefers to be called AO. To her, these initials have always stood for Artificial Organism. AO has never really felt…natural, and that’s putting it lightly. Her parents spent most of the days before she was born praying for her peaceful passing because even in-utero she was “wrong”. But she lived. Then came the car accident years later that disabled her even further. Yet instead of viewing her strange body the way the world views it, as freakish, unnatural, even the work of the devil, AO embraces all that she is: A woman with a ton of major and necessary body augmentations. And then one day she goes to her local market and everything goes wrong.

Once on the run, she meets a Fulani herdsman named DNA and the race against time across the deserts of Northern Nigeria begins. In a world where all things are streamed, everyone is watching the “reckoning of the murderess and the terrorist” and the “saga of the wicked woman and mad man” unfold. This fast-paced, relentless journey of tribe, destiny, body, and the wonderland of technology revels in the fact that the future sometimes isn’t so predictable. Expect the unaccepted. – Astra Publishing

During the month of January, look for the “Cyberpunk” display at the Main branch for more recommendations.

New SciFi Movies

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January 2nd is National Science Fiction Day. Celebrate the genre with a new science fiction movie from Davenport Public Library. (Descriptions below provided by publisher.)

Godzilla Minus One
A disgraced kamikaze pilot returns to his obliterated house after witnessing an unbelievable attack on Odo Island. Rebuilding his home and life out of the detritus of the city, he takes in a displaced baby and the woman who found her, creating a family that gives him the courage to bring his neighbors together to fight when the monster returns to Japan while the citizens are already at their lowest point.

Slingshot
A psychological thriller starring Casey Affleck and Laurence Fishburne, Slingshot follows an elite trio of astronauts aboard a years-long, possibly compromised mission to Saturn’s moon Titan. As the team gears up for a highly dangerous slingshot maneuver that will either catapult them to Titan or into deep space, it becomes increasingly difficult for one astronaut to maintain his grip on reality.

The Animal Kingdom
In a visionary new thriller that drops viewers into an extraordinary world where mutations in human genetics cause people to transform into hybrid creatures, François does everything he can to save his wife, who is affected by this mysterious condition. As some of the creatures disappear into a nearby forest, François embarks with Emile, their 16-year-old son, on a quest to find her with help from a local police officer.

Borderlands
Lilith, an infamous bounty hunter with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home, Pandora, the most chaotic planet in the galaxy. Her mission is to find the missing daughter of Atlas, the universe’s most powerful SOB. Lilith forms an unexpected alliance with a ragtag team of misfits – Roland, a seasoned mercenary on a mission; Tiny Tina, a feral preteen demolitionist; Krieg, Tina’s musclebound protector; Tannis, the oddball scientist who’s seen it all; and Claptrap, a wiseass robot. Together, these unlikely heroes must battle an alien species and dangerous bandits to uncover one of Pandora’s most explosive secrets. The fate of the universe could be in their hands; but they’ll be fighting for something more: each other.

Omni Loop
A quantum physicist finds herself stuck in a time loop, with a black hole growing in her chest and only a week to live. When she meets a gifted student, they team up to save her life and to unlock the mysteries of time travel.

 

 

During the month of January, look for the “National Science Fiction Day” displays at the Fairmount and Eastern branches for more DVD recommendations.

The Game Awards 2024 Nominees

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The Game Awards is an annual awards ceremony hosted by game journalist Geoff Keighley, honoring the year’s achievements in the video game industry. In addition to the celebrated Game of the Year award, awards span a wide variety of genres, technical and accessibility achievements, and esports. The following games have been nominated for this year’s awards and are available at Davenport Public Library. (Descriptions below provided by publishers.)

Metaphor: Refantazio – Game of the Year, Best RPG

From the creative minds behind Persona 3, 4, and 5 comes Metaphor: ReFantazio. Enter a unique fantasy world where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince… Control your destiny, face your fears and awaken magical ‘Archetype’ powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an ‘Archetype’, you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.

Available on: PS5, Coming Soon to: Xbox Series X|S

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth – Best RPG

Two larger-than-life heroes brought together by the hand of fate, or perhaps something more sinister… Ichiban Kasuga, an unstoppable underdog who’s no stranger to crawling up from rock bottom, and Kazuma Kiryu, a broken man facing down his last days, explore Japan and Hawaii in an RPG adventure so big it spans the Pacific.

Available on: PS4 and Xbox Series X|S

Stellar Blade – Best Action Game

The future of humanity rests on a knife’s edge. Earth has been abandoned and is now home to strange and powerful creatures. The only remnant of humanity has fled to a colony in outer space. After traveling from the colony, EVE embarks on a mission on the scarred planet: to save humanity and reclaim Earth from the Nova sapiens – the evil beings who devastated the world. But as EVE confronts Nova sapiens one by one among the ruins and remnants of human civilization and begins to piece together the truth of what happened, she realizes that her mission is anything but simple. In fact, nothing is what it seems.

Available on: PS5

Star Wars: Outlaws – Best Action/Adventure Game

The Galaxy is full of opportunity. Experience the first-ever open world Star Wars™ action-adventure game and explore distinct locations across the galaxy, both iconic and new. Risk it all as scoundrel Kay Vess, seeking freedom and the means to start a new life. Fight, steal, and outwit your way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates as you join the galaxy’s most wanted.

Available on: Xbox Series X|S, Coming Soon to: PS5

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – Best Action/Adventure Game

Dash into a stylish and thrilling action-adventure platformer set in a mythological Persian world where the boundaries of time and space are yours to manipulate. Play as Sargon and evolve from sword-wielding prodigy to extraordinary legend as you master acrobatic combat and unlock new Time Powers and unique super abilities.

Available on: Nintendo Switch

Helldivers 2 – Best Action Game, Best Multiplayer

Fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in this frenetic third-person co-operative team shooter. Do you believe in freedom? Can you stand in the face of oppression – and defend the defenseless? Wage war for peace. Die for democracy. Join forces with up to three friends and wreak havoc on an alien scourge threatening the safety of your home planet, Super Earth.

Available on: PS5

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – Best Action Game, Best Multiplayer

Your Craft is Death. Embody the superhuman skill and brutality of a Space Marine, the greatest of the Emperor’s warriors. Hold at bay the horrors of the galaxy in epic battles on far-flung planets with your deadly abilities and devastating weaponry. Uncover dark secrets to drive back the everlasting night and prove your ultimate loyalty to humanity. Crush the Tyranid swarms. Defend humanity.

Available on: PS5, Coming Soon to: Xbox Series X|S

Tekken 8 – Best Fighting, Best Multiplayer

Fist Meets Fate in Tekken 8. Holding a record for the longest-running video game storyline, the Tekken series begins a new chapter as Tekken 8 continues the tragic saga of the Mishima and Kazama bloodlines, and their world-shaking father-and-son grudge matches starting from 6 months after the closure of the last match. The story of Jin Kazama’s growth and determination marks a new chapter in the timeless saga.

Available on: PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

Pacific Drive – Best Debut Indie

Take a ride through a surreal and wild Pacific Northwest. Pacific Drive is a run-based, first-person driving survival game. Your car is your only companion as you navigate a surreal and anomaly-filled reimagining of the Pacific Northwest. Structured as a “road-lite”, each excursion into the wilderness brings unique and strange challenges, as you restore and upgrade your car from an abandoned garage that acts as your home base. With the car as your lifeline, you’ll unravel a long-forgotten mystery as you make your way to the heart of the Olympic Exclusion Zone.

Available on: PS5

Unicorn Overlord – Best Sim / Strategy

From the masterminds that brought 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim and Odin Sphere, ATLUS x Vanillaware presents the rebirth of tactical fantasy RPG. Fight against fate and embark on a royal adventure to regain your reign alongside trustworthy allies. Unicorn Overlord combines the timeless tactical RPG genre with overworld exploration and innovative battle system for a unique epic fantasy experience in the iconic Vanillaware style.

Available on: Nintendo Switch

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – Best Action/Adventure Game, Best Family

Save Hyrule—this time with Princess Zelda! After Princess Zelda was captured by Ganon, the swordsman Link stormed in to rescue her. After a fierce battle, Link appeared to defeat the villain, but was suddenly dragged down into a mysterious rift in the ground and disappeared. These strange rifts began to appear all over Hyrule, swallowing up others, including the King and his advisors. Left alone, it’s now up to Princess Zelda to save her kingdom in a brand-new adventure in the Legend of Zelda series!

Available on: Nintendo Switch

Super Mario Party Jamboree – Best Family, Best Multiplayer

Join the jumbo jamboree! The Mario Party series is back and more jam-packed than ever! With over 110 minigames, new online and offline modes, and plenty of customization choices, there’s something for every kind of partygoer! Get in the groove with 3 motion modes! Cook to the beat! Flap to fly! Roll to the goal! It’s Bowser vs. the world in 2 online modes!: Koopathlon; Bowser Kaboom Squad.

Available on: Nintendo Switch

Princess Peach: Showtime – Best Family

Take the stage as Peach! Help Peach save the Sparkle Theater from the wicked Grape and the Sour Bunch, who have set the stage for the ultimate tragedy. Joined by Stella, the theater’s guardian, Peach is ready to save the day! Power up with transformations and use showstopping abilities to call curtains on this tragedy. What transformations are hiding just behind the curtain?

Available on: Nintendo Switch

TopSpin 2k25 – Best Sports / Racing

Play tennis as or against today’s up and coming tennis stars as well as iconic players in Grand Slam competitions and international arenas, and choose to study at TopSpin Academy with court master John McEnroe.

Available on: PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

WWE 2k24 – Best Sports / Racing

Experience a gripping retelling of WrestleMania’s greatest moments in 2K Showcase of the Immortals in WWE 2K24, where you can relive a collection of some of the most unforgettable, career-defining matches.

Available on: PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

 

Have a favorite among these games? Cast your vote on The Game Awards website until December 11th at 6:00p CST. Tune in on December 12th at 6:30p CST to watch the Game Awards ceremony on major social and gaming platforms.

New Documentary DVDs

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It’s time for Nonfiction November! Did you know that Davenport Public Library has a robust nonfiction DVD selection? Here are a few critically acclaimed documentaries that are new to the Davenport Public Library shelves. (Descriptions below provided by the publisher.)

Four Daughters
The riveting exploration of rebellion, memory, and sisterhood reconstructs the story of Olfa Hamrouni and her four daughters, unpacking a complex family history through intimate interviews and artful reenactments to examine how the Tunisian woman’s two eldest were radicalized by Islamic extremists. Casting professional actresses as the missing daughters, along with acclaimed Egyptian-Tunisian actress Hend Sabri as Olfa, award-winning director Kaouther Ben Hania (The Man Who Sold His Skin) restages pivotal moments in the family’s life. These scenes are interwoven with confessions and reflections from Olfa and her younger daughters, offering the women agency to tell their own stories and capturing moments of joy, loss, violence, and heartache. Winner of four prizes including L’Oeil d’Or (Best Documentary) when it screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, Four Daughters is a compelling portrait of five women and a unique and ambitious work of nonfiction cinema that explores the nature of memory, the weight of inherited trauma, and the ties that bind mothers and daughters.

Mambar Pierrette
Over the past decade, Cameroonian filmmaker Rosine Mbakam has distinguished herself for her quietly observational documentary portraits of African women. With Mambar Pierrette, her feature narrative debut, Mbakam turns her documentarian’s eye to the eponymous Pierrette, a gifted & beloved neighborhood seamstress who works to support her young children and mother. As a rainstorm threatens to flood her workshop, one of many misfortunes, Pierrette will have to stay afloat.

 

In San Pedro Amuzgos, Mexico, ‘the town of the spinners’ where the director grew up, children are raised beneath the loom. While Zoila weaves, she listens to her son’s first existential questions. Through the warp of their conversation, we weave three threads: that of Zoila herself, that of Donato, the most famous violinist in the town, and that of Lorenzo, his heir. These are stories of songs and dances, of children and parents, and of the threads that might snap–or bind an indigenous community closer together.

 

Shortlisted for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project is a beguiling documentary portrait that follows poet and activist Nikki Giovanni as she approaches 80. The film explores Giovanni’s Afrofuturist-feminist philosophical outlook as well as her poignant relationship with her family, her political audacity, and her poetic eloquence, all knit together with a constant eye and ear for its subject’s own aesthetic verve. Looking back at a personal life and history cast in the long shadow of American racism, and forward to hopeful, possible futures, Giovanni acts as our guide and narrator, with refreshingly unorthodox filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michl̈e Stephenson refraining from traditional chronologies or talking-head conventions. Going to Mars is fueled by constant intellectual engagement and radical imagination in the search for emotional and political fulfillment in a world of disenfranchisement.

Adrian Russell Wills, a Wonnarua man, and Gillian Moody, a Wodi Wodi woman, share an undeniable bond. Both were Aboriginal children adopted by white families and, later in life, they each shared similar desires to reconnect with their bloodlines. In this moving documentary, Wills and Moody recount their emotional searches for belonging, providing an intimate journey into isolation and identity.

Kindred explores the importance of discovering your place in the world and realizing that home and love truly can be found in the people and places your heart connects to. This intimate film is a continuation of the ongoing conversations between Wills and Moody, documenting their emotional searches for belonging and how their abiding friendship has offered solace in turbulent times.

During the month of November, look for the “Nonfiction November” display at the Fairmount and Eastern branches for more nonfiction DVD recommendations.

New Horror Video Games

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Spooky season is upon us! Check out these new horror video games available at Davenport Public Library. (Descriptions below provided by publisher.)

The Last of Us Part II Remastered: Five years after their dangerous journey across the post-pandemic United States, Ellie and Joel have settled down in Jackson, Wyoming. Living amongst a thriving community of survivors has allowed them peace and stability, despite the constant threat of the infected and other, more desperate survivors. When a violent event disrupts that peace, Ellie embarks on a relentless journey to carry out justice and find closure.

Available on: PS5

 

Alone in the Dark: Deep in the 1920’s south, Emily Hartwood’s uncle has gone missing. Together with private investigator Edward Carnby, she embarks on a journey to Derceto Manor, a home for the mentally ill where something is lurking. You’ll encounter strange residents, nightmarish realms, dangerous monsters and ultimately uncover a plot of rising evil. At the intersection of reality, mystery, and insanity, an adventure waits that will challenge your core beliefs.

Available on: PS5

 

Lies of P: You are awakened by a mysterious voice that guides you through the plagued city of Krat – a once lively place that has been poisoned by madness and bloodlust. In our soulslike, you must adapt yourself and your weapons to face untold horrors, untangle the unfathomable secrets of the city’s elites, and choose whether to confront predicaments with the truth or weave lies to overcome them on the journey to find yourself.

Available on: PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

 

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!: A terrifying world of romance and poetry awaits! Write poems for your favorite club member and erase any mistakes you make along the way to ensure your perfect ending. Now’s your chance to discover why Doki Doki Literature Club is one of the most beloved psychological horror games of the decade!

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch

National Video Games Day

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September 12th is National Video Games Day. Celebrate by checking out these new video games at Davenport Public Library.

Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator: If you enjoy cozy life simulator games, this one is for you! In Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator, you are in charge of restoring an abandoned community garden to its former glory. In story mode, complete tasks given by neighbors to unlock garden sections, as well as tools, seeds, and ornaments. Or instantly unlock all seeds and decorations in creative mode, and let your imagination go wild.

Available on: Nintendo Switch

Dragon’s Dogma 2: In this action RPG, you play as the Arisen, the chosen one destined to slay the Dragon. With a single save file, your choices are important– and permanent. This title offers deeply immersive mechanics, including limited fast travel and campsites, rest-dependent health bars, and interconnected side quests. Explore a deeply detailed map where new discoveries and dangers wait around every corner.

Available on: PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

Sea of Stars: This award-winning indie title invokes nostalgia with retro pixel art, a clever turn-based combat system, and a stunning soundtrack. Play as Valere or Zale, Solstice Warriors who use Eclipse Magic to fight monstrous creations made by the evil Fleshmancer. On your journey to defeat the Fleshmancer, explore the intricately designed map, solve unique puzzles, play a slots-based board game called Wheels, and more.

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch

Opus: Echo of Starsong: The latest installment in the Opus series, Echo of Starsong is a breathtaking visual novel that incorporates narrative-driven gameplay with audio puzzles and light resource management. Jun, exiled by his clan, searches for asteroids known as “starsongs” to redeem himself. Eda is a witch who can hear the sounds of these asteroids. Join them as they venture into space on an unforgettable journey.

Available on: Nintendo Switch

Ultros: Ultros combines a sprawling metroidvania-style map with the intensive combat and looped gameplay of a rogue-like. You awaken stranded on The Sarcophagus, an eternally looping black hole containing the ancient demon ULTROS. Explore the map to discover secrets hidden in the psychedelic storyscape, with each loop bringing you closer to the truth of this strange world.

Available on: PS5

During the month of September, look for the “National Video Games Day” displays at all three branches. Or check out our Video Games LibGuide for more video game suggestions!

Back to (Magic) School

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August is back to school season! Check out these TV series where school is a magical experience. (Descriptions below provided by publishers.)

Wednesday: Wednesday is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’s years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Wednesday attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago, all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.

 

Legacies: The next generation of supernatural beings at The Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted is where Klaus Mikaelson’s daughter, seventeen-year-old Hope Mikaelson, a tribrid daughter of a Vampire/Werewolf hybrid; Alaric Saltzman’s twins, Lizzie and Josie Saltzman; and other young adults, come of age in the most unconventional way possible, nurtured to be their best selves, in spite of their worst impulses. Will these young witches, vampires, and werewolves become the heroes they want to be, or the villains they were born to be?

American Horror Story: Coven: The exceptional young witches at Miss Robichaux’s Academy are under assault by forces of ignorance and hate. Caught in the turmoil is new arrival, Zoe, who harbors a terrifying secret of her own. Fiona, a Supreme Witch with unimaginable powers, is determined to protect the Coven, but her obsessive quest for immortality will lead her to cross paths with a formidable voodoo queen and a murderous slave owner cursed with eternal life.

Monster High: Teenager Clawdeen Wolf never felt like she fit in, until her instincts led her to Monster High, where she discovered she’s a werewolf and a human, and now feels at home in both worlds. She is befriended by Draculaura, Frankie Stein and Deuce Gorgon. These young monsters are learning who they are, defying expectations, disrupting the norm, and embracing their differences to make a difference. Together, they’ll learn to be fierce and fearless at the one place they all belong: Monster High.

 

Welcome to Demon School Iruma-Kun: Iruma Suzuki’s parents were horrible, nasty people who sold his soul to a demon! Ironically, it seems that the Demon has always wanted a grandson and is determined to make Iruma fit into that role even if that means that Iruma has to go to school with all the other demon kids. Since Iruma’s never had a decent education, he’s fine with that, but there’s a catch: if anyone learns that he’s human, his classmates will eat him!

During the month of August, look for the “School Time Stories” display at the Eastern branch for more back-to-school recommendations.

Replay, Renew, Repeat: The Dragon Age Series

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Excited for the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard this fall? Now is the perfect time to replay the rest of the series, available at Davenport Public Library. (Descriptions below provided by publisher.)

Dragon Age: Origins

You are the Grey Warden. With the return of an ancient foe, the kingdom is engulfed in civil war and you have been chosen to unite the shattered lands and slay the archdemon.

Available on: PS3 and Xbox 360

 

Dragon Age II

Embark on an all-new adventure in the Dragon Age saga. You are Hawke, one of the few to survive the destruction of your homeland. Now, forced to fight for survival, you must gather the deadliest of allies, amass fame and fortune, and seal your place in history.

Available on: PS3 and Xbox 360

 

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Recruit legendary warriors to fight by your side as you hunt down agents of chaos and lead the Inquisition. A blast rips a hole in the sky, unleashing an army of demons from the mysterious realm known as the Fade. As the blast’s sole survivor, only you and your team can bring the world back from the brink of destruction.

Available on: PS4