As with the first, this book explores the relationship between The Seen World and the Spirit World. Balsa returns to her homeland, a barren, mountain region, seeped in poverty and dependent on the King’s relationship with the Spirit world for survival.
Balsa, weary after years away and burden by guilt, is determined to return, to make amends and lay to rest the spirit of her mentor.
The beauty of this story is in how Balsa fights for the freedom of her soul and her people. Told with a realist sorrow and depth, but never straying in to maudlin prose, the reader walks with Balsa as she faces her greatest fear.
Interwoven with that is the story of a young man and his courage and his growth as a person. There is plenty of action, adventure, mystery, and humor.
I would highly recommend this book. In particularly, it would be excellent for late elementary age children, and any looking to read a story told by a non-western female author. ( )

While it’s the sequel to Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit, this book could probably be read independently. Balsa, a bodyguard, is returning to her homeland to clear the name of her mentor and foster father, Jiguro, who saved her life when she was six years old. But when she finally returns to her homeland, she finds that the conspiracy that led Jiguro to flee with her so long ago extends a lot farther than she thought.

While I tend to list the Moribito books as YA, they could easily be read by middle grade students. They’re short and not super complex, although Guardian of Darkness has continued its predecessor’s tradition of examining how history can be distorted and shaped by those in power.

I still like Balsa, a thirty year old warrior woman who continues to be awesome. None of the supporting characters from the last book reappeared in this installment, and I do not think the new supporting cast was quite as good. I particularly missed Tanda.

For a short and fairly simple book, the world felt well realized. I liked the descriptions of everyday life in Balsa’s homeland, from the clothes and food to the goat herding. The magical and mythological aspects also worked well, and I liked how that all came together.

The prose is not a strong suit. It’s functional, but it can feel too plain at times. It also feels like there’s slightly too much telling and not enough showing. This is something I noticed in the last book as well.

Overall, I’ve liked the Moribito books but not loved them. I think they would still be worth checking out if you’re looking for middle grade novels, older heroines in children’s fiction, or translated Japanese fantasy.

Originally posted on The Illustrated Page ( )

精霊の守り人はアニメを先に見たこともあり、映像が先にイメージとしてあって飲み込みやすかった。
しかし本作は映像化されておらず、牧童という人間にちかいけれど違う種族という概念や、地下にひろがる世界観がいまひとつ理解しにくく、いわゆる「観てから読む」ハザードのさらなる発展形を味わう。
女主人公バルサの魅力は高まった印象。 ( )

Not as gripping as the first book, but an enjoyable read. ( )

Second book in the series, even better than the first. ( )