Warrior Balsa is returning to the kingdom of her birth for the first time since her guardian Jiguro fled with her when she was a child. Jiguro gave up everything to save Balsa after her father was murdered. But Balsa discovers that Jiguro’s reputation and memory have been dishonored by lies that can be traced directly to the current king, a prince at the time of her father’s death. As she tries to ferret out the motive for the lies, Balsa learns that the time for a once-in-a-generation ceremony that keeps the spirit and physical world forces in balance is approaching, and understanding brings frightening implications. Nahoko Uehashi again explores how disregard for old ways, ancient knowledge, and indigenous peoples, as well greed and lust for power, can threaten the very existence of a culture in this thoughtful, action-packed follow-up to Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (U.S. edition: Arthur A. Levine Books / Scholastic, 2008). Balsa is a singular, satisfying hero whose exploits offer adventure as well as commentary on human nature and society. Although the richly developed setting for these fantasy stories has a medieval Japanese feel, readers will find much that is applicable to our world today. (Age 12 and older)

Elin's mother had the important duty of caring for giant water serpents called Toda that were trained to fight in the royal army and protect the country when one day, all the Toda are found dead. As a result of their deaths, her mother is blamed and sentenced to death, leaving Elin an orphan to fend for herself. Elin loves observing nature and creatures that inhabit the natural world. As she gets older, she realizes that she can communicate with the Royal Beasts, a giant bird-like creature that rivals the Toda and protects another kingdom. Fans of Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away will enjoy this fantasy novel.

First published in English in London by Pushkin in 2018.

Author lives near Tokyo, Japan.

Japan. Originally published in Japan as Kemono no soja I todahen II ojuhen by Kodansha in 2006. English translation by Cathy Hirano published in the United States by Henry Holt in 2019.