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守り人 [Moribito] #5
神之守護者 來訪篇
舞台となるのは、異界と人の世界が交錯する世界 ── 。
バルサが人買いから助けた美少女アスラは、ロタ王国をゆるがす、ある特別な〈力〉を秘めていた。その〈力〉をもとめ、王家の隠密たちが動きだす…。せまりくる追っ手から、アスラを連れバルサは逃げる。シリーズ第５作。
バルサが人買いから助けた美少女アスラは、ロタ王国をゆるがす、ある特別な〈力〉を秘めていた。その〈力〉をもとめ、王家の隠密たちが動きだす…。せまりくる追っ手から、アスラを連れバルサは逃げる。シリーズ第５作。
248 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2003
1 person is currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Nahoko Uehashi
89 books357 followersNahoko Uehashi is the author of ten books in the Moribito series, which have sold more than a million copies and won many major literary awards in her native Japan. An associate professor at a Japanese university, she has a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology and studies indigenous peoples in Australia. She lives near Tokyo, Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 24, 2022
As always with the series, Kami no Moribito: Raihou-hen was a very entertaining experience!
I have my own blog now, so please do pay it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)
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Kami no Moribito, or Guardian of the God marks the first time, where an adventure with Balsa was split into two volumes. The pacing of the book matches that quite well, in my humble opinion. Because, even though it's got a lot of information in almost every chapter, it's on the slower side. Which I was beyond grateful for.
To me personally, the beautiful thing about this series is its world building. And Uehashi Nahoko, thankfully, doesn't waste a single chance to expand on it. There are many legends surrounding each of the nations of the continent and in each volume so far, I've been through an adventure surrounding them.
Regardless if it was a guardian novel (following Balsa) or a traveler novel (following Chagum), there is a big focus on culture, customs, terrain and above all legends. And I loved every single second of it.
There is a richness here that I don't always feel in fantasy. Adding that legend and how it affects the culture of that country, because of how dangerous it is or how divine it is, is just brilliant. One other thing I really enjoy when it comes to this has to go to how the legends are revealed.
It starts out as tidbits, and what the characters know or heard before. Before it shifts to include those with a lot more knowledge on the subject. Sometimes the information matches, sometimes it doesn't and it's always fun to work my way to the full picture.
The thing that makes it incredible to me, is the characters as well. Balsa is by far my favourite character in the series and so far, the adventures with her have been higher on the fun scale. In comparison to Chagum's I mean, but that's just my preference, since I prefer older characters.
Regardless, seeing her and Tanda try to make sense of the situation was fun. Seeing them try to work around it to get the best results possible was even more so, especially when the magic weaving side comes into it. It's also interesting to note that in this book, the danger levels feel so much higher in comparison, given the bloody nature of the "God" in question.
Which in turn, make me curious (also excited) to see how far the author might go with it.
The newer characters were interesting in their own rights as well. It's a staple for the adventures to have a younger child attached to them, and that make it interesting to see how they differ from one another and how they develop the farther into the book I get.
So many things revealed, so many factions in play and there is a lot more left to discover which is simply phenomenal for me.
In the end, this can be considered a setup book for the second part and I can't wait to read the rest of it in February. Enjoyed this one a lot and it's hopefully going to be one more brilliant adventure with Balsa!
I have my own blog now, so please do pay it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)
──────────────────
Kami no Moribito, or Guardian of the God marks the first time, where an adventure with Balsa was split into two volumes. The pacing of the book matches that quite well, in my humble opinion. Because, even though it's got a lot of information in almost every chapter, it's on the slower side. Which I was beyond grateful for.
To me personally, the beautiful thing about this series is its world building. And Uehashi Nahoko, thankfully, doesn't waste a single chance to expand on it. There are many legends surrounding each of the nations of the continent and in each volume so far, I've been through an adventure surrounding them.
Regardless if it was a guardian novel (following Balsa) or a traveler novel (following Chagum), there is a big focus on culture, customs, terrain and above all legends. And I loved every single second of it.
There is a richness here that I don't always feel in fantasy. Adding that legend and how it affects the culture of that country, because of how dangerous it is or how divine it is, is just brilliant. One other thing I really enjoy when it comes to this has to go to how the legends are revealed.
It starts out as tidbits, and what the characters know or heard before. Before it shifts to include those with a lot more knowledge on the subject. Sometimes the information matches, sometimes it doesn't and it's always fun to work my way to the full picture.
The thing that makes it incredible to me, is the characters as well. Balsa is by far my favourite character in the series and so far, the adventures with her have been higher on the fun scale. In comparison to Chagum's I mean, but that's just my preference, since I prefer older characters.
Regardless, seeing her and Tanda try to make sense of the situation was fun. Seeing them try to work around it to get the best results possible was even more so, especially when the magic weaving side comes into it. It's also interesting to note that in this book, the danger levels feel so much higher in comparison, given the bloody nature of the "God" in question.
Which in turn, make me curious (also excited) to see how far the author might go with it.
The newer characters were interesting in their own rights as well. It's a staple for the adventures to have a younger child attached to them, and that make it interesting to see how they differ from one another and how they develop the farther into the book I get.
So many things revealed, so many factions in play and there is a lot more left to discover which is simply phenomenal for me.
In the end, this can be considered a setup book for the second part and I can't wait to read the rest of it in February. Enjoyed this one a lot and it's hopefully going to be one more brilliant adventure with Balsa!
June 18, 2023
I read Ainikki's excellent fan translation of this novel. This review covers both Raiho-hen and Kikan-hen, as it is a continuous story. I will paste the review on both.
This is the first book in the Moribito series that has 2 volumes, and as a result, it's the first of the books that feels like it has proper breathing room. Uehashi actually has the time and the pages to describe locations, sights, sounds, foods, and delve more into the characters. If this is what Uehashi can do with 400 pages instead of 200, then give her 400 every time.
The story itself follows Balsa and Tanda, who have had their first peaceful year together as Balsa has been helping Tanda recover from the injuries sustained in Guardian of the Dream. Balsa, in an inn, witnesses 2 children being trafficked. She has a moment where she realizes she can just do nothing, but that that wouldn't be true to herself. She jumps in to save the 2 children... and almost dies in the process. The girl, Asra, is the host of a powerful and violent god, Talhamaya, and she does not have control over it. Tanda, after doing a soul call, says very firmly that if they help the children, they may not live to tell of it. Then, because he is Tanda, he nurses them back to health anyway. (Balsa and Tanda remain one of my favorite literary couples of all time.) The book from there follows Balsa and Tanda as they try to get the 2 children, Chikisa and Asra, to safety.
The character work in the novel is excellent. Balsa, Tanda, Chikisa, Asra, Sufar, and Shihana are all fully fleshed-out, with good stories behind them. The tone of the book is much darker than Guardian of the Dream or Traveler of the Void, but Uehashi uses that extra edge to great effect. There are many who consider Guardian of the God the best book in the series. Having read 7 of the 13 books so far, I would agree. It's at least as good as Guardian of the Spirit. I am so glad to have finally read this gem.
This is the first book in the Moribito series that has 2 volumes, and as a result, it's the first of the books that feels like it has proper breathing room. Uehashi actually has the time and the pages to describe locations, sights, sounds, foods, and delve more into the characters. If this is what Uehashi can do with 400 pages instead of 200, then give her 400 every time.
The story itself follows Balsa and Tanda, who have had their first peaceful year together as Balsa has been helping Tanda recover from the injuries sustained in Guardian of the Dream. Balsa, in an inn, witnesses 2 children being trafficked. She has a moment where she realizes she can just do nothing, but that that wouldn't be true to herself. She jumps in to save the 2 children... and almost dies in the process. The girl, Asra, is the host of a powerful and violent god, Talhamaya, and she does not have control over it. Tanda, after doing a soul call, says very firmly that if they help the children, they may not live to tell of it. Then, because he is Tanda, he nurses them back to health anyway. (Balsa and Tanda remain one of my favorite literary couples of all time.) The book from there follows Balsa and Tanda as they try to get the 2 children, Chikisa and Asra, to safety.
The character work in the novel is excellent. Balsa, Tanda, Chikisa, Asra, Sufar, and Shihana are all fully fleshed-out, with good stories behind them. The tone of the book is much darker than Guardian of the Dream or Traveler of the Void, but Uehashi uses that extra edge to great effect. There are many who consider Guardian of the God the best book in the series. Having read 7 of the 13 books so far, I would agree. It's at least as good as Guardian of the Spirit. I am so glad to have finally read this gem.
February 3, 2024
মরিবিতো সিরিজের পঞ্চম বই, "গার্ডিয়ান অফ গড" শুরু হয় বালসা আর তানডার রোটা অভিযান নিয়ে। বার্ষিক জরিপুটি মেলায় তানডা প্রতিবছর আসে বিরল জরিপুটি কিনতে অথবা কোনো চিকিৎসার বই। কেবিনে বিশ্রাম নিতে যেয়ে দেখে দাস হিসেবে বিক্রি করার উদ্দেশ্যে অপহৃত হওয়া ভাই-বোন যাদের বয়স কৈশোরে পা রেখেছে মাত্র। তাদের বালসা উদ্ধার করতে চাইলেও তানডার মত নরম মনের মানুষ কেন এতে বাধা দিচ্ছে?
এদিকে রোটা রাজ্যের এক কারাগার ভবন এক রাতের মাঝে কীভাবে ধূলিসাৎ হয়ে গেল; বিশাল বড় দৈব তলোয়ার দিয়ে যেন প্রকান্ড ঘাত করেছে?
মরিবিতো সিরিজের একেকটা বই আগেরটার চেয়ে ভালো। গল্পের বর্ণনা, চরিত্রায়ন প্রতিবারের মত এবারেও দশে দশ। বইটার গল্প এখানেই শেষ হয়নি। পরের বইয়ে গল্প চলতে থাকে।
এদিকে রোটা রাজ্যের এক কারাগার ভবন এক রাতের মাঝে কীভাবে ধূলিসাৎ হয়ে গেল; বিশাল বড় দৈব তলোয়ার দিয়ে যেন প্রকান্ড ঘাত করেছে?
মরিবিতো সিরিজের একেকটা বই আগেরটার চেয়ে ভালো। গল্পের বর্ণনা, চরিত্রায়ন প্রতিবারের মত এবারেও দশে দশ। বইটার গল্প এখানেই শেষ হয়নি। পরের বইয়ে গল্প চলতে থাকে।
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews