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狐笛のかなた
小夜は12歳。人の心が聞こえる〈聞き耳〉の力を亡き母から受け継いだ。ある日の夕暮れ、犬に追われる子狐を助けたが、狐はこの世と神の世の〈あわい〉に棲む霊狐・野火だった。隣り合う二つの国の争いに巻き込まれ、呪いを避けて森陰屋敷に閉じ込められている少年・小春丸をめぐり、小夜と野火の、孤独でけなげな愛が燃え上がる……愛のために身を捨てたとき、もう恐ろしいものは何もない。
392 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2003
2 people are currently reading
29 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
November 11, 2023
This is my first Japanese high fantasy book and it did not disappoint.
The story tells the fate of three teenagers who were inevitably involved in the bitter feud between two families over a disputed land.
Sayo, a human girl descended from powerful sorcerer's tribe with the power to curse and control spirits in Awai, a territory between the human world and spirit's world where gods and spirit animals dwelled.
Nobi, a teenage boy who is actually a spirit fox serving the enemy's sorcerer, having no choice but to abide to his order to kill as his life was held in the fox whistle (koteki) in the sorcerer's hand.
Koharumaru, the illegitimate son of the lord of the land who was hidden in a mansion in a deep forest for ten years to protect him from being cursed to death by the enemy.
The author did a great job bringing out the conflicting thoughts of all the characters together, and allow them to collide such that we as the readers could really feel their struggles. Nobi's wish to become a human and be together with Sayo. Sayo's wish to stay away from all the sorcery and ugly murders, but at the same time could not abandon her childhood friend, Koharumaru. Koharumaru's wish to break free from his imprisonment despite the danger awaiting him. The hatred and tension between both families for a land, which could never end despite having drawn bloods from both side.
Throughout the book, we witness the growth of Sayo and Nobi's love for each other, transcending hatred and species, and their pure wish to protect people who are precious to each other even if it meant giving their life. Is there a way for their love to thrive? Is there a way to end all the fights and hatred? Is there any meaning to power if it means losing people who are important to your life?
The ending, while not perfect, was probably the best way forward. And it left me wanting more. What a shock when I find out it's not a series.
Note: This book was placed along with other books in the Moribito series. I picked it up thinking it's probably a prequel to the series but it's not. Then I remember from the anime, the main character is called Balsa not Sayo. WHERE IS THE SEQUEL?
The story tells the fate of three teenagers who were inevitably involved in the bitter feud between two families over a disputed land.
Sayo, a human girl descended from powerful sorcerer's tribe with the power to curse and control spirits in Awai, a territory between the human world and spirit's world where gods and spirit animals dwelled.
Nobi, a teenage boy who is actually a spirit fox serving the enemy's sorcerer, having no choice but to abide to his order to kill as his life was held in the fox whistle (koteki) in the sorcerer's hand.
Koharumaru, the illegitimate son of the lord of the land who was hidden in a mansion in a deep forest for ten years to protect him from being cursed to death by the enemy.
The author did a great job bringing out the conflicting thoughts of all the characters together, and allow them to collide such that we as the readers could really feel their struggles. Nobi's wish to become a human and be together with Sayo. Sayo's wish to stay away from all the sorcery and ugly murders, but at the same time could not abandon her childhood friend, Koharumaru. Koharumaru's wish to break free from his imprisonment despite the danger awaiting him. The hatred and tension between both families for a land, which could never end despite having drawn bloods from both side.
Throughout the book, we witness the growth of Sayo and Nobi's love for each other, transcending hatred and species, and their pure wish to protect people who are precious to each other even if it meant giving their life. Is there a way for their love to thrive? Is there a way to end all the fights and hatred? Is there any meaning to power if it means losing people who are important to your life?
The ending, while not perfect, was probably the best way forward. And it left me wanting more. What a shock when I find out it's not a series.
Note: This book was placed along with other books in the Moribito series. I picked it up thinking it's probably a prequel to the series but it's not. Then I remember from the anime, the main character is called Balsa not Sayo. WHERE IS THE SEQUEL?
December 22, 2025
My last book of the year and I'm somewhat conflicted on it.
On the one hand, it's got very interesting world building in both magical side and political climate as per the author's usual. However, it's seemingly being done in fast forward unlike the usual, take-your-time-expanding-it approach her other series had (I read Moribito, Kemono no Souja Erin and Shika no Ou so far).
It could be because this is a standalone and it needs to get to the point as soon as possible, but it still felt like it's being done in fast forward. To the extent that most of the struggles, happenings and aspirations fall pretty flat to me.
Getting the chance to get to know the characters for a while longer might have been better. Or lessening the scope of the narrative to either be a struggle in the spirit world or political side, not have them both in such a short book.
Either way, it wasn't a read I regret, and I definitely look forward to more adventures from her. Thankfully, the wait will not be long.
On the one hand, it's got very interesting world building in both magical side and political climate as per the author's usual. However, it's seemingly being done in fast forward unlike the usual, take-your-time-expanding-it approach her other series had (I read Moribito, Kemono no Souja Erin and Shika no Ou so far).
It could be because this is a standalone and it needs to get to the point as soon as possible, but it still felt like it's being done in fast forward. To the extent that most of the struggles, happenings and aspirations fall pretty flat to me.
Getting the chance to get to know the characters for a while longer might have been better. Or lessening the scope of the narrative to either be a struggle in the spirit world or political side, not have them both in such a short book.
Either way, it wasn't a read I regret, and I definitely look forward to more adventures from her. Thankfully, the wait will not be long.
March 7, 2023
二十年ぶりくらいに読み直したのですが、やはり良かったです。中学生だった当時、これ面白かったよねという話で友達と盛り上がった思い出もあり、印象深い一冊です。
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