Monday, January 04, 2010

Fantasy: Moribito II: Guardian of the Darkness



Moribito is a very popular series that has been translated from the original Japanese. Balsa, our heroine, is a mercenary and bodyguard who has been fighting since she was spirited away from her home at the age of six. Exiled to a strange land, she was raised by her warrior mentor to be a fierce fighter. Now, nearly twenty five years later, Balsa is a mature and complex woman with strong morals and unparalleled spear fighting skills.

In book one, Balsa was charged with guarding a child prince whose spirit held the key to the country's rains. Balsa defended Chagum against assassins, disasters, and other threats; her skill saved not only Chagum, but the kingdom itself.

Now Balsa wants to return home, to the land beyond the mountains. She was driven from her homeland of Kanbal as a child, hunted by assassins and warriors; she watched her mentor die before her. When she finds that she was betrayed by the very warriors who should have protected her mentor and her country, Balsa swears that she will take revenge. With the help of two Kanbalese children, Balsa must uncover the conspiracy that threatens to destroy her kingdom.

Fantasy

Grades 9-12

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