New Releases by Nahoko Uehashi

Cos’è successo davvero al di là delle Afon Noa? Lo scontro tra i tōda e le ōjū causerà una nuova catastrofe? È possibile scoprire la verità senza conoscere l’orrore della guerra? Dieci anni dopo il fatidico scontro tra le due fazioni opposte del regno di Ryoza, la vita di Erin scorre tranquilla; ora ha un marito, un figlio e un lavoro come insegnante a Kazarum. Ma quando l’Aruhan le chiede di indagare su una misteriosa malattia che sta decimando i serpenti Kiba, la sua serenità è messa a dura prova: la donna deve tornare al villaggio natale, dove vecchie ferite rischiano di riaprirsi. Nel corso delle ricerche, insieme al soldato Yoharu, Erin fa una scoperta preoccupante e teme che il segreto per allevare i tōda possa essere trapelato oltre i confini di Ryoza. Anche la stessa Erin si troverà in pericolo: la sua abilità di entrare in contatto con le ōjū e controllarle fa sì che molti vogliano rapirla, o addirittura ucciderla. Mentre i cavalieri di Rāza minacciano le città carovaniere a est e Ryoza rischia un attacco imminente, Erin e suo marito Iaru, un ex Se Zan a guardia della Yojie, dovranno prepararsi ad affrontare una guerra. E, questa volta, Erin potrebbe non riuscire a salvare le sue amate ōjū. La minaccia di un’invasione, segreti che vengono alla luce e decisioni difficili che potrebbero portare alla vittoria, ma anche alla rovina: tutto questo nell’avvincente finale della saga fantasy giapponese iniziata con Erin - The Beast Player. «La catena di eventi che era iniziata molto tempo prima oltre quelle montagne aveva cambiato la vita di generazioni intere – quella di sua madre, la sua, quella di Seimiya e Yoharu. Qual era davvero la catastrofe all’origine di tutto quanto? Cosa sarebbe successo quando un nugolo di ōjū avrebbe coperto il cielo e si fosse scagliato sulle truppe di tōda?».

Si può colmare la distanza che separa gli esseri umani dagli animali? È l’amore a unire tutte le forme di vita, o la paura? Nel villaggio dei custodi del granducato dell’Aruhan, Soyon ha una responsabilità importante: prendersi cura dei temibili serpenti d’acqua dell’esercito del granduca, i tōda. Quando però alcuni esemplari muoiono misteriosamente, la donna viene condannata a morte e, usando una tecnica proibita, riesce a mettere in salvo sua figlia Erin, finita insieme a lei nella palude dei tōda più feroci. Approdata sulla remota costa di un lago nel regno di Ryoza, Erin viene accolta da un vecchio apicoltore che le insegna tutto sulle api e sulle ōjū selvatiche, gigantesche e in apparenza pericolosissime creature alate. Contravvenendo alle regole millenarie e seguendo le sue intuizioni e conoscenze, Erin sarà il primo essere umano a creare, grazie anche alle note di un’arpa, un legame speciale con un cucciolo di ōjū di cui si prende cura. Questo legame le garantisce un ruolo importante ma la coinvolge anche in complotti politici che mettono in pericolo lei, le persone che le sono vicine e le stesse creature alate. Erin dovrà rischiare il tutto per tutto non solo per salvare se stessa, ma anche per impedire che le sue amate Dōjū vengano trasformate in armi di distruzione. Due forze in lotta tra loro, una ragazza con un potere da scoprire e leggendarie creature regali che solo lei è in grado di capire e proteggere: una saga fantasy coinvolgente e sofisticata da una delle scrittrici più lette di sempre in Giappone. «Finché durerà la vita che mi hai donato, rimarrò sulla riva dell’abisso e continuerò a suonare la mia arpa. Pizzicherò le corde una per una, e parlerò alle creature che popolano il cielo e la terra».

When the headmistress of the Kazalumu School learns that Elin has observed wild Royal Beasts in their natural habitat, she invites her to meet a special new arrival at the sanctuary-the young cub Leelan, recently injured in an attempt on the Yojeh''s life. Alone, terrified of the light, and refusing to eat, the traumatized cub cowers in a darkened pen, growing weaker by the day. Elin is sure she can find a way to help it, and the headmistress begrudgingly gives her one month to try. But with time quickly running out for the frail little creature, Leelan''s life is entirely in Elin''s hands…

Elin, now 14, has become a seasoned hand on Joeun''s farm. But her peaceful life is turned on its head when Joeun''s son shows up from the royal capital, urging him to return to his former post as headmaster of an academy for the country''s elite. Life in the capital would take them far away from the beasts and animals Elin loves, to where people look down on her Ahlyo heritage. Worse yet, as a girl, she won''t be allowed to attend the academy, and will soon be expected to find a suitable marriage match...

Back on her feet-at least physically-after her harrowing ordeal, Elin adjusts to her new life with the kind old beekeeper Joeun. Fascinated by his bees and their mysterious ways, she''s excited when he tells her they''ll be going high up into the mountains for the summer to follow the bees'' favorite wildflower blooms. But when Joeun loses his footing in a deep ravine inhabited by wild toda and even fiercer beasts, Elin will have to figure out how to save them both.

Ten-year-old Elin loves her brave and beautiful mother, a gifted beast doctor charged with the care of the Toda-the fearsome giant serpents that the kingdom''s warriors ride into battle. Their modest but happy life together is shattered when a mysterious illness fells the entire stable of the prized serpents overnight, and Elin''s mother is saddled with the blame. Before she knows it, Elin finds herself cast out from all she has ever known, alone in a faraway land, with only her mother''s words and the kindness of strangers to guide her. A sumptuous manga adaptation of the hit fantasy novel series, The Beast Player, by Nahoko Uehashi.

The search for the kidnapped Yuna leads Van, Sae, and Hohsalle to the sacred Fire Horse Town, an Aquafa settlement that resisted Zol’s conquest. As Hohsalle struggles to find the cure for mittsual, Van wonders why he, a man who lost everything, was chosen to survive the deadly disease. Before long, he’ll find the answers he’s been looking for, as destiny beckons him and Yuna ever forward...Caught in the throes of political warfare and a fight against fate, will Van be able to reunite with Yuna and bring peace to the land?

After a pack of infected dogs attacks a group of miners, soldier-turned-slave Van awakens to find himself blessed with preternatural strength. As he effortlessly breaks free of his chains, he notices a young girl-the only other survivor-standing before him. The two escape the mine, but with Van’s captors in pursuit and a deadly disease ravaging the area, how will they survive on the lam?

Ten years after the fateful clash between two opposing sides of the Divine Kingdom of Lyoza, Elin lives a peaceful life with her family. She tries to stay as far away from her past as possible—the girl who communicated with creatures and befriended a Royal Beast wants no part in the power struggles of humans. But when Elin is called upon to investigate a mysterious illness that''s stricken the Toda, she uncovers a startling plot—one that could threaten everything she holds dear. In this thrilling sequel to The Beast Player, Elin must confront her destiny and heed the dire warnings of history. Is a final battle between the Toda and the Royal Beasts inevitable? And will it mean destruction for all?

You''ve never read a fantasy novel like this one! The deep well of Japanese myth merges with the Western fantasy tradition for a novel that''s as rich in place and culture as it is hard to put down. Balsa was a wanderer and warrior for hire. Then she rescued a boy flung into a raging river -- and at that moment, her destiny changed. Now Balsa must protect the boy -- the Prince Chagum -- on his quest to deliver the great egg of the water spirit to its source in the sea. As they travel across the land of Yogo and discover the truth about the spirit, they find themselves hunted by two deadly enemies: the egg-eating monster Rarunga . . . and the prince''s own father.

In the marvelous sequel to the novel (and Cartoon Network series) MORIBITO: GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT, Balsa returns to her native land to fight a corrupt ruler and face her own demons. Balsa returns to her native Kanbal to clear the name of Jiguro, her dear mentor, who saved her life when she was six years old. But what should be a visit of truth and reconciliation becomes a fight for her life when she learns that Jiguro had been a member of King Rogsam''s personal bodyguard. After Jiguro fled Kanbal with her, Rogsam sent the other bodyguards after them one by one--Jiguro''s best friends, whom he had to kill to protect Balsa. Now, with the help of two Kanbalese children, Balsa must unwind the conspiracy surrounding Jiguro and the mystery of the Guardians of the Dark.

The wandering female bodyguard Balsa returns to her native country of Kanbal, where she uncovers a conspiracy to frame her mentor and herself.