Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit

Title: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
Author: Nahoko Uehashi
Rating: Four Guitars

Sizzilin' Summary:
Balsa is a female bodyguard. Despite her gender, she is an high-level fighter. She is on a quest to repay for eight lives that had been killed to protect her... that had been friends of her dead foster father/sensei. She also helps the little people.
But her new job has deadly turns. She is to guard the Second Prince Chagum. But it seems like Chagum is the Moribito, the Guardian of the Spirit. In him is the egg of the water spirit, Nyynga Ro Im. But, due to political reasons, the prince's own father is after him, as well as a second major power in the kingdom: the Star Readers! Luckily, Balsa has some old friends who are more than willing to help.
But things are only getting started. A monster, the egg eater called Rarunga, is after the egg in Chagum. Balsa and her friends have to guard Chagum until the midsummer solstice, or else the prince's homeland of New Yogo will be caught in a terrible drought!

Rockin' Review:
I really enjoyed this book. The action was good, and yet it had a deeper story within. The writer did a very good job with this book. I can see why it was turned into an TV show. I did feel like Uehashi could have done better with explaining the prince's feelings during his leaving. But, otherwise, I really enjoyed this book, and suggest it!