Seirei no Moribito (Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit)

[Shinobikens]

Description
Balsa the spearwoman is a wandering warrior, who takes on the task of saving lives, in atonement for a past sin. On her journey, she happens to save a prince, and is tasked with becoming his bodyguard. And he is going to need one, for his own father, the emperor, wants him dead.

Batchelder Award Winner

Associated Names
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
精霊の守り人

Author
Uehashi Nahoko

Artists
Futaki Makiko
Satake Miho
Uehashi Nahoko

Original Publisher
Kaiseisha
Shinchosha

Volumes
Completed at 11

Really shocked I didn't see this in the already suggested thread. Truly fantastic series that has 2 volumes in English from Scholastic (wild right) that's been dead since 2014 and an anime adaption of the first novel. It's honestly a crime this has never been completely released in English.

[satoko.k]

We need more Uehashi Nahoko books in English...

[jpwong]

I have to admit I'm a bit shocked to find out that Scholastic actually licensed this, I remember watching the subbed anime when it was coming out and when it ended people were posting summaries of what happens in the subsequent novels. I do sort of worry that if Scholastic wasn't able to achieve satisfactory sales during what should have been the series' peak when it was on US networks that it might be a bit of a hard sell unless the license ends up being exceptionally cheap.

[Shiroi Hane]

Problem is, those two volumes are still available from Kindle in both the US and UK meaning the license is still current.