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Undine's Blessing: A Lunis Aquaria Story
A dutiful daughter, a mystical archipelago, and a hidden power waiting to command the tides...
Marella spends her days caring for her sick mother and selling her father's fish. Bound by duty and love, she dreams little of adventure. But when her mother must travel to the city for treatment, her father takes her out to sea, despite her fear of water.
A storm steers them to Emberrain, home to a tribe of magical nymphs and a place of secrets, where Marella discovers a startling her father is a frequent visitor to these mysterious islands. Soon she learns that Emberrain isn't the only secret he had kept from her.
Marella has the power to control water and communicate with aquatic animals.
Overwhelmed by the magical but dangerous islands, and the secrets of her father, Marella must learn to harness her powers to save herself and her new aquatic friend before they are separated from their parents forever.
Undine's Blessing is a journey of wonder, where fears are faced and mysteries unravel, and a young girl learns that true adventure begins when you dare to embrace who you truly are.
Marella spends her days caring for her sick mother and selling her father's fish. Bound by duty and love, she dreams little of adventure. But when her mother must travel to the city for treatment, her father takes her out to sea, despite her fear of water.
A storm steers them to Emberrain, home to a tribe of magical nymphs and a place of secrets, where Marella discovers a startling her father is a frequent visitor to these mysterious islands. Soon she learns that Emberrain isn't the only secret he had kept from her.
Marella has the power to control water and communicate with aquatic animals.
Overwhelmed by the magical but dangerous islands, and the secrets of her father, Marella must learn to harness her powers to save herself and her new aquatic friend before they are separated from their parents forever.
Undine's Blessing is a journey of wonder, where fears are faced and mysteries unravel, and a young girl learns that true adventure begins when you dare to embrace who you truly are.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 27, 2024
2 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Tessa Hastjarjanto
11 books80 followersTessa Hastjarjanto is a Dutch/Indonesian writer from the Netherlands. She writes speculative fiction, and blogs at narratess.com about books, fountain pens, and writing.
From a young age, she imitated popular stories and games in creating her own worlds. This love eventually led to a masters degree in media and game studies at the University of Utrecht. However a mundane desk job was enough to inspire her to follower her creative passion. The first fanfics were written in lunch breaks and soon original fiction followed.
With the support of her husband, she now focuses on her writing career while battling chronic pain. Swiss white shepherd, Shiro, acts as a therapy dog to keep her healthy and reduce stress through extensive cuddle sessions.
From a young age, she imitated popular stories and games in creating her own worlds. This love eventually led to a masters degree in media and game studies at the University of Utrecht. However a mundane desk job was enough to inspire her to follower her creative passion. The first fanfics were written in lunch breaks and soon original fiction followed.
With the support of her husband, she now focuses on her writing career while battling chronic pain. Swiss white shepherd, Shiro, acts as a therapy dog to keep her healthy and reduce stress through extensive cuddle sessions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 15, 2024
My SPFBOX semi-finalist review of Undine's Blessing is published at Before We Go Blog.
“The water enveloped Marella. Her long hair flowed around her and she was weightless. She was free.”
Undine’s Blessing is Tessa Hastjarjanto’s beautifully emotive coming-of-age novel that transports the reader to a marine world full of magical adventure. The lead protagonist, Marella, is the daughter of a fisherman, Marcos, who spends long periods of time at sea. As an only child, Marella is often left taking care of her sick mother.
Marella is a dutiful daughter, taking care of her mother with nary a complaint. She is also a skilled basket weaver, supplementing the family’s income through her wares. Marella is famous for her smoked fish, although she herself cannot bear to eat animals. Marella feels inexorably drawn to the sea, but she is keenly aware of the dangers of water after a near-drowning experience as a younger child.
The world of Undine’s Blessing is full of wonders. There are butterfly-like nymphs, talking animal friends, and a gorgeous tropical island. Undine’s Blessing also features an elemental magic system closely linked to its stunning natural world.
Tessa Hastjarjanto’s prose is beautifully affecting. Undine’s Blessing has a fairytale-like quality that feels like the literary equivalent of watching a Miyazaki movie. It evokes a wholesome sense of discovery and gentle didacticism that will appeal to readers of all ages.
On the downside, it takes too long for the novel’s antagonist to make an appearance, and then the central conflict is resolved too quickly. This is one of the rare instances where I feel like the book should be about a hundred pages longer. I definitely wanted to spend more time in this magical oceanic world, with greater rising tension before the conflict is resolved.
Notwithstanding these minor shortcomings, I thoroughly enjoyed Undine’s Blessing and wholeheartedly recommend this book as a semi-finalist in SPFBOX. There is a gentle, timeless quality to Undine’s Blessing that should appeal to upper middle-grade readers all the way through adults.
“The water enveloped Marella. Her long hair flowed around her and she was weightless. She was free.”
Undine’s Blessing is Tessa Hastjarjanto’s beautifully emotive coming-of-age novel that transports the reader to a marine world full of magical adventure. The lead protagonist, Marella, is the daughter of a fisherman, Marcos, who spends long periods of time at sea. As an only child, Marella is often left taking care of her sick mother.
Marella is a dutiful daughter, taking care of her mother with nary a complaint. She is also a skilled basket weaver, supplementing the family’s income through her wares. Marella is famous for her smoked fish, although she herself cannot bear to eat animals. Marella feels inexorably drawn to the sea, but she is keenly aware of the dangers of water after a near-drowning experience as a younger child.
The world of Undine’s Blessing is full of wonders. There are butterfly-like nymphs, talking animal friends, and a gorgeous tropical island. Undine’s Blessing also features an elemental magic system closely linked to its stunning natural world.
Tessa Hastjarjanto’s prose is beautifully affecting. Undine’s Blessing has a fairytale-like quality that feels like the literary equivalent of watching a Miyazaki movie. It evokes a wholesome sense of discovery and gentle didacticism that will appeal to readers of all ages.
On the downside, it takes too long for the novel’s antagonist to make an appearance, and then the central conflict is resolved too quickly. This is one of the rare instances where I feel like the book should be about a hundred pages longer. I definitely wanted to spend more time in this magical oceanic world, with greater rising tension before the conflict is resolved.
Notwithstanding these minor shortcomings, I thoroughly enjoyed Undine’s Blessing and wholeheartedly recommend this book as a semi-finalist in SPFBOX. There is a gentle, timeless quality to Undine’s Blessing that should appeal to upper middle-grade readers all the way through adults.
February 26, 2024
Review originally on
JamReads
Undine's Blessing is a dark fairytale set in the Lunis Aquaria universe created by Tessa Hastjarjanto, a new story that explores more of the world while weaving an enchanting plot. A novella which is aimed at upper middle grade, but which can be enjoyed by a wider public, especially if you are looking for a magical tale.
Marella is a dutiful daughter who spends most of her days taking care of her mother suffering of a chronic illness, while her father passes most of the days at the sea fishing. A simple life, which is complemented by daydreaming of the distant places she can't visit due to her obligations. When her mother's condition worsens and is translated to a city, her father decided to take Marella with him on his next travel; revealing to Marella Emberrain, a place he has kept in secret from the rest of the family, a land filled with nymphs that can control the elements.
But that's not the only surprise in Marella's life, discovering that the same power is inside her, a power she will need to master and use it to save Emberrain; a power that might also help her mother.
A big plot which encloses many surprises, which are slowly revealed to the reader while more and more about the nymphs is told; Marella ends discovering that her father is not the only who is not telling the truth in Emberrain, especially after discovering new subaquatic friends. She will have to go outside of her comfort zone, and confront those that hold authority if she wants to restore Emberrain.
Hastjarjanto has packed a ton of worldbuilding into a story full of heart; a novel that also shows her growth as an author. The prose is descriptive, bordering the poetic at some points, perfect for this particular genre, creating beauty through words.
Undine's Blessing is a compelling novella, aimed for young readers, but which you will enjoy if your heart is still young; a new instalment that extends the Lunis Aquaria world, and that shows the talent Tessa has for writing. I can't wait to see her publishing more books!
Undine's Blessing is a dark fairytale set in the Lunis Aquaria universe created by Tessa Hastjarjanto, a new story that explores more of the world while weaving an enchanting plot. A novella which is aimed at upper middle grade, but which can be enjoyed by a wider public, especially if you are looking for a magical tale.
Marella is a dutiful daughter who spends most of her days taking care of her mother suffering of a chronic illness, while her father passes most of the days at the sea fishing. A simple life, which is complemented by daydreaming of the distant places she can't visit due to her obligations. When her mother's condition worsens and is translated to a city, her father decided to take Marella with him on his next travel; revealing to Marella Emberrain, a place he has kept in secret from the rest of the family, a land filled with nymphs that can control the elements.
But that's not the only surprise in Marella's life, discovering that the same power is inside her, a power she will need to master and use it to save Emberrain; a power that might also help her mother.
A big plot which encloses many surprises, which are slowly revealed to the reader while more and more about the nymphs is told; Marella ends discovering that her father is not the only who is not telling the truth in Emberrain, especially after discovering new subaquatic friends. She will have to go outside of her comfort zone, and confront those that hold authority if she wants to restore Emberrain.
Hastjarjanto has packed a ton of worldbuilding into a story full of heart; a novel that also shows her growth as an author. The prose is descriptive, bordering the poetic at some points, perfect for this particular genre, creating beauty through words.
Undine's Blessing is a compelling novella, aimed for young readers, but which you will enjoy if your heart is still young; a new instalment that extends the Lunis Aquaria world, and that shows the talent Tessa has for writing. I can't wait to see her publishing more books!
Read
January 22, 2024Undine's Blessing is a follow-up story to The Archipelago of Wonder, a short story in Tales of Lunis Aquaria.
April 11, 2024
We return to the world of Lunis Aquaria with this short story — though I must admit I didn't make the definite connection until the very end! I won't spoil it, but it was a pleasant surprise. Well played, Tessa. Well played.
You don't need to have read Tales of Lunis Aquaria to enjoy this, however. Setting aside, Undine's Blessing stands well enough on its own. I'm always glad to see more protagonists like Marella, especially these days when a lot of YA stories want to be edgy and dark and sizzling with romance. I love how this one put the emphasis on family, friendship, and nature. The stakes are high but the whole thing still has that cozy, whimsical feel. And I never thought I'd want an octopus friend, but I do now! Where do I sign up?
You don't need to have read Tales of Lunis Aquaria to enjoy this, however. Setting aside, Undine's Blessing stands well enough on its own. I'm always glad to see more protagonists like Marella, especially these days when a lot of YA stories want to be edgy and dark and sizzling with romance. I love how this one put the emphasis on family, friendship, and nature. The stakes are high but the whole thing still has that cozy, whimsical feel. And I never thought I'd want an octopus friend, but I do now! Where do I sign up?
Read
August 7, 2024RTC
Reading for SPFBOX - I’m on team Before We Go Blog
More Info:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Reading for SPFBOX - I’m on team Before We Go Blog
More Info:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
February 4, 2024
Marella's life revolves around caring for her sickly mother. She weaves baskets, smokes fish (to sell - Marella herself is a vegetarian), and brews tea. We get a good feel for the family's island life, but if you're here for magic adventures you're going to get impatient.
She sails with her father to an island of nymphs, which I imagined as Tinkerbell style fairies, and elemental magic. Humans don't have magic but Marella has water magic, which must be trained. Marella has very mixed feelings about the whole thing.
I enjoyed the exploration of both the human and nymph societies, but especially the other creatures Marella interacts with. Water magic is very emotional so there are all the feels. The climax feels a bit rushed and not as satisfying as I'd like.
She sails with her father to an island of nymphs, which I imagined as Tinkerbell style fairies, and elemental magic. Humans don't have magic but Marella has water magic, which must be trained. Marella has very mixed feelings about the whole thing.
I enjoyed the exploration of both the human and nymph societies, but especially the other creatures Marella interacts with. Water magic is very emotional so there are all the feels. The climax feels a bit rushed and not as satisfying as I'd like.
February 26, 2024
Isn’t this a beautiful cover? It does represent the story here too. The story is developed for the first 30% or so, and don’t worry we will get to the magic soon.
A family lives at the edge of the sea and their only daughter fears the waters yet doesn’t eat anything of the sea. The father sails off to fish for his living, but also harbors secrets. Sadly the mother is afflicted with physical pain and fatigue while the daughter cares for her.
One day Marella joins her father on his boat, and they begin her magical journey on an undisclosed and isolated island filled with nymphs. So the colorful adventure for Marella’s untapped power begins. We encounter beautiful sea creatures along the way. A mystery needs to be solved and resolved.
The only thing that I’m dissatisfied with is the very quick resolution to the mystery. This could have been stretched out with more conflict before it was solved.
This is an enchanting world and the message is wholesome and gives cozy vibes for those who enjoy a little less stress in a fantasy book.
A family lives at the edge of the sea and their only daughter fears the waters yet doesn’t eat anything of the sea. The father sails off to fish for his living, but also harbors secrets. Sadly the mother is afflicted with physical pain and fatigue while the daughter cares for her.
One day Marella joins her father on his boat, and they begin her magical journey on an undisclosed and isolated island filled with nymphs. So the colorful adventure for Marella’s untapped power begins. We encounter beautiful sea creatures along the way. A mystery needs to be solved and resolved.
The only thing that I’m dissatisfied with is the very quick resolution to the mystery. This could have been stretched out with more conflict before it was solved.
This is an enchanting world and the message is wholesome and gives cozy vibes for those who enjoy a little less stress in a fantasy book.
April 2, 2025
I received an eBook as part of the blog tour in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
UNDINE'S BLESSING is a short and sweet tale of a young carer discovering her powers and learning that there's a lot more magic to the world than she thought.
This book fits between the upper end of Middle Grade and the (much overlooked) younger end of YA, or teen fiction. It has the family-focus of MG with the starting to find your place in the world story line of YA. It's also on the shorter side of children's fiction, so perfect for readers who might not be the most confident.
There is a focus on chronic illness and being a carer in the story, and it was nice to see that centred. Marella's mother has a chronic illness that leaves her fatigued and, thanks to her father being away to provide, the bulk of the caring falls to Marella. I liked that the book acknowledged just how profound an impact that has on people - for example, even when her mother is away being cared for by others, she can't just put that responsibility to one side. It's always on her mind.
The main thrust of the story sees Marella learning to master elemental water magic. I like elemental magic, and this version is very nature focused, looking at the balance between humans and the world around them through a main character that has a great empathy for animals.
UNDINE'S BLESSING is a short and sweet tale of a young carer discovering her powers and learning that there's a lot more magic to the world than she thought.
This book fits between the upper end of Middle Grade and the (much overlooked) younger end of YA, or teen fiction. It has the family-focus of MG with the starting to find your place in the world story line of YA. It's also on the shorter side of children's fiction, so perfect for readers who might not be the most confident.
There is a focus on chronic illness and being a carer in the story, and it was nice to see that centred. Marella's mother has a chronic illness that leaves her fatigued and, thanks to her father being away to provide, the bulk of the caring falls to Marella. I liked that the book acknowledged just how profound an impact that has on people - for example, even when her mother is away being cared for by others, she can't just put that responsibility to one side. It's always on her mind.
The main thrust of the story sees Marella learning to master elemental water magic. I like elemental magic, and this version is very nature focused, looking at the balance between humans and the world around them through a main character that has a great empathy for animals.
April 30, 2025
The story was quick and cute, kinda wished it had more depth to it but overall it was a nice and quick since it is a short story.
The writing was straight forward with a solid buildup to the climax and a nice ending.
The writing was straight forward with a solid buildup to the climax and a nice ending.
April 4, 2025
Undine’s Blessing is a delightful young adult coming-of-age story about Marella, a hardworking teenager who discovers she has a particular affinity to water. Her mother has fearfully made her stay away from the ocean for most of her life, and Marella has always obeyed. When her sick mother has to travel to the city for medical help, Marella ends up going on the fishing boat with her father and discovers a whole new world. She gets to meet his magical second family, whose existence she had not been aware of.
Due to their family circumstances, Marella has had to become fairly self-sufficient and this story sees her independence become even stronger. I loved the easy way she was able to make friends with sea creatures and her respect for them – refusing to eat meat and helping find a new shell for a hermit crab friend.
Her strong love for her mother and fear for her health is palpable, particularly when she is on the Emberrain Islands and unsure if she will be allowed to leave by the nymphs who dwell there.
She discovers she might have magical powers, and takes it all in her stride but remains determined to return home to her mother if she can.
I loved Marella’s relationship with the mysterious decapods – especially the younger one. Her relationships with the nymphs of Emberrain also helped to show her strength of character and individuality.
The scenes set underwater were evocative and well written, and it was easy to imagine the amazing world Tessa built beneath the waterfall, which was populated with colourful and interesting life forms.
The story moves along at a fairly even pace, with some more exciting episodes speeding things up, and the shorter chapter length is something I enjoy, especially in a novel of this length.
This book would make a wonderful children’s movie, and there is definitely room for a sequel!
Due to their family circumstances, Marella has had to become fairly self-sufficient and this story sees her independence become even stronger. I loved the easy way she was able to make friends with sea creatures and her respect for them – refusing to eat meat and helping find a new shell for a hermit crab friend.
Her strong love for her mother and fear for her health is palpable, particularly when she is on the Emberrain Islands and unsure if she will be allowed to leave by the nymphs who dwell there.
She discovers she might have magical powers, and takes it all in her stride but remains determined to return home to her mother if she can.
I loved Marella’s relationship with the mysterious decapods – especially the younger one. Her relationships with the nymphs of Emberrain also helped to show her strength of character and individuality.
The scenes set underwater were evocative and well written, and it was easy to imagine the amazing world Tessa built beneath the waterfall, which was populated with colourful and interesting life forms.
The story moves along at a fairly even pace, with some more exciting episodes speeding things up, and the shorter chapter length is something I enjoy, especially in a novel of this length.
This book would make a wonderful children’s movie, and there is definitely room for a sequel!
April 4, 2025
Undine’s Blessing was the 12th place finalist in BBNYA 2024!
About BBNYA
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Book Details
Length: 298 Pages
Genre: Fantasy
Age Category: Young Adult
Date Published: January 27, 2024
Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/3A6CTUC (Canada) https://a.co/d/cFNzg3k (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/iR6Injk (UK)
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
The Story Graph Link:
https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/a...
Blurb
A dutiful daughter, a mystical archipelago, and a hidden power waiting to command the tides...
Marella spends her days caring for her sick mother and selling her father's fish. Bound by duty and love, she dreams little of adventure. But when her mother must travel to the city for treatment, her father takes her out to sea, despite her fear of water.
A storm steers them to Emberrain, home to a tribe of magical nymphs and a place of secrets, where Marella discovers a startling truth: her father is a frequent visitor to these mysterious islands. Soon she learns that Emberrain isn't the only secret he had kept from her.
Marella has the power to control water and communicate with aquatic animals.
Overwhelmed by the magical but dangerous islands, and the secrets of her father, Marella must learn to harness her powers to save herself and her new aquatic friend before they are separated from their parents forever.
Undine's Blessing is a journey of wonder, where fears are faced and mysteries unravel, and a young girl learns that true adventure begins when you dare to embrace who you truly are.
Author Bio
Tessa Hastjarjanto is a Dutch/Indonesian writer from the Netherlands. She writes speculative fiction, and blogs at narratess.com about books, fountain pens, and writing.
From a young age, she imitated popular stories and games in creating her own worlds. This love eventually led to a master's degree in media and game studies at the University of Utrecht. However a mundane desk job was enough to inspire her to follow her creative passion. The first fanfics were written in lunch breaks and soon original fiction followed.
With the support of her husband, she now focuses on her writing career while battling chronic pain. Swiss white shepherd, Shiro, acts as a therapy dog to keep her healthy and reduce stress through extensive cuddle sessions.
You can find her on Twitter (@endalia), Instagram (@tessa.hastjarjanto), or on Bluesky (@endalia.bsky.social).
My review
I love the message this book gives of facing fears and accepting who you are can help you overcome anything. The love and loyalty she has for her mother and family is such a beautiful thing.
Marella helps her family with chores and business while taking care of her ill mother while her father is away at sea collecting fish. When one day she finds a merchant who will take her mother into the city to get proper treatment and care. Due to this she has to set sail with her father than be home alone.
She doesnt want to leave and has a fear of the ocean. While on the boat a storm appears steering them to a mysterious island, Emberrian. Here she finds not only has her father been here multiple times and is very close to a tribe of nymphs that live there.
While there she discovers that she has the ability to communicate with aquatic animals and control water. The nymphs her help (well not all) to control and harness this new discovery.
With this she will have to face fears and control her new abilities in order to free the spirits, save her new aquatic friends and to see her family again.
The story is beautiful and I wish in a way it was longer to really get into details and more in depth. In parts it felt a little rushed or a but disjointed. But it was an enjoyable, quick read and I would happily pick up again and again. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review @thewritereads, Message and the publisher
About BBNYA
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Book Details
Length: 298 Pages
Genre: Fantasy
Age Category: Young Adult
Date Published: January 27, 2024
Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/3A6CTUC (Canada) https://a.co/d/cFNzg3k (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/iR6Injk (UK)
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
The Story Graph Link:
https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/a...
Blurb
A dutiful daughter, a mystical archipelago, and a hidden power waiting to command the tides...
Marella spends her days caring for her sick mother and selling her father's fish. Bound by duty and love, she dreams little of adventure. But when her mother must travel to the city for treatment, her father takes her out to sea, despite her fear of water.
A storm steers them to Emberrain, home to a tribe of magical nymphs and a place of secrets, where Marella discovers a startling truth: her father is a frequent visitor to these mysterious islands. Soon she learns that Emberrain isn't the only secret he had kept from her.
Marella has the power to control water and communicate with aquatic animals.
Overwhelmed by the magical but dangerous islands, and the secrets of her father, Marella must learn to harness her powers to save herself and her new aquatic friend before they are separated from their parents forever.
Undine's Blessing is a journey of wonder, where fears are faced and mysteries unravel, and a young girl learns that true adventure begins when you dare to embrace who you truly are.
Author Bio
Tessa Hastjarjanto is a Dutch/Indonesian writer from the Netherlands. She writes speculative fiction, and blogs at narratess.com about books, fountain pens, and writing.
From a young age, she imitated popular stories and games in creating her own worlds. This love eventually led to a master's degree in media and game studies at the University of Utrecht. However a mundane desk job was enough to inspire her to follow her creative passion. The first fanfics were written in lunch breaks and soon original fiction followed.
With the support of her husband, she now focuses on her writing career while battling chronic pain. Swiss white shepherd, Shiro, acts as a therapy dog to keep her healthy and reduce stress through extensive cuddle sessions.
You can find her on Twitter (@endalia), Instagram (@tessa.hastjarjanto), or on Bluesky (@endalia.bsky.social).
My review
I love the message this book gives of facing fears and accepting who you are can help you overcome anything. The love and loyalty she has for her mother and family is such a beautiful thing.
Marella helps her family with chores and business while taking care of her ill mother while her father is away at sea collecting fish. When one day she finds a merchant who will take her mother into the city to get proper treatment and care. Due to this she has to set sail with her father than be home alone.
She doesnt want to leave and has a fear of the ocean. While on the boat a storm appears steering them to a mysterious island, Emberrian. Here she finds not only has her father been here multiple times and is very close to a tribe of nymphs that live there.
While there she discovers that she has the ability to communicate with aquatic animals and control water. The nymphs her help (well not all) to control and harness this new discovery.
With this she will have to face fears and control her new abilities in order to free the spirits, save her new aquatic friends and to see her family again.
The story is beautiful and I wish in a way it was longer to really get into details and more in depth. In parts it felt a little rushed or a but disjointed. But it was an enjoyable, quick read and I would happily pick up again and again. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review @thewritereads, Message and the publisher
February 3, 2024
Undine's Blessing by Tessa Hastjarjanto is a magical and beautiful tale suitable for the young and the young at heart.
Marella is a dutiful daughter who spends her days helping to care for her mother who has a chronic illness while her father, a fisherman, is out at sea for days at a time. Her life is simple and satisfying in many ways but still she dreams of adventure. The highlight of her week is a trip to the market but occasionally she imagines travelling beyond the nearest town, perhaps even to the distant islands her father visits on his trips. The biggest thing holding her back, apart from her mother , is her mystifying fear of water. When her mother's condition worsens and she needs to seek treatment in the city, Marella's father decides to take her with him on his next voyage. That journey turns out to be more exciting than Marella could ever have imagined as she learns of a secret that her father has been hiding from his family, the existence of Emberrain, a magical land filled with nymphs which have the power to control the elements. The last thing Marella expects is to manifest powers of her own but learning to master them will help her to uncover and then solve a mystery that could save not only Emberrain but might even provide her with a magical cure for her mother.
This little book packs in a lot of adventure, and could be a little scary ( in a good way ) for younger readers, or indeed for anyone with claustrophobia. I found myself completely immersed in the story to such an extent that at one point I found myself genuinely worrying about Marella when she found herself in quite a tight corner. I loved the representation here not just for chronic illness but also for how that illness can impact on family members, children especially, sometimes forcing them to shoulder burdens that they are not and should not be ready for. This is a coming of age story in many ways, and the importance of knowing who you are and embracing that is really at the heart of the book.
If you liked this book, and you have not already read it I would highly recommend checking out Tales of Lunis Aquaria from this author, where you will find not only an account of Marella's father's first visit to Emberrain, but also several other very charming stories.
I read a review copy supplied by the author but all opinions are my own.
Marella is a dutiful daughter who spends her days helping to care for her mother who has a chronic illness while her father, a fisherman, is out at sea for days at a time. Her life is simple and satisfying in many ways but still she dreams of adventure. The highlight of her week is a trip to the market but occasionally she imagines travelling beyond the nearest town, perhaps even to the distant islands her father visits on his trips. The biggest thing holding her back, apart from her mother , is her mystifying fear of water. When her mother's condition worsens and she needs to seek treatment in the city, Marella's father decides to take her with him on his next voyage. That journey turns out to be more exciting than Marella could ever have imagined as she learns of a secret that her father has been hiding from his family, the existence of Emberrain, a magical land filled with nymphs which have the power to control the elements. The last thing Marella expects is to manifest powers of her own but learning to master them will help her to uncover and then solve a mystery that could save not only Emberrain but might even provide her with a magical cure for her mother.
This little book packs in a lot of adventure, and could be a little scary ( in a good way ) for younger readers, or indeed for anyone with claustrophobia. I found myself completely immersed in the story to such an extent that at one point I found myself genuinely worrying about Marella when she found herself in quite a tight corner. I loved the representation here not just for chronic illness but also for how that illness can impact on family members, children especially, sometimes forcing them to shoulder burdens that they are not and should not be ready for. This is a coming of age story in many ways, and the importance of knowing who you are and embracing that is really at the heart of the book.
If you liked this book, and you have not already read it I would highly recommend checking out Tales of Lunis Aquaria from this author, where you will find not only an account of Marella's father's first visit to Emberrain, but also several other very charming stories.
I read a review copy supplied by the author but all opinions are my own.
August 23, 2024
My SPFBOX Review: Marella spends her days smoking fish, weaving baskets, and caring for her mother while her father is out to sea. She also longs to be near the water and feels its haunting call to her. Estrella’s fatigue and pain make motherhood and trips to the market difficult, but she does well with her daughter’s help. One day when Estrella’s health takes a turn for the worse, she’s forced to go to the city for care, leaving Marella with her fisherman father. Marella and her father head to sea to fish and Marella’s father leads them to a magical island full of unique creatures and many secrets.
The beginning of Undine’s Blessing left me longing for more. As a person who struggles with chronic illness myself, I loved reading about a woman plagued with fatigue and pain that ebbed and flowed. I also appreciated how complicated the family situation presented was. A mother longing to be able to be more available to her family but forced to deal with the reality of managing her pain while her young daughter served as her caregiver. This section of the book was particularly moving and beautiful.
As I moved into the middle of the story, more fantasy elements were introduced and I started to feel a little disconnected from the story and the characters. While the nymphs and the island were beautifully described, I found myself struggling to get on board with the motivations of the characters, especially the antagonists. I also thought that the backstory of the island felt like it needed some extra detail and I was left with some unanswered questions about Marella’s father and his nymph companion.
The book ended a little abruptly and I found the change in pace a bit jarring. I would have appreciated the second portion of the book to have been drawn out a bit more and to have seen a little more development on the page.
Ultimately, seeing the representation of caregivers, chronic illness, and the complexities surrounding them in the first half of Undine’s Blessing was great and extremely well written. I also really appreciated the author’s prose and imagery. However, the shift between the first and second halves of the book was a bit much and I struggled to stay connected with the characters.
The beginning of Undine’s Blessing left me longing for more. As a person who struggles with chronic illness myself, I loved reading about a woman plagued with fatigue and pain that ebbed and flowed. I also appreciated how complicated the family situation presented was. A mother longing to be able to be more available to her family but forced to deal with the reality of managing her pain while her young daughter served as her caregiver. This section of the book was particularly moving and beautiful.
As I moved into the middle of the story, more fantasy elements were introduced and I started to feel a little disconnected from the story and the characters. While the nymphs and the island were beautifully described, I found myself struggling to get on board with the motivations of the characters, especially the antagonists. I also thought that the backstory of the island felt like it needed some extra detail and I was left with some unanswered questions about Marella’s father and his nymph companion.
The book ended a little abruptly and I found the change in pace a bit jarring. I would have appreciated the second portion of the book to have been drawn out a bit more and to have seen a little more development on the page.
Ultimately, seeing the representation of caregivers, chronic illness, and the complexities surrounding them in the first half of Undine’s Blessing was great and extremely well written. I also really appreciated the author’s prose and imagery. However, the shift between the first and second halves of the book was a bit much and I struggled to stay connected with the characters.
Want to read
February 10, 2025This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBOX contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
A slow, quiet opening of a small beach-side family. It’s quaint, and simple, and the female MC is a wholesome person. She waits for her father to come home and cares for her mother.
And, because this is fantasy, I’m waiting for the turn. So far everything seems perfectly ordinary, if set in another place and time. The focus is on the relationship of the characters and their feelings. The scope of the world has yet to broaden.
But, as I said, I’m waiting. I know that fantasy turn is coming. The quiet start draws me in and lulls me, like the lapping waves, into a sense of safety, of normalcy, of calm. I almost feel I’m drifting in a dream as I read.
Except, there is a lingering fear of the sea here. It seems mundane enough. Our MCs mother is worried about her being snatched away by the current. Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe…
There are many ways to invite a reader into a story. You don’t always have to grab them by the collar and start off at a run. There is a peace in these pages and in this simple, clear prose that strikes me as true. It’s like a real life. I find myself compelled to turn the pages.
There is action here. Quiet action of a life unfolding. But there’s more than that. There is an unspoken worry over a sick mother who is less than she used to be.
There is a love of living things. And a heavy-hearted sadness over the inevitability of death that is, I feel, about much more than eating fish.
I find the artfulness of this opening subtle and pleasing. I feel I could sink into the story and happily read it all the rest of the day. It’s short enough. I might even finish it. I do so wonder what is going to happen next.
I’m in.
A slow, quiet opening of a small beach-side family. It’s quaint, and simple, and the female MC is a wholesome person. She waits for her father to come home and cares for her mother.
And, because this is fantasy, I’m waiting for the turn. So far everything seems perfectly ordinary, if set in another place and time. The focus is on the relationship of the characters and their feelings. The scope of the world has yet to broaden.
But, as I said, I’m waiting. I know that fantasy turn is coming. The quiet start draws me in and lulls me, like the lapping waves, into a sense of safety, of normalcy, of calm. I almost feel I’m drifting in a dream as I read.
Except, there is a lingering fear of the sea here. It seems mundane enough. Our MCs mother is worried about her being snatched away by the current. Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe…
There are many ways to invite a reader into a story. You don’t always have to grab them by the collar and start off at a run. There is a peace in these pages and in this simple, clear prose that strikes me as true. It’s like a real life. I find myself compelled to turn the pages.
There is action here. Quiet action of a life unfolding. But there’s more than that. There is an unspoken worry over a sick mother who is less than she used to be.
There is a love of living things. And a heavy-hearted sadness over the inevitability of death that is, I feel, about much more than eating fish.
I find the artfulness of this opening subtle and pleasing. I feel I could sink into the story and happily read it all the rest of the day. It’s short enough. I might even finish it. I do so wonder what is going to happen next.
I’m in.
October 25, 2024
A wholesome tale of a girl with lots of responsibilities who finds the magic in the world and in herself. This novella is full of underwater beauty and magic! I really liked Marella's character, she's not a usual intrepid child hero at all, but someone who had some incredible responsibilities and pressure placed on her at such a young age due to her mother's illness and her father's frequent absence. She doesn't let herself dream and submerge in wonders, and has a lot of anxieties about her parents and her chores and the dangers of life. I liked how she could still experience magic and beauty by the end, and even stand up for herself a little. I hope her parents understood their part in their child's development in this way -- it wasn't easy for either of them, I know, but I really-really felt for Marella.
The plot itself might even deserve a longer book with all the details of the magic and the spirits and all, and I'll definitely need to read the short story about Marella's dad! My favourite characters were definitely the decapods though, I loved that whole sequence. A lovely little tale.
The plot itself might even deserve a longer book with all the details of the magic and the spirits and all, and I'll definitely need to read the short story about Marella's dad! My favourite characters were definitely the decapods though, I loved that whole sequence. A lovely little tale.
August 28, 2024
A tale reminiscent of a Miyazaki film
A gentle tale of Marella, who looks after her chronically ill mother whilst her father goes off fishing for weeks at a time, to catch the fish Marella smokes to sell.
A different start to a tale, in which we find Marella caring for her mother, making her favourite teas to help her feel better. Marella also weaves baskets from reeds she cuts and cures herself to supplement their income. I say different as it's nearly halfway through the book before we find out about the magic. After this point, the book takes on a more rushed feeling. The tale is lovely, Tessa Hastjarjanto's prose is lovely, the world building is great, but I wish it had been more 'fleshed' out in the second part of the book.
If you like fairy tales, do give this one a try.
A gentle tale of Marella, who looks after her chronically ill mother whilst her father goes off fishing for weeks at a time, to catch the fish Marella smokes to sell.
A different start to a tale, in which we find Marella caring for her mother, making her favourite teas to help her feel better. Marella also weaves baskets from reeds she cuts and cures herself to supplement their income. I say different as it's nearly halfway through the book before we find out about the magic. After this point, the book takes on a more rushed feeling. The tale is lovely, Tessa Hastjarjanto's prose is lovely, the world building is great, but I wish it had been more 'fleshed' out in the second part of the book.
If you like fairy tales, do give this one a try.
April 3, 2025
A magical fantasy novella aimed at a younger audience, this is the compelling story of Marella. Marella‘s father is a fisherman who spends a lot of time at sea, leaving her to be a dutiful daughter, taking care of things at home. She spends her days daydreaming of a world other than where she is and escaping her dull life. However, everything changes when Marella accompanies her father on his travels where he shows her a secret world of magic and she discovered she possesses this magic. The world building in this book is amazing, creating a living, breathing world for the reader to immerse themselves in. The plot contains many secrets that are revealed slowly to keep the reader engaged. We also learned more about the nymphs and Lunis Aquaria. I adored this story.
May 29, 2024
"Undine's Blessing" by Tessa Hastjarjanto immerses readers in the enchanting tale of Marella, a dutiful daughter whose life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers her hidden power to command the tides. Set amidst the mystical archipelago of Emberrain, Marella navigates a world of secrets and magic as she learns to harness her newfound abilities. With themes of self-discovery, courage, and the bonds of family, Hastjarjanto weaves a captivating narrative that will resonate with young adult readers. "Undine's Blessing" invites readers on a journey of wonder and self-acceptance, where Marella learns that true adventure begins when one embraces their true self.
April 4, 2025
I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with The Write Reads.
This is a middle grade/YA fantasy. From the beginning, I thought the storytelling was very pretty, with beautiful imagery, and likeable characters that came to life in my mind as I was reading.
Initially, I thought the storytelling had a lovely cosy quality that made me think of fairy tales. As I carried on reading, though, it started to feel like an adventure as well.
It didn't take long to read this, but it was a charming story that swept me away for a little while.
Thank you to The Write Reads, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.
This is a middle grade/YA fantasy. From the beginning, I thought the storytelling was very pretty, with beautiful imagery, and likeable characters that came to life in my mind as I was reading.
Initially, I thought the storytelling had a lovely cosy quality that made me think of fairy tales. As I carried on reading, though, it started to feel like an adventure as well.
It didn't take long to read this, but it was a charming story that swept me away for a little while.
Thank you to The Write Reads, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.
May 20, 2024
Undine's Blessing is a rich, evocative fairy tale that drew me in from the first page. A YA/coming-of-age story, Hastjarjanto has created a rich, full fantasy world that feels like a Monet landscape.
Set within the Lunis Aquaria universe, Undine's Blessing tells the story of Marella, a committed and dutiful daughter torn between her longing for more and her responsibilities to her mother and their home. Traditional YA fantasy woven into the Hero's Journey with a strong female lead and intriguing supporting cast.
A lovely escape into a beautiful world.
Set within the Lunis Aquaria universe, Undine's Blessing tells the story of Marella, a committed and dutiful daughter torn between her longing for more and her responsibilities to her mother and their home. Traditional YA fantasy woven into the Hero's Journey with a strong female lead and intriguing supporting cast.
A lovely escape into a beautiful world.
December 17, 2025
I enjoyed this neat little book about a teenage girl on a journey with her father to a magical island. Younger readers will enjoy it as Marella encounters several kinds of magical creatures and finds her own special hidden abilities awakening. (The only distraction for me was the half dozen or so text errors in the ebook edition.)
October 31, 2024
I need this to be about 200 pages longer! Loved the characters and the story!! I need more Marella!!
Read
November 4, 2024read for bbnya, review to come
October 1, 2025
Find this review and more on my blog at
Worlds Unlike Our Own
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Marella spends her days caring for her ill mother and sells fish and the baskets she weaves while her father goes out to sea. Despite living by the sea, she has never been comfortable in the water and fears it. But when her mother’s illness takes a turn for the worse and she needs to travel to the city to see a doctor, Marella’s father takes her with him, and when their journey brings them to the hidden islands of Emberrain, she discovers a secret he has long been keeping from them. Not only is her father a frequent visitor to these islands, Emberrain is home to nymphs with elemental powers – and Marella herself has the ability to control water. As magical as the islands are, they are also dangerous and an overwhelmed Marella must learn to use her new powers and save the island by restoring the balance of their world.
💭 Initial Thoughts: I didn’t get to read this book during the final round of BBNYA last year, so I was glad to see there was going to be a blog tour for it! This book has been popping up on my social media feeds for a while now, so I was really looking forward to reading it.
🌎 Plot, World building & Atmosphere: The premise of this story was an interesting one. I loved all the underwater scenes, they were beautifully described as were the islands themselves. I also enjoyed the parts where Marella tried to learn about her magic and how to use it, though I’m still not clear how exactly she even had magic.
However, I didn’t feel that the conflict of the story was laid out well enough. It was a mixture of a lack of sufficient backstory and the story not drawing me into the conflict, and I didn’t find myself too invested in this part of the book at all.
✍🏻 Writing & Narration: This book was pretty slow in pacing for the most part, it was nearly halfway through the story when the islands, nymphs and magic were even introduced. It was well after that when the conflict and antagonist were even brought into the picture and even later in the story that the titular character made an appearance. But the major issue I had with this book personally is that it didn’t read like YA to me at all. The writing and dialogue, while nice, was something that reminded me more of a middle grade novel, an age group of books I don’t usually read anymore because I tend to struggle with them nowadays.
👥 Characters: Marella was not your typical fantasy novel main character – rather than being the usual adventurous spirit, she was instead a girl who had a lot of responsibility on her shoulders despite being so young, and overcoming her fears of the unknown and seeking out adventure was something she had to learn over the course of the story. This was a refreshing change in my opinion, as MCs tend to be far too eager to run off on quests in most such novels. Marella’s character arc was undoubtedly my favorite part of this book.
🎬 Ending: I found the ending to be quite abrupt and things were resolved far too easily in my opinion. It would have been better if the last part of the book had been drawn out a little to develop the conflict and resolution more.
❓ Final Thoughts & Recommendation: While this book wasn’t really my thing due to it leaning more towards middle grade, it was an engaging story, and one I would recommend to younger readers.
Marella spends her days caring for her ill mother and sells fish and the baskets she weaves while her father goes out to sea. Despite living by the sea, she has never been comfortable in the water and fears it. But when her mother’s illness takes a turn for the worse and she needs to travel to the city to see a doctor, Marella’s father takes her with him, and when their journey brings them to the hidden islands of Emberrain, she discovers a secret he has long been keeping from them. Not only is her father a frequent visitor to these islands, Emberrain is home to nymphs with elemental powers – and Marella herself has the ability to control water. As magical as the islands are, they are also dangerous and an overwhelmed Marella must learn to use her new powers and save the island by restoring the balance of their world.
💭 Initial Thoughts: I didn’t get to read this book during the final round of BBNYA last year, so I was glad to see there was going to be a blog tour for it! This book has been popping up on my social media feeds for a while now, so I was really looking forward to reading it.
🌎 Plot, World building & Atmosphere: The premise of this story was an interesting one. I loved all the underwater scenes, they were beautifully described as were the islands themselves. I also enjoyed the parts where Marella tried to learn about her magic and how to use it, though I’m still not clear how exactly she even had magic.
However, I didn’t feel that the conflict of the story was laid out well enough. It was a mixture of a lack of sufficient backstory and the story not drawing me into the conflict, and I didn’t find myself too invested in this part of the book at all.
✍🏻 Writing & Narration: This book was pretty slow in pacing for the most part, it was nearly halfway through the story when the islands, nymphs and magic were even introduced. It was well after that when the conflict and antagonist were even brought into the picture and even later in the story that the titular character made an appearance. But the major issue I had with this book personally is that it didn’t read like YA to me at all. The writing and dialogue, while nice, was something that reminded me more of a middle grade novel, an age group of books I don’t usually read anymore because I tend to struggle with them nowadays.
👥 Characters: Marella was not your typical fantasy novel main character – rather than being the usual adventurous spirit, she was instead a girl who had a lot of responsibility on her shoulders despite being so young, and overcoming her fears of the unknown and seeking out adventure was something she had to learn over the course of the story. This was a refreshing change in my opinion, as MCs tend to be far too eager to run off on quests in most such novels. Marella’s character arc was undoubtedly my favorite part of this book.
🎬 Ending: I found the ending to be quite abrupt and things were resolved far too easily in my opinion. It would have been better if the last part of the book had been drawn out a little to develop the conflict and resolution more.
❓ Final Thoughts & Recommendation: While this book wasn’t really my thing due to it leaning more towards middle grade, it was an engaging story, and one I would recommend to younger readers.
September 24, 2024
This is my first book by this author, and I enjoyed it. It wasn't like the usual books I read, but no less enjoyable. It's slow moving, like a gentle river, or breeze, but it carries you along, leaving you space to stop and smell the flowers.
Okay, enough with bad metaphors.
The story revolves around Marella, a young adolescent girl who is the caretaker of her sick mother. Her father, Marcos, is almost never home, sailing to faraway shores and bringing fish and all home to trade. Marella weaves baskets and smokes the fish that she carries to the market of a nearby town.
When her mother needs to go to her hometown for treatment, her father offers to take Marella with him on his next trip so she won't be left alone at home, and her mother can go to the town with peace of mind. But when her father takes her to a distant islands which is populated by nymphs, she has to revise her opinion of everything she knew of him. When it transpires that she has magic, an affinity with water, Marella has to readjust her entire worldview, especially since the nymphs see her as some kind of saviour who could restore the balance of the world.
This was, as I said, a very slow moving book. Marella is an intriguing character. Her relationship with her mother is both sweet and heart breaking. Her affinity to water translates to an affinity for aquatic creatures who are able to understand her thoughts and words and whose words she can hear in her head. I loved her friendship with some of the creatures, and how she was able to stand up for herself and for the nymphs even though she was afraid.
If you love slow paced, cozy fantasy with low stakes and flawed characters, you will love this book.
Okay, enough with bad metaphors.
The story revolves around Marella, a young adolescent girl who is the caretaker of her sick mother. Her father, Marcos, is almost never home, sailing to faraway shores and bringing fish and all home to trade. Marella weaves baskets and smokes the fish that she carries to the market of a nearby town.
When her mother needs to go to her hometown for treatment, her father offers to take Marella with him on his next trip so she won't be left alone at home, and her mother can go to the town with peace of mind. But when her father takes her to a distant islands which is populated by nymphs, she has to revise her opinion of everything she knew of him. When it transpires that she has magic, an affinity with water, Marella has to readjust her entire worldview, especially since the nymphs see her as some kind of saviour who could restore the balance of the world.
This was, as I said, a very slow moving book. Marella is an intriguing character. Her relationship with her mother is both sweet and heart breaking. Her affinity to water translates to an affinity for aquatic creatures who are able to understand her thoughts and words and whose words she can hear in her head. I loved her friendship with some of the creatures, and how she was able to stand up for herself and for the nymphs even though she was afraid.
If you love slow paced, cozy fantasy with low stakes and flawed characters, you will love this book.
April 3, 2025
I first read Undine’s Blessing by Tessa Hastjarjanto during the final round of BBNYA last year, and I’m thrilled to take part in this book tour to share my thoughts. This novel is a beautifully written, enchanting journey into a world filled with magic, mystery, and self-discovery. Although it’s YA, I’d say it gives off more of a middle grade feel. That being said, it can be enjoyed at any age.
One of the book’s strongest elements is its exquisite world-building. The underwater scenes are atmospheric, described in such vivid detail that I felt immersed in their beauty. The islands and their surroundings are equally enchanting, adding depth and atmosphere to the story. The contrast between human and nymph societies is intriguing, but what truly captivated me were the other magical creatures Marella interacts with and the way water magic is woven into the story.
Marella, the protagonist, isn’t the typical daring and adventurous heroine. Instead, she is a dutiful daughter burdened by responsibilities, hesitant to embrace the unknown. However, watching her overcome her fears and step into her true potential was deeply rewarding. Her growth is at the heart of this coming-of-age story, making her journey both relatable and inspiring. The way she learns to wield her magic and embrace her identity was one of my favorite aspects of the book.
Read more at https://www.summonfantasy.com/reviews...
One of the book’s strongest elements is its exquisite world-building. The underwater scenes are atmospheric, described in such vivid detail that I felt immersed in their beauty. The islands and their surroundings are equally enchanting, adding depth and atmosphere to the story. The contrast between human and nymph societies is intriguing, but what truly captivated me were the other magical creatures Marella interacts with and the way water magic is woven into the story.
Marella, the protagonist, isn’t the typical daring and adventurous heroine. Instead, she is a dutiful daughter burdened by responsibilities, hesitant to embrace the unknown. However, watching her overcome her fears and step into her true potential was deeply rewarding. Her growth is at the heart of this coming-of-age story, making her journey both relatable and inspiring. The way she learns to wield her magic and embrace her identity was one of my favorite aspects of the book.
Read more at https://www.summonfantasy.com/reviews...
April 16, 2025
3.5
Book source ~ BBNYA
The beginning of this story is just about perfect. The writing sweeps the reader along, characters shine, and Marella is a wonderful main character. I love every minute I spend in this world. Then Marella and her father head out to sea when her mother goes to the city to be healed. And that’s when the disappointment swells like the ocean in an epic storm. There are secrets revealed which aren’t necessarily a bad thing. However, Marella turns into this whiny petulant brat who thinks she knows what’s best for everyone, especially herself when she has absolutely no clue. If that’s not bad enough, she puts her new friends in danger. I just wanted to ground her until her Thanksgiving Day balloon head deflated. The story arc itself is interesting and unique, but Second Half Marella really ruined the story for me. If you like young adult fantasies with unique settings then give this one a go. Maybe I’m just a nitpicky curmudgeon. ←-strong possibility
Book source ~ BBNYA
The beginning of this story is just about perfect. The writing sweeps the reader along, characters shine, and Marella is a wonderful main character. I love every minute I spend in this world. Then Marella and her father head out to sea when her mother goes to the city to be healed. And that’s when the disappointment swells like the ocean in an epic storm. There are secrets revealed which aren’t necessarily a bad thing. However, Marella turns into this whiny petulant brat who thinks she knows what’s best for everyone, especially herself when she has absolutely no clue. If that’s not bad enough, she puts her new friends in danger. I just wanted to ground her until her Thanksgiving Day balloon head deflated. The story arc itself is interesting and unique, but Second Half Marella really ruined the story for me. If you like young adult fantasies with unique settings then give this one a go. Maybe I’m just a nitpicky curmudgeon. ←-strong possibility
March 31, 2025
A beautiful story set in a mystical tropical archipelago. Marella lives by the sea but is wary of it since almost drowning as a child. Her father is often away at sea , so she spends he days looking after her sick mother, weaving baskets, and smoking fish. When her mothers sickness gets greater, she ventures to sea and discovers magical creatures and mystical powers in a secret island setting. She, too, shares some of these powers and soo discovers that her own father is no stranger to the island. Marella has to quickly learn to harness her power in order to save her new friends from a deadly enemy. A captivating short novel. #undinesblessing #tessahastjarjanto #TheWriteReads #blogtour #bbnya2024 #Finalist
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