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Tales of Lunis Aquaria
The balance is tipping. Something shifts in the world of Lunis Aquaria. Menacing creatures, daunting deserts, and treacherous mountains. Hardships and solace, friendships and love. Read the stories of what went on before the world is lost in disparity and meet the heroes who will one day restore harmony.
Tales of Lunis Aquaria is a collection of nine short stories set in the fantastical world of Lunis Aquaria.
The coming of beasts ~ The sacred maiden ~ Moonflower ~ Thomas and the wolf ~ The witch from Monterra Mountain ~ Shepherd’s Stick ~ Archipelago of wonder ~ Decapod’s ire ~ Lovers across time
Tales of Lunis Aquaria is a collection of nine short stories set in the fantastical world of Lunis Aquaria.
The coming of beasts ~ The sacred maiden ~ Moonflower ~ Thomas and the wolf ~ The witch from Monterra Mountain ~ Shepherd’s Stick ~ Archipelago of wonder ~ Decapod’s ire ~ Lovers across time
119 pages, ebook
First published April 18, 2019
6 people are currently reading
112 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 41 reviews
June 29, 2023
There comes a time in every reader’s life where they need brain bleach from that 100th enemies to lovers YA, grimdark fantasy, or fucking 65th royal ball that our MC suddenly turned every dude’s head and now she’s getting nailed to a pillar, and in need of something to break the hellscape that is Goodreads.
Meet “Tales of Lunis Aquaria” by Tessa Hastjarjanto, something for every eye bleach reader. I will admit, this is my first short story collection I read since I graduated and wasn’t being forced to read it with a scimitar to my neck. As such, the act of reading short stories kinda unnerved me and recalled horrors of 10th grade English class. Though what made the push was this was on sale at the Kindle store for 2 bucks at the time and I thought, “Eh, I’ve impulse bought things I regret, what’s another one gonna do to my mental health?”
And I was genuinely surprised how invested I was into these short fantasy stories. “Lunis Aquaria” revolves around a mythical world that has a prime deity and 5 animal demigods observing the world. You can expect it to be whimsical, but also the endings are usually bittersweet (except one short story that I felt Hastjarjanto probably lost interest in the world and needed something to pad the collection). Overall, I had a good time, though there were some hiccups like not understanding why blue eyes appeared out of a forest line, and why did the time travel story have any relevance to this world unlike the other ones. If you turn your brain off, I think you can find yourself thoroughly bleached from this collection.
That said, let’s get started with the Dissection!
Worldbuilding: Since each short story, besides 2 of them, are stand alone, the world building feels like it’s making its own world with every collection. We have forest guardians, rock eating vampires, starry cats, nymphs, and demigod animals that were originally aliens. Huh? I will say I’m glad to see Hastjarjanto not afraid to use fantasy elements, even though sometimes it can be cliched depending on where she inserts them. Every story will be very loosely connected, if at all, so don’t expect great worldbuilding, but just enough to satisfy the itch for the original story. For example, if it’s a tale about werewolves, there will be talk about the werewolf society and tales about it, but that is where it will end. It’s barely mentioned but should be all right for a short story.
Plot: I think the one that surprised me the most was the stone eater story. I won’t spoil what happened, though I think it really set the mood what to expect with other stories. I know the forest guardian one was technically the first, but the stone eater one was fun to read through. Most of the plots have a similar vibe and similar bittersweet ending, but usually you can’t foresee how they become bittersweet, which I thought was a nice welcome change from my analytical guessing brain.
Prose: The prose is neither good nor bad, it has a style of a fairy tale where you aren’t always in the person’s brain or nitpicking over every rock that you walk across. I had nothing really remarkable to comment, just like my UX career. Ah.
Characters: Uh. You’re not here for Sanderson. Keep walking, bruh.
Vibe: For a short story collection and being so few in pages and length, it does put you in the vibe of each “fairy tale” well. We get so few descriptors of everything around us that we have to fill in the gaps, which isn’t always a bad thing when I’m trying to imagine a “tall man” for example, sometimes, I want him to look like Mlynar and not that he should like Dante from DMC.
All in all, this is a surprising quality pick on the Kindle store. Turn your brain off for awhile, and let yourself be transported into another reality where stone vampires can eat your brains. And stones.
I know what I said, Barbara-
So, who should read this? Read if crack fic is turning your brain into mush and you need a break of M dashes. You need to cry over girls and boys dying that you only knew for 5 pages to remember the real pain that is your non-existent UX career.
4/5
Link to blog post: https://cannedbreadblog.wordpress.com...
Meet “Tales of Lunis Aquaria” by Tessa Hastjarjanto, something for every eye bleach reader. I will admit, this is my first short story collection I read since I graduated and wasn’t being forced to read it with a scimitar to my neck. As such, the act of reading short stories kinda unnerved me and recalled horrors of 10th grade English class. Though what made the push was this was on sale at the Kindle store for 2 bucks at the time and I thought, “Eh, I’ve impulse bought things I regret, what’s another one gonna do to my mental health?”
And I was genuinely surprised how invested I was into these short fantasy stories. “Lunis Aquaria” revolves around a mythical world that has a prime deity and 5 animal demigods observing the world. You can expect it to be whimsical, but also the endings are usually bittersweet (except one short story that I felt Hastjarjanto probably lost interest in the world and needed something to pad the collection). Overall, I had a good time, though there were some hiccups like not understanding why blue eyes appeared out of a forest line, and why did the time travel story have any relevance to this world unlike the other ones. If you turn your brain off, I think you can find yourself thoroughly bleached from this collection.
That said, let’s get started with the Dissection!
Worldbuilding: Since each short story, besides 2 of them, are stand alone, the world building feels like it’s making its own world with every collection. We have forest guardians, rock eating vampires, starry cats, nymphs, and demigod animals that were originally aliens. Huh? I will say I’m glad to see Hastjarjanto not afraid to use fantasy elements, even though sometimes it can be cliched depending on where she inserts them. Every story will be very loosely connected, if at all, so don’t expect great worldbuilding, but just enough to satisfy the itch for the original story. For example, if it’s a tale about werewolves, there will be talk about the werewolf society and tales about it, but that is where it will end. It’s barely mentioned but should be all right for a short story.
Plot: I think the one that surprised me the most was the stone eater story. I won’t spoil what happened, though I think it really set the mood what to expect with other stories. I know the forest guardian one was technically the first, but the stone eater one was fun to read through. Most of the plots have a similar vibe and similar bittersweet ending, but usually you can’t foresee how they become bittersweet, which I thought was a nice welcome change from my analytical guessing brain.
Prose: The prose is neither good nor bad, it has a style of a fairy tale where you aren’t always in the person’s brain or nitpicking over every rock that you walk across. I had nothing really remarkable to comment, just like my UX career. Ah.
Characters: Uh. You’re not here for Sanderson. Keep walking, bruh.
Vibe: For a short story collection and being so few in pages and length, it does put you in the vibe of each “fairy tale” well. We get so few descriptors of everything around us that we have to fill in the gaps, which isn’t always a bad thing when I’m trying to imagine a “tall man” for example, sometimes, I want him to look like Mlynar and not that he should like Dante from DMC.
All in all, this is a surprising quality pick on the Kindle store. Turn your brain off for awhile, and let yourself be transported into another reality where stone vampires can eat your brains. And stones.
I know what I said, Barbara-
So, who should read this? Read if crack fic is turning your brain into mush and you need a break of M dashes. You need to cry over girls and boys dying that you only knew for 5 pages to remember the real pain that is your non-existent UX career.
4/5
Link to blog post: https://cannedbreadblog.wordpress.com...
March 18, 2024
This collection wasn’t quite what I expected, but that is part of its charm. It was like a holiday: not the packed itinerary kind but the meandering, exploring-venues-only-locals-know kind. Tales of Lunis Aquaria is full of surprises, with each short story in the collection revealing a different facet of this world. The world-building here is not dense with information, but we are given enough to get a feel for this small planet with magical ley lines and two moons. The folktales are told in 3rd person, but the distance varies from one to the next. Some, like the Coming of Beasts, feel like myths passed down over centuries. Others offer a closer look at particular characters, and we have some access to their thoughts (See: The Decapod’s Ire, Shepherd’s Stick and Lovers Across Time).
It all starts with a celestial being, a goddess, bringing life to Lunis Aquaria. She is joined by other alien entities who take the forms of a fox, a bear, a phoenix, and a wolf. They appear in two early stories, so I thought they might be recurring characters, but this was not the case. I would have liked to see them all return at the end of the book, as the repetition could have created a framework for the other stories to fit into. Ordinary wolves, foxes and bears appear throughout the collection, which is a nice callback. A few times, I thought characters might be revisited or make cameos in new stories. I could have missed these, but each tale seems quite self-contained.
The short stories quickly draw you in, and each has the potential to be a novel or novella in its own right. What can be a bit jarring is that many of them read like the first act of a longer book. Just as a new venture is proposed or a secret feels like it’s about to be revealed, the story ends. I want to explain this in more detail, so there will be some MILD SPOILERS below:
Mysteries about cursed desert ghosts and a blue-eyed monster are mentioned a few times but remain unanswered. The ley lines around the world would come into play in a few stories, but we know no more about them by the end of the book than we do at the beginning. I get the sense that something is missing, and I think this is intentional. Many of the stories are rather sad, ending with tragedies or unrealised dreams. Perhaps those are themes in this collection?
I couldn’t easily predict the outcome of each tale. They feel timeless – untethered from tropes and trends. Maybe stories don’t always need a clear goal. These tales communicate emotion and atmosphere. The collection feels experimental, and once I went along with it and stopped trying to guess where it was all going, I found it very refreshing.
It all starts with a celestial being, a goddess, bringing life to Lunis Aquaria. She is joined by other alien entities who take the forms of a fox, a bear, a phoenix, and a wolf. They appear in two early stories, so I thought they might be recurring characters, but this was not the case. I would have liked to see them all return at the end of the book, as the repetition could have created a framework for the other stories to fit into. Ordinary wolves, foxes and bears appear throughout the collection, which is a nice callback. A few times, I thought characters might be revisited or make cameos in new stories. I could have missed these, but each tale seems quite self-contained.
The short stories quickly draw you in, and each has the potential to be a novel or novella in its own right. What can be a bit jarring is that many of them read like the first act of a longer book. Just as a new venture is proposed or a secret feels like it’s about to be revealed, the story ends. I want to explain this in more detail, so there will be some MILD SPOILERS below:
Mysteries about cursed desert ghosts and a blue-eyed monster are mentioned a few times but remain unanswered. The ley lines around the world would come into play in a few stories, but we know no more about them by the end of the book than we do at the beginning. I get the sense that something is missing, and I think this is intentional. Many of the stories are rather sad, ending with tragedies or unrealised dreams. Perhaps those are themes in this collection?
I couldn’t easily predict the outcome of each tale. They feel timeless – untethered from tropes and trends. Maybe stories don’t always need a clear goal. These tales communicate emotion and atmosphere. The collection feels experimental, and once I went along with it and stopped trying to guess where it was all going, I found it very refreshing.
![Profile Image for Nessa [October Tune].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1767728675i%2F7750565._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
July 14, 2020
I liked some of the stories, but others fell kind of flat for me. I wished they had been longer so I had more time to get to know the characters because I felt like I didn't really know them at all (aside from maybe the ones in the second-to-last story), and some stories felt like they ended too abruptly. Also, I read in another review there was something connecting all stories together, but I really could not see that at all. Still, it was an enjoyable adventure!
September 7, 2022
These short stories are delightful! Although there is some danger and evil lurking within, the outcomes are mostly positive. Some are shorter and a few are longer, but each is a gem. I particularly liked the stories with the animals the most. They happen to be on the cover of the book, which is so lovely as well. I can envision individual books for each story and I would read those books.
April 26, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Nine short stories that are set in a magical world that goes beyond imagination. Each story leaves you longing for more and I really want to know how different characters develop and what adventures lay before them. It’s impossible to choose only one of those stories as my favorite, I loved them all but Lovers across Time and Decapod’s Ire are my favorites, the latter would make for an awesome fantasy film in my opinion.
I hope that this author will write more stories and I not so secretly hope for a follow up on Lovers across Time.
I hope that this author will write more stories and I not so secretly hope for a follow up on Lovers across Time.
May 8, 2020
I suspect this book is exactly what a lot of people will need in their lives right now. Hastjarjanto captures the fleeting feeling of escape that all the best fairytales provide, but I've rarely come across it done so well in contemporary fiction. As a whole and as its individual stories, Tales of Lunis Aquaria is really easy to read in the best way: you can just sort of disappear into its world for a bit.
That's not to say that there aren't rewards for a closer reader; the stories, though they all appear separate narratives and there's little to place them geographically or chronologically in relation to each other, are connected by the wider framing device of the world itself and the quasi-divine 'observers', five animal-shaped beings who watch but don't interfere.
There's definitely room to expand the world, and perhaps some of the individual stories - I can see a second collection of Tales, perhaps some more explicitly interrelated than in the first volume, or perhaps a full-length novel or two either set somewhere else entirely (but perhaps bringing some of the tales together) or continuing where one of the stories left off.
You should read Tales of Lunis Aquaria, 'cos it's probably not like much else on your bookshelf. It's a refreshingly earnest trip to another world, a fresh plate of mixed fruit - different flavours, but all the right sweetness, and much easier to digest than a big ol' burger.
That's not to say that there aren't rewards for a closer reader; the stories, though they all appear separate narratives and there's little to place them geographically or chronologically in relation to each other, are connected by the wider framing device of the world itself and the quasi-divine 'observers', five animal-shaped beings who watch but don't interfere.
There's definitely room to expand the world, and perhaps some of the individual stories - I can see a second collection of Tales, perhaps some more explicitly interrelated than in the first volume, or perhaps a full-length novel or two either set somewhere else entirely (but perhaps bringing some of the tales together) or continuing where one of the stories left off.
You should read Tales of Lunis Aquaria, 'cos it's probably not like much else on your bookshelf. It's a refreshingly earnest trip to another world, a fresh plate of mixed fruit - different flavours, but all the right sweetness, and much easier to digest than a big ol' burger.
March 9, 2024
I was rather disappointed with the short story collection I read before this, though I wasn't really sure why... until I read Tales of Lunis Aquaria and easily got immersed in the world. I guess I just really enjoy collections with a more cohesive feel and an encompassing theme? Length is never an issue for me as I read and write short stories myself, so it's more about how satisfying they come together.
The stories in this book have a very fairytale feel. Whimsical, cozy, but with twists in the end that might be darker than expected (until you remember that the classic fairytales were like that anyway). The prose is easy to digest and understand but still evocative, which is befitting a magical world filled with fascinating creatures, and just something I prefer in my reads. I want to have fun, but it's not just about action and adventure, but also feeling.
I'm looking forward to reading Undine's Blessing, another story in the Lunis Aquaria world, as well as Tessa's other works.
The stories in this book have a very fairytale feel. Whimsical, cozy, but with twists in the end that might be darker than expected (until you remember that the classic fairytales were like that anyway). The prose is easy to digest and understand but still evocative, which is befitting a magical world filled with fascinating creatures, and just something I prefer in my reads. I want to have fun, but it's not just about action and adventure, but also feeling.
I'm looking forward to reading Undine's Blessing, another story in the Lunis Aquaria world, as well as Tessa's other works.
June 5, 2023
I wanted to love this so so much! The stories are interesting and the worldbuilding is good. I loved seeing glimpses into the world the author created through these short stories, and her imagination really shines through. My only complaint here is that some of the stories felt unfinished, like there could be more that could be told to wrap them up nicely.
But sadly I had a really hard time actually reading it. The writing was stilted, sentences were too short more often than not, and it just doesn't flow through. The fact it took me 2 months to get through it is why I'm giving this 3 stars.
But sadly I had a really hard time actually reading it. The writing was stilted, sentences were too short more often than not, and it just doesn't flow through. The fact it took me 2 months to get through it is why I'm giving this 3 stars.
April 23, 2019
An enchanting collection!
I loved all nine of these very unique stories and their powerful and individual messages. The author weaves such a magical spell with her words and this collection is a lovely way to switch off from modern life and lose yourself in another world. Perfect for fans of Heidi Catherine. Excited to see what Tessa Hastjarjanto comes up with next!
I loved all nine of these very unique stories and their powerful and individual messages. The author weaves such a magical spell with her words and this collection is a lovely way to switch off from modern life and lose yourself in another world. Perfect for fans of Heidi Catherine. Excited to see what Tessa Hastjarjanto comes up with next!
October 8, 2022
Collection of shorts; fairy-tale in tone, lovely for that, but not really similar to more modern fantasy. Much more lyrical and poetic in tone.
March 31, 2021
This beautiful book is a collection of 9 short stories set in the wonderful world of Lunis Aquaria. In this world, magic runs freely in Earth's veins and a mysterious and curiosity-driven deity watches over the land and its inhabitants.
I read this amazing book in a single breath during a lazy afternoon. Of the nine short stories, four resonated strongly with me:
The coming of beasts - the introductory story that grabbed my attention and made me want to read more
Thomas and the wolf - loved the strong bond formed between a boy (not an ordinary boy) and a wolf (not an ordinary wolf either!). I also loved how Tessa was able to create beasts so complex, interesting, and undeniably human!
The witch from Monterra Mountain - this story is just beautiful and heart-warming!
Decapod's ire - my favorite story of this book, one I wouldn't mind seeing Tessa turning into a full-fledged novel! It is a story about a monster, a boy, and a badass girl who leads him into battle. The story gave me a lot of Miyazaki's vibes, particularly his earlier works like the Princess Mononoke (one of my favorite from Miyazaki's).
Overall, "Tales of Lunis Aquaria" is a very sweet and positive book with a powerful message - the world is filled with magic and good things can happen to those who embrace life.
I can see myself revisiting these stories in the times to come!
I read this amazing book in a single breath during a lazy afternoon. Of the nine short stories, four resonated strongly with me:
The coming of beasts - the introductory story that grabbed my attention and made me want to read more
Thomas and the wolf - loved the strong bond formed between a boy (not an ordinary boy) and a wolf (not an ordinary wolf either!). I also loved how Tessa was able to create beasts so complex, interesting, and undeniably human!
The witch from Monterra Mountain - this story is just beautiful and heart-warming!
Decapod's ire - my favorite story of this book, one I wouldn't mind seeing Tessa turning into a full-fledged novel! It is a story about a monster, a boy, and a badass girl who leads him into battle. The story gave me a lot of Miyazaki's vibes, particularly his earlier works like the Princess Mononoke (one of my favorite from Miyazaki's).
Overall, "Tales of Lunis Aquaria" is a very sweet and positive book with a powerful message - the world is filled with magic and good things can happen to those who embrace life.
I can see myself revisiting these stories in the times to come!
August 25, 2022
Score: 4,25 out of 5 stars
Tales of Lunis Aquaria is a collection of nine short stories based in the same universe, by the Dutch author Tessa Hastjarjanto. I enjoyed so much during the time reading it, as all the stories transmit a sensation of coziness and emotional impact.
Each story lets you asking for more, wanting to know more about the universe, and trying to imagine how the different characters will do and evolve in the future. All of them are semi-connected by the five mythical animals that are created by the Lady at the start of the book, but outside of that, they could be read as independent stories. They are different between them, some being more tragic, and some could be defined as more optimistic.
I want to talk briefly about my personal favourite stories, so let's dive into them:
-Thomas and the Wolf: I think the best aspect of this particular one is how Thomas has to overcome a tragedy, how we can see him coping with traumatic events; and also I would like to bring the spotlight on the duality in Thomas' personality, the child and the character with the gift. Hastjarjanto made an excellent job developing the protective relationship between Wolf and Thomas, and probably this one landed as my particular favourite in the whole book.
-The witch from Monterra's Mountain: love that survives the pass of time, the weight of decisions, even if sometimes they are difficult to take. Special mention is deserved to show how encouraging words from somebody you appreciate can mean the world.
-Shepherd's Stick: I don't know why, but this story landed perfectly on me, probably due to how the travel is reflected, and also I think the perspective on a story depends on who is the storyteller.
As a whole, Tales from Lunis Aquaria is a really satisfying book, despite some stories might suffer due to their shortness, but in general, I really enjoyed it. It's a light read, that can also reward you if you want to be more exhaustive, as there are little details that are marvelous to spot.
I definitely recommend this book to people looking for a cozier fantasy experience, and who want a lighter read. I hope Tessa continues writing stories in the Lunis Aquaria universe because I want to return.
Tales of Lunis Aquaria is a collection of nine short stories based in the same universe, by the Dutch author Tessa Hastjarjanto. I enjoyed so much during the time reading it, as all the stories transmit a sensation of coziness and emotional impact.
Each story lets you asking for more, wanting to know more about the universe, and trying to imagine how the different characters will do and evolve in the future. All of them are semi-connected by the five mythical animals that are created by the Lady at the start of the book, but outside of that, they could be read as independent stories. They are different between them, some being more tragic, and some could be defined as more optimistic.
I want to talk briefly about my personal favourite stories, so let's dive into them:
-Thomas and the Wolf: I think the best aspect of this particular one is how Thomas has to overcome a tragedy, how we can see him coping with traumatic events; and also I would like to bring the spotlight on the duality in Thomas' personality, the child and the character with the gift. Hastjarjanto made an excellent job developing the protective relationship between Wolf and Thomas, and probably this one landed as my particular favourite in the whole book.
-The witch from Monterra's Mountain: love that survives the pass of time, the weight of decisions, even if sometimes they are difficult to take. Special mention is deserved to show how encouraging words from somebody you appreciate can mean the world.
-Shepherd's Stick: I don't know why, but this story landed perfectly on me, probably due to how the travel is reflected, and also I think the perspective on a story depends on who is the storyteller.
As a whole, Tales from Lunis Aquaria is a really satisfying book, despite some stories might suffer due to their shortness, but in general, I really enjoyed it. It's a light read, that can also reward you if you want to be more exhaustive, as there are little details that are marvelous to spot.
I definitely recommend this book to people looking for a cozier fantasy experience, and who want a lighter read. I hope Tessa continues writing stories in the Lunis Aquaria universe because I want to return.
October 19, 2022
This was such a nice, cozy read. I could see it being read as bedtime stories. I now want a cat like Nebula. The witch from Monterra Mountain, Archipelago of Wonder, and Moonflower were some of my favorite stories in this short story collection. Hastjarjanto creates such an interesting and vivid world inside these pages. 4.5 out of 5
February 15, 2023
A collection of short stories with a fairytale’s vibe. I loved most of them and thought they each brought their unique elements to the whole compilation.
February 20, 2023
Whimsical and dreamy stories that are soothing and perfect as a palate cleanser between heavy books. I want more stories in this world!
January 10, 2024
Tales of Lunis Auaria by Tess Hastjarjano is a gentle and beguiling collection of stories that gives off folk tale vibes and is perfect cosy reading for this time of year. Though short, the collection has variety so I am sure that many readers would find something to enjoy within its pages. I was intrigued and drawn into the collection by the introduction and first story, The Coming of Beasts, both of which when combined gave me a real sense of the fictional world that acts as a setting for the collection. As I read through the rest of the stories in the book I was keeping an eye out for the little connections that unified them, and while I did not always spot them, the book still felt like a very cohesive collection. I will admit that I thought there might have been a conclusion or epilogue that would have referred back to the Lady and the Beasts that we meet in the beginning of the book, as that would have tied the collection together very well, instead I thought it ended just a little abruptly.
In terms of the individual stories, as with any collection there were some I enjoyed more than others, and for me the highlights were The Sacred Maiden and also The Witch from Monterra Mountain, both had very traditional fairy tale vibes which I particularly enjoyed.
A gentle collection and a good introduction to a new to me author, I would definitely read more of her work.
In terms of the individual stories, as with any collection there were some I enjoyed more than others, and for me the highlights were The Sacred Maiden and also The Witch from Monterra Mountain, both had very traditional fairy tale vibes which I particularly enjoyed.
A gentle collection and a good introduction to a new to me author, I would definitely read more of her work.
November 13, 2020
I started this book just as England went back into lockdown and it was just what I needed to read.
The introduction to this book was absolutely beautiful, it sounded so magical and really gave us a taste of what was to come.
On the whole, these stories were magical and brought me so much joy to read them, I felt like I was immersed in the world being described. The stories were beautifully written and featured some incredibly well thought out characters and creatures.
I felt like I was whisked away.
The only disappointment for me were that the stories felt like they cut off in odd places, as if they weren't quite complete and could have done with a few more sentences to finish them off.
Despite this, I loved the stories, the characters, the worlds that we got to immerse ourselves in and I really hope there is a follow up on a couple of these stories!
The introduction to this book was absolutely beautiful, it sounded so magical and really gave us a taste of what was to come.
On the whole, these stories were magical and brought me so much joy to read them, I felt like I was immersed in the world being described. The stories were beautifully written and featured some incredibly well thought out characters and creatures.
I felt like I was whisked away.
The only disappointment for me were that the stories felt like they cut off in odd places, as if they weren't quite complete and could have done with a few more sentences to finish them off.
Despite this, I loved the stories, the characters, the worlds that we got to immerse ourselves in and I really hope there is a follow up on a couple of these stories!
January 25, 2024
Tales of Lunis Aquaria is a collection of nine short stories which all take place in the same whimsical world with a female deity, who brought to mind Mother Nature. She has five animalistic ‘watchers’ keeping an eye on all the areas of her realm on her behalf, the bear, wolf, fox, dolphin and phoenix. The stories have the feel of old fashioned folktales or fairytales with talking animals, a witch, dryads and a sea monster, plenty of heroic deeds and even time travel.
My favourite story was The Witch from Monterra Mountain. The witch was an outsider reviled by the villagers even though she didn’t earn such dislike or mistrust. It took a man falling in love with her to give her the confidence to face them and eventually be accepted.
This collection acts as a perfect palate cleanser between heavier, longer, more complicated novels.
My favourite story was The Witch from Monterra Mountain. The witch was an outsider reviled by the villagers even though she didn’t earn such dislike or mistrust. It took a man falling in love with her to give her the confidence to face them and eventually be accepted.
This collection acts as a perfect palate cleanser between heavier, longer, more complicated novels.
April 27, 2023
Very Comfy Read
Tessa really captures a kind of Studio Ghibli vibe with her style, and I had a lovely time reading these interwoven tales.
It feels archetypical, like a creation myth retold many times. It sways between grand scale and personal tragedy, stories that give a sense of a greater, connected world.
It held my attention, it kept me turning pages, and I ate it up pretty quick.
It feels like an author finding their voice at times, and I'd love to read anything Tessa writes in the future. There's a lot of scope to expand this world, these stories, and it's a world I'd like to escape to again.
Very comfy/10.
Tessa really captures a kind of Studio Ghibli vibe with her style, and I had a lovely time reading these interwoven tales.
It feels archetypical, like a creation myth retold many times. It sways between grand scale and personal tragedy, stories that give a sense of a greater, connected world.
It held my attention, it kept me turning pages, and I ate it up pretty quick.
It feels like an author finding their voice at times, and I'd love to read anything Tessa writes in the future. There's a lot of scope to expand this world, these stories, and it's a world I'd like to escape to again.
Very comfy/10.
September 4, 2023
Odd, Quirky, Magical
I really like these stories. They're told in a matter of fact way as if its completely normal that alien observers from different worlds meet up with this world's version of a Gaia like being. Or that ghosts talk. I don't want to give too much away as the charm of these stories is in the extraordinary made ordinary.
What I like most is that they're hopeful, life affirming stories that celebrate humanity's positive traits. Grim things do happen but the stories don't dwell on them. Not the Grimm takes so much as Aesop's Fables.
I don't think I'm doing a good job at describing them but if you stories that are odd, quirky, and magical, you'll love these.
I really like these stories. They're told in a matter of fact way as if its completely normal that alien observers from different worlds meet up with this world's version of a Gaia like being. Or that ghosts talk. I don't want to give too much away as the charm of these stories is in the extraordinary made ordinary.
What I like most is that they're hopeful, life affirming stories that celebrate humanity's positive traits. Grim things do happen but the stories don't dwell on them. Not the Grimm takes so much as Aesop's Fables.
I don't think I'm doing a good job at describing them but if you stories that are odd, quirky, and magical, you'll love these.
May 23, 2024
Tessa Hastjarjanto's "Tales of Lunis Aquaria" is an incredibly cute anthology of shorter fantasy stories. I really liked the style of it. It's charming and short, at times quite bittersweet - and frankly, I found the small twists as well as the fantasy elements that were turned around quite interesting. Since the stories are short enough as is, I don't really know how to write more about it without spoiling anything, so I'd just like to say that if you like fantasy and/or fairy tales with a certain vibe to it, then Hastjarjanto's "Tales of Lunis Aquaria" might be up your alley!
March 4, 2024
a lovely collection of short stories and a very solid 3.5/5 stars for me! the cosy, fairytale-esque style of writing made this quite a comforting read, and i enjoyed how a couple of the stories were connected while maintaining their own distinct plots and characters. i would've really loved to see more connection between all the short stories, as a few plots and characters were definitely interesting on their own, but sadly felt less engaging.
July 21, 2022
When I finished it I thought what? that's it? Nooo I want more, haha. More to the story and more stories in the book. I hope the author does write another collection!
I feel like the stories got better as the book went on. Also I liked the ethereal, magical feeling some had. Learned some things too. Overall enjoyed it! 3/4 stars.
I feel like the stories got better as the book went on. Also I liked the ethereal, magical feeling some had. Learned some things too. Overall enjoyed it! 3/4 stars.
December 9, 2022
This is a wonderful read of fantasy short stories and legends of a world told lyrically. Some stories are of bravery others result in curses. My favorite ones are those related to animals or transformations. I also enjoyed the Moonflower quest. A great read if you are a fan of fantasy and want a relaxing read without getting into a long series.
December 18, 2022
These stories were light and easy to read, although I think I'd have enjoyed them more if I knew anything about the world they came from.
Most of the stories just... end. It looks like they're about to go somewhere and then it moves on to the next story. I struggled to find a common thread between them.
Most of the stories just... end. It looks like they're about to go somewhere and then it moves on to the next story. I struggled to find a common thread between them.
April 24, 2023
Very sweet fantasy stories! I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read more Lunis Aquaria stories. Some feel unfinished right now and I feel like they will all connect in the end. I would really like that.
I would definitely read them to children, they are short, easy to follow and very fairytale like.
I would definitely read them to children, they are short, easy to follow and very fairytale like.
January 5, 2024
A collection of short snippets all set in a common world. Many have promise as longer stories, but they often seem to end prematurely and without conclusion. The ideas and characters benefit from interesting settings and world building, but it doesn’t quite satisfy that yearning for a tight collection. I’ll definitely look at more of Tessa’s work.
February 4, 2024
The world was interesting and the structure of the stories felt very fairytale-esque. I felt like there was a bit of incongruence between the cover and the stories though. I was expecting something a bit more cozy going in and some of the stories ended up being pretty dark, and some also ended very abruptly.
January 12, 2026
A collection of short snippets all set in a common world. Many have promise as longer stories, but they often seem to end prematurely and without conclusion. The ideas and characters benefit from interesting settings and world building, but it doesn’t quite satisfy that yearning for a tight collection. I’ll definitely look at more of Tessa’s work.
May 17, 2020
Ahh, I really loved this! The world of Lunis Aquaria was built beautifully and I found myself lost in each short story, it was shocking once the stories came to an end. Definitely looking forward to what happens next!
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