Hortari

by Marie-Alice Harel

Hortari is a book featuring 15 short stories about explorers and seekers you've never heard of. Bascahil Pellin, Isha Nim, Paul Teribec, Taherih Saffarah... they travelled the world and changed it, but you won't find their achievements in history books. This is their stories.

A collection of imaginary tales reminding us that, whatever our goals or dispositions, we are all explorers. Each story is accompanied by beautifully detailed watercolour illustration by the author.

Genres: Fantasy

34 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hortari features short bios of imaginary adventurers alongside a gorgeous piece of art depicting an insect or animal as the "forgotten explorer." It reminded me of one of my other favorite books The Mysteries of Harris Burdick in the way that it's written like non-fiction but filled with fantasy. My favorites were the book-loving cricket who had to write his own story to fill a particular book-shaped gap on his shelf, the coati-looking creature that survived a life-taking parasite by finding and protecting a group of fragile birds, and the little shrew that took off for the Amazon to find a rare orchid. The book is visually stunning. I absolutely loved it!

[Maed Between the Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.

I’m calling it now: this will be one of my favorite books of the year.

To be fair, Harel’s art gives Hotari a strong leg up as her work is the only other besides Junaida that can fill me with an inexplicable sense of whimsy, wonder, and joy. So having her pieces accompany these short stories of explorers catapults the star rating to an easy 3 already.

But the stories themselves? I actually thought, based on the intro to this book, that these explorers were real humans. At first I was disappointed to learn that they weren’t, but after reading the first story, the fact that they are imaginary makes it perfect. It adds to the feeling of possibility - of wanderlust - that is present here.

Explorers come in all iterations and our discoveries bring a little extra light to the world. Keep doing the things that bring you joy.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this from Marie-Alice Harel's Etsy shop in 2021 finding each animal fable of a adventurer in the style of myths; here are the 15 tales of Marvollo Caravelli, Hu Chang, Cornelius Van Goord, Charles Hawkler, Eydis Huldadottir, Varamajaya Kuptra, Isha Nim, Tiahui and Tayeka Otulxi, Alyse De Quissac, Bascahil Pellin, Tishina Rasskazchik, Orapu Roatoru, Taherih Saffarah, Kululeko Sibindi and Paul Teribec - all touching on the world Harel's built with the mysterious Island of A. and places familiar and unfamiliar between.

Adventure joined with grace and charm with art and poetic journeys. Wonderful book!

[Diana Meraz Carnevale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book to get lost in.

The incredible illustrations, unbelievably, are only half of the wonderful charm of this book. The way Harel writes her short stories makes even the briefest glimpse of an adventurer's life feel completely real.

Then there are her illustrations which each embody in all their magic her characteristic voice as a storyteller.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and magical.

[Ryen]

This book is a small treasure, full of magic. The illustrations and stories are perfectly paired, and I come back to them for inspiration.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a whimsical collection of imaginary explorers. The art is truly captivating and the accompanied short stories are spell binding with a flourishing language.
The portrait of Charles Hawkler was what drew my attention, and the collective quality of the book convinced me I wanted it in my collection.
Every page is a wonder, but my favourite adventurer after having completed this book for the first time is for the time being Kululeko Sibindi. Kululeko whose phobias doesn’t deter him of seeking out what he loves.