The Teller of Small Fortunes

by Julie Leong

A wandering fortune teller finds an unexpected family in this warm and wonderful debut fantasy, perfect for readers of Travis Baldree and Sangu Mandanna.

Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only tells "small" fortunes: whether it will hail next week; which boy the barmaid will kiss; when the cow will calve. She knows from bitter experience that big fortunes come with big consequences…

Even if it’s a lonely life, it’s better than the one she left behind. But a small fortune unexpectedly becomes something more when a (semi) reformed thief and an ex-mercenary recruit her into their desperate search for a lost child. Soon, they’re joined by a baker with a knead for adventure, and—of course—a slightly magical cat.

Tao sets down a new path with companions as big-hearted as her fortunes are small. But as she lowers her walls, the shadows of her past are closing in—and she’ll have to decide whether to risk everything to preserve the family she never thought she could have.

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy, Fiction, Cozy Fantasy, Audiobook, Adult, Mystery

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 5, 2024

About the author

Julie Leong is the USA Today and Sunday Times internationally bestselling author of cozy and cozy-adjacent fantasy novels. The daughter of Malaysian Chinese immigrants, she split her childhood across suburban New Jersey and Beijing, China. Her debut novel, The Teller of Small Fortunes, was published in the US/UK in November 2024, with translations forthcoming in German, French, Spanish, Czech, Portuguese, Hungarian, and Ukrainian.

Julie graduated from Yale University with degrees in Economics and Political Science. She lives in San Francisco, California with her husband and their spoiled rescue pup, Kaya. When she’s not writing, she enjoys making unnecessary spreadsheets and flambéing things.

Find her online at julieleong.com, or on Twitter or Instagram at @JulieLeongBooks.

Reviews

[Yun · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐ Can a cozy fantasy be too cozy? Unfortunately, the answer here is yes.

When I think of a cozy fantasy, what I want is to be swept away in a story that's warm and comforting, but also compelling. And that last part is perhaps especially important since it can often be hard to achieve the right balance in this cozy genre. Because no matter how seemingly low stakes a tale may be, there must still be some depth and things of importance on the line. And for me, The Teller of Small Fortunes just never quite got there.

It pains me to say that my mind wandered constantly. The story failed to grab me, not in the beginning, nor in the middle, and not even eventually in the end when we get to the most exciting scenes. It lacked that all-important tension throughout, without which nothing really propelled the story forward.

It doesn't help that we had no permanent setting. Instead, Tao and her friends go from one town to the next. Each chapter brings a new location, so it felt like a string of short stories instead of one cohesive whole. Even though there were a few overarching goals for the merry band of travelers, they somehow felt very diluted and lacked the weight necessary to hold the story together.

Even the dialogue felt very low stakes, with no actual conflicts or surprises at play. As you enter each conversation, it's clear where it's going, and indeed it goes there. The way the characters talk to each other doesn't hold the authenticity of real, distinct people. Instead, it feels like an approximation of what dialogue should be, but cozified so that everyone talks the same and it achieves the warm fuzzy feeling without any of the give and take of real conversation.

And when we finally reach the end, that felt like a letdown too. All the overarching conflicts were instantly resolved, without any pushback or depth or even the slightest unexpectedness. It just felt so insubstantial after the whole journey.

Maybe it's me and this style of cozy isn't to my taste. A friend read this and greatly enjoyed it, as did the majority of readers for this book. So take my thoughts with a grain of salt and don't let me dissuade you, especially if you're a fan of this cozy genre.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧

[Julie Leong]

Hi! I'm the author of this book (still surreal to say that!).

Writing it was a bright spot of joy during what was otherwise a pretty difficult time in my life. My dad's cancer had come back with a vengeance, COVID was COVID-ing, and it felt like the world was falling apart. So I quit my job, spent a lot of time at the hospital, and proceeded to devour every cozy, magical, and uplifting fantasy book that I could find. When I eventually ran out, I decided to finally try to write my own.

The Teller of Small Fortunes is that book. It's a cozy adventure story, a love letter to the fantasy books that I loved both as a child and as an adult. It's also about destiny and choice, magic and baking, the immigrant experience, and finding a family in unexpected places. It’s a book that wears its heart on its sleeve (my heart, in fact).

I do hope you like it.

Content warnings: political conflict, death of a parent, parental neglect, racism, grief, alcohol

[Petrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars

The Teller of Small Fortunes could become the new benchmark for cozy fantasy novel.

“One could choose to be nothing, or one could choose to be happy.”

More than two years ago, back in 2022, Legends and Lattes took the fantasy world by coffee and comfort. Since then, the publication of cozy fantasy novels has exploded and persevered. Instead of appearing as a one-hit wonder, the publication of Legends and Lattes seems to make the subgenre the new trend together with romantasy. Whether the trend will stay, we will find out. As I mentioned multiple times, I am a fan of reading slice-of-life manga or watching slice-of-life anime. Nichijou, Natsume Yuujinchouu, or Frieren is a superb example of this. However, reading cozy fantasy novels is not something I often search for. I have to make sure I’m in the right reading mood for it, and even with that in mind, the book itself will have to do a great job at captivating me with its relatively lower-stake conflicts. And lately, I feel like those who try to follow the trends of cozy fantasy novels failed to convey the subgenre’s main purpose: comfort. The Teller of Small Fortunes managed to achieve everything Legends and Lattes did without it feeling like a clone of Legends and Lattes. It is its own thing, and in some aspects, I’ll argue this debut novel did some things superior to most cozy fantasy novels I’ve tried and abandoned.

“Familiarity could look very much like love from a certain angle, if one didn’t look too hard. Everyone deserves a home… And what was a home but somewhere you wouldn’t have to feel quite so alone?”

The Teller of Small Fortunes revolves around a wandering fortune teller who finds an unexpected family. Tao is an immigrant fortune teller who travels between villages with just her trusty mule for company. Even though she could tell big fortunes, Tao resolves to only tell relatively small fortunes. Tao knows from bitter experience that big fortunes come with heavy consequences… But even if it’s a lonely life, it’s better than the one she left behind. And a small fortune unexpectedly becomes something more when a (semi) reformed thief and an ex-mercenary recruit her into their desperate search for a lost child. Soon, they are joined by a baker with a knead for adventures. And—of course—a slightly magical cat. Tao sets down a new path with companions as big-hearted as her fortunes are small. But as she lowers her walls, the shadows of her past are closing in, and she will have to decide whether to risk everything to preserve the family she never thought she could have.

“Some forks were clear as water while some were muddied and hard to trace; the latter she ignored. She avoided, too , the heaviest pathways that pulled at her like anchors—for those would be the big truths, the grand fortunes, the life-altering visions of tragedy, and triumph, and grief, and Tao had no business looking at those. She was a teller of small fortunes only.”

There are many integral and resonating themes imbued into the narrative. I believe whether readers can connect with them or not will be one of the main appeals of The Teller of Small Fortunes. Found family, forgiveness, languages, starting something new, finding people who care about you, following your passion, and most importantly, believing that you and what you do are enough. For such a small novel, The Teller of Small Fortunes contained many incredible lessons to do good and be better. It fits the tagline. Small fortunes. Big feelings.

“You’re wrong. There’s no such thing as greater good—there’s just good, and the more if it we can do, the better.”

Personally, and I think I can say this for most readers, I am confident one of the reasons we read epic fantasy and the SFF genre is for escapism. We want to feel and experience something more exciting and adventurous in a different world compared to our mundane and daily lives while being safe from literal threats. (The danger of lifting and reading books or having your big books or Kindle fall on your face is not part of the equation.) One of the ways we achieve that is to read fantasy books. Some of them can be inspiring enough to make us want to achieve something more. To do more. To be more emphatic. The Teller of Small Fortunes did mostly the same thing in a different way. One of the main themes of this novel is to emphasize that what we have is enough. Although our winding path as living beings eventually leads to the same destination, it is not a mistake to have fun and do our best as we live through our lives. I feel it is noteworthy to remember this.

“Because I’m here! And why not! Aye, our lives are short and shaped by circumstances, and maybe we can’t control most of what’s to come. But we can control how we feel. We can savor the sweetness of a blackberry scone, and the company of our friends, and the warmth of the summer wind at night, and be grateful for it. We can be nothing, and choose to be miserable about it, like you—or we can be nothing, but choose to be happy, and let that be purpose enough. Which sounds more worthwhile to you?”

It is truly a book that will tell you clearly that you are enough to exist and do your best in everything. Baking, cooking, making tea, and just to be better every day. Through the characters, Leong successfully delivered the crucial messages and themes of The Teller of Small Fortunes. Heavy topics were being discussed as well. The disappearance of languages as we settle in a new location. The difficulty of being an immigrant. Dealing with prejudice. Or, in a similar manner to The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu, to appreciate and be proud of your language and culture. The several themes handled in this book while ensuring the book remains a cozy fantasy were done slightly better than Legends and Lattes, in my opinion.

“I think you have changed… In enough small ways that you just don’t quite notice it while it’s happening, but then you look in the mirror one day, and you’re altogether different. That’s how it was for me, anyway.”

None of the characters are perfect. They are all, at their core, kind-hearted individuals. However, they come with their respective flaws. With each chapter, the characters try to get better and better as a person. Without going into spoiler territory, Tao, for example, can be quite self-centered at times. She might not realize this at first, but some actions and inner mind of her certainly put her in the self-centered category, especially when it comes to her usage of fortune-telling. She does have a valid reason behind her reluctance, though. And it’s not only just Tao. The other three main characters—Mash, Silt, and Kina—all developed organically. None ever felt forced. And reading this can be emotional, comforting, and fun at the same time. When you think about it, even though this is a cozy fantasy, it almost feels like reading a relaxing DnD campaign. Tao is the wizard, Mash is the knight, Silt is the thief, and Kina is the baker. Or healer? Let's not forget about the animal companions, too! This is an endearing cast of characters that will charm many readers.

“People aren’t like that, Silt, not really. We’re not always cheerful and funny. We’ve sadness, and anxiety, and all these other bitter things wrapped up inside, too, and that’s what makes the sweetness all the sweeter.”

One last thing. This is an element I think Leong excels more than many other authors trying to write cozy fantasy. Leong knows the purpose of the genre, and she stuck with it. When we read epic fantasy novels, we usually would love to be surprised by some unexpected elements of the plotline and development. To not know the ending or to start the book with as little knowledge as possible usually benefits the readers of the genre. Except for the promise of a new world in a high fantasy subgenre, it is often safe to expect the unexpected. In cozy fantasy, it is almost always the other way around. Readers read cozy fantasies to feel comforted. To enjoy the slice-of-life moments and kind more than anything. This isn’t to say conflicts are not allowed. Conflicts among the characters (even if they are very minimal in scope) must still exist. Otherwise, it would still be a boring book. However, many cozy fantasy novels seem to forget their identity and try to blend intense actions into their own cozy fantasy novel. Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne is an example of this. And on some level, even the prequel novel to Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, Bookshops and Bonedust, is guilty of this as well. When they include relatively many detailed action scenes, the overall quality of the cozy fantasy novels decreases. The best parts of Bookshops and Bonedust are every moment the battle scenes are not on the pages. This mistake does not happen in The Teller of Small Fortunes. It stays to the cozy fantasy umbrella from the beginning to the end, just like Legends and Lattes. And it is one of the many reasons I stated above why fans of the subgenre must give this novel a read.

“In the evenings, when they sat a table near the hearth eating fresh-baked bread with stewed turnips for supper, Tao let the others carry the conversation and enjoyed the novelty of simply being part of a group with nothing expected of her but her presence.”

Heartwarming, cozy, and comforting. Even though my interest in reading The Teller of Small Fortunes was first sparked thanks to the beautiful cover art by Devin Elle Kurtz, the novel successfully won me over, and it will be on my list of favorite books of the year. It is the best cozy fantasy novel since the publication of Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, and I am not saying that lightly. This book will be out in about a week from now. If you are a fan of cozy fantasy, then this one is a must-read. If you aren't a fan of the subgenre, I still believe this book will be suitable when you need a break from your intense and epic-scope fantasy reading. You might end up being pleasantly surprised.

You can pre-order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel

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[Heather Mclarry]

Not rating this. Wasn’t a bad book by any means just wasn’t really my type of book (at least rn). This is the type of book that is meant to be read in the fall when the leaves are just starting to change and you have a chai latte with an apple cider donut.

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where I will go the wind only knows / Good times around the bend / Get in my car, goin' too far / Never comin' back again (Waimanalo Blues – Don Ho).

Quick, let me just rate this bad boy 5-stars and dip before my negativity addled brain finds something to complain about! Just kidding, as always, I've got a lot on my mind. Too much even, and since don't have any other outlets for the never-ending Ted Talk monologues on a constant loop in my head, I'll just use this as a forum to spill my thoughts. Anyway, I don’t know if this particular hot take is a controversial one or not, but I don’t think The Teller of Small Fortunes is actually all that cozy to be honest, and in my opinion, describing it as such does a disservice to a wonderful book that people might not have given a second glance had they been under the impression that it was just another “cozy” fantasy book. Okay look, here’s a little backstory, because over time I’ve since come to see the descriptor as a somewhat derogatory one and often use it as a short hand for forms of art that are distinctly lacking in artistic merit and substance. You'll never catch me using the phrase “brain rot” in a sentence because I think it’s over used, but there's really no other term for the kind of trash that I’ve been consuming on YouTube over the past few weeks whenever I’m doing the dishes or folding clothes or whatever. It's a way to pass the time, and it's nothing more than brain rot, it’s cozy! I’m talking videos deep diving into the current Dancing With the Stars drama (a show I’ve never watched at length), feuds between influencers I’ve never once heard of before, and the seemingly endless supply of videos about the disastrous career downfalls of toxic YouTubers and Twitch Streamers (my favorites are the ones with thumbnails that say something like "HE'S COOKED?"), and my main takeaway here is that Tubers and Twitch streamers are literally the worst scum on the planet. Wait no, that’s not what it was… my point here is I associate the term “cozy” with media that is easily consumable without ever demanding its audience to actually engage with it intellectually. By that definition, calling The Teller of Small Fortunes "cozy" couldn’t be further from the truth. This here isn’t one of those Jason Mraz “mmmbop, bop bop, mmmbop” easy breezy narratives, nah, at the center is actually an incredibly poignant and pressing immigrant story. One that’s full of good feelings and ultimately has the happiest of happy endings in the end, sure, but the journey that Tao and her party goes through also chronicles all the pain and isolation that you would expect from someone who was forcibly relocated to a new land with an almost alien culture hellbent on constantly judges them with suspicious looks and vaguely racist assumptions about their “ancient mystical culture.” I guess the reason why I’m so adverse to describing this book as cozy is because I went into this book thinking it would be one of those “no drama” “don’t worry, be happy” affairs like the Side Quest Row series by R.K. Ashwick or the Adenashire books by J. Penner and ended up finding something much more.

Don’t get me wrong, I love those books and my favorite genre of video game are of the cozy non-violent variety like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, but sometimes you just got to have something with a bit of grit to it, you know? I mean, The Teller of Small Fortunes is definitely a feel-good kind of story at the end of the day, but I’m just saying that I wasn’t expecting there to be an ever present sense of a particularly unique kind of loneliness in company that you can only find when separated from your culture, a constant looming threat of war that then begets racial bias and threats of violence because of said racial bias, and a powerfully effective showcase of a mother and daughter relationship that is so specifically and empathetically about their Asian-ness. Look, I'm well aware that every Asian is and was born with a copy of The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan in their hands (mine was a first edition!) because of its near universal acclaim in portraying the “Asian experience,” but I still think it’s nice to have an update on the required reading for anybody who wants to see the world through a different lens. In fact, it's cool because the only time this book lives up to my unflattering definition of “cozy” fiction is during the overly sappy ending where everything is wrapped up in too neat a bow. You know, where everybody continues to stay together and the oppressive government that had been tormenting its citizens turns out to not actually be all that bad in the end after all. Man, that's how you know this book is a fantasy! Really though, I think that stories of this kind, the ones where a bunch of people come together under abnormal circumstances, are best when they conclude their journey with a “breaking of the fellowship” type beat. Something like a Samurai Champloo ending, where it’s happy in a "you can never go back kind of way. Had this book been given just a splash of bittersweet, it would have made this book an all-timer for me. But even given that aspect, I can’t say I fault this book for wanting to fit the vibe of its contemporaries, and considering I’ve grown to love these characters as much as I have, I can find it in my heart to just be happy that they all ended up happy. Can you imagine? Me, happy for another person. Sure, they’re all fictional, but it’s a good first step, I reckon. Oops, all this yapping and I still haven’t given a plot synopsis. Here we go, my least favorite thing to do! The Teller of Small Fortunes is a fantasy novel about a runaway Shinn (read: probably Chinese) fortune teller named Tao who ran away from home to escape unjust societal expectations put on her from an early age. Because her abilities as a seer lead to disastrous results à la Final Destination, she associates the practice with her deeply ingrained trauma, thus leading to her only using her magic to tell small fortunes.

“But I would ask you to remember, Tao, as one woman with power to another – the greater good must always come before the personal.”
“No, you’re wrong. There’s no such thing as greater good – there’s just good, and the more of it we can do, the better.”

And on her wanderer’s lament, everything changes all at once as she finds herself quickly picking up more and more party members as if she were the star of one of those JRPG's, and together on their journey to find a lost daughter, she soon learns that it’s becoming harder and harder to fight against the nagging sense that she might need to use her powers for a greater good, if such a thing even exists. Phew, now that we’re all caught up now, let me just say that I love this book’s fantasy world because it features a more realistic setting where different real world races like Asians (or Shinn) exist without the narrative using a heavily racialized proxies like Orcs, Elves, or whatever else while it also keeps its sense of colorful whimsy without ever falling into edgy, “low fantasy,” Game of Thrones territory. The thing is, whenever I’m reading a fantasy book or watching a fantasy movie or playing a fantasy video game, it’s always wild to me how their writers can create such fantastical worlds and have no trouble thinking up all sorts of ghouls and goblins to inhabit them, but fall short whenever they’re tasked with imagining a person of color in their story. It’s sad to me how fantasies usually feature either generic European inspired worlds like The Witcher or Eragon or they go full on Asian influence like Avatar: The Last Airbender or that one book series I read as a kid that takes place in a fantasy China (I don’t remember the name), and I’m always just sitting here wondering why we can’t do both? Is the world so small that we can’t imagine people who are different living in it along with us? Games with a diverse set of writers like the Dragon Age franchise try to alleviate these issues by writing it so there can be elves or other fantasy races of any real world race, but I don’t really know if that’s the answer either. Because the thing is, when you have an Asian elf as seen in Dragon Age: Veilguard, it feels just a bit out of place. I mean, not because of some kind of “anti-woke” dog whistle or whatever nonsense those weird incels are always talking about, but because the fantasy race basically overrides the real world race that they’re trying to represent. It's the "I don' see race, I don't see color" distilled in the writing process! And look, points for trying, but I don’t think erasure of one’s cultural background is the answer to perfect racial harmony in a fantasy world setting. So then, what is the answer, Answer Man? Well, the answer is The Teller of Small Fortunes, because it understands that you can just put some damn Asians in the fantasy world! Just drop ‘em in there! Sure, the Asians in this novel are called Shinn and are given their own background like any fantasy story, but I loved how distinctly clear it was where the inspirations come from. Acclaimed show and book series Game of Thrones took from different real world historical events and is seen as groundbreaking, so why can’t we do the same thing with different cultures?

Anyway, what I was trying to get at before I got side-tracked by my own brain is that of all the outrageous fantasy worlds in fiction, The Teller of Small Fortunes manages to create a sense of wonder and beauty simply because it takes inspiration from what makes our world so wonderful and beautiful. And on that note, this book also has an effortless way of taking normal tropes in a fantasy story like skirting one’s duty and running away from home and by tweaking the character motivations just a little bit, it helps make the whole thing feel fresh and grounded in reality. Even though from an objective status, Tao refusing a life of wealth and privilege might seem like a “first world problems” kind of narrative, we quickly learn that full acceptance of “her place” as a guild mage would also come hand in hand with cutting herself off from her heritage completely, just the same as her mother had done. And seeing her hollow eyes was more than enough of a motivator to make sure she never loses sight of her people and homeland. It’s a very powerful narrative, and one that I’m sure many second generation Asians can heavily relate to. Otherwise, another thing that I loved about this book is that even though it has shades of all the great video game RPG’s, from Dragon Quest to Dragon Age, and gets around to referencing back to all the classic D&D style fantasies, The Teller of Small Fortunes actually reads almost like a deconstruction of the genre simply in the way Tao’s party solves most of their problems with non-violence. It might not be as realistic or fun in video game, but it’s a hell of a lot more narratively satisfying in a book like this. Besides, I always hated it how those kinds of games would often force you to fight and kill poor wolves as a beginning enemy! Like, I’m looking at you Dragon Age: Origins! Um, I’m just rambling now... or maybe I’ve been doing that this whole review, but I also thought it was funny how Kina and Tao create fortune cookies, which means that fortune cookies are more authentically Chinese in this fantasy universe than our own. Julie Leong is taking the whole “reclaiming our culture” thing to the next level, huh? Okay, I think that's every one of my thoughts on the matter. In fact, you couldn’t get me to say anything more! I’ll leave this off by saying that I loved this book; from its focus on characters finding fulfillment and happiness outside of romantic relationships to its portrayal of a classic hero’s journey that shifts into being an exploration of finding the familiar in our differences, this book is uniquely spectacular! Wait a minute, I just had a thought… could it be that the real treasure were the friends we made along the way? Woah, it's a novel thought, isn't it?

Tired and worn I woke up this mornin' / Found that I was confused / Spun right around and found I had lost / The things that I couldn't lose.

[EmmaSkies]

DNF @ 42%

Mind-numbingly boring and completely dedicated to remaining low-stakes and cozy despite putting forth a plot that should be met with some kind of sense of urgency (a kidnapped child). Either lean into the cozy or the urgent plot, but these two things are oil and water. This, coupled with an overwhelming feeling of watching a children's after-school special where every vignette ends with a direct look to camera to explicitly impart the moral lesson to the viewer pushed me to finally DNF this book.

[len ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am severely behind on the PopSugar Reading Challenge, so when I realized this fit prompt #38 (A cozy fantasy book), I knew I had to download and read it.

This is the type of story I wish Studio Ghibli would adapt.

To say I was surprised by this book’s entire outcome would be an understatement. I’ve been struggling to read, and this book came in perfectly timed, offering a small solution for a given time that was largely appreciated. I wanted to do nothing more and continue reading this, diving into its cozy elements of fantasy, fortune telling, baking, friendship, and learning about who you are.

From the beginning, the story wraps you in its bright world. I agree 100% when the author describes this as having Studio Ghibli vibes. I was wishing this was already some sort of television adaption, with its soft colors of the world; the bright characters; the slow experience of an adult figuring herself out; the found family; the new friendships being formed. The fantasy genre is a fantastic main addition, adding strength without overpowering the story, as well as everything else around it. I never once felt like the author tried adding too much or felt like she couldn’t balance out the themes properly.

There’s the immigrant experience, adding a heartfelt emotion to the story, which will be relatable to many. I loved how the author blended this together. The story never becomes too overdrawn, overwhelming, angsty, or sad, but remains on the cusp of cozy and whimsical but also poignant and mysterious. There’s most likely personal experiences from the author, with her being Chinese-Malaysian-American. The division between the Shinn and Eshteran is realistic. The prejudice, the racism, the ignorance—it shows a perspective of neglect for being of a different country. I especially loved the addition of conversation for how Tao will technically never be Eshteran simply because she was bored in Shinara, even though she was raised in Esthera and has pretty much no connection and value to Shinara. I could relate, to an extent, with how I will never be 100% from my parents country, but also not be 100% from my own country, simply due to where I was born. This will be a relatable moment to many immigrants and the diaspora. I also loved the reality of Tao not speaking Shinn even though she was born in Shinara and being fluent in Esthera instead. That one scene with the shopkeeper was so sad to me because of how realistic it is. There was a time when I didn’t want to speak Spanish, and with how I went a whole year avoiding it, it’s obvious in how I speak now. I’m still learning a lot of words I probably should’ve already known before only because I neglected that side of me for a while, wanting to be someone else, someone I wasn’t. I am again thankful that my parents did not succumb to western manipulation and didn’t give up on teaching my brother and I Spanish because it has clearly paid off for both of us.

The found family is a beautiful friendship to witness growing. I loved how each character had their own distinct trait and personality, adding a unique take to Tao’s narrative. This would’ve been a case where I wouldn’t have minded multiple perspectives for each character, as they all were different and never felt like they just blended in. Nonetheless, the story is told through Tao’s eyes only, yet we manage to learn and meet the rest of the characters—Mash, Silt, Kina—well enough to be distinguished and not feel underwhelmed by them. Mash, the grumpy mercenary who just wants to find his little girl and get back home to his wife; Silt, the ex-thief with his witty charm, funny demeanor and charming personality; and Kina, with her sunshine self and love for baking; and of course, Fidelitus, the cat. I can only imagine what Kina’s pastries would look like in an adaption. Their friendship was always joyous. It also goes to show how sometimes meeting the most random people in the most random times can help you find yourself. I felt like these four helped each other out in many different ways, but especially Kina. I loved how she went from not really knowing who she was and what she was supposed to do to feeling proud and passionate about her baking. The author writes their journey and exploration fantastically, not rushed or too slow, and offers enough back drops on each scene to understand what is going on.

One of my only issues with this is the forgiveness Tao gave her mother. Maybe I’m too cynical, but I’m kind of tired of reading stories where characters forgive their parents easily when those parents either do not deserve the forgiveness at all or haven’t done anything to deserve that forgiveness. I thought Tao’s mother needed to do a little more…groveling, to earn Tao’s forgiveness. I was glad she wasn’t rude when Tao went back home, but I also couldn’t excuse what she did and didn’t do so easily. I was so happy to see Tao’s character development, but her easy attitude towards her mother felt undeserved and underdeveloped, as if the experience Tao had gone through the whole book was useless in the end. It’s not to say Tao’s mother shouldn’t be given a chance, but I do think she needed to do more. The excuse of “I was also grieving” did not feel valid enough, in my opinion. It feels like that’s all it is—an excuse. I also thought the epilogue should’ve focused on Tao instead, or at least an additional one should’ve been given to her. This is more of a me thing, but I’m simply not a fan of epilogues not focusing on the main character(s). They feel pointless when they focus on side characters.

Overall though, I really enjoyed this. Maybe it’s because it was soft and comfortable and was a story I’d normally not read. Regardless, I’m glad I took a shot on it because I loved it.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✩ 4.2 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Cozy Fantasy
➼ Found Family
➼ Traveling Party
➼ Divination Magic
➼ Zelda/Studio Ghibli Vibes
➼ Reminiscent of Cozy Gaming
➼ Immigrant Experience
➼ Draws Heavily from Asian Culture
➼ Third Person POV

I’ve often felt that the word “cozy” was synonymous with the word “dull,” but the genre has really grown on me over the last few months. This was a very low stakes meandering story, but the cozy vibes were immaculate. 🤌🏻

Based on the cover art, I was already envisioning the people of Hyrule, but there was a lot about the story itself that was also reminiscent of cozy/RPG gaming. By the end, I felt so attached to their traveling party that I came very close to purchasing a Nintendo Switch just to hold onto that feeling. *Just to be clear, this book is not remotely connected to Zelda except in my head. 🙃

This is a much slower paced/more character driven novel than I’m used to, but I found that I really enjoyed the change of pace. I doubt that I would be interested in reading novels like this regularly, but this was the perfect cozy read to pick up in those strange lazy days that follow Christmas.

I realize I’ve told you almost nothing about the book itself, but I figure there are summaries for that. 😅

I think this one won’t be for everyone, but I feel confident it will reach its people. 💗

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: This cover art looks like something straight out of Zelda and I am here for it! 🙌🏻

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

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[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A debut cozy fantasy about an immigrant fortune teller running away from her past. Too much ‘cozy’, not enough ‘fantasy’. Good use of the found family trope and great observations on immigrant experiences. Vague world-building, lacklustre character development despite some interesting characters. A decent one-time read, but not a memorable one.

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Plot Preview:

Tao is a Shinn fortune teller who travels from village to village with her wagon and her trusty mule. She tells only small fortunes: predications that won't create big consequences. At her latest stop, she bumps into a reformed thief and his semi-reformed mercenary friend. They are looking for a lost child, and Tao feels compelled to offer the services of her wagon. They are soon joined by a young baker woman with big dream and a cat. The adventures of this motley crew and the result of their quest forms the rest of the plot.
The story comes to us in Tao’s third-person perspective.

On paper, this debut novel had plenty to offer. It promised to be a comforting read, with many magical and cherishable moments, loveable characters, and a soul-satisfying storyline. However, the end result felt mostly surface-level, leaving me with the feeling that the potential of the plot was not fulfilled.


Bookish Yays:
🔮 The portrayal of Tao’s immigrant experience of being a Shinn (Chinese?) woman in an Eshteran (European?) land. The xenophobia of the locals and Tao’s always feeling like an “other” or outsider comes out quite well.

🔮 The found family trope, showing four individuals with distinct personalities and one feline coming together in a slow but sure bond.

🔮 No forced romance despite the age eligibility of the FMC. No potential suitor as well. I truly appreciated this. It is getting tiresome to see romance being forced even into non-romance books.

🔮 The covers of both UK and US editions – perfectly and comfortably cozy.


Bookish Mixed Bags:
🥠 The title doesn't match the content exactly, even though the storyline is indeed about Tao, the “teller of small fortunes”. Somehow, the title makes the book sound more whimsical and fortune-dominated. But the actual fortunes are more random and only in the background of the main plot.

🥠 Tao as a character is good but has no spark. There was so much more depth possible in her portrayal but her personality doesn’t come across strongly. Her opinions and emotions seem wavery.

🥠 The side characters: Mash the ex-mercenary who is looking for his lost daughter, Silt his thieving companion who doesn’t know how to handle his lovesickness, and Kina the baker with a bright personality whose creations taste much better than they look. Each of these could have been an outstanding character, but their depiction is mostly one-noted. I still liked the trio, but I wish there were more to them. I liked the two animals better: Laohu the mule and Fidelitus the cat.

🥠 The storyline feels somewhat episodic, with the group going from one place to another and facing one adventure after another. The quest for the lost girl and the secret of Tao’s backstory are the only two topics present almost throughout the plot, but mostly in the background. While a few of the encounters were fun to read, the overall end-result felt somewhat disjointed.

🥠 Kina’s baking (mis)adventures are interesting to read. But it was awkward to see her, a white woman from some West-inspired location, getting credit for the invention of the fortune cookie. It would have been okay if these were shown as being Tao’s idea, considering her background better fit an East Asian profile.


Bookish Nays:
😾 In cozy fantasy, there is “relaxed” and there is “too relaxed.” This book is clearly the latter, with most of the content lacking a punch. Like, when the characters weren’t even consistently bothered about a missing child, how would the reader feel their concern? The emotions are mostly shallow.

😾 Though there are a couple of interesting fantastical creatures and “small fortunes”, the fantasy part of the book is very weak. It doesn’t even feel like a fantasy for the most part.

😾 Why not mention the age of the main character directly? Why refer to a character as a “twentysomething-year-old” twice in the same book without ever making the number precise?

😾 How can four adult humans not know whether a cat is male or female even weeks after owning it? Weird!

😾 While there are place names scattered throughout the plot, the world-building itself is quite hazy, with an eclectic mix of people (from various professions) and fantastical beings and geographical features mentioned in passing but none explored in detail.

😾 The ending is too smooth and quick.


Overall, while this book has some entertaining moments, it stuck too closely to the formula, and that too, a basic Cozy Fantasy 101 formula. I enjoy cozy fantasies, but with this book having a truckload of cozy and only half a wagon of fantasy, the end result was just about okay. It might have worked better as a middle-grade or teen book with a little editing, but as an adult offering, it was bland.

This is a debut work. The author’s next book appears to be set in the same world even though it isn't a sequel. As of now, I'm undecided about it. But it does seem to have a lot more magic than this one, so who knows! I might just succumb to the lure in future!

Recommended but not with gusto. This was a decent read but not memorable for me. However, if you want something easy on the mind, it would serve the purpose.

2.75 stars.


My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Hodderscape for providing the DRC of “The Teller of Small Fortunes” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

“Familiarity could look very much like love from a certain angle, if one didn’t look too hard. Everyone deserves a home… And what was a home but somewhere you wouldn’t have to feel quite so alone?”

every christmas, i end up having a book that i feel just makes the perfect book for a gift among my family and friends… and then i seem to tell everyone that while writing a review for said book. well, this was a phenomenal debut novel, that i purchased 10+ copies of and gave out for christmas this year! this really just had the perfect balance of comfort and high stakes, while also feeling so inspiring and thought provoking. and this just ultimately is a story about being the person you want to be, and going on the adventures you want to go on, with the people you want to surround yourself (and grow) with in life. hopefully all my loved ones are reading this after christmas, but i just really believe this is a top tier story for a gift, and truly a good reminder of how i want to live my life. (this is also a preamble to say that i think you, dear review reader, will also enjoy this one, because i think most people will enjoy this story and the messages within it! 👉👈)

okay okay, me never being able to write intros to reviews anymore? yes! this story stars tao, who is an immigrant traveling the world via her wagon, and making a living by telling fortunes, but only small ones. she brings people peace, while trying to not to use too much magic and make too much of an impression on all the towns she is traveling through. but her path soon crosses with an ex-thief and someone very desperate to find their daughter - which ends up being a major quest tao accepts. but the crew soon also picks up a baker apprentice and one very hungry kitty. and together they go town to town, looking for information on a missing child, while also accepting so many side quests, ranging from sapphic nuns to trolls and bridges.

this is also a story about being scared to let anyone in, especially when you feel like your identity has been broken in half for most of your life. this book deeply celebrates the importance of honoring your culture, while also discussing things like shame when you feel disconnected from who you and your ancestors are. yet, there is so much hope within these pages, about balancing life and becoming the version(s) of yourself you want to be. there really is so much good at the heart of this already beautiful story all about adventures. i hope this author keeps giving us stories in this world, even though i feel like i could read forever about tao.

trigger + content warnings: racism, loss of father in past, missing child, mention of illness, mention of hate crime abuse in past, ptsd / trauma in past, grief, anxiety, panic attack

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[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asia-inspired cozy-adjacent fantasy! I enjoyed The Teller of Small Fortunes, and while it does give some cozy fantasy vibes, I wouldn't call it cozy per se from a subgenre perspective. There are quite a few things happening with the plot, but there is found family and a main character who reads like she might be ace.

Tao tells fortunes that come true, but only small ones. And that's kind of on purpose. She travels and lives alone, but ends up slowly building a sort of family along the way to searching for a missing girl. And she must reckon with the past she is running from.

I liked the inspiration this drew from Asian cultures as a way of talking about identity, immigration, and more. There are some things that are a little on the nose in a silly sort of way that I found charming, but others might be annoyed by. Like the creation of fortune cookies. Overall, I enjoyed this and would try something else from the author. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

[Book of the Month]

Why I Love It
By Gabrielle Viner

In college, on some rainy nights, my roommate would pull out her deck of tarot cards. She would dive into vivid descriptions of my friends’ pasts, presents, and futures, and we would spend hours luxuriating in her storytelling and the possibilities that sprang from it. Reading The Teller of Small Fortunes reminded me of those evenings—slightly eerie, super entertaining, and filled with a cozy sense of community.

Tao, a fortune teller, reads palms and analyzes tea leaves. Traveling from town to town with only her mule and her wagon, Tao lives a solitary and nomadic life. That is, until she meets Mash and Silt, two men on the hunt for Mash’s missing daughter, who decide to accompany Tao on her travels. Then, Kina, an amateur baker from a faraway port village, joins the growing entourage. All of a sudden, Tao finds her journey is filled with new connection. So, when she is faced with the challenges of her past, Tao has her new friends to help her keep moving forward.

One of the joys of reading is feeling like you are friends with the characters in your books. Unexpectedly warm and inviting, The Teller of Small Fortunes exemplified that experience for me, reminding me that the smallest things, like tarot card readings on dreary nights, the people you meet along the way, and an escape into a fantasy world, can make the biggest difference.

[Ricarda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always down for a little found family and even more so if there is some kind of magic involved, but unfortunately that did not work out for me at all in this book. I guess the characters traveled together for some time and grew closer along the way, but they all felt so flat and the traveling was kinda boring, I did not care. Take Kina for instance, her personality is basically baker. She was a baker's apprentice and now she is a traveling baker and she uses baking metaphors all the time and compares people to pastries and her baking goods taste fine but they always turn out a little ugly and give me a break with all that baking, it's not a personality trait! I did like the fortune telling and at least Tao's character was explored a little bit more through it, but I did not like that her business was established from the beginning. It's my very favorite part of cozy fantasy novels when characters open up a shop or learn a new craft and have to figure everything out while doing so. That was really missing for me here. It's not a terrible book by any means, but not what I expected nor wanted.

[Jackie ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that I felt like I was in the middle of a DnD campaign while reading this.

Rating: 4 ⭐️

"Theres no such things as greater good-there's just good, and the more of it we can do, the better."

The Teller of Small Fortunes begins with our main character, Tao, as she goes from town to town telling life-changing fortunes such as, you will receive a new green tunic, or your neighbor will dent your pan. The important things. And of course, as with any cozy fantasy, she meets friends along the way!

This book had a little bit of everything for the cozy fantasy reader: found family, animal sidekicks, magical creatures, and baked goods! Sometimes I need a book that makes me feel happy. It was light-hearted and funny, filled with quips and a cast of slightly ridiculous characters. And that's what cozy fantasy is all about.

I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me The Teller of Small Fortunes in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Kathryn S (Metaphors and Miscellanea) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy fantasy is still having A Moment right now, but even amidst the sea of soft-edged stories spawned by the likes of Legends & Lattes, The Teller of Small Fortunes is a true standout. It strikes that delicate balance of being warm and fuzzy without becoming boring or overly saccharine, it weaves in relevant social themes (particularly about immigrant experiences) without becoming bleak, and--so refreshing in the deluge of recent romantasies--the main character has no romance at all.

The best way I can describe this book is a story of identity, fighting prejudice, and found family, wrapped in a charming, genre-savvy D&D campaign. Leong clearly has a strong grasp of what makes cozy fantasy work, along with the fantasy genre more broadly, and she puts that knowledge to great use. Despite its short length, the book's characters are all well-rounded, each with their own fortes and foibles that are put on full display as they traipse through an array of side quests. There are hallmarks of classic fantasy, but always with a twist--a phoenix who is also a fierce mother, a bridge troll who has grown full of existential dread (one of my favorite scenes was the troll confrontation!), and so on.

There are also all the things cozy fantasy readers adore: lovingly described pastries, endearing animal companions (Chinese speakers will find a fun Easter egg in one of the animals' names), bright and clever prose, and charming nights of fireside banter between a ragtag team of misfits. And then there are the important conversations: the challenges of forced assimilation into a new culture and fear of losing your identity in the process (so much love for how this book dealt specifically with the topic of loss of language and community), the disconnect between parents' aspirations and those of their children, and of course, the necessity of finding meaning and connection in a complicated world. Bonus points for the story making it very clear--through an aroace-coded main character--that finding family, or love, or meaning, does not mean you have to fall in romantic love; it simply means finding people who love and accept you as you are.

Tl;dr this was charming and quirky and everything I hoped it would be. It had been a hot minute since I'd read a true "warm hug" of a book, but this restored my faith that such stories still exist 💜

Rep: Chinese-coded, aroace-coded immigrant MC, minor sapphic SC, other Chinese-coded minor SCs
Trigger/content warnings: racism, war, grief, death of parent, kidnapping, xenophobia, alcohol

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ | TikTok |

The silliest of a silly good times, this feels like a warm hug from a big bear of a brother after a long day. Cozy and comforting and perfectly warm. A wandering teller of small fortunes collects a rag tag group of friends and embarks on a quest to find a missing child.

What I loved…
- found family
- magic
- cat companion
- mystery and intrigue
- strong friendships
- QUEST!
- quirky
- ace/aro rep
- well moving (albeit meandering) plot
- whimsy
- tackles heavier themes in a meaningful way without feeling heavy!
- magical creatures

What I didn’t love…
- honestly, this was a spectacularly well done cozy fantasy. My personal preference is a little more movement with the plot but if you're ok with a medium paced plot this is a perfect read.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Simeon Tsanev · Rating 1 out of 5]

Writing cozy fantasy (or cozy anything really) always involves some swimming against the current. Fiction in its standard form revolves around conflict, and in a category defined by its low stakes, authors need extra skill in imbuing their characters’ emotional worlds with depth, so that the mundane can feel big and small actions can carry big weight.

Enter whatever this book was. A paint-by-numbers generic world with characters so shallow and cardboard as to be practically devoid of inner worlds. Even the lead, Tao, for all that she does exhibit some depth, has the most trope-driven background possible, and reactions to the just-as tropey story she finds herself in taken straight out of the Self-Sacrificing Hero Manual For Beginners.

With characters mostly distinguished by their names and nothing else, the coziness goes fully out the window, especially considering that the story itself just isn’t that cozy. A runaway mage facing perpetual bigotry, with autonomy at stake? A kidnapped child that’s been missing for half a year? The shadow of war on the horizon? Even as everyone acts cutesy and whimsical, the stakes are heavy and dark, and there’s never a feeling of comfort on the page.

The story itself is just unbelievably “also there”. Things happen because tropes say they must (a cozy book must have a baker, so a baker literally just gets added to the group with no justification or internal logic), characters act heroically or not, loyally or not, because the trope demands that it’s time that they do/don’t, even when the book hasn’t set any of it up.

Even the “small fortunes” from the title are never given the true import that they SHOULD have in a cozy story - the small and mundane needs to FEEL big and important for coziness to work. Because Tao isn’t actually a small fortunes kinda girl, she’s an epic ultra powerful seer (this is shown at the very beginning, it’s not a reveal) who just avoids the big visions.

So with every aspect of coziness thoroughly eviscerated, this book is left a hollow nothingburger of lazy tropes and generic characters, in which things happen in the most expected (yet somehow also unjustified) way possible, and then the story ends. There are no buildups, no payoffs, no real character growth. Just a checklist of Important Interpersonal Moments that occur when needed, but without ever having been set up or earned.

In short, this book promised me calm and relaxation, and instead made me unbelievably angry.

[John Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a warm hug wrapped in a soft blanket, the adventures of Tao deliver all this. A teller of small fortunes as she travels through the kingdom on her wagon pulled by her trusty mule going from town to town. Along the way she meets Mash and Silt, two adventurers searching for Mash's lost four year old daughter. Joining them eventually is our resident baker Kina.

Warm and fuzzy with a few glitches along the way, but lovely and relaxing. Unfortunately the story does not end where it should and like so many fantasies, goes on for too long, taking away from the story. But four enjoyable stars for me anyway as it warmed me.

'She looked older than Tao remembered but still beautiful, in the way that dried flower petals pressed between pages are still beautiful.' pp. 237-238

“You’re wrong. There’s no such thing as greater good—there’s just good, and the more of it we can do, the better.” p. 262

He looked at Mash in befuddlement, who simply shrugged back—the universal symbol of men who have failed to understand something very important. p. 276

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mid row read for me 😉 I’m sure those who have vivid imaginations and love a sloooow pace will adore this one. 😆 Saying that as someone who wishes they could appreciate this kind of book more 👍

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of Legends and Lattes.
A fortune teller, warrior, a thief, a troll-conquering baker, and a mangy cat comes together in this cozy fantasy.

Tao, the Teller of Small Fortunes is a Shinn woman used to travelling alone with just her wagon and mule, never staying in one place long.
Sooner or later, Tao knew, as the small fortunes she told began proving unerringly true and the novelty of a Shinn in the town square wore away, there would come the uneasy looks and the muttering. Better to leave while she was still welcome and before the mage Guild can catch her.

Her solitude is disturbed by unexpected companions - self-professed non-highwaymen searching for a missing daughter; and an uninspired baker who wants to see the world.

Familiarity could look very much like love from a certain angle, if one didn't look too hard.

This is the epitome of found family. Finding friendship and community out of those you connect with along the way. The loyalty and understanding you grant each other.

There were random side quests which felt tangent to the story, but allowed the author to explore different ways of Othering and the use of the power against the weaker.

"I think you have changed," said Tao. "In enough small ways that you just don't quite notice it while it's happening, but then you look in the mirror one day, and you're altogether different. That's how it was for me, anyway."

This would be perfect to read in one day when you want to feel lighter and more hopeful about the world and the people around you.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for a review.

Bookstagram

[Zoë · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay randomly emotionally wrecked on a wednesday lol

[Nils | nilsreviewsit · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars!

"You're wrong. There's no such thing as greater good—there's just good, and the more of it we can do, the better."

The Teller of Small Fortunes By Julie Leong has shot its way up to my outstanding debut of the year. It’s a beautiful cosy fantasy but it is also so much more. This is a story about adventure, friendship, family dynamics, cultural roots and the struggles of being an immigrant.

I was in love with this book right from the very first page. When we first meet our main character, Tao, she’s travelled to the village of Necker to set up her fortune telling stall, as she has done across countless other villages before. We learn that Tao is an immigrant in Eshtera and her homeland, Shinara, is not a safe place either. Tao has fled from her mother and stepfather’s and has been on her own for years. She’s a woman who holds many secrets and much tragedy but as she stumbles upon Mash, a mercenary, and Silt, an ex thief, her days of travelling alone are about to change.

Tao was definitely a firm favourite because she’s a character who faced so much injustice and prejudice which by rights could have made her a bitter, resentful and an angry character for it, but she’s not. Tao has a pure soul, she truly wants to help others and above all, she desperately needs friendship and love. She’s a character who had my whole heart. Ah, and Mash and Silt were wonderful characters too. Although both of their reputations would make you believe they were devious and prone to violence, they were both so endearing. We immediately feel sympathy for Mash and his quest to find his missing child, but then we get so much humour from Silt and his blustering ways! They balance each other out perfectly. Later on, adding Kina to the band was a great addition too because who doesn’t love having a baker in the mix! Oh and a cat!

Leong also adds another layer of depth to the story with the political state of the world with Shinara and Eshtera being on the brink of war. This is not something you would expect from a cosy fantasy but it was explored so well here. The situation for Tao, not belonging in Shinara anymore due to people with magic being executed and then being made an outsider in Eshtera because of ignorance and fear, not to mention also being hunted by the Guild who wish to use her, is far more complex than villain vs hero. These deep themes of immigration are so well presented throughout yet without the novel becoming overly dark or heavy. Leong is such a talented writer who can make her readers understand so much and still make the story light and entertaining.

“Tao let out one long, shuddering breath, and it was as if something dark and poisonous within her had been lanced; the pain that she had slowly numbed herself to over so many years poured back in even as it flowed out of her. The two women held each other and cried together, there in a fine house in a fine city an ocean away from the place that had once been their home.”

The Teller of Small Fortunes is wholesome, hopeful and above all left me feeling rather happy. Leong weaves a story that is guaranteed to warm the hearts of every reader. 

ARC Provided by Kate at Hodderscape - Thank you for the copy!

[Jules Arbeaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever been like, "Life is a cruel and unusual punishment. I need some happiness to come along and sock me very gently in the face!" I'm begging you to read this.

Bright and brilliant, full with philosophizing trolls and little magics and delicious (if lumpy) baked goods, TELLER OF SMALL FORTUNES is like one of those lift-you-off-the-ground, ribcage-cracking hugs—a little shocking, a little painful, and so incredibly therapeutic. Also, there is a cat. It's an excellent cat. (But the rest of the cast is also amazing, and the found family vibes are immaculate. ALSO if you're looking for lovely ace/aro-spec rep, look no farther.)

Do yourself the great kindness of reading this wrenching, warming, funny, thoughtful, cozy, life-affirming book. I finished it and felt more whole, and I hope you do, too. It's a much-needed reminder that, even in a world that's far from perfect, a person can find good things if they conquer the fear of reaching out for and holding onto them.

In other words... Choose happiness in 2024: read this book!

I feel so lucky that I got to read and blurb an ARC of this one in advance of its release. Julie Leong's amazing debut cracked open this reader's cold, jaded heart and squeezed out more than a few happy tears. 10/10, zero regrets, love this unabashedly.

[Jade Ratley · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.43 on CAWPILE

[robin✨allthethingssheread · Rating 4 out of 5]

What cozy fantasy should aspire to be

[Gyan K · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟

Julie Leong's “The Teller of Small Fortunes" wove a delicate yet potent narrative.

The story follows Tao, a fortune teller of modest means. She roams from village to village, her gift both boon and burden. Each place she visits, each soul she encounters, adds depth to her journey. She does not merely predict futures; she alters lives. The plot, while gentle in its unfolding, is rich with the complexities of human emotion and fate.

Tao is fragile and formidable. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she learns the true extent of her gift and its implications, collecting a motley crew of colorful friends- a found family. But she is the anchor, the guide through this intricate tapestry.

There is a thief, an ex mercenary, a baker-light-hearted and full of zest, and a cat. Their quirks and antics added a whimsical touch to the tale. Leong’s prose felt finely tuned, each note resonating with clarity and purpose. Her words were simple, their impact profound. The narrative flowed with a musical rhythm, and drew me deeper into the world she has crafted.

There is a melancholic beauty to the story, a sense of yearning and hope that permeates every page. It felt a comforting tale that made me ponder the small fortunes that shape our lives.

At its heart, the book is about fate, self-discovery, love, found family and friendship. Tao's gift serves as a metaphor for the choices we make and the paths we take. The story explored the delicate balance between destiny and free will, and the impact of our actions on ourselves and those around us.

There weren’t cliffhangers, thrills or scares, there weren’t any politicking or machinations. The book was cozy. Reading it felt like eating a warm dessert paired with flavorful tea warming your hands under a starlit night.

[Teru · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*

Note to self - just because I adore Miyazaki's movies and The House in the Cerulean Sea is one of my all-time favorites doesn't necessarily mean I love cozy fantasy books. I don't have to go feral whenever I see such a gorgeous cover 🤨 yes I'm judging myself.

It has all the ingredients of an amazing cozy book - traveling with a group of strangers who become a found family, baking scones and fortune cookies, animal companions including a grumpy cat, adventurous quest, surprisingly deep themes regarding the MC's inner conflict of her two cultures, not knowing where she truly belonged. AND no romance! Real kudos for that one, it's pure friendship and family.

And it made me smile at times, but did I fall in love with the characters? Were they endearing to me on a personal level? Did I truly care about anything that happened, was I invested?
...well, yes to the last one, I cared about one aspect of the plot, because I really liked Mash, that big grump pulled at my heartstrings, he's such a dad 🤗

I don't know why I thought I wanted something with low to no stakes when clearly I didn't, so really it's not the book's fault - as a cozy fantasy it really is great. Much much better than The Spellshop IMO!

..maybe I'm just salty because of the cat. I love cats to death, I would happily offer myself to be murdered by a cute kitty. But the one in this book didn't even make me squeal - even the mule Laohu was super endearing, and that's a red flag to me apparently 😞😅

I can definitely see the story as a Ghibli movie, it would be an instant favorite ❤️

[Maeghan 🦋 HIATUS on & off · Rating 5 out of 5]

« He looked to his wife as if she were water, and he a man dying in the desert. » ❤️‍🔥

Oh this was the most wholesome, wholehearted story I’ve ever had the chance to read 😭.
This was a perfect Cozy Fantasy. There multiple plots and it was such a great journey 🥺. The happy tears I’ve cried!

We follow 4 characters in their quest to saving one of the man’s daughter who disappeared. And it’s so wholesome. We have found family, friendships, healing from difficult families and a Cat 🥹.

« I am more than just what I do. »

« People aren’t like that, not really. We’re not always cheerful and funny. We’re sadness, and anxiety, and all these other bitter things wrapped up inside, too, and that’s what makes the sweetness all the sweeter. »

Finished 2024 with a 5✨read, starting 2025 with a 5✨read. This never happened before 🥹 it’s a sign for sure. This will be my year 🤞🏼

[John Wiswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warmhearted, often cozy story about telling fortunes--and sometimes, stealing them. A delight.

[Sammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 🌟

So this definitely wasn't bad, but I wasn't loving it either. The book felt like a collection of small stories, and I needed some time getting used to it. The ending was nice and super cozy, very lovely! I like my reads to have a bit more suspense and action in it, so this just wasn't my kind of storytelling.

If you like a cozy D&D, low stakes adventure, this is definitely a book for you!