The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
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Tao, a wandering fortune teller, is used to being alone. One day she meets two men traveling to find a missing girl, then meet up with a messy baker, and a grouchy cat. They all wind up traveling together and get roped into a quest for treasure.
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What I liked:
-Quest. Give me books with quests! I thought the quest part was fun and that isn’t even counting the longer quest throughout the book of finding Mash’s daughter.
-This book was funnier than I expected it to be, but oh so sweet and a little quirky.
-Loved the grouchy cat.
-I spilled a few tears during Tao’s storyline, especially when she had the conversation with her mom.
-But the best part (imo) was the excellent use of the “found family” trope. I loved that part of this book SO MUCH. It just warmed my heart to see all the friendships growing, and the way it ended. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Such a delightful and heartwarming read!

This was an interesting cozy fantasy read.

I liked our main character Tao and enjoyed the friends she picked up along her journey. This book was quite atmospheric and I liked that Tao didn’t deal with predictions that were too complicated. It did become a bit repetitive as the villages blended together after a bit, but overall it was well done.

I’d recommend this to any cozy fantasy readers. This is not exactly the same, but “The Teller of Small Fortunes” reminded me a lot of “A Psalm for the Wild Built” by Becky Chambers.

Rated 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

A thank you to the publisher and net galley, in exchange for an honest review.

In truth, it was a good story, but not one that will stay with me. The main character travels from place to place telling small fortunes. She gains traveling companions along the way: a soldier looking for his lost daughter, a semi-reformed thief, and baker who is trying to find her way in the world. The guild is looking for the fortune teller, as is her family, and they are all searching for the little lost girl.

I didn't become attached to this story, but I did finish it. I thought it was a good story, but not something I would ever reread. I kept waiting for something, but whatever it was I was waiting for, never happened in the story.

Tao is a guarded Immigrant who also happens to be a traveling fortune teller. Just her, her wagon, and trusty mule travel town to town telling small fortunes so she does not get noticed by the bigger mage institutions. She does not want to use her full power due to childhood trauma. She is fine with being alone, even though due to the way she looks she is not always welcome. When she meets Silt, Mash, and Kina they decide to travel together to try and find Mash's lost little girl. Through friendship, and adventure they can find the answers they seek and heal themselves along the way. Such a cute story!

This is a delightful breath of fresh air for cozy fantasy-style books. I highly recommend it for readers of the genre of want to read a story with delightful characters and setting.

4.5 stars. I wanted more! Cozy fantasy is quickly becoming my jam and this novel is no exception. Tao is a teller of "small" fortunes. She travels around with her mule and cart, hiding from a past that it quickly catching up to her. She meets a slightly reformed thief and a mercenary and quickly agrees to help them find the mercenary's missing daughter, after "seeing" him give her a kitten. This ragtag band then meets up with a baker who's confections look terrible but taste delightful and she joins the group as well. Pretty soon, there is nothing they won't do for each other. When Tao becomes pursued by a mage-finder because of her power, the group bands together to help.
This is a novel about found family and the power of love and loyalty.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Ace for this e-arc.*

This cozy fantasy was such a comfort read; I loved everything about it. It isn't filled with thrilling battles or romance, but does have friendship, found family, and magic that is usually small but sometimes powerful when needed.

Tao is a solitary immigrant teller of small fortunes: nothing momentous, but helpful little ones like 'this is where you will find your missing goats.' She travels between the villages of Eshtera with her wagon and trusty mule Loahu, never staying long enough to let anyone actually know her. That is, until she meets a thief, a warrior, a baker, and a feisty cat named Fidelitus. Warrior Mash is searching for his missing daughter; thief Silt is trying to figure out another path in life aside from thievery, and (not very skilled) baker Kina would like to seek out a little more adventure than she is finding in her small village.

I watched the author on a zoom event talking about how she wrote this story after devouring comfort reads while her father was undergoing cancer treatment. It was what she would have wanted to read during a time like that, and you can absolutely feel it in the story. It's just so heart-warming and hopeful: the villains turn out to be not quite so villainous, the monsters not so monstrous. I'd recommend it for anyone who would like a gentle place to disappear into for a bit, and definitely good for any younger readers.

Thank you so much to Ace/Berkley and Netgalley for this ARC!

Thank you to Ace Books Pub and NetGalley for my free books for review.

Julie Leong's "The Teller of Small Fortunes" captivated me from the first page, a rare find in today's literary landscape.

This fantasy weaves adventure, memorable characters, and a compelling quest with magical storytelling. Tao, our protagonist, navigates her journey with determination and wit, her fortune-telling abilities both a gift and a burden. Her growth throughout the story resonates deeply as she learns to trust her instincts and embrace her unique talents. Straddling two worlds where she feels unwelcome, Tao's quest becomes as much about finding her place as it is about her magical abilities, creating a poignant exploration of identity and belonging.

The secondary characters shine just as brightly. Silt, the recovering thief, brings levity and loyalty to the group. Mash, the stoic warrior in search of his lost daughter, slowly opens up, revealing layers of complexity. Kina, the baker with odd-shaped pastries and a heart of gold, rounds up the group. Their interactions mirror the dance of new friendships - awkward, challenging, yet ultimately rewarding.

As the characters bond over shared trials, their growing camaraderie becomes the heart of the story. Leong skillfully portrays the nuances of budding relationships, from initial wariness to mutual trust and support. This authentic depiction of friendship formation elevates the narrative beyond a typical fantasy adventure.

Reading this book feels like wrapping up in a cozy blanket on a winter evening. It's a low-stakes, heartfelt journey that lingers in the mind long after the final page. For fantasy enthusiasts who appreciate character-driven stories and the quiet magic of everyday connections, "The Teller of Small Fortunes" is essential reading. Fans of "Legends and Lattes" will find a kindred spirit in this charming tale.

Thanks to Berkley for the gifted ARC!

This is for the cozy fantasy girlies who love fortunes, found family, and impactful endings. The surprise for me here was the immigrant perspective done well in this setting. A great one to read while you wait for Sangu Mandanna’s next witchy book!

I enjoyed the cozy vibes of this one. The Teller of Small Fortunes is a heartwarming tale that embraces the found family trope and follows a rag tag team of adventures on their quest. We have Tao, an immigrant who reads small fortunes to avoid big consequences, who unexpectedly finds herself joined by an ex-thief, an ex-mercenary, and a young (not very good) baker. Each character’s growth is satisfying, and their friendships bring a comforting, homey feel to the story. The narrative tackles the subject of racism in a respectful manner while keeping the cozy atmosphere. There is a very minor romance subplot and an overall delightful sense of whimsy, and in typical cozy fantasy fashion there is a touch of capitalism, but it keeps the uplifting feel-good vibe.

I would <b>NOT</b> recommend the audiobook version. The narrator sounded congested and nasally, which was very distracting. The mixing quality wasn’t great either and you can audibly hear the narrator taking deep breaths at the end of most sentences and a lot of words, which broke the immersion for me. Basically, if you have audio sensory issues, it’s best to avoid this audiobook and just stick with the physical book. 🖤

Thank you so much to Ace & PRH Audio for providing me with an early copy.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

this was a lovely new addition to the cozy fantasy genre; with an intriguing cast of characters (including a cat!) and an interesting magical system, readers who enjoyed legends and lattes and the phoenix keeper will enjoy the teller of small fortunes

First of all, let me tell you how much I love this cover. It's magical. The story starts slowly with young women traveling alone telling fortunes; not big fortunes, but small ones. It becomes quite apparent that she's hiding from something or someone and desperately wants to keep her abilities under the radar. Of course, she meets up with a collection of sidekicks and discovers the true family is oftentimes found family and there are no limits to what you would do to protect those that have a part of your heart.

The Teller of Small Fortunes is a wonderfully cozy fantasy. The story is sprinkled with magical touches and centers on a heartwarming found family. Tao, an immigrant woman, travels the country telling small fortunes, avoiding big ones to prevent serious consequences. However, one fortune sets her on an unexpected path.

Though she used to travel alone, she soon finds herself accompanied by an ex-thief, an ex-mercenary, and a young baker. The bonds formed within this little group are truly heartwarming. I especially loved watching each character grow and become even better versions of themselves. There’s a charming sense of adventure throughout the story, even if the adventures are gentle ones. This is a delightful read, perfect for anyone who enjoys a cozy fantasy.

Thank you NetGalley and Ace for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Oh my goodness this book was so cozy and wonderful and PERFECT. I wanted all of the characters to come to life and share some funny-looking but delicious baked goods around a campfire. Such a comforting, lovely book that felt like the gentlest hug. Great for fans of Travis Baldree and D&D players who wish their campaigns featured more stopping to smell the roses (or pastries!).

Sheer perfection of a cozy fantasy novel. Found family. A smidge of romance (between secondary characters). Animal companions with personality. Everything turns out exactly as it should in the end, after some suspense (and happy tears on multiple occasions from this reader) in the last third. Think: A Psalm for the Wild-Built meets Legends & Lattes. I adored this.

What a great debut this was!

I’m not a big fantasy reader, but I’d definitely classify this as “light fantasy”; it was super easy to get into, and there wasn’t a lot of technical/hard world building.

I really loved the idea of a fortune teller that only tells small fortunes, and Tao was such a great MC. This felt very “coming of age” in how Tao approaches the world, and the people she meets along the way with the found family trope made this such a delight. All of the other characters in her group were lovable, and the dynamics between everyone were funny, sweet, and heartwarming.

The plot and the antagonists felt very low stakes, which I liked and thought it fit really well with the story. The focus is more on Tao and her personal growth, and how that unfolded throughout the book in amongst all the side quests was fun.

This was very much a cozy, comfort read with a bit of adventure, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Tao is adrift in a world that doesn't have a place for her. She is a Shinn immigrant in a country that distrusts outsiders. She has minor magical abilities to tell small fortunes, which should keep her under the radar of the Mage's guild. In order to escape the shackles of her Eshteran merchant stepfather's plans and the mage's council, she escapes the eastern city of Margrave and travels west in a small covered wagon. But a traveling life doesn't bode well for making friends and maintaining relationships - that is until a lucky meeting with two men looking for a lost girl, an apprentice baker with a need for new experiences, and a very strange cat!
This cozy magical tale has delightful characters, exciting challenges, and a satisfying finale that will leave you hoping for more and longing for an adventure of your own. Grab this title as soon as you can, brew a warm pot of tea, and don't forget the scones and cinnamon rolls - you're in for a treat!

With a dash of found family and a sprinkle of genuine friendship, this book is the ideal fusion of cozy fantasy and travel adventure. Outstanding character development and world-building. Definitely a must read!

The Teller of Small Fortunes delivers a low-stakes, slow-paced, emotional and sweet story that fans of cozy fantasy are sure to enjoy!

The story follows Tao, an immigrant fortune teller who travels from village to village on her wagon drawn by her mule, Laohu, emphasizing that she tells small fortunes only. Though small, her fortunes are true, and can still have a bigger impact they it may seem.

Tao has been alone for a few years and has kept from making any connections after leaving her mother and step-father (and the mage guild they wanted her to join). On her travels, she unexpectedly builds a found family and they end up on a quest to find a missing girl. They have adventures, and help Tao open up and find comfort in the companionship.

While the world is fantastical, it appears to be based on a country in Asia (China?) which Tao is originally from, and a Western European country where she now lives. Leong weaves Tao's experiences with racism, prejudice, and culture erasure into the story elegantly, capturing what so many are familiar with.

My one issue with the book was that we are once again inventing a baked good that exists already, something I've encountered before in a "cozy fantasy", but taking it a step further by having a seemingly white (at least definitely NOT Asian) character "inventing" fortune cookies, which felt counterproductive to Tao's journey.

Reminiscent of Legends & Lattes and A Psalm for the Wild-Built, this story of healing, forgiveness, adventure, and friendship is a journey not to miss!

Thank you Berkley/Ace and NetGalley for the ARC!

Tao is an immigrant fortune teller who tells small fortunes while also being haunted by the shadows of her past. She leads a lonely life, until being recruited by a former thief and ex-mercenary in their search for a lost child. Soon, a talented baker joins their adventure.

Is there anything more enchanting than having a wagon and a mule named Laohu as companions? This book is whimsical and cozy with Studio-Ghibli-vibes - the grumpy Mash, charming Silt and passionate Kina are the perfect companions for Tao and the reader. I delighted in their interactions, in the way the side characters add richness to Tao's personality while helping each other find themselves. I found satisfaction in the character arc, of characters longing for something, moving forward to growing comfortable with one another and finally seeing the world differently.

One dwells on the many adventures that incorporate a more meaningful touch when followed by Leong's anecdotes and own experiences being Chinese-Malaysian-American. The mysterious and unburdened storyline is not devoid of depth, instead, Leong infuses a balanced dose of magic (did I mention a mythical creature and cat?) that emphasizes the weighty themes of fate versus choice, forgiveness, loneliness, meaning of home, identity and belonging. What Leong does brilliantly is to provide a realistic reflection of the diasporic experiences (especially regarding race and ostracism) through the world building. Furthermore, the most personal aspect is the subtle observations on the cultural loss, which can resonate with people caught between cultures like myself.

If there's one thing I could add, I would have loved an epilogue dedicated to Tao, as I didn't have enough of her and wouldn't have minded reading 100 more pages. While I thought that the forgiveness was given too easily, this didn't take away from my enjoyment of this book.

With descriptive writing, THE TELLER OF SMALL FORTUNES is a comforting tale about found family with a unique cast of characters that offers affecting meditations. Unexpected kindness reigns the narrative and this cozy fantasy is the right kind of hopeful in the hard times.