I'd originally put this as 4 stars, but I just kept thinking about the book days after I'd finished it and I feel like that constitutes 5 stars.

Tao is a young woman who travels through the country--far from her childhood home across the sea--and tells fortunes. Only small fortunes, you see. Ones that seem insignificant, but help villagers in their daily lives. She's told a big fortune once--only once--and she never will again.

While the trek from small village to small village is sometimes a lonely one, Tao seems to enjoy the quiet. Yet, when she tells the small fortune of a man gifting a kitten to his daughter, she gains his company and the party grows from there. Tao tries hard to keep the three other travelers (and the cat) at arm's length, but she slowly finds their presence comforting. Could she be making friends, despite her attempts to stay a loner?

Overall, it's a fabulous read for those who like warm, cozy fantasy with a little higher stakes, sprinkled with found family and some magic on top. If you like Legends & Lattes and Howl’s Moving Castle, this is a book for you.

I absolutely adored this story and I couldn't wait to pick it up every chance I had. In the cozy style of TJ Kingfisher, Julie Leong gives us a whimsical tale of Tao. She is an immigrant fortune teller, a woman burdened by her gift, yet she finds solace in the knowledge that her small fortunes bring hope and comfort to others. Tao has learned that big fortunes come with big consequences.
Leong creates an immersive, character driven, found family journey. A little light romance between supporting cast and there is kindness towards animals that makes it an even more delightful read.

Cozy fantasy about a traveling fortune teller, a magical cat, and a troop of lovable weirdos? COUNT ME IN. This book is such a delight from start to finish. Exactly the feel-good vibes readers have been begging for. 10/10 no notes.

What a merry band of adventurers! The description does not do this book justice. It’s a wild adventure full of shenanigans! Fans of Dungeons and Dragons, RPGs, and cozy fantasies will like this book. While it does have cozy elements, it is fast paced and delightful.

Our band of misfits is roaming the kingdom getting into and out of all manner of trouble. I’ve read some cozy books that bored me to tears, this is not that.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advance copy. All opinions are my own quirky thoughts.

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 this author describes this as having Studio Ghibli vibes because I could envision the cozy elements of it, even 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 cozy 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 herself 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 definitely 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, with his grumpy, scowling attitude who just wants to find his little girl and get back home to his wife; Silt, with his witty charm, funny demeanor and charming personality; and Kina, with her sunshine self and love for baking. I can only imagine what her 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, soft and cozy, and was a story I’d normally not read. Regardless, I’m glad I took a shot on it because I loved it.

What a great debut! It was cozy and whimsical and the characters were so awesome and easy to get attached too! I loved the vibes and it would be a perfect read for the fall. Will be adding to my library and recommending 100%!

A wonderful cozy fantasy with unique and loveable characters, lots of delicious baked goods, and adventures of all kinds. Great worldbuilding and character development without falling into cliches - and even turning those cliches on their heads in interesting ways.

Prepare to be enchanted! This debut is a magical tapestry of heart and adventure. The blend of whimsical elements and heartfelt moments makes this story both refreshing and deeply satisfying. It's a delightful exploration of trust and belonging, wrapped in fantasy with a sprinkle of wonder.

What a charming book! "The Teller of Small Fortunes" by Julie Leong is a delightful cozy fantasy that follows the adventures of a wandering fortune teller. This is exactly the kind of book I love, and it exceeded my expectations!

Tao is a lonely immigrant fortune teller who travels between villages with only her mule, Laohu, for company, telling only "small" fortunes to avoid the notice of the Mage Guild and stay under the radar. While on the road, she meets Mash, an ex-mercenary who writes bad poetry, and his friend Silt, an ex-thief. Before she knows it, she joins their quest to find Mash's missing four-year-old daughter. Along the way, they are joined by a baker (Kina) and a slightly magical cat (Fidelitus). Thus begins a grand adventure as they try to dodge the magefinder sent by the Mage Guild after her.

I loved the book! It reminded me of two series I love: Legends & Lattes and the Monk and Robot books (especially the tea ceremony in the latter). I enjoyed the growing friendship between the crew, the character development, and the setting. The characters were finely drawn and came to life as their interactions revealed bits of their past. I could almost smell the baked goods, taste the tea fragrances, and see myself sitting by their campfire, listening to Mash quote his poetry.

The reader is quickly wrapped up in the lives of the characters - great characters you can deeply connect with and care about. The book explores themes of friendship, loyalty, mutual support, racism, political conflict, grief, parental neglect, free will vs. fate, family, identity, and belonging. The experience of an immigrant caught between cultures was well-etched and resonated with me.

The pacing of the book is well-balanced - not too fast or too slow - allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the characters' journey. This steady pace complements the cozy, nature of the story, making it easy to savor each moment. The ending was satisfying and left me yearning for more.

In sum, this is a feel-good and heartwarming book that leaves you feeling all warm inside. Very engrossing and sweeping, I loved every minute of it and highly recommend it! If you enjoy curling up with a good book and being whisked away to another place, this is the book for you!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed Teller of Small Fortunes. This book has a cozy charm, but also does a lot of work to deliver an amazing fantasy world that rises up to meet the characters as they follow their path.
Great character development, and each character feels like they are growing over the course of the story. I wanted to be sitting around their campfire eating pastries and swapping stories. I couldn't ask for more.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was cute! I was hoping for a little more character growth throughout, but there were certain moments of quiet that really sang. I loved the main character and her donkey, the added characters started to chafe a little

In Teller of Small Fortunes, the main character uses her magic to tell fortunes - but only small ones, since a fortune told as a child had grave and severe consequences. On her travels she collects a group of companions that flesh out the rest of supporting characters of the story. One of these companions comes along because of a small fortune that turns out to be Very Important indeed.

Overall I enjoyed the book. Typical cozy fantasy where the reader can rest assured that no great tragedies will disturb a pleasant afternoon of reading. However, one interlude in the middle of the book seemed jarringly out of place - it felt like it was cut and pasted in from a D&D writing assignment with no purpose other than to pad the word count. (Stranger in the dark woods accosts the party with promises of fortune and luck if they complete the quest!) If it hadn't been for that section I would have rated the book one star higher.

This was such a lovely cozy fantasy! I loved this whole cast of characters and their most wonderful found family. Also I'd like to note that there was no romance for the main character which was a refreshing change of pace from the cozy fantasy I've previously read.

The Teller of Small Fortunes is a gentle story along the lines of the Monk and Robot books, or Nghi Vo's Singing Hills books. It's kind and character driven, with pretty low stakes for anyone ouside the immediate main characters. The characters are diverse, loveable, and interesting, and they all have noticeable growth. I especially loved the cat who travels with them, and the secret lesbian nunnery. I cant wait to see what Leong writes next and will obviously be buying a copy for my personal bookshelf.

What an excellent and unique cozy fantasy novel!!! After the success of Legends and Lattes, I feel like the cozy fantasy genre has been inundated with a lot of very similar novels. But this one was very different, with a fun and diverse cast of characters, and interesting quest, and a likable main character. It was so comforting to read, and I’m absolutely OBSESSED with the cover design!!

🌈Queer rep: Secondary lesbian character, FF couple

How adorable! Much of the tea ceremony (set-up, tea, the daily problems of the villagers) will feel very similar scenes from the Monk & Robot series ([book:A Psalm for the Wild-Built|40864002]) but it doesn't feel like a rip-off. The rest of the story is set up around a D&D -type cast of characters: the grizzled fighter with a softer side (he composes bad poetry and is on the road looking for his lost daughter), the trying-to-reform thief (he's not very good at reforming until he faces what he's afraid of), and the... baker? (she's brand new to adventuring but she wants to be friends with everyone she meets).

The main character spends the whole book running from her magic, so the magical system of this universe isn't really explored. The door is open for a possible series, although the story is adequately wrapped up on its own.

The world is generically historical-European, while the main character is clearly Asian, with the Asian-inspired continent across the sea and at war (or nearly so) with the quasi-European culture. So much about the main character's home culture feels lifted from China that the story is set in a frustrating in-between space. It doesn't need to be set in an alternate universe, it can be set in our world in an alternate/magical history. This would have allowed the story to use and reference more cultures without having to create them from scratch. If the story has to take place in an alternate universe, it's awesome to have one that's Asian-inspired! But in that case, there needed to be a lot more world-building to establish this as *inspired* and not just lifted.

A fun book from an author with promise! eARC from NetGalley.

Oh my gosh, what a lovely book! It was so adorable and really a lot like a warm hug. It delivers exactly what it says: low stakes and vibes, sure, but enough plot to keep you interested until the very end, and I enjoyed how it all works out. Full of lovable characters and so much heart - it felt like hanging out with friends at the renaissance faire. I will definitely be recommending to fans of cozy fantasy. (And I will never judge a pastry by its appearance again!)

I finished this book in one day. It was a lovely book. A novel of friendship and forgiveness. The character development was perfect and the settings were described so clearly, that I could easily picture the places in my mind. Tao, tells "small fortunes", enough to earn a living, but not enough to get her noticed by the Mage Guild. She travels from town, to town, never staying long enough to form relationships or friendships. That all changes one day, when she is helped in her travels by 2 friends, A traveling Mercenary and his partner, an ex-thief. Later they're joined by a Baker seeking adventure, and an intrepid cat.

I highly, highly recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of Becky Chambers Monk and Robot series, books by TJ Klune, and the Legends & Lattes books by Travis Baldree.

I am in my cozy fantasy era, and here is another book that ultimately delivers! I would recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy book that will make them forget all their other troubles for a while. It is adorable and a perfect read for fall. Highly recommend!

This was at the top of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it didn't disappoint! Leong created such a cozy, inviting fantasy world where we follow the adventures of a travelling fortune teller named Tao. Initially, I was drawn to the book because of the beauuuutiful cover, and the story holds the same exact vibes inside!

The story was crafted with the perfect blend of warm, feel-good vibes and meaningful subjects. I have found that a lot of "cozy" books have either too much coziness or too high of stakes, so it was refreshing to find that this book balanced the two seamlessly. We also meet some incredibly sweet and imperfectly perfect characters along the way that warm your heart. It's a beautiful story full of magic, fantastical adventures, found family, and growth.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ace Books for the free advanced copy of this book.