The Teller Of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong. Since Tao be came an adult she’s been making her living by telling small fortunes and for reasons only known to herself she will not tell big life-changing fortunes in its all due to her childhood back in Shinara, The Frenemy to Eshtera. Her life changes for the better on the day she is stopped due to a tree in the road this is when she meets mash, A warm hearted mercenary who is searching for his daughter four-year-old Lee and Silt, The mercenaries best friend and a reformed thief who loves to laugh and make others happy. Eventually they will meet Kenna who is an apprentice to her uncle as a baker somethings she loves to do but it’s ready for adventures of her own. The ragtag group wind up making their own little family in search of little Lee who seem to always get their self in one spot of trouble or another. Not to mention Tao ha’s a member of the magic guild hot on her trail in the last thing she wants to do is to work for the crown. Despite it something hundreds of people apply for due to the lofty station it puts them at, but again for reasons of her own she still wants nothing to do with it. Will she be forced to go back to the capital city and work for the guild? Will Mash ever find Leigh and if they do will this break the chosen family up forever? This was a pretty good book but I think I’ve been conditioned in a fairytale to look for the romance and that is something that never happened and I think it threw me off but irregardless I still really enjoyed it I do think that should’ve been more interaction with magical beings Fairys ET see because at the beginning I didn’t even know this was a fairytale. I still recommend it and still absolutely totally enjoyed it. #NetGalley,#Berkeley, #JulieLeong, #TheTellerOfSmallFortunes,

The Teller of Small Fortunes was such a fun, cozy fantasy with a great cast of characters and a journey of growth and self acceptance. I sometimes struggle with cozy stories, as I can get bored if there’s not much happening regarding the plot - but I didn’t have that issue here. This story was the perfect combo of low stakes adventure and silly shenanigans amongst friends. Reading Tao’s character development was definitely the highlight of the story. I also adored all the animal companions and thought the world building was expertly done. Overall, I think The Teller of Small Fortunes is a great choice for anyone who enjoyed The Spellshop, Travis Baldree’s works, and Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea.

Thank you to Ace Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!

Really enjoyed this one. A little slow to start but it picked up once Tao started interacting with other characters and the overall story arc was solid. Good use of character tropes to build deeper, more real lives that interact with one another in a variety of ways.
I do feel as though some of the secondary arcs were a bit perfunctory and either needed a little more time to play out or to be cut entirely.. as they are, they feel like detours that distract from the main story but aren’t compelling enough to keep the readers attention.
Overall a fun read, though. Would definitely read another by this author.

Read if you like books with/that are:
🫂 Found Family
🌏 Asia Setting
✨ Magical Realism/ Light Fantasy
🗺️ Adventures & Traveling
🥺 Sadness and Loss
❤️‍🩹 Tender & Healing

I really, really enjoyed this! It is very cozy and the found family and adventure was so well done! If you aren’t huge into fantasy because of all the world building and complicated details, this is one you can easily enjoy as it doesn’t have those aspects so feels a bit more like magical realism to me personally.

I also really loved that we got bipoc characters with the story set in Asia and the discussion of not fitting in when you leave your home and move to another area with a different culture and where you visible do not fit in. I felt this part of the storytelling was so emotional and thought provoking.

I also loved the idea of is the outcome a result of seeing or is seeing the result of the predestined outcome… and the questioning of self and choices that came from our MC’s gift and how her gift had impacted her life, family, self-confidence, and her future and past.

All in all, I can’t say enough about this one and really enjoyed it and hope others read and enjoy it as much as I did! Thanks so much to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

I LOVED this! What a delightfully warm and cozy romp of a quest fantasy!

Recommended for fans of Found Family, Cozy Fantasy, and Low-Stakes Quests.

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong is a charming and heartwarming cozy fantasy that delves into the themes of self-discovery and forging one's own path. This captivating novel is a true gem that will not only warm your heart but also nourish your soul. I was completely enamored with every moment of this delightful read!

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.

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leung is a beautifully crafted tale blending magic, family, and identity. The story follows a young fortune teller who can predict only small, seemingly trivial events. Through her journey, she learns that even small fortunes can have significant impacts on people’s lives. Leung’s lyrical prose and poignant character development make the main characters exploration of her abilities and heritage compelling and relatable. This novel gently addresses themes of self-acceptance and the ways our smallest actions can ripple outward, making it a heartwarming read that leaves readers contemplating the quiet magic in everyday moments.

Cozy Fantasy • Found Family • Mystery
Publication Date • 5 November 2024

Thank you @berkleypub & @prhaudio for the free finished book & ALC! 🎧

I’m going to say something controversial. Teller of Small Fortunes > Legends and Lattes. For those who haven’t read L&L, it’s *the* book that ignited the explosion in cozy fantasy as a genre. And I enjoyed Legends, especially when narrated by Travis Baldree who brings the voices to life so well. [Both books in that duology are reviewed on my page.]

The Teller of Small Fortunes has all the cozy, comforting vibes. There will not be epic fight scenes but instead there will be caravanning adventures, gastronomically pleasing baked goods, lots of tea steeped, and of course the quintessential theme for the genre: family found in unexpected places.

My favorite character is Tao, a nomadic fortune teller who can read palms, tea leaves and more. She experiences bigotry due to her heritage, immigrant status, and features, not to mention her gypsy like status, but she gets by with her trusty mule, wagon, and feisty feline Fidelitus.

Along the way she meets a band of fellow travelers, some flitting past imparting small wisdoms, and others who join her on her journey. Highly recommended if you are a fan of low stakes cozy adventure stories. This is the epitome of warm and fuzzy, comforting, magic and baking.

Not only do I echo all the positive comparisons to cozy fantasies by Rebecca Thorne, Sarah Beth Durst, et al, but also while their worlds are pretty different, I think Tao and company would have a delightful time sharing a campsite and some tea with the protagonists of Becky Chambers' Monk & Robot series. A warm heartfelt delight.

Thank you for the free book @BerkleyPub #BerkleyPartner #Berkley #BerkleyBookstagram and Julie Leone @julieleongbooks
“The Teller of Small Fortunes” by Julie Leong⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: Cozy Fantasy. Location: The kingdom of Eshtera.

Dark-eyed, tawny-skinned Tao is a fortune teller born in Lianghe in the kingdom of Shinara, but raised across the Long Sea in Margave, Eshtera. She now travels between Eshteran villages with trusty mule Laohu for company. Tao 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. It’s a lonely life, but better than her previous life in Margrave. When a small fortune turns big, semi-reformed thief Siltarian Silvertongue (Silt) and ex-mercenary enormous, bearded Mastrick (Mash) recruit her into their desperate search for Leah, Mash’s lost child. They have dubious reputations, but their company is not entirely unpleasant. Soon, they’re joined by red-haired Kina, baker of lumpy but delicious pastries, and Fidelitus, a one-eyed, slightly magical cat. Tao loves her big-hearted companions, but as she lowers her walls, her past closes in. Can she risk everything to preserve her found family?

Author Leong has written a quietly beautiful tale of finding your chosen family and following your own path. Her characters are charming and ready to expand their lives. Her writing is comforting and cozy. Leong takes us on a slightly magical journey with more than a few twists and turns along the way. I was entranced, and it’s 5 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️ #thetellerofsmallfortunes #julieleong #NetGalley

"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 was everything I needed and more. Everything I want from the cozy fantasy genre that I haven't been getting.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for this arc.

The cover entranced me and the plot sounded nice so I was delighted to get a chance to read this one. It’s a nice cozy fantasy that I think will appeal to lovers of that subgenre. For me, it was a bit slow and the end just dragged. This is a cozy story with lots of vibes. It’s Found Family all around. There are two threads that bring some, but not as much as I expected, tension to the story – Mash’s search for his missing child and Tao being sought by Important People to do something for them.

The major themes of the book – immigrants not feeling accepted in their new land, immigrants missing what they’ve lost, underdogs standing up for themselves, self discovery, friendship, and a sense of belonging – are all addressed. I’ll be honest and say many of these moments can be seen coming from far away and felt like A Point Was Being Made rather than being totally natural. But I’ve read worse.

The start is a tad slow as all the main characters have to be introduced and the underlying plot points introduced. However, the characters move through the book at the speed of horse/mule drawn wagons so this also sort of makes sense. About two-thirds of the way in, this weird quest gets dropped into the story which seemed out of place and pretty much went nowhere.

I enjoyed the found family. Tao hasn’t had the companionship of people she likes who also like her since she was a child. As an immigrant she has experienced discrimination, long looks, and feeling othered. With Kina, Silt, and Mash – she feels at ease and at home. I also liked her moments with her (not so ornery) mule whom she clearly loves. There is also an ornery cat. That four people couldn’t figure something out about the cat made me question their powers of observation.

The high point of the thread that involves Tao’s past surprised me a bit but I liked being surprised and also liked the character in charge. This sort of felt as if it was the natural end point of the book but, oh yes, there’s still another thing to be wrapped up which, yay it was but it also dragged. It’s also treacly sweet with fairly easy resolution of the conflicts.

Readers looking for a low impact, fantasy-lite (mostly mage magic, with one troll, and gnomes and elves only being mentioned) will probably enjoy this. I found the start a bit slow, a little bland overall, and would have enjoyed just a bit more bite. B-/C+

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!