This was such a great read! I loved the cozy feel and I highly recommend if you are a fan of the cozy fantasy genre!

A traveling fortune teller with a painful past and the people she meets on the road that refuse to let her be alone anymore. This was such a warm hug of a book, with the kindness of humanity shining through even when the world at large can be so cruel. Found family may seem like a cliche these days, but this book has wholly rejuvenated my love for a group of people in pain coming together to help each other evolve and heal and then choosing to stay together because of the love and understanding that has grown between them. Julie Leong created such a loveable cast of characters and devised the perfect adventure for all of them to glow individually. A perfect cozy fantasy for anyone who wants just a bit more worldliness than that genre usually provides.

A cozy fantasy world wrapped around a heart of pure gold, demonstrating a truth that runs deeper than mere magic, THE TELLER OF SMALL FORTUNES by Julie Leong is one not to miss.

I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group; all opinions expressed are exclusively my own.

"Yet it was a very hard thing to leave the only place one had ever known... Familiarity could look very much like love from a certain angle, if one didn't look too hard."

"<i Everyone deserves a home /i>, Tao thought... And what was a home but somewhere you wouldn't have to feel quite so alone?"

This book was lovely, like a cup of delicious chai: complex, comforting and sharp all at the same time. The sharpness isn't meant to wound, though, but to express the ways we can find healing from harm. It is very much about found family, and I can easily see why it is recommended to people who enjoy the Legends & Lattes series. At the same time, this book is profoundly tied to the main character's experiences with the dark aspects of human behavior, as well as a commentary on war and social justice. Definitely recommend this title for anyone with a taste for cozy(ish) fantasy.

For sensitive readers, there are depictions of racism, misogyny, violence, traumatic childhood experiences, and neglect. A child is presented as possibly being in danger throughout the book as well; no physical harm to children is depicted.

A light and fun adventures with a bit of magic. This novel fits perfectly in the newish subgenre of cozy fantasy. If you like your scoundrals redeemable and charming, your ends happy and loose ends tied up then this is a great choice. There are diverse characters and while set in a western setting there is eastern lore and culture throughout.

Imagine the comfiest blanket in the world and, through some magic, turn it into a book. If you succeed, then chances are the book you'll get will be called The Teller of Small Fortunes, and it would be written by Julie Leong.

The Teller of Small Fortunes is one of the funniest, coziest, most thoughtful, and most therapeutic books I've ever read. That's not me exaggerating. Oh, no! That's me selling this story short. Honestly, you can just do yourself a favor and get this book and spare yourself the rest of the incoherent ramblings in this review because words won't be able to do it justice. This story is simply something to be experienced.

You're still here? Fine, let me paint you a picture. Imagine a cat. It's the best cat in the world. An incredible cat, and it knows it because, well, it's a cat. Now, imagine that cat surrounded by one of the most incredible, most colorful crews you'll encounter in fiction or in real life. Now imagine that group discovering one town after another in an adventure that wraps a blanket around your shoulders, gives you a cup of hot chocolate, and tells you in the most comforting voice possible, "We're going to do something epic. But everything is going to be fine. Probably. We'll see."

But in all seriousness, Julie Leong's debut, The Teller of Small Fortunes, is fantasy at its best. It evokes the wanderlust in its readers' hearts while also providing a cast of incredible characters. It's thoughtful, funny, deep, cozy, and will simply leave you feeling so many emotions when you are done reading it. Seriously, do yourself a favor and read The Teller of Small Fortunes, or you'll be missing out on something truly special.

A lovely story about a teller of small fortunes and her found family that she collects along her way. I’m a big fan of the cozy fantasy genre; this is a great addition to the field.

An excellent cozy adventure fantasy. Tao's journey across the countryside also becomes her journey out of loneliness and isolation as she encounters other misfits along her path and they band together to support each other.
A funny, heartfelt, wonderfully entertaining read. Highly recommended.

A cozy, enchanting read! Has a folklore feel to it and is just a perfect little heartwarming story. I think this one is best enjoyed in the evening with a warm drink!

Julie Leong writes Teller of Small Fortune as a sort of cozy adventure story. Tao, a fortune teller, limits her gift to smaller fortunes, the ones that bring delight to her customers in each town that she stops at. Not all small fortunes are insignificant, though, and Tao discovers this when the simple fortune of a father gifting his daughter a cat becomes a promise that said father will succeed in his quest to find his daughter. What is Tao to do when he and his companion decide to accompany her in her travels but welcome them along?

Teller of Small Fortunes is written well and is fun to read, but the plot wasn’t woven together well. The most glaring example of this is when Jacopo stops the traveling companions in the road for a random quest. Why was he there? How does he know of a treasure when he doesn’t know what it is? Why does he get them all to sign contracts if he was just going to drop it? This two chapter phoenix interlude was not woven into the tale at all and didn’t further the plot or help the characters develop.

Another example is Tao’s reluctance to join the Mage Guild and her running away from home. These things were both put in and explained in the second half of the book, but they weren’t woven into her story from the beginning—and there was ample opportunity to.

While the writing was fun, the plot wasn’t well-woven, so Teller of Small Fortunes left something to be desired.

Well, consider my heart warmed.

This book is so very, very wholesome. If you are looking for a cozy fantasy novel with a cast of…just delightful characters, look no further. Even the baddies aren’t so bad.

This book follows our FMC Tao, a traveling teller of (you guessed it) small fortunes. She is adamant to all of those who seek her services that she does not tell large, life-changing fortunes. As we travel with her and her ever-growing caravan, we find out why she is so determined to tell these small fortunes only.

While there is tragedy in this book, it is handled gently and I did love the ending. It is one that brought me to tears.

I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who needs a break from high-stakes plots or perhaps someone who just prefers lovely stories with little violence.

It should perhaps be noted that if you are looking for a love story, this is not a romantasy. It’s just a delightful little cozy fantasy book.

I requested to read this title based on the beautiful cover art and the synopsis.

This book is funny, adventurous, and heartwarming. I loved the characters. None of the adventures or dangers seemed life-threatening and there were happy endings for everyone. I even read the discussion questions included at the end, which is something I almost never do. I loved this book so much that I will be buying my own copy once it is published!

"The mule looked back at her mulishly."

"All cats are slightly magical, don't you know? It's why they're so smug all the time."

Am I allowed to say this is the feel-good novel of the year? This is an absolutely charming tale of found family. While there are serious themes, it is never truly dark - while some readers might enjoy darker, edgier fantasy, this is perfect for readers just getting into the fantasy genre, or readers who aren't looking for a heavy read. The characters are lovely, the world-building is great, and the story is unique. I absolutely loved reading this.

Tao, travels between villages telling "small fortunes." She has powers much beyond these but for fear of the powerful Mages society finding her and dragging her back to Margrave, a city which holds bad memories for her, she sticks to simple small fortunes. When her wagon is blocked by a fallen tree, she meets two other adventurers, Mash and Silt who are hunting for Mash's missing young daughter. The group later meets up with Kina, a baker of dubious quality goods, but who seems to have a magic all her own and a perhaps magical cat as well. As the group travels about searching for Mash's daughter, they each find that the bond of friendship and family is something that they all needed.

I'm not sure if this was intended as an Adult, Young Adult or Children's book. Except for a few words which parents might find objectionable, this could easily be a good fantasy novel for those who loved Harry Potter (with a dash of Mulan). An enjoyable read which ends with readers wanting to find out more about the travels of this group and what other magic they night encounter.

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong is a throughly enchanting story. Her characters and the world she has created draw one in and when the story ends one wishes for more. I, for one, hope there is more!