THE TELLER OF SMALL FORTUNES by Julie Leong – Review

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
Published by Ace on November 5 2024
Genres: Adult, Cozy fantasy
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: Upbeat, funny and thoughtful, The Teller of Small Fortunes is as cozy as a warm pastry and a cup of tea.

“Small fortunes are wispy, delicate things—not like greater fortunes, whose lines are etched deeply and will not be moved for love or for money.”

This book came along at the just the right time, and I’m so glad I discovered Julie Leong and her wonderful, quirky story, a truly cozy fantasy with so many sweet moments, lots of humor and just a touch of conflict. Leong also fills her story with wise and pithy observations about life and relationships, as well as thoughtful commentary on racism and the immigrant experience. The Teller of Small Fortunes is a breath of fresh air, and I highly recommend it to all readers.

Tao is a teller of small fortunes, roaming the countryside of Eshtera in her mule-pulled wagon, stopping briefly in towns to tell fortunes, just long enough to make enough coin to take care of herself and her mule Laohu. She loves the solitude and traveling alone, so it is a bit of a shock when she finds herself with three traveling companions. First, Mash and Silt help her when a tree blocks the road she’s traveling on. Mash is a big hulk of a man who is distraught over his missing daughter Leah, who disappeared six months earlier. Silt is a happy-go-lucky thief who has come along to help Mash find his daughter. When Tao agrees to tell Mash’s fortune, she sees him giving a kitten to a little girl. By her description, Mash knows it’s Leah, and this gives him hope that he will soon find her.

Against her better judgment, Tao agrees to let the men join her on the road, thinking she might also be of help in finding the little girl. Along the way, they meet a baker’s assistant named Kina—whose confections taste good but look horrible—who is struggling to figure out what she wants to do with her life, and when Tao reads her fortune, she sees Kina sitting beside her in the wagon. Kina is delighted to join their group, bringing a small pastry oven along so she can continue to work on her baking skills.

As the four travelers slowly become friends, they follow clues that might finally lead them to Leah. But someone is pursuing Tao as well. Three years ago, she left home when her mother wanted to turn her over to the Guild of Mages (because of her ability to see the future), but she didn’t want that life for herself, and she’s been keeping a low profile ever since.

The story meanders, much like the characters do on their travels from town to town, and I loved this gentle approach to storytelling. Instead of frenetic action and high stakes, we have small, quieter moments between the characters. Not everything that happens serves the plot, and that’s OK. The characters occasionally go off on tangents that don’t have much to do with anything, but somehow these scenes fit the overall vibe of Leong’s story. 

“There is something liberating about traveling, isn’t there?” said Kina. “I’ve felt it since we left Shellport—only knowing where we’re going next, but not where we’ll end. The open road ahead of you—it’s a little scary, and a little wonderful.”

The characters are a lot of fun and were the main draw for me, and I loved the way the author gave each one an emotional backstory. Tao’s relationship with her mother was ruined when she left home, and she’s still hurt by her mother’s actions but hopes they can reconcile someday. She’s also suffering from her father’s death when she was a young child, and feels responsible for what happened (this event is also the reason she only tells small fortunes). Mash is understandably sad about his daughter, desperate to find her and reunite their small family. Silt, who is the comic relief of the gang, wants to be a better man, especially when he falls for Kina and she completely ignores him. He’s got a reputation as a thief, but he’s trying to quit. And Kina is simply delightful, a ray of sunshine who was overshadowed by her uncle and his bakery, but now has the chance to strike out on her own and create something wonderful (and she does!) The author balances humor, sweetness and heartfelt moments perfectly, and I loved seeing all four characters grow closer as they helped each other.

Leong injects some weightier themes into her story, with a possible war brewing between Eshtera and Tao’s home country of Shinara. Tao feels caught in the middle of these two lands. She was mostly raised in Eshtera and forced to learn the language and blend in, but in her heart she’s still Shinn, and she mourns the loss of the culture and traditions of Shinara. Eshterans aren’t completely accepting of Shinn people, and Tao suffers racism and rude remarks at times. Still, none of this overwhelms the lighter tone of the story.

There’s little to no romance, which I know some readers will appreciate. Honestly, it just didn’t need it. I especially liked that Kina isn’t afraid to tell Silt to back off when he starts showing interest in her. After all, she’s just starting her new life and doesn’t need a man complicating things! Instead, the friendships are front and center and much more satisfying than a romance would have been.

Eventually, everything is resolved at the end, but maybe not quite in the way you think. This is one of those books where you expect a happy ending and you get one, and even the short epilogue was delightful. The Teller of Small Fortunes will put a smile on your face, and I can’t wait to read more from this talented author.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.