This was a book that the whole of Booktok seems to have been describing as the perfect cozy, found family fantasy. Maybe that meant that I got my hopes up too much, but this book felt like it was missing something. I can't pinpoint exactly what it was missing, as it was a perfectly fine book, but for me it just didn't have that spark.

found family, cool magic, a band of misfits, cosy vibes, medium stakes: what more can a person ask for?

Tao has spent her adult life alone on the road after running away from home rather than join the Guild. She tells small fortunes for pennies, because big fortunes have consequences she’s not willing to face. On the road she meets a retired mercenary searching for his daughter, a semi reformed thief, and a trainee baker - together they set out to prove her visions true and find the lost little girl.

Along the way they encounter mythical creatures, prejudiced villagers, and a bit of magic.

The story was fast paced and the plot moved quickly. I found the characters extremely loveable - I adored them from the very beginning - and the way their bonds formed had that real cosy energy. The world building and magic weren’t overly detailed, but they provided interest and all the information needed for the story.

I would highly recommend The Teller of Small Fortunes for fans of cosy fantasy.

The describes this as a love letter to the fantasy stories they enjoyed as a child and it felt just like that! I loved the cosy fantasy vibes - it's definitely a trend I am enjoying.
It is ultimately a story about finding joy in the smaller things in life and that resonated with me so deeply. I had a wonderful time reading this and I hope it gets all of the recognition and hype that it deserves.

You know, I am pretty certain that Julie Leong wrote The Teller of Small Fortunes after getting a vision of the future and realising that we were all going to desperately need this warm hug of a book. It’s got the most wholesome found family vibes, exciting travel adventures, all the delectable baked goods, and a whole lot of heart; this is cozy fantasy done right!

I seriously can’t put my finger on what it was about The Teller of Small Fortunes, but from the very first page I just found myself inexplicably enchanted. The quiet and reserved Tao immediately captured my heart with her unrelenting warmth and kindness, and I loved how her chill personality made this entire story feel so comforting and stress-free even when danger arose and the stakes got a bit higher than you might initially expect from a cozy novel.

See, this lovely teller of small fortunes sort of accidentally stumbles into a rescue mission for the young daughter of an ex-mercenary, and so they embark on an unexpectedly life-changing adventure together with a (semi) reformed thief, a chaotic baker, and a very curious cat. In other words, hello found family vibes! The unconventional dynamic between all these loveable misfits was just so amusing and adorable, and I loved how we got to know each of their respective biggest dreams and deepest fears as they started to bond during their travels.

For me, the themes of belonging, purpose, forgiveness, following your passion, and embracing yourself in all your beautiful messiness really hit home, making me reflect on my own life and mental health journey in a way I was not anticipating. Kina’s journey resonated the most with me personally, but I think there is no denying that Tao’s struggles with her cultural identity and her journey of healing and self-acceptance are the true highlight of The Teller of Small Fortunes. I feel like you could just tell that these themes were written straight from Julie Leong’s own heart, which is exactly what makes this story so powerful and authentic.

And so what if some conflicts were resolved in an almost unbelievably peaceful way and the ending tied everything up in a deceptively beautiful little bow; I came for cozy comfort, and Julie Leong more than delivered. Though as satisfying and heartwarming as this ending was, I can’t deny that I am quite desperate to return to this world and go on more adventures with this unconventional family of endearing oddballs.

So, if you enjoyed the vibes of Sangu Mandanna’s The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches or K.E. Andrews’ Hills of Heather and Bone and want another fun and delectable cozy adventure that is equal parts exciting, introspective, moving, and heartwarming, then I can’t recommend The Teller of Small Fortunes highly enough. Just be sure to have some snacks ready when you start reading, because this book will make you hungry!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

In ‘The Teller of Small Fortunes’, we follow Toa, who is accustomed to travelling alone and telling ‘small’ fortunes. As Toa embarks on her latest adventure, she is surprised by the found family she encounters along the way. Together, we follow this unlikely group through a wholesome, if sometimes slightly stressful, journey.

This book felt like a cosy one-shot TTRPG to me, which is the highest compliment, as it allowed me to become more immersed in the story and feel more invested in the outcome.

However, some aspects of the book fell flat for me. While I loved each of the characters, I found myself yearning for deeper character exploration.

This is very much a cosy, warm novel, so don't expect any high stakes or surprising plot twists. Personally, I would have loved to spend more time with this group to get to know them better and gain a broader sense of their lives outside what often felt like a snapshot of their story.

It would have been perfect as a cosy TTRPG with friends, but for that very reason, I felt the book lacked some of the personality and depth of camaraderie that could have been built upon in a collaborative storytelling setting.

Overall, ‘The Teller of Small Fortunes’ delivers as a cosy, low-stakes fantasy with a lot to love in its characters. I would recommend it if you're looking for a quick, comforting read to enjoy between denser books.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.

The Teller of Small fortunes is a low stakes, cosy adventure tale with a found family trope.

Our main character travels in her trusty wagon telling small fortunes to fill her purse and keep her faithful mule fed. On her travels she meets other travellers on their own quests or simply trying to find their way in the world. Along with the companions she picks up, she helps fulfil these quests and forms some true friendships.

I personally adore a found family trope so this was right up my street. The characters were all very sweet and likeable, from the animals to the humans, and were the best part of the story, filling me with a big ol' sense of comraderie and contentment. The towns they visit on their travels and the people they meet were all very twee and cosy, though I would have loved a little more world building.

My only criticism would be that it wasn't definitively a cosy tale, nor was it fully an adventure novel, which led to it feeling a little too low stakes. Everything wrapped up just a little too conveniently with less strife than I would have liked. That being said, I did enjoy this book and would definitely recommend it for anyone who just wants to wrap up in a big blanket with a hot drink and a purring kitten.

I do enjoy a nice cozy fantasy and I wished that I liked this story more, but, unfortunately, it failed to grab me. I liked the premise, the found family theme, and the fantastical beasts and, overall, the characters were well-developed, but, somehow, I found myself getting easily distracted and my mind wandering while I was reading. I think that the pace was too slow and I probably was expecting a bit of more action and excitement.

Tao travels the country in a mule-drawn wagon and tells fortunes. She is a teller of small fortunes, larger fortunes come with consequences and so she sticks to the small ones. On her journey she makes friends with a former mercenary and a reformed thief, who are looking for a lost child, as well as an apprentice baker and her slightly magical cat.

The story is like being on a low stakes D&D campaign. Four heroes travelling together on the quest to find the small girl that was lost. On the way they are telling each other their stories, they talk about the small and big things in life (love, culture, roots,...) and try to be better every day.

I truly enjoyed this story and would recommend it to anyone who wants to escape into a low stakes cosy fantasy world where life is good when you're making tea, baking and try being better every day.

4.25 stars

I really liked The teller of small fortunes! The story was very cosy. I read a few chapters before going to sleep every day, and it was perfect for calming down. I loved the characters, and I loved the found family they formed even more!

I definitely recommend this to cosy fantasy readers!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Hodderscape for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the arc!

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5

Charming, comforting, and delightful, this is cozy fantasy at its finest! The Teller of Small Fortunes is pure delight condensed into pages.

I'd highly recommend this for fans of the found family trope. Found family is the only trope I actually look forward in a book, and Julie Leong has mastered it. Following this colorful crew was such a fun experience! The comfort of baked goods exudes from the pages. Oh, and there's a cat. What more could you ask for?! I saw so much of myself in Tao and lived vicariously through her adventures. Her immigrant experience adds a beautiful dimension to the story. I loved how to author subverted certain tropes that are used to raise stakes in high fantasy and tailored them such that the story neither felt too high stakes nor too dull.

Profound and comforting, heartfelt and laugh-out-loud hilarious in equal parts, this novel is sure to find an audience among cozy fantasy fans. I'd also recommend this for fans of Studio Ghibli and would love to see this adapted into a Ghibli-esque film!

🔮 The Teller of Small Fortunes • Julie Leong 🔮
★★★★.25

Read if you enjoy:
🔮 Cosy fantasy adventure
🔮 Found family
🔮 Studio Ghibli films
🔮 Stories with prophecy
🔮 Magical cat companion
🔮 Reading about the immigrant experience

Tao travels between villages, telling small fortunes to the residents. During her journey, she ends up grouping with a reformed thief, an ex-mercenary and an ambitious baker, to search for a lost child.

This was an incredible cosy fantasy. It was beyond heartwarming, ridiculously charming and tender. It explored and conquered loneliness in a way that was touching, profound and entertaining. I loved all the characters and their individual dynamics, they were sweet and funny. I could read this a million times over and love it just as much as the first read through.

“Familiarity could look very much like love from a certain angle, if one didn’t look too hard.”

“I can’t stay in one place and still be a fortune teller.”
“Why not?”
“Because my fortunes come true.”

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

“Aye, our lives are short and shaped by circumstance, and maybe we can’t control most of what’s to come. But we can control how we feel. We can savor the sweetness of a blackberry scone, and the company of our friends, and the warmth of the summer wind at night, and be grateful for it. We can be nothing, and choose to be miserable about it, like you—or we can be nothing, but choose to be happy, and let that be purpose enough. Which sounds more worthwhile to you?”

“There’s no inherent virtue in suffering.”

“The Teller of Small Fortunes” is a standalone cosy fantasy perfect for rainy days spent before a fireplace. It’s a great debut and I couldn’t help but feel part of the story and of the characters’ journey as I dived into the book.


This novel let the reader feel involved in the adventure with those amazing characters. Even though the book is only 300 pages, the author did a fantastic job with their characterisation. As the story proceeded, these four characters turned out to be so much more than what they were at the beginning. They did not only travel through the kingdom, they also embarked on a journey of self discovery. At the end of the novel, all four of them had learned something new and exciting about themselves and it made them so much more real and interesting.

Tao is the main character, she’s Shin and she travels Eshtera with her mule and reads small fortunes to whoever makes an offer. Tao’s past haunts her, but her loneliness will be short lived for other companions will join her.
Mash is searching for her lost daughter and the ex-thief Silt is helping him. They both meet Tao and decide to follow her in the hope that her powers will prove to be true.
Kina is a baker but her baked pastries aren’t as good looking as they’re tasty. She wants to have an adventure and she turns out to be the last addition to this unlikely group.

The found family trope is so well-written that the reader can’t help but feel part of it. I even shed a few tears while reading the ending and I already miss the characters and the world.

Even if the world building isn’t as characterised as the characters themselves, the author wrote about it in a way that proved effective for this kind of story. Everything was clearly written and the world remained only an interesting and fuzzy background.

All in all, I highly recommend this novel if you like reading about cosy fantasy books with found family and beautiful characters. It’s the perfect story for fans of Rewitched and Nettle and Bone.

This is a book about the little things. You won’t find epic quests or edge-of-your-seat action here, but if you give it a shot, it'll surprise you. Like many cozy fantasies, people describe this book as a “warm hug,” and they’re totally right. It’s one of those stories that warms your heart—but honestly, there’s so much more to it.

It’s a story about destiny and choice, magic and baking, self-discovery and accepting differences, and finding family in the most unexpected places. It balances deeper themes and lighthearted moments that make you think and smile. The found family trope—one of my absolute favorites—is beautifully and realistically done here.

What I loved most was the author’s incredible writing skill—especially impressive for a debut! The dialogues are spot-on, with some clever, humorous asides that made me laugh. Every plot thread is skillfully woven together; even the smallest details find their place, and even briefly mentioned characters get their closure. By the end, everything comes full circle with no loose ends.

All these elements reveal a rare storytelling talent, making this book feel even more precious.

4.5 ⭐️

For a while, I was on the fence whether I wanted to request The Teller of Small Fortunes or not. The blurb and the cover seemed intriguing and I do love cozy fantasy, but I wasn’t sure if I would be able to review it in time – and look at me, being a few days late with it. In my defense, I could review it in time, if I didn’t catch a nasty cold that got the better of me for a couple of days, delaying everything I planned – including getting some reading done.

Anyway. The book. I’m going to be upfront with you on the go – I did not like this book and it’s baffling, because everyone seems to be singing its praises. But then, I’m quite used to being in the minority when it comes to opinions about popular books, soooo… 🤷‍♀️ Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

Tao is traveling through Eshtera, telling small fortunes, keeping low – as much as a Shinn woman can in a foreign country with which relationships are rocky. She’s been fine by herself since she ran away from her family, thank you very much. Until, that is, when she meets Mash and Silt, two friends on the trail of a gang of bandits whom they suspect kidnapped Mash’s daughter. Kina, a baker whose pastries are good although they don’t look like it, also joins them as she longs for adventure. Tao slowly warms up to them, and they form a close-knit little group.

On the surface level, this absolutely sounds like my jam. I enjoy reading about found families and close-knit friend groups and on that level, The Teller of Small Fortunes works well enough. And even though we learn about Tao’s past, and about Mash and Silt’s past or about Kina’s dreams, I was never able to connect with them or get invested in their stories. I’m not quite sure why as they are not badly written characters. They have personalities, and their own arcs, and while they are not quite one-dimensional, I never had the feeling that they could walk off the pages.

I admit this book bored me, and that’s partly thanks to the fact that there is a lot of traveling – which we know I’m not very fond of. I know, I know, I was aware of the traveling aspect since I read the blurb, and yet I hoped that at least it would be more interesting. Or that there would be less of it, really. The characters leave way too fast from one place to the next, and I never had the sense of getting the world known. Yes, there are some rivaling countries mentioned, and some political conflicts, but it all remains somewhat surface level. Yes, I know this is a cozy fantasy, small scales and all, and that’s absolutely fine. And I could live with it if it wasn’t just one of many things I was annoyed with.

And here we come to the plot. Things just…seem to happen for no apparent reason. Mash and Silt walk around randomly as they lose track of the bandits so they run into Tao. They decide to go with her because of the small fortune she tells to Mash and he wants to see if she is the real deal before believing her. And even when they get news about the bandits eventually, it’s super underwhelming. There is also the magefinder plot that doesn’t have nearly enough depth to it either.

But it wasn’t until the 60% mark that I started to feel like this story was a bit ridiculous. And also it was also then that I realized why I was struggling – The Teller of Small Fortunes reads like a mix of cozy fantasy and a series of DnD quests within a campaign. And while I’m not an experienced DnD player (only played a handful of times and had fun), I’m not particularly a fan of this type of storytelling. Especially as I couldn’t understand why this group of friends made the decision they did without making a serious effort to understand what was going on, or even try hard enough to get answers. While I understand that they wanted to do anything in order to get help for their main goal, but didn’t they learn not to trust random strangers with offers that seems too good to be true? Because chances are, it is. I’d have expected more from an experienced traveler, a reformed thief, and an ex-soldier.

I don’t know, I’m sure the book gets a decent ending and everything will turn out well, but honestly, I didn’t really feel like picking it back up at this point. It definitely has its moments, though, and I liked to read about how the characters were bonding with each other, and how Tao was telling her fortunes. I liked in Kina’s character that even though she is the most inexperienced among them, and she is a bit nervous, but she never fails to speak her mind and save the day with kindness when it needs saving. She has a steel in her that’s not obvious at first glance.

Seeing all the glowing reviews, I realize I’m in the absolute minority when it comes to The Teller of Small Fortunes, so take my review how you will. Julie Leong‘s debut novel will appeal to those who like small-scale cozy fantasies with DnD elements and some banter. The Teller of Small Fortunes surely will earn quite a fandom for Leong, and that’s good, especially these days. A little more kindness is what we all need. Even if we don’t all click with the same books. I wasn’t meant to be the right audience this time around, but that happens. If this book will get more people to read cozy books, then hey, I’m all for it.

The Teller of Small Fortunes has everything you may ask for in a cosy fantasy novel. It has likeable characters, adorable animals, a found family trope, some adventures, and a lot of baking. I found this book heart-warming and comforting.

The novel also touches on more serious topics, like race, prejudice and identity. Tao faces prejudice throughout the book even though she left Shinara as a child. She uses her heritage to create a mysterious performance for her customers while missing the comfort of her childhood home. I loved watching her gradually open up to new people and possibilities. Also, most characters experience changes in their personalities, lifestyles, or occupations, which makes this novel even more fascinating.

To sum up, The Teller of Small Fortunes is a perfect cosy read, best enjoyed with a hot drink on hand.

Julie Leong’s “The Teller of Small Fortunes” is a beautiful escape into a world of gentle magic and heartfelt connections. This cozy fantasy is perfect for anyone looking to be wrapped in a warm, comforting story.

Leong’s writing is surely charming, bringing to life a cast of characters who feel like old friends. The themes of found family and personal growth are beautifully woven into the narrative, making it both touching and inspiring.

The book’s gentle pace and sweet nature make it a perfect read for a relaxing afternoon. It’s a story that reminds you of the simple joys in life and the importance of kindness and companionship. This is truly a magical tale that embodies the essence of cozy fantasy.

Overall, “The Teller of Small Fortunes” is a lovely book that leaves you with a smile and a warm heart. Highly recommended for fans of cozy fantasy and uplifting stories.

Now I will say I adored this book even without the cat companion. It’s a cosy fantasy that offers a beautiful found family and is honestly the kind of story you’d expect Studio Ghibli to turn into an animation. The writing is beautiful and flows easily, the characters are wonderfully crafted being equally realistic and whimsical and the narrative is perfect.

It was so easy to get lost in this book and I found myself breezing through it and enjoying every minute. The perfect cozy read to snuggle up with on autumn or winter nights. With a memorable cast of characters and beautiful imagery this is a must for fantasy fans.

As always thank you to Netgalley & Hodderscape for the copy to review. My review is always honest, truthful and freely given.

This is cozy fantasy at its best!

Tao travels from town to town setting up her tent and telling small fortunes. Nothing big, just small things like a new job, or a gift given.
Tao is an immigrant, so she's used to getting strange looks. She gets lonely with only her donkey Laohu for company. But, it's better than living with her step-father.

She had no idea that telling one small fortune could change her life.

After setting up her tent, Tao tells a mercenary his fortune and changes not only his life, but also that of a baker and a thief. Intrigued? You should be!

I loved this so much! These characters wormed their way into my heart and are now new favorites. Definitely one of the best books of the year.

This was a cosy fantasy, with a lovely found family story line and a cat! Every book needs a cat so I enjoyed that part of the story. A great debut novel, and I’ll be sure to read more by this author in the future.

Headlines:
Cosy
Low stakes
Cat, baking, found family

The Teller of Small Fortunes was a reasonably slow paced read but it fit the low-stakes cosiness within the pages. What started as a lone traveller in Tao offering small fortunes (only) to villages and towns, became an eclectic foursome and pawsome of folks on a low-key mission.

Kina the messy baker was adorable as was Tao. The two guys were an odd addition to the two women but it worked, when the cat joined, I felt like it was a perfect found family then. The quest to find Mash's daughter Leah wasn't angsty but it was something that I cheered for in terms of result.

Seeing Tao reunited with her mother and finding out some of the past pulled back the layers on the privacy and walls Tao had built and I felt like I really got to know more about her then.

It took me a while to read this book and I think that was to do with the pacing. It wasn't difficult to read or pick it up but I didn't want to devour it, if that makes sense. I'd definitely pick this author up again.

Thank you Hodderscape for the review copy.