#the teller of small fortunes

[agardenandlibrary]

Just finished:

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

Very sweet, low-stakes fantasy. If you're looking for more books like Legends and Lattes, definitely pick this one up.

[bigdreamsandwildthings]

I just love knowing I have so many new stories to dive into when I need them 🥰

[wearethekat]

November Book Reviews: The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

One of my anticipated new releases for this year. Disinherited by her family, Tao wanders the country in a caravan working as a minor fortuneteller. But when she reluctantly allows a reformed thief, a mercenary, and a young baker to travel with her, she's plunged into a tangle that might force her to reckon with her past.

As an angst enjoyer, my experience with fantasy books marketed as "cozy" has been more miss than hit. But I persevere, since I have found some really great gems. For me, The Teller of Small Fortunes was leaning towards the miss column. I did love how Tao's "small fortunes" worked, the way she was terrified of being identified as a seer and instead just made little predictions that made for interesting glimpses into the lives of background characters, like predicting where the village's goats had gone, or the best crop for next year's harvest.

However, I wasn't thrilled by the background politics plot, which I found a little bit flattened and facile. The "found family" element also felt a touch forced, like the platonic equivalent of instalove. And while I strongly suspect it was accurate to the author's childhood in New Jersey, I found it a touch grating that the first thing every character said to Tao, whether they were supposed to be the good guys or not, was some kind of nasty comment about her race. (She's loosely fantasy East Asian in a loosely fantasy Europe setting). I know cozy fantasy tends to blunt the edges a bit, but let Tao be really mean to someone for once.

This book didn't work for me, but I bet if you like Legends and Lattes or The Spellshop, this is also something you'll really enjoy.

[aroaessidhe]

2024 reads / storygraph

The Teller of Small Fortunes

lighthearted fantasy adventure

follows an immigrant fortune teller who travels between villages telling small fortunes for people

when she runs into a (mostly reformed) thief and an an ex-mercenary searching for his lost daughter, she ends up traveling with them in the hopes she can help, along with a baker they meet along the way,

they encounter various magical creatures and adventurous situations, and eventually she has to face her past

no romance

[straybookmarks]

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

[acmoorereadsandwrites]

An Interview with Julie Leong, Author of The Teller of Small Fortunes

One of the most anticipated cozy fantasy debuts of 2024, Julie Leong is a Malaysian Chinese-American author with a great love of citrus, round animals, and flavorful food. 

You can read here or on my substack

Julie, where’s the yuzu? You wrote this whole book and there’s no mention of yuzu?

Julie: I’m sorry! I need to save all my yuzu content for my eventual future book about a citrus witch; I’m sure you understand.

Teller opens up with casual racism and xenophobia directed at Tao for being Shinn, but one of the definitions I’ve seen of cozy fantasy floating around is that the worldbuilding is free of discrimination and the conflict is focused on something else. For authors who want to explore similar topics in cozy fantasy, what do you think is the right balance?

Julie: I think the definition of ‘cozy fantasy’ is a dynamic and inherently subjective thing, because ‘cozy’ is about how a story makes you feel, and different people will necessarily feel different ways in response to certain stories. Personally, I don’t think ‘cozy’ means the total absence of sadness or conflict. If anything, I prefer my cozy stories to have just a dash of darkness so as to highlight the warmth and joy all the better – like a sprinkle of salt in hot chocolate, if you will. 

There definitely is a balance to be struck, though. I do believe that cozy requires a happy ending (or mostly happy, at least), and that if a story delves too far into violence and heavy themes, it can be challenging to pull the reader back into the cozy mindset. I’d encourage authors writing cozy fantasy to try to be mindful of how they feel as they’re writing the story, and to take special note of any scenes that evoke tense or painful emotions – are they followed by scenes that soothe away those hurts? Is there catharsis by the end? Are readers ultimately comforted, or troubled by your story?

Ghibli has been a big reference point for cozy and a lot of their films carry a thread of grief or melancholy, an undertone that Teller shares. Do you think cozy and melancholy/grief are not only compatible, but those feelings are a necessary ingredient in a cozy SFF?

Julie: I don’t think melancholy/grief are necessary in cozy SFF, but as I mentioned above, I do think they can provide a powerful counterbalance that highlights the warmth and catharsis often offered by cozy stories. They can help make the joy feel more earned, as well, and give the story an emotional heft that may be otherwise lacking.

Kiss, marry, throw off the wagon: Mash, Kina, and Silt

Julie: Oof, that’s hard. Kiss Silt, marry Kina, and throw Mash off the wagon just because I know he can keep up on foot anyway.

We have fortune cookies and tea for fortune telling and Kina is a baker. If you were a fortune teller, what food-based style would you use and how does it involve citrus?

Julie: Hahaha. Citrus-based divination! Tangerine tarot? Peel open an orange, count the number of segments and seeds, look for patterns in the pith; burn the rinds and inhale the citrus-scented smoke… there are so many ways I could go with it. 

A lot of people unfamiliar with cozy are trying to define it, but I think it’s pretty defined by the community that has helped propel it from selfpub to traditional publishing. What do you think is the future of cozy and do you think the term is a bit more fluid than some might believe?

Julie: I do think the definition of cozy is fluid and still-evolving, as I mentioned above. I can’t say for certain where the future of the subgenre lies, but I can say what I hope we’ll see more of! Personally, I’d love to see more diverse voices in cozy, more cozy stories that don’t necessarily center a romance, more cozy stories that don’t involve small businesses, and more bittersweet cozy that plays with heavier themes without necessarily getting very dark.

A major theme in Teller is the importance of small changes and small moments, both good and bad, and how they add up. What other themes are you hoping readers will get from this?

Julie: I think it’s up to readers to take what they like from a story, but when I was writing Teller, other themes that were central in my mind were the different ways in which one can ‘belong’, the struggle between free will and fate, and the eternal conflict between self-interest and the common wellbeing.

You had a bit of a unicorn experience as Teller was the first book you wrote and you're launching with multiple crate deals. What has been the most exciting and the most humbling experience for you?

Julie: It’s been such a fairytale, honestly. I never in a million years expected all of the things that have happened to me and this book, and I’m so, so grateful – a lot of the credit goes to my fantastic publishing teams at Ace and Hodderscape, who have done so much to get this book out there.

One of the most recently exciting developments was my attending New York Comic Con at the invitation of my publisher. I have never (nor will I ever again) felt like such a rock star as I did signing 100+ copies of The Teller of Small Fortunes for enthusiastic readers at the Penguin Random House floor booth, and it was an amazing experience to co-present at a writing panel alongside brilliant authors like CM Waggoner, Sarah Hawley, and Rob Hart. 

The most humbling experience? I’ve had a lot, but the moment when I first visited the Penguin Random House office in New York, and strolled through a hallway lined with incredible, renowned, bestselling books whose authors I’ve loved for years and years – that was definitely a surreal moment of “Oh wait, there’s been a terrible mistake. I don’t think I belong here.”

Do you think you’re going to stay in cozy fantasy or do you want to branch out into cozy sci-fi like Becky Chambers or try your hand at an epic fantasy one day? Or, perhaps, venture outside of the speculative genres and try your hand at a mystery or contemporary?

Julie: I don’t know yet, to be honest! As of right now, I still have more ideas for cozy fantasies that I’d love to write – but I also don’t want to limit myself. There’s something thrilling and liberating about the idea that I might one day wake up and decide to write something totally new and unfamiliar.

Tao is very AroAce-coded, which is slowly becoming more common in fantasy. Was that a conscious choice on your part or did that organically reveal itself as you wrote the book or something in between?

Julie: It was more of the latter. I knew from the start that I did not want to write a romance-centric book, in part because I wanted to tell a story that highlighted the importance of non-romantic relationships like friendship and family. But it wasn’t until midway through the first draft, when Tao and Kina were having a conversation about romantic attention, that I realized that it felt very natural that Tao – as I had written her – was aro/ace-spec. 

Tao briefly considers the story of the Monkey Prince and how it mirrors her own journey. Is this a call back to Journey to the West and Sun Wukong? 

Julie: Yes! Journey to the West is such a classic tale from Chinese mythology, and also one of the first bedtime stories that I heard from my dad growing up. It felt right for Tao to know it, too.

Sorry, but I have to get a bit sappy. As an immigrant and the child of an immigrant, I found a lot of my own journey reflected in Tao even if there are some differences, including the part where she’s constantly othered despite having lived in Eshtera for a long time. It feels like there’s not that many fantasies that truly get into the nitty-gritty of what it means to be an immigrant. Were you filling in a gap that you saw or is there a treasure trove of immigrant fantasy I don’t know about?

Julie: I’m so glad that that part of Tao’s story resonated with you. I, similarly, have never read much fantasy that features immigrant experiences specifically, and I knew from the very start of writing Teller that I wanted to tell an immigrant story. I wanted to see myself reflected in a character who felt caught between cultures, and was wrestling with herself about where she belonged, and how she defined her own identity. Some of Tao’s experiences I took directly from my own childhood, and I’ve already heard from many readers how they shared those experiences and felt them deeply: the loss of language, for example.

Until recently, cozy was pretty much relegated to selfpub and then exploded on the traditional publishing scene with Legends and Lattes. When you queried Teller, the trend was just starting to pick up in traditional publishing. Do you think authors looking to be traditionally published should pay attention to what is trending in selfpub?

Julie: Absolutely! I think any aspiring authors should pay attention to what’s happening in their genres, period. 

Completely agree. You need to know your genre to write and sell in it.

There's all kinds of advice out there in regards to the writing process, but I've found that the best thing to do is experiment with a lot of authors' processes until you find a combination that works for you. What's your drafting process like?

Julie: It’s… chaos. I basically turn into a hermit and disappear into my writing cave for as many weeks as it takes to churn out a workable draft. I draft scenes out of order, I cobble together an outline only if and when I start feeling like I need one, I edit as I go sometimes and leave entire scenes as bracketed placeholders other times… basically, I give myself the liberty to write when and how I want to, and I don’t subscribe to any particular process or system. I’m not sure I’d recommend it to others, but it’s what’s worked for me so far!

We talk a lot in writers spaces about how you have to read modern authors to be part of the conversation going on in our genres. What books is your book in conversation with?

Julie: Love this question! Definitely Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes, which sparked the recent wave of cozy fantasy, but also with heavy influence from Becky Chambers’ Monk & Robot series, and the Singing Hills novellas from Nghi Vo.

Author as Brand gets thrown around a lot in some circles and not everyone likes it but it's impossible to stop the train at this point. What do you want your Brand to be?

Julie: Kindness. Humor. Warmth.

Some authors focus on food, others on clothes. What's your favorite way to worldbuild?

Julie: I'm a vibes-first writer! My worldbuilding happens sort of like piecing together a puzzle, where various sections and chunks of it come together first before I fill in the rest of it. Some of those starting pieces might be big (political and economic systems) or small (cats and bees are inherently magical beings).

I only do as much worldbuilding as I strictly need for a given book, in part because I like there to be some vagueness/unexplained things, but also to leave room for more worldbuilding in subsequent books, so I don't accidentally write myself into any corners.

What's next on the horizon for you?

Julie: I’m currently revising my second book, The Keeper of Magical Things, which will be coming out in fall 2025 if all goes as planned. It’s a sapphic cozy fantasy set in the same world as Teller but with a new cast of characters. I’m pitching it as The Spellshop meets Warehouse 13 with Stardew Valley vibes.

Are there any debuts you wanna give a shout-out to?

Julie: So many wonderful fellow debuts! I’m sure I’m missing some people (and apologies to them), but off of the top of my head:

Genoveva Dimova (Foul Days, Monstrous Nights)

Eliza Chan (Fathomfolk)

SA MacLean (The Phoenix Keeper)

Maiga Doocy (Sorcery and Small Magics)

Amy Avery (The Longest Autumn)

Riley August (The Last Gifts of the Universe)

Samantha Mills (The Wings Upon Her Back)

Lucy Jane Wood (Rewitched)

Frances White (Voyage of the Damned)

John Wiswell (Someone You Can Build a Nest In)

Jules Arbeaux (Lord of the Empty Isles)

I recommend all of those titles as well, especially Phoenix Keeper, Foul Days, The Wings Upon Her Back, and Fathomfolk.

Thank you so much, Julie!

Where to buy:

Waterstones

Amazon

Kobo

Barnes and Noble

Mysterious Galaxy

Penguin Random House

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 4/5

Book Blurb:

A wandering fortune teller finds an unexpected family in this warm and wonderful debut fantasy, perfect for readers of Travis Baldree and Sangu Mandanna.

Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only 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…

Even if it’s a lonely life, it’s better than the one she left behind. But a small fortune unexpectedly becomes something more when a (semi) reformed thief and an ex-mercenary recruit her into their desperate search for a lost child. Soon, they’re joined by a baker with a "knead" for adventure, and—of course—a slightly magical cat.

Tao starts down a new path with companions as big-hearted as her fortunes are small. But as she lowers her walls, the shadows of her past close in—and she’ll have to decide whether to risk everything to preserve the family she never thought she could have.

Review:

A wandering fortune teller finds herself on an unexpected adventure as well as befriending unlikely people... yet when her real magic catches the eyes of others she'll have to rely on her new friends in this soft found family fantasy read. Tao is a wandering fortune teller, she travels from town to town offering "small" fortunes, refusing to ever veer into bigger ones after the terrible consequences of the big fortune she once told. Tao is lonely... and when one of her small fortunes leads to her being swept up in helping an ex-mercenary and reformed thief search for a lost child she can't say no, and along for the way is a baker and a slightly magical cat. This was a really warm hearted and sweet adventure that focuses on friendship and found family. It's a easy read and just feels like a cozy time.

Release Date: November 5,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[rhetoricandlogic]

November 05, 2024

The Teller of Small Fortunes By Julie Leong

Review byChris Pickens

Comforting, kindhearted and soulful, Julie Leong’s The Teller of Small Fortunes offers a welcome reprieve from the dreary and violent stab-a-thons that often dominate the fantasy genre. Pull up a chair, grab your favorite mug and sink into this lovely debut’s warm embrace.

Tao, a fortune teller from the Empire of Shinara, loves her life of solitude. Crisscrossing the neighboring kingdom of Eshtera with her covered wagon and faithful mule, she makes a living telling small fortunes wherever she goes. You may be wondering, “What is a small fortune?” Well, Tao can tell when the spring rains will come, how many calves will be born this year or when the inn’s common room will be full again. However, when one of her fortunes reveals a missing girl is still alive, Tao finds herself enlisted to help Mash, the girl’s ex-mercenary father, and his similarly reformed companion, former thief Silt, track her down. But what about Tao’s coveted peace and quiet? Being alone is the only way she can keep her secret safe, because Tao can tell big fortunes: ones that can hurt people. As their journey continues, Tao must decide how much to tell her companions about her true powers, even as time runs short to help an innocent in need.

In The Teller of Small Fortunes, Leong paints with primary colors, leaving very few shadows in her portrait of friendship and family. Each member of Tao’s party has distinct regrets and murky pasts, but these backgrounds simply reveal how the characters will heal one another. Leong homes in on small moments, carefully calibrating each step toward trust and companionship. But that is not to say that The Teller of Small Fortunes does not have tension. The party’s mission to find the lost girl is not without real pain. But always there is a sense of peace, that whatever happens, the group will endure and grow.

If you’re looking for an epic told at the end of a bloody sword, this one may not be for you. But in between all the hacking and slashing, sometimes you find yourself in need of a pleasant diversion. Sweet-natured and therapeutic, The Teller of Small Fortunes is the perfect pick for such times. It feels like coming home.

[luxet0bscuritas-blog]

JOMP Book Photo Challenge - February - 10/02/25 - Relationship Goals

Honestly, I initially considered showcasing a romantic relationship, but I had a hard time finding a book with a healthy depiction of love. It was either too tragic with one character dying, they part ways, or it was just too toxic to be considered "relationship goals".

So, I decided to focus on stories with sweet platonic relationships. The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong immediately came to mind, along with a few others, but since I recently finished it, I thought I’d share a little snapshot of my beautiful edition of this novel.

It's warm, cozy, and such a lovely example of healthy, platonic friendships.

[pumpkabitch]

I picked up a new book (literally NEW, was just released today) and though im only halfway through, it's really good!

The Teller of Small Fortunes. It's a light fantasy novel about Tao, an immigrant fortune teller, trying to get away from her past. She makes acquaintances, and then friends, with a few folks and they journey together.

I'll probably make another post when I'm done, but so far I'm enjoying it. The characters feel very alive, and I'm invested in each of their stories

[saphirabluish]

Finished this one today. :)

I like it. The friendships. The found family. The thought that cats are part magic. ;)

Love Tao and her accepting her friends and her magic and that she does not have to be alone anymore.

[homerjacksons]

Advent Calendar 2024 - December 21

[astreamoflight]

I really enjoyed this! It was gentle, and quiet, and reminded me a lot of The Alchemist. The vivid descriptions of the food they ate flashed me back to being 11 and reading Redwall for the first time. It was a great pick to go along with the changing season 😊

4.5⭐️

[judgingbooksbycovers]

The Teller of Small Fortunes: A Novel

By Julie Leong.

[straybookmarks]

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

[rainbowofcrazy]

The Teller of Small Fortunes, by Julie Leong

This was right up my cozy alley. A whimsical, heartwarming read with magic, friends, family, humour, and pastries. And kitty!

Full review: https://rainbowofcrazy.wordpress.com/2025/02/04/book-review-the-teller-of-small-fortunes-by-julie-leong/