Book Review: The Teller of Small Fortunes

Book #4 for 2025: The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong, 4/5 ★
336 pages / published November 2024 / available here 

Goodreads blurb: A wandering fortune teller finds an unexpected family in this warm and wonderful debut fantasy…. Tao sets 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 are closing in—and she’ll have to decide whether to risk everything to preserve the family she never thought she could have.

My review: Lovely. Almost exactly what I want when something is described as “cozy fantasy.” And very thankfully, this one didn’t veer into romantasy territory, as most “cozy” reads seem to now do – just lovely friendships. It’s a slower, meandering journey but the characters are varied and each has a beautiful arc. The narrative is low-stakes and emotionally driven, but it was just what I hoped it would be. Some of the plot resolution comes a little too tidily, which would have felt lazy in another type of book, but here, I was fine with it. Yes, there are some silly moments (the fortune cookies, in particular), but again, I’m happy to embrace a little whimsy in this setting. Tea, found family, baked goods, caravans, and a touch of magic…no complaints. And yes, I did cry a little at the end.

CW: racism, parent loss, child abduction, family estrangement