The Teller of Small Fortunes, Julie Leong
The Teller of Small Fortunes, Julie Leong
List: $20.00 | Sale: $14.00
Club: $10.00

The Teller of Small Fortunes

Author: Julie Leong

Narrator: Phyllis Ho

Unabridged: 9 hr 57 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 11/05/2024


Synopsis

USA TODAY BESTSELLER • A wandering fortune teller finds an unexpected family in this cozy fantasy debut, hailed as “perfection…a beautiful treasure of a book that will warm your heart and heal your soul.”—Sarah Beth Durst, Author of The Spellshop

“The warmest, loveliest book I’ve read in ages.”—Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

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.

About The Author

Julie Leong is a twenty-nine-year-old Chinese-Malaysian-American fantasy author. She grew up in Old Bridge, New Jersey, and lived in Beijing, China, for several years as a teenager. Her experiences of feeling too Asian for suburban America, and too American for China color her stories of identity and belonging. She studied economics and political science at Yale and now works at a startup, but she has always nurtured a deep love for sci-fi/fantasy beneath her corporate exterior. Julie lives in San Francisco, California, with her husband and their spoiled rescue pup, Kaya. When she’s not writing, she enjoys making unnecessary spreadsheets and flambéing things.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Yun on November 19, 2024

Can a cozy fantasy be too cozy? Unfortunately, the answer here is yes. When I think of a cozy fantasy, what I want is to be swept away in a story that's warm and comforting, but also compelling. And that last part is perhaps especially important since it can often be hard to achieve the right balance......more

Goodreads review by Petrik on October 26, 2024

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. 4.5/5 stars The Teller of Small Fortunes could become the new benchmark for cozy fantasy novel. “One could choose to be nothing, or one could choose to be happy.” More than two years ago, back in 2022, Legends and Lattes took the fantasy w......more

Goodreads review by Melanie on December 21, 2024

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley “Familiarity could look very much like love from a certain angle, if one didn’t look too hard. Everyone deserves a home… And what was a home but somewhere you wouldn’t have to feel quite so alone?” every christmas, i end up having a book that i feel just......more

Goodreads review by Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) on December 04, 2024

Asia-inspired cozy-adjacent fantasy! I enjoyed The Teller of Small Fortunes, and while it does give some cozy fantasy vibes, I wouldn't call it cozy per se from a subgenre perspective. There are quite a few things happening with the plot, but there is found family and a main character who reads like......more

Cozy fantasy is still having A Moment right now, but even amidst the sea of soft-edged stories spawned by the likes of Legends & Lattes, The Teller of Small Fortunes is a true standout. It strikes that delicate balance of being warm and fuzzy without becoming boring or overly saccharine, it weaves i......more


Quotes

"If you're running a little low on serotonin, trust me: brew yourself a hot drink, curl up with this treasure of a tale, and thank me later!"— Sangu Mandanna, national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

"A lovely and comforting cozy fantasy about finding your own family and choosing your own path....I absolutely loved every second of it!"—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

"With clever language, a stunning world, and uplifting characters, Leong expertly weaves the future of cozy fantasy: a diverse landscape where comfort comes in many forms, and friendship and belonging forms the heart of it all." —Rebecca Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea

"Warm, welcoming, and endlessly inventive... feels like being invited in for tea with a dear friend (and expert storyteller!)."—Grace D. Li, New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief

“A lovely cozy fantasy about tiny fortunes, baked goods, ugly cats, and all of the small things that matter.”Olivia Atwater, author of Half a Soul

“Joyful, heartwarming, and utterly charming, Leong’s cozy fantasy debut is a cup of hot (fortune-telling) tea straight to the soul.”—Amélie Wen Zhao, New York Times and international bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night

"A wonderfully warm, cozy, and immersive fantasy adventure that left me brimming with happiness."Stephanie Burgis, author of Wooing the Witch Queen

“This whimsical and heartfelt tale is sure to win admirers.”—Publishers Weekly

"A warm and lovely book that will soothe your heart. Its gentleness and coziness are such a delightful gift."—India Holton, international bestselling author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

“An absolute delight from start to finish. Settle in for a cozy, heartwarming journey full of twists and turns, found family, and appreciating the little things alongside the big ones.”—Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch’s Heart

"A heartwarming adventure... feels like a breath of fresh air on the open road and a warm campfire surrounded by friends." - S.A. MacLean, author of The Phoenix Keeper

“An ultimate comfort read, this debut fantasy novel by San Francisco author Julie Leong follows an immigrant fortune teller who travels between charming villages, proving that adult readers are never too old for a good fairy tale.”—San Francisco Chronicle

"Lovely and sweet and comforting. But the most beautiful part was how it was not only about found family, but about finding your way back to your family."—Quenby Olson, author of the Miss Percy series

“As comforting as the scent of freshly baked bread, this is a hug in book form and the perfect comfort read.”—Nadia El-Fassi, author of Best Hex Ever

"A warmhearted, often cozy story about telling fortunes--and sometimes, stealing them. A delight."—John Wiswell, Nebula-winning author of Someone You Can Build A Nest In

“Leong is unafraid to head into deeply emotional territory in this sweet, earnest story of found family and finding one's truth. She strikes a lovely balance between high stakes, humor, and touching moments. Each character's growth feels logical and earned. Readers of Travis Baldree or T.J. Klune will enjoy following wherever Leong leads.”—Shelf Awareness

Leong creates a world resplendent with charm, gentleness, reconciliation and love. So much love! There were many joyous cathartic tears shed. I adored every minute of it and now must read everything Leong writes!”—A.Y. Chao, author of Shanghai Immortal

"Leong’s debut is a delightful cozy fantasy that will appeal to fans of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and A Pirate’s Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne."Library Journal (starred review)

"A warm hug of a book. The Teller of Small Fortunes is a curative journey of found friendship and diaspora feels, steeped in so much kindness that even the most cynical of readers will not be able to resist its charms."—Eliza Chan, author of Fathomfolk

"Very funny and incredibly charming. I found it impossible not to fall in love with this crew. If you loved Legends & Lattes but wanted more plot and feels, this book is perfect for you. I adored it!"—Frances White, author of Voyage of the Damned

"The Teller of Small Fortunes is a charming delight. It's the book version of a warm cup of tea, with the perfect mix of adventure, found family, and heart. Also make sure you have some sweets on hand, because this story will give you some serious pastry cravings."—Amy Avery, author of The Longest Autumn

“Tao and her band of charismatic companions (four-legged friends included!) won my heart completely on this deeply endearing and entertaining fantasy road trip. Charming, relatable, and tender, The Teller of Small Fortunes will delight readers looking for their next cozy adventure.”—Maiga Doocy, author of Sorcery and Small Magics

"Sweet without ever turning saccharine, and it tackles serious topics without ever losing its sense of humour. An utterly delightful debut."—Genoveva Dimova, author of Foul Days

"Filled with philosophizing trolls, little magics, and delicious (if lumpy) baked goods, The Teller of Small Fortunes is like one of those lift-you-off-the-ground, ribcage-cracking hugs—dizzyingly delightful, a little painful, and so incredibly therapeutic."—Jules Arbeaux, author of Lord of the Empty Isles