Book Review: The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

A fortune teller accumulates a found family made up of a an ex-thief, an ex-mercenary, and a baker, and they traverse cities, forests, and more while facing their pasts and diving headfirst into their futures.

3.75/5 Stars

While searching for a cozy fantasy read, I came across this gem by Julie Leong. The Teller of Small Fortunes focuses on Tao, a gifted seer who learned early in her career that telling others of large-scale futures can have dire consequences. She travels the realm in a cart telling low-stakes fortunes. When she sees a cat and child in a man's future, she inadvertently promises a reunion between a long lost child and a father. From then on, Tao is amazed at the steadfastness of the found family she acquires in search of the daughter. The ex-mercenary father and his ex-thief friend provide muscle for the small group, while a struggling baker brings levity. They acquire a cat, help townspeople, and face their fears. But when the crown's cadre descends on them to force Tao into mandatory service to tell large fortunes for the good of all, can they outrun them or do they need to change tactics?

This story is endearingly cozy. This book is low stress as well as adventurous. There is a lot of focus on healing, a lot of focus on living with systemic injustice, and a lot of focus on true, healthy forgiveness of others and self. This book was a solid 3.75/5 Stars for me!