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The Teller of Small Fortunes. Young woman, sitting on steps of caravan, looks away from the reader. There's a cat on the steps as well, and a bonfire near the steps on the ground. There are fireflies in the air and a village in the distance.

The Teller of Small Fortunes

Written by alamancelibraries on . Posted in Book Reviews.

The Teller of Small Fortunes. Young woman, sitting on steps of caravan, looks away from the reader. There's a cat on the steps as well, and a bonfire near the steps on the ground. There are fireflies in the air and a village in the distance.

Leong, Julie. The Teller of Small Fortunes. New York : Ace, 2024.

Cozy fantasy readers, rejoice! The Teller of Small Fortunes will warm your heart and fulfill your magical fantasy needs this winter.

Tao tells small fortunes, things like that your cow will fall in a hole, or the sun will shine on Sunday. But don’t ask her to tell you who you will marry, or when you will die. She won’t tell you. She did that once before, and can’t escape the notion that by foretelling his death, she caused her father to die.

Tao is trying to fly under the radar and avoid the mages who control magic from the capital city, Margrave. She left there years ago, when she realized her stepfather would make her work with the mages and she’d lose her freedom. She has traveled around the country, alone, in her small caravan, setting up in town squares for a day or two. It’s a lonely existence, but a safe one.

One day, she meets two men, a former thief (Silt) and a mercenary (Mash), who are looking for Mash’s young daughter, Leah. She disappeared several months ago, and it’s possible she was stolen by bandits that were seen in the area. The two men are traveling from town to town, following hints of the bandits and asking everyone if they’ve seen a young girl. In the next town, they meet a beautiful woman, Kina, who is a baker’s assistant, and her semi-magical cat. Silt immediately falls in love with Kina, and she is ready for an adventure and a chance to share her baked goods across the country. Thus, their journey begins, looking to earn coin, find Mash’s daughter, and avoid the High Mage.

This book has heart, and I really enjoyed the ways friendships blossomed. Prejudice is discussed in several different ways (race, socioeconomic status, profession), and illuminates how often we judge quickly (and wrongly) when faced by something or someone unfamiliar. This was a great read for a cold fall weekend!

Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. She can be reached at madams@alamancelibraries.org.

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