“You’re wrong. There’s no such thing as greater good—there’s just good, and the more of it we can do, the better.”
You know, I am pretty certain that Julie Leong wrote The Teller of Small Fortunes after getting a vision of the future and realising that we were all going to desperately need this warm hug of a book. It’s got the most wholesome found family vibes, exciting travel adventures, all the delectable baked goods, and a whole lot of heart; this is cozy fantasy done right!
I seriously can’t put my finger on what it was about The Teller of Small Fortunes, but from the very first page I just found myself inexplicably enchanted. The quiet and reserved Tao immediately captured my heart with her unrelenting warmth and kindness, and I loved how her chill personality made this entire story feel so comforting and stress-free even when danger arose and the stakes got a bit higher than you might initially expect from a cozy novel.
See, this lovely teller of small fortunes sort of accidentally stumbles into a rescue mission for the young daughter of an ex-mercenary, and so they embark on an unexpectedly life-changing adventure together with a (semi) reformed thief, a chaotic baker, and a very curious cat. In other words, hello found family vibes! The unconventional dynamic between all these loveable misfits was just so amusing and adorable, and I loved how we got to know each of their respective biggest dreams and deepest fears as they started to bond during their travels.
For me, the themes of belonging, purpose, forgiveness, following your passion, and embracing yourself in all your beautiful messiness really hit home, making me reflect on my own life and mental health journey in a way I was not anticipating. Kina’s journey resonated the most with me personally, but I think there is no denying that Tao’s struggles with her cultural identity and her journey of healing and self-acceptance are the true highlight of The Teller of Small Fortunes. I feel like you could just tell that these themes were written straight from Julie Leong’s own heart, which is exactly what makes this story so powerful and authentic.
And so what if some conflicts were resolved in an almost unbelievably peaceful way and the ending tied everything up in a deceptively beautiful little bow; I came for cozy comfort, and Julie Leong more than delivered. Though as satisfying and heartwarming as this ending was, I can’t deny that I am quite desperate to return to this world and go on more adventures with this unconventional family of endearing oddballs.
So, if you enjoyed the vibes of Sangu Mandanna’s The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches or K.E. Andrews’ Hills of Heather and Bone and want another fun and delectable cozy adventure that is equal parts exciting, introspective, moving, and heartwarming, then I can’t recommend The Teller of Small Fortunes highly enough. Just be sure to have some snacks ready when you start reading, because this book will make you hungry!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
