Nils and Beth are back with another buddy read, this time they read Julie Leong’s debut cosy fantasy THE TELLER OF SMALL FORTUNES…

Warning: We do try and keep our reviews spoiler-free,

but we have gone into detail in this discussion in response to discussion points found in the back of our copies.

SMALL FORTUNES. BIG FEELINGS.

A cozy fantasy about trying to find yourself – and finding a family instead. Perfect for fans of Legends and Lattes, A Psalm for the Wild-Built and The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Fleeing a troubled past, immigrant fortune teller Tao roams the dusty countryside with only her mule for company, telling small fortunes, for small prices. Big fortunes come with big consequences . . . which she knows from bitter experience.

It’s a lonely life, until she encounters an ex-mercenary and a (semi) reformed thief, who 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 sets down a new path with companions as big-hearted as her fortunes are small. But as her friends break down her walls, the shadows of her past close in. Now, Tao must decide whether to risk everything to save the family she never thought she could have . . .

The Teller of Small Fortunes is due for release from Hodderscape on 5th November. You can pre-order your copy on Bookshop.org

What were your first impressions?

Nils: Well I was in love with this book right from the very first page. When we first meet our main character, Tao, she’s travelled to the village of Necker to set up her fortune telling stall, yet she finds the people all flustered by the loss of their goats and sets about helping them. This opening scene immediately felt cosy with the rural setting, there was humour and we learn a great deal by Tao’s interactions with the villagers. At first Tao reminded me of a mix of Nahri from The City of Brass by Shannon Chakraborty and Mika Moon from The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. Like both of those protagonists Tao was also much of an outsider, she clearly had abilities and secrets she was trying to conceal and there was a cheeky, fun demeanour about her too. However as I read on and the more we witnessed Tao grow, she became a standout character in her own right, one I absolutely loved following. 

Beth I know you were immediately reminded of Terry Pratchett, weren’t you? 

Beth: I was! There were a lot of comparisons we made at first, Diana Wynn Jones was in there too, wasn’t she; but the setting and the way Tao used common sense masquerading as magic in order to help the people of the village, it really did remind me of Terry Pratchett’s style of storytelling, particularly from the Witches series.

But like you said Nils, the story quickly establishes itself as its own being. Tao is likeable from the get-go; she seems a lonely person running from something, so it’s easy to pity her and be very curious about her. It’s a great mix to pull you into a story.

What did you make of the characters? Did you have an immediate favourite?

Nils: ALL OF THEM! 

Beth: Lol Nils xD There really is a great cast here! You have side characters Tao meets from town to town who are interesting and varied, and are a lovely view into Leong’s wider world.

Nils: Like Beth, I too really enjoyed meeting various characters from each town Tao visits. Not only do we get a glimpse into their futures but they serve to show how kind and thoughtful Tao really is. Her fortune telling is not just about earning coin for her, it’s all about giving people hope for something better, and I loved that aspect. Though we only meet many of these characters briefly, they also show us the political state of the world, with Shinara, Tao’s homeland, and Eshtera, the place Tao and her mother immigrated to being on the brink of war. This is not something you would expect from a cosy fantasy but it was explored so well here. 

Beth: That’s a good point Nils, that I’m sure we’ll explore further later, but I wasn’t expecting this world to be as fleshed-out as it is!

Nils: Leong even throws in a few surprises with some non-human characters, which again, I very much was delighted to discover!

Beth: Yes! The wealth of fantasy creatures was a surprise too!

Tao collects a little group around her as the story progresses – we have Mash and Silt, a mercenary and ex-thief respectively, who are friends searching for Mash’s daughter. Tao reads Mash’s fortune and sees him finding his daughter, so they stick together, ostensibly because Mash daren’t believe Tao’s fortunes might be truthful. They soon pick up an apprentice baker seeking adventure, Kina, and a cat, Fortinus – because all good cosy fantasies need a cat in them somewhere.

Nils: I’d argue that every book needs a cat, or an animal companion of some sort! 

Beth: Solid agree.

Nils: Ah Mash and Silt were wonderful characters, weren’t they? Although both of them, being a mercenary and an ex thief, would make you think they were devious and prone to violence, they were both so endearing. We immediately feel sympathy for Mash and his plight, but then we get so much humour from Silt and his blustering ways! They balance each other out so well. In fact Silt reminded us so much of Silk from the Belgariad series by David Eddings, didn’t he Beth?

Beth: He did! I thought it was deliberate but we have it on good authority that it was completely coincidental!

Nils: Adding Kina to the band was a great addition too because who doesn’t love having a baker in the mix! 

Beth: She definitely ramped up the cosy. I loved that she wasn’t perfect from the get go, that things didn’t just magically go smoothly for her. I think we have too many instances of people making things look easy, so it was nice seeing her having to work at her craft.

Nils: That’s an excellent point, Beth.

Beth: As for a favourite character… sorry to be basic but it has to be our protagonist, Tao. I really think Leong did an amazing job creating this person who is haunted by her past (but not to the extent that we feel beaten over the head by it), who is lonely, who is trapped. She’s kind and only ever wants to do what’s right by people, when she could so easily just walk away – even when it’s safer for her if she did. As well as all this, Leong also explores, through Tao, the experiences of an immigrant; what it means for someone with roots in one culture to be raised in another; only truly knowing her current home where she was raised, but being judged and having assumptions made of her based on where she appears to be from. Again this was a topic Leong wrote with trust of her readers; we’re able to recognise the microaggressions and indirect racisms for what they are without any heavy-handed treatment of these issues.

Nils: I feel exactly the same Beth, Tao was also my standout favourite because she’s a character who faced so much injustice, prejudice and tragedy, and she could have been a bitter, resentful and an angry character for it, but she’s not. Tao has a pure soul, she truly wants to help others and above all, she desperately needs friendship and love. She’s a character who had my whole heart. 

How have Tao, Mash, Silt, and Kina each changed – or not changed—by the end of the book?

Beth: Without straying too closely into the realms of spoilers, I think it’s safe to say they changed… or maybe not necessarily changed, what they became was within them all along. So I think maybe it’s more accurate to say they discovered themselves; they discovered strengths and abilities they always possessed but couldn’t see without the guidance of their friends.

Nils: That’s the perfect way to put it, Beth, I completely agree. Each of the characters open themselves up to new experiences and in the end are better for it. Along the way they share their burdens, their secrets, their fears and in doing so they share the load. 

Beth: This in particular was something I really loved, I loved the way Leong represented how much of a big step it actually is to trust another person enough to unburden to them, 

Nils: Exactly and Leong doesn’t make each of them change instantly nor do they become completely different from how they started, they just realise their potential and help each other achieve that. 

Does Tao’s experience of being an immigrant caught between cultures resonate with any experiences from your own childhood?

Beth: No, I hope that I’m well aware of my privileges in being white British, but I’m always grateful for stories like this that give an insight into these lived experiences. Nils, as the child of an immigrant, were there things you related to?

Nils: I feel like I’m really lucky in the sense that I’ve never experienced racism, nor have I ever felt like an outsider. My mother was born in India, my father in Nairobi, my father immigrated to England and so did my mother after marriage. I was born and raised in England, in a diverse city and I was raised into two cultures. My parents had always taught me to embrace the culture of the country I’m living in, as well as my Indian heritage, and you know what, I’m glad for that. Every year I celebrate Diwali and every year I celebrate Christmas and I love it. I feel that this is something Tao needed too. She needed to know it was ok to celebrate Shinara customs, to wear her ji proudly, and to be proud of who she was and where she had come from, but it was equally fine to embrace Eshtera ways too, without losing your roots. 

Do you think this too, Beth? 

Beth: Not that I’m qualified to give an opinion on how successfully someone did or didn’t represent this issue, but I agree that is the impression I had Nils, yes. So much of Tao’s inner conflict came from the clashing of these two worlds; her stepfather attempting to indoctrinate her into her new culture whilst washing away traces of her own, her natural desire to remember her roots but her grief of feeling like she didn’t know enough to connect. I love the way you’ve been brought up to embrace both cultures, to recognise that your world is made up of a myriad of influences and to celebrate them.

What stance do you think the book takes on people being driven by free will versus fate? What are the most important choices that Tao makes throughout the book?

Beth: This was another quite important theme, wasn’t it Nils.

Nils: It certainly was. I think Leong explores this in such interesting ways. The fortunes that Tao reveals to her customers are always ones that can mean different things and take characters down different roads. For example Tao has a vision of Kina joining her in her travels, but ultimately it is Kina’s choice to go. She had free will to stay with her uncle and remain in the only town she has ever known, but Kina desires to go and that’s what drives her. With Mash, Tao has a vision of him reuniting with his missing daughter, and although he’s sceptical about the possibility of this being true, it gives him hope. I feel that rather than the characters being driven by fate they are driven by hope of better days to come. 

As for the most important choices Tao makes, I don’t want to get too spoilery here but I think her first most significant one was choosing to open up to her friends about her past and accept their help. Tao had spent so many years alone, so many years feeling unloved and unwanted, so this may seem a simple thing to do to some, but for Tao it’s crucial to her character growth. Her second most significant choice has to do with her mother but that’s all I’ll say here. You could say fate led her to these people she bonded with but it was definitely her free will to allow them to get close to her. 

Beth: What I found interesting about Leong’s exploration of the notion of fate and free will, was Tao’s fear that these things were only coming to pass because she’d seen them. Had she not seen and told Kina that she’d travel with Tao, would Kina have decided on her own to leave with Tao? It’s the paradox always inherent in revealing someone’s future, and I loved following Leong’s philosophical threads. Is it a blessing or a curse? 

Would you have your fortune told by Tao, Nils? I’m not sure I would to be honest!

Nils: Great point there Beth, Tao really struggles with whether her abilities are a blessing or a curse throughout. 

And yes I would let Tao tell my fortune. Either I’d have something to look forward to or a pre-warning of something that I may have the opportunity to change or prepare for. 

Who or what would you consider the “villain” of the story? Is there one?

Nils: This is the really clever part of The Teller of Small Fortunes as, in my opinion, there are no clear cut villains. 

Beth: I absolutely agree Nils!

Nils: Throughout, Leong presents many possible villains, but when we look closer we see that most are just people with reasons, who are doing the best they know how. For a long time we believe that the leaders of Eshtera and The Guild who are hunting Tao to recruit and use her magical abilities are the “bad guys”, but when we actually meet the High Mage, we realise the situation is not as it seems. Even Tao’s stepfather, the reason for her having to hide her Shinara culture, isn’t an evil man. He’s a man wrapped up in his Eshtera nobility traditions, a political figure who wants to retain his status, and that leads him to making bad choices. I don’t believe he ever meant to make Tao feel so utterly unhappy.

The situation for Tao, not belonging in Shinara anymore due to her abilities and being made an outsider in Eshtera because of prejudice and ignorance is far more complex than villain vs hero. These deep themes are so well presented throughout and without the novel becoming overly dark or heavy. Leong is such a talented writer who can make her readers understand so much and still make the story light and entertaining. 

Beth: That’s such an excellent point Nils! There are some very deep themes, but Leong handles them so well, it still felt like a cosy and fun story. I found myself so emotionally invested. As for villains, I agree, it’s not so clear cut; I think it’s relatively rare to find a story these days that is, people by and large seem to be embracing the notion that people are ultimately more complex. In a way, the person holding Tao back is herself. Her fear is what isolates her, she is her own enemy.

How does Tao’s experience of gaining a found family change her view of the world? Do you think it has any bearing on the resolution of her problems with her mother?

Nils: I think once Tao realises that she no longer needs to lead a solitary life, which was one of her biggest fears, she feels more at home in Eshtera, or at least more comfortable in making a life there. Sometimes it’s not about the place you live, but the people you live your life with. 

Beth: Her fear was coming from a place of having made assumptions about certain people and their expectations of her; not just her mother, but the Guild too. Confronting these and seeing situations from the other side is what really changes her perspective, but she could never have had the strength to do so without her new found family. She literally only does so in order to be able to help Mash; she breaks her pattern of moving on and away from people and it’s what ultimately saves her.

Nils: Yes, exactly that. As for her resolution with her mother, I think her friends gave her the confidence to confront her. Like Beth said, initially Tao returns home to help Mash who had sacrificed a lot for her but I’d say that knowing she had people in the world to call friends now left her with nothing to lose by being honest with her feelings towards her mother.

Beth: And this is where we come back to fate and free will again – there are certain things that happen that are out of Tao’s control, and so her free will doesn’t come into it. Is it coincidence, or is it fate? 

Nils: This book gave us a lot to ponder over and we had some great WhatsApp discussions over it! 

Did you find the ending of the book satisfying? What do you imagine will happen next to each of the characters?

Nils: Leong definitely left me with a satisfying ending. It’s wholesome, hopeful and above all left me feeling quite happy. The lead up to the ending did make me cry though, not because it’s particularly sad but because a lot of raw emotions are expressed by our characters, they find a lot of what they have been searching for and they all remain friends.

Beth: I was very teary by the end too! I’m not sure I found it as satisfying as you though Nils; perversely, I think it was too satisfying? I didn’t feel the need to experience quite as many resolved situations as Leong gave us. It was a little like Return of the King where the story had a number of places it could have ended. That’s a proper Mary Poppins complaint though, isn’t it: ‘er yes, I think you’ll find it was too perfect.’

Nils: Haha! I know you love a more open ending, Beth! Whereas I think for once I loved the closure we get. I do believe however that Tao will build a stronger relationship with her mother but will also lead her own life continuing to tell fortunes and help others when she can. As for the rest of the characters, I’m not sure where the future will lead them but I’m fairly certain they’ll have plenty more adventures to come. 

Favourite quotes – Please note Beth and Nils read an advance copy and quotes may change before publication. 

Nils:

I had three which I felt resonated with me. The first for its truthfulness, the second for its emotion and the third for being such a beautiful simple message. 

“Familiarity could look very much like love from a certain angle, if one didn’t look too hard.” 

“Tao let out one long, shuddering breath, and it was as if something dark and poisonous within her had been lanced; the pain that she had slowly numbed herself to over so many years poured back in even as it flowed out of her. The two women held each other and cried together, there in a fine house in a fine city an ocean away from the place that had once been their home.”

“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.”

Beth: I didn’t make any notes of quotes! I only made notes up to ch7, I was too wrapped up in the story to stop enough, but we did chat a lot about it on whatsapp…

Here’s one quote I sent you:

‘She ought to take the opportunity to strike out on her own again; to leave the men behind, and perhaps Kina, too. No more waiting around for them; no more conferring about the next destination, or pooling coin for supplies… but also no more conversations on the road. No more terrible poetry; no more sitting around a camp-fire passing around a tray of Kina’s scones. No more being a part of something.’ 

It was that last line that got me.

Overall Thoughts 

Nils: The Teller of Small Fortunes has shot its way up to my outstanding debut of the year. It’s a beautiful cosy fantasy but it is also so much more. It’s about adventure, friendship, family dynamics, cultural roots and the struggles of being an immigrant. Leong weaves a story that is guaranteed to warm the hearts of every reader. 

Beth: I’m going to be recommending this book to everyone, I think it’s one of those books that has a wide appeal. It’s perfect for people looking to satisfy that cosy-fantasy urge, with a strong found-family trope and, for the most part, quite low stakes. But there’s so much depth and adventure to the story, with plenty of nods to classic fantasy, to make it a solidly enjoyable story outside of the genre. Good stories transcend genres, and I feel this was true of The Teller of Small Fortunes. Packed with warmth, heart, and humour, you’ll be sorry to leave these characters behind.

ARC Provided by Kate at Hodderscape – Thank you for the copy! 

The Teller of Small Fortunes is due for release from Hodderscape on 5th November. You can pre-order your copy on Bookshop.org