The teller of small fortunes by Julie Leong

The teller of small fortunes by Julie Leong (Malaysian Chinese American fantasy author) is one of those rare books that plods along at the same rhythm and pace as Laohu the mule, who is a full on important character himself as he pulls the wagon with "Teller of small fortunes" painted on the side, accompanying our hero Tao in her constant travels from village to village. It is a tale of travel, small adventures and of friendship. It is a grown up version of the coming home stories of childhood. It is about leaving home, finding home and returning to home. 

In this Euro/Asian rural, medieval fantasy world, our main character Tao is an immigrant. She is an outsider who is distinctly different in appearance and language to those who she meets on her travels. She is Shinn but she speaks Eshteran - the language of the world that she visits. Her..."foreign features - dark,hooded eyes;tawny skin;and black hair twisted up into a loose bun..." mark her as an outsider but she explains to suspicious villagers that she meets on the way that she comes from the faraway empire of Shinara as a humble traveller and teller of small fortunes. It is not apparent what Tao is escaping from but it seems that she has a power beyond what she is prepared to display and is in someway marked as special. Whether she is escaping danger or expectation from her past or a responsibility or acceptance of her true self is a question. She is solitary, lonely, defensive and bristly, keeping to herself until other travelling companions are thrust upon her. Together with Mash, an ex-mercenary, Silt, an ex-thief, Kina, a baker and a magical cat, Tao encounters danger and learns to trust and believe in family. Her past is chasing her and choices have to be made.

The teller of small fortunes is a refreshing read in its quietness and gentleness. There is fierce emotional content but it is tempered by Leong's warm, steadying authorial voice. The characters and their relationships with each other are slowly and carefully revealed and developed. There is no lack of humour to boot.

Themes: Immigrant experience, Fortune-telling/magic, Friendship.

Wendy Jeffrey