Road Trip: "Teller of Small Fortunes" by Julie Leong

 

Tao is a young woman with an ability. She can tell people's fortunes, but just small ones. By reading your palm or the tea leaves in your cup, she can tell you that you'll find your missing sheep or that you might hit your thumb doing carpentry. Small things, but her clients love hearing  them. She travels the countryside in a caravan pulled by her beloved mule, Laohu. She is happy traveling alone and in no need of other companions, but, unintentionally, along the way, she ends up with some. 

Two men help her when a tree blocks her path.  As a thank you, she agrees to read the palm of one and sees his daughter in his future. This is Mash, a former soldier who it turns out is searching for his lost daughter. His friend, Silt, a thief trying to reform, is helping him on his quest. Her vision gives them some hope and they accompany her on her travels.

The three travel from town to town, Tao telling fortunes and the men helping out and also following clues to Mash's daughter's whereabouts. In one town, they are joined by a young woman looking for adventure. She is a baker and as they travel they are also joined by a seemingly magical stray cat.

These characters are wonderfully realized and each has their quirks and issues, sometimes with one another, while Tao calmly moves forward, although, it seems she might be running from something or hiding something from the others.

It is hard to believe Teller of Small Fortunes is author Julie Leon's first book! It is charming, funny and suspenseful yet also deals with some serious issues such as racism and war.

This is one you'll keep thinking about long after you've read it! Plus, the cover is beautiful, and captures the lead character so well!