A wandering fortune teller finds an unexpected family in this warm and wonderful debut fantasy, perfect for readers of Travis Baldree and Sangu Mandanna.

Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only tells "small" fortunes: whether it will hail next week; which boy the barmaid will kiss; when the cow will calve. She knows from bitter experience that big fortunes come with big consequences…

Even if it’s a lonely life, it’s better than the one she left behind. But a small fortune unexpectedly becomes something more when a (semi) reformed thief and an ex-mercenary 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 starts down a new path with companions as big-hearted as her fortunes are small. But as she lowers her walls, the shadows of her past close in—and she’ll have to decide whether to risk everything to preserve the family she never thought she could have.

Tao is a teller of small fortunes. She roams the western part of the empire, never staying long in one place and always on her own until one day she meets two wandering mercenaries who are searching for a lost child. As they travel together they are joined by a young baker looking for adventure and eventually a lost cat looking for a home. As they travel together searching for the child and avoiding the magic users searching for Tao they are soon faced with choices and changes they may not welcome.

This is a slow-moving story, almost totally focused on character growth. There is only one real “dangerous adventure” incident and is mostly a cozy and warm story of friendships and found family. I really liked all the characters and how they grew and changed as they forged ties with each other. Recommended ~~ Stephanie L Bannon

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