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The Keeper of Magical Things

Author Julie Leong On Tour
Paperback
$19.00 US
| $25.99 CAN
Berkley / NAL | Ace
On sale Oct 14, 2025 | 368 Pages | 9780593815946
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An almost-mage discovers friendship—and maybe something more—in the unlikeliest of places in this delightfully charming novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Teller of Small Fortunes.

Certainty Bulrush wants to be useful—to the Guild of Mages that took her in as a novice, to the little brother who depends on her, and to anyone else she can help. Unfortunately, her tepid magic hasn’t proven much use to anyone. When Certainty has the chance to earn her magehood via a seemingly straightforward assignment, she takes it. Nevermind that she’ll have to work with Mage Aurelia, the brilliant, unfairly attractive overachiever who’s managed to alienate everyone around her.

The two must transport minorly magical artifacts somewhere safe: Shpelling, the dullest, least magical village around. There, they must fix up an old warehouse, separate the gossipy teapots from the kind-of-flaming swords, corral an unruly little catdragon who has tagged along, and above all: avoid complications. The Guild’s uneasy relationship with citizens is at a tipping point, and the last thing needed is a magical incident.

Still, as mage and novice come to know Shpelling’s residents—and each other—they realize the Guild’s hoarded magic might do more good being shared. Friendships blossom while Certainty and Aurelia work to make Shpelling the haven it could be. But magic is fickle—add attraction and it might spell trouble.
"Absolute perfection! This book is like the finest pastry, layered with flavor and bursting with happiness! It's gloriously sweet and extraordinarily delightful! I loved every single page!"— Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

"This is what cozy fantasy is all about. Fresh love, fantastic friendship, a dash of unpredictable magic... and dragon-cats."—Rebecca Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea

"The Keeper of Magical Things is the perfect cosy fantasy, with a healthy dose of sweet sapphic romance and gentle humour to round things out. (Also, an adorable dragoncat. That part is very important.) I deeply enjoyed every inch of this novel. In fact, I think I'm going to take my next vacation in Shpelling."—Olivia Atwater, author of Half a Soul

"A refreshing fantasy adventure written for anyone with a heart. Full of delightful twists and turns, fights with sentient objects, and scheming mages."—John Wiswell, Nebula Award-winning author of Someone You Can Build a Nest In

“With sweet humor, delightful characters, and a touch of romance, The Keeper of Magical Things is an enchanting tale full of whimsy and gentleness. I adored every minute of it!”—Maiga Doocy, Sunday Times (UK) bestselling author of Sorcery and Small Magics

"The Keeper of Magical Things is a story about finding yourself and finding love in the most unexpected of places (a sleepy village called Shpelling). It has everything you can possibly want from a cosy fantasy: a fish-out-of-water main character, an icy love interest with a secret heart of gold, a tonne of outlandish magical objects, heaps of humour, and, obviously, a catdragon. A hilarious, cosy page-turner."—Genoveva Dimova, author of Foul Days

Praise for The Teller of Small Fortunes

"If you're running a little low on serotonin, trust me: brew yourself a hot drink, curl up with this treasure of a tale, and thank me later! It's the warmest, loveliest book I've read in ages."— Sangu Mandanna, national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

"Warm, welcoming, and endlessly inventive... feels like being invited in for tea with a dear friend (and expert storyteller!)."—Grace D. Li, New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief

“Joyful, heartwarming, and utterly charming, Leong’s cozy fantasy debut is a cup of hot (fortune-telling) tea straight to the soul.”—Amélie Wen Zhao, New York Times and international bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night
© Drew Regitsky
Julie Leong is a Chinese-Malaysian-American fantasy author who grew up across suburban New Jersey and Beijing, China and managed to feel equally out of place in both. She studied economics and political science at Yale University and was very briefly an investment banker before coming to her senses. She now lives in San Francisco with her needy dog, less-needy husband, and one thoroughly self-sufficient Meyer lemon tree. When she’s not writing, she enjoys making unnecessary spreadsheets and flambéing things. View titles by Julie Leong

About

An almost-mage discovers friendship—and maybe something more—in the unlikeliest of places in this delightfully charming novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Teller of Small Fortunes.

Certainty Bulrush wants to be useful—to the Guild of Mages that took her in as a novice, to the little brother who depends on her, and to anyone else she can help. Unfortunately, her tepid magic hasn’t proven much use to anyone. When Certainty has the chance to earn her magehood via a seemingly straightforward assignment, she takes it. Nevermind that she’ll have to work with Mage Aurelia, the brilliant, unfairly attractive overachiever who’s managed to alienate everyone around her.

The two must transport minorly magical artifacts somewhere safe: Shpelling, the dullest, least magical village around. There, they must fix up an old warehouse, separate the gossipy teapots from the kind-of-flaming swords, corral an unruly little catdragon who has tagged along, and above all: avoid complications. The Guild’s uneasy relationship with citizens is at a tipping point, and the last thing needed is a magical incident.

Still, as mage and novice come to know Shpelling’s residents—and each other—they realize the Guild’s hoarded magic might do more good being shared. Friendships blossom while Certainty and Aurelia work to make Shpelling the haven it could be. But magic is fickle—add attraction and it might spell trouble.

Reviews

"Absolute perfection! This book is like the finest pastry, layered with flavor and bursting with happiness! It's gloriously sweet and extraordinarily delightful! I loved every single page!"— Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

"This is what cozy fantasy is all about. Fresh love, fantastic friendship, a dash of unpredictable magic... and dragon-cats."—Rebecca Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea

"The Keeper of Magical Things is the perfect cosy fantasy, with a healthy dose of sweet sapphic romance and gentle humour to round things out. (Also, an adorable dragoncat. That part is very important.) I deeply enjoyed every inch of this novel. In fact, I think I'm going to take my next vacation in Shpelling."—Olivia Atwater, author of Half a Soul

"A refreshing fantasy adventure written for anyone with a heart. Full of delightful twists and turns, fights with sentient objects, and scheming mages."—John Wiswell, Nebula Award-winning author of Someone You Can Build a Nest In

“With sweet humor, delightful characters, and a touch of romance, The Keeper of Magical Things is an enchanting tale full of whimsy and gentleness. I adored every minute of it!”—Maiga Doocy, Sunday Times (UK) bestselling author of Sorcery and Small Magics

"The Keeper of Magical Things is a story about finding yourself and finding love in the most unexpected of places (a sleepy village called Shpelling). It has everything you can possibly want from a cosy fantasy: a fish-out-of-water main character, an icy love interest with a secret heart of gold, a tonne of outlandish magical objects, heaps of humour, and, obviously, a catdragon. A hilarious, cosy page-turner."—Genoveva Dimova, author of Foul Days

Praise for The Teller of Small Fortunes

"If you're running a little low on serotonin, trust me: brew yourself a hot drink, curl up with this treasure of a tale, and thank me later! It's the warmest, loveliest book I've read in ages."— Sangu Mandanna, national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

"Warm, welcoming, and endlessly inventive... feels like being invited in for tea with a dear friend (and expert storyteller!)."—Grace D. Li, New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief

“Joyful, heartwarming, and utterly charming, Leong’s cozy fantasy debut is a cup of hot (fortune-telling) tea straight to the soul.”—Amélie Wen Zhao, New York Times and international bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night

Author

© Drew Regitsky
Julie Leong is a Chinese-Malaysian-American fantasy author who grew up across suburban New Jersey and Beijing, China and managed to feel equally out of place in both. She studied economics and political science at Yale University and was very briefly an investment banker before coming to her senses. She now lives in San Francisco with her needy dog, less-needy husband, and one thoroughly self-sufficient Meyer lemon tree. When she’s not writing, she enjoys making unnecessary spreadsheets and flambéing things. View titles by Julie Leong

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