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The Keeper of Magical Things

Author Julie Leong
Paperback
$19.00 US
| $25.99 CAN
Berkley / NAL | Ace
On sale Oct 14, 2025 | 336 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, 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

"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

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

"The Teller of Small Fortunes is perfection! A lovely and comforting cozy fantasy about finding your own family and choosing your own path, this is a beautiful treasure of a book that will warm your heart and heal your soul. I absolutely loved every second of it!"—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

"With clever language, a stunning world, and uplifting characters, Leong expertly weaves the future of cozy fantasy: a diverse landscape where comfort comes in many forms, and friendship and belonging forms the heart of it all." —Rebecca Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea

"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 29-year-old Chinese-Malaysian-American fantasy author. She grew up in Old Bridge, New Jersey and lived in Beijing, China for several years as a teenager. Her experiences of feeling too Asian for suburban America and too American for China color her stories of identity and belonging. She studied Economics and Political Science at Yale and now works at a startup, but has always nurtured a deep love for sci-fi/fantasy beneath her corporate exterior. Julie lives in San Francisco, California with her husband and their spoiled rescue pup, Kaya. 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, 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

"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

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

"The Teller of Small Fortunes is perfection! A lovely and comforting cozy fantasy about finding your own family and choosing your own path, this is a beautiful treasure of a book that will warm your heart and heal your soul. I absolutely loved every second of it!"—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

"With clever language, a stunning world, and uplifting characters, Leong expertly weaves the future of cozy fantasy: a diverse landscape where comfort comes in many forms, and friendship and belonging forms the heart of it all." —Rebecca Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea

"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 29-year-old Chinese-Malaysian-American fantasy author. She grew up in Old Bridge, New Jersey and lived in Beijing, China for several years as a teenager. Her experiences of feeling too Asian for suburban America and too American for China color her stories of identity and belonging. She studied Economics and Political Science at Yale and now works at a startup, but has always nurtured a deep love for sci-fi/fantasy beneath her corporate exterior. Julie lives in San Francisco, California with her husband and their spoiled rescue pup, Kaya. When she’s not writing, she enjoys making unnecessary spreadsheets and flambéing things. View titles by Julie Leong

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