Julie Leong’s sophomore offering, The Keeper of Magical Things, proves that lightning can indeed strike twice in the same delightfully cozy corner of the fantasy world. Following the success of The Teller of Small Fortunes, Leong returns with another heartwarming tale that feels like settling into your favorite armchair with a steaming cup of tea and a purring cat—if that cat happened to have wings and a penchant for collecting shiny objects.
Bottom Line Up Front: This is comfort reading at its finest, wrapped in humor, heart, and just enough magical chaos to keep you thoroughly entertained. Leong has crafted a world where the smallest magics create the biggest changes, and where finding yourself often means helping others do the same.
When Tepid Magic Meets True Purpose
The story follows Certainty Bulrush, a perpetual novice whose magical abilities are, to put it kindly, underwhelming. After six years at the Guild of Mages, she’s the longest-tenured novice with the most specific and seemingly useless talent: talking to objects. When offered a chance at magehood through what appears to be a straightforward assignment—transporting minor magical artifacts to the decidedly non-magical village of Shpelling—Certainty leaps at the opportunity.
Leong’s genius lies in taking what could be a simple fetch quest and transforming it into a profound meditation on worth, belonging, and the magic of human connection. Certainty’s journey from self-doubt to self-acceptance unfolds with the gentle persistence of a flower pushing through concrete, and it’s impossible not to root for her every step of the way.
The partnership dynamics between Certainty and her assigned companion, Mage Aurelia, provide the novel’s emotional backbone. Aurelia, brilliant and seemingly perfect, carries her own burdens beneath her polished exterior. Their relationship evolves from professional tolerance to genuine friendship to something deeper with a naturalism that feels both inevitable and earned.
A Village That Steals Your Heart
Shpelling itself becomes a character—initially appearing as a dying village drained of magic, but gradually revealing itself as a community rich in resilience, humor, and the kind of neighborly care that modern readers might find achingly familiar. The residents, from the irrepressible young Orrin with his dreams of the capital city to the cantankerous Gertha with her suspicious wisdom, feel lived-in and real.
Leong’s world-building shines in these quieter moments. Rather than overwhelming readers with complex magical systems or political intrigue, she focuses on the intimate details: the way magical artifacts communicate through touch, the specific challenges of cataloguing enchanted teapots that won’t stop gossiping, and the peculiar logistics of running a magical warehouse in a place where magic has been absent for decades.
The Art of Cozy Chaos
Where Leong truly excels is in balancing the cozy with the chaotic. The magical artifacts themselves become sources of both humor and plot development—from paintbrushes that produce unpredictable colors to watering pots with mysterious effects on plant growth. The introduction of Hope, the catdragon (exactly what it sounds like), adds a layer of whimsical unpredictability that keeps the story from becoming too comfortable.
The author’s narrative voice maintains the perfect tone throughout: warm without being saccharine, humorous without undermining emotional moments, and consistently optimistic while acknowledging real struggles. Leong has a particular gift for physical comedy involving magical mishaps, but she never lets the humor overshadow the genuine character development.
Romance That Blooms Naturally
The romantic subplot between Certainty and Aurelia develops with remarkable authenticity. Leong avoids the common pitfall of instalove, instead building their relationship through shared challenges, mutual respect, and gradually deepening understanding. The sapphic romance feels integral to the story rather than tacked on, and the author handles their attraction with both tenderness and humor.
The romantic tension never overshadows the individual character arcs, and both women grow significantly as individuals before coming together as a couple. This approach makes their eventual relationship feel both satisfying and sustainable.
Minor Magical Criticisms
While The Keeper of Magical Things succeeds brilliantly as cozy fantasy, it occasionally suffers from the genre’s inherent limitations. The stakes, while meaningful to the characters, never feel particularly urgent or high. Some readers seeking more traditional fantasy adventure might find the pace too gentle and the conflicts too easily resolved.
The antagonist, Master Tobias, while effectively dislikeable, remains somewhat one-dimensional compared to the richly developed protagonists. His motivations feel familiar—the entitled man angry at his own limitations—though Leong does attempt to add nuance to his character near the story’s end.
Additionally, while the magical system is charming, it sometimes feels convenient rather than systematic. The artifacts’ abilities often align perfectly with the characters’ needs, which can diminish the sense of genuine challenge or struggle.
A Perfect Continuation of Leong’s Literary Magic
Leong demonstrates remarkable consistency in tone and quality between her debut and this follow-up. Readers who loved The Teller of Small Fortunes will find familiar comforts here: the emphasis on found family, the celebration of unconventional forms of strength, and the belief that small acts of kindness can transform entire communities.
The author’s background in economics and technology brings an interesting perspective to fantasy writing—she understands systems and logistics in ways that make her magical bureaucracy feel surprisingly believable. The Guild of Mages operates with the familiar frustrations of any large institution, complete with paperwork, politics, and the eternal struggle between innovation and tradition.
Themes That Resonate Beyond the Fantasy
Beneath its cozy exterior, the novel explores several profound themes that resonate in our contemporary world:
The value of different types of intelligence and ability – Certainty’s unique magical talent initially seems useless but proves invaluable
Community resilience in the face of decline – Shpelling’s transformation parallels many real-world rural communities
The importance of found family – Both protagonists discover belonging outside their families of origin
Challenging institutional thinking – The Guild’s hoarding of magical resources mirrors contemporary debates about resource distribution
Who Will Love This Book
The Keeper of Magical Things will particularly appeal to readers who enjoyed:
T.J. Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea – for its themes of found family and gentle magic
Becky Chambers’ Wayfarers series – for its optimistic worldview and character-driven storytelling
Sangu Mandanna’s The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches – for its cozy magical atmosphere and queer romance
Martha Wells’ Witch King – for its creative approach to magical systems and artifacts
Alix E. Harrow’s The Ten Thousand Doors of January – for its focus on the transformative power of stories and belonging
Readers seeking intense action, complex political intrigue, or grimdark fantasy should look elsewhere. This is a book for those who believe that sometimes the most powerful magic is simply helping others feel seen and valued.
Similar Recommendations
If you enjoyed The Keeper of Magical Things, consider these similar reads:
Rebecca Thorne’s Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea series – Another cozy fantasy with queer romance and magical mishaps
Sarah Beth Durst’s The Spellshop – Features similar themes of magical community building
Olivia Atwater’s Half a Soul series – Combines gentle magic with social commentary
India Holton’s Dangerous Damsels series – For readers who enjoy magical romance with humor
Final Verdict
The Keeper of Magical Things succeeds as both a worthy successor to Leong’s debut and a standalone story that delivers exactly what it promises: a warm, funny, heartfelt adventure about finding your place in the world. It’s the literary equivalent of a perfectly brewed cup of tea—comforting, satisfying, and exactly what you need when the world feels too harsh.
Leong has established herself as a master of the cozy fantasy subgenre, creating stories that remind us that not all magic needs to be earth-shattering to be meaningful. Sometimes the most powerful spells are the ones that help us see our own worth and connect us to the people who matter most.
For readers seeking an escape into a world where kindness triumphs, where misfits find their tribes, and where even the smallest magic can change everything, The Keeper of Magical Things delivers pure, undiluted joy. It’s a book that will leave you believing in the transformative power of both magic and human connection—and honestly, what more could you ask for?