The Keeper of Magical Things is a whimsical, enchanting read that felt like stepping into a fairytale. Julie Leong’s writing has a lovely, lyrical quality that makes the magical elements feel natural and immersive. I especially enjoyed the sense of wonder woven throughout the story — every object, every moment seemed to hold a secret waiting to be discovered.

The pacing is gentle, more about atmosphere and character growth than fast action, which worked beautifully for the story’s tone. Some parts could have gone a bit deeper into the lore, but overall it was a cozy, heartwarming experience that left me smiling.

If you’re looking for a charming, magical escape with a touch of wonder and hope, The Keeper of Magical Things is definitely worth adding to your list.

THE KEEPER OF MAGICAL THINGS - JULIE LEONG

I'll start off with something dramatic, but true: this book is now my favourite cosy fantasy. I loved every single page of The Keeper of Magical Things, and I had the bittersweet moment of feeling happy/sad when the book ended. 

Certainty is a novice mage who has been training at the Guild of Mages for six years. Blessed with only 'minor' and highly specific magic - she can talk to objects - official magehood seems impossible for her. Until she's sent on a mission to accompany a stash of magical artifacts to a remote location, where she'll then categorise and store said artifacts. However, she isn't sent alone. Aurelia, a mage who's seemingly aloof and cold, is sent along to assist.

The setting for this book is BRILLIANT. Shpelling is a village on its last legs. Considered the least magical place in the kingdom, the buildings are rundown yet the villagers are stubbornly staying put despite that. As Certainty and Aurelia interact with the villagers, hilarious and heartwarming incidents occur. It made me think of Schitt's Creek and Gilmore Girls, which are two of my favourite shows.

This book is the best, and DO NOT miss out on it. Thank you to Julie Leong, the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

Release date: 16 Oct 2025

Review score: 5/5

TWs: ableism, s*xual content

This is such an easy book to love! This was a lovely heartwarming tale, sprinkled with magic and with a core story of finding out who you really are. I adored this.

We follow Certainty, a novice who has been working for six years to become a mage, but has been unsuccessful as her only magical ability is to talk to objects which isn’t widely appreciated. She is terrified of letting her family down because her success will affect her little brother’s future. She is given a task to move and catalogue some useless magical artefacts in a town completely devoid of magic. She will have to do this with a prickly and taciturn full mage who isn’t impressed at having to accompany the novice.

Certainty is glad to have the chance to prove herself. However her task gives her the opportunity to help people in the village, but this puts her at odds with the guild’s rules and she faces challenges from a local authority figure straight away who has a deep disdain for mages.

The village was charming and an excellent place for Certainty to learn her own worth. She makes friends easily, winning the hearts of the locals with her compassion and desire to help. I loved this and her creative use of the artefacts to solve problems. She sees things other people deem useless and looks for ways to make the have value using her unusual ability to speak to them. The magic in this felt so unique and entertaining.

This was a wonderful story of personal growth, new found friendships and challenging peoples’ perceptions of you. Certainty was a character I could really root for and it was nice to see how she had such a positive effect on Aurelia, helping her to see things from a different perspective.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it was a rich reading experience. It was cozy, whimsical and a slow burn which ticked all of my boxes.

This story is the authors second book in her universe and it’s written very well. The story flowed nicely, it was descriptive and I loved getting to know more about Certainty and Aurelia. I felt like it was an easy 5 star read, and it’s stronger than the first book. The story had a really good pace and I didn’t find myself getting pulled away.

I can review based on the first line which tells you (almost) everything you need to know about this book.

"Certainty Bulrush was in the midst of arguing with a particularly intractable quilt."

First, our heroine's name is excellent, strong MC-energy! A woman called Certainty is going places. Possibly not places she wants to go, but the plot is calling.
'Midst' -- yes, the author could have gone for dull 'middle', but midst is elegant without being ostentatious. This book enjoys language and uses it well.
'Arguing' is meant literally, the book deals with interesting magic (great and small) and a two-way disagreement results.
'Intractable', dear goodness, we ALL have those problems, how relatable could it get right now, and if only we could handle them by magic?
'Quilt' = cosy. Quintessential cosiness.

And then I read all the other lines in this book, and now here I am enthusing. It's set in the same world as The Teller of Small Fortunes but both are standalones. This has a gentle Sapphic romance with plenty of build and fade-to-black spice. Recommended to anyone in the mood for a cosy settling-into-a-village story, especially if you enjoyed Legends and Lattes or Rebecca Thorne's Can't Spell Treason Without Tea: this has similar vibes.

Grumpy x Sunshine but make it sapphic and cozy!

This book is in the same world as "Teller of Fortunate Things" - and while I couldn't completely embrace that book, "Keeper of Magical Things" has me in its comfy, magic-infused grip.

Certainty is a novice, wanting nothing more than becoming a mage and finally being useful. Right now all she can do is talk with objects.

Aurelia is a mage, and you can easily see why she's called the "Ice Queen".

When there's an overabundance of magical objects, the two of them are tasked to transport them to a desolate village to store them away for good.

But what if the artefacts might be useful to the villagers who've had a hard time since a mage-war left them with almost nothing?

And what if what awaits in the village is resentment at first, but found family later?

And ultimately - what if the Ice Queen is melting for the Certainty?

A real cozy book, and it won me over especially with the ending, where all the emotional investment pays off.

Also you have chatty teapots and cat dragons. There's really nothing more left to wish for.

4,5/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @hodderbooks for the eARC!

#KeeperOfMagicalThings #Netgalley #CozyFantasy #Bookstagram

I adored Leong's previous book, The Teller of Small Fortunes, and this one was just as whimsical and heartfelt.

The magical setting, the balance between happy and reluctant, the overall journey and character development - I absolutely loved it all.

The writing was also beautiful, with witty and funny undertones, which created the most wonderful atmosphere.

A very easy 5 ⭐, perfect for those who enjoy a cosy story.

An absolutely fantastic sequel which might be even cosier than the original!

The Keeper of Magical Things follows Certainty and Aurelia when they’re sent to the non-magical village of Shpelling to cache some minorly magical artefacts. Certainty has a special magical knack; she can speak to objects, which makes her uniquely perfect to identify the magical objects and earn her mage circles in the process. But the villagers aren’t pleased to see the mages, and while Certainty is village born, Aurelia’s high city upbringing does not endear her to the locals. However utilising some of the minorly magical objects may change their minds… maybe.

I absolutely adored Certainty as a main character, and Aurelia as we got to know her as well. The journeys they both go through were beautiful, and their developing relationship was delightful to see. The wider cast of characters brought a real sense of joy to the book, and so did the minorly magical objects which sometimes felt like characters themselves!
It was great to see a different side of the world than we saw in Teller of Small Fortunes, and I’m delighted to hear that there are more stories planned in this world.
The story was cosy and enjoyable, and the vibes were immaculate. I had so much fun from the first page to the last.

Overall I absolutely adored The Keeper of Magical Things and can’t wait for more of Julie Leong’s books!

Julie Leong writes a terrific cozy story!
The story of Novice Certainty attempting to earn her mage circles while moving some not-so-magical artifacts with cranky pants Mage Aurelia is low stakes but full of heart.
From being outcasts and mistrusted in the town of Shpelling, we follow along with the girls as they slowly begin to trust one another, and their own gifts.
The artifacts are main characters here and they are hilarious! Not quite what they use to be, they still have enough magic to perform some much needed tasks. I won't spoil the surprise but a lovely feline gets an upgrade just from being a bit too curious!
The growing attraction between the would be mage Certainty and the not quite as confident as she seems Aurelia is delightful to watch. It's sweet and heartwarming.
Of course there will always be a villain to spoil the fun and this one is not very nice at all.
Will there be a happy ending for these two and the town of Shpelling? you'll have to read it to see!
My rating is 4.5
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review! My thoughts are my own.

This is everything I ever wanted in a cozy fantasy book.

We follow the story of Cert a novice, who doesn’t manage to graduate to mage because of her ability to speak with objects through touch alone. However one day she gets assigned a mission, but she will have to go with Mage Aurelia, a super uptight and aristocratic mage. Together they will have to catalog a bunch of magical artefacts in a small town. Between non welcoming neighbours, a non magical small town and growing tensions between the two, will they be able to complete the mission?

I had read “the teller of small fortunes” last year and although I enjoyed it, I had a few issues with the pacing; however this book? This was perfect. I really like the slow burn of the romance where our MCs go from reluctant colleagues to friends to lovers. I also really love small town settings in general, because I feel that you can build secondary characters better having a smaller population to pick from. The plot was fun as well and I enjoyed how both MCs were able to grow personally as well through the mission. The third act conflict although I’m not the biggest fan of the trope, was necessary in my opinion and well executed.
I have no criticism about this book really, apart from me being confused everything Certainty’s name being mentioned because I always forgot that was her name, but other than that it had all the elements I love in cozy fantasy and everything was executed beautifully.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Keeper of Magical Things is a sweet, cozy romantasy that's like a warm hug in book form! It has a beautiful message in it about acceptance and a really lovely story that sees a rural town called Shpelling come back to (magical) life, and also brings our two FMCs, Certainty and Aurelia, together in a sweet, no-spice romance. It was also really funny, and I laughed out loud quite a lot while reading it! The 'magical things' from the book's title provided a lot of the humour - these magical relics were inventive and funny, and how they were applied to Shpelling's small village problems was always amusing.

The Keeper of Magical Things is set in the same world as The Teller of Small Fortunes but it's not a continuation of the previous story and it definitely works as a standalone. I really enjoyed The Teller of Small Fortunes last year and thought that it did a great job of diving deep into Tao's fortune telling gift, but I didn’t know much about the magic and world outside of her particular flavour of magic. I said in that review that I would have liked to see more about the Guild and the different types of mages in the world. This book did all of that by focusing on a Mage and a Novice Mage from the Guild and I felt like I understood the world really well by the end of it!

So if you love a funny, cozy fantasy with a sweet romance which tells you that it's ok to just be yourself, pick this one up!

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

Recommend-O-Meter: There’s a CATDRAGON so obviously that’s a yes from me

(And FYI that’s not a spoiler if she’s literally on the cover!)

Anyway, back to the point: THIS BOOK!!!! I loved the vibes of Leong’s last title set in this world, but this one’s premise was way more up my wheelhouse, which meant I’ve been waiting to read it for literal months now. And realtalk? It was slow and sweet and absolutely everything I wanted it to be!

Certainty is a Mage-hopeful who can more or less talk to inanimate objects, which is super fascinating to witness in action (yay for fun magical abilities!). It’s this skill that lands her the kinda drab but still important task of inventorying a bunch of lesser magical items in a far off little town with the assistance of a prickly, full-fledged Mage named Aurelie. Who is also, of course, super pretty. As she should be. I love a good sapphic fantasy, what can I say?

The plot itself is very low-stakes, perfect for just chilling and enjoying a bit of village life with the two women. And their catdragon. Let me emphasize that part, it’s super important.

Also can I just say? In the nicest possible way, this book reminds me of those hallmark movies where some misguided office lady would go to some out-of-the-way town and meet a cute guy who would teach her the meaning of happiness or whatever. Except the office lady is Aurelie, and the cute guy is in fact our cute girl Certainty, and there are no Christmas trees involved (though there IS a fun spring festival). I don’t know, I might be grasping at straws, but I just got that kinda vibe from it.

In any case, just go read this book already!

The Keeper of Magical Things is pure cozy fantasy comfort. I absolutely adored Certainty, she’s kind, determined, and just wants to prove her worth, even when her magic feels small. Her ability to talk to objects was such a unique touch, and I loved how she found value in things everyone else overlooked.

The world feels whimsical and soothing, with gentle pacing, lovely writing, and a sapphic slow burn that made me smile. It’s a story about belonging, kindness, and finding magic in the everyday, exactly the kind of book that feels like a warm hug in story form.

Perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

Going back to this world genuinely felt like a warm hug. I absolutely loved The Teller of Small Fortunes and couldn't wait to revisit this universe and magic system again.

While there were a couple of characters who you might recognise from the first book, this is still a standalone that focuses in entirely new characters. This allowed for the magic system to be broadened and to show a bit more of the world, which I loved.

The vibes were still just as cosy and cute, it still dealt with themes like found family and friendship and discovering more about yourself. On top of this, there is a beautiful sapphic relationship, a talking teapot and a cat dragon. What more could you want from cosy fantasy?

If you want something that will make you smile, has low stakes, plenty of magic and great character development, this book is the ideal choice. It is absolutely written to be enjoyed with a good cup of tea and a warm blanket.

Review: The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong

Release Date: 16 October 2025

Julie Leong returns with a luminous and tender novel that exemplifies the very best of cosy fantasy. The Keeper of Magical Things is a heartwarming triumph—gentle in tone yet rich in emotional resonance, offering readers a sanctuary of comfort and joy.

Surpassing even the charm of The Teller of Small Fortunes, Leong’s latest work is a masterclass in character-driven storytelling. At its core lies a beautifully rendered sapphic romance, delicately balancing the beloved grumpy-sunshine dynamic with sincerity and depth. The protagonists are crafted with care and nuance, their growth both believable and profoundly moving.

Leong’s worldbuilding is whimsical yet grounded, with magical elements that feel both fresh and essential to the narrative. The inclusion of a cat dragon—a delightful stroke of imagination—adds levity and wonder, while the protagonist’s magical ability is seamlessly integrated, enhancing the plot without overshadowing its emotional beats.

The supporting cast is equally compelling, each character contributing meaningfully to the story’s warmth and cohesion. The theme of found family is woven throughout with grace, culminating in a conclusion that is both satisfying and emotionally uplifting. The happily-ever-after is earned, and its quiet joy lingers long after the final page.

This novel is a quintessential autumn read—ideal for those seeking solace, enchantment, and a celebration of love in all its forms. I wholeheartedly recommend The Keeper of Magical Things to anyone in search of a story that soothes the soul and sparks the imagination.

With sincere thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Julie Leong for the opportunity to read and review this enchanting ARC.

Goodreads review - Live: 13/10/2025
Fable review - Live: 13/10/2025
Instagram review - Live: 13/10/2025
Amazon review - Live 1/610/2025
Waterstones review - Live 13/10/2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6 stars! My favourite cozy fantasy this year.

I really loved the keeper of magical things. Certainty’s magic of talking to objects to determine their purpose and convince them to use it was so unique and led to some of the most charming parts of the story. The objects themselves were massive stars of the story too, my favourite was the mighty battering ram.

The romance was light and sweet but I particularly loved the found family and small village rallying together vibe that the mages found in Shpelling. Hope was my favourite depiction of a cat dragon yet, and I firmly believe that every book should have a cat dragon.

If you are looking for a cute, funny story with a touch of romance and mystery then this is the one for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A beautiful and heartwarming tale about facing expectations and dispelling prejudice.

The main character, Certainty, is an aspiring mage from a backwater village who wants to earn a mage's salary to support her family, especially her younger brother's aspirations to train for an apothecary. But since her magic is very limited to one, very situational spell - communing with inanimate objects - she's stuck as a novice for 6 years, until she's given a mission to travel to a different backwater village, and identify and deposit there a bunch of magical artifacts too "useless" for the mage guild to care about them.

She's paired with Aurelia, who seems like Certainty's total opposite: posh, from a rich city family, talented and promising mage, a total perfectionist... it seems like sending her on this minor mission is either a punishment or an attempt to get rid of her, so no wonder she seems resentful of this assignment at first. The truth proves to be more complicated than the first glance suggested, which seems a common theme in this book.

Similarly, when the duo arrives to said backwater village, called Shpelling, at start it looks very shabby and falling into disrepair, the villagers blame the mages for the state of the land, and especially Aurelia seems to be extremely condescending towards them. But as the story unfolds, a common understanding is formed and both the villagers' and Aurelia's problems start looking more sympathetic - and maybe solvable?

There's a lot of what cozy fans love here, from mischievous catdragon to lots of foodie scenes, crowning point of which was the pasta chapter. I also had a hearty laugh a few times, including the "mysterious" artifact in the epilogue.

But also there's an exploration of themes like prejudice or classism (treating villagers as lesser and unimportant - and how to move past that) and especially parental expectations put upon the children. Certainty has a very loving and accepting family, but she feels like she amounts to nothing because her magic didn't develop into something stronger, unlike all the other students around her. Aurelia on the other hand has strong magic, but very strict and demanding parents, who treat her like "you can succeed 99 times out of 100 but you're still failure for that 1 left".

This felt very relatable to me, and no kidding I cried ugly seeing the difference how Certainty's family treated her in her worst moment, and how Aurelia's reacted.

The writing style is also very smooth and pleasant to experience, which I feel is worth emphasizing, because it's the primary factor of whether a book is enjoyable, and it's not always a given.

There's also very sweet and wholesome reluctant coworkers to friends to lovers plot, and the worries about class divide preventing Certainty from acting out on her feelings were very believable and grounded in the behaviour of the upper class folk. I hate nothing more than romance plots where there's no obstacle to the relationship, the characters just make up one in their heads. But here it was very plausible, because the discrimination of and condescension towards villagers was a real thing in this world. The romance itself is very PG-13 / fade to black.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a palate cleanser book and fans of cozy fantasy that isn't pure slice of life, but actually explores relatable struggles. And to everyone who ever struggled with parental expectations put upon them.

I'll be looking forward to whatever Julie Leong writes, her books manage the perfect balance between emotional and heartwarming, she has a unique talent to mix cozy & wholesome with exploration of subjects like prejudice, shame or feelings of inadequacy. The characters aren't flawless, which makes them more believable, but there's always emphasis on kindness and mutual understanding. I cried, I laughed, I had a good time.

Thank you Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton / Hodderscape for the ARC!