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A Harvest of Hearts
In the beloved tradition of Howl’s Moving Castle, a whimsical and unforgettable story of fantastic adventure, common sense, and the power of love to overcome the greatest of obstacles . . .
Before Foss Butcher was Snagged, she thought no more of the magic-users than did anyone else in her tiny village. Sometimes gorgeous women in impossible carriages rolled into town and took bits of people’s hearts. Everyone knew hearts fueled their magic. But Foss, plain, clumsy, and practical as a boot, never expected anyone would want hers.
True enough, when the only sorcerer in the kingdom stepped from his glossy carriage, he didn’t intend to hook Foss. Sylvester’s riot of black curls and perfectly etched cheekbones caught her eye a moment too long, that was all. Suddenly, Foss is cursed and finds herself stomping toward the grand City to keep his enchanted House, where her only friend is a talking cat and the walls themselves have moods.
But as Foss learns the ways of magic, she realizes she’s far from its only unwilling captive. Even Sylvester is hemmed in by spells and threats. It’s said this sorcery protects king, country, and order for thousands. If Foss wants to free herself—and, perhaps, Sylvester—she’ll have to confront it all . . . and uncover the blight nestled in the heart of the kingdom itself.
Before Foss Butcher was Snagged, she thought no more of the magic-users than did anyone else in her tiny village. Sometimes gorgeous women in impossible carriages rolled into town and took bits of people’s hearts. Everyone knew hearts fueled their magic. But Foss, plain, clumsy, and practical as a boot, never expected anyone would want hers.
True enough, when the only sorcerer in the kingdom stepped from his glossy carriage, he didn’t intend to hook Foss. Sylvester’s riot of black curls and perfectly etched cheekbones caught her eye a moment too long, that was all. Suddenly, Foss is cursed and finds herself stomping toward the grand City to keep his enchanted House, where her only friend is a talking cat and the walls themselves have moods.
But as Foss learns the ways of magic, she realizes she’s far from its only unwilling captive. Even Sylvester is hemmed in by spells and threats. It’s said this sorcery protects king, country, and order for thousands. If Foss wants to free herself—and, perhaps, Sylvester—she’ll have to confront it all . . . and uncover the blight nestled in the heart of the kingdom itself.
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First published March 4, 2025
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About the author
Andrea Eames
6 books209 followersAndrea Eames was born in 1985. She was brought up in Zimbabwe, where she attended a Jewish school for six years, a Hindu school for one, a Catholic convent school for two and a half, and then the American International School in Harare for two years. Andrea's family moved to New Zealand in 2002. Andrea has worked as a bookseller and editor and now lives in Austin, Texas with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,716 reviews
April 9, 2025
If i had a nickel for every time the FMC said she was ugly or plain or ordinary I’d have enough money to buy a different book
April 2, 2025
Oh, this was so much fun!! I love a good adventure! Why is it always the books you expect to be a quick, simple read that end up pulling you in more than you thought it would ?
The premise mentioned Howl’s Moving Castle, which immediately had me itching to see how similar it was. Not that I even fully remember the plot of Howl’s Moving Castle, I just remember loving it! And while I definitely saw some similar elements, this book still felt unique in its own right, with such a unique premise. I mean, witches stealing pieces of people’s hearts?? Yeah, I had to know what the hell was going on in this world. And I’m so glad I did.
The romance wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but it was warm and sweet, and the story had a good pace. Nothing too fast or too slow. I did get a little tired of the main character constantly reminding us that she’s unattractive and unwanted, blah blah blah. I still felt sad she felt that way though.
Honestly, sometimes you pick up a book expecting it to be simple, and quick to get through, only for the stakes to keep getting higher and higher—and you end up enjoying it way more than expected. This was definitely one of those books for me!
The premise mentioned Howl’s Moving Castle, which immediately had me itching to see how similar it was. Not that I even fully remember the plot of Howl’s Moving Castle, I just remember loving it! And while I definitely saw some similar elements, this book still felt unique in its own right, with such a unique premise. I mean, witches stealing pieces of people’s hearts?? Yeah, I had to know what the hell was going on in this world. And I’m so glad I did.
The romance wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but it was warm and sweet, and the story had a good pace. Nothing too fast or too slow. I did get a little tired of the main character constantly reminding us that she’s unattractive and unwanted, blah blah blah. I still felt sad she felt that way though.
Honestly, sometimes you pick up a book expecting it to be simple, and quick to get through, only for the stakes to keep getting higher and higher—and you end up enjoying it way more than expected. This was definitely one of those books for me!
Want to read
October 23, 2024if my request for the arc isn’t approved, i will personally steal a copy of the book 🧍🏻♀️
somehow.
edit:
i got the arc 🥹🫂
somehow.
edit:
i got the arc 🥹🫂
February 28, 2025
This was all of my Howl's Moving Castle dreams come true and I'm positively smitten. I don't think that it's the most perfect book in existence and it will surely not be for everyone, but it just did so many things that I love in books and had me smiling throughout so it deserves a 5-star rating from me. The story starts out very similar to Howl's Moving Castle (I liked the book fine, but I'm talking about the movie) with the main character Foss coming to a sorcerer's house to work as a housekeeper. She doesn't exactly do this voluntarily, because ever since said sorcerer came to her little village and snagged her heart, she's been lovesick. Literally - as in she is physically sick and in pain when not near the sorcerer and overcome with bliss and desire when in his presence. Now Foss is living in his magical house with a talking cat and is trying to figure out what's the deal with the heart magic, if her heart is actually gone and how she might get it back. The sorcerer – his name is Sylvester – lets it all happen and doesn't really care about what she's doing, he doesn't even remember taking Foss's heart in the first place. He is a very distant and emotionless character, but it all makes sense once the history of the magic-workers is revealed as the book goes. The kingdom is controlled protected by the king and his sorceresses, and they are using people's hearts to ensure its safety. That's basically as much worldbuilding as there is in this book, but I didn't mind too much. It's not what I'm looking for in a cozy fantasy. And it does indeed start out very calm and cozy, but it gets darker as the story continues. The heart-harvesting can be pretty violent and has serious consequences for the victim, and the whole second part of the book is about the kingdom literally rotting away. The sorceresses are quite evil too, or maybe not evil but just inhumane with no understanding or sympathy for other people. The vibes reminded me of the fantasy books by T. Kingfisher and it's no secret that I love that woman. The characters were great too and I found Foss to be very relatable. I loved that she was not the usual fantasy protagonist, as she's a butcher's daughter and the plainest girl in her village at the edge of the kingdom. I wouldn't exactly call her insecure for she did have a strong voice from the start, but she didn't expect anything from life and was fine with it. But she's also a deeply caring person – for her father, for Cornelius (the talking cat), and for Sylvester once she learns that he is hardly like his sorceress sisters. I wish Foss and Sylvester spent more time together, because they really only start doing so in the last third of the book. I wouldn't call it a romance book, but I still got the feeling that these two belonged together and it made me feel things. Truly a great read for me that has me looking forward to future works by Andrea Eames.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and HarperVoyager for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and HarperVoyager for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2025
I WAS SO EXCITED FOR A WHIMSICAL FANTASY READ, AS PROMISED...
But I think the publisher and I have different definitions of the word "whimsical". To me, it means something light, quirky and amusing. This book was not those things, so I think was just, more than anything else, disappointed. Not the right marketing, in my opinion.
What I liked
👍 Cornelius: You know a book didn't thrill you when your favourite part of it was the magical, animal side character. Just the same, Cornelius was a hoot and I adored him!
👍 Potential: This story could have been so good. I like the potential of a world build on heart magic. If only the execution had lived up to the idea.
What I didn't like
👎 Whimsical: From the Oxford Dictionary "Whimsical = playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way." Those words do not apply to this book, imo. It's was dark and raw, which is not a bad thing. It's just not what I was promised or expecting...
👎 Chemistry: I just didn't feel any chemistry or romantic sparks between Sylvester and Floss. I did not see an actual relationship forming between them.
👎 Ending: While the overall pacing was slow, the ending was too quickly and easily resolved.
👎 World-building: I just wanted more world-building! It felt a bit superficial and would have been expanded on even more. What is heart-magic? What's outside the kingdom? What is the history of this world? All of these were touched upon but never really, fully explored and it left me wanting more.
👎 Sylvester: Just dull. dishwater dull. I think he was supposed to be eccentric and brooding, but really, he was just so dull.
👎 King Darius: Our villain was just a bit too card board villain-esque. Just evil for the sake of being evil. I would have liked more background on him and his motivations, especially as he is such a big part of Sylvesters history. I think it could have helped explain so much, if King Darius had been a more fleshed out, complex character.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
But I think the publisher and I have different definitions of the word "whimsical". To me, it means something light, quirky and amusing. This book was not those things, so I think was just, more than anything else, disappointed. Not the right marketing, in my opinion.
What I liked
👍 Cornelius: You know a book didn't thrill you when your favourite part of it was the magical, animal side character. Just the same, Cornelius was a hoot and I adored him!
👍 Potential: This story could have been so good. I like the potential of a world build on heart magic. If only the execution had lived up to the idea.
What I didn't like
👎 Whimsical: From the Oxford Dictionary "Whimsical = playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way." Those words do not apply to this book, imo. It's was dark and raw, which is not a bad thing. It's just not what I was promised or expecting...
👎 Chemistry: I just didn't feel any chemistry or romantic sparks between Sylvester and Floss. I did not see an actual relationship forming between them.
👎 Ending: While the overall pacing was slow, the ending was too quickly and easily resolved.
👎 World-building: I just wanted more world-building! It felt a bit superficial and would have been expanded on even more. What is heart-magic? What's outside the kingdom? What is the history of this world? All of these were touched upon but never really, fully explored and it left me wanting more.
👎 Sylvester: Just dull. dishwater dull. I think he was supposed to be eccentric and brooding, but really, he was just so dull.
👎 King Darius: Our villain was just a bit too card board villain-esque. Just evil for the sake of being evil. I would have liked more background on him and his motivations, especially as he is such a big part of Sylvesters history. I think it could have helped explain so much, if King Darius had been a more fleshed out, complex character.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 5, 2025
If you are a T Kingfisher fan, you definitely will want to read Harvest of Hearts. This novel is not only extremely fun to read, it is also an original, innovative, fascinating, cleverly constructed folktale/horror/thriller with an authenticity that I crave in both plot and character construction...especially in this sub-genre. Foss is such an interesting female protagonist/narrator, and I think most women will easily relate to the way in which she contends with her society's social constructs. Her development is positive and affirming, and honestly I wish there were more portrayals of intelligent, blunt women like Foss out there in the literary world, but they still seem to be rare. My second favorite character, Cornelius, is a talking cat with a dry, sarcastic sense of humor to match Foss's. Cornelius reminded me a bit of Garth Nix's The Mogget in Sabriel. In my experience, talking animals either work brilliantly for a text, or they turn the narrative into something sentimental. There's no fear of sentiment here.
You may have read that Harvest of Hearts is in the same vein as Howl's Moving Castle, but while there are a few similar elements, I want to clarify that the two have very different storylines. Both involve sorceresses who want and need hearts. Both have a witty, talking familiar of sorts--Howl has Calcifer and Harvest of Hearts has Cornelius the talking cat. Both read with a sort of frank, sincerity. Howl's Sophie could easily have raised and greatly influenced Harvest's Foss. Both tales are truly bizarre yet told frankly, and finally both are truly worthy of literary consideration. This is about where the comparison ends.
From the beginning when Foss outlines the function of a sorceress in the village where she lives, Eames' prose just propels readers forward. I never could guess where the plot's twists and turns were taking me, but I think I smiled the entire time I was reading. I strongly debated whether or not to give this 5 stars--it has everything I value most in my reading choices. But I think there are bits at the beginning which could have been edited a bit more, and the last one hundred pages or so felt more rushed. Despite this, there's no doubt Eames is an extremely talented author. She's won several literary awards already for two earlier adult novels, and I have already ordered them.
You may have read that Harvest of Hearts is in the same vein as Howl's Moving Castle, but while there are a few similar elements, I want to clarify that the two have very different storylines. Both involve sorceresses who want and need hearts. Both have a witty, talking familiar of sorts--Howl has Calcifer and Harvest of Hearts has Cornelius the talking cat. Both read with a sort of frank, sincerity. Howl's Sophie could easily have raised and greatly influenced Harvest's Foss. Both tales are truly bizarre yet told frankly, and finally both are truly worthy of literary consideration. This is about where the comparison ends.
From the beginning when Foss outlines the function of a sorceress in the village where she lives, Eames' prose just propels readers forward. I never could guess where the plot's twists and turns were taking me, but I think I smiled the entire time I was reading. I strongly debated whether or not to give this 5 stars--it has everything I value most in my reading choices. But I think there are bits at the beginning which could have been edited a bit more, and the last one hundred pages or so felt more rushed. Despite this, there's no doubt Eames is an extremely talented author. She's won several literary awards already for two earlier adult novels, and I have already ordered them.
August 19, 2024
"A Harvest of Hearts" is a whimsical and atmospheric tale about Foss Butcher, an ordinary village girl whose heart has been literally snagged by a handsome sorcerer. Setting out for the city to reclaim it, she discovers the sorcerer's enchanted house and befriends a talking cat. As she searches for her heart, Foss uncovers the dark secrets lurking behind the king and the sorceresses.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *. read on for a more in-depth review. * :☆ﾟ. ───
✒️ the writing
⤷ The writing is exquisite, bringing the story vividly to life with its beautifully crafted descriptions. I enjoyed Foss' no-nonsense attitude and her dry wit. However, the pacing is somewhat sluggish, and it takes more than half the book for the plot to gain momentum. The first half feels nearly uneventful once Foss makes it to the city, while the second half feels rushed, limiting the opportunity to fully explore the relationship between Foss and Sylvester. At times, the exposition feels repetitive, particularly concerning the stolen hearts and certain physical descriptions of the characters. Despite these, I thoroughly enjoyed Adrea Eamas' writing style, which feels mature and skillfully crafted.
🎥 the plot
⤷ "A Harvest of Hearts" draws inspiration from Howl's Moving Castle but establishes its own unique identity. The magical elements were captivating, and the mystery kept me turning the pages. The story builds a strong connection to its world, with memorable features like the charming magical house with a personality of its own, the self-sustaining magical carriage and horses, and the adorable talking cat with a love for bacon. The vibes are immaculate—strange, sinister, and whimsical all at once. More than just a love story, it is a fantasy tale with themes of self-discovery.
💗 the romance
⤷ The lack of meaningful interactions between Foss and Sylvester is a notable disappointment in the story. The few moments they shared, such as when Foss recounted tales of ordinary village life, were only briefly mentioned, missing the opportunity to deepen their connection. Their interactions are sparse in the first half, while the rapid pace of the second half leaves little room for further development. Consequently, the story missed out on the special moments that could have enriched their relationship. Despite this, I liked the contrast between the characters and enjoyed their interactions, however few, and wished there had been more.
🧸 the characters
⤷ I can see why others might find Foss' cynicism and deep insecurities off-putting. Her constant negative self-talk was uncomfortable at times, but I quickly recognized how realistic her deep-seated insecurities were. As someone who struggles with body dysmorphia, I sometimes have thoughts similar to Foss’. I'm only fortunate that I’m not the narrator of a book, and I can keep such negative thoughts private, hidden from others who might use my weaknesses against me.
Foss’ negative self-view stems from her belief that something is fundamentally wrong with her, a notion rooted in her mother’s death during childbirth. Her humiliation by the first man she had affection for and the disparity in how she’s treated compared to pretty girls have further eroded her self-esteem. She sees herself as plain and unlovable, unlike the pretty girls who seem to have everything. As a woman navigating today’s society, where there’s immense pressure to conform to beauty standards—perfect skin, ideal body, feminine features—I found myself empathizing with Foss rather than finding her self-consciousness irritating.
I also admired how, despite the powerful spell that kept her enthralled, she continued to fight to maintain her clarity and resolve. Her strength of will and determination make it impossible not to root for her. Though she may seem cold at times, her warmth and compassion shine through, as seen in her care for her Da, her efforts to save Collin, and her desire to rescue the Snagged. Even though Foss often describes herself as ugly and plain, she is a resilient woman who refuses to give up and takes action to make things happen. Now that I think about it, she somewhat reminds me of Jane Eyre!
⤷ Sylvester is a character I would have liked to see explored more deeply. As it stands, he feels somewhat two-dimensional, especially since his presence is so minimal in the first half of the book that his magical house seems to have more personality than he does. Although I enjoyed his character, I wished for a more developed portrayal. We don't get much insight into him on a deeper level, as much of his story is conveyed rather than truly experienced.
⤷ Most people would agree with me that Cornelius, the talking cat, is the star of the show! As a cat lover, I might be a bit biased, but I would have put the book down if anything happened to him. His presence brought a delightful charm to the story, and I adored the bond he developed with Foss.
⤷ The villains lack complexity. Apart from Clarissa, the other sorceresses remain largely unexplored, and the King comes across as a basic villain archetype, lacking any depth. I would have enjoyed seeing more of the sorceresses in action rather than just hearing about their deeds.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
bottom line: I adored the story and was enchanted by its magic and whimsy! I’ll miss Cornelius the most, along with the magical house I have grown so fond of—I wish I could live in a house that gives me everything I need! That said, I look forward to the author's future books.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
pre-read.
Did someone mention Howl's Moving Castle and a talking cat?
Well, now I have to read it. Stay tuned. 😎
- Thank you to Andrea Eames, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *. read on for a more in-depth review. * :☆ﾟ. ───
✒️ the writing
⤷ The writing is exquisite, bringing the story vividly to life with its beautifully crafted descriptions. I enjoyed Foss' no-nonsense attitude and her dry wit. However, the pacing is somewhat sluggish, and it takes more than half the book for the plot to gain momentum. The first half feels nearly uneventful once Foss makes it to the city, while the second half feels rushed, limiting the opportunity to fully explore the relationship between Foss and Sylvester. At times, the exposition feels repetitive, particularly concerning the stolen hearts and certain physical descriptions of the characters. Despite these, I thoroughly enjoyed Adrea Eamas' writing style, which feels mature and skillfully crafted.
🎥 the plot
⤷ "A Harvest of Hearts" draws inspiration from Howl's Moving Castle but establishes its own unique identity. The magical elements were captivating, and the mystery kept me turning the pages. The story builds a strong connection to its world, with memorable features like the charming magical house with a personality of its own, the self-sustaining magical carriage and horses, and the adorable talking cat with a love for bacon. The vibes are immaculate—strange, sinister, and whimsical all at once. More than just a love story, it is a fantasy tale with themes of self-discovery.
💗 the romance
⤷ The lack of meaningful interactions between Foss and Sylvester is a notable disappointment in the story. The few moments they shared, such as when Foss recounted tales of ordinary village life, were only briefly mentioned, missing the opportunity to deepen their connection. Their interactions are sparse in the first half, while the rapid pace of the second half leaves little room for further development. Consequently, the story missed out on the special moments that could have enriched their relationship. Despite this, I liked the contrast between the characters and enjoyed their interactions, however few, and wished there had been more.
🧸 the characters
⤷ I can see why others might find Foss' cynicism and deep insecurities off-putting. Her constant negative self-talk was uncomfortable at times, but I quickly recognized how realistic her deep-seated insecurities were. As someone who struggles with body dysmorphia, I sometimes have thoughts similar to Foss’. I'm only fortunate that I’m not the narrator of a book, and I can keep such negative thoughts private, hidden from others who might use my weaknesses against me.
Foss’ negative self-view stems from her belief that something is fundamentally wrong with her, a notion rooted in her mother’s death during childbirth. Her humiliation by the first man she had affection for and the disparity in how she’s treated compared to pretty girls have further eroded her self-esteem. She sees herself as plain and unlovable, unlike the pretty girls who seem to have everything. As a woman navigating today’s society, where there’s immense pressure to conform to beauty standards—perfect skin, ideal body, feminine features—I found myself empathizing with Foss rather than finding her self-consciousness irritating.
I also admired how, despite the powerful spell that kept her enthralled, she continued to fight to maintain her clarity and resolve. Her strength of will and determination make it impossible not to root for her. Though she may seem cold at times, her warmth and compassion shine through, as seen in her care for her Da, her efforts to save Collin, and her desire to rescue the Snagged. Even though Foss often describes herself as ugly and plain, she is a resilient woman who refuses to give up and takes action to make things happen. Now that I think about it, she somewhat reminds me of Jane Eyre!
⤷ Sylvester is a character I would have liked to see explored more deeply. As it stands, he feels somewhat two-dimensional, especially since his presence is so minimal in the first half of the book that his magical house seems to have more personality than he does. Although I enjoyed his character, I wished for a more developed portrayal. We don't get much insight into him on a deeper level, as much of his story is conveyed rather than truly experienced.
⤷ Most people would agree with me that Cornelius, the talking cat, is the star of the show! As a cat lover, I might be a bit biased, but I would have put the book down if anything happened to him. His presence brought a delightful charm to the story, and I adored the bond he developed with Foss.
⤷ The villains lack complexity. Apart from Clarissa, the other sorceresses remain largely unexplored, and the King comes across as a basic villain archetype, lacking any depth. I would have enjoyed seeing more of the sorceresses in action rather than just hearing about their deeds.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
bottom line: I adored the story and was enchanted by its magic and whimsy! I’ll miss Cornelius the most, along with the magical house I have grown so fond of—I wish I could live in a house that gives me everything I need! That said, I look forward to the author's future books.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
pre-read.
Did someone mention Howl's Moving Castle and a talking cat?
Well, now I have to read it. Stay tuned. 😎
- Thank you to Andrea Eames, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
September 25, 2024
✨ ARC REVIEW ✨
🫀A Harvest of Hearts 🐈⬛
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🫑
Publish date: 4 March 2025
I really wanted to LOVE this book, and when you break it down - unique magical systems, intriguing MMC, whimsical side characters, world building, FMC POV, slow burn... its enticing!
The world building is great, the imagery was there for me and while I can understand some comparisons to Howl’s Moving Castle, the story created was detached and much its own. HMC does help you immerse yourself into that whimsical dreamscape thats created.
The concepts are there and the story itself is solid, however I couldnt get past the FMC persisting self sabotage and self esteem issues. The slow burn romance was good, but is it romance if aspects of her autonomy is gone? 🤔 I haven’t worked through that yet…
MMC was quite immature for my tastes, but that just could be a personal preference issue on my end.
Cornelius was the showstopper and I loved the banter and wit. He brought the pizzazz the story needed and was quite refreshing.
Overall, it was a good read, with a bit of lag but I did like it. 🫶🏻
Thank you @andrea_eames_author and @netgalley for the opportunity to review! Wishing you the best on release day!
🫀A Harvest of Hearts 🐈⬛
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🫑
Publish date: 4 March 2025
I really wanted to LOVE this book, and when you break it down - unique magical systems, intriguing MMC, whimsical side characters, world building, FMC POV, slow burn... its enticing!
The world building is great, the imagery was there for me and while I can understand some comparisons to Howl’s Moving Castle, the story created was detached and much its own. HMC does help you immerse yourself into that whimsical dreamscape thats created.
The concepts are there and the story itself is solid, however I couldnt get past the FMC persisting self sabotage and self esteem issues. The slow burn romance was good, but is it romance if aspects of her autonomy is gone? 🤔 I haven’t worked through that yet…
MMC was quite immature for my tastes, but that just could be a personal preference issue on my end.
Cornelius was the showstopper and I loved the banter and wit. He brought the pizzazz the story needed and was quite refreshing.
Overall, it was a good read, with a bit of lag but I did like it. 🫶🏻
Thank you @andrea_eames_author and @netgalley for the opportunity to review! Wishing you the best on release day!
October 6, 2025
A Cozy, Magical Escape: An Enchanting Read for Fall! 🍂❤️✨️
A Harvest of Hearts is the quintessential cozy, whimsical, and enchanting fall read that will completely sweep you away from reality. I absolutely loved this book!
As a huge fan of Howl's Moving Castle, I found all my favorite elements here: a magical story brimming with adventure, sorcery, spells, and a beautiful, heartfelt focus on love. The author has a gift for painting vivid imagery and truly bringing the world and its magic to life.
I loved the transformation of Foss over the course of the story. You really feel for her, and the love between her and Sylvester is both swoon-worthy and charming. I especially loved the powerful underlying themes of empowerment and embracing imperfections—about yourself, in life, and with love.
I simply cannot explain how much I adored Cornelius the cat! ❤️🐈⬛️ He is an absolute scene-stealer and brings so much cattitude and personality to the story. If you love iconic magical cats (think Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch), you're going to fall head-over-heels for him!
🎧 The audiobook narration by Jessie Elland was an absolute highlight. She puts so much emotion into the storytelling and brilliantly changes her voice for the different characters. I was mesmerized and completely hooked! Her distinct narration for Cornelius was particularly fantastic. I didn't want to stop listening!
I thought this was a fantastic fantasy adventure with a lovely romance. Highly recommend! I would love to read more from this author. 🥰❤️✨️
Perfect for fans of:
✨️ Howl's Moving Castle
💖 Studio Ghibli
❤️ Cozy Stories
💛 Fantasy Adventures
✨️ Magic, Sorcery, and an Enchanted House
🐈⬛️ ❤️ 🐾 Charming Black Cats (MMC included!)
⏳️ Empowerment Themes
🎧 You-won't-want-to-stop-listening audiobook narration!
A Harvest of Hearts is the quintessential cozy, whimsical, and enchanting fall read that will completely sweep you away from reality. I absolutely loved this book!
As a huge fan of Howl's Moving Castle, I found all my favorite elements here: a magical story brimming with adventure, sorcery, spells, and a beautiful, heartfelt focus on love. The author has a gift for painting vivid imagery and truly bringing the world and its magic to life.
I loved the transformation of Foss over the course of the story. You really feel for her, and the love between her and Sylvester is both swoon-worthy and charming. I especially loved the powerful underlying themes of empowerment and embracing imperfections—about yourself, in life, and with love.
I simply cannot explain how much I adored Cornelius the cat! ❤️🐈⬛️ He is an absolute scene-stealer and brings so much cattitude and personality to the story. If you love iconic magical cats (think Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch), you're going to fall head-over-heels for him!
🎧 The audiobook narration by Jessie Elland was an absolute highlight. She puts so much emotion into the storytelling and brilliantly changes her voice for the different characters. I was mesmerized and completely hooked! Her distinct narration for Cornelius was particularly fantastic. I didn't want to stop listening!
I thought this was a fantastic fantasy adventure with a lovely romance. Highly recommend! I would love to read more from this author. 🥰❤️✨️
Perfect for fans of:
✨️ Howl's Moving Castle
💖 Studio Ghibli
❤️ Cozy Stories
💛 Fantasy Adventures
✨️ Magic, Sorcery, and an Enchanted House
🐈⬛️ ❤️ 🐾 Charming Black Cats (MMC included!)
⏳️ Empowerment Themes
🎧 You-won't-want-to-stop-listening audiobook narration!
April 6, 2025
I was looking for something sweet and kind, almost childish. I saw “whimsical” and “Howl’s Moving Castle” in the description to this book, and thought, “That’s it!” But a book about magic workers stealing people’s hearts wasn't childlike at all. And as the story progressed, it only became darker.
The plot follows a butcher's daughter, Foss. I really enjoyed it—a simple village girl, not a soldier, assassin, or fighter of any kind. She doesn’t have special powers, just a regular girl. It was a refreshing change from the recent books I’ve read. Foss describes herself as unattractive—chubby cheeks, square-shaped, with big hands suited for a butcher. As the book goes on, she doesn’t miss an opportunity to remind us of her insecurities.
Foss's constant mention of her unattractiveness didn’t tire me. However, I did find myself taken aback by how often her sexual desires were brought up. I just don’t think it was necessary to mention her urges in a YA book. Yet, her obsession with the sorcerer made perfect sense. All the sorceresses and our one sorcerer possess magical charms and beauty—they’re simply irresistible. And on top of that, Foss was under a spell that made her chase all the way after the magic worker.
There were moments where I doubted some of Foss’s actions and monologues. In the beginning, she often repeated questions that had already been answered, and at times, she acted quite hysterically. It made me think she might be very young (she turned out to be 20) or not very intelligent, and honestly, not particularly kind either. Though, for the most part, she didn’t annoy me.
Sylvester, our intriguing sorcerer. He acted like a petulant child in the beginning. And how I love these characters who are unfamiliar with human emotions (like love). I really hoped this aspect of Sylvester would be explored more. It was such a great opportunity to make him a deeper character who tries to find his human side as the story progresses—someone who learns how to love. Unfortunately, this opportunity was missed. And as the story went on, he lost his initial charm and became just a character. Still, I adored him and his kind heart.
I particularly loved the chapters where Foss worked as a housekeeper in Sylvester's magical home. The talking cat, Cornelius, warmed my heart and even had me worried at one point in the story! But again, this was another missed opportunity to develop the relationship between Foss and Sylvester. I really wish there had been more moments in the house where the sorcerer communicated with Foss or at least showed more interest in her. Because in a story like this, love should be the thing that saves everything. While Sylvester surely grew attached to Foss, I didn't feel something more between them.
Of course, I wasn’t expecting funny banter or crazy tension. No, I was hoping for a sweet, gentle love story, but sadly, I didn’t get that either. The sex scene in the forest? Just why? It was so disappointing and unnecessary. A deep conversation about their feelings and insecurities, a sweet kiss, would have been so much better! I don’t understand why Sylvester would even fall for Foss. She wasn’t exactly kind to him. He struggled with the belief that he didn’t deserve to exist, she barely reassured him. That’s why the ending didn’t quite hit me emotionally.
The writing was quite... interesting at times. I would say it’s not for everyone, but I didn’t mind it. It actually made me laugh. Just to give you an idea: “...but this room smelled of the overripe armpits of a dozen fancy ladies” or “…his limbs looked elegant. I could have taken each of them in my mouth and sucked them like sticks of cinnamon.”
All in all, I did like this book. But it’s bittersweet, really, to think about how much more beautiful this story could have been.
The plot follows a butcher's daughter, Foss. I really enjoyed it—a simple village girl, not a soldier, assassin, or fighter of any kind. She doesn’t have special powers, just a regular girl. It was a refreshing change from the recent books I’ve read. Foss describes herself as unattractive—chubby cheeks, square-shaped, with big hands suited for a butcher. As the book goes on, she doesn’t miss an opportunity to remind us of her insecurities.
Foss's constant mention of her unattractiveness didn’t tire me. However, I did find myself taken aback by how often her sexual desires were brought up. I just don’t think it was necessary to mention her urges in a YA book. Yet, her obsession with the sorcerer made perfect sense. All the sorceresses and our one sorcerer possess magical charms and beauty—they’re simply irresistible. And on top of that, Foss was under a spell that made her chase all the way after the magic worker.
There were moments where I doubted some of Foss’s actions and monologues. In the beginning, she often repeated questions that had already been answered, and at times, she acted quite hysterically. It made me think she might be very young (she turned out to be 20) or not very intelligent, and honestly, not particularly kind either. Though, for the most part, she didn’t annoy me.
Sylvester, our intriguing sorcerer. He acted like a petulant child in the beginning. And how I love these characters who are unfamiliar with human emotions (like love). I really hoped this aspect of Sylvester would be explored more. It was such a great opportunity to make him a deeper character who tries to find his human side as the story progresses—someone who learns how to love. Unfortunately, this opportunity was missed. And as the story went on, he lost his initial charm and became just a character. Still, I adored him and his kind heart.
I particularly loved the chapters where Foss worked as a housekeeper in Sylvester's magical home. The talking cat, Cornelius, warmed my heart and even had me worried at one point in the story! But again, this was another missed opportunity to develop the relationship between Foss and Sylvester. I really wish there had been more moments in the house where the sorcerer communicated with Foss or at least showed more interest in her. Because in a story like this, love should be the thing that saves everything. While Sylvester surely grew attached to Foss, I didn't feel something more between them.
Of course, I wasn’t expecting funny banter or crazy tension. No, I was hoping for a sweet, gentle love story, but sadly, I didn’t get that either. The sex scene in the forest? Just why? It was so disappointing and unnecessary. A deep conversation about their feelings and insecurities, a sweet kiss, would have been so much better! I don’t understand why Sylvester would even fall for Foss. She wasn’t exactly kind to him. He struggled with the belief that he didn’t deserve to exist, she barely reassured him. That’s why the ending didn’t quite hit me emotionally.
The writing was quite... interesting at times. I would say it’s not for everyone, but I didn’t mind it. It actually made me laugh. Just to give you an idea: “...but this room smelled of the overripe armpits of a dozen fancy ladies” or “…his limbs looked elegant. I could have taken each of them in my mouth and sucked them like sticks of cinnamon.”
All in all, I did like this book. But it’s bittersweet, really, to think about how much more beautiful this story could have been.
August 15, 2024
*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review*
Honestly, I have a lot of feelings about this book and I waffled back-and-forth on my rating, ultimately deciding on a 2. Despite that, I will say that I think the overarching plot (outside of its similarities to Howl's Moving Castle), was really fun and interesting. I liked the combination of whimsy and the sinister undertones throughout the entire book. Also, Cornelius the cat is, as many other reviewers have said, a complete stand-out.
Now, let's get into the more... complicated stuff:
For starters, I'm going to say that Foss, as a character, felt... very uneven. The first few chapters of the book are spent equal parts world-building and Foss lamenting at how ugly she is and how she'll never get married and have children. From what I recall though, the only thing "ugly" about her was her red hair and the fact that she was "sturdy" (that's covert speak for fat), neither of which make a person ugly. I could maybe understand her feeling that way if everyone in the village made her feel that way, but it seemed that a lot of it was projection and one nasty boy she had a crush on in her youth being a complete a-hole about her crush. That's it. There were some attempts later at one of those "I'm not actually ugly" moments, but they didn't quite hit the mark. I do like that the author didn't pull an early-2000s rom-com and go, "Oh, she was actually beautiful this WHOLE TIME".
Related to this, the relationship between Sebastian and Foss was supremely underdeveloped. Especially since it takes a few chapters for the two of them to meet and then she doesn't spend near enough time getting to know him before getting more deep into plot things. Also, the spell tying her and Sebastian together makes her feel intense pain and adoration/love for him against her will. While it's reasonable that she tries to fight this and also tries to avoid being alone with him for too long, it makes actually developing any relationship between the two of them not work. As a result, this made the ending love declarations feel pretty hollow. I think the book would've been better spent either starting with Foss in front of Sebastian's house, ready to go in, or have them meet right off the bat.
These next few things might fall under the more nit-picky side of things, but they bothered me so I'm going to address them anyway. There was an attempt made an inclusion, but: 1. it only really happened at the beginning of the book and 2. it was very awkward and clumsily done. Honestly, in both cases, it felt like checking off "diversity" on your writing bingo board without actually doing to much work to make sure that it wasn't potentially offensive or felt organic to the story you were writing. Because, here's the thing, despite those mentions at the beginning of the book, the story itself still felt very cis- and hetero-normative. To explain a little better, the sorceresses all have preternatural beauty and, to get the hearts of the people around the kingdom, they either seduce or beguile them. At the beginning, Foss tries in a very clumsy way to narrate that oh, sure, maybe SOME women are attracted to women and SOME men are attracted to men. And while I did appreciate that the beguiling done by the sorceresses wasn't always sexual in nature, it felt like straight was the default in a lot of instances.
Then, there was the, um, attempt at creating diversity in the villages. I don't usually like to pull quotes directly from arcs (mostly because publishers ask you not to), but in this instance, I feel like I need to do it to illustrate my point. She described various villagers as having "coal black to nut brown" skin. I get that you want to point to the fact that white people aren't the only people there, but there was definitely a better way to do that? Especially coming from someone who appears to be a white author.
The last thing is that because the book was written in 1st-person POV, sometimes Foss's narration came across as... I don't know how to describe it other than the author's narrative voice bleeding through. Foss, as a character, is from a small village. While she can read and write, she doesn't seem to be heavily read nor does she seem to be someone who sneaks to hear scholars or something giving educational lectures or whatever. It seems like her narrative voice should reflect that, but there were multiple moments where what Foss was describing felt like something she shouldn't really know about? Again, this is probably a very minor nitpick, but it really stuck out to me and sometimes took me out of the book.
I realize this is a very long review and, while I appreciate what the author tried to do, there was just too much that didn't work for me to fully enjoy the creativity of the plot.
Honestly, I have a lot of feelings about this book and I waffled back-and-forth on my rating, ultimately deciding on a 2. Despite that, I will say that I think the overarching plot (outside of its similarities to Howl's Moving Castle), was really fun and interesting. I liked the combination of whimsy and the sinister undertones throughout the entire book. Also, Cornelius the cat is, as many other reviewers have said, a complete stand-out.
Now, let's get into the more... complicated stuff:
For starters, I'm going to say that Foss, as a character, felt... very uneven. The first few chapters of the book are spent equal parts world-building and Foss lamenting at how ugly she is and how she'll never get married and have children. From what I recall though, the only thing "ugly" about her was her red hair and the fact that she was "sturdy" (that's covert speak for fat), neither of which make a person ugly. I could maybe understand her feeling that way if everyone in the village made her feel that way, but it seemed that a lot of it was projection and one nasty boy she had a crush on in her youth being a complete a-hole about her crush. That's it. There were some attempts later at one of those "I'm not actually ugly" moments, but they didn't quite hit the mark. I do like that the author didn't pull an early-2000s rom-com and go, "Oh, she was actually beautiful this WHOLE TIME".
Related to this, the relationship between Sebastian and Foss was supremely underdeveloped. Especially since it takes a few chapters for the two of them to meet and then she doesn't spend near enough time getting to know him before getting more deep into plot things. Also, the spell tying her and Sebastian together makes her feel intense pain and adoration/love for him against her will. While it's reasonable that she tries to fight this and also tries to avoid being alone with him for too long, it makes actually developing any relationship between the two of them not work. As a result, this made the ending love declarations feel pretty hollow. I think the book would've been better spent either starting with Foss in front of Sebastian's house, ready to go in, or have them meet right off the bat.
These next few things might fall under the more nit-picky side of things, but they bothered me so I'm going to address them anyway. There was an attempt made an inclusion, but: 1. it only really happened at the beginning of the book and 2. it was very awkward and clumsily done. Honestly, in both cases, it felt like checking off "diversity" on your writing bingo board without actually doing to much work to make sure that it wasn't potentially offensive or felt organic to the story you were writing. Because, here's the thing, despite those mentions at the beginning of the book, the story itself still felt very cis- and hetero-normative. To explain a little better, the sorceresses all have preternatural beauty and, to get the hearts of the people around the kingdom, they either seduce or beguile them. At the beginning, Foss tries in a very clumsy way to narrate that oh, sure, maybe SOME women are attracted to women and SOME men are attracted to men. And while I did appreciate that the beguiling done by the sorceresses wasn't always sexual in nature, it felt like straight was the default in a lot of instances.
Then, there was the, um, attempt at creating diversity in the villages. I don't usually like to pull quotes directly from arcs (mostly because publishers ask you not to), but in this instance, I feel like I need to do it to illustrate my point. She described various villagers as having "coal black to nut brown" skin. I get that you want to point to the fact that white people aren't the only people there, but there was definitely a better way to do that? Especially coming from someone who appears to be a white author.
The last thing is that because the book was written in 1st-person POV, sometimes Foss's narration came across as... I don't know how to describe it other than the author's narrative voice bleeding through. Foss, as a character, is from a small village. While she can read and write, she doesn't seem to be heavily read nor does she seem to be someone who sneaks to hear scholars or something giving educational lectures or whatever. It seems like her narrative voice should reflect that, but there were multiple moments where what Foss was describing felt like something she shouldn't really know about? Again, this is probably a very minor nitpick, but it really stuck out to me and sometimes took me out of the book.
I realize this is a very long review and, while I appreciate what the author tried to do, there was just too much that didn't work for me to fully enjoy the creativity of the plot.
March 7, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!
while this was certainly heavily inspired by howl’s moving castle, this was neither cozy or whimsical for the most part — there are quite a lot of trigger warnings that should be emphasized, specifically the removal of bodily and cognitive autonomy through the process of “harvesting hearts”.
i found this harvesting of hearts to fuel magic to be rather original, but also the graphically gruesome descriptions of those divested of their hearts was simultaneously horrifying but interesting.
despite the darkness of this world and the magic, i really enjoyed this book, especially the cat companion cornelius 💗
as for the narrator, she did a fantastic job!
while this was certainly heavily inspired by howl’s moving castle, this was neither cozy or whimsical for the most part — there are quite a lot of trigger warnings that should be emphasized, specifically the removal of bodily and cognitive autonomy through the process of “harvesting hearts”.
i found this harvesting of hearts to fuel magic to be rather original, but also the graphically gruesome descriptions of those divested of their hearts was simultaneously horrifying but interesting.
despite the darkness of this world and the magic, i really enjoyed this book, especially the cat companion cornelius 💗
as for the narrator, she did a fantastic job!
April 1, 2025
Despite having many similar elements to other prominent fantasy stories, A Harvest of Hearts feels like a wholly unique story, and I believe that is largely due to the tone of the novel. A Harvest of Hearts is set in a world where literal hearts are plucked out of people's chests (a la Once Upon a Time) and used for magic. Our main character finds her heart taken, and herself quite literally lovesick, so she ventures to get it back. In doing so, she meets the materialistic sorcerer who stole it, the sentient house he inhabits, and his talking cat. All of these elements sound very whimsical, and while they are, that doesn't mean the novel's tone is lighthearted. Two of the most prominent themes are the loss of autonomy and insecurity. A lot of people seem to have disliked these themes, but personally, I found that they made the story more well rounded. I think the first chapter or two of the book is a little heavy handed in it's depiction of Foss's everyday misery and self-esteem issues, but once the novel picks up, I really loved reading about her and her growth. I also loved every scene with Cornelius, who might I add, felt like an incredibly realistic depiction of what a cat would act like could it talk. Overall, I understand that this book may not be what everyone expects, but personally, I really enjoyed how the whimsical, cozy fantasy elements mixed with the darker themes and scenes of horror.
Thank you to RB Media Recorded Books for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to RB Media Recorded Books for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 14, 2025
2025 reads: 49/300
2025 tbr: 22/111
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
foss never expected her heart to be snagged, and when it happens, she finds herself cursed to be enthralled with sylvester, the sorcerer who accidentally caught her eye. as she lives in his estate and learns more about magic, she realizes she’s not the only victim to magic—even sylvester is trapped by its threats. if foss wants to free herself and, possibly, sylvester, she’ll have to confront the dangers nestled into the kingdom.
i’ve been so excited to read this book since hearing about it. a magic system based on snagged hearts seemed so interesting. sure enough, i had a great time reading this. i loved foss’s determination to get her heart back and free others from this fate. i loved sylvester’s cold exterior that was begging to be broken down. and, most importantly, i loved cornelius, the talking cat! overall, this was such a magical book. i enjoyed the characters, the magic system, and how the theme of beauty played into the plot. i’d recommend this book to readers with a taste similar to mine!
2025 tbr: 22/111
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
foss never expected her heart to be snagged, and when it happens, she finds herself cursed to be enthralled with sylvester, the sorcerer who accidentally caught her eye. as she lives in his estate and learns more about magic, she realizes she’s not the only victim to magic—even sylvester is trapped by its threats. if foss wants to free herself and, possibly, sylvester, she’ll have to confront the dangers nestled into the kingdom.
i’ve been so excited to read this book since hearing about it. a magic system based on snagged hearts seemed so interesting. sure enough, i had a great time reading this. i loved foss’s determination to get her heart back and free others from this fate. i loved sylvester’s cold exterior that was begging to be broken down. and, most importantly, i loved cornelius, the talking cat! overall, this was such a magical book. i enjoyed the characters, the magic system, and how the theme of beauty played into the plot. i’d recommend this book to readers with a taste similar to mine!
August 7, 2024
Call me Foss because my heart is snagged!
I’ve never had the privilege of being the first to review a book on Goodreads, but I am delighted at the fact that it is, at least, a very genuine and positive review.
A Harvest of Hearts initially caught my interest at the mention of Howl’s Moving Castle. Immediately, my eyes ran through the synopsis with a quickness and I decided to request an ARC right then and there. And as soon as my request was approved, I sat down and devoured the book in just one enthralling sitting.
Andrea Eames’ delightfully endearing fantasy novel follows Foss Butcher and the subsequent adventure that her Snagged heart leads her on. Along with a talking cat, a house that comes to life on a whirlwind of whims, and Sylvester — the Sorcerer who unknowingly Snagged Foss’ heart, we begin to unravel this strange magical world and the toll it puts on the kingdom.
We experience the story through the eyes and mind of Foss with her flat humor, gritty charm, and reluctant disposition. And as far as ensorcelled main characters go, Foss definitely manages to endear me while still maintaining true to her character. This, I found, made it incredibly easy to love and connect with her. Along with this, Foss’ heartfelt relationship with her father, her complicated relationship with her mother, her warm connection to Cornelius, and her warring feelings for heart magic make her a fleshed out character worth rooting for.
And it wasn’t too hard to connect with other aspects of the story either. With a whimsical writing style, Eames can make towns and buildings come to life with their own personality just by a few well placed similes and metaphors. The world feels lived in in a way that whisks you away until you don’t realize that you’re still reading at 1AM (I speak from experience).
With an assortment of characters, it is often hard to find balance between different relationships. However, this book manages it well. With Foss and Sylvester, their connection only takes one glance to begin their story. And oftentimes that would be annoying in its quickness, but with the marvelous combination of Foss’ stubborn reluctance and Sylvester’s wide eyed naivete, their relationship takes its time to morph into something beautiful. Their banter flows greatly and their personalities mesh well that you start to see the sense that fate has. They genuinely had me giggling to myself by the fifth chapter and those giggles turned into laughter, cheesy grins, and even tears.
With the romance aspect leaving me breathless with giddiness, the fantasy aspect totally immersing me, there is the slight mystery to it all that makes you keep turning the page. Now I won’t say what this mystery is but there are a lot of intriguing hooks left deliberately in various chapters; mostly easy sentences that branch of into a myriad of questions that you immediately want answers to. In addition to this, I love that Foss is quick with piecing all of these things together. It doesn’t leave her hanging about while the reader is already miles ahead. It quickly advances the story while adding merit to her character.
Now, I have said a lot but I feel like it isn’t enough because I am sat here still brimming with a lot of leftover love and emotion that this book has made me feel. And I do not say this lightly seeing as I have found myself growing pickier and pickier with the books i read each passing month.
Though I will add that there is a noticeable shift in the tone from the first half of the book to the second. Where one is whimsical and eccentric, the other is darker and grittier. So this is a fair warning that there is some gruesome stuff ahead of that 50% mark!
All of this to say, A Harvest of Hearts has easily climbed my top reads for the year and I am now on a mission to recommend it to anyone who listens.
I REALLY hope this book will be available in my country so that i can snag (Get it?) a copy for myself! It would be a shame not to own a delightful read such as this.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC!
I’ve never had the privilege of being the first to review a book on Goodreads, but I am delighted at the fact that it is, at least, a very genuine and positive review.
A Harvest of Hearts initially caught my interest at the mention of Howl’s Moving Castle. Immediately, my eyes ran through the synopsis with a quickness and I decided to request an ARC right then and there. And as soon as my request was approved, I sat down and devoured the book in just one enthralling sitting.
Andrea Eames’ delightfully endearing fantasy novel follows Foss Butcher and the subsequent adventure that her Snagged heart leads her on. Along with a talking cat, a house that comes to life on a whirlwind of whims, and Sylvester — the Sorcerer who unknowingly Snagged Foss’ heart, we begin to unravel this strange magical world and the toll it puts on the kingdom.
We experience the story through the eyes and mind of Foss with her flat humor, gritty charm, and reluctant disposition. And as far as ensorcelled main characters go, Foss definitely manages to endear me while still maintaining true to her character. This, I found, made it incredibly easy to love and connect with her. Along with this, Foss’ heartfelt relationship with her father, her complicated relationship with her mother, her warm connection to Cornelius, and her warring feelings for heart magic make her a fleshed out character worth rooting for.
And it wasn’t too hard to connect with other aspects of the story either. With a whimsical writing style, Eames can make towns and buildings come to life with their own personality just by a few well placed similes and metaphors. The world feels lived in in a way that whisks you away until you don’t realize that you’re still reading at 1AM (I speak from experience).
With an assortment of characters, it is often hard to find balance between different relationships. However, this book manages it well. With Foss and Sylvester, their connection only takes one glance to begin their story. And oftentimes that would be annoying in its quickness, but with the marvelous combination of Foss’ stubborn reluctance and Sylvester’s wide eyed naivete, their relationship takes its time to morph into something beautiful. Their banter flows greatly and their personalities mesh well that you start to see the sense that fate has. They genuinely had me giggling to myself by the fifth chapter and those giggles turned into laughter, cheesy grins, and even tears.
With the romance aspect leaving me breathless with giddiness, the fantasy aspect totally immersing me, there is the slight mystery to it all that makes you keep turning the page. Now I won’t say what this mystery is but there are a lot of intriguing hooks left deliberately in various chapters; mostly easy sentences that branch of into a myriad of questions that you immediately want answers to. In addition to this, I love that Foss is quick with piecing all of these things together. It doesn’t leave her hanging about while the reader is already miles ahead. It quickly advances the story while adding merit to her character.
Now, I have said a lot but I feel like it isn’t enough because I am sat here still brimming with a lot of leftover love and emotion that this book has made me feel. And I do not say this lightly seeing as I have found myself growing pickier and pickier with the books i read each passing month.
Though I will add that there is a noticeable shift in the tone from the first half of the book to the second. Where one is whimsical and eccentric, the other is darker and grittier. So this is a fair warning that there is some gruesome stuff ahead of that 50% mark!
All of this to say, A Harvest of Hearts has easily climbed my top reads for the year and I am now on a mission to recommend it to anyone who listens.
I REALLY hope this book will be available in my country so that i can snag (Get it?) a copy for myself! It would be a shame not to own a delightful read such as this.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC!
February 14, 2025
3.25/5 stars
A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames roped me in with high hopes. The blurb promised something along the lines of Howl’s Moving Castle —whimsical adventure, endearing characters, and a dash of romance.
What I got instead? A chaotic mix of intriguing ideas, underdeveloped characters, and messy pacing that it felt like the book was being magically rewritten every few chapters
Foss Butcher, our main girl, gets cursed and dragged into a magical house with a talking cat (cool) and a sorcerer named Sylvester (less cool, mostly brooding).
This should have been a fun ride, but Foss spends so much time putting herself down that it got annoying.
I wanted to shake her and say, “Girl, you’re the main character. Act like it.”
And Sylvester? Let’s just say he had all the personality of a fancy coat rack.
Now, I’ll give credit where it’s due—the world-building had potential.
The idea of heart-fueled magic and a city tangled in enchantments?
That could’ve been something truly mesmerizing. Unfortunately, the execution was as disjointed as the plot’s pacing. Some parts dragged like a slow spell gone awry, while the next minute, everything happened so fast I had to go back and check if I missed a page.
That said, the writing itself was nice—a bit rough in places, but readable. If you love fantasy and don’t mind a slow, slightly confusing journey, you might enjoy it. But if you’re hoping for another Howl’s Moving Castle, adjust your expectations
Due thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp for the ARC!
A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames roped me in with high hopes. The blurb promised something along the lines of Howl’s Moving Castle —whimsical adventure, endearing characters, and a dash of romance.
What I got instead? A chaotic mix of intriguing ideas, underdeveloped characters, and messy pacing that it felt like the book was being magically rewritten every few chapters
Foss Butcher, our main girl, gets cursed and dragged into a magical house with a talking cat (cool) and a sorcerer named Sylvester (less cool, mostly brooding).
This should have been a fun ride, but Foss spends so much time putting herself down that it got annoying.
I wanted to shake her and say, “Girl, you’re the main character. Act like it.”
And Sylvester? Let’s just say he had all the personality of a fancy coat rack.
Now, I’ll give credit where it’s due—the world-building had potential.
The idea of heart-fueled magic and a city tangled in enchantments?
That could’ve been something truly mesmerizing. Unfortunately, the execution was as disjointed as the plot’s pacing. Some parts dragged like a slow spell gone awry, while the next minute, everything happened so fast I had to go back and check if I missed a page.
That said, the writing itself was nice—a bit rough in places, but readable. If you love fantasy and don’t mind a slow, slightly confusing journey, you might enjoy it. But if you’re hoping for another Howl’s Moving Castle, adjust your expectations
Due thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp for the ARC!
May 30, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC
A very cozy fantasy romance with a magic system at the same time familiar and fresh.
I might not remember the actual plot forever, but I'll remember the whole Heart-Magic or at least the way people in this world describe it. The characters are nice enough, not memorable enough, though. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves cozy fantasy in general, but more specifically to those who love sentient houses, ominous talking animals and whimsy.
Pretty much for a Coraline fan who wants something a bit more cheerful but still creepy when you write down the facts.
I enjoy reading about FMC who make decisions that move the plot along, and not just have things happening to them. It only took a few chapters for our main character to take matters into her own hands, which I appreciate (both the action itself but also the fact that we did not waste time thinking and pondering about what to do). Plus, the cat. Always something to enjoy there.
I would've liked to get to know the MMC a bit better, to get me to care about the romance in general. Even with that being said, I feel like the story went on for a bit too long for me to absolutely love it.
This is a 7/10 for me, a 3.5 star if you will
A very cozy fantasy romance with a magic system at the same time familiar and fresh.
I might not remember the actual plot forever, but I'll remember the whole Heart-Magic or at least the way people in this world describe it. The characters are nice enough, not memorable enough, though. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves cozy fantasy in general, but more specifically to those who love sentient houses, ominous talking animals and whimsy.
Pretty much for a Coraline fan who wants something a bit more cheerful but still creepy when you write down the facts.
I enjoy reading about FMC who make decisions that move the plot along, and not just have things happening to them. It only took a few chapters for our main character to take matters into her own hands, which I appreciate (both the action itself but also the fact that we did not waste time thinking and pondering about what to do). Plus, the cat. Always something to enjoy there.
I would've liked to get to know the MMC a bit better, to get me to care about the romance in general. Even with that being said, I feel like the story went on for a bit too long for me to absolutely love it.
This is a 7/10 for me, a 3.5 star if you will
April 19, 2025
I’m not sure how I feel about this. It’s described as whimsical but it wasn’t… I don’t think the publishers did the best job at promoting this one. There’s a major shift in tone around the 50-60% mark and it becomes really dark.
My absolute favourite thing was Cornelius the talking cat. He just really made this more appreciable (and he’s the reason I kept reading!)
Foss was a very odd character for me. She was going on a lot about how ugly she thought she was, and her insecurities were pointed out very often. She also complained about the fact that she wasn’t going to be picked to be a wife and bear children because of how ugly she was… it was superficial, and her jealousy towards other women made me believe she was very young but she was 20. She wasn’t the smartest and she wasn’t kind…
I’m settling on 3 stars because I did think the magic system and the world building was enjoyable and unique.
My absolute favourite thing was Cornelius the talking cat. He just really made this more appreciable (and he’s the reason I kept reading!)
Foss was a very odd character for me. She was going on a lot about how ugly she thought she was, and her insecurities were pointed out very often. She also complained about the fact that she wasn’t going to be picked to be a wife and bear children because of how ugly she was… it was superficial, and her jealousy towards other women made me believe she was very young but she was 20. She wasn’t the smartest and she wasn’t kind…
I’m settling on 3 stars because I did think the magic system and the world building was enjoyable and unique.
September 18, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
This felt like the longest book in history
I wanted to dnf it every page
This felt like the longest book in history
I wanted to dnf it every page
March 27, 2025
the longest short book ever. It put me to sleep every time i picked it up, very grateful to be done. I had hope at 40%, 60% ,and 80% that it would turn around and get better but it didn’t. The expectations were too high
The characters? nothing
the plot? no where
the pacing? awful
the cat? the best part by far
The characters? nothing
the plot? no where
the pacing? awful
the cat? the best part by far
July 29, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ “There is sorrow whenever a lovely thing dies, no matter how dangerous it may have been in life”
AH this book was magical!! Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with a free e-arc to review 🥹🫶🏻
I believe this is the first book that says it is inspired by another story (howls moving castle)— which I adore— that both fits the bill with the same vibes but a completely unique and different story.
This book was written absolutely beautifully. There were so many quotes I’ve highlighted I wish I could share them all. This is a cozy fantasy with slightly morbid undertones, following Foss Butcher as she finds herself ensorcelled by a sorcerer. We follow her journey with some amazing side characters including my new favourite talking cat Cornelius. The story unfolds from there 🤭
I really loved how Foss truly found her worth throughout the length of the book, her character arc was truly stunning. There was the perfect amount of romance, and, although I found it a tad slow at times it always picked up shortly after. I was intrigued from the start about the world and constantly wanted to learn more about it. I was rooting for the characters, and I loved the balance between all of the different elements of the story.
The ending had me tearing up, it was honestly perfection 😭
Definitely add this to the tbr if you want a whimsical, unique read! ✨✨
AH this book was magical!! Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with a free e-arc to review 🥹🫶🏻
I believe this is the first book that says it is inspired by another story (howls moving castle)— which I adore— that both fits the bill with the same vibes but a completely unique and different story.
This book was written absolutely beautifully. There were so many quotes I’ve highlighted I wish I could share them all. This is a cozy fantasy with slightly morbid undertones, following Foss Butcher as she finds herself ensorcelled by a sorcerer. We follow her journey with some amazing side characters including my new favourite talking cat Cornelius. The story unfolds from there 🤭
I really loved how Foss truly found her worth throughout the length of the book, her character arc was truly stunning. There was the perfect amount of romance, and, although I found it a tad slow at times it always picked up shortly after. I was intrigued from the start about the world and constantly wanted to learn more about it. I was rooting for the characters, and I loved the balance between all of the different elements of the story.
The ending had me tearing up, it was honestly perfection 😭
Definitely add this to the tbr if you want a whimsical, unique read! ✨✨
gave-up-on
July 30, 2024I guess... maybe I just don't like anything that resembles Howl's Moving Castle? Or maybe I just absolutely couldn't understand this book. I made it to 50% before throwing in the towel.
The narrator is one of the most annoying narrators I've read in a while. She mentions how she is 'ugly' over 10 different times... she has absolutely no gumption, no inner worth, nothing. You would think accidentally being enchanted would help that? Nope. I like to make my own assumptions on characters and their beauty / worth. But if you're gonna tell me how this characters is ugly... and the only physical features you can give me is that she has red hair, she is bigger framed and pale skin? yeah. not buying it. So ugly = fat? Got it.
The sorcerer is absolutely someone with no character development and or interesting bits about him to make me want to be her end-game. Apparently he has to steal some (or harvest) some hearts. And at 50% he still hadn't harvested one, or shown any signs of why he didn't want to and or disliked it or felt indifferent to it.
I'm just out.
Out of respect for the author, I am refraining from rating.
The narrator is one of the most annoying narrators I've read in a while. She mentions how she is 'ugly' over 10 different times... she has absolutely no gumption, no inner worth, nothing. You would think accidentally being enchanted would help that? Nope. I like to make my own assumptions on characters and their beauty / worth. But if you're gonna tell me how this characters is ugly... and the only physical features you can give me is that she has red hair, she is bigger framed and pale skin? yeah. not buying it. So ugly = fat? Got it.
The sorcerer is absolutely someone with no character development and or interesting bits about him to make me want to be her end-game. Apparently he has to steal some (or harvest) some hearts. And at 50% he still hadn't harvested one, or shown any signs of why he didn't want to and or disliked it or felt indifferent to it.
I'm just out.
Out of respect for the author, I am refraining from rating.
Want to read
April 9, 2025I’m so in love with cozy romantasy lately, so hoping this is good 🤞
October 24, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for an ARC Kindle edition of Harvest of Hearts, by Andrea Eames!
Foss Butcher's life may seem simple, but it hums with an undercurrent of magical mystery that’s impossible to ignore. As the daughter of the village meat monger, Foss is as reliable and sturdy as the cleaver she wields, and goes about her duties in her father's shop with gratified (if cynical) contentment. She’s fine with her role in the small, tight-knit town on the day-to-day, and when The Sorceresses arrive on another gathering mission, she merely accepts it as part of existence. These enigmatic, gorgeous women, cloaked in power from the ruling Kingdom, come not only for herbs and tinctures from the village herbalist, but for pieces of the gentry's heart—yes, literal pieces.
They offer Foss' village an unusually reliable peace and prosperity in return, but no one really knows the truth behind the heart "snagging" magic, or why it's necessary to begin with. Foss has always accepted it as "just the way of things", until she's accidentally "snagged" by an incredibly rare male Sorcerer, Sylvester, and her world plunges into heartsick disorder.
Determined to get down to the bottom of her malady, and bring back answers for others that live in her village, Foss follows the wrenching in her chest (again, literally) to Sylvester in the main Kingdom, intending to retrieve that piece of her heart, while leaving him with a piece of her mind.
Eames' writing is nothing short of brilliant, and Foss' personality practically leaps off the page, thanks to the clever use of colloquial dialect that makes her narration feel authentic and engaging. The storytelling is so vivid and richly detailed, it’s impossible not to picture every scene unfolding in your mind, filled with colorful descriptions and quirky, laugh-out-loud metaphors.
But the real star? Cornelius, the talking cat. He absolutely stole my heart! He’s everything you’d expect a cat to be if they could speak—witty, aloof, and brimming with charm.
This book is packed with clever, realistic mystery reveals that kept me guessing at every turn. Nothing felt predictable or easy to figure out, which is a rare treat for me since that’s often one of my biggest gripes in tales with mysteries.
The one aspect that fell flat for me was the romance between Foss and Sylvester. While Foss is “snagged” and develops romantic feelings (which thankfully turn out to be more than just enchantment), their interactions didn’t quite live up to the potential. Sylvester, for his part, spent a good amount of time being depressed and bratty, while his redeeming qualities didn't shout "leading man" at me. There’s a sprinkle of romantic tension here and there, but nothing that really sizzled or felt inevitable. I was left wanting more depth and spark from their connection, but perhaps the author was intentional in her choice to down play that aspect and the expectations not met were my own fault.
In the end, A Harvest of Hearts is definitely worth the read! If you manage your expectations for the romance, you’ll find a captivating story that delivers on so many other levels. Don’t let that one aspect hold you back—dive in and enjoy the journey!
#netgalley
Foss Butcher's life may seem simple, but it hums with an undercurrent of magical mystery that’s impossible to ignore. As the daughter of the village meat monger, Foss is as reliable and sturdy as the cleaver she wields, and goes about her duties in her father's shop with gratified (if cynical) contentment. She’s fine with her role in the small, tight-knit town on the day-to-day, and when The Sorceresses arrive on another gathering mission, she merely accepts it as part of existence. These enigmatic, gorgeous women, cloaked in power from the ruling Kingdom, come not only for herbs and tinctures from the village herbalist, but for pieces of the gentry's heart—yes, literal pieces.
They offer Foss' village an unusually reliable peace and prosperity in return, but no one really knows the truth behind the heart "snagging" magic, or why it's necessary to begin with. Foss has always accepted it as "just the way of things", until she's accidentally "snagged" by an incredibly rare male Sorcerer, Sylvester, and her world plunges into heartsick disorder.
Determined to get down to the bottom of her malady, and bring back answers for others that live in her village, Foss follows the wrenching in her chest (again, literally) to Sylvester in the main Kingdom, intending to retrieve that piece of her heart, while leaving him with a piece of her mind.
Eames' writing is nothing short of brilliant, and Foss' personality practically leaps off the page, thanks to the clever use of colloquial dialect that makes her narration feel authentic and engaging. The storytelling is so vivid and richly detailed, it’s impossible not to picture every scene unfolding in your mind, filled with colorful descriptions and quirky, laugh-out-loud metaphors.
But the real star? Cornelius, the talking cat. He absolutely stole my heart! He’s everything you’d expect a cat to be if they could speak—witty, aloof, and brimming with charm.
This book is packed with clever, realistic mystery reveals that kept me guessing at every turn. Nothing felt predictable or easy to figure out, which is a rare treat for me since that’s often one of my biggest gripes in tales with mysteries.
The one aspect that fell flat for me was the romance between Foss and Sylvester. While Foss is “snagged” and develops romantic feelings (which thankfully turn out to be more than just enchantment), their interactions didn’t quite live up to the potential. Sylvester, for his part, spent a good amount of time being depressed and bratty, while his redeeming qualities didn't shout "leading man" at me. There’s a sprinkle of romantic tension here and there, but nothing that really sizzled or felt inevitable. I was left wanting more depth and spark from their connection, but perhaps the author was intentional in her choice to down play that aspect and the expectations not met were my own fault.
In the end, A Harvest of Hearts is definitely worth the read! If you manage your expectations for the romance, you’ll find a captivating story that delivers on so many other levels. Don’t let that one aspect hold you back—dive in and enjoy the journey!
#netgalley
April 24, 2025
Fairly bland, rote YA Romantasy. The synopsis compared this to Howl's Moving Castle, and it also reminded me quite a bit of Uprooted, so I figured I'd give it a try.
------------------------------
TL;DR I'd recommend Into the Heartless Wood. It basically does everything happening here AND adds: lore, character development, backstory, politics, a war, action sequences, stakes, and a very unique voice+format to how the alternating chapters are written. It's still a YA romantasy with stolen hearts and , still has a father relationship, and still has almost 100% the exact same plot for the king. It also has lovely prose and manages to be ~100 pages shorter!
------------------------------
There is absolutely no reason this needed to be a nearly 500 pg tome. Nearly nothing happens for the whole book, the characters have very little personality and development, and "mysteries" are dragged out for ages when they already held next to no intrigue.
- There's a war but we don't talk about it. (Who are the enemies? How long has it been going? What started the war? Who/where are the soldiers?)
- There's a king but we don't talk about it. (Where are the politics? Where is the court? Who does the king talk to? How does he give orders and what do they contain? Why do they have a king at all and what does he do?)
- There's a village but we don't talk about it. (How did she grow up? What is the culture? She just keeps repeating 2 things: she believes herself to be very ugly & everyone is scared of having their heart taken.)
- There's a magic system and while we do talk about it (a LOT), we don't talk about it outside of a single use case and we also don't otherwise use it. (They need to take hearts from the peasants to power their magic... what magic? What does the magic do? How is it used? Why is it worth the sacrifice?)
There's no culture and no richness and no history. The MC loves her father but why should I care? I'm never shown enough to love him and be invested in their relationship. Does she even have a single other friend or family member or long-standing relationship with a single person in her village? I'm inclined to believe no. And the MMC is a sexy-born-yesterday love interest who therefore also has nothing to offer. Everything is so static and exists in a vacuum to serve the most basic and unoriginal of story premises, but I never felt any heart.
Honestly this feels like fanfiction turned trad, because without the IP it was originally based on it has absolutely nothing.
The cat is somewhat fun? But not nearly as much as the author thinks (though I do appreciate that he continues to have prominence and be shoe-horned into scenes instead of sidelined like a lot of books with animal companions do).
------------------------------
TL;DR I'd recommend Into the Heartless Wood. It basically does everything happening here AND adds: lore, character development, backstory, politics, a war, action sequences, stakes, and a very unique voice+format to how the alternating chapters are written. It's still a YA romantasy with stolen hearts and , still has a father relationship, and still has almost 100% the exact same plot for the king. It also has lovely prose and manages to be ~100 pages shorter!
------------------------------
There is absolutely no reason this needed to be a nearly 500 pg tome. Nearly nothing happens for the whole book, the characters have very little personality and development, and "mysteries" are dragged out for ages when they already held next to no intrigue.
- There's a war but we don't talk about it. (Who are the enemies? How long has it been going? What started the war? Who/where are the soldiers?)
- There's a king but we don't talk about it. (Where are the politics? Where is the court? Who does the king talk to? How does he give orders and what do they contain? Why do they have a king at all and what does he do?)
- There's a village but we don't talk about it. (How did she grow up? What is the culture? She just keeps repeating 2 things: she believes herself to be very ugly & everyone is scared of having their heart taken.)
- There's a magic system and while we do talk about it (a LOT), we don't talk about it outside of a single use case and we also don't otherwise use it. (They need to take hearts from the peasants to power their magic... what magic? What does the magic do? How is it used? Why is it worth the sacrifice?)
There's no culture and no richness and no history. The MC loves her father but why should I care? I'm never shown enough to love him and be invested in their relationship. Does she even have a single other friend or family member or long-standing relationship with a single person in her village? I'm inclined to believe no. And the MMC is a sexy-born-yesterday love interest who therefore also has nothing to offer. Everything is so static and exists in a vacuum to serve the most basic and unoriginal of story premises, but I never felt any heart.
Honestly this feels like fanfiction turned trad, because without the IP it was originally based on it has absolutely nothing.
The cat is somewhat fun? But not nearly as much as the author thinks (though I do appreciate that he continues to have prominence and be shoe-horned into scenes instead of sidelined like a lot of books with animal companions do).
October 7, 2025
✨Review: Howl's Moving Castle for Grown Ups
A Harvest of Hearts is a love letter to Howl's Moving Castle, both the film and the book by Diana Wynne Jones, and to the adults that spent their childhood dreaming of the titular Castle. Especially to the little girls who resonated with Sophie's glum belief that she was nothing special and that life was something that happened to her, not something she got to partake in.
Foss is very similar to Sophie and the Sorcerer is Howl without the Welsh rugby jacket, and instead of a Moving Castle it's a House made all up in black. Despite the similarities to a story you already know, it manages to be it's own tale, oozing with the signature charm and humor Wynne Jones is known for, but aimed at an older crowd. Harvest of Hearts manages to feel comfortable and familiar, like putting on an old favorite sweater, while telling a new generation what Sophie Hatter did in mine: You're not born wrong for being different. You are wonderful, you are good enough, and you are worthy of love, especially from yourself. It's a timeless message delivered in a new vehicle here, and one that's close to my heart. Absolutely a new favorite of mine and I hope it gets all the love and attention it deserves.
✨☆ Fun Factor 5/5 (I was reading 200 pages a sitting)
✨☆ Writing Style 5/5
✨☆ Characters 5/5
✨☆ Plot 4/5
✨☆ Setting 5/5
✨☆ Feels 5/5 (I cried a few times)
✨☆ Spiciness 2/5 (lots of talk about jerking off, a sex scene that's mostly fade to black)
✨☆ Gore 3/5 (some body horror elements, butcher talk, decent amount of blood)
✨If this were a movie it'd be rated: PG-13 for mild sexual situations, crude humor, fantasy violence, murders
✨☆FOR FANS OF: Howl's Moving Castle, the book or the movie. Studio Ghibli films and that sort of "cozy horror" vibe that runs in their movies. You might also like The Dollmakers if you enjoy this one
✨Ultimate verdict: ☆☆☆☆☆/5
✨☆☆☆Best Character Award goes to:☆☆☆ The entire cast is loveable and charismatic, from the bratty Sorcerer, talking cat Cornelius, and of course our plucky leading lady Foss Butcher. I can't pick one, they come as a group, don't separate them.
✨One of my top 10 reads for March 2025!!!:
A Harvest of Hearts is a love letter to Howl's Moving Castle, both the film and the book by Diana Wynne Jones, and to the adults that spent their childhood dreaming of the titular Castle. Especially to the little girls who resonated with Sophie's glum belief that she was nothing special and that life was something that happened to her, not something she got to partake in.
Foss is very similar to Sophie and the Sorcerer is Howl without the Welsh rugby jacket, and instead of a Moving Castle it's a House made all up in black. Despite the similarities to a story you already know, it manages to be it's own tale, oozing with the signature charm and humor Wynne Jones is known for, but aimed at an older crowd. Harvest of Hearts manages to feel comfortable and familiar, like putting on an old favorite sweater, while telling a new generation what Sophie Hatter did in mine: You're not born wrong for being different. You are wonderful, you are good enough, and you are worthy of love, especially from yourself. It's a timeless message delivered in a new vehicle here, and one that's close to my heart. Absolutely a new favorite of mine and I hope it gets all the love and attention it deserves.
✨☆ Fun Factor 5/5 (I was reading 200 pages a sitting)
✨☆ Writing Style 5/5
✨☆ Characters 5/5
✨☆ Plot 4/5
✨☆ Setting 5/5
✨☆ Feels 5/5 (I cried a few times)
✨☆ Spiciness 2/5 (lots of talk about jerking off, a sex scene that's mostly fade to black)
✨☆ Gore 3/5 (some body horror elements, butcher talk, decent amount of blood)
✨If this were a movie it'd be rated: PG-13 for mild sexual situations, crude humor, fantasy violence, murders
✨☆FOR FANS OF: Howl's Moving Castle, the book or the movie. Studio Ghibli films and that sort of "cozy horror" vibe that runs in their movies. You might also like The Dollmakers if you enjoy this one
✨Ultimate verdict: ☆☆☆☆☆/5
✨☆☆☆Best Character Award goes to:☆☆☆ The entire cast is loveable and charismatic, from the bratty Sorcerer, talking cat Cornelius, and of course our plucky leading lady Foss Butcher. I can't pick one, they come as a group, don't separate them.
✨One of my top 10 reads for March 2025!!!:
March 4, 2025
Thanks as always to Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC! Publishes tomorrow, March 4th!
This was a good book, had potential to be great but was good.
The magic system was not like any other I have come across where sorcerers take pieces of hearts to work their magic. Cornelius the talking cat was hands down my favorite character and some of the best parts of the book. Very dry British-ish humor that I love!
The ending was orchestrated perfectly with all the choices being made, with the exception of feeling rushed once we finally got to that part. We didn't get a lot of face time with the villain either which kind of made for some meh moments.
This was a good book, had potential to be great but was good.
The magic system was not like any other I have come across where sorcerers take pieces of hearts to work their magic. Cornelius the talking cat was hands down my favorite character and some of the best parts of the book. Very dry British-ish humor that I love!
The ending was orchestrated perfectly with all the choices being made, with the exception of feeling rushed once we finally got to that part. We didn't get a lot of face time with the villain either which kind of made for some meh moments.
May 19, 2025
A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames 🐈⬛🌙🔮💔
A stolen heart. A house stitched with magic. And a girl who just can’t stop calling herself ugly.
This book had such a promising start. A Harvest of Hearts is whimsical and filled with fairytale charm—a sentient house, a moody sorcerer, a snarky cat, and a girl missing her heart (literally). At first, it gave me major Howl’s Moving Castle vibes in all the best ways. I struggled a bit with the writing style, but once I settled in, I found myself genuinely enjoying the journey.
But that spark didn’t last. Around the 75% mark, the story lost its rhythm—the plot got messy, the pacing felt rushed, and editing mistakes became hard to ignore. What really dragged the whole thing down for me, though, was Foss’s constant self-loathing. The way she fixated on being “ugly” or “plain” was relentless—it wasn’t just a passing insecurity, it was baked into the book from start to finish. By the end, it felt like her entire identity was shaped around not being beautiful enough, and I was honestly just over it (and perhaps that was the point, it just didn’t work for me).
I wanted to love this—and for a while, I thought I might. But the deeper I went, the more it seemed to unravel.
If you’re a fan of magical realism with a whimsy, fairytale edge, you might still enjoy this book!
A stolen heart. A house stitched with magic. And a girl who just can’t stop calling herself ugly.
This book had such a promising start. A Harvest of Hearts is whimsical and filled with fairytale charm—a sentient house, a moody sorcerer, a snarky cat, and a girl missing her heart (literally). At first, it gave me major Howl’s Moving Castle vibes in all the best ways. I struggled a bit with the writing style, but once I settled in, I found myself genuinely enjoying the journey.
But that spark didn’t last. Around the 75% mark, the story lost its rhythm—the plot got messy, the pacing felt rushed, and editing mistakes became hard to ignore. What really dragged the whole thing down for me, though, was Foss’s constant self-loathing. The way she fixated on being “ugly” or “plain” was relentless—it wasn’t just a passing insecurity, it was baked into the book from start to finish. By the end, it felt like her entire identity was shaped around not being beautiful enough, and I was honestly just over it (and perhaps that was the point, it just didn’t work for me).
I wanted to love this—and for a while, I thought I might. But the deeper I went, the more it seemed to unravel.
If you’re a fan of magical realism with a whimsy, fairytale edge, you might still enjoy this book!
May 6, 2025
22 pages in, and I'm so very bored. I don't like romance or fantasy or romantasy in general. So I need to be hooked from the start to stick with it. Moving onto Stephen King next.
November 10, 2024
Cozy fantasy, gothic fairy tale vibes.
ON SALE 2.25.2025
If I could give this a 4.5 stars I would! First off, thank you to Goodreads giveaways, Kensington Books, and author Andrea Eames for this copy of my FIRST ever ARC! This book will always have a special place in my heart (no pun intended ♡😉♡).
It is such a coincidence that I won this ARC as it is compared to the book Howl's Moving Castle which is a book that I just read this year back in August for the first time. I must say that I was not the biggest fan of the writing style for Howl's Moving Castle and that story was laid out oddly. However, I love the Studio Ghibli movie in comparison. Anyways, THIS book, is fantastic and is genuinely so much better than Howl's Moving Castle in my humble opinion. Much better writing style and the story isn't all over the place like Howl's Moving Castle was. And although this book is compared to Howl's Moving Castle it moves into a different direction which makes it uniquely its own.
One thing that I loved about this book was the wit and dark humor within it. For example, Foss (the main character), walks into a dirty room and thinks, "this room smelled of the over-ripe armpits of a dozen fancy ladies." There are other silly quotes that made me giggle and I love that type of goofiness and humor in a book. Cornelius the cat was also another love for me in this book, because how could he not be?
If you would like a book that you can drink a warm cup of coffee with and bundle up to, this is the perfect cozy fantasy read for you. I love that I read this during Halloween time because it made it all that much more cozy to me. Also, the ending gives ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ vibes!
ON SALE 2.25.2025
If I could give this a 4.5 stars I would! First off, thank you to Goodreads giveaways, Kensington Books, and author Andrea Eames for this copy of my FIRST ever ARC! This book will always have a special place in my heart (no pun intended ♡😉♡).
It is such a coincidence that I won this ARC as it is compared to the book Howl's Moving Castle which is a book that I just read this year back in August for the first time. I must say that I was not the biggest fan of the writing style for Howl's Moving Castle and that story was laid out oddly. However, I love the Studio Ghibli movie in comparison. Anyways, THIS book, is fantastic and is genuinely so much better than Howl's Moving Castle in my humble opinion. Much better writing style and the story isn't all over the place like Howl's Moving Castle was. And although this book is compared to Howl's Moving Castle it moves into a different direction which makes it uniquely its own.
One thing that I loved about this book was the wit and dark humor within it. For example, Foss (the main character), walks into a dirty room and thinks, "this room smelled of the over-ripe armpits of a dozen fancy ladies." There are other silly quotes that made me giggle and I love that type of goofiness and humor in a book. Cornelius the cat was also another love for me in this book, because how could he not be?
If you would like a book that you can drink a warm cup of coffee with and bundle up to, this is the perfect cozy fantasy read for you. I love that I read this during Halloween time because it made it all that much more cozy to me. Also, the ending gives ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ vibes!
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