'Harvest of Hearts' wears its stated influence on its sleeve -- those familiar with 'Howl's Moving Castle' will find themselves feeling, as the genre suggests, comfortably in a familiar fantasy. That said, the front portion of the novel leans on it hard enough that it sometimes felt like if the prose leaned just a liiiittle bit harder into the inspiration, the Hollywood-style cut-out of a house facade would accidentally tip over and reveal Hayao Miyazaki crouched behind. Certain events and descriptions were precisely lifted from the visuals of that tale, and, while very pleasing, they may also have done 'Hearts' characters a disservice in having them dogged by a constant comparison to something else.

The beginning was also peppered with my notes of "one too many metaphors near each other" or "stop using 'as I said' five seconds after your statement!!' -- but I did find these feelings falling off as the story picked up more and more. It is an engaging and constantly moving narrative; it never felt like we were trapped in an unnecessary sidetrack or "convenient" turn (at least, no more convenient than any fairytale handles). There was definitely a break between first and second half, however. From an out-and-out "cozy fantasy", where everything feels crisp and dangerous, but that danger will pleasantly stay just around the corner, Eames veers heavily into violent, viscera, and very heavy subjects. "Whimsical" leaps out the window and is impaled upon the spokes of the castle gates. I started to worry that some might pick the book up and be quite taken aback by the jarring turn.

In a way, this does reflect the journey of our main character, Foss, moving from sheltered to shattered. And we do appreciate a good heartily sensible main character (bonus for a healthy parental relationship. Beyond the initial inspirations, I felt a sutler but pleasant gleam of Molly from "Last Unicorn' here, especially with an unbothered feline at her side. She did linger quite a bit on her "condition" in a way that I felt the narrative had already explained us past - like she kept asking questions we already knew were moot. Maybe I misread somewhere, but it did become rather frustrating when on-going.

On a personal level: of course I deeply loved our flippant sorcerer. Of course I wanted to hear all about the magic, and the darkness just at the edge of things that look handsome. The trio in the House worked well together, when able to be in the same room at once. I didn't appreciate the final change in Foss and Sylvester's relationship; I think it would have been better without having to go there. The lack of a fourth star, however, is entirely encompassed by the very end and its conclusion. I found that, after the heaviness and thematic overtones of that aggressive (somewhat rushed) second half, the result cheapened it all. And I was sorry that this would be my final, lingering impression of the read!

All said.... very practical-minded talking cats are a cheap way to my heart. Three stars for cats. (Not true... but also true.)

I absolutely loved the heroine here and her wit and view of the world felt very refreshing. Sadly Foss lacks the belief that she is actually enough but I could empathise with that as in her magical kingdom she’s rare in that her mother died giving birth so it’s believed she’s cursed. When she catches sight of a rare male Sorcerer a spell gone awry causes Foss to feel the need to follow him and there she discovers that the heart magic everyone takes for granted isn’t harmless or without a terrible cost to some.
I eagerly turned the pages here and thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and yet I hesitate to rate a five because I felt the interactions between Foss and Sylvester for the first half of the story well frankly just lacked a little something. I did find that the introduction of Cornelius at this point made up for that somewhat as he’s certainly a supporting character that steals the scene ! The story flowed well and was easy to follow but for this reader the romance aspect felt rushed at the end. Would I recommend ? Yes absolutely and will happily read more from this author.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

One of my first 5 star reads of this year!!!. The story follows Foss, a no nonsense butcher in a land ruled by a sorcerer king and his magical daughters , all whom steal the hearts from the subjects in their kingdom to use in their magic .Foss encounters the rare son of the king on his trip to the village. He is the only male sorcerer ever created and accidentally snags Foss’s heart and she has to follow him home in order to cure the horrible heart sickness that has come over her ! This author has shown so much talent , and has created such a rich and captivating magical system, the magical house and the way it is described as a living, breathing moving thing. A talking cat , a tale of love and the search for a cure for the kingdom, this book is epic and I am so excited to see what is next from this author- also I might add on a personal note is SUCH a nice person and is so sweet and gracious and very present to her readers on social media . I can’t wait to read , and support all your future projects. Thank you Andrea and the publisher for this arc for my honest review !

Thank you NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the ARC I received in exchange of an honest review.

A Harvest of Hearts is a book that follows Foss, a girl who has never left her village before and never wondered much about what lies outside. One day a sorcerer comes to town and she finds herself “snagged” and cannot get the sorcerer off of her mind.

The story had so much potential but I found that I did not enjoy the authors writing style. Many sentences were absurdly long which made them awkward. Other times the sentences were too descriptive and the adjectives felt overwhelming.

Foss herself was not an interesting character and it became insufferable to hear her constantly talk about how “ugly” she was and how she must be worthless because of this. I swear barely a page went by without her mentioning her ugliness.

Overall I found myself rarely reaching for the book and when I did I barely wanted to read much. None of the characters were interesting and as much as I wanted to love Cornelius, because many people said he was the saving grace, I failed to feel that connection.

The magical house was the most interesting part of the book. More interesting than Foss our lead character. And more interesting than the relationship between Foss and Sylvester. There was zero intrigue, angst, or build up of any kind between the two. Their random sec scene felt so odd and out of place I honestly wish it had been excluded. Foss is for the first time feeling what it’s like to be with Sylvester and not be under a spell and now she for certain can confirm she loves him? Yeah I don’t buy that at all.

I appreciated the ending, however, for a king who was supposed to be all powerful it felt like too easy of an ending and wasn’t satisfying.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a lot of fun! I thought the magic system was very interesting and I thought the ending was great. If you enjoy cozy one off fantasies, you should give this one a try.

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ (4.5/5)

Okay, you NEED to read this book. Imagine "Howl’s Moving Castle" but darker, weirder, and with a bacon-loving talking cat who totally steals the show. It is whimsical, a little eerie, and unexpectedly deep. It’s the kind of fantasy that sneaks up on you, tugs at your heart (literally), and refuses to let go.

Foss, our FMC, is a butcher’s daughter who just wants her heart back after a sorcerer (hello, moody and mysterious Sylvester) accidentally “snags” it. Instead of simply retrieving it, she gets roped into his chaotic household - full of shifting rooms, strange magic, and secrets way bigger than she bargained for. Oh, and Cornelius the cat? Absolutely iconic.

I adored Foss. She’s no-nonsense, rough around the edges, and refreshingly REAL. She’s not your typical breathtakingly beautiful heroine, and that’s exactly what makes her so compelling. Her journey of self-worth and discovery was just as gripping as the magic system. And speaking of magic, heart magic? Genius. My only wish? More Foss and Sylvester interactions! Their slow-burn dynamic had so much potential.

If you love cozy yet dark fantasy, snarky talking animals, and a magic system that’s equal parts beautiful and unsettling... "A Harvest of Hearts" is IT. READ IT. LOVE IT. THEN COME SCREAM ABOUT IT WITH ME!!


Thank you to Andrea Eames, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for the free ARC
#AHarvestofHearts #NetGalley

A HARVEST OF HEARTS - ANDREA EAMES

When someone described this book as having serious Howl's Moving Castle vibes, I knew that I had to read it. And, with a sorcerer, a 'plain' FMC, magic and an unexpected sidekick, I can see why A Harvest of Hearts might draw these comparisons. But I'd argue that this book is unique and special enough to stand on its own.

While there are elements I'd associate with cosy fantasy, like found family, sweet and subtle romance and that aforementioned sidekick, I was surprised by how dark A Harvest of Hearts got at some points. And that makes sense, since the magic system in this book is powered by harvested human hearts, after all. This makes the stakes fairly high, especially when our endearing, no-nonsense FMC, Foss, gets snagged by mistake.

Since I gave this book five stars, it's a given that I loved this book. I found Foss relatable and loved that her part in this tale was also about her finding her own self worth and strength. I also enjoyed the book's worldbuilding and the unique - and at-times sinister - magic system.

While the plot had me hooked from start to end, it was the characters that I most dreaded saying goodbye to, including that absolute scene-stealer of an animal sidekick! If you love strong fantasy standalones that somehow manage to feel cosy AND a bit dark at the same time, then you need to read A Harvest of Hearts.

Thank you to Andrea Eames, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC.

Release date: 4 March 2025

Review score: 5/5

Trigger warnings: d*ath, violence, injury detail, gore, child abduction

4 🌟

This was a truly lovely read, fairytale-like and dreamy, with a solid protagonist and enough action to keep everything exciting.

Howl's Moving Castle is one of my favorite books (and movies), so the inspiration here is obvious. However, the novel stands strongly on its own, with unique and fascinating world-building that had me intrigued to the very last page.

I absolutely loved this book and found it so fun and enjoyable. And Cornelius is the best boy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This is a fun, whimsical standalone fantasy with a touch of romance and a really interesting magic system.

However, I don't think I would really describe it as a cosy fantasy (even though it has a talking cat) as the stakes are too high and a lot of the story is quite dark. If you're after a cosy fantasy like Legends and Lattes or Can't Spell Treason Without Tea, this is not on that same level at all.

A Harvest of Hearts is much more epic and at times I was really stressed for the main character. Foss is exactly the no-nonsence character I love. She is a normal person thrown into extraordinary circumstances who manages to keep a lot of her humour as things look increasingly dire.

While it is largely a subplot, I love the way she comes to accept that she is great and worthy of love just as she is. She is strong, sensible and definitely the person you want on your side while battling and evil king and his awful magic.

Although I was expecting more cosy vibes, I fully enjoyed this book and will happily recommend it to fans of whimsical fantasy, as well as re-read it in the future.

If you love a good slow burn mixed of the cosy vibes of “Howl’s Moving Castle “ this is for you! I loved how cosy, funny and heartwarming this was and the talking cat? It’s the best!

A Harvest of Hearts is described as a cozy fantasy for those who love Howl's Moving Castle, so I had to check it out. It's me, I'm the target audience, and I completely adored this book.

The story starts slowly, picks up pace as you go, and I soon found myself unable to stop reading. While it brings all the cozy vibes, a talking cat, and a sentient house that ships them, it's a pretty dark tale with hidden depths. Things aren't at all low-stake, as our characters find themselves with the lives (and hearts) of an entire kingdom in their hands. They end up witnessing and being on the receiving end of gruesome, evil deeds and making great sacrifices to defeat the baddies. It does have a happy ending, but after all they go through it feels well earned and not at all forced.

I'm a big fan of interesting magic systems with limitations and drawbacks, and I loved the execution of this concept here. It ties into the plot really well and makes for a good transition into the later events.

The romance between Foss and Sylvester is a very slow burn, and slightly questionable for a while due to the influence of magic, but I found it very sweet by the end of the story. They both start as super goofy and insecure because of very different reasons, and I like how they work through that and find their strengths.

This immediately became one of my favorite books ever. If you - like me - want more stories of strong girls and bewildered wizards saving the world like in Howl's Moving Castle and Uprooted, you'll love this one!

✨ Disclaimer ✨ I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.

DNF @ 30%

The story is slow & meandering & while I love the talking cat I just cannot get into this.

Others will love the world building and slowness of the pace but it just not for me.

I liked the prose of the book, the world, & the magic system. Unfortunately though I felt the book was too long and the FMC was very frustrating with her constantly iterating her "ugly" appearance. The first half didn't have a lot going on and by the second half I was frustrated it took so long to feel like anything was progressing in the story. It wasn't a bad book but it wasn't for me.

Based on the description I thought I would enjoy this book a lot more than I did. It had elements I loved .. a unique magic, a talking cat, and an expressive and everchanging house. Add in the inflictions of the Snagged and this story had a lot going for it. However I found the disparaging thought of Foss as very off-putting. I get she has self esteem issues due to her looks but I felt like too much at times. Also the attraction to Sylvester is a bit questionable as she is very much under a spell for the majority of the story. I know the story was meant to have a HEA but I felt like so much was left unanswered to the state of the kingdom. I ended up with so many questions and as such it kind of left a bitter taste in my mouth, so to speak.

Rating 3 stars

I truly wish I could re-read this book again for the first time. I think we as a book community downplay the importance and artistry it takes to write a cozy novel, one that truly makes the reader feel a sense if comfort. Harvest of hearts was an absolute joy, I laughed out loud more than once and left with those warm fuzzies. All of that and a talking cat? Swoon. I need more of this world immediately.

The cozy fantasy genre has been super popular and I'm loving it. Harvest of Hearts seemed to fit right in with the rest of em. And it was!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book wanting to love it as it's described as having a similar whimsical feel as Howl's Moving Castle, but I was left a little underwhelmed. The book took a while to really take off, and I found it hard to keep my interest at times.

It is whimsical, but not as much as I would have liked. It is also a slow burn romance. The world building was interesting, and Cornelius the cat was the star of the show. However, the FMC could be rather frustrating at times with her self-deprecating remarks, and the MMC Sylvester did not interest me at all. His personality was just dull.

The overall plot idea was interesting, and the end did have a little twist to it, but I feel like they could have done so much more with it. All in all, it was not a bad read, but it is not one I will remember and want to come back to. Still check it out if it interests you as you may like it.

A Harvest of Hearts presents a promising concept with its magic system, which stands out as the book's most intriguing feature. The magic itself feels unique and well-conceived, offering an interesting twist that adds depth to the plot. However, the world-building overall is quite minimal, leaving much of the setting and its nuances underexplored. This lack of detail in the world left me wanting more in terms of immersion and context.

The protagonist, while compelling in some respects, is burdened with a heavy criticism that makes it difficult to connect with them on an emotional level. Their character arc feels somewhat stagnant, and their development is overshadowed by their pessimistic outlook. Additionally, the supporting characters also suffer from a lack of depth, contributing to a sense of emotional distance throughout the story.

While Harvest of Hearts delivers a fresh take on magic, its lack of world-building and flat characters may leave some readers feeling disconnected from the story. It's a promising idea, but one that doesn't quite live up to its potential.

Nope. There are so .any better versions of this story put there, that this was just not needed. Too.bad, it sounded so good from the blurb.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I see whimsical and I must read🧎🏼‍♀️ and this is a truly whimsical story. It's magical and quirky, the writing is fun and witty and the characters are likable and feel authentic. This is possibly blasphemy but it was compared to Howls Moving Castle and I actually might have preferred this