A Harvest of Hearts definitely has the feel of Howl's Moving Castle until the secrets become more harrowing and dark.

In a land where bits of hearts are harvested to sustain magic and peace across a kingdom lives Foss. A sturdy butcher's daughter, raised by a doting father in a small village on the outskirts of her kingdom. Her life is fairly ordinary until the day a sorcerer comes and ensorcells her heart, leading her on the adventure of a lifetime.

I'm a bit torn, much like Foss. There are definitely parallels in the story of Howl's Moving Castle (the movie more so than the book) and A Harvest of Hearts, which I deeply appreciated. Especially at the beginning. And yet I wasn't entirely blown away like I hoped to be.

I struggled with the relationship between Foss and the sorcerer. I’m not sure if it was the pacing of the book, or the repetitive, intrusive thoughts of Foss, but I never really felt a relationship develop between the two. Just a forced codependency. Frankly, the relationship between Foss and Cornelius was more compelling. I could read a whole book on the two of them faffing about, saving their world. Cornelius is by far the star of the book. He absolutely cracked me up, and his nature was incredibly spot on.

Despite my misgivings about the overall plot Foss is a lovable character. She's stalwart, resilient, and hearty (maybe the pun is intended?). She's human and makes the best of her situation. I appreciate that.

Overall I give this a solid 3.5 stars. I think it's an entertaining story that will worm its way into the hearts of those that read it.

A huge thank you for Kensington Publishing and net galley for providing this arc!

I went in blind for this book, like I always do, and was instantly hooked by the narrative. Foss had such a unique way to tell her story, that I could not stop once I started.

I really liked the idea of heart harvesting and how the hearts could be used to do magic! I feel like I haven't seen (read) something like this before. With the talking cat and house with some kind of consciousness I enjoyed the start of the book and Foss' adventures very much! But really, I did not care about the sorcerer at all. Cornelius carried this book for me!

While the book had a very cool story, it in some parts reminded me of Howl's moving castle, and maybe too much. With the beautiful magic makers, talking cat (Cornelius - Calcifer), the house with consciousness, and Foss' unexpected becoming of the sorcerer's house maid, I felt like very many main points very already familiar to me. I didn't mind this as much at the end, when we clearly turned into different direction from the Howl's moving castle.

The interesting world building, Foss' unique narrative and Cornelius, still how ever made this a four star book!

I loved this cosy adventure, it was an easy read that had me immersed in the magic of it all, fun read overall.

A Harvest of Hearts was a fun mix of whimsical setting, unique magic, and a stubborn FMC. The story’s Howl’s Moving Castle-esque elements make for great imagery and I found Foss to be a refreshing protagonist.

However while the premise was intriguing I struggled with the pacing, certain moments felt rushed and other moments felt dragged out. The romance while engaging sometimes felt too under-explored.

Overall A Harvest of Hearts is an enjoyable read for fans of the genre even if this specific story wasn’t a fit for me!

This was a cozy, whimsical fantasy. It was an easy quick read. I will always love a book with cats as characters. Was this a literary masterpiece I'll reference for years to come? meh, no. But it was fun! If you're looking for a quick read with a fun magic system, give this one a chance.

Part cozy fantasy, part gothic fairytale vibes and I am here for it! The theme of self love and acceptance is a big part of this book and I truly enjoyed reading that. Sometimes there are books that truly connect with and this is one of them.

ARC Review Of 📚 A Harvest Of Hearts

Release Date : 4th March 2025

There’s nothing in the world I love more than a book that reminds me of Howl’s Moving Castle. It’s my favorite Studio Ghibli movie, and this book captured that same whimsical yet deeply magical feeling.

Foss was incredibly relatable to me. That experience of growing up believing you’re special because your parents treated you like you were only to face a world that isn’t nearly as kind? I understood that all too well. Her journey felt so personal and real, making the story all the more immersive.

And Cornelius, the cat? Absolutely delightful. He reminded me so much of Jiji from Kiki’s Delivery Service, bringing that perfect mix of sass and charm. Every scene with him was pure joy.

Sylvester, on the other hand, was effortlessly charismatic, and his relationship with Foss was one of the best parts of the book. Their dynamic was so engaging, and I loved seeing how it developed.

Then there’s the magic system harvesting hearts for magic? It was dark, unique, and utterly fascinating to explore. The book started off with cozy, whimsical vibes, but as the story progressed, it took a darker turn in the best possible way.

Overall, I adored this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves enchanting magic, compelling characters, and a story that evolves in unexpected ways.

This book was so my vibe—fairy-tale magic, intrigue, and a hint of darkness. It’s been compared to Howl’s Moving Castle, and I totally see it, but it also stands strong on its own.

Foss gets her heart (literally) stolen by a sorcerer, Sylvester, and she’s not having it. She tracks him down, moves into his magical house as his “housekeeper,” and starts investigating. The talking cat? Instant favorite. The father-daughter relationship? So sweet. And Sylvester? Emotionally detached, disturbingly attractive, and definitely hiding something.

What starts out whimsical turns darker as the truth about the kingdom’s magic unfolds. The heart-stealing sorceresses aren’t exactly evil, just completely inhuman, and the magic system is both fascinating and brutal. The romance is a slow burn, but it works—Foss fights the pull, and Sylvester doesn’t even realise he’s being drawn in.

I was hooked the whole way through. It’s not a perfect book, but it gave me everything I wanted, and I loved it. 5 stars!

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you’re looking for a leisurely read with a unique take on a magical world; with some romance thrown in of course. Then this book is for you. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Foss and Sylvester’s story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!!

Foss is the definition of an ordinary girl living an ordinary life, and it's not hard to love her from the first moment we meet her. She faces struggles and a life that seems so realistic, and you truly yearn for what she yearns for. The magic in the book as well seems natural if slightly sinister, and the true nature of it grows so well throughout the book.

Sylvester is goth Howl redesigned, and I truly love that he is aloof and out of touch, but at the same time so earnest and endearing. I also will ride at dawn for Cornelius and would let him harvest my heart ANY time.

The book has a simple style of writing that made it difficult to put down, and i loved the twists and turns the story made. I absolutely will be picking up a physical copy of this book and look forward to enjoying it again and again!!

The best things about this book are the talking cat and the cover. It was slow and boring and the ending was too rushed. The characters didn't have any chemistry.

A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames is a cosy fantasy novel with elements of romance and a unique magic system. I really enjoyed the magical aspects of this novel, especially Sylvester’s magical house and Cornielius the talking cat.

As a new reader to romance and romantasy I enjoyed the slow burn romance in this novel and thought it was fairly well done.

I would have liked to have seen a bit more character development, especially when it came to Sylvester who had a lot of potential but ultimately lacked depth.

My main negative with the book was the pacing, at times I had to force myself to pick the book up and other times I couldn’t put it down. I felt it could have had some words cut from the middle and added to the final quarter, which I felt was a bit rushed and took away from the ending slightly.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and rated it 3.5 stars. I would recommend this book for someone looking for a cosy fantasy read, with slow burn romance and a unique magic system.

A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames was an intriguing tale of fantasy wrapped with a bit Gothic vibes and just the touch of romance. It was a slow burn with the story picking up the pace towards the end and ending in an explosive way. The story also has an witty undertone despite the core idea being very morbid. Foss and Sylvester went from enemies to co warriors in a war against the establishment to lovers.

I have not read this one book mentioned in the Blurb or mentioned in the review. I personally felt it gets inspiration from Alice in the Wonderland and put that in anither fantasy setting. Let me explain. So Foss lives in a small village of a kingdom ruled by sorcereress and Magik. The magical power is obtained from the people's hearts. That comes with devastating effects but everyone accepts it. When her heart gets Snagged by a male sorcerer and she feels heartsick..she travels to the city to find her heart. And she finds a house made of a magical black thing and with it's own ways and with a cat named Cornelius who can talk. The house is an entity run on the sorcerer aka Sylvester's magic but has its own mind. So begins ad adventure of finding her heart and cure for other people. Slowly she realises that Sylvester isn't like other sorcerers. The king and the Magik is evil. But they had to fight a lot and sacrifice a lot to beat that.

The story is told in Foss' POV. Sometimes she feels like this fierce fearless bada&&. Sometimes she feels like a woman full of insecurities and doubt. She is definitely special. I feel Sylvester's character couldn't grow up to it's full potential. For most part, we see a sullen and cold and indifferent side. But towards very end, you can see the good soul that has power and determination and true emotions. Their chemistry didn't have enough chance to shine as majority of the story was about the heart magic and it's complexity and the secrets. Cornelius is definitely star of the story. I enjoyed the puzzle pieces coming together. The last 15% or so was absolutely amazing and had me on the edge of my seat. The ending was so sweet and of course, they lived happily ever after.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

This was a whimsical, almost fairytale-esque story rolling Foss our lead a butcher's daughter who has her heart snagged by a handsome sorcerer. There was a lot happening in this world and in this story, I feel that it could have used a little bit more in terms of world-building and the nature of the magics.
But this story was fun and easy to read, with a sentient house, and a talking cat as part of the cast of characters being a huge win in my books.

I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars for this book, but am rounding up because I think the strengths outweigh the weaknesses, and I flew through the story!

Not going to lie, I wasn't sure how I felt about the writing style at first. Our main character, Foss, can be super self-deprecating in a way that just felt a little too much when you first meet her. It's a kind of "oh no, do I have to listen to this for a whole book," type of feeling. There is also a LOT of information dumped out at once in long paragraphs that was intimidating to see. But the more I read, the more it flowed in a way I enjoyed, and Foss, while remaining self-deprecating, also grows as a character. She is super smart and resilient, so even though she puts herself down (she finds herself very ugly) she is NOT a character that sits around and does nothing but feel bad for herself the whole time.

There is a talking cat named Cornelius who steals the show. He is such a perfect character, I have no flaws to speak of for him.

Sylvester, the sorcerer, is definitely annoying at first, seemingly spoiled with very little to root for, but you the more you learn about his background, the more he grows on you. And Sylvester's house is its own character that was super fun to learn about.

My main issue for this book is that I wanted SO much more relationship development between Foss and Sylvester. I really feel like we don't get enough interactions between them to truly feel the spark. I also don't know I feel about the "plain girl=good, pretty girls=bad" type of storyline, but Foss really is so endearing. I love that she is a butcher's daughter who comes from a loving family and that she loves her dad so much. I love that she had a kind of flat but snarky humor and that she has low self-esteem but doesn't let it hold her back from throwing herself into problem solving. This book does a great job at showing how to make a character flawed but easy to love, as well.

I will also say, there is a darkness that really takes hold of the story at the halfway point when you start to see how the heart magic really works! There's actually a tiny bit of body horror (nothing over the top or too scary for most readers) that I loved. I found the magic fascinating when we really start to learn all the gritty details.

All in all, I did love this book and look forward to seeing what the author does next!

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC.

This was a totally fine book that felt like an obvious imitation of its inspiration. The characters are exaggerated versions of other characters and the tropes/dynamics are the same.

I have mixed emotions about this one. I feel like maybe I missed the mark on this one. It was slow going and then I would have moments where I did not want to put it down and then it would slow back down,

I would like to try to read this one again when it's published and take my time reading it and see if I have a different reaction to it because this time I just did not enjoy it as much as I wanted to.

I thought the premise was very interesting and I think that the house magic was SO COOL. I loved how it pushed her to certain directions and that it also protected her from certain areas and rooms. I would love to experience something like that it would be so cool.
I adored the characters and I cared what happened but I think some of the prose was too muddy to get through. Thank you so much for the eARC. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys Howl's Moving Castle, animal companions, and lyrical/different prose.

A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames is a cozy fantasy.
 
This is the story of Foss who is the butcher's daughter, and she’s lived in the same village her whole life. She is very fierce and sometimes self-conscious. Everything changes when some magic-workers visit the village and one of them steals a piece of her heart that the sorcerer needs to fuel his magic. This concept was so cool, and Foss is furious and what’s her heart piece back.
 
Sylvester is very new to magic, and he doesn’t fully know what he’s doing and he’s sorry for what he did to Foss but doesn’t know how to undo it. Sylvester is a bit clumsy but absolutely loveable. And my favorite part was his companion who is a talking cat.
 
These two venture on a journey of finding themselves and dealing with magic. It was so whimsical and cozy and there were so many heartwarming moments. The romance was only very mild and these two only shared a few moments. I would have liked to see more of that, but it wasn’t the main focus.
 
A Harvest of Heart is a sweet fantasy story, and I really enjoyed it. 3,5 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
# Pages:
Publication Date: 03.04.25

"I do not think you are ugly. I do not know what you mean by that. I must see things differently than you, I think. Perhaps it is because I am not quite human, as you have said. I don’t see the incredible beauty that you have described in me and my sisters, because I can also see the wrongness in us that you have talked about. I see it in myself like a sickness, moving under my skin. And i see the rightness in you. You belong in the world, Foss.”

🫀YA Fantasy
🫀 Romance
🫀 Good VS. Evil
🫀 Talking Cat
🫀 Slow Burn
🫀 Howl’s Moving Castle Vibes
🫀 Sorcerer/ Village Girl
🫀 Dark Fairytale Vibes
🫀 Forced Proximity
🫀 Whimsical Magic

** In the beloved tradition of Howl’s Moving Castle meets The House in the Cerulean Sea, a whimsical and unforgettable cozy fantasy about adventure, common sense, and the power of love, as a cheeky butcher's daughter, a befuddlingly handsome sorcerer, and his clever talking cat unlock magical secrets in the dark heart of their kingdom…**

“A Harvest of Hearts” by Andrea Eames is a whimsical and unique fantasy read! I loved the magic system and the world building that the author has created. Such lush and picturesque details that had me hooked. Even with some of the darker and more emotional parts, I still thought it was whimsically done. Who doesn’t like a little morbidity thrown in the mix?

The synopsis shares that the story is inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle and it definitely doesn’t disappoints. There’s so many similarities between Howl and the Sorcerer, Sylvester, our MMC vs. Foss, our FMC and Sophie. With more of mature vibe/ spin to it.

Foss, an ordinary girl that is a butchers daughter. Her heart was magically snagged by Sylvester. Thus, the journey begins. It was verrrrry slooooow burn. However, it was wholesome and he was extremely charming. Very heartfelt and easy to love them.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this read. I really enjoyed the magical system and the unique concepts/ execution of the story. I highly recommend this book for those that have their heart in a vice by Howl’s Moving Castle.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC read.

Beautiful and vivid writing. Clear inspiration and similar atmosphere to Howl's Moving Castle while also uniquely its own. Foss was an interesting character to see and learn about, with a cynicism that was fun to read about in such a cozy read. The romance was lackluster, which is part of why I didn't enjoy this as much as I feel it could've. There's a distinct lack of interaction between the two that felt significant and disappointing.