3/5 stars

Tropes:
Sorcerer/ village girl
Unique magical system
Good vs. Evil
Romantic subplot
Slow burn
Talking cat

Overall this was a unique fantasy romance. I was intrigued by the magical system and the FMC Foss. The writing is good and keeps the story moving but I can't help but think this would be better as an audiobook. I did struggle to finish this book and almost DNF but it did get good after the first quarter of the book. It was not exactly what I was in the mood for but still enjoyed it.

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.

Eames’ writing feels like being wrapped in a warm, magical hug. The settings—whether Foss’s humble village, Sylvester’s moody enchanted house, or the grand City—are all vividly drawn and full of personality.

The idea of "snagging" hearts for magic is fascinating, and the book explores it in a way that feels fresh and meaningful. While I would have loved a bit more depth in the magical history and its implications, the magical system unfolds beautifully, blending mystery and wonder with darker undertones.

A Harvest of Hearts is a whimsical, cozy fantasy filled with wit, adventure, and heart (literally and figuratively). If you love stories that blend humor, heartfelt character dynamics, and a sprinkle of magic with fairytale charm, this book is for you. It’s the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after the final page—a true hidden gem.

Thank you to Netgalley for receiving this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book so much!

Foss is a truly ordinary woman. You know how some books say their MC is unremarkable, but still somehow beautiful? Foss isn’t like that! I truly believed and could picture her features. I loved reading Foss’s journey of self discovery and worth. This was such a refreshing take on the story and I loved every minute of it. It has a slower pace to it, but it never feels dull!

The people in this kingdom aren’t sure why hearts are harvested by the magic workers, and they don’t care to find out. But after a chance encounter with a Sorcerer Foss feels as if something is taken from her, and she goes on a mission to get it back. She works hard to separate her growing attachment to her sorcerer while simultaneously resisting the pull toward him through their bond. She doesn’t believe a girl like herself can be loved.

The way the author writes about Foss’s self image and insecurities was so uncanny. It felt like she reached into my brain and took my own thoughts and revealed them through Foss! She was such a relatable FMC, and I felt represented by her insecurities and growth overall!

Sylvester’s character is that of a broody reclusive sorcerer. At first he seems entirely apathetic to the world around him. He is content to waste away, as the blight tears through the kingdom. But the author starts the peel back the layers of his character and we understand him more! He has a tragic back story that ripped my heart out! (See what I did there?)

Foss and Sylvester have to work together to reveal the truth behind the disease that is killing the kingdoms crops, and how to save it!

I also have to talk about Cornelius! This cat brings warmth into an otherwise bleak situation for Foss and they quickly form a tight bond. However, he is still very much a cat. He tries to be as helpful as he can, so far as any cat could be helpful. And I loved the authenticity of that!

This book was adorable, but not without its darker moments. It was artfully and beautifully written and consumed me to the point where I felt like I was truly part of the story!

I did not feel like the magic system was well developed and even the characters that used the magic, did not now how it worked which seemed a bit like a cope out for not working on the world building too much. The relationship between the FMC and MMC felt too Stockholm Syndrome-ish for me and I didn’t really liked them as characters, to be honest. I liked the idea of a sentient house and the Weftwitch character but I wish they would have been developed more. The writing style was fine, I have no big issues there but thats the general feeling I have about this book, just fine.

I received this arc from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. This book really surprised me, especially the ending. The story centers around a butcher’s daughter named Foss who lives in a small village on the edge of a large kingdom. The king sends his sorceresses to the villages surrounding his kingdom to harvest the hearts of his people. Everyone knows that they use these hearts to fuel their magic, and in return, the king and his sorceresses protect the kingdom and use their magic for the good of the people. Foss has always believed herself to be plain and ugly, never expecting anyone to ever fall in love with her. Nobody in her village seems to have any good feelings toward her, except for her father. But then one day, the king’s only sorcerer travels to Foss’ village, and somehow, he snags a piece of her heart. Foss is furious but also feels herself being drawn to him. So, she travels to the city to find him and demand that he undoes the spell. However, this sorcerer is still new to his powers, and is unable to reverse the spell. Foss finds herself trapped in the city with a talking cat as her only friend, living in an enchanted house with a will of its own. Foss continues to search for a cure and instead uncovers the sinister truth behind the harvesting and the king’s sorceresses. I enjoyed this book and loved how much the mmc reminded me of Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle. The magic system in the story is also pretty unique which I enjoyed! Overall I’ve rated this book four out of five stars and definitely recommend it! This book is set to be published on March 4th so be sure to grab your copy when it is released!

At the heart of A Harvest of Hearts this is a tale about learning to accept who you are, and growing into the person you want to become. It’s about cherishing who will love you for who you are, and most importantly choosing yourself.



I really enjoyed the themes in this book, although it’s been described as for ‘fans of howls moving castle’ I don’t think that really does this book justice. For a start, the themes are more centred, or boarder into a cottage core/urban fantasy adventure style book. If you enjoy stories that centre overthrowing a great evil that threatens an entire kingdom and unraveling the lies that have been told within in the Kingdom, I think you will really love this.

This is the forced-proximity-against-your-will romance, that flourishes into something completely heartwarming and wholesome.

It has a ‘two worlds colliding and navigating to embrace their differences’ vibe to it.

If I were to break this down without giving too much away it would be: You gotta love a talking cat. A sentient house. A whimsical, yet slightly self depreciating FMC who comes into her own, a terrible (frankly awful) father, and a MMC who wants to be more than what the Kingdom thinks of him.



There were a few small things that fell short of the mark for me though; the pacing was a little off, and I do feel that there were times in the book were character development opportunities were missed.

Also this book isn’t really that dark, it’s slightly macabre at points - however, hardly falls into the dark fantasy genre. I would say this is more cottagecore/urban fantasy village style.

This sounded like a cozy witchy story and the cover is stunning. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy the writing style of the story and dnfed it at 10%. I'm someone who favors dialogue over description and I just couldn't get into the story.

Howls Moving Castle walked. So A Harvest of Hearts could run!

Foss, is the most ordinary girl. From a poor family. In the farthest village from the castle that rules over them.

However when a mysterious man comes through. Catching all the women’s eyes but foss. She realizes she is as snarred as the rest. And begins a journey to find him.

I was armoured by the magic and lore in the background of this book and as the further you read the deeper you find the levels to be. There is so much details and layers to keep you entertained from start to finish! Mixed with a HEA we all want!

this is a fun fantasy romp about accepting who you are and finding and cherishing those who will love you for yourself. i really liked the themes in this book, woven in with the usual fantasy adventure about overthrowing a great evil that is threatening the kingdom (which in itself is a theme and applicable to the real world; love.)
if you love a forced proximity moment with very different love interests then this might be a book for you, as they spend a good deal of time developing such a relationship with each other. personally i was not as attached to these characters as i could have been. i found myself annoyed at the main character several times, which in itself is not too egregious and she does have some good moments as well, and the love interest did not have the biggest personality of all time, leading me to not be as attached to him as the book moved forward. (ps if you love talking animals there is a wonderful one in this book and he was my favourite character by far.) i wish we had seen some more of the characters rather than them just being nameless and faceless entities, and the king did not give me much of the scary villain that provides real stakes to the story.
the plot moves at a slow-ish pace, with a lot of it taking place in the magical house, which was fun. the middle did sort of feel as though it dragged, and then the ending 20% or so felt rushed in comparison. the ending was not my favourite, and i found myself having predicted most of it beforehand so i was unsurprised when certain beats were hit. it was a satisfactory final couple of pages even if the bigger 'fighting' scene left a lot to be desired.
the magic system is very cool in this book, and the impacts it has on the people who have magic done to them is suitably shocking and sometimes veers into a bit of soft horror. it was very creative and i enjoyed whenever it would pop up in the story.

the epitome of what i find in a three star read, with some really fun moments and scenes

A Harvest of Hearts was such a joy to read. It had me smiling, laughing, and even crying. It brought forth so many emotions that I wasn’t expecting. I absolutely loved it.

The main character was so relatable. Her self deprecating jokes are definitely something that rings true with myself. And the way the book is written almost in a conversational style made it feel more personal, as if Foss is telling her story directly to me.

Cornelius was the best character hands down. I loved him so so much! He was incredibly well written and not at all cringey as some talking animals can be.

At the beginning I really didn’t like Sylvester, but he had such great character development throughout the book, he really did grow on me, and I ended up having a great respect for him at the end.

I think the fairy tale telling of this book was so clever and unique. The plot was interesting and something I have never read before. The only thing I personally think would have made the book better is if it was dual pov, so we got to see the character development from both sides, instead of just from Foss’s, as her own personal opinions were very strong and biased.

You gotta love a talking cat. And a sentient house. This tale of Foss is whimsical to be sure and it will appeal to fans of romantascy, which isn't usually my thing but this is well written and engaging. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Over to others.

Genre: Cozy, fantasy romance
POV: 1st person
Series: Standalone
Relationship: M/F
Cliffhanger: No
TW/CW: mhm. Maybe.
ARC Platform: NetGalley
Format: e-ARC

Darkness Rating: .5/5 🖤

Spice Rating: 0/5🫑
1 off page scene.

Overall Rating: 3/5⭐️
I was so excited to read this when I saw the blurb. Unfortunately, it fell flat and annoyed me. Mostly due to the FMC, Foss. Her insecurity and negative out look almost made me DNF. Even during their awkward spice scene, she was talking about her looks and his perfection.
The magical world really saved this book.


*disclaimer: my darkness and spice rating might not be the same for you. Please do your own research before reading*

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

For me, this romantasy book entangles the very best of Howl’s Moving Castle with the twisted vibes of Beauty and The Beast and Sabrina The Teenage Witch, even including a Salem-esque talking cat! The story follows Foss, a butcher’s daughter, as she throws herself headfirst into a whirlwind world she knows nothing about. Gaining a talking cat companion and nerves of steel, Foss is determined to solve the mysteries of heart magic and uncover the secrets their king has been keeping. Dragged into the mess by an inexperienced sorcerer, she is driven by her constantly conflicted feelings towards him and her desperation to save herself and her plagued kingdom. The whole cast of characters are compellingly flawed in the best of ways, making them feel much more real and relatable as you come to see that they are all simply victims of the situation too.

The first half of the book takes a much more whimsical approach, slowly introducing you to the magic system and its implications before diving into a more serious and fast-paced closing. The world building was concentrated enough to not take away from the plot, and the sorcerer’s house was so descriptive and dynamic that it truly felt like a living character through the pages.

Thank you to Andrea Eames and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to give an advance review of this book. A Harvest of Hearts was such an entertaining and unique read, easily gaining a 4/5 star rating ✨

thank you so much for the arc! and thank you even more for making a stand alone novel! i really loved this story. in the beginning it felt truly like beauty and the beast, but quickly adapted into a much larger story that overshadowed the traditional narrative. i especially enjoyed cornelius who reminded me very much of the chatty cat from coraline! loved this story.

So whimsical, and while at times it did remind of the vibes Howls Moving Castle emits, it is way weirder than that story! I really enjoyed it, and the romance element thrown it too :)

This book is quite whimsical, I liked the writing a lot and the world felt real and immersive. The beginning of the story was a bit slower but in general, I had a good time.

My favorite character was obviously Cornelius, he's so sassy it's impossible to resist him.

In reality, this book didn't feel like a romance to me, I perceived it mostly as a subplot of the actual story, and I'm not saying it as something negative, it's quite the opposite. This perception was most likely aided by Sylvester only starting to express himself better and speaking more than a few sentences towards the end of the story, however, in the end, it was very sweet and enjoyable.

I must say Foss's internal conflict added a lot to her as a character because of the awareness of her own state, I also really liked her as a narrator, her particular way of speaking added realness to her.

I really enjoyed this book! The comparison to Howl’s Moving Castle is definitely accurate, though A Harvest of Hearts definitely leans more creepy and less humorous. I loved how whimsical it was, though I feel like the pacing could be a little slow at times.

I think there might've been an issue with some file corruption, but from what I did read, I really enjoyed and found it to be similar whimsy as Howls Moving Castle and it's like. 3.5/5

Oh I have a confession. I'm struggling to finish this novel. The first third was brilliant and I keep eyeing my own cat hoping they would become as interesting as Cornelius, the talking cat. Alas, this hasn't happened.

The concept of stealing hearts is dark and really intrigued me. Add a handsome sorcerer which you are literally pulled to and you have the ingredients for a great fantasy. Once the main character Foss arrived in the city it just lost pace, and while I tried to push on, I know students will also struggle to finish it if they are picking it up and reading in shorter bursts.

I really appreciated the advanced copy from Netgalley but this wasn't a "must read!" for me this time around.