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.

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 ✨