Thank you to RBmedia | Recorded Books and Netgalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames is an atmospheric and whimsical story about an ordinary girl whose heart was stolen, quite literally, by a sorcerer. Any book that is said to be in the tradition of Howl's Moving Castle is a book I'll try. And I'm so glad I did, because while This did have some similarities, it was unique and entirely its own. The world building was wonderful. I really felt like I could see and hear and smell every little detail. I fell in love with this world and would love to go back sometime. I admired the focus on adventure over romance which is harder to find now a days. The slower pace really gave the chance to get to know the characters, their good sides and their bad. And oh course, who doesn't love a talking cat!? The audiobook narration was amazing. I think the narrator's voice was perfect for bringing this whimsical story to life.

Domestic fantasy romance is soooooooooooooooo cozy. The tone of A Harvest of Hearts surprised me with how intense and darkly it resonated right from the beginning, unlike other representatives of the genre that start out light and YA(-ish), only to end with grimdark undertones. This book, instead, doesn't hide the viscerality at its heart (pun intended), nor its grown-up themes.

Foss makes an amazing protagonist, as ressourceful as she is helpless under a visiting sorcerer's insultingly accidental spell. Once she is bound to him through magic that imitates a desperate crush, she resolves to abandon her unfulfilling village life and follow him back to his city abode, hoping to find a remedy for the enchantment that causes her physical pain during his absence.

Soon, though, she discovers that she isn't the only one suffering after a failed heart-taking, in the capital that looks benevolently upon the beautiful sorceresses' exploitations. But if Foss doesn't want to succumb to her curse, she must team up with the barely-human and frustratingly clueless Sylvester and his magic mansion. And by doing so, she will uncover the price of all those stolen hearts.

Okay, up until that point in the story I was more than content with the direction Eames took in her writing, offering up some of the most inspiring similes I heard all year. Unfortunately, as is often the case, and somehow contradictingly, the story loses momentum for me as soon as the domestic setting is left behind for a more action-based plot. Listen... I don't want this. Let's stay inside the house.

But I get that we need to raise the stakes and move the characters, so I want to make it clear that this is entirely due to my own taste. I also didn't find Sylvester all that compelling as a love interest - perhaps because of the unflattering voice acting the otherwise brilliant narrator gave him.

Even so, the change of vibes didn't deter me from finding the story and ending still overall very satisfying. I just love an incompetent man.

Whimsical refreshing fantasy! This book was so fun! It had a unique magic system and overall I really enjoyed it!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I absolutely have readers this would be fantastic for but it does not really hit the adult fantasy genre like it tries to. The magic system does not make a ton of sense and the communication between characters just becomes a slog.

The narrator was absolutely fantastic though, they are the reason I finished reading!!

A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames

A whimsical fantasy novel inspired by "Howl's Moving Castle." It tells the story of Foss Butcher, In a world where magic is made from stolen human hearts. Foss Butcher never dreamed her heart would be worth taking. After all, she notes she is just a butchers daughter, ordinary, practical, and no-nonsense.
When a sorcerer, Sylvester, comes to her village, Foss becomes entranced with him, resulting in her traveling to find him and figure out what is going on. Foss becomes his housekeeper to try to find out the secrets of what is going on. Foss makes an unlikely ally along the way and grumpy and witty cat Cornelius. This journey reveals the dark secrets of the kingdom's magic system, where sorceresses harvest hearts to maintain order in their world. Foss does everything she can to combat this.
Foss's journey is both heartbreaking and rewarding. She grows into her own, finally being seen for the beauty she possesses. Foss is a resilient woman who takes action and refuses to give up.

This book beautifully blends cozy fantasy full of wonder with darker and emotional themes, exploring self-discovery, autonomy, insecurity, and romance.
At its core, A Harvest of Hearts is about  reclaiming your own power and value. It's shows that ordinary is valuable and can bring about extraordinary change.

⭐⭐✨
A Harvest of Hearts had a lot of potential with its whimsical world-building, cozy gothic vibes, and creative magical elements. I loved the idea of sorceresses harvesting hearts and the magical house with its moods, it felt like something straight out of a fairy tale. The writing itself was easy to follow, and the atmosphere was truly enchanting at times. However, the execution just didn’t quite live up to the promise for me, especially when it came to character development, pacing, and the romance.

While Foss was a strong presence throughout the book, her constant self-loathing and poor decision-making made it hard for me to truly connect with her. Sylvester, unfortunately, felt flat and underdeveloped, with most of his character reduced to "handsome sorcerer" energy. The romance between them felt rushed and lacked the emotional build-up I need to really root for a couple, especially after so much slow pacing in the first half. The talking cat, Cornelius, honestly had more depth and personality than most of the main characters!

In the end, while I appreciated the cozy, magical world and the beautiful ideas woven into the story, *A Harvest of Hearts* just didn't deliver the emotional payoff I was hoping for. I think readers who enjoy whimsical, slow-burn fantasy with strong atmosphere might still find something to love here, but if you're looking for deep character work or a swoony, slow-burn romance, you might end up a little disappointed like I was.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing me with an ALC of this book. I appreciate the opportunity to listen and review it.

I was lured in by the Howl's Moving Castle comparisons, as well as the whimsical and cosy fantasy vibes. I'm happy to report A Harvest of Hearts delivered and more!

I had such a fun time following Foss Butcher and her adventure outside of her village in search of a cure to her heartache. The story takes many twists and turns. Full of quirky characters, deathly magic, and secrets, our heroine Foss must uncover not only to save her own heart, but others she meets along the way.

Cornelius, the talking cat, was of course a standout, who befriends Foss, and then Slyvestor, who you could not help but endear to!

Overall, I had such a fun time reading A Harvest of Hearts, and I would recommend it to lovers of YA fantasy.

The audiobook narration was excellent. I was surprised to see Jessie Elland has done so few audiobooks, but she is now an instant listen narrator for me, as she did such a wonderful job of bringing the world and story of A Harvest of Hearts to life.

A Harvest of Hearts is a disjointed collection of dark fantasy and whimsy. If you're thinking that these two descriptors don't work together, you would be correct they do not.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book. To the very end I was struggling to finish it. It started out promising with a very Howls Moving Castle feel and a self critical FMC, which I typically enjoy. However, I realized very quickly that was her only real personality trait although that did give her one more than the MMC who was a black hole of a personality.
The only reason this book gets two stars instead of one is because I did really enjoy the concept of the story. The magic was unique and interesting. Plus the narrator for the audiobook was fantastic.

This is my opinion, and other people differ which is awesome because reading is subjective. To start, I am an ideal person to love this book, I adore cozy fantasy, It is right up my alley. To me, the magic premise was cool but not executed correctly, it fell flat. The MMC was so dry, no character, when you read you’ll see why and this may be intentional, but as a love interest, it was not enough. The whole book just could have been so much more, but it just fell short, underdeveloped magic and underdeveloped romance. If they would have played up one or the other, it would have been great IMO.

Such a good and cozy fantasy. Eames just had a way of sucking me right into the story. And the audio just made it all the better. The magic system is unique and I love that. I will say, I think the talking cat is one of all time favorite animal companions!

Thank you to Andrea Eames, RBmedia and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a nice cozy lil fantasy read (or listen) with an interesting magic system and a side character that stole the show a bit. Cornelius the talking cat had all my attention throughout the book and I loved every scene with him in it.
Overall I would have loved if it was a bit more fast paced because it didnt keep my attention in certain parts, maybe I'm not used to such cozy stories. I didnt connect with the MMC Sylvester I think he was lacking depth a bit and the FMC Foss could do with less repeating herself about how unattractive she feels.. we get it.

Good slow burn, beautiful and clever writing a sentient house and talking cat!! And the narrator did a good job too (even though I had to get used to the accent a bit :D)

This book swept me into a richly enchanted world with incredibly descriptive language and (my personal favorite) Cornelius, the snarky talking cat.

Foss Butcher never imagined anyone would want her heart until a run-in with the kingdom’s sorcerer, Sylvester, lands her under a curse and keeps her stuck as the housekeeper over his moody, magical House. With only a sarcastic talking cat for company, Foss must navigate a world of spells, secrets, and stolen hearts. As she uncovers the truth about the kingdom’s enchantments and the people trapped by them, she realizes she might be the only one who can break the cycle, and maybe even save the sorcerer who never meant to curse her in the first place.

While I enjoyed this book, the pacing was hit‑and‑miss for me. There’s plenty of action, but the central romance takes its time developing, and I found myself itching for that spark long before it finally flared. I struggled to connect with the MCs, so some of the high‑stakes scenes felt more impressive than emotional.

Thank you NetGalley, and RBmedia for the ALC!

3.5 Stars

A charmingly weird and heart-plucking tale that’s equal parts magical adventure, emotional metaphysics, and a whole lot of awkward charm.

Jessie Elland’s narration is the fairy dust holding this quirky spell together. Her performance as Foss is delightfully grounded—pragmatic, wry, and thoroughly unimpressed by magical nonsense, until she very much has to be impressed. From surly talking cats to bewitched bachelors, Elland gives voice to an entire magical kingdom with warmth and a slightly raised eyebrow. 10/10 for dry humour delivery and emotional nuance.

Foss Butcher..yes, that’s her real name, and no, she is not here for your sparkly sorcerer shenanigans, is just your average, clumsy village girl with excellent common sense and zero patience for heart-harvesting witches. That is, until the ridiculously handsome Sylvester shows up and accidentally nabs her heart.
Not in a “flirty ha-ha” way. Like, literally curses her and drags her into his enchanted, slightly grumpy House in the city. Surprise! She’s now the housekeeper-slash-prisoner, and her coworkers include: a sentient architecture with moods, a possibly ex-demon cat, and a pile of secrets.
As Foss learns to navigate magic, mischief, and Sylvester’s emotionally constipated tendencies, she realises that the entire kingdom is running on a very dark kind of enchantment and she just might be the practical girl to unravel it all.

🪄 Why It Works:
* Foss is a heroine who’d rather fix your plumbing than fall in love—until love walks in with broody hair and curses.
* A slow-burn romance that’s like tea left to steep a bit too long—bitter at first, then oddly comforting.
* Talking cats, magical bureaucracy, and a house with big feelings? Say less.
* Tackles big themes (consent, power, societal systems) with a light touch and a healthy dose of “no thank you, sir.”

🌀 Some Bumps in the Spell:
* The pacing sometimes gets tangled in its own whimsical vines—especially in the second act.
* Sylvester, while mysterious and tormented, can feel a little emotionally locked in a dungeon.
* The magic system is cool, but occasionally under-explained (we’re definitely leaning into “vibes” over logic here).

A Harvest of Hearts is like a mismatched patchwork quilt of fairy tale, fantasy, and feminist rage, all stitched together with love, logic, and a hint of sarcasm. It might not hit with the same polish as its inspiration (Howl’s Moving Castle fans, don’t riot), but it offers its own cozy brand of magic. If you like clever girls, emotionally unavailable sorcerers, and a strong anti-imperialism undercurrent with your romance, hop in the carriage.

I really wanted to love this book. The premise was intriguing, and I was drawn to the promise of lyrical writing and emotional depth. But unfortunately, the story didn’t quite land for me.

While the prose is often beautiful, the plot meanders and the pacing felt off—too slow in parts, and then rushing through moments that could have used more emotional weight. I found myself drifting, waiting for something to pull me in, but that spark never quite came.

That said, Cornelius the cat was an unexpected delight. He brought warmth and mischief to the story and was easily the most compelling character for me. I looked forward to his every appearance, which says a lot considering he's not the central figure. Honestly, I’d read an entire novella just about Cornelius and his quiet observations of the humans around him.

There were definitely glimmers of something special here, but overall, it just didn’t hold my attention the way I hoped. A bit of a disappointment, but I’d still be curious to see what else Eames writes in the future.

A Harvest of Hearts was different from any other fantasy I have read before. At times it seemed like a cozy, quirky story and then at other times it was rather dark. I would have liked it to be a little faster paced. Overall it was an interesting concept and an enjoyable read.

The book follows Foss who gets a piece of her heart accidentally stolen by a sorcerer (Sylvester) who visits her town. I say accidentally because he doesn’t know he’s done anything lol. So Foss, creates some hatched up plan to play maid to stay near Sylvester and find the missing piece her heart. Foss doesn’t think she’s attractive and boy does she keeps reminding us 😩😭
Sylvester had no depth really but maybe I guess that’s ties into how he came about? Not sure. Anywho the magic system was unique. The talking cat was funny.
2/5 ⭐️⭐️

Does this count as fantasy romance, because I actually kind of liked it?

In a world fueled by heart magic, no one is safe when the magic workers come to town. Able to take a piece of your heart with only a glance, many are left heartsick and broken each time they visit, yet unable to resist their charms. Foss Butcher, village uggo (very important), is Snagged when a magic-worker comes by and (accidentally!) takes a piece of her heart with him. Now she must journey to the capital to find the man responsible and recover her heart. On her quest, she encounters all manner of magic—a talking cat, a house that gives you anything you need, and a man with a child inside.

This was a fun, cozy adventure with clever writing and an eclectic cast of characters. If I were to nit-pick, I would say there are a few lulls in the storytelling in the first half (mostly due to repetition or unimportant side quests) but the pace really picks up after that and has a nice resolution at the end. I would highly recommended this to fans of Howl's Moving Castle or T. Kingfisher.

1/5 🌶️


Thank you Netgalley and the author Andrea Eames for the early access audiobook of A Harvest of Hearts.

🫀Slow Burn
🫀Dark Fairytale with Cozy Vibes
🫀Unique Magic System
🫀Forced Proximity
🫀Animal Companion
🫀Howl’s Moving Castle Vibes

Synopsis:
💫In Foss Butcher’s village, magic-workers harvest human hearts for spells. Foss, a simple and clumsy woman, never thought anyone would want hers. But when a sorcerer named Sylvester accidentally snatches a piece of Foss’s heart, she’s furious and demands he fix it. Sylvester, a newbie to his powers, can’t reverse the heart-taking or do anything else except sulk. Foss’s only friend is a talking cat, and even the enchanted house has mood swings. As Foss sets out on a quest for a cure, she learns more about the heart-taking and the mysterious magic-workers than she could have ever imagined.💫

My thoughts:
💫This book wasn’t quite what I expected. It’s about Foss, the FMC, who gets a piece of her heart stolen by the sorcerer, Sylvester. After they meet again, she becomes obsessed and can’t stop thinking about him. Her thoughts were constantly sexual and it was off-putting, especially since she’s the narrator sounds young. Foss doesn’t think she’s attractive and constantly criticizes herself, which was annoying. Sylvester was just a bit boring and didn’t really have any depth or connection to Foss. But the magic system in the book was really cool and made up for the weak romance. In fact, I could have skipped the romantic part of the story. 💫

This book built a really interesting world with a form of magic that I haven’t seen in another novel. That world-building and structure was very well crafted and fun to explore. However, it took me a long time to get into this book. I generally enjoy the cozy fantasy genre, but I think this was just too slow (and maybe too cozy?) for my taste. That said, I loved many of the elements (talking cat? Sentient house? Sign me up) and think someone with a bit more patience would enjoy it more.

3 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.