Here's what I'll say.. I wish publishers would think more ahead of time about how and when they recommend a book as ideal for fans of beloved existing media. Do I think that this book lived up to the promise of Howl's Moving Castle the book? Maybe, though, coming from the movie, I found that book a bit underwhelming as well.

There was so much potential in this book, from the magic system to a magical house (which I LOVE), but the execution just did not quite hit the mark for me. Foss is an irritatingly self-critical protagonist, which I think contributed to my chafing against the novel at times.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Fairies was a book that I think lived up to its promise (though for me it came through an influencer rather than the publisher) of having a Howl-type, Will Herondale-esque main male love interest.

Maybe, though, I don't need another Howl's Moving Castle, despite what I previously thought. Maybe I need to take a break from reading, maybe right now, nothing would have stuck in my head. I have no desire to be overly harsh, but I think I so desperately wanted this book to be something more than it was.

I think for readers who are looking for a romantic fantasy, this is a perfectly serviceable option.

I was soo incredibly excited to request this book. Howl's Moving Castle, magical, cozy fantasy. However I started the first chapter and it is just a massive jumble of text. I can't even take any of this in and gave up shortly. I will try again in a few months, but the walls of text could have been broken down more. I was also a little disappointed that a different version of the cover showed up, which the cover on NetGalley was one of the main reasons I requested this book as it caught my attention immediately.

I do not understand this book at all, it is so hard to get into the style of writing. Maybe it's just not for me right now 😕 have to DNF at 7% my brain just hurts reading this.

It's cool. Nice and cozy story. Love the magical vibe but there is something missing which I cannot pinpoint. In short I enjoyed it. Excited to read more of author's work

I was really excited about this book because it seemed like a very different kind of story. I found the world interesting,however, it was sometimes very difficult to get through all the descriptions.

It probably wasn't the right time to read it or was just not my cup of tea.

Amazing storyline and plot. Such a different type of story. Loved the characters and their growth through the book. Perfect for anyone who loves magical live stories.

"The black cat squeaked.
'I wish you could talk,' I said.
'All right then,' he said...
...'You can talk, after all?'
'Not usually,' he said, 'but you wished for it.'"
.
.
.
A Harvest of Hearts is like Howl's Moving Castle meets Alice in Wonderland meets Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Foss is the daughter of a butcher living in a small village often visited by the sorceresses of the kingdom. Their task is to harvest small pieces of hearts to contribute to the king and keep the magical protections throughout the kingdom. However, when Foss is visited by the first male magic worker anyone has ever seen, things go awry. Poor Foss has been snagged by the sorcerer, and must seek out the city to find answers and a cure for her heartsickness before it's too late.

This was such a fun, magical standalone read. I loved Foss's character and how strong she is in a realistic way. She may not be the most beautiful or magical in the kingdom, but she's real and powerful in her own way. Also, I can never resist a talking cat, and Cornelius gave me all of the sassy Salem Saberhagen vibes. I'm so excited to pick up a copy of this for my shelf when it releases on March 4th with beautiful sprayed edges.

Thank you to @erewhonbooks & @netgalley for the eARC!

#AHarvestOfHearts #ARCReview #NetGalley #AndreaEames

3 Stars. I have kind of mixed feelings about this book.

Overall, the plot and world building shines, and could be expanded. The world feels gothic and interesting.

However it was really hard to get past the character building parts. Foss's descriptions of herself made me picture her as very bizarre looking. I could tell it was intended to show her low self esteem and how she "grows out of it" but the "growing out of it' portion at the end felt totally forced and unearned. She was annoying for like 80%. The romance felt unearned (although I admit that slow burn romance isn't my favorite).

Obviously Cornelius is the best character, and he kept reeling me back in when I was thinking about putting the book down. He was such a fun and funny character.

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Um… 

Okay. I wanted to like this, I really did, and I’m sorry I didn’t…  

The description is what got me hyped for the book. I love Howl’s Moving Castle. And there were a lot of elements that were very much like HMC, but not in a way I think the author intended…  

Foss becomes the Sorcerer’s/Sylvester’s housekeeper.
The House is an absolute mess. 
There is a charming little mascot of the House, Cornelius, the talking cat.

As you can see, there are some very similar themes here. The problem is it didn’t feel inspired by as much as it felt derivative.

Foss, the FMC, was very hard to root for… she had all of Sophie’s insecurities, but to me, she didn’t have any qualities that made her as lovable or as endearing as Sophie. Foss is clearly dealing with self-esteem issues and societal pressures that make sense for the time period the story was set in, but… because she mentioned her “flaws” so often and almost nothing else, it made it extraordinarily difficult to connect with her. 

Sylvester also suffers from this. Yes, Howl can be insane and selfish, but there’s enough about him that counterbalances all that and makes him lovable. Sylvester is just kinda… bleh.

Also, I know descriptions are key to immersion, but… some of these did not need to be included... Like at all. For example:
“his little cat arsehole winking at me with each step.” Cudda lived my whole life without that one thanks. If that was an attempt at humor uh… it didn’t hit for me.

TBH the overall writing was just not my cup of tea. The pacing did not help either it was like pulling teeth to stay engaged enough to get to the next page. I like slow burns, but this felt like someone trying to light a water-logged matchstick. 

1.5 stars but 1/2 a star is being added because of Cornelius.

3.5 stars rounded up.

In Harvest of Hearts, Foss Butcher lives in a village occasionally visited by sorceresses from the city. These sorceresses leave with the hearts of the villagers, taking enchanted, lovestruck, empty people with them. And this time, Foss is one of them.

First of all, I don't know if I would describe this book as a "cozy fantasy." A lot of the plot points were pretty dark (people's hearts regularly get pulled from their chests?). But I think I understand the gist, because this book definitely had fairy-tale vibes. It was a little slower paced, with a sweet romance, a talking cat, and a semi-sentient house.

But I really enjoyed this book, even if it was less cozy than expected! It had an interesting concept, cute characters, and again, a sweet romance! Though obviously the talking cat was the best part. It was a little slow paced for my preferences, and the "but I'm so ugly" stuff from the main character got a little old, but there were enough nuances in the story to make it a very fun read!

3.25/5 stars

A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames roped me in with high hopes. The blurb promised something along the lines of Howl’s Moving Castle —whimsical adventure, endearing characters, and a dash of romance.

What I got instead? A chaotic mix of intriguing ideas, underdeveloped characters, and messy pacing that it felt like the book was being magically rewritten every few chapters

Foss Butcher, our main girl, gets cursed and dragged into a magical house with a talking cat (cool) and a sorcerer named Sylvester (less cool, mostly brooding).

This should have been a fun ride, but Foss spends so much time putting herself down that it got annoying.

I wanted to shake her and say, “Girl, you’re the main character. Act like it.”

And Sylvester? Let’s just say he had all the personality of a fancy coat rack.

Now, I’ll give credit where it’s due—the world-building had potential.

The idea of heart-fueled magic and a city tangled in enchantments?

That could’ve been something truly mesmerizing. Unfortunately, the execution was as disjointed as the plot’s pacing. Some parts dragged like a slow spell gone awry, while the next minute, everything happened so fast I had to go back and check if I missed a page.

That said, the writing itself was nice—a bit rough in places, but readable. If you love fantasy and don’t mind a slow, slightly confusing journey, you might enjoy it. But if you’re hoping for another Howl’s Moving Castle, adjust your expectations

Due thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp for the ARC!

In a literary climate where romantasy heroines all tend to comply with a very specific mold (18 years old, stunning, powerful beyond imagining), Foss Butcher stands apart and shows readers that sometimes our power lies in our humanness and imperfection. This story has all the nostalgic elements of a fairy tale while also giving its characters relatable depth and providing a gripping adventure that had me unable to put it down. If you like adventure, magic, a touch of romance, (oh, and cats), then this book is for you.

I enjoyed the world building and it reminded me a lot of Howls Moving Castle. I found the female main character to be slightly annoying as she continually sabotaged herself. I thought the romance was not the best and felt a bit forced in the context of the story. But

'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