I lovee Howl's Moving Castle and this fantasy book literally howls this theme (pun intended)! The Howl in this book is a sorceror of heart magic who has a magically alive house (that expands, adds, subtracts itself). And the Sophie of this book is Foss, who came to be the sorceror's housekeeper!

I adore this story so much! Concept wise it's really rich and unique. It has amazing mysteries and thick plot that would mesmerize many fantasy readers. But what I love the most about this story is the two main characters. Each are unique, flawed, and has been so consistent throughout the story, which made their slowburn burned brightly. It was cute but at the same time heartwarming seeing them together. Not to mention the great relationship between the FMC and her father against all odds. I love that the author took time in exploring each character's background and personalities. Especially I adore the talking cat!

However, I struggle with the pacing of this story. It started off more like an info dump -which I didn't really mind as I am a heavy fantasy reader. But I wouldn't find it unfair if people think it's boring from the start. I believe the story could have started at chapter 3 when the FMC suddenly declared she wanted to be the housekeeper of the sorceror, then had flashbacks of her upbringing. The pacing suddenly increased during the last third of the book especially during the action scenes. Scenes that were supposed to be majestic and magical seemed flat and rushed. And then at times it felt stretched out before the pace picked up again. Some of the magic system at the last third of the book seemed to appear out of nowhere like deux ex machina and the villain was defeated... pretty easily... in my honest opinion.

BUT I still love the plot, the characters, and what this book stands for sooo it's a ⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me ❤️

Unlike the other reviewers who picked this book due to it being inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle, I requested Harvest of Hearts from Netgalley because I fell in love with the cover and the premise was interesting. Stories about a new take on magical system is usually a go for me. What Harvest of Hearts is offering is definitely right up my alley. And now that I am writing this review, I am happy to report that it totally stayed true to its mission.

A Harvest of Hearts revolves around the life of our heroine, Foss Butcher, a country bumpkin whose desires are so simple: to be wanted and loved. She’s quite contented working in the butcher shop her father owned and her usual interests are centered around the sorceresses that visit their small village from time to time. Though apprehensive of the sorceresses in general, Foss is not beyond admiring the ethereal beauty of such dangerous creatures. There’s also the complacency that she’s beyond the grasp of these sorceresses’ enthralling charisma as it’s usually the males who gets victimized and eventually, harvested. Yes, you read that right. Human hearts are literally harvested by these crafty creatures to fuel their magic, magic necessary to protect the kingdom from invading armies, to lessen infant mortality, starvation, etc. So despite the gruesomeness of getting harvested, the people of the Kingdom views the whole thing as somewhat unnaturally normal if there’s ever such a term. Foss is also critical of the whole system but is not actively doing anything whenever she knows of someone getting snagged/harvested. Her life was normal until a male sorcerer (which was unusual) visited their village and accidentally enchanted her. And thus, Foss’ ordinary life got turned upside down.

While Foss is not much of likeable character (her relentless internal monologue about being ugly and fat is suffocating), A Harvest of Hearts is not without a lot of merits. The prose is perfect, it’s whimsy and lyrical that it’s easy to just lie in bed and soak up all the coziness the book has to offer. The magical system was fresh and easy to wrap my mind around. The feudalish world building was definitely stirring, it’s no wonder it’s easy to get lost in the world Eames has created. And of course, there is the magical house that seems to provide for everything. Can I live there because I’m going to eat all the meat that I want? And who would ever forget Cornelius the boss? I’m so glad that he was spared. I also liked our male protagonist, Sylvester, by the way. Although the page time is mostly focused on Foss, I cannot discount the fact that Sylvester has undergone more character development than our heroine.

Honestly, this book is almost perfect; it’s a beautifully written fantasy novel set in a quaint Kingdom with lots of interesting characters and magical system that is both gory and fascinating. It’s only pitfall is that it chose Foss to be its leading character. I’m just so fed up with her constant woes about herself when there are bigger things to worry about. Yes, I understand where she’s coming from (I’m a fat and average looking person myself) but can you still think about your ugliness when your heart is missing and your about to die? Lady, what is your priority here?

Summing it all up, despite the glaring flaws, A Harvest of Hearts still made for an entertaining read as its lovable traits are more than enough to compensate for its exasperating heroine. Highly recommend to all fantasy fans out there.

Sylvester is a sorcerer who took Foss' heart by accident.... She's surprised because she sees herself as plain..

A cozy magical story. I was surprised by the twist. Reminds me a bit of Diana Wynne Jones' stories a bit... A fun book.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

**4-Star Review of *A Harvest of Hearts* by Andrea Eames**

* A Harvest of Hearts* by Andrea Eames is a whimsical and captivating fantasy that will resonate with fans of *Howl’s Moving Castle*. The story follows Foss Butcher, an ordinary girl thrust into an extraordinary situation when a sorcerer accidentally snags a piece of her heart. What ensues is a delightful adventure filled with magic, mischief, and unexpected friendships.

Foss’s journey to confront the sorcerer, Sylvester, who turns out to be more petulant and clueless than menacing, is both amusing and heartfelt. Eames creates a vivid world where even the walls of a house have moods, and a talking cat is Foss’s only ally. The dynamic between Foss and Sylvester is charming, as Foss’s practicality clashes with Sylvester’s idle nature, leading to moments of humor and growth.

While the plot's twists are somewhat predictable, the enchanting atmosphere and unique characters make up for it. Eames skillfully balances light-hearted adventure with deeper themes of self-discovery and the nature of magic. If you’re a fan of whimsical tales like *Howl’s Moving Castle*, *A Harvest of Hearts* is definitely a book to add to your reading list.
#AHarvestOfHearts #NetGalley #HowlsMovingCastleVibes

The story is very interesting and unique. However, it’s so slow paced and there is entirely too much detail. Getting lost in Floss’s never ending internal thoughts/monologues jerks the reader out of the action. This book could use some heavy editing.

Netgalley approved ARC.

Standalone YA, high fantasy.

First of all, let me congratulate the author on what was a very unique novel.
The magic system and "harvesting of hearts" was very unique!

The rest of the book took elements from already established ideas and I found myself not as captivated as I could have been. In saying that, I have read alot of books in my time and for an actual Young Adult, this would be a different story.

Our FMC, Foss, is brave and clever but also very self conscious and I really feel she is a relatable character to lots of young girls and boys these days.
And our MMC, Slyvester, is a little doe eyed and "out of it" as a magic worker. He doesn't see the world the way we do and often voices this, yet he is compassionate and open minded aswell.

The story line is fast paced and I like the back story of the king, however there wasn't actually much info beyond the basics. The author really could have delved into this a little more and relayed and a more complicated process to really give that impact and "wow" moments we all look for in a book.

Cornelius was just the most perfect side characters anyone could have ever written! And I really go appreciate that he was able to keep his voice throughout, and help Foss when needed. He really was an extension of Slyvester, and a companion to Foss right from the start.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. Perfect for those wanting something a little different from their fantasy novel!

I really liked the premise of this book, and was excited to start reading it.

Unfortunately I only made it to chapter 5. The style of writing is just not for me. It comes across as rather amateurish, and I am quite disappointed.

I feel this could have been really good, and maybe it will be for others, but I am unable to finish it when the issue I have is the style of writing, and I know that that wont change or improve throughout the book.

Im rating it 1/5☆, but keep in mind my review is more on the writing style then on the story itself. It is a personal preference, therefore should not prevent others from giving the story a go. You will know as quickly as me whether it's a style you will enjoy or not.

Thank you so much for the arc to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing!

It took me quite a long time to finish this book (by my standards). I liked the blurb that was posted for this book and I think the story in all is quite sweet, sort of cozy. It just didn't get me hooked, and I had a lot of trouble continuing with reading, especially in the first 100-150 pages. I'm not completely sure why continuing was hard, as I did like the main story. I think it was maybe a bit of a slower story than I am used to reading/ tend to pick up, and I felt that there was not a lot happening in the middle of the book.

I think Foss is a nice change from FMC that we often see in other fantasy books, and it was nice to read the transformation she went through. But I did have a problem with the degree of her talking herself down in the book. I felt like it constantly came up in the story, which I understand is part of the journey but in my opinion just a little too much. Then the change in relation to the romantic interest came a bit as a surprise. Ofcourse, I guessed that it would happen, but based on the interactions between the two I felt like there was not a lot of ground for their romantic relationship yet.

Coming to the climax of the story, this was over so quickly I was a bit confused. It went a bit too easy in my opinion, almost a bit like a Disney fairytale story. The ending (or near ending) did have me shedding some tears... and I really loved Cornelius the cat. I am silently asking my house to do me a favor while looking at my own cat... So far no luck yet ;)

I'm rating the book with a 2,5 (rounded up to 3), because I think the story was nice, the writing style was just not completely for me.

Foss is just a butcher’s daughter. Nothing special besides being cursed (according to her). Her kingdom lives in prosperity due to the king and his sorceresses. They steal bits of heart from the villagers to maintain their protections. Never before have the villagers seen a sorcerer until one day one showed up and stole a bit of Foss’ heart, forcing her to follow him back to the city to get it back.

This book was incredible. It gave me the same fun, silly feeling that Assistant to the Villain gave but with the heart and soul of Once Upon a Broken Heart. Absolutely fantastic and fantastical.

I loved Foss as a character. She was strong and well written. A little insecure but aren’t we all. Sylvester was perfectly written.

The only issue I had with this book was the format, which honestly could have been how it was sent to my kindle, but it was a bit like a wall of text. There definitely needs to be some separation of paragraphs and indentation to help make reading the book a bit easier. But quite literally that was the only thing that I did not like about this book.

If this author does not write a book from Millie’s POV next I will be so sad. I would love to see how she grows up after everything that was done to her!!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this fantastic book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars!

The concept for this story was incredibly unique and well-thought-out, the magic system was especially interesting to read about and the book had a cosy and magical feel throughout. It draws similarities to Howl’s Moving Castle and I don’t know what it is or whether it counts as a trope but, if it does, I just love the sentient house trope!

The writing was lovely and the descriptions were otherworldly, giving the book a bit of a Studio Ghibli feel! It felt whimsical with super sinister undertones and made for an interesting read.

I did have some issues with the pacing of the book, lengthy chapters that didn’t seem to carry as much plot as I’d like. I became quite invested at points but that came in ebbs and flows and I’d love there to have been a bit more going on slightly earlier.

The relationship between the two main characters also felt a bit like it came out of nowhere. There was a lack of meaningful interactions between them until very late in the story so I struggled to connect with their romance. I also found the repeated FMC’s criticism towards herself quite uncomfortable and it would have been nice for her to have more of a definitive switch up in that regard. I want a strong and self-assured FMC, constantly calling herself ugly and lumpy made for a difficult read.

Beyond this, many of the characters were well fleshed out, particularly Cornelius and Foss’ father, but the villains could have been explored slightly more, I would’ve especially liked more interactions with /information about Darius.

Overall though, this was a fun, and wonderfully unique read!

Wonderful! I did feel the Studio Ghibli vibes throughout. Reading this was like drinking a hot cup of coffee after being in the snow all day. It had a good balance of darkness, lightheartedness, magic, romance, and adventure. I would read another book from this author! I would recommend this book if you enough fantasy and adventure.

Thank you Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this author's writing style, the world they built and the characters in it were interesting, and like most - I enjoyed that it was inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle. The only main disappointment was the way the romance was written between the characters, it felt like it was lacking and could have been built better with them. I like that there were some realistic characteristics to Foss though, that she seemed like a real person one could relate to - negative thoughts and all.

Thanks to NetGalley, Andrea Eames, and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how the book sometimes made me feel like I was reading a new work of Diana Wynne Jones and loved the prose and the magical system. That being said, Foss really got on my nerves and, because of that and because of the fact that the romance was a little bit lacking, I couldn't connect with the story and was left a little bit disappointed since I had high expectations for Harvest of Hearts :(

I didn’t expect to grow so attached to a house or a cat but DAMN!! This book was INCREDIBLE!! The magic system is SO unique!

The only reason I didn’t rate it 5 stars was because 1. it didn’t trigger a physical reaction from me (although it was very close at the end), and there were a few other little things that peeved me.

The word ‘shite’ was used SO many times at the beginning. I forgot about that for ages though because it was only used once in the rest of the book. And the chapters were unnecessarily long. Even though the chapters had purposeful diving pages, they were warped and odd on the kindle so my brain wouldn’t let me pause there and I felt like the chapters could’ve just stopped at each page divide and then started a new one.

GOOD THINGS NOW!!! The characters were beautifully fleshed out, even a HOUSE for goodness sakes!!! The magic system was SO cool and nothing like i’ve ever read or seen before. This was truly a unique reading experience and I’m so grateful to have been able to enter this world. The plot was super interesting and I never wasn’t invested in the story. Super grateful to have received this ARC!!

I adore anything that’s compared to Howl’s Moving Castle and this was an absolute delight 🤍 Foss and Sylvester are everything and I could not put this book down!

**2.5 stars**

The story follows Foss Butcher who is practical and has a no-nonsense attitude. She works with her father in a small village on the outskirts of a kingdom. The king and his beautiful sorceress daughters harvest hearts from people in these villages to protect the kingdom - an accepted sacrifice. One day, Foss’s village are visited by a sorcerer named Sylvester ( the king’s first male sorcerer), where he accidentally snags a piece of Foss’s heart. Foss tracks down the sorcerer to get the piece of her heart back but along the way she discovers more about how the hearts are used. Foss is determined to help stop this from happening to others in the kingdom.


Whilst the concept and the magic system really interested me, unfortunately I just don’t think this was completed to the best of its ability. I think the writing style just felt a bit clunky (I did find myself skimming through the longer descriptions). I found the pacing of the plot was a bit off. The first half of the book felt slow and didn’t hook me in like I had expected and wanted. I think this could have been edited down because a couple of the scenes were almost repeated. However, the last half of the book was where everything goes done and definitely picked up a lot.


I didn’t really connect with the characters well and I think the pacing and writing style were a couple of reasons as to why. I wish there had been more main character relationship building because it felt like it comes out of nowhere towards the end. However, I think my favourite part about this book was the interactions with Cornelius, the talking cat, and Sylvester’s sentient house. They added something to the story to make it have more of a cosy fantasy vibe.

Thanks to NetGalley, Andrea Eames, and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy of this title in review for an honest review.

"A Harvest of Hearts" is a whimsical and atmospheric tale about Foss Butcher, an ordinary village girl whose heart has been literally snagged by a handsome sorcerer. Setting out for the city to reclaim it, she discovers the sorcerer's enchanted house and befriends a talking cat. As she searches for her heart, Foss uncovers the dark secrets lurking behind the king and the sorceresses.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *. read on for a more in-depth review. * :☆ﾟ. ───

✒️ the writing
⤷ The writing is exquisite, bringing the story vividly to life with its beautifully crafted descriptions. I enjoyed Foss' no-nonsense attitude and her dry wit. However, the pacing is somewhat sluggish, and it takes more than half the book for the plot to gain momentum. The first half feels nearly uneventful once Foss makes it to the city, while the second half feels rushed, limiting the opportunity to fully explore the relationship between Foss and Sylvester. At times, the exposition feels repetitive, particularly concerning the stolen hearts and certain physical descriptions of the characters. Despite these, I thoroughly enjoyed Adrea Eamas' writing style, which feels mature and skillfully crafted.

🎥 the plot
⤷ "A Harvest of Hearts" draws inspiration from Howl's Moving Castle but establishes its own unique identity. The magical elements were captivating, and the mystery kept me turning the pages. The story builds a strong connection to its world, with memorable features like the charming magical house with a personality of its own, the self-sustaining magical carriage and horses, and the adorable talking cat with a love for bacon. The vibes are immaculate—strange, sinister, and whimsical all at once. More than just a love story, it is a fantasy tale with themes of self-discovery.

💗 the romance
⤷ The lack of meaningful interactions between Foss and Sylvester is a notable disappointment in the story. The few moments they shared, such as when Foss recounted tales of ordinary village life, were only briefly mentioned, missing the opportunity to deepen their connection. Their interactions are sparse in the first half, while the rapid pace of the second half leaves little room for further development. Consequently, the story missed out on the special moments that could have enriched their relationship. Despite this, I liked the contrast between the characters and enjoyed their interactions, however few, and wished there had been more.

🧸 the characters
⤷ I can see why others might find Foss' cynicism and deep insecurities off-putting. Her constant negative self-talk was uncomfortable at times, but I quickly recognized how realistic her deep-seated insecurities were. As someone who struggles with body dysmorphia, I sometimes have thoughts similar to Foss’. I'm only fortunate that I’m not the narrator of a book, and I can keep such negative thoughts private, hidden from others who might use my weaknesses against me.

Foss’ negative self-view stems from her belief that something is fundamentally wrong with her, a notion rooted in her mother’s death during childbirth. Her humiliation by the first man she had affection for and the disparity in how she’s treated compared to pretty girls have further eroded her self-esteem. She sees herself as plain and unlovable, unlike the pretty girls who seem to have everything. As a woman navigating today’s society, where there’s immense pressure to conform to beauty standards—perfect skin, ideal body, feminine features—I found myself empathizing with Foss rather than finding her self-consciousness irritating.

I also admired how, despite the powerful spell that kept her enthralled, she continued to fight to maintain her clarity and resolve. Her strength of will and determination make it impossible not to root for her. Though she may seem cold at times, her warmth and compassion shine through, as seen in her care for her Da, her efforts to save Collin, and her desire to rescue the Snagged. Even though Foss often describes herself as ugly and plain, she is a resilient woman who refuses to give up and takes action to make things happen. Now that I think about it, she somewhat reminds me of Jane Eyre!

⤷ Sylvester is a character I would have liked to see explored more deeply. As it stands, he feels somewhat two-dimensional, especially since his presence is so minimal in the first half of the book that his magical house seems to have more personality than he does. Although I enjoyed his character, I wished for a more developed portrayal. We don't get much insight into him on a deeper level, as much of his story is conveyed rather than truly experienced.

⤷ Most people would agree with me that Cornelius, the talking cat, is the star of the show! As a cat lover, I might be a bit biased, but I would have put the book down if anything happened to him. His presence brought a delightful charm to the story, and I adored the bond he developed with Foss.

⤷ The villains lack complexity. Apart from Clarissa, the other sorceresses remain largely unexplored, and the King comes across as a basic villain archetype, lacking any depth. I would have enjoyed seeing more of the sorceresses in action rather than just hearing about their deeds.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
bottom line: I adored the story and was enchanted by its magic and whimsy! I’ll miss Cornelius the most, along with the magical house I have grown so fond of—I wish I could live in a house that gives me everything I need! That said, I look forward to the author's future books.

- Thank you to Andrea Eames, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this debut arc! Enjoyed this quite a bit. It was a very fun read with a unique coat put on over a well-loved and classic structure. I can totally see the Howl’s Moving Castle resemblance and I think that’s a great descriptor for it. It was well paced and a great blend of cozy, action-packed, and interesting. I’m looking forward to Eames’ future books.

A Harvest of Hearts seriously is giving the vibe of Howl's Moving Castle and that's one of the best things in this book. I really liked the way the author created her characters. Foss is not some scared little girl, but on the other hand she was kind of disturing all throught the plot. Sylvester was a mystery to me, I couldn't understand him. It'll be only fair to say that my favourite character was the cat = Cornelius.
A Harvest of Hearts has great magical system and captivating plot. I guess it'll have a great numbers of readers who will like it.

The description appealed: a cozy, whimsical story in the tradition of <I> Howl's Moving Castle</I>? Sure! Sign me up! And the novel delivers —kinda. At the start, the story felt a little TOO Howly, with the grumpy, stubborn hero finding herself cleaning the quirky, sentient house of a spoiled rotten handsome sorcerer. But I stuck with the story, and it took a turn for the more complex and dark.

Minor quibble: I don't know if a cozy fantasy, as this is billed, typically has stakes this high: the King and his dozen daughters/sorceresses have been harvesting hearts ostensibly to keep the kingdom safe...a process that ultimately results in a gruesome death by suicide if the magic-workers don't outright rip the hearts out in a hurry by hand. The kingdom has accepted that this awful sacrifice is just the way the King keeps the people safe and the harvest bountiful.

But plot twist (spoiler alert): the kingdom is in no real danger. The king is evil.

Our hero is Foss, the sturdy daughter of a village butcher, a woman who believes herself ugly and unmarriagable (one has one's doubts, as a reader, but self-image is often so much self-illusion, right?) who tracks down the one male sorcerer who inadvertently harvested a bit of her heart.

With her heart magically possessed by the sorcerer, Foss is only just barely able to resist throwing herself at the feet of the gorgeous sorcerer, but a lifetime of hard work, being downtrodden, and the moral certainty that she's ugly allows her to resist the spell.

As I said, it was a little too Howly at first for my taste, but when the larger problem of the wicked magic-workers and their massacre of citizens presented itself, I thought the story rose to the challenge.

Foss and her sorcerer and a talking cat (sorcerer and cat are named Cornelius and Sylvester. Or Sylvester and Cornelius. As I read, I found the names interchangeable. My failure, not the book's) don't have a chance against the king and the sorceresses, but they have to try. There's a (bigger spoiler alert!) touching and very delicately presented evolution of the slow burn between them. Even within the constraints and compulsions of the spell, Foss and her sorcerer become close in a way I found emotionally believable and gratifying. I wish more "romantasy" novels offered such a nuanced and emotional approach.

The magic system—one based on the exploitation of others' life-force—was vividly fleshed out, and the society and setting felt likewise three-dimensional. In all, a fun, surprising, and ultimately quite lovely love story wrapped inside a fantasy tale.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing/Erewhon Books for the eARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.