A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames is a whimsical, heartfelt fantasy that swept me off my feet. From the moment I started, I was hooked by its quirky magic, witty writing, and a protagonist who feels refreshingly real.

Foss Butcher isn’t your typical fantasy heroine—she’s clumsy, cynical, and entirely relatable. Her journey through a world of enchanted houses, mysterious sorcery, and, yes, a talking cat, is both delightful and surprisingly emotional. The magical elements are creative and full of charm, while the story touches on deeper themes of identity, resilience, and what it means to truly belong.

The writing is immersive, blending humor and heart with just the right touch of whimsy. And while I wish there had been more time to develop certain relationships (hello, Sylvester!), the dynamic between the characters—especially Foss and the scene-stealing Cornelius—makes this story shine.

If you love cozy, magical adventures with a touch of darkness and a heroine you can root for, A Harvest of Hearts is the book to pick up. It’s a little bit Howl’s Moving Castle meets its own unique flair, and I couldn’t put it down!

With a unique magic system, enticing mystery involving stolen hearts (literally!), and an evocative writing style that is breezy, lyrical and poetic, a Harvest of Hearts is a book that is hard to put down. When the book mentioned being similar to Howl’s Moving Castle, I knew I had to request for an eARC right away.

Initially, I found that the first 30% felt too similar to Howl’s Moving Castle, but I was glad that after that, the novel gradually found its own voice and I was left captivated by the lore and was unable to put the book down. I loved the magic system in the novel involving the use of heart magic and the mystery surrounding it that Foss, the FMC, had to uncover. There were genuine stakes with how the heart harvesting affected Foss as well as the villagers and I felt the urgency for it to be stopped. I loved that it was really unpredictable as to how the antagonist would be stopped. The author also has a gorgeous, flowy and evocative writing style that portrays the heart harvesting in a gruesome light that visibly made me squirm. Though in saying that, I am not sure if this novel can be marketed as a cozy fantasy because of how visceral those scenes were.

Foss as a protagonist was someone I liked even if others did not feel the same way. I like that she has a low self esteem and negative perception of the world due to her appearance yet does not hesitate when it comes to rescuing those in need. Underneath her lack of self worth is a selfless, kind and logical individual who will go out of harm’s way to help those in need and not leave them behind. I never found myself annoyed with her and if anything, I felt sympathetic towards her for being unattractive. As someone that also struggles with insecurities about my appearance, I found myself relating to Foss and understood where she was coming from. I loved her journey of self discovery and how the book reminds us that beauty goes beyond appearances. Honorary mention to Foss’s dad who was always uplifting and supportive to Foss. It was really refreshing to finally have a FMC that had a healthy relationship with their father.

Another character I loved, perhaps most of all, was the talking cat, Cornelius. Yes, the cat talks! The cat CARRIED the novel. I was convinced more by Foss and Cornelius’s friendship than what she had with Sylvester, the MMC. Cornelius is crafty and charismatic and I loved seeing them work together and comfort one another in times of need. Honestly, I feel that Cornelius had more screen time than Sylvester, but I didn’t mind because it made their friendship more convincing and wholesome. I really wish Cornelius was real!

Sylvester was a love interest that took me a while to like as I feel I was more invested in the plot than romance. Sylvester initially came off as flat, robotic and dismissive which made me feel disconnected to him. I did not like how curt and standoffish he was with Foss, though there was a plot twist that explains the way he is that made me like him better and become more invested. He lacks emotional intelligence, but those moments gave way to his humorous and cute side that I grew fond of by the end. I liked the heart to heart (no pun intended) moment he shared with Foss, but I felt like there needed to be more of that for the romance to be convincing even if it was clear both of them cared for each other. In saying that, I do think they make a great couple. They are more alike than they initially believed and what they had was ultimately unique and wholesome.

While an enjoyable read, I feel this book had a lot of potential that wasn’t quite fully tapped into. A lot of themes were introduced but never fully explored. There was some political intrigue that only expanded towards the last 20% which was a shame because I was genuinely fascinated. I liked how the book attempted to explore the lines between good and evil, but again could have been expanded and paced better with the antagonist. All in all, this is a great read for fans of magic and mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the eARC!

Let's start with the good. The good here is the magic and whimsy give it a taste of Ghibli. But it doesn't travel or adventure like a Ghibli. I think this could have done loads better if it hadn't followed so closely to Howl's Moving Castle in the beginning. The idea of heart magic and the sacrifice needed was interesting but not executed well enough. The plot became stagnant and boring. The story itself felt like it was told poorly. Foss also whinges a lot in ways I don't like. I wanted to like this, but found myself caring less and less as I got further into the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the eArc!

I really wanted to love A Harvest of Hearts. The premise had everything I usually enjoy: a grumpy protagonist, an eccentric sorcerer, a talking cat, and a mysterious magical sickness. It even had those Howl’s Moving Castle vibes that sounded perfect. But sadly, the execution just didn’t work for me.

The story starts with Foss, a young woman whose heart is accidentally “snagged” by a sorcerer. Determined to get it back, she sets off on a journey full of magic, mystery, and a sentient, shapeshifting house. Along her journey, she meets a hilarious talking cat (who is easily my fav character). The setup was fantastic, but the pacing completely threw me off. The first half dragged with way too much unnecessary detail, and by the time things picked up, the ending felt rushed and predictable.

I also struggled with the characters. Foss’s constant self-doubt felt overwhelming and made it hard to connect with her. The romance between her and the sorcerer lacked any real spark, and their interactions were often underdeveloped or off-page. Most of the side characters, especially the villain, felt flat and uninteresting, which didn’t help.

The writing itself didn’t pull me in either—too many repetitive phrases and descriptions made it hard to stay engaged. Honestly, if it weren’t for Cornelius, I probably wouldn’t have made it as far as I did.

I can see how this might appeal to fans of whimsical, light fantasy, especially those just dipping their toes into the genre. But for me, it just didn’t live up to its potential.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing

First I want to say thank you to Netgalley for providing an E-ARC of this book.

I love Howl's Moving Castle and I love a bit of a dark fantasy, so on paper this is something I should love. And while I did find it enjoyable enough, I just couldn't stayed hooked on it. It just seemed to fall flat for me, but had the makings of a great story.

I think the inspiration from Howl's Moving Castle was a little to on the nose for my liking, the set up felt a little "fanfiction-y" to me. This is also tagged as a cozy read and I think that is where the source of my issue lies. I love a cozy story, but this didn't feel like it fully committed to it. It wanted to be cozy, while also being a dark fantasy with some stakes. This worked against the story. If you want to have a cozy fantasy, then embrace that the plot stakes may be low, but the characters stakes and reactions will probably be the focus.

Foss is a great narrator in concept, and there were some fun one liners in the story. It is not overall a bad book, I just think it fell very average for me and the characterization of all the characters throughout was not consistent for me.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read the E-Arc version of this book!

Really adored the author‘s writing style, it‘s very descriptive and conversational.

The relationship between the characters was delicate and sweet and I believe any fantasy fan would have fun reading this.

The only reason I‘m not giving this 5 stars is because the pacing felt a bit off, while the first half felt a bit too long, the second one felt a little rushed.

This book was not quite what I was expecting. It was billed as "cozy", but I found the stakes were too high for it to really feel cozy for very long. However, that's not a bad thing, by any means.
A Harvest of Hearts started out with a few too many similarities to Howl's Moving Castle, but quickly turned into something wholly different. It was, at times, cozy, but it was also heart wrenching. The world was fantastical, yet bleak, and it was interesting to see how the characters fit into it.
I was completely invested in Foss and Sylvester's adventure, and the delicate relationship forming between them. I also adored Cornelius. He's truly the star of the book.
The writing style was what really kept me reading. It felt like I had sat down at the Tavern with Foss, and she was telling me the whole story over a pint. It was very conversational, but in a way that never took away from the detailed and layered storytelling.
I think this book is great for any fantasy fan. The magic system is interesting, the adventure is great, and the characters are loveable.

Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Erewhon Books/Kensington for letting me read A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames! This was a really good read, I was engaged from page one. The concept was really interesting and kept the stakes high throughout. Not recommended for readers who are highly bothered by an insecure, self-hating narrator. Foss was relatable but her self-criticism was pretty extreme even if it is realistic.

3.5/5.

There was a lot that I loved about this book. It was an engaging and entertaining dark fairytale with an interesting magic system.

Andrea Eames writing was really fantastic and incredibly descriptive.

In A Harvest of Hearts, Foss Butcher, the main character embarks on a mission to track down the sorcerer who "snagged" her heart and get it back, befriending a talking cat and the sorcerer himself through the process. The story is told from Foss' perspective, helping the reader to understand her and her character development throughout the story. The sorcerer, Sylvester, was a great character, and I found him very likable but thought he lacked some dimension. I really wanted more depth and development on page between Foss and Sylvester. We only had a few scenes where they seemed to connect, and I would have loved more!

Additionally, though the entire book was enjoyable, the pacing was inconsistent throughout the first and second half of the book. I wish the second half was longer because it felt a bit rushed, and I wanted more information!

Overall, I enjoyed this and would recommend it!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own!

A spellbinding, thought-provoking tale with a fresh and captivating take on magic, tradition, and personal growth.

In a kingdom where magic-workers harvest human hearts for their spells, Foss Butcher, a practical and unremarkable woman, never thought anyone would want hers. But when a sorcerer named Sylvester accidentally Snags a piece of her heart, she’s left in a desperate race against time to find a cure. Determined to get her heart back, Foss travels to the grand City, only to find Sylvester is more petulant and clueless than capable. As Foss seeks answers with the help of a talking cat and a temperamental enchanted House, she uncovers dark secrets about the true nature of heart-taking magic—and her own unexpected role in it.

One of the most unique aspects of the novel is its central premise: the harvesting of human hearts to fuel sorceress magic. It’s a chilling concept, one that initially shocks, but also serves as a poignant metaphor for the corrupting nature of long-standing traditions, no matter how sinister they may be. The horrifying aftermath of a heart harvest and the toll it takes on the victim is not only gripping but also underscores the theme of how deeply ingrained societal norms can often be blind to their own cruelty. The novel expertly explores the concept that these dark customs can become so normalized that even those living within them might struggle to break free.

The magic system in is equally fascinating. Sorcery is depicted as a complex force, with each sorcerer tied to a magicked home that represents their core identity, and original being. This intricate system adds depth to the characters and highlights the idea that, at our essence, we are all human—even when our powers set us apart. The book brilliantly explores the connections between magic, identity, and humanity, making it not just a fantasy novel but also a meditation on the things that define us as individuals.

Breaking free from stereotypical portrayals of female protagonists, Foss is unapologetically herself. She is fully aware of her appearance, accepts her fate, and refuses to change for anyone—especially Sylvester. Her strength is in her authenticity, and this stands in stark contrast to closed-off Sylvester, whose journey of growth and self-discovery is driven by Foss’s unwavering confidence and independence. As Foss challenges him, Sylvester learns to confront his own emotions, take responsibility for his actions, and, ultimately, gain compassion for others. This subtle yet powerful transformation is one of the most rewarding aspects of the novel.

Of course, no story would be complete without a memorable sidekick. Cornelius is the type of companion readers will quickly fall in love with—wise and hilariously unhelpful. Whether offering guidance, providing comfort, or simply delivering some much-needed banter, Cornelius brings a lightness to the darker elements of the story, making him a perfect foil to the novel's more serious moments.

Overall, this is a magical and emotionally rich tale making this a cozier fantasy than most. With a mix of magic, mystery, and heart, this novel will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.

A Harvest of Hearts is like Howl's Moving Castle but darker.

Instead of just one sorcerer being rumored to steal hearts, twelve sorceresses and one sorcerer steal bits of hearts and even sometimes whole hearts at the command of the king. The hearts are what power all the magic in the kingdom keeping them safe from disease, famine and war, or so the king claims.

I really loved this book! I have seen some reviews where people say that Foss' self-esteem issues bothered them, but to me that made her seem real. As someone who has struggled with her self-esteem since she was a teen, seeing a strong main character with those issues was nice and grounding. There are too many books where the heroine is a gorgeous slim girl whom the boys fawn over. Give me more sturdy realistic girls like Foss.

Sylvester was 100% Howl coded. Slightly childish and prone to temper tantrums but with a "heart" of gold underneath. I loved watching the relationship between him and Foss grow. He starts out as a bit conceited and rude but really grows the longer he and Foss interact.

And of course, I can't leave a review without mentioning my favorite character, Cornelius the talking cat. He acted exactly like I imagined a talking cat would act and he was so sweet and fun. I just wanted to scoop him up and give him a kiss on his little furry forehead.

this book is a cozy fantasy! the world is absolutely whimsical and has gothic fairytale aspects. i do not typically reach for cozy fantasy though, so this book had less action than what i am used to. for that reason, i am giving it three stars. however, the writing was very mature and enticing! the characters were unique and fun to meet. the romance, however, was lacking for me but other aspects made up for it!

thank you netgalley and kensington publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was a cozy fantasy with high stakes. There's a cat and a sentient house. Our FMC is actually smart and I really enjoyed a character with enough emotional intelligence to actually think and try her best to define her feelings, and her course of actions with her heart AND her brains. Imagine that.
I really enjoyed the writing style, the story progression went fast, and I didn't feel like we were dawdling on useless storylines. My only gripe is the romance subplot. That progressed way too fast, and kinda came out of the blue, even though it was absolutely expected to happen.

This was a cozy, quirky, fantastical story. I really enjoyed the magical aspect of this and mostly enjoyed the characters, with Cornelius the cat being my favorite. There is something so good about a snarky talking cat. The romance felt more like a subplot, but it was still very well done and sweet, and I actually really enjoyed Foss and Sylvester together. My one true complaint about this book was Foss's self-pity and self-hatred of her appearance. It was borderline uncomfortable to read her bashing herself so much and really took away from the book for me. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

This had all the ingredients for a perfect book recipe for me but the baked final product didn't come out so well.

The first part of the book (almost 50%) is well, slow. And very similar to Howl's moving castle, or at least the vibes of it. While the second part goes much more faster, I was fighting with myself if I should drop this around the middle. Luckily I didn't, because I did like the ending, but the pacing definitely felt off.

And then we come to the second reason why this is three stars for me. I generally dislike main female characters like Foss. I can't deal with the constant negative self-talk, the way she puts herself down and it definitely wasn't what I expected by the blurb. And it's hard to invest emotions in a character that is a MC but keeps putting you off reading the story.

Cornelius has all my love. Forever.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
I am so glad I requested the ARC for A Harvest of Hearts. I really enjoyed this story. I can see why it's compared to Howl's Moving Castle but for me it's more comparable to T. Kingfisher's books. It is both dark and funny moments. This story also has a sentient house and a talking cat and I loved that. I think Foss was a good character and considering how and where she grew up it makes sense to me that she is insecure. I would have liked that there were a bit more of interactions between her and the sorcerer and generally more of Sylvester's character development but I still really enjoyed reading this story. The overall world was interesting as well as the magic. I will definitely be buying myself a copy when the book is out.

In a kingdom where prosperity depends upon the magic powers of the King and his children to harvest pieces of his subjects' hearts, the daughter of a village butcher will discover the truth behind the "harvest." Foss, the self-proclaimed "ugliest girl in the village" is mistakenly caught up in a spell gone wrong cast by the King's only son, Sylvester. Compelled to love Sylvester, Foss cannot be apart from him or she suffers terrible pain and nightmares. With the help of a talking cat and a house that can think for itself, Foss is determined to break the spell binding her to Sylvester and free her kingdom from the King's spells all the while trying to find the human part of Sylvester which she knows still exists somewhere deep inside of him.
With a character as solid and determined as Foss, readers will rally behind the "ugliest girl in the village" as she works her way from ensnared heart to a sorcerer's equal.
This reviewer would love to see a sequel in which we discover the fate of young Millie and how the magic has changed the kingdom.

Wasn’t really feeling this one unfortunately so I’m gonna go ahead and tap out 90% of the way through. Just not a huge fan of the characters which is usually the main thing I care about which sucks because I was excited for this one!

What a wonderful, cozy, magical adventure this was. Sold to me as great for fans of House of the Cerulean Sea and Howl's Moving Castle (which I am), this was such an accurate and perfect way to market it. I loved it so much, I will definitley be re-reading a hard copy once I have the opportunit to get one. What a joy. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was not what I expected and honestly, as I got started, I wasn't sure if I would like it or finish it. But it crept up on me and dragged me in, until I just had to keep reading. I was completely invested in what would happen and how it would be solved. In the end I thoroughly enjoyed it.