What a delightfully eccentric audiobook! I love having something to listen to when I'm in the office, and this was the absolute ticket for putting my headphones on and getting lost in the magic. Speaking of magic, the magic system itself is unlike anything I've read before, which was super refreshing coupled with the sense of humour sprinkled throughout. I had an absolute blast listening to it!

Andrea Eames is new to me as a narrator but had a wonderful voice for bringing this story to life!

It was refreshing to experience the Ghibli-esque vibes you get with the likes of HMC, but with its own unique twists and undertones. The world building towards the start flowed perfectly without feeling too much like a lore dumb, which I also really appreciated. The pacing was well kept, and from an audiobook perspective, I could listen to it a little faster than the normal x1 speed and it didn't feel rushed at all. I cannot wait to pick up a copy of this for my shelves.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this alc in exchange for an unbias review <3

Howl’s Moving Castle is one of my go to comfort movies/ novels. It is one of my favorites, so when I read the synopsis and saw that a Harvest of Hearts was pitched as Howl’s Moving Castle-eqsue I could not wait for it to publish and instead sought out an ARC. THANKS Netgalley and RBmedia for the audiobook ARC.
To put it simply it did not disappoint. This story had a lot of cozy, light and whimsical moments but it also had some heavier undertones and themes. Foss Butcher is our FMC and much like Howl’s Sophie is overlooked within her village. One day the magic-workers travel to her village and among the typical femal magic workers there is a male (Sylvester), who happens to snag Foss’ heart. Foss’ embarks on a journey to find the magic-worker and what she finds is more than she bargained for.
I absolutely adored this book. The Howl’s Moving Castle comparison was spot on! I loved Foss. She was snarky and flawed but also strong. Sylvester the male magic-worker and love interest was a pinch of grumpy but introspective and sweet and then there was Cornelius, the perfect Ghibliesque sidekick.I’m a sucker for animals in general but a talking cat, how can you not fall in love with him! He reminded me a lot of JiJi for Kiki’s Delivery Service. We also get Foss’ dad who is supportive, understanding, and his daughter’s number one. The way he loves and supports Foss is admirable. He is a treasure and a half. The magic system and how it works was interesting and it was neat to see how it all came to be. I loved it and the ending and the message. To put it in Syvester’s words “There is nothing of you that should be other that it is” Reading this book felt like catching up with an old friend. I hope that those that pick it up enjoy it just as much as I did and that they take Foss’ message to heart.

Had to DNF because as much as the premice and the cover were great, I think the publisher and I have VASTLY different views of :
1. Howl's moving castle
2. the word "whimsical"

If a book is described as a tradition of Howl's Moving Castle, so I was a bit put back when the events that brought the two MCs together were not a strange set of circumstances but just... the FMC falling under some sort of spell? and being strangely absolutely LOVESICK of the MMC, without any control whatsoever on her emotions? I had to stop the book when she was in her bed, tucked under the covers, and kept staring at the door, while desperatingly hoping he might open it and join her in her bed. (at this point, the man had spoken a total of 10 words to her). Miss? Self-respect? Do you know that term?
And the book is not whimsical at all. It's dark, strangely unsettling.

In a way, it reminded me a lot of Sorcery of Thorns, and not in a good way.
The FMCs are exactly the same (not like other girls, bulky, practical, describe themselves as plain). Which I didn't like in Sorcery of Thorns and made me want to DNF that book. So I'm pulling the plug here, not making the same mistake as when I read Sorcey of Thorns.

I adored this story so much! I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook and highly recommend picking that up over physically reading it! Jessie Elland does a phenomenal narration, smoothly blending between chapters and making each character come to life. Cornelius’ narration was one of my favorite things about listening to this story, please do yourself a favor and listen! While there is a whimsical atmosphere and similarities between Howl’s Moving Castle- A Harvest of Hearts was unique and the magic system more dark. I loved the wit and dry humor in this. Foss and Cornelius are undoubtedly the best duo I absolutely loved all of their interactions. Disappointingly the romance was the only thing I didn’t love in this book. I enjoyed the slow build up but overall felt the ending was a bit rushed and didn’t feel that deep connection.

A harvest of hearts is a interesting take on magic. This book had me laughing, almost crying and intrigued the entire time.
I got to listen to this as an audio. The narrator did a wonderful job of bringing all of the characters to life. She kept you engaged and gave each character a voice of their own.
Our main character is a small town butcher. That gets enthralled by the sorcerer. We follow her as she follows her heart and what is right. Our FMC is considered not attractive and our MMC is considered perfection. We follow our FMC as she contest with a personal affliction that affects many of us with seeing ourselves as less than and unworthy and ugly. she works her way to our MMCand has to fight the spell she’s under as her and our MMC fight to their HEA.

A Harvest of Hearts immediately drew me in with its intriguing take on witches, offering a fresh perspective that stood out from other fantasy novels I’ve read. The narration was enjoyable, and I especially loved the main character’s father—he was truly precious. The talking cat was another delightful addition, and several plot points kept me engaged and eager to see what would happen next.
However, the story started to lose me once the protagonist arrived at the sorcerer’s house. One recurring issue was the constant reinforcement of the FMC’s supposed unattractiveness. While it’s clear she’s a butcher’s daughter and not considered conventionally beautiful, the repeated self-deprecation in nearly every chapter felt excessive. I think the narrative would have been stronger if we saw how others perceived her rather than being told how she saw herself. Personally, I prefer a “show, don’t tell” approach to character development.
Specifically with the audiobook- there were some issues as well. Chapter 17 wasn’t labeled as such, which made for a confusing transition, and the subsequent chapters were misnumbered. Despite these hiccups, the story moved along at a good pace and remained plot-driven rather than turning into a long-winded journey.
Overall, it had a compelling start, an engaging premise, and some memorable characters, but certain repetitive elements and structural inconsistencies detracted from my personal experience.

Thanks NetGalley and RB Media for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

A Harvest of Hearts is reminiscent of Howl's Moving Castle, with more death and destruction. Foss is a lively and amusing narrator, Sylvester and his magic house are complicated and a bit sinister, and Cornelius the cat is, naturally, the best sidekick one could ask for. Foss is accidentally magically snagged by Sylvester the sorcerer, so she is compelled to follow him into the city. She must come to terms with her own feelings of inadequacy while also trying to save the kingdom from the megalomaniacal king and his sorceress "daughters" who harvest people hearts, both in little bits and in whole, ostensibly to keep the kingdom safe from outside threats, but also to satisfy their own greed for power. Part cozy, part creepy, this was an engaging and heartwarming (sorry, sorry) story with a fun cast of characters, wonderfully narrated by Jessie Elland. (Her take on Cornelius was perfect, as befits a cat companion.)

This book was absolutely adorable and the narrator did a wonderful job keeping me engaged. I will be picking this up as a shelf trophy after seeing how cute the edges are!

A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames

A truly captivating novel with a unique storyline that makes for a great read listen. I preferred the audiobook over reading the physical copy. Going through twice made me enjoy it more. The narrator did a great job!

It weaves a whimsical and dreamy narrative, infused with magic controlled by the heart. The characters were delightful, quirky, and full of charm.

Overall a different take on magic, combined with a little bit of adventure really made this one stand out to me, and even though it wasn’t as fleshed out as I would’ve hoped, I quite enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for the audio ARC of this book.

I chose A Harvest of Hearts for its comparison to The House in the Cerulean Sea and for its whimsical, cozy vibes. It is also compared to Howl's Moving Castle, which I am unfamiliar with. I would say there are also some similarities to Beauty & the Beast. It is listed as a whimsical, cozy fantasy/romantasy. I was under the impression it was adult, but it definitely reads more like YA, in my opinion.

What I liked: I liked the cover art! The cover art is what initially sparked my interest in reading this. (As a side note, I also love the cover art of the rest of Andrea Eames' books!)
The story was intriguing, and the world-building was very thorough. Foss was determined to save her heart and her people, but she lacked self-confidence, which ultimately made her more relatable. Cornelius, the talking cat, was a bright spot throughout the story! The enchanted house served as an additional charming character. Da, Foss' father, was also a very warm, likable character.

What didn't work for me: I felt like the book itself was a bit too long, especially the individual chapters. The first half had a slower pace, making the ending feel rushed. I personally felt that there could have been more detail added to the love story between Foss and Sylvester! I think that would have helped seal the story into being more of a whimsical romantasy. I would have also liked to see more of Sylvester's growth.

Narration: The narrator beautifully portrayed the essence of the book and provided a great voice for Foss Butcher, our FMC. She definitely made the audio fascinating and I would love to read more books narrated by Jessie Elland.

I knew nothing about this book when I saw it was a new release but when I read it was compared to Howl's Moving Castle and The House In The Cerulean Sea I knew I had to read this story.

The main female character Foss Butcher has my heart in the first two chapters. The side character Cornelius the talking cat was a great addition to add some humor. The novel had a unique magic system. I was intrigued on the mystery involving the stolen hearts that it made me want to read more on how it was going to be resolved.

Thank you RBmedia for the audiobook arc.

3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for an ALC of Harvest of Hearts in exchange of my honest opinion.

I quite enjoyed this book. I found the world building intriguing. I quite understand the comparison with Howl's Moving Castle and I think that was a great comp title for this book, as you follow similar imagery of sentient house, aloof/mysterious lone guy in a mannor/castle.

The concepts were there and the story itself was interesting with good pace. However I had an issue with the FMC's voice as she seems to have low self confidence and whine about almost everything. I also found the romance just fine, as I expect a bit more yearning as it's a slow burn.

The best part for me was the cat Cornelius that had way more personality and great lines than the main character themselves.

Overall, it was a good read.

A beautiful, whimsical tale of growth and discovery, I adored this book. Jessie Elland captured Foss's snark and attitude perfectly, and I cannot wait to see what else she does in the future. The narration, the pacing, the character growth and development were all beautifully done, and this audiobook was a great debut for Andrea Eames, and a great first introduction to Jessie Elland's narration.

╰┈➤ ★★★★☆ | 3.75 stars

This read was such a captivating journey filled with unique magic and strong character dynamics. From the very beginning, Foss’s self-esteem issues are glaringly evident, and they shape her perspective throughout the story. This aspect makes her character very relatable since the start.

As for favorite characters, Cornelius quickly became my absolute favorite. By the 40% mark, he’s already stealing the show, showing more emotion than some of the human characters. Foss's Da is an absolute gem from her perspective, bringing a warm and affectionate touch to the tale.

The magic system is intriguing, and the world-building draws you in, I understand why it was compared to howls moving castle with the same whimsy tones.

As misunderstandings pile up, Foss's strength shines through despite her insecurities, especially as she embraces her identity. I found the portrayal of the sorceresses interesting; they aren't just evil villains but rather lost souls that evoke some sympathy.

That said, I was a little disappointed with the ending. It felt anticlimactic and didn’t deliver the punch I expected. The chemistry between Foss and Sylvester was still cute but lacking some depth, and I wished they'd had more meaningful interactions. The villains—the king and sorceresses—felt a bit flat, needing more complexity.

The writing itself is lovely, with beautiful descriptions that pull you in. However, the pacing had its ups and downs; it started slow and rushed toward the end.

It was a fun read with charming characters and a magical setting, though it could have benefited from stronger relationships and a more impactful conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the free arc in exchange for my honest review!

This is the most unique fantasy book I've read in a while. Foss was an interesting FMC who lives an extremely plain life in an extremely plain body, and she is fine with it. When she gets a taste of a new life she begins to question her line of thinking.

What I especially enjoyed about this book is the ending didn't whip out some magical spell to turn Foss beautiful at the end, the MMC fell in love with her because of who she was on the inside, truly.

I will be thinking of this book for years to come. Thank you to Andrea Eames, RBmedia, and NetGalley for the ARC!

If you are a fan of Howl's Moving Castle (the movie), this is the book for you!

You are introduced to the main character Foss who is a butchers daughter and is accidentally ensnared by a sorcerer that goes by the name of Sylvester. Feeling such heartache and pain from being too far form the sorcerer she traveled to the city to get this situation handled to end up being is housekeeper. But life isn't too terrible as she got to go into this magic house that gives you the things you need along with a black (now talking) cat named Cornelius. Once she is in the house she starts her mission to find her missing heart and bringing the sorcerer his food throughout the day.

In this book hearts are precious things to be protected by both the humans and sorceresses. As humans need their heart to feel complete and the sorceresses and the king need them to "protect" the kingdom. Once you get further into the book you discover more things about what the hearts are used for and why they're being taken. This isn't necessarily a romance story, but you can just tell between the two main characters that just belong together or at least be in each others orbit.

I received the audiobook version and I absolutely loved listening to it. The narrator, Jessie Elland, captured the true essence of Foss and I often found myself engrossed in the story. Trying to figure out what was going to happen next. Was she going to get her heart back? Was she going to get it taken? What was Foss and Sylvester going to do next? Overall, this was a great read for me and I would love to read future works by Andrea Eames and listen to more audiobooks read by Jessie Elland.

Thank you Netgalley and RBmedia for the Arc!

This has been one of my favorite stories in a long time. The magic system was so interesting to me. I really enjoyed reading this story. Foss was a great character. Cornelius was the best!!! I definitely recommend everyone pick this up.

Oh my god, I loved listening to A Harvest of Hearts Audio Book. It has a whimsical, quirky, and magical theme to the story and Jessie Elland did a fantastic job narrating the book!!! Love her accent!

If you love Howl’ Moving Castle, then you would love this story because it has similar elements. Foss Butcher is a girl from a smaller village and her heart was snatched by a sorcerer by accident. She sets out to the city to take back her heart and ends up living & working in the sorcerer’s enchanted house. Her only friend is a talking cat and let me tell you, Cornelius was the best character in the book. His sassy attitude, banter, and wit were everything you need in a side character. LOL I love Cornelius so much and he always showed up at the best moments.

I think the romance is very tame and a little lacking. This story focuses more on the magic and Foss's journey. The romance doesn’t feel like the main point in the book. Foss and Sylvester start to grow on each other, but I don’t understand why. Sylvester is what you call a man with very little words and action; he just didn’t win my heart. He... just seems meh in the book.

Overall, I think the story is interesting, characters are decent (Cornelius is the best), and the magic in the world was unique in my opinion. I would recommend this book if you were looking for a low romance story with a magical element and a sassy talking cat.

Thank you NetGalley for the Advance Audio Copy!

"A Harvest of Hearts" is a tale of Foss Butcher, an ordinary village girl whose heart was held captive by a sorcerer. It's not uncommon for the king and the sorceresses in their world to harvest the hearts of villagers and so Foss is expecting this to be her fate when she encounters Sylvester but....Sylvester can't bring himself to do the one thing his family is demanding of him- harvest her heart.

The world building was great, there was so much potential and yet...I found myself wanting more. Foss had a redeeming third act, desperately trying to restore the hearts of those around her. Not surprising, the cat Cornelius was the best part, bringing Foss and Sylvester together and connecting the dots.

I loved the way the world came alive, loved the narrator but I wish the pacing was a bit clearer. I'd certainly give the author another shot.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

The promise of a whimsical Howl’s Moving Castle-like story got my attention, but unfortunately I don’t think it lived up to that description.
I found the world building and magic system to be interesting, and although I personally would have liked to dive deeper into it, I feel that it worked well for just being a single novel.
I enjoyed the main characters, but I didn’t feel like there was any real tension or chemistry between them, making the romance plot fall a little flat.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, it just left me wanting more from it.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.