This story was absolutely fascinating. I loved the originality of the magic and how the magic works. In a world where one individual wants full control, the main characters are pushing the barriers to make all right again.
Chefs kiss!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story , I felt very privileged to be given the approval to review before publishing date . It’s a real easy listen . I love Cornelius . I kinda predicted there would be a connection between Fos and Sylvester so that was lovely to listen to . Ooooo the sourceresses were nasty weren’t they .

Definitely looking forward to more books x

Thank u so much once again .

Went in with few expectations, not sure what I would find and was pleasantly surprised! Story and world building were solid and not overwhelming the way that some fantasy tends to get. Foss is an earthy, pragmatic heroine who nicely compliments the more moody Sylvester with her realistic outlook. Comps mention Howls Moving Castle as an influence but, while those elements are there it’s enough of its own thing that I wasn’t annoyed. Audio narration was engaging. I usually don’t do well with strong accents in recordings but, this was alright!
Thanks to NetGalley and RB for the audio arc!

As soon as I saw this book had Howl’s Moving Castle vibes, I knew I had to read it! I listened to the audiobook on NetGalley and it did not disappoint! Such a unique story with nostalgic vibes, an interesting magic system, a dark brooding sorcerer who lives in a sentient house with a talking cat, a determined butcher’s daughter who just wants her heart back. I fell in love with this story and the main characters! I gave it 4.5 stars!

Thank you RB Media for an early copy of an audiobook of A Harvest of Hearts! 💕
This audiobook was amazing!!! The narrators voice was great and their accents were perfect! Sometimes I've found that some audiobooks where the narrator does accents (or naturally has an accent) from the UK, if you listen to the audiobook at any speed over 1X, it can be difficult to follow BUT this amazing narrator enunciates so well that I was able to easily hear the story AND love the accents!!!
Also, talking about voices, the voice of the main character is the perfect combination of funny and cool! Foss (the FMC) is an interesting combination of lovestruck/magicstruck BUT also grows to be independent and strong and leads the changes in the kingdom!
Also, to make this a little easier, I think people who liked My Lady Jane + Lightlark + The Spellshop! A Harvest of Hearts has suspense, magic, a sentient house, AND a talking cat!?!? I mean how fun is all of that! This audiobook was a little larger than I'm used to listening to but it felt like it FLEW by because I was so curious and obsessed with the story! I really loved this book and cannot wait to see more from Andrea Eames! 💖

A Harvest of Hearts Honest ARC Review:

This is a whimsical and interesting tale about an ordinary village girl, Foss Butcher, whose heart was snagged by an attractive sorcerer. Setting out on a journey to reclaim it, she discovers the sorcerer’s enchanted home and befriends a talking cat.

The story starts off just heartbreaking as Foss is tormented by neighboring boys. Understandably, her self esteem is shattered and she believes she cannot possibly deserve love from another. I found this to be terribly sad. I was really rooting for Foss as an underdog, hoping she would overcome all obstacles. Foss’ character was frustrating at times as she seemed to self sabotage. At the same time, this is relatable, to an extent.

I really hoped that Foss would find love with the sorcerer. This novel is beautifully written and I find myself feeling like a bit of a hopeless romantic regarding their relationship.

The writing paints a beautiful image of the story with vividly crafted descriptions. The story was filled with unique magical systems, intriguing MMC, fantastic and whimsical side characters and a slow burn.

Overall, this is a truly unique and interesting read. I’m glad to have this opportunity to read and go on this adventure with Foss. If you are looking for adventure and escape, this is a great addition to your TBR!

Thank you for sharing this ARC with me. I really enjoyed it!

Thank you so much NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Listener Copy of A Harvest of Hearts. This was my first ALC that I have received. I really enjoyed the experience of listening to this. I think that the narrator did a great job. While I normally prefer duet or even dual narration, I did not mind the single person narration as the narrator's accents and inflections provided an elevated element to the story. I do think the difference in voices for the characters could've been a bit more drastic so it was easier to differentiate when different characters were speaking.

As far as the actual story, I definitely enjoyed this and thought the premise was unique, however, I do think this is being marketed incorrectly. I have read many synopsis's saying that this was a "cozy fantasy" with "whimsical vibes" and while I can see certain aspects of the story falling under those categories, the underlying plot is quite a bit darker than I was expecting. The whole premise is based off of heart magic, and hearts being stolen, and a lot of them time when this is being described it is quite gruesome. I would not describe this as cozy at all.

I think that this book would've benefited from a bit more world building. As a reader, I felt very thrown in head first and I wish we could've gotten more back story to feel more connected to our characters. While I do not feel like I had a strong connection to them, I do feel like the characters were well thought out and likeable enough. A talking cat and a sentient house though, those were the real show stealers. I enjoyed those aspects of this book the most.

I honestly think this book would've done much better focusing more on the magic and not bringing in a romantic element into the plot. It doesn't feel authentic in any way as our FMC Foss has her heart snagged by our MMC Sylvester. As a reader, in my eyes it almost feels nonconsensual, like Foss's feelings are not her own. It almost feels like she is being forced to love him instead of choosing to do so on her own.

I was truly excited when I saw this was described as a cozy fantasy romance reminiscent of Howl’s Moving Castle. While it indeed captured the essence of Howl’s, in the long run it wasn’t enough to sustain the magic for me.

The fmc, Foss, had so much potential. I understand and appreciate the message the author was trying to communicate regarding body image, but after a while, Foss’s self-deprecation seemed to become her entire personality. This got pretty old about 50% of the way through. I know we as women are incredibly hard on ourselves, but Foss seemed to tie all her worth to her appearance. It shouldn’t have taken the mmc, Sylvester, telling her she was beautiful for her to believe it. And Sylvester’s character was pretty stock romantasy male, nothing really stood out about him and he just seemed to be…there. Tall, dark and brooding of course. As a couple, I don’t think their relationship was given ample time to develop as they didn’t spend a significant amount of time together until about 60-70% into the story.

Pacing in the beginning was slow and probably did not require all that much time for world building as the magic system was fairly straightforward. All the action happens at about the 80% mark, at which point, it felt rushed.

The best part of this was of course the magical cat, Cornelius (duh), who was the star of the show. Again, I appreciate the author’s message regarding body positivity, but for it to consume Foss’s every thought just became too much for me. The narrator of this audiobook was fantastic though. I could listen to her tell stories all day long.

This was fun and different. I loved the way Eames combined insta-love and super slow burn in the same romance.

In this world, magic comes at the expense of human hearts. That is just the way it is... When a handsome sorcerer takes a small piece of her heart without any warning or care at all, butcher's daughter, Foss is furious. It is a very unpleasant situation. With a piece of her heart belonging to him, she needs to be near him, both because she is compelled to and because it hurts not to be.

Arriving on his doorstep unannounced she believes one look at her and he will immediately know why she has come. He took a piece of her heart and she wants it back! I adored the juxtaposition of her rivaling feelings for this man. It was so entertaining. And Sylvester... what a cinnamon roll under the surface. He is just so bumbling and adorable.

Foss and Sylvester begin a tentative friendship, and the two of them, along with his talking cat, try to find a way to get Foss her heart back. There are secret plots, deception, betrayal, and romance. I love Foss. She is strong-willed and sassy. This was such a joy to listen to. I found the narration whimsical and entertaining.

This dark fairy tale about a butcher's daughter who becomes ensnared by a sorcerer in a kingdom that uses human hearts to fuel their magic is not particularly whimsical or cozy as advertised, but contains enough interesting world building and characterization to be worth the read. The narration of the audiobook by Jessie Elland added texture and who doesn't want to read a book with a talking cat?

Thank you NetGalley for the audio version of this book!

I went into this book only knowing that there is a cat and it did NOT disappoint! I truly loved the cat and quickly fell in love with him. I also enjoyed the magic house which felt a bit like The House of Wind (this house doesn’t read books).

The sorcerers were a bundle of curiosities, which grew curiouser and curiouser still. So many questions, and the hat you did find out about them lead to more questions. There was a….stickiness about them; certainly not lovable but not entirely likable either. There is one specific whom you may grow to loathe entirely. While another seems to bore into your heart and eventually warm it over.

The FMC I enjoyed. It was refreshing to have a FMC who is not your typical petite beauty. Her relationship with Da is heartwarming. What she experiences as being unconventionally pretty and how the boys and girls in her village treat her? Every outcast girl FELT all of that when she has her run in with Clarissa.

I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more books from Andrea Eames!

Andrea Eames’ A Harvest of Hearts introduces an intriguing premise: a magic-steeped realm where hearts fuel spells, and pragmatic Foss Butcher, whose overlooked heart becomes a sorcerer’s accidental prize. Sadly, I DNF’d at 25%. While the plot’s potential—grudging alliances, sentient settings, hidden magical truths—is undeniable, the glacial pace undermines its charms. Foss’ journey begins with vivid worldbuilding, but the first act drags, burying urgency under dense exposition. Quirky elements (a talking cat, a sentient house) add whimsy, yet Sylvester’s underdeveloped petulance and Foss’ reactive role struggle to sustain momentum. What could be a sharp, heart-driven quest feels tedious rather than tantalizing—a promising harvest left half-reaped.

Thank you to RB Media for the audiobook ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing me this audio ARC in exchange for a review.

I picked this one the moment I saw that it was inspired by The Howl's moving Castle, and was shocked by the similarity at first (in a good way tho, I liked how familiar everything was) but then it took an interesting and darker turn!

the story follows a girl named Foss in a kingdom where the sorceresses pick bits of human hearts to their magic using "heart magic". Until one day, upon locking eyes with a MALE SORCERER, she feels the urge to follow him and realizes by picking a bit of her heart, she is somewhat emotionally bonded to him and is set to destroy this curse. Little does she know there is a disease affecting all the magicked hearts...

this book is a very good plot based, adventures fantasy with foolish kings, magical creatures and whimsical characters. The plot idea was new and enjoyable for me but I think it was a bit long for a cozy fantasy. and although I liked the characters( yes! I am talking about Cornelius! a sassy talking cat. what more a girl wants in a story??) they lacked the depth I needed to relate to them somehow.

I ADORED the narrator,Jessie Elland. she did such an amazing job in showing feelings and the difference between characters. Her storytelling was so easy to follow and not get distracted and as a person that English is not their first language, following a British accent this easily was a wonderful feeling

This book felt like a treat, a fantasy treat. It was easy to follow along, I liked the characters a lot and the plot kept me captured until the end.

When we’re introduced to Fuss’ world it’s a quite captivating one, and when we get to meet her with all her strength and insecurities it is hard to not fall for her. Add to that a great sassy cat and our sorcerer trying to find his place in the world and we’re all set!

I recommend this book if you want to get into a magical world fall in love with the characters and root for them until the end!

Okay first of all, we as a whole MUST protect Cornelius AT ALL COSTS! 🥺😭🖤

This gave me Beauty and the Beast vibes at some points and I’m here for it. I really enjoyed the magic system and the grumpy MMC Sylvester that ended up being a big softie! The FMC Foss was a bit stereotypical female stumbling into being special at first but honestly I ended up loving her character. Honestly it felt like all the characters added to the story.

This was such a good read, it took me two days (one day too long!) and I absolutely loved it! The talking cat and the magical house were perfection. I am looking forward to more from Andrea Eames!

Jessie Elland did a great job with the narration, keeping the listeners engaged and entertained! What a good listen 🤩

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for this enchanting eARC! As always, all opinions are my own. 🖤

e-ARC & audio-ARC from NetGalley.

When her heart is stolen (literally) by a sorcerer, Foss has no option but to travel hundreds of miles to find him. Once there, however, she finds herself entangled in a magical conspiracy, traversing his sentient house, with only a talking cat to help her.

This book is compared to Howl's Moving Castle, and I couldn't imagine a more accurate description. A Harvest of Hearts is very Studio Ghibli coded and, most of the time, very whimsical and endearing. It's a very cozy fantasy novel but impressively not lacking in self-awareness.

There were two main downfalls for me.

The first was the romance. I wanted them to fall in love, but there was no build to it. One minute, they were nothing. The next, they were swapping v-cards in the woods. I loved the romantic scenes themselves, but I needed hints of it much sooner.

The second issue was Foss herself, but I think it's because I can never truly connect to characters embodying this amount of prickliness. She just seemed rude and off-putting. But I'm cognizant that this is a me thing.

Overall, this was a very entertaining book and is perfect for fans of cozy fantasy, Studio Ghibli, and Disneyfied versions of classic fairytales.

This is a tough one for me to review, because I have so many mixed feelings about it. I think, in the end, my take is that it could have been successful if it knew what it was.

First, I don’t think this is a cozy romantasy. Its advertised comps are Howl’s Moving Castle and Cerulean Sea, and I think a more accurate comp is actually Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson. It has ELEMENTS that cozy fantasies have: a domestic focus, talking animal companions, a potentially twee magic system, but then it has put these in a universe where they are a very dark sign of a very dark magic. The stakes are sky high, the magic system is quite visceral and gory, and the implications of what happens in this book stretch to multiple countries! Not cozy. In the acknowledgements Eames mentions two things that might explain the book’s sort of disconnect from itself: first, that it was originally a novella, and second, that it had two editors from two different publishers. I wonder about that original novella, and can’t help but wonder if maybe that was the form this book should have had if cozy was her goal.

All this to say, I didn’t have a BAD time reading it, and a lot of that I believe was due to Jessie Elland’s astonishing narration. I’d listen to her read a shampoo bottle. Her sense of humour, pacing, and characterisation were all truly lovely, and her actual voice is so listenable and engaging. For her work alone, it’d be a five star. The rest of the book, however…

I’ll try to make sure it finds its way to the people who it’s for, even if that isn’t me.

Could not turn the audiobook off! Halfway through, I did end up going to Barnes & Noble to buy the physical copy of the book because I was enjoying it so much. For audiobooks I do prefer dual narration however I understand that is totally up to how the book is written and this one was structured in the way to have only one narrator. That being said, I enjoyed the narrator’s reading of the story. The story itself was very interesting and as a fan of howl’s moving castle, I was able to see the similarities, but I will say the story’s magic is very unique to itself. Read so fast and easy. I can also notice how the writer is a fan of poetic language. She really painted a beautiful story.

A Harvest of Hearts felt like a dark retelling of Howl's Moving Castle, complete with dangerous magic, a talking cat, and atmospheric worldbuilding.
I really enjoyed the story - the magic system was really unique and written in a way that made sense, which I appreciated. The scale felt a little too large for a stand-alone, and I think this would have made a good duology to avoid the rushed ending.
The characters were also refreshingly new - while Foss's constant self-sabotage became difficult towards the end of the book, she was really admirable overall and I loved her wit and perseverance. Sylvester definitely had the potential to be an excellent MMC and I liked that he moved away from his selfishness towards the end. However, I had a hard time connecting to his character as opposed to Foss. The romance was there, but the chemistry was lacking a bit, and I wish that the "snag" spell hadn't lasted as long as it did.
Cornelius was probably my favorite character - he reminded me of Jiji in Kiki's Delivery Service. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, which paired the cozy magic of Howl's Moving Castle with T. Kingfisher's atmospheric worldbuilding and unique characters.
The narrator did an incredible job bringing all of the characters to life as well! Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the audio ARC!

I've seen this compared to Howl's Moving Castle, and superficially, I think this does bear a slight appearance to that terrific story. However, this novel by Andrea Eames is much darker, and bloodier, with a world where people are randomly taken from their homes by sorcerers for some unknown purpose.

Foss Butcher, a daughter of a loving father and a long line of butchers, is minding her own business, a little sad that no one sees her as much more than a plain young woman, but more sadly, a curse, as her mother died giving birth to her.

Sorcerers have been through their village in the past, taking people, and she knows one man who returned, but seems really diminished from who he had been. Thinking how terrible it would be to be taken by a sorcerer, and one's heart extricated, is nothing she wants a part of. And then a sorcerer arrives one day, and one look from him is all it takes to snag her, and once he's gone, she impelled, forced, urged to follow him back to wherever he dwells by ferocious pain in her body.

She leaves her home with a short note left behind, and makes her way to the city, and eventually the house of the sorcerer. Once inside, she's greeted by a cat, who begins talking once she wishes for it, and Cornelius shows her around, and Foss meets the sorcerer, and begins keeping house for him. The house, a semi-alive thing, helps her out, providing food, cleaning sheets, and other things.

Sylvester, the sorcerer, is bemused by her presence, but goes along with it, eating her good, and not really noticing anything else about her. Foss meanwhile is determinedly searching the entire house, at least where the house allows her to go, for her heart.

She's horrified and attracted and entranced by Sylvester, and begins learning more about how he became a magic worker, and learns more when Clarissa, who whisked Foss' fellow villager away, visits, and begins to realize, after meeting others in the city whose hearts have been taken, that she's in danger of wasting away terribly if her heart, or a piece of it, is removed.

Of course things become worse for Foss, (and Sylvester who struggles to act like the other sorcerers) and though she tries to escape, is captured by the king, who needs ever more hearts to maintain the magic of the land.

Andrea Eames has created a wonderful heroine in Foss Butcher. While looked down on in her village, she's likeable, smart, determined, and caring. She's also funny, and unwilling to meekly take what others tell her to do. Her relationship with her father is heartwarming, and Foss is easy to cheer for as she navigates one dangerous situation after another after departing her father's home abruptly.

Sylvester is surprisingly sympathetic, being much less in control of his life than Foss initially thinks. He's also a gentle person, who would rather not hurt others, even after all that has been done to him.

The star of the book, though, is Cornelius, the black cat living in Sylvester's house. He's got that know it all attitude of cats, but he's also a staunch ally when Foss needs one.

I enjoyed this story a lot, with its engaging story to its wonderful main character, and her friendship with Cornelius. I was a little less invested in the romance, but I did think it was handled well by Eames, building slowly over the course of this satisfying novel.

I went back and forth between the prose and the audiobook, and Jessie Elland does a fantastic job voicing Foss, from her time in the village and the pain she feels at her treatment there, to her growing determination to save herself and others from the sorcerers. I loved Elland's Cornelius and Foss' loving father.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Publishing and RBMedia for these ARCs in exchange for my review.