A Harvest of Hearts
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Overview
Beloved by authors Laini Taylor and Sarah Beth Durst, A Harvest of Hearts is the cozy fantasy debut that reads like Howl's Moving Castle reimagined with sharper claws and a heroine who takes absolutely no nonsense.
Everyone in Foss Butcher's village knows the rules: when magic-workers come through, they harvest human hearts for their spells. It's simply how things work in their kingdom. Foss has always been too plain, too clumsy, and too practical to worry about it happening to her.
Then a sorcerer accidentally snags a piece of her heart, and suddenly it's very much her problem.
The experience is, to put it mildly, unpleasant. So Foss does what any sensible person would do — she stomps off toward the grand City to find the man responsible and demand he fix her before she keels over and dies, or whatever it is that happens when a heart gets Snagged.
The sorcerer's name is Sylvester. He is bewilderingly handsome, petulant, idle, and almost entirely useless. New to his powers, he has no idea how to undo a heart-taking — or how to do much of anything, really, beyond sulk. His enchanted House has moods of its own, and the walls are not always friendly.
Foss's only real companion is a clever talking cat, which is not nothing, but it is not exactly reassuring either.
Determined to find a cure, Foss begins digging into the mysteries of the heart-taking. What she uncovers goes far deeper than she ever expected — and threatens to upend everything she thought she knew about the magic-workers and the kingdom they serve.
"Hold on to your heart, because Foss Butcher will steal it like she stole mine. A Harvest of Hearts combines fresh, original writing and a sparky heroine to create a joyous fairytale with claws as sharp as Cornelius the cat's. Andrea Eames is a bright new star in fantasy writing." — Rachael King, author of The Grimmelings
Reviews and Author Praise
"Down-to-earth and completely irresistible, Foss is fantastic, as is her talking cat! A Harvest of Hearts is that rare story that feels both classic and unique at the same time. I loved it!"
— Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop
"If you want more Howl vibes in your life, complete with absolutely beautiful prose, a true Ghibli cat, a sentient house, and a heroine caught between her no-nonsense nature and the insistent tug of love that may or may not be unnatural, you'll want A HARVEST OF HEARTS."
— Laini Taylor, internationally bestselling author and National Book Award finalist
"If you are looking for a dark fantasy with a perfectly ordinary heroine amidst terrible beauty and magic akin to Beauty and the Beast, this book is where you'll find it."
— Emilie Nikota (Delemhach), bestselling author of The House Witch series
"Andrea Eames crafts an intriguing and immersive world to host a gripping story, but it's the bright, clever, and delightfully unflinching protagonist, whose sharp insight and depth of voice kept me hooked on this book. A beautifully rendered debut!"
— Rowenna Miller, author of The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill
"Hold on to your heart, because Foss Butcher will steal it like she stole mine. A HARVEST OF HEARTS combines fresh, original writing and a sparky heroine to create a joyous fairytale with claws as sharp as Cornelius the cat's. Andrea Eames is a bright new star in fantasy writing."
— Rachael King, author of The Grimmelings
Topics and Key Themes
Narrative Tropes
Forced Proximity
Grumpy/Sunshine
Slow Burn
Sentient House
Reluctant Quest Companions
Key Themes
Magic as violation — a stolen piece of heart forces one ordinary woman into an extraordinary fight for herself.
Competence meets uselessness — a practical heroine and a bewilderingly inept sorcerer must rely on each other to survive.
Systems built on hidden cruelty — uncovering the truth behind heart-harvesting threatens an entire kingdom's way of life.
Ordinary girl in an extraordinary world — plainness becomes quiet power when the world least expects it.
A house with its own agenda — enchanted walls and shifting moods make the home itself a character with stakes.
Who is this book for?
Primary Genre: Cozy Fantasy Romance
Spice Level: 🤍 1/5: No Heat
Romance-first, spice-free. Expect emotional connection and slow-burn tension. Physical moments stop at kissing. Perfect for readers who love sweet romance and heart over heat.
Fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Howl's Moving Castle will enjoy the whimsical slow-burn romance, witty banter, and heartwarming magical world-building of A Harvest of Hearts.
About the Author
Andrea Eames is a critically acclaimed poet and author of adult, YA, and children's novels, including Sunday Times bestseller A Harvest of Hearts, The Cry of the Go-Away Bird, and The White Shadow, which was shortlisted for the 2012 Dylan Thomas Prize. Born in England, she grew up in Zimbabwe, attended University in New Zealand, and now lives in Texas. Visit her online at AndreaEames.com. Author Residence: Bastrop, TX (Suburb of Austin, Tx) Author Hometown: Christchurch, New Zealand
Similar Authors
T.J. Klune, Sarah Beth Durst, Molly X. Chang
Reader FAQs
It leans more toward romance than high fantasy. The fantasy setting and magic system support the story, but the emotional core is the slow-burn relationship between Foss and Sylvester. Readers who prioritize character connection over world-building will find it well-suited to their tastes.
A Harvest of Hearts shares a sentient house, a grumpy-sunshine dynamic, and a practical heroine navigating an inept magical companion, but it carries darker undertones — the magic system involves genuine violation and social harm rather than whimsy alone.
The fantasy elements are light and accessible. The magic system is introduced gradually through Foss's grounded perspective, making the book a comfortable entry point for romance readers who are cautious about heavy world-building.
The book is written for adults. Its romance is low-heat — spice level one — and its tone is warm and witty rather than explicit. It is appropriate for mature teen readers as well, though it is primarily positioned as adult fiction.
The book involves a magic system built on the non-consensual taking of human hearts, which the narrative frames as violation. Readers sensitive to themes of bodily autonomy and systemic harm should be aware that these are central to the story's tension.
Info
ISBN: 9781645661900
Published Date: March 4, 2025
Publisher: Erewhon Books
Language: English
Page Count: 428
Size: 8.25" l x 5.50" w x 1.13" h
Category
Fiction