A Harvest of Hearts: A Cozy Fantasy with a Slow Burn and a Big Finish

First, I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC of A Harvest of Hearts! I was so excited to dive into this one. I’m just starting my journey into romantasy, and I thought a YA cozy fantasy would be the perfect, easy way to ease into the genre. The synopsis sounded absolutely fascinating and had me really looking forward to it. But unfortunately, the book ended up falling a bit short of my expectations. 😔

Summary of A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames

In the beloved tradition of Howl’s Moving Castle, a whimsical and unforgettable story of fantastic adventure, common sense, and the power of love to overcome the greatest of obstacles . . .

Before Foss Butcher was Snagged, she thought no more of the magic-users than did anyone else in her tiny village. Sometimes gorgeous women in impossible carriages rolled into town and took bits of people’s hearts. Everyone knew hearts fueled their magic. But Foss, plain, clumsy, and practical as a boot, never expected anyone would want hers.

True enough, when the only sorcerer in the kingdom stepped from his glossy carriage, he didn’t intend to hook Foss. Sylvester’s riot of black curls and perfectly etched cheekbones caught her eye a moment too long, that was all. Suddenly, Foss is cursed and finds herself stomping toward the grand City to keep his enchanted House, where her only friend is a talking cat and the walls themselves have moods.

But as Foss learns the ways of magic, she realizes she’s far from its only unwilling captive. Even Sylvester is hemmed in by spells and threats. It’s said this sorcery protects king, country, and order for thousands. If Foss wants to free herself—and, perhaps, Sylvester—she’ll have to confront it all . . . and uncover the blight nestled in the heart of the kingdom itself.

Review of A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eame

At first, I was a little thrown off by the narrator’s accent. As a non-native English speaker, I found it a bit hard to understand in the beginning. I kept having to rewind and relisten to little bits and pieces just to keep up, which made it a little tough to get into the story at first. 😅 Eventually, I got used to it, but there were still a few other things that pulled me out of the story. So, let’s dive into my full review! 📖✨

Plot Analysis of A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames

Harvest of Hearts follows Foss, the daughter of a butcher, who lives in a quiet little town on the edge of the kingdom. Life is simple, until the king’s magic workers, called sorceresses, come to “harvest” hearts. Once someone’s heart is snagged by a sorceress, they’re overwhelmed with desire and willingly follow them into the city… never to be heard from again. 👀 During one of these visits, Foss accidentally gets snagged, but not by a sorceress. Instead, it’s Sylvester, the only male sorcerer, who unknowingly pulls her in. Determined to find him, Foss journeys to the city, and when she finally tracks him down, he offers her a place as his housemaid. It’s in Sylvester’s magical home that Foss meets Cornelius, a sassy talking cat (yes, really 🐱✨). As the three of them grow closer, they begin uncovering dark secrets about the king, the heart harvests, and Sylvester’s true role in it all…

Characters of A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames

Foss : Look, Foss pretty much carried the whole book on her back, but even then, I couldn’t connect with her. Her nonstop self-hate and constant comments about how ugly she was? Exhausting. (I swear, if you tallied it up, it would be absurd how many times she brings it up 😑.) It’s one of my biggest pet peeves in FMCs, and it made it really hard for me to get invested in her journey or her growth. Plus, like way too many fantasy heroines, she made the kind of impulsive, head-scratching decisions that totally yanked me out of the story. It was just frustrating.

Sylvester : Sylvester’s character felt really flat and one-dimensional. From Foss’s point of view, his entire identity was just “wow, he’s so handsome” on repeat. 🙃 He did get some character development toward the end, but not enough to make me actually care about him. Honestly?

Meanwhile, the talking cat had way more personality and actual involvement in the plot than Sylvester ever did, which says a lot.

Foss & Sylvester : The romance was basically nonexistent for about 80% of the book, it was mostly just Foss pining and dealing with her heart sickness. Then, in the final 20%, everything, both romance and plot, suddenly happened all at once, and honestly, it felt overwhelming. The romance came off as super rushed and didn’t feel real or believable enough for me to actually root for them as a couple 🥲.

Pacing & writing style

The writing style in A Harvest of Hearts was very easy to get into, and I really enjoyed the author’s approach to world-building , it was both fascinating and full of potential. ✨ I especially loved the idea of the sorceresses, but I found myself wishing for more details: how they were trained, how they learned to snag hearts, and what the whole process of becoming a sorcerer looked like. If we had gotten a few chapters from Sylvester’s perspective, I think it would have added a lot more richness to the story and made his character feel much deeper and more compelling.

Another thing I didn’t really appreciate was how the book was promoted as a YA fantasy, but through Foss’s POV, there was a lot of talk about her lusting after Sylvester. 😬 I get that it’s part of her being “heart-snagged,” and it makes sense in the context of the story, but honestly, it just felt like a bit too much at times. It kind of threw off the YA cozy vibe I was expecting going in.

Pacing was definitely the biggest struggle I had with A Harvest of Hearts. The start of the book dragged so much that I kept losing motivation to keep listening, and I usually speed through audiobooks! This one took me over a month. The story spent about 80% of its time building the world, which, while fascinating, made the actual plot feel like it was crawling. Then suddenly, in the last 20%, everything happened all at once, the romance, the twists, the reveals, and it felt super rushed and overwhelming. It made the whole experience feel off-balance and hard to stay connected to.

Tropes and Trigger warnings of A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames

Tropes of A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames

• Whimsical magic
• Gothic fantasy
• Talking cat
• Slow burn
• Forced Proximity

Trigger warnings of A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames

• Violence

Final Thought

Overall, A Harvest of Hearts had a lot of potential with its whimsical world-building, cozy gothic vibes, and creative magical elements. 🌙✨ I loved the idea of sorceresses harvesting hearts and the magical house with its moods, it felt like something straight out of a fairy tale. The writing itself was easy to follow, and the atmosphere was truly enchanting at times. However, the execution just didn’t quite live up to the promise for me, especially when it came to character development, pacing, and the romance.

While Foss was a strong presence throughout the book, her constant self-loathing and poor decision-making made it hard for me to truly connect with her. Sylvester, unfortunately, felt flat and underdeveloped, with most of his character reduced to “handsome sorcerer” energy. 🪄💔 The romance between them felt rushed and lacked the emotional build-up I need to really root for a couple, especially after so much slow pacing in the first half. The talking cat, Cornelius, honestly had more depth and personality than most of the main characters!

In the end, while I appreciated the cozy, magical world and the beautiful ideas woven into the story, A Harvest of Hearts just didn’t deliver the emotional payoff I was hoping for. I think readers who enjoy whimsical, slow-burn fantasy with strong atmosphere might still find something to love here, but if you’re looking for deep character work or a swoony, slow-burn romance, you might end up a little disappointed like I was. ⭐⭐✨

Thank you again to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing me with an ALC of this book. I appreciate the opportunity to listen and review it.

About the author

Practical Information for Readers

A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames Book Formats

A Harvest of Hearts is available in various formats to suit every reader’s preference:

• Paperback: Ideal for readers who enjoy the tactile experience of holding a physical book.
• eBook: Convenient for on-the-go reading, available on all major e-reader platforms.
• Audiobook: Narrated with emotional depth, available on platforms like Audible.
• PDF A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames : While some may search for a PDF version, it’s recommended to opt for legal eBook options to support the author.

Where to find A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames PDF

1. Amazon Kindle: Offers a user-friendly interface with customizable reading settings.
2. Barnes & Noble Nook: Another popular platform with a wide selection of e-books.
3. Apple Books: Provides seamless integration with Apple devices and a smooth reading experience.

A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames Age Rating

While A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames is marketed as YA fantasy, the FMC talks about sexual tension quite a bit. Personally, I’d say it’s better suited for older teens, probably around 16 or 17 and up.