A Harvest of Hearts

I found this book to be an enchanting tale that combines whimsy, mystery, and a little romance. The story centres on Foss Butcher, a strong, endearing village girl whose world shifts when her heart is unknowingly (and accidentally) snagged by Sylvester, a young sorcerer with an interesting history. Determined to take charge of her fate, Foss sets off to the enchanted city. There she enters Sylvester's sentient house, meeting a charming talking cat, and uncovering the secrets hidden within the kingdom's magical heart-snatching practices.

The setting is immersive, filled with whimsical details that evoke Howl's Moving Castle. The house is a fascinating work of magic that is fun to explore along with Foss. Cornelius, the witty talking cat, adds a much-needed companion for Foss. He has a good sense of humour and a needed warmth for Foss.

Eames' writing is colourful and tender, particularly in portraying Foss's blend of bravery (or stubbornness) and self-doubt in the face of powerful magic. I must confess that Foss's constant negative self-talk began to drag on me. It was demonstrated perfectly in the first quarter of the book and didn't need to continue through the book.

While the plot hints at romance, the slow-burn relationship between Foss and Sylvester might not be worth the wait for some and may be considered underwhelming. It would have been lovely to see more development in Sylvester's character to sell the connection as being more than just the magic that Foss is a victim of.

Even so, this book's unique, character-driven story will resonate with readers who enjoy novels like “Howl's Moving Castle” and “The House in the Cerulean Sea”. With its mix of medieval village charm, sinister magic, and a hint of melancholy, this debut novel is perfect for those who appreciate whimsical fantasy with a touch of depth and enjoy a slow burn.

3.5 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews

Summary
Foss Butcher is likely to never amount to more than a butcher's life and perhaps some widower's second wife - until a sorcerer steals a piece of her heart, dooming her to follow him to his magical home, where she finds herself unwittingly involved in the fate of the entire kingdom.

Review
I read this book immediately after The Lost Bookshop, and for some reason linked them, though they really have very little in common. As I noted there, Bookshop has better prose, and this book has a better story. Rather to my surprise, I ultimately found myself rating this book higher.

A Harvest of Hearts has some trouble getting off the ground. The prose is clunky (though you get used to it) and there are a fair number of awkward (or just wrong) formations and word choices. I found it a notable obstacle, initially.

Gradually, however, I was won over by the plot, which is innovative, if built on familiar elements. The characters that move it along are fairly standard types, and there's no great surprise in their choices or resolutions, but they're well deployed and engaging. There's a little inconsistency (or maybe tension) – e.g., the protagonist sees herself as ugly for reasons beyond her control (and unsurprisingly, learns to think she isn't), but sees no problem with describing a villain as ugly (with the hint that that means lacking in moral fiber). Foss' choices aren't always consistent, and at times feel forced for the sake of plot movement, but overall the lapses can be skipped over.

There's a talking cat, which ordinarily I'm not keen on, as being a very overused device. But here, it's charming and adds to the story without being coy or overly cute.

The prose isn't great, frankly, but the story as a whole is engaging and fun.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.