In the beloved tradition of Howl’s Moving Castle meets The House in the Cerulean Sea, a whimsical and unforgettable cozy fantasy about adventure, common sense, and the power of love, as a cheeky butcher’s daughter, a befuddlingly handsome sorcerer, and his clever talking cat unlock magical secrets in the dark heart of their kingdom…
Everyone in Foss Butcher’s village knows what happens when the magic-workers come; they harvest human hearts to use in their spells. That’s just how life in her kingdom works. But Foss, plain, clumsy, and practical as a boot, never expected anyone would want hers.
When a sorcerer snags a piece of Foss’s heart without meaning to, she is furious. For once a heart is snagged, the experience is . . . well, unpleasant. So, Foss finds herself stomping toward the grand City to keep his enchanted House and demands that he fixes her before she keels over and dies, or whatever happens when hearts are Snagged.
But the sorcerer, Sylvester, is not what she expected. Petulant, idle, and new to his powers, Sylvester has no clue how to undo the heart-taking, or how to do much of anything really, apart from sulk. Foss’s only friend is a talking cat and even the House’s walls themselves have moods.
As Foss searches for a cure, she accidentally uncovers that there is much more to the heart-taking—and to the magic-workers themselves—than she could have ever imagined…
Praise for A Harvest of Hearts
“A Harvest of Hearts is a welcome addition to the fantasy landscape: comforting but with a bit of a bite.” —Shelf Awareness
“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
“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
“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, National Book Award finalist and internationally bestselling author
“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
