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A HARVEST OF HEARTS

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. Still, Foss 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. Andrea Eames is an English poet and novelist now based in Texas after eight years in New Zealand and seventeen years in Zimbabwe. Her first two novels, published by Penguin Random House UK, were set in Zimbabwe, where she grew up: The Cry of the Go-Away Bird (2011) and The White Shadow (2012), which was shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize in 2012. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing, and works part-time as a fairy at the Renaissance Faire. Andrea lives in the country with her husband, baby daughter, and five very ungrateful cats. Erewhon Books is an imprint of Kensington Books focusing on novel-length works of speculative fiction: science fiction, fantasy, and related genres. Erewhon embrace the liminal and unclassifiable and champion the unusual, the uncanny, and the hard-to-define.
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Published 2025-06-01 by Erewhon

Comments

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

UK: HarperVoyager, France: Gallimard (preempt), Russia: Rosman (auction), Poland (Zysk)