Review by Booklist Review
More and more often, magic-workers have come to Foss Butcher's town to harvest hearts, which they need for their spells. But she never thought she would be the one "snagged" by a sorcerer, attached to him by a maddening, painful pull that forces her to abandon all that she knows and follow him back to the city. There, she pretends to be the new housekeeper for his strange, black-walled abode, all while befriending house cat Cornelius and trying to figure out how to break the spell. She soon discovers that the fate of the kingdom itself might rest on her success. This new fantasy novel is often unnecessarily expository, explaining the world rather than letting it build, and repetitively revisiting characterization (such as Foss being "cursed" and "ugly"). However, readers who can get past these flaws will be rewarded. Eames' debut features an enchanted house, a moody (and clueless) sorcerer, and a no-nonsense protagonist all set in a compelling world reminiscent of Howl's Moving Castle. Fans of cozy fantasy will enjoy this one.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Beautiful sorceresses magically harvest the hearts of complacent townsfolk in this clever but clunky fantasy from Eames (The Making of Stones). Most of narrator Foss Butcher's fellow villagers only have small pieces of their hearts taken at a time and believe the sacrifice is necessary for the magical protection that brings prosperity and peace to their kingdom. When the first male sorcerer, Sylvester, visits Foss's village, Foss's heart is accidentally snagged by his magic, bonding them physically and emotionally. She feels growing pain at their separation and sets off to find him, hoping to sever the bond between them and return home. When he tries to turn her away before the bond can be severed, she impulsively volunteers to be his housekeeper in his odd shape-shifting house in the city so that she can search the property for her missing heart. Along the way, Foss meets other snagged villagers and unravels terrifying truths surrounding the parasitic heart magic and the sorcerers themselves. Readers led to expect coziness from the marketing blurb should instead prepare for a Grimm's fairy tale vibe and elements of body horror. A strained romance subplot between Foss and Sylvester somewhat mars an otherwise fascinating and complex exploration of the cruel choices often made in the name of tradition and safety. The result is a modern fantasy with the deep moral core of an old fable. (Feb.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
People were wary of the magic-workers, for they knew that these beautiful women would take a piece of their hearts to fuel their magic. Foss Butcher believed she was safe from this attention because no one would want someone as plain and pragmatic as her. Then Sylvester stepped from a carriage, and as Foss stared too long, she was Snagged. Instead of wasting away as so many others have, she instead makes her way to the sorcerer's house and becomes his housekeeper, discovering the truth behind the magic that takes hearts and lives. She will have to depend on other unwilling souls, a talking cat, a moody house--and maybe even the gorgeous Sylvester himself. It isn't just people who are losing their hearts, but the kingdom itself. VERDICT Eames (The Secret Circus) offers a delightful modern fairy tale in which the heroine is determined to save herself. The atmospheric setting and layered plot will please fantasy readers.--Kristi Chadwick
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