Reviews tagging 'Gore'

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

38 reviews

aklovekorn's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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meaghancook's review against another edition

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  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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writer_a_fox's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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juliana_reads's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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harveyjoy53's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0


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dianaschmidty's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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cover2covertx's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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zarhara's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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wilybooklover's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

2.0

I’m so disappointed. I went into this book expecting to love it! Cosy fantasy romance is basically my brand and I was highly anticipating this one. Sadly, it fell flat for me (and really wasn't all that cosy IMO). 

The worldbuilding had some really interesting customs, but it also felt kind of clunky and not well-explained. Parts of it seemed very modern and distractingly American. Like, not being able to legally drink alcohol at the age of nineteen is a distinctly American thing. Why exactly is it in this fantasy world with zombies and demigods and souls that live in the appendix? And it just felt like it was trying too hard to be cute and whimsical which was discordant when combined with the angst and the high stakes of the plot. I thought the nimkilim were an especially interesting addition though!  

The other issue was that it felt like the story was constructed around the enemies to lovers and epistolary tropes rather than them developing as a natural part of the story? Like the tropes themselves felt kind of forced and thinly plotted. Don’t get me wrong, I love tropes but I need a book to offer me more than just tropes. The plot device that involved the letters ending up with each other was just way too convenient. And not realising who the letters were from, especially when they were describing their own nemesis situation in said letters right after seeing each other, was just too unrealistic to suspend disbelief. These people know each other's handwriting! The relationship development was rushed and all over the place; one minute they’re enemies (with extremely flimsy reasons for being so) and the next they’re in love, there’s no real gradual progression (literally, it’s like ten pages! At least on Mercy's part it is). They were apart for most of the book dealing with their individual problems, so we hardly get to see them interact meaningfully. Hart crossed the line into cruel too many times while constantly objectifying Mercy in his head — I didn't like him at all. He came across as pathetic and not in a good way.
Hart knowing the truth about the letters and not informing Mercy before sleeping with her also made me very uncomfortable.
  The ending just felt so melodramatic and unnecessary.

I did like the family dynamics and the side characters, especially Penrose Duckers. I just wanted more cohesion of all the various plots and more romantic development. Just... more in general. 


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adancewithbooks's review against another edition

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funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is one that I have seen around a lot of blogs so when I saw the ebook for a very tiny price I decided to get it right away. The first part made me so sure this was going to be a 5 star read but as I read on that changed a little. Still I really enjoyed this book as a whole. 

This is mostly a romance story in a fantasy world. The world where this takes place has had to protect its cities. On the outside there are drudges which are basically zombies. They are people who have died and been taken in by a lost soul. The appendix is one that plays a big role. Without an appendix the souls cannot take you. And to stop a drudge, you have to pierce the appendix. I found this an interesting world that I would love to read more about. I think there is a lot left to be discovered (and I see a good opening for that with the ex of our favorite undertaker). 

Hart is a marshall that works outside of the borders, in the wilds of Tanria. It is a dangerous job but he seems to revel in that. It is easier to draw away from life with a job like that. But he also realizes that he is lonely. As a demigod he is often looked upon as a bit of a monster. And after losing his loved ones he pulled away. 
Mercy on the other hand is an undertaker in her family business. Or rather the office worker who has had to take on her father's job as well after his heart attack. When her brother doesn't want to take over for his father there seems to be talk of selling the business. Nobody sees Mercy as the one that can take over as the undertaker. And nobody listens. 

The start of this book was so very strong where we got to know our two main characters in their lives and see them making contact with one another in a different way. Coming more together. Seeing their grief for their lost ones (in at least both cases their mother). I found that a very strong set up. 

But at about the halfway point it started feeling as if the story was being drawn out. The clear miscommunication where the character was constantly warn about was going on full force and I found that a really annoying part of the story. He should have said it right away. The door was wide open and the reason for not telling was weak. It often is. 

Regardless of that I still enjoyed the story as a whole and I really fell in love with the characters. 

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