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midnightmoon_dreamer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Abandonment, and Alcohol
mels_reading_rook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
One of the big elements that brought it down for me was the constant use of the miscommunication/non-communication trope. Every time the characters intentionally withheld information from each other, it was either to progress the plot or create conflict/future conflict. I'm personally not a fan of this trope, so I found myself frustrated with the characters at times. One standout moment was when
My other major issue has to do with the climax of the conflict of their relationship and its resolution.
Despite my misgivings, I loved the story and I definitely will be reading the sequel sometime soon!
This review can also be found on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5360286130
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Sexism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
kharlan3's review against another edition
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Abandonment
bubblybuttercup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
excellent pacing. organic conflict that made sense and was not dragged alone. wonderful world building. there is more to the main characters than their love — they have their own internal and external challenges that have nothing to do with the relationship. and everyone is fleshed out! even the side characters (who are also amazingly written btw!) they’re not j used for comedic relief or forgotton once the relationship begins. there is action and adventure, a little bit of mystery, joy and heartbreak, and all wrapped up in a very well written novel.
such a beautiful book that is a great cross of romance and fantasy. excited to read the next in the series and possibly join Bannen’s fanclub!
SPOILERS BELOW: my reasons why its not 5 star:
- the way Hart and Mercy spoke to each other when they were “enemies” was mean and nasty. i could not for the life of me understand why you’d want to be with someone who is capable of being so vile to another person and had to suspend my disbelief. wish they had an exchange apologizing to each other. bc they internally expressed remorse, and Hart apologized, but I wanted more.
- the jump to romance was crazy
- besides queer representation and a brief implication that Pen was black, there was no diversity
- i didn’t make sense to me when Mercy’s whole family could not fathom the idea of her being an undertaker in the beginning. to me wasn’t written w sexist undertones (that she couldn’t bc she was a woman), but instead that the family assjmed that she would be unhappy and unfulfilled, but her father was literally an undertaker and loved his job???? v confusing
- j a minor personal — at the end when the pair was mad at each other i didn’t like that they went so long without talking! ik hart took mercy at her word that she wanted nothing to do w him and Mercy said she was waiting for *him* to speak with her, but i didn’t get why Pen didn’t send those messages and they went so long without speaking. for the plot yes yes ofc! but to me, if you love someone that much…wouldn’t you try to speak to them once!!
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
Minor: Sexism
devilbunny6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Sexism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
organizedxchaos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer and Misogyny
renpuspita's review
- 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
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy (quite a handful title, eh?) is my first book by Megan Bannen. The cover hooked me up. The premise of enemy to lover that become secret pen pal without realize each other identity at first sold me out. Nope, I don't watch You've Got Mail and while other readers said the vibe is like Ghibli, I admit I also never watch their anime movie. For me, I have a warm and fuzzy feeling reading about Hart and Mercy. Especially Hart. Bannen seems like want to incorporate grumpy x sunshine, although while like a yellow color, Mercy is not that sunshine, lel. Her struggle to maintain the family undertaking business seems plausible. Her first fight with Hart that lead to their animosity for 4 years maybe a little bit silly at first and you can said that Mercy was overreact facing Hart's barbed venom, not knowing that Hart was grieving after his dog died. Not an excuse for Hart, tho. I admit, he was a jerk too. But, what can you said about hate and love is the different side of same coins? Although 4 years is a LONG time to hold a grudge, lel.
I'm very sure that the MVPs of this book must be granted to both the nimkilim, Horatio the Owl and Bassareus the Rabbit (he's my personal favorite with his unapologetic cursing toward Hart, lel); and also to the unfortunate drugde (aka zombie like creature that roams Tanria) whom attack Mercy so Hart can be her knight (or Marshal) in shining armor, therefore giving chance to their blossoming romance. My favorites scene is of course the letter exchange between Mercy and Hart, cute but also endearing to read, although I read it with a sense of dread knowing that finally they will know their real identity. Sure their fighting in the "enemy phase" can be too tiring to read, but well, that 4 years of grudge did to you. While reading their budding romance make me grinning from ear to ear and said "awww" for many times. The angst also well written and boy.. the scene when Hart crying after he thought that his chance to have a romantic relationship with Mercy vanishing when Mercy finally knowing that Hart is her secret pen pal make my heart feel a little bit pained. I did like with the way Bannen write about Hart, his hard personality in the surface is seems pretty hard to crack, but deep inside he's a softie. His emotions were well written, show that even it's okay for a man to crying and show his emotions.
The family theme is a delight to read, especially from Birdsall family. I can't emphasize how much well written the struggle that Mercy had. She love the undertaking business but her family think she deserve other and well, what a surprise that it was Hart that understand her. Yep, I know, this is a romance written by woman author, lel. But, hey, I read romance for escapism! The secondary romance between Mercy's brother, Zeddie and Penrose Duckers whom happen to be Hart's apprentice is so CUTE, with capital C. And its funny to read how different Zeddie and Duckers compared to Hart and Mercy, but they also help our MCs in their own way.
If I have a complaint, then it's the fantasy setting. THERE'S NO MAP. That, I said it! No map whatsoever so I don't know where is Tanria, where is Bushong, or Eternity? Is it England? But, there's no queen??? I think maybe Bannen didn't want to info dumping in the first and my patience got rewarded after hundred pages of so when through Mercy I learned the mythology behind the world. A little explanation in the first will be nice. A MAP will be better. The fantasy time setting also seems like mismatched. I got a modern feeling, since there's a cab called autoduck but also have a medieval feeling too? Lol, I can't explain well so I assume the time setting happen in modern times but with fantastical elements. Though, Hart said there's no dragon in Tanria, I think otherwise!
If you like your fantasy light with a pretty much low stake (heh, if drudge attacks can be categorized into low stake) and heavier on romance, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is a must read! Also, it make me grinning and sad, also have adorable nimkilim, although the fantasy settings is a little bit weak.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Minor: Cancer and Sexism
allingoodtime's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Cancer
imds's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
zias's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy and Abandonment