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A review by bubblybuttercup
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.75
A.MUST.READ.
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!!
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!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
Minor: Sexism