Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

130 reviews

capriqueen's review against another edition

3.5

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

Took me a little bit to get into it, but once my son Duckers came on page I was hooked

The worldbuilding is one of the weak points of this book. Not the world itself, which is rich and fully realized, but the informing the reader of it. There’s way too much showing and not enough telling. This book could’ve definitely benefited from a map and a glossary. I spent the whole book piecing together the world, learning new bits of information here and there and adjusting the puzzle as I went

But the characters are great, the story is fun, and the romance is nice. The romance flipped On a bit too fast for my taste, but whatever. I really like that Hart and Mercy each had their own thing to work out,

and I like that Mercy and her family handled theirs on their own without Hart being a savior

The spice was alright. Idk if it’s publishers being wusses or what, but I wish “spicy” books actually committed to the bit instead of just alluding to the juicy parts

Content Warnings

mels_reading_rook's review against another edition

3.5

emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Overall, I really enjoyed this story, but I was not a fan of the tropes that were used. The characters were phenomenal, and I felt every emotion with them. I also loved the letters between Hart and Mercy as they learned to open up to one another. And the dialogue and banter could be so genuine and funny, I adored it so much!

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

Hart met with Mercy at the cafe to reveal himself as her penpal, and instead of saying the words "I am your penpal," he hinted at it by paraphrasing quotes from the letters. And, since Mercy was already on the defensive at that point, it was only natural for her to not pick up on it.

My other major issue has to do with the climax of the conflict of their relationship and its resolution.

When Mercy learned Hart was her penpal all along, she threw him out of her home and told him that she never wanted to see him again. Hart, being a good man, abided by her wish even though it tore him up inside. After that, Mercy was bemoaning the fact that he never showed back up to her place. Instead of reaching out to him because she set that boundary, she shifts the responsibility onto him and waits for him to 'win her back.' Even at the very end when they reunite after Hart's harrowing experience, she shoulders the blame on him and told him he should've ignored what she said when she was angry and tried to meet with her. I really don't like that mindset. Again, this is a personal preference. I find that mindset very toxic, and it went against a lot of the themes of the story. Mercy was having stress because she felt no one was listening to her. And when Hart listens to her, she gets upset? Not my cup of tea.

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

Content Warnings

viviette's review against another edition

3.0

slow-paced

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book is neither romantic nor fantastical. It simply feels like the definition of an “adult” fantasy in the way that the only fantasy aspect is zombie like things that only really change the job market… My main critique though is that Mercy, the FMC, is so unbearably annoying and stupid; this is acknowledged by the end but never taken care of! Hart on the other hand really was the true interest of the story! Besides that, he seriously did nothing wrong and yet Ms. Mercy is still mad at him?! The story only recovered itself with the ending and even then I’m hesitant to start the next installment… ugh.

Content Warnings

inkysplodge's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny 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

Content Warnings

kharlan3's review

Content Warnings

bubblybuttercup's review against another edition

4.75

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

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!!

Content Warnings