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adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is a romantasy adaptation of Norah Ephron's 1998 classic rom-com You've Got Mail (one of my favorites). The references to the film were by far my favorite parts of the book. I loved the back and forth banter in the MMC and FMC’s letters, as well as the enemies-to-lovers arc of their relationship.
The fantasy elements didn’t quite capture my attention in the same way. There wasn’t very much world building, so I didn’t really engage with the fantasy elements of the story; but mostly, I also didn’t really care to understand them. I was much more invested in the relationship plot than the action.
I enjoy reading books that push me out of my genre comfort zone, which Hart + Mercy definitely did. I’d be interested in reading Bannen’s companion novel, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank (a nod to When Harry Met Sally), when it comes out this summer.
The fantasy elements didn’t quite capture my attention in the same way. There wasn’t very much world building, so I didn’t really engage with the fantasy elements of the story; but mostly, I also didn’t really care to understand them. I was much more invested in the relationship plot than the action.
I enjoy reading books that push me out of my genre comfort zone, which Hart + Mercy definitely did. I’d be interested in reading Bannen’s companion novel, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank (a nod to When Harry Met Sally), when it comes out this summer.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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
I laughed and I ugly cried. I did not expect a fantasy romance set in a world with undead to be so emotional, funny, and have an incredible love story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, Pregnancy
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I laughed, I cried, I loved this book. I loved the relationships built throughout the story between different characters, the unique concept of this world and undead zombies, and the adventure this book took me on. I also really appreciate the authenticity of this story and the representation of LGBT.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy, Abandonment
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence
Minor: Death of parent
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
This was fine. Both main characters were a bit unbearable at times but the supporting characters helped, even if every one was pretty one dimensional and over the top. There was not a lot of explanation about the world itself which was nice in some ways, like the absence of long page after page of build but, but also left me a bit clueless at times. You just learn more as you read. The writing was… fine. Not sophisticated. If you are looking for a beautiful story with flowery prose this is NOT it. It was an easy and fairly engaging read though! I wouldn’t think a hard core fantasy fan would like this book but definitely romance fans would
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
This was surprisingly cute as well as funny in some parts. I'm not a big romantasy person but I liked the world-building in this as well as the dynamics between the main characters and watching their relationship grow. Shout out to the bunch of queer side characters whose stories I really want a prequel of and a good dog named Leonard.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
MOODS:
✨ Romantasy
✨ Fantasy
✨ Fiction
✨ Urban Fantasy
✨ Cozy Vibes
✨ Demigods
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ Found family
✨ You've Got Mail
✨ Grumpy/Sunshine
✨ LGBTQ+ representation
✨ Whimsy
Triggers:
- Death, FFM is an embalmer/mortician
🌶️3/5:
Overall spoiler free impression/review:
Beware you will likely fall for grumpy and sweet Hart-Ache and Merciless and there may be some ugly crying involved at some point...
You've Got Mail meets cozy romantasy demigod world. Just love this book! The character and relationship building carries this book and I just love it. This can easily become one of my feel good books I go back to read for comfort on a rainy day. Mercy is a beautiful very tall and charming lovely woman and she is an "Undertaker" aka a mortician/embalmer taking over her family's business during hard times. Hart is a very grumpy and lonely giant demigod marshal who spends time killing ummmm....something called drudges ...in the magical world of Tarnia. Drudges are... weird zombie poltergeist like creatures except the souls are able to infect the spleens of humans/bodies. Listen that doesn't matter...the point is the book is just cozy good times.
Setting:
Fantasy world of Tanria. There are gods who are stars, gods who still help with soul guiding after death, and demigods. Some demigods are immortal most are not. Tanria has become more dangerous with drudges mysteriously increasing and there is some shady business going on. This means Hart-Ache and Merciless are coming across each other more often because of there jobs. Grumpy Hart-Ache and sweet Merciless get off on the wrong side from the start and they never fail to start some witty banter and trying to get under each other's skin. Things start taking a turn when Hart-Ache and Merciless start an anonymous penpal relationship with some adorable messengers called "Nimkilins" playing cupid/stirring the pot.
**SPOILERS AFTER THIS****
What I Liked
Hart-Ache and Merciless/Characters:
The character developments and just the characters themselves were immediately captivating. They just loveable. Merci is such a cinnamon roll and deep down so Hart. Hart lashes out from a place of loneliness and fear. He has had very little positive role modes with his only father-like/mentor figure, Bill, kinda being a toxic workaholic man who left his family and put young Hart in a very unsafe and sticky position. Now adult and grown-up Hart has been so influenced by him that he shut off after his death. Even though he has some very loyal and great friends he shuts himself off and away. Hart's mortality or immortality not being confirmed he is afraid that as a demi-god he'll be immortal and lose everyone around him too. So, he's a bit grumpy to everyone around him but especially Merci. He is only ever really loving to Merci's dog, Leonard, because he loves dogs. And lets be honest he's a softy for his mentee, Penn. Merci, who is very busy, with a lot on her shoulders, and her father to care for, is too overwhelmed to take any of Hart's sh*t. So, although she is absolutely delightful, caring and loving to everyone, almost always putting herself second as the oldest child and taking care of her siblings and father after her mother passed. They're book lovers (how cute) and a little lonely. So when Hart uncharacterizable writes an anonymous letter to no one address "To a Friend" and puts in a magic mailbox that is then picked up by messagner gods that are in animal form and called Nimkilims which finds its way to Merci...things start getting cute and interesting. With lots of sibling interference and sassy Nimkilins stirring the pot.
Side characters
I really liked all the side characters. Adorable Penn who hits it off with Merci's carefree cook of a brother. The older sister, the father, Leonard the dogs. Alma and her wife. They're all just great characters. The siblings act like siblings and just get on each others nerves. Alma and her wife are always trying to be there for Hart even though Hart pushes them away. and the Merci's family is just wholesome, quirky, and loveable.
Nimkilins....I just love them. I want more Nimkilins.
Plot:
The story was interesting, the idea of souls not being able to get past to the other side and so they jump into spleens which doesn't make sense but whatever is interesting really. The mortician job and marshal jobs and how the whole soul business is also interesting and fun as well as how they overcame the challenges. It is really the reltationship building that moves the plot along and makes the book. Seeing the family dynamics and business tension with the Birdsall family and how they will overcome being pressured by the Amazon version of undertaking business as well as a son who was suppposed to take over the busiess who does not have the stomach for embalming. Seeing Hart slowly falling for Merci but having a hard time with coming around to it is so cute. You also start he is a softie and really cares for the people around him. You see that even though he didn't have a great mentor he is a great mentor to Penn. Really loved seeing their relationship go from enemies to lovers.
What I didn't like:
Honestly some of the world building didn't totally make sense to me. The whole business with the drudges and the spleen and the gods falling asleep and becoming stars and how the demi-gods are not as immortal as they used to be or as powerful got me a little confused. I would have liked to see the world build a little more and explored more of the world of Tanria and the magic system. But really this was a love story. A fantasy urban version of Pride and Prejudice so it doesn't really hurt how I rate the book or feel it because I think this is a book I can read again and again.
✨ Romantasy
✨ Fantasy
✨ Fiction
✨ Urban Fantasy
✨ Cozy Vibes
✨ Demigods
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ Found family
✨ You've Got Mail
✨ Grumpy/Sunshine
✨ LGBTQ+ representation
✨ Whimsy
Triggers:
- Death, FFM is an embalmer/mortician
🌶️3/5:
Overall spoiler free impression/review:
Beware you will likely fall for grumpy and sweet Hart-Ache and Merciless and there may be some ugly crying involved at some point...
You've Got Mail meets cozy romantasy demigod world. Just love this book! The character and relationship building carries this book and I just love it. This can easily become one of my feel good books I go back to read for comfort on a rainy day. Mercy is a beautiful very tall and charming lovely woman and she is an "Undertaker" aka a mortician/embalmer taking over her family's business during hard times. Hart is a very grumpy and lonely giant demigod marshal who spends time killing ummmm....something called drudges ...in the magical world of Tarnia. Drudges are... weird zombie poltergeist like creatures except the souls are able to infect the spleens of humans/bodies. Listen that doesn't matter...the point is the book is just cozy good times.
Setting:
Fantasy world of Tanria. There are gods who are stars, gods who still help with soul guiding after death, and demigods. Some demigods are immortal most are not. Tanria has become more dangerous with drudges mysteriously increasing and there is some shady business going on. This means Hart-Ache and Merciless are coming across each other more often because of there jobs. Grumpy Hart-Ache and sweet Merciless get off on the wrong side from the start and they never fail to start some witty banter and trying to get under each other's skin. Things start taking a turn when Hart-Ache and Merciless start an anonymous penpal relationship with some adorable messengers called "Nimkilins" playing cupid/stirring the pot.
**SPOILERS AFTER THIS****
What I Liked
Hart-Ache and Merciless/Characters:
The character developments and just the characters themselves were immediately captivating. They just loveable. Merci is such a cinnamon roll and deep down so Hart. Hart lashes out from a place of loneliness and fear. He has had very little positive role modes with his only father-like/mentor figure, Bill, kinda being a toxic workaholic man who left his family and put young Hart in a very unsafe and sticky position. Now adult and grown-up Hart has been so influenced by him that he shut off after his death. Even though he has some very loyal and great friends he shuts himself off and away. Hart's mortality or immortality not being confirmed he is afraid that as a demi-god he'll be immortal and lose everyone around him too. So, he's a bit grumpy to everyone around him but especially Merci. He is only ever really loving to Merci's dog, Leonard, because he loves dogs. And lets be honest he's a softy for his mentee, Penn. Merci, who is very busy, with a lot on her shoulders, and her father to care for, is too overwhelmed to take any of Hart's sh*t. So, although she is absolutely delightful, caring and loving to everyone, almost always putting herself second as the oldest child and taking care of her siblings and father after her mother passed. They're book lovers (how cute) and a little lonely. So when Hart uncharacterizable writes an anonymous letter to no one address "To a Friend" and puts in a magic mailbox that is then picked up by messagner gods that are in animal form and called Nimkilims which finds its way to Merci...things start getting cute and interesting. With lots of sibling interference and sassy Nimkilins stirring the pot.
Side characters
I really liked all the side characters. Adorable Penn who hits it off with Merci's carefree cook of a brother. The older sister, the father, Leonard the dogs. Alma and her wife. They're all just great characters. The siblings act like siblings and just get on each others nerves. Alma and her wife are always trying to be there for Hart even though Hart pushes them away. and the Merci's family is just wholesome, quirky, and loveable.
Nimkilins....I just love them. I want more Nimkilins.
Plot:
The story was interesting, the idea of souls not being able to get past to the other side and so they jump into spleens which doesn't make sense but whatever is interesting really. The mortician job and marshal jobs and how the whole soul business is also interesting and fun as well as how they overcame the challenges. It is really the reltationship building that moves the plot along and makes the book. Seeing the family dynamics and business tension with the Birdsall family and how they will overcome being pressured by the Amazon version of undertaking business as well as a son who was suppposed to take over the busiess who does not have the stomach for embalming. Seeing Hart slowly falling for Merci but having a hard time with coming around to it is so cute. You also start he is a softie and really cares for the people around him. You see that even though he didn't have a great mentor he is a great mentor to Penn. Really loved seeing their relationship go from enemies to lovers.
What I didn't like:
Honestly some of the world building didn't totally make sense to me. The whole business with the drudges and the spleen and the gods falling asleep and becoming stars and how the demi-gods are not as immortal as they used to be or as powerful got me a little confused. I would have liked to see the world build a little more and explored more of the world of Tanria and the magic system. But really this was a love story. A fantasy urban version of Pride and Prejudice so it doesn't really hurt how I rate the book or feel it because I think this is a book I can read again and again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
Okay. Alright. I’m still processing this book, but oh. my. god.
It was simple, but so well written. Especially regarding grief and guilt. For once, the ML is actually a well-rounded character with thoughts, feelings, and growth of his own.
That is so unbelievably refreshing in a romance book. It does help that it is written in third person, and alternates between Mercy and Hart-led chapters.
Okay, so it’s a fantasy You’ve Got Mail scenario. Of course it’s not exactly the same, there’s no dial-up computers. Instead it’s hand-written letters.
And instead of book store owners, Mercy is an undertaker, and Hart a Marshal. It’s hard to explain Hart’s job, but it means in this world that bodies of the dead can be possessed through the appendix. And the only way to stop the possession is to stab, shoot etc. the appendix.
Trust me, the book explains it a lot better. But these bodies are all people, and if unidentifiable, they end up at Mercy’s family’s funeral home.
Aside from that, this is understandably an enemies to lovers romance. Hart and Mercy have this undeniable chemistry that initially manifests as complete loathing.
And grief is a big aspect of this book. This author actually writes Hart to have emotions. To cry like a big baby, to have flaws, and be well aware of them. And it felt so real to read what he was feeling.
Mercy has her own issues: her family think it’s time to give up Birdsall and Son, telling her that she needs a life. But she doesn’t want to lose the one thing she loves the most. Sending people off into the next life with dignity and grace.
The miscommunication trope is there a tiny bit, but it’s realistic. It’s not a stupid misunderstanding, it’s something that actually hurts the parties involved.
I don’t know, I loved this book. It was silly, and stupid, but just so overwhelmingly wholesome.
I’m happy I picked this book up on a whim.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Death of parent
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked up this book on the cover and title alone thinking it was some kind of southern gothic romance about undertakers but WOW this is even better than I anticipated! Demigods, lore and old gods?? sign me up!! I could not tell if the characters were supposed to have an accent or not, so I just decided to read it as Southern and I loved it. Super cute romance, lots of mythos, a few action scenes and spicy chapters. I will say if spice is not your thing, you can skip those chapters as there isn't anything plot-relevant in them. I really enjoyed the worldbuilding and character dynamics. Eagerly anticipating the next book!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content
Moderate: Violence