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organizedxchaos's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Medical content, Cursing, Gore, Violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Pregnancy
Minor: Misogyny and Cancer
smcrain's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5. Man, okay, I got off on a rocky start with this. I couldn't decide whether to DNF or keep going. The setting is kind of so bizarre and non-sensical at times it was throwing me. That being said I kept reading past about the 25-30% I was unable to put it down until the end and loved it. It's gets off to a rocky start but all I can say is if you are able to get past that you might be surprised.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Gore
dalenora's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5
This book was really fun! I found myself really identifying with mercy on a deeper level. In some scenes, it felt like my own life was transplanted onto the page. That being said, the twists were pretty predictable, and I found the final 100 pages to be a bit of a drag compared to the rest of the book, when usually that section should be the most exciting.
Also, to be more personal, I connected most to Mercy’s position as a caretaker for her dad/family, and because of that, their relationship was the books greatest weakness in my eyes. Similar to real life, her dad’s fragility felt like a red herring, every page it loomed over us, as I was waiting and expected something catastrophic to happen. Perhaps this is because, in real life, something catastrophic will always happen, usually sooner rather than later, and I’ve experienced that first hand. I’ll admit, this book didn’t kick up to a full 5 stars precisely because this just isn’t the kind of book to really explore that kind of grief, and I found myself sorely wishing it was as I realized this wasn’t that type of story. Bannen has such a beautiful and personal way of writing what it feels like to be in Mercy’s position, a way that makes the characters jump off the page and into your mind, and I wanted the catharsis of going on the entire journey with her. I usually love a good cozy fantasy, and I know the kind of depth to expect, but I guess I was just so taken by the characters that I wanted it to be a little bit more gritty, a little bit more real. And also, I guess I was just a little jealous she got the happy ending when we don’t in real life, and I longed for just a little bit of the bitter taste of reality in the end. So TLDR, I love this book!
Also, to be more personal, I connected most to Mercy’s position as a caretaker for her dad/family, and because of that, their relationship was the books greatest weakness in my eyes. Similar to real life, her dad’s fragility felt like a red herring, every page it loomed over us, as I was waiting and expected something catastrophic to happen. Perhaps this is because, in real life, something catastrophic will always happen, usually sooner rather than later, and I’ve experienced that first hand. I’ll admit, this book didn’t kick up to a full 5 stars precisely because this just isn’t the kind of book to really explore that kind of grief, and I found myself sorely wishing it was as I realized this wasn’t that type of story. Bannen has such a beautiful and personal way of writing what it feels like to be in Mercy’s position, a way that makes the characters jump off the page and into your mind, and I wanted the catharsis of going on the entire journey with her. I usually love a good cozy fantasy, and I know the kind of depth to expect, but I guess I was just so taken by the characters that I wanted it to be a little bit more gritty, a little bit more real. And also, I guess I was just a little jealous she got the happy ending when we don’t in real life, and I longed for just a little bit of the bitter taste of reality in the end. So TLDR, I love this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, and Animal death
Moderate: Pregnancy
renpuspita's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.5
To quote Horatio, " I do love a happy ending!" and amended what Bassareus said while he wept in the end "F*cking beautiful."
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Cursing, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Animal death, Toxic friendship, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer and Sexism
acuppabooks18's review
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Death of parent and Animal death
lizzysk555's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Cursing and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death, Alcohol, and Death of parent
glisteningstarfish's review
dark
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
mk_meow's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
2.75
1.5🌶️
Slow burn = not my fav
Slow burn = not my fav
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
libellumartinae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Alrightie, I am truly struggling on rating this book because in the latest pages it literally gave me everything I needed and look for in romances: angst and misunderstandings. It was deliciously messy and interesting and I definitely loved the love story as it is probably one of my favorite of the latest period!
Still, I think that the narration in the first part was particularly boring and slow with the letters being the most interesting part (certainly the format used was interesting); the worldbuidling wasn't peculiarly well developed as I have already read a book with a similar magic system and while also a bit chaotic it felt better described than this, especially considering that I also felt that although it's probably more a romance/cozy fantasy, much of the stuff got solved in a way that seemed too easy.
All in all, it's a nice book, a good romance, but nothing more.
Still, I think that the narration in the first part was particularly boring and slow with the letters being the most interesting part (certainly the format used was interesting); the worldbuidling wasn't peculiarly well developed as I have already read a book with a similar magic system and while also a bit chaotic it felt better described than this, especially considering that I also felt that although it's probably more a romance/cozy fantasy, much of the stuff got solved in a way that seemed too easy.
All in all, it's a nice book, a good romance, but nothing more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Death of parent
miss_berry315's review
slow-paced
2.5
I never could decide how I felt about this book tbh. I originally DNF'd it bc I had been listening to the audiobook and was just irritated the whole time.
I got the ebook to try it again, and it was much easier to digest, though I was not a big fan of the cheesy and confusing world building. I also just didn't really care tbh. The best parts of the book were about the characters and their interpersonal interactions, which we didn't get nearly enough of imo.
Then everything went downhill at the 80% mark. I almost DNF'd there, but skipped that chapter bc I couldn't read it through my sobbing. Honestly, I'm pretty angry that's the direction the author chose to go in. I think most people have some hard limits on what they want to read abut in their books, and there are expectations set prior when it comes to romance novels. I'm not sure how nobody thought it was important to mention what happens at the 80% mark in any content warnings I had read prior (was not on storygraph then, but I should have been!). The 80% mark is one of my hard limits and it completely ruined the book I was already undecided on.
Unfortunately, things just got even more cheesy somehow and I was cringing through the last few pages feeling like I was watching a sitcom. I cringed and rolled my eyes through the entire last chapters.
The letters between the characters, the middle 15% of the book, and the background relationship were the only good parts of the book.
I got the ebook to try it again, and it was much easier to digest, though I was not a big fan of the cheesy and confusing world building. I also just didn't really care tbh. The best parts of the book were about the characters and their interpersonal interactions, which we didn't get nearly enough of imo.
Then everything went downhill at the 80% mark. I almost DNF'd there, but skipped that chapter bc I couldn't read it through my sobbing. Honestly, I'm pretty angry that's the direction the author chose to go in. I think most people have some hard limits on what they want to read abut in their books, and there are expectations set prior when it comes to romance novels. I'm not sure how nobody thought it was important to mention what happens at the 80% mark in any content warnings I had read prior (was not on storygraph then, but I should have been!). The 80% mark is one of my hard limits and it completely ruined the book I was already undecided on.
Unfortunately, things just got even more cheesy somehow and I was cringing through the last few pages feeling like I was watching a sitcom. I cringed and rolled my eyes through the entire last chapters.
The letters between the characters, the middle 15% of the book, and the background relationship were the only good parts of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Suicide attempt and Pregnancy
The following spoilers are things I wish I knew going into this book, because I probably would not have read the book had I known these things happened.