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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
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
imds's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Gore, Death, Death of parent, Blood, Abandonment, Body shaming, and Grief
dkgreads's review
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.5
Oof, my heart 🥹. This book was quirky and magical and kinda weird, but I loved it! I also may have sobbed for, like, three chapters straight. It was really, REALLY good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content
ourladyjack's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, and Death
bidpat's review
emotional
reflective
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Grief
snipinfool's review
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Mercy Birdsall had been running Birdsall & Son since her father's heart attack. She was hanging on until her brother could finish his Funerary Rites and Services degree and take over as head undertaker. She enjoyed her work, but could definitely use some help in all areas of their business. Mercy had an overall sunny attitude except when a certain Tanrian Marshall came to drop off a body for burial. For some reason, Marshall Ralston had rubbed her the wrong way since day one. He was condescending and sarcastic. Mercy had no problems giving it back to him in full. Dealing with him would be one thing she would not miss once her brother came on board.
Hart Ralston worked as a ranger, keeping Tanria safe from drudges (like zombies). Hart was a loner in more ways than one. He was a demigod, which made him different from most, and he had been on his own since he was sixteen. Hart had a few partners he enjoyed working with in the past, but currently, he preferred being on his own. Keeping citizens safe from drudge attacks was enough work without having to navigate the niceties of working relationships. After a conversation with his ex-partner and boss, Hart took a closer look at his life. He realized he was a bit lonely. He decided to write a letter to an anonymous friend to disclose his empty life. Hart had written letters to his mother and mentor when they died as a way to stay connected to them. He hoped writing about his solitude would help to ease his sense of isolation. After finishing the letter, Hart did what he usually did after writing his mother and guide. He posted the letter addressed to "A Friend" never expecting it to be actually delivered to someone.
Hart Ralston worked as a ranger, keeping Tanria safe from drudges (like zombies). Hart was a loner in more ways than one. He was a demigod, which made him different from most, and he had been on his own since he was sixteen. Hart had a few partners he enjoyed working with in the past, but currently, he preferred being on his own. Keeping citizens safe from drudge attacks was enough work without having to navigate the niceties of working relationships. After a conversation with his ex-partner and boss, Hart took a closer look at his life. He realized he was a bit lonely. He decided to write a letter to an anonymous friend to disclose his empty life. Hart had written letters to his mother and mentor when they died as a way to stay connected to them. He hoped writing about his solitude would help to ease his sense of isolation. After finishing the letter, Hart did what he usually did after writing his mother and guide. He posted the letter addressed to "A Friend" never expecting it to be actually delivered to someone.
This story was all kinds of cute. I loved both Hart and Mercy. They had an enemy to lovers relationship. Mercy was the sunshine to Hart's grumpy. When Hart posted his letter pouring out his loneliness, he never ever thought it would land in the hands of Mercy. Mercy was also lonely. She worked constantly and rarely had time for socializing. Because they had many negative encounters over the years, it was hard for them to think of the other in any alternative way. I loved how they continued to write the "To a friend" letters expressing their deepest thoughts and wishes, never realizing their letter went to their adversary. The side characters in the novel were also great. I loved Mercy's family and Hart's new partner, Penrose Duckers. That has to be one of the best character names I've seen in a while. The creatures who delivered the mail were humorous also. The world Megan Bannen created in this book was interesting and enjoyable. A sequel is set to come out next year and I will be reading that ASAP.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent
theespressoedition's review
4.5
This isn't a true review. Just quotes I liked.
“I want to be with someone who asks me how my day was, someone who finds what I have to say interesting. I want to be with someone who thinks that—I don’t know—that I’m kind of special. That’s all.” Nathan puffed his lips as if Mercy had uttered the most unreasonable thing he’d ever heard. “Thanks a lot!” she said. “I’m not trying to be mean, but come on. Life isn’t like those fluffy books you read. People don’t sit around mooning over each other. This is reality, and in reality, you find someone you like and that you’re attracted to, and you get married and you have a family, and that’s all there is to it. It’s that simple.” Mercy sagged in her chair. Maybe Nathan had a point. Maybe she was reaching too high and wanting too much. Maybe it was time to lower the bar and readjust her expectations.
(Woof. I felt this in my soul).
It’d be like reading a book that doesn’t end. No matter how good the story is, you want it to be over at some point.
(Talking about life here. Interesting).
“I think I’m about to do something stupid.” “Okay.” Mercy stood on tiptoes and kissed the corner of his mouth on the exact spot where the frosting had been. She pulled away and watched him as he gawked at her and said nothing, and his silence screamed around her until she couldn’t take it anymore. “Well? Say something.” “I’m still waiting for you to do something stupid.”
(This has got to be one of the cutest scenes I’ve ever read. Ever).
He hadn’t realized how tight his lungs were until Mercy gave him room to breathe.
(My heart. Or should I say “my Hart”).
He figured that if he could no longer love Mercy in person, he could at least love her through the pages of her favorite novel.
(Everyone should love someone through their favorite novel, just saying).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Gore, Pregnancy, and Body horror
Minor: Alcohol and Death of parent
faithwingo's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Gore, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Pregnancy and Animal death