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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
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
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
breadwrenner's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Body horror
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Sexism, and Animal death
kshertz's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.25
I really loved our protagonist Mercy. She’s fierce and I like that Hart and her have mean nicknames and the banter is great. Plus the side characters are so loveable. I love the world. It’s done so well! I didn’t LOVE the ending twists and turns but I still really think it’s worth the read and the journey regardless
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Gore, Blood, and Medical content
joiceeg's review
dark
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment, Blood, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Body horror, and Cursing
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Alcohol, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Cursing, Abandonment, Blood, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Vomit
a_ab's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.0
I mostly enjoyed this book, but I also have some mixed feelings.
Let's start with the negative, so I could convince myself to end on the positive note:
The bad:
- There are scenes and concepts here heavily inspired by (or closer to 'lifted from') the movie "You've Got Mail", and they are charming, but not new.
- The overdramatization of events feels a lot like emotional manipulation by the author.
- The characters are in they're 30's, but act like hormonal moody teenagers.
- The obligatory sex scenes, which don't feel natural in the context (and too explicit - mismatched from the rest of the book's tone) play a role in the emotional manipulation, making it infinitely worse.
- The overall length of the book. Not the worst offender in this category, but I felt that the book should have been edited better, and that such editing could easily have gotten rid of about 50-70 pages.
The negatives cover 2 of my personal peeves: characters not acting their age and sex stuck in where it doesn't belong.
And yet, I still found the book enjoyable.
The good:
- The world building. Combining the fluffy romcom inspiration of "You've Got Mail" with the other inspiration, which seems to have come from the 1979 movie "Stalker" (or its inspirations or derivatives) is a bold move, especially when it's layered with the fantasy elements of demigods and complex religious beliefs. The thoughtfulness with which all these elements were integrated into a cohesive reality is rather impressive.
- The secondary characters, friendships and family dynamics. They all felt natural and realistic.
- Mercy - she is smart, strong and nonsense when she is not acting like a sulking 15-year-old.
- The overall cuteness and the nicknames.
It all probably adds up to about 3.5*s, but I will round up for the lovely ending.
Let's start with the negative, so I could convince myself to end on the positive note:
The bad:
- There are scenes and concepts here heavily inspired by (or closer to 'lifted from') the movie "You've Got Mail", and they are charming, but not new.
- The overdramatization of events feels a lot like emotional manipulation by the author.
- The characters are in they're 30's, but act like hormonal moody teenagers.
- The obligatory sex scenes, which don't feel natural in the context (and too explicit - mismatched from the rest of the book's tone) play a role in the emotional manipulation, making it infinitely worse.
- The overall length of the book. Not the worst offender in this category, but I felt that the book should have been edited better, and that such editing could easily have gotten rid of about 50-70 pages.
The negatives cover 2 of my personal peeves: characters not acting their age and sex stuck in where it doesn't belong.
And yet, I still found the book enjoyable.
The good:
- The world building. Combining the fluffy romcom inspiration of "You've Got Mail" with the other inspiration, which seems to have come from the 1979 movie "Stalker" (or its inspirations or derivatives) is a bold move, especially when it's layered with the fantasy elements of demigods and complex religious beliefs. The thoughtfulness with which all these elements were integrated into a cohesive reality is rather impressive.
- The secondary characters, friendships and family dynamics. They all felt natural and realistic.
- Mercy - she is smart, strong and nonsense when she is not acting like a sulking 15-year-old.
- The overall cuteness and the nicknames.
It all probably adds up to about 3.5*s, but I will round up for the lovely ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, Grief, Death, and Abandonment
kirkspockreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual content, Body horror, and Death of parent