A review by story_goblin
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

adventurous emotional funny mysterious 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

4.0

I don't normally read romance-focused books, but I was especially intrigued by the comparisons to "You've Got Mail" and "Howl's Moving Castle"; plus, I do love "House in the Cerulean Sea" as well. Admittedly, for the 3/4ths of it, I was vastly more invested in the world-building and subplot/mystery than I was the romance aspect, but that's to be expected from me. And boy, is that world-building something! I am fascinated by this world & its mythos! There were times when I wished that this world had been invented by Brandon Sanderson so that the balance to world-building & romance would be more my preferred style. At roughly the 2/3rds-3/4ths mark, the subplot starts really taking precedence in a way that feels really satisfying- that stuff wasn't there to just carry or drag out the romance, it was actually important. I was planning to give it 3.5 stars, but the ending really sold it for me. I liked it, but I'm not sure yet if I'll continue the series. If it would help me on my book club bingo card, I probably will at some point.