Overall, this book was fine, but it definitely fell short of the original for me. There were some well executed themes and ideas, decent world building, and a fun, quirky tone. However, the plot was a little too predictable and frankly, boring. The romance also felt far less organic than it had in the previous two books. Aside from that, I couldn’t get on board with the 150 year old demi-god acting like a teenager, and Adam may as well have been named Quill. On that note, at least it was better than Twyla and Frank. I could see why some people would love this story, but unfortunately I just never found myself eager to get back to reading while consuming this book.

Thank you to the author and Orbit Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy blew me away, so Rosie and Adam had their work cut out for them! And, by goodness, I think Bannen did the impossible, because I almost think I loved Rosie and Adam’s story more?! I fell in love with Rosie the moment she was trying to convince a group of men she saw something they didn’t, because, how damn relatable. I fell in love with Adam the moment he hit the page with that handkerchief. In a world that is as unreal as they get, these characters felt real to me. I laughed, I cried, I felt all the feels. The world building is great and Bannen’s got a wonderful ability to balance the romance and action that keeps the story moving forward at a natural pace. Absolutely spectacular!

What?! You like me! You really like me!! Thank you to Orbit, NetGalley, and Megan Bannen for giving me access to an e-ARC in exchange for this honest review. I was so honored to be selected as, full disclosure, I had already pre-ordered a copy.

I loved this. I didn’t realize this was the last book in this series when I started, and while part of me is bummed because I love this world, the other part can acknowledge that this was absolutely the perfect ending.

I love that the main characters of all 3 books of this series is just ‘whoever Penrose Duckers is partnered up with’ because I am so in love with him as a character. No offence to Hart or Twyla/Frank, but Rosie was the perfect partner for Duckers. They’ve been partners for a long time when this book starts, but the way Penny D & RoFo just work off each other was perfect.

Adam was such an interesting character. I adored Rosie. Once the slow burn started lit on fire, things seemed a bit quick for my personal preference but I did love the build up and I do get why it was written the way it was. It just worked. This may be closer to a 4.5/5 for me, because of that + while I’m all for Rosie having an interest, I don’t think I could read the word ‘intimates’ one more time. But I’m still rounding up to a 5.

The Zeddie inclusion was such a pleasant surprise. It fit the story well, and made the ending even more satisfying. Loved seeing Hart and Mercy more. Hart and Rosie’s friendship?? Incredible. This series as a whole made me cry so much more than I expected. My poor little pillow is soaked after the last few chapters of this book.

This was amazing, and I cannot recommend it enough. The whole series in general is well worth reading. At no point did I feel like I knew what was going to happen next, yet the story always made sense. Such a great read.

I just adore Megan Bannen. Whether it be in the magical world of Tanria or another world she has the most incredible ability to create such feeling.

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam has us back with the Tanrian marshal service after almost 10 years. All of our old friends are also still here (Hart, Mercy, Alma, Zeddie, of course Duckers, and even Mary Georgina). Rosie isn’t having what we’d call a midlife crisis but is just bummed because, well, she’s an immortal demigod and knows at some point all these people she loves will be gone and she’ll still be here. When the portals between Eternity and Tanria start breaking, it’s time to bring in the big guns, in a small package - Adam Lee, the guy who invented them. Adam is everything Rosie is not, but through their attempt to repair the portals, they find out they have more in common than might meet the eye.

While Twila and Frank will always be my favorite, this is, if the book acknowledgments are true, a beautiful wrap up to the series and we know all our friends in Eternity are living their happily ever after.

Thank you to Megan Bannen and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this arc! It has been a while since I have adventured through Tanria and it was as fantastical as I remember it!

I loved everything about this book, but the first thing I will comment on is how absolutely refreshing it was to read a romance between a tall Queen and short King! As a tall girl myself, I loved reading a book that added a twist to some of the common romance tropes.

Rosie Fox is a badass goddess and one of my new favourite FMCs. She’s brave, sarcastic, witty, and has a heart of gold. Her relationship with her work partner, Duckers, was a delight. The dialogue between the two of them had me cackling! I adored their found family vibes.

Adam Lee is a quiet, reserved engineer who is brought in to help fix the portals that allow access to Tanria. His dry humour and overall demeanour is the exact opposite of Rosie, yet they fit so perfectly! Their slow burn romance was beautifully written and their relationship made my heart feel too big for my chest (in the best way!).

This story was a perfect mix of adventure, cozy mystery, romance, and found family. I loved the nostalgia of seeing past characters from when I read the first book many moons ago. Bannen created a truly wholesome fantasty world with the perfect eclectic mix of fun loving characters!

DNF at 45%

I feel so bad about not finishing this, but I am really not enjoying it. This is so slow and the only enjoyment I'm getting is from the side characters who have been in the previous books. I'm not going to force myself to keep reading. I don't think this one is for me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc.

This was so cute! I think it comes second in my "favorite in series" list, with Hart and Mercy coming in first because I love a grumpy big guy. However, the broody little guy of Adam came pretty close!

I really enjoyed the discussions of how immortality may actually be a curse, because as someone who can't stop thinking about death, it adds an extra layer of questions for me personally. I also love/hate/etc. all the dead parent references in these books, as someone with a dead parent. Rosie's dad sacrificing himself for her, though? Yeah that got me in my heart a lil bit.

Duckers and Zeddy are SO CUTE and I DEMAND a novella about them happen. Pretty please I need my stupid little guys!!!!

such a bittersweet ending to the series!! i loved rosie & adam as the main characters but was happy to see duckers & zeddie still played a large part (and of course hart and mercy). this was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it did not disappoint :’)

Thank you for the ARC!

What a lovely end to this bizarrely amazing series! I absolutely loved Rosie, from her unusual eyes to her love for fancy lingerie to her inexistent filter! And it took a while - like it did for everyone around him - but I also grew to love Adam. It was also great to check in with Hart and Mercy and Frank and Twyla. And with Duckers and Zeddie!

Thanks so much again for the ARC and I can’t wait to see what else Megan Bannen will come up with!

Surprise surprise. I loved this one too. Megan does it again. I enjoyed this world and the creatures so much. I was so excited to get to come back and get to know Rosie and Adam. Amd they did not disappoint. I already have my calendar marked for is physical release to Dd to the rest. Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read this in advance.

This series is such a blast to read!

A bit of mystery, a lot romance, a fun little world, + found family.

I love that in all of these books the MCs have been a bit unconventional (for romance book standards). I think more authors should step outside the “tiny FMC + massive MMC” box and give us MCs that are real and relatable. I also think the books that do, like this one and Megan Bannen’s previous books, deserve a LOT more hype.

This was a fantastic wrap up to the series and I’m sad to say goodbye to Tanria - but so excited to see what’s next for this author.

What’s to love…
- tall Queen FMC + short King MMC
- Age Gap (LOL)
- found family
- great banter
- cozy mystery subplot
- DUCKERS he’s really the best side character
- such a fun world

What’s not to love…
- I am a fan of high angst, so this one felt a little too mellow in that regard
- in the previous books the romance feels front and center, but in this one it takes a bit of a backseat, especially in the beginning

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Here is my review from goodreads:

This one didn't hit quite as hard as the other two for me. I felt that there was not a good balance of story and romance going on. It was kind of just like careening around with no firm direction. But I really did like Rosie and the other characters. Megan also added more to the world building in terms of folklore and more info on the gods as well as some chance encounters!

SPOILERS
I was hoping that she would just continue to hint at Duckers's romance plot and that we would get a book with his love story. I loved that he has been in all three books of the series!

As someone that truly loved (and even cried a little during) my read of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, the first book in this trilogy, I’m so happy that the final entry puts a lovely bow on this heartwarming series.

Bannen keeps up the humorous and light tone she’s used throughout, with Rosie Fox - a 150-year-old immortal demi-goddess working as a Tanrian Marshal - still grappling with the fact that she’s undying and destined to outlive everyone around her.

Through a portal failure in her town, she ends up spending more time with Professor Dr. Adam Lee, an engineering professor called in to fix the issue. Hijinks ensue, and in typical Megan Bannen fashion, through humor, wackiness, and with the help of a beloved cast of returning characters, the two fall in love while trying to restore the portal’s function.

I truly enjoyed myself and found this super delightful and cute! What I love most about this series is how quaint it feels, with a setting and characters that have grown and evolved across the trilogy. Seeing familiar faces reappear in this final installment added so much warmth and nostalgia.

My only real complaint (and this is more of a personal preference) is that Rosie and Adam’s romance felt a little too insta-love-y for me. As someone who enjoys more of a slow burn, I didn’t feel fully invested in their dynamic because of how quickly it developed. That said, the ease and speed of their connection does fit both their characters and the overall tone of the book.

I’m so happy I got to see how everyone, including characters from the earlier books, ended up. This is a perfect book for anyone looking for something in a fantastical world with low stakes that’s still heartfelt. For those who’ve read the previous two books, this is a satisfying and sweet conclusion to a lovely series.



Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Just finished devouring The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam, and it was the perfect way to end this amazing series. It stars Rosie—a tall and beautiful demigod with a faulty filter—and Adam, the inventor of the infamous Tanria portals. Both are equally funny in their own way and extremely entertaining to read about.

This whole series has been like a cozy, warm blanket that makes you laugh and serves you cocoa on a chilly day. I’ve laughed, cried, and fallen in love with every single character. I would read a million of these books back to back and hope everyone gives themselves the treat of experiencing the entire series.

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam is the third book in a loosely connected series featuring three different couples set in the same delightfully quirky world. While each book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading them in order — the added context makes the experience richer, especially with the ongoing glimpses into past characters' lives.

I absolutely adored this entire series, which is saying something — I usually find my interest waning after the first book once the original couple is established. But Megan Bannen kept me hooked through all three, thanks to her knack for creating unique, compelling characters (not just in how they look, but in who they are), a refreshingly imaginative world, and the emotional depth she brings to themes like death and what it truly means to be alive.

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam features a fun mix of tropes: friends-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, reverse size difference, slow burn, forced proximity, witty banter, and one dragon. Rosie and Adam’s dynamic is layered, full of growth and longing, and their story fits beautifully into the series' tone.

If you’re looking for an offbeat, heartfelt fantasy romance with older protagonists and genuine emotional stakes, start with The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy and continue through The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam. You won’t regret spending time in this world with these wonderfully quirky characters.

Thank you Megan Bannen and Orbit Books for a NetGalley ARC copy of the Undercutting of Rosie and Adam!

Rating 4/5 ⭐
Spice 1/5

I'm so sad to have the series come to an end, but this was an excellent ending! 😭

I love how in the 2nd and 3rd books Megan picked lead characters that were known to, but were not constant contacts in the previous lead characters lives. For me, this made it easier to devote my attention fully to the new couple, while also being able to enjoy occasional cameos from previous main characters.💕

Rosie & Adam are the sweetest! I adored the tall-woman/short-man dynamic, you NEVER see that in books and it was unique and adorable! I did find their relationship a little on the insta-love side (which isn't a favorite trope of mine 😅) but worked really well for this couple’s personalities. Overall, this is one of my favorites series and I thoroughly enjoyed the final installment! 💕

I was not planning on reading this in one sitting, but that's what happened friends. I absolutely DEVOURED this third installment of the series.

This is a must read for my banter loving readers who appreciate a unique world and top tier romance

In a satisfying conclusion to the Hart & Mercy series, Bannen is back with more outlandish adventures in Tanria. There’s a 10 year time jump from the end of book 2, and this story followed Immortal Rosie Fox and Dr. Adam Lee, the sexy professor/inventor who’s in town to help repair the portals to the mist. (There’s also a cute sub plot following everyone’s favorite sidekick, Penrose Duckers, as he’s is forced back into proximity with his ex, Zeddie.)

The plot for this one is as outlandish as book 1, with lots of mythology and interaction with the old gods. At times the fantasy piece of it felt a bit over the top, but I loved the romance and character development. Rosie Fox might be my favorite character in the series; her obsession with “luxury intimates” is hilarious.

I am not big on Instalove as a trope, but I didn’t mind it here as it leans more into Opposites Attract. Love how Bannen wrapped this series and I look forward to whatever she writes next!

4 ⭐️

I have once again very much enjoyed this cozy, fantastical world where the grass is pink and the dragons are purse dogs. Duckers continues to be a delight and the nimkilim mail delivery creatures continue to spark everlasting joy.

I was initially concerned I’d be disappointed by the decade time jump, but the recurring characters kept their same spirits and antics alive ten years later. I wasn’t necessarily surprised by anything in this novel, but Rosie and Adam’s character arcs make perfect sense.

If you enjoyed the first two books in this series, you will also enjoy this third installment. I enjoyed this one more than the second installment but it didn’t give me the same surprising emotional reaction the first gave me.

This feels like an adequate conclusion, but if Megan ever grants us the opportunity in the future to return to this world, I think the door could easily be reopened and I would GLADLY return.


Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read and loved Megan Bannen’s The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy and its follow-up, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank last year, so I was happy to receive ARC (though this hasn’t influenced my review of this book!) for the third (and seemingly final) book in the series, The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam (which is releasing in July).

Rosie Fox is an immortal demigod, around the age of 150, and works as a “Marshall” (sort of a combination between a park ranger and a security guard) for the realm of Tanria. Tanria is the fantastical (in previous books, it’s had undead and pink dragons that breathe glitter) former home to the gods and can only be accessed via portal. When the portals to and from Tanria start malfunctioning, the inventor and expert on the portals, Dr. Adam Lee, is called in to investigate. Rosie and her partner are assigned to assist and protect Adam, and when an evacuation order is called for Tanria, they end up getting stuck on the wrong side of the portal. Trapped, Rosie and Adam have to work together to escape, while becoming closer and dealing with their own personal issues.

While I didn’t love this book quite so much as the previous books in the series, it was still a really good time. I love the setting and the vibes—it’s quite cute and cozy in a way, while also having some depth. I also really liked the full exploration of Rosie’s immortality and her feelings about knowing that she’s never going to die. The side characters continue to delight—the mail-delivering, animal-shaped, former messengers of the gods are adorable, and Rosie’s partner Duckers (also the former partner of Hart, Twyla, and Frank) undergoes some great character development throughout the books. Overall, a satisfying end to a fun series!