The first book in the series was a breath of fresh air but the sequel and this one seem to do nothing for me. Repetitive character archetypes and having secondary ones serve the purpose of just making a point have bogged this down.

In the final book in this series, we finally get a complete picture of this world that Megan Bannen has created. Unlike the previous 2 books, which had plenty of fantasy elements but were also more romance focused, in the final book, the worldbuilding, fantasy, and mythology of this world take center stage.

I loved the way myth, fable, and whimsy were woven into the narrative and the action in the book, and big bonus points for more dragon action. I also loved Rosie. She had such a big personality - she wasn't big on analysis, definitely a "leap before you look" kind of person. However, Adam was more of a cipher. We really didn't learn much about him until well past the 50% mark in the book, so the romance between them seemed a bit forced. I think the book would have benefited from a dual POV as in the previous books.

The book fits comfortably and squarely in the cozy fantasy category, but it certainly does make you ponder a "big" existential question, that of immortality. Is it worth it? Why do we strive so hard to defeat death?

I don't mean to make the book sound too heavy but there was plenty of food for thought. It will be interesting to see what the author comes up with next. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Romantasy isn't my thing, however I have been totally captivated by this series. The way the story is built around death and magic and relationships is just so, so wonderful. For this one, the secrets of the characters were so intriguing, and I loved how the truths were revealed and interwoven. If you haven't found your way to this series, you must. I'm sad that I can't experience this universe any longer, but so glad I went on this journey through Tanria. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this july 2025 release.

It's here! It's here! I've been dying to return to Tanria, and when I was given the digital ARC by Megan Bannen and #NetGalley, I literally squealed and danced in place. I recommend this series to friends aaaalllll the time! It's fantasy-adjacent, meaning it has fantasy elements like zombies and Gods and dragons, but feels like a contemporary romcom. The characters are all so vastly unique and loveable. The spice is there without being gratuitous, but the SWOON factor is high. I guess technically, each book can be read as a standalone, but it's probably best to read them each in order.

I love love LOVED The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam, the 3rd (and last) book in the series. I feel like the storytelling in this book was the absolute best! Rosie is taken on a literal and figurative journey, and she is a DELIGHT the entire time! Quirky, bold, funny, adventurous, and confident. It was a perfect ending to one of my favorite series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🌿 Opposites Attract
💕 Forced Proximity
🌿 Grumpy x Sunshine
💕 Slow Burn
🌿 Pocket Boyfriend (reverse size difference)
💕 Duckers!
🌿 Dragons!
💕 Portals!

Thank You Orbit Books for the free book #netgalley All opinions are my own.

Favorite Quotes: “L-O-V-E. You are in lo-o-ove with Dr. Hot Suits, and I totally called it.”

Rosie, an immoral demigod who feels stuck in her unending life, spies a strange shadow inside a portal leading to Tanria. When the portal’s inventor, Dr. Adam Lee comes to repair the damage; they soon find that all the portals have begun to break down and she and Adam along with two of Rosie’s friends get stuck in the mist. What neither Adam nor Rosie realize is that their personal histories are more tangled up in the mysterious shadows than either of them could have ever imagined.

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam is the third and final book set in the worlds of Tanria and Eternity. If you haven’t picked up this series yet then I would recommend reading them in order. While I don’t think that is absolutely necessary, all of the stories are sweet and reading the first will give you a good feel for the world and for Megan Bannen’s beautiful writing. In this one, the romance is a slower burn but I loved the characters and story so much. It has more of a fairytale vibe than the others too, which I really enjoyed! There is no good way to sum up all of the mystical whimsy that is at the heart of these stories so I will just say this -- if you are looking for a unique fantasy series filled with tons of heart then this is the perfect one to pick up!

Read if you like:
✩ Found Family
✩ Romantasy
✩ World Building
✩ Slow Burn Romance
✩ Gods and Demigods
✩ Dragons

This deliciously cozy conclusion to The Hart and Mercy trilogy takes places 10 years after Ducker started with the Marshals. He plays a significant enough part in this one to mention him, along with his ex Zeddie - some great tension there.
The main characters in the story though are Rosie and Adam. Rosie is outgoing, flawed and hilariously unfiltered. She is drawn to Adam, but he keeps his walls up. As the story progresses and the two grow closer and closer while trapped in Tanria, their chemistry is undeniable.
This is a great end to a fun trilogy. Each book can be read as a standalone, but I feel that with this one in particular, you’d be missing a significant amount of backstory. If you’re looking for a fun, magical, and cozy read, then you’ll enjoy all 3 anyway, so why not dive in from the beginning 😃 There are cute dragons with glittering too!

Many thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for an early digital copy of the book. The opinions expressed are given freely and are honest and my own.

4.5 stars

This is such a fun farewell to the series.

To start off - if you're sick of big tall man x teeny tiny girl trope in your romance stories: read this!!!
Rosie is 6"4 or thereabouts, and Adam is 5"3 or so (and their height difference doesnt bother a single person!!!!!! Tall ladies deserve more, I swear)

This is someowhat of a slower story than the others, and a bit repetetive, but I couldn't be mad at it because it really felt like we got to really hang out in Tanria and bid it farewell in the best way.

The romance is also a bit more low-key than the others, but I was here for it. Not every romance is flashy or dramatic. sometimes you meet once 5 years ago and can't stop thinking about each other and then get thrown together again (in a thorny way that has some pretty major repercussions)

also Duckers was there and he can grow a full beard now so that made me feel a bit emotional

Thank you so much to Orbit and NetGalley for the eARC!

What a beautiful addition to the Hart and Mercy world. I just love all of these characters, and I love how Megan Bannen writes them. Great plot, great banter, great book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit Books for this ARC. My opinions, are as always, my own.

This is the third book in the series, and as such, not the best place to start reading. This review may contain some spoilers for the previous two books in the series, and the place to begin is with <i>The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy/i>.

Tanrian Marshall Rosie Fox can't die. Or at least she doesn't stay dead, because she's a demigod, daughter of the Trickster. She is 157 years old, and has died more times than she can count. Every time it happens, it tends to freak out the people around her, and it gets mighty lonely watching everyone you care about grow old and die, while you just stay the same. Rosie's most recent death, from electrocution, happened after she stuck her hand into the wiring of one of the portals that allow people from outside to cross into the magical area of Tanria. The portals keep short-circuiting, and Rosie thinks she can see a strange, shadowy vine tangling in the machinery. It's when she's trying to "investigate" this that she, once again, dies.

The trouble with the portals is serious enough that they have to call for the inventor himself, Dr. Adam Lee. Rosie remembers meeting the impeccably dressed gentleman five years ago, but doubts he'll even remember her from so long ago. Of course, a statuesque woman over six feet tall, with long rust-red hair and "eyes like garnets", is difficult to forget, and Adam Lee remembers her very well. Not that he is willing to admit this at first, he seems shy and almost stand-offish.

Because of the trouble with the portals, which all seem to be breaking down, everyone in Tanria needs to be evacuated. Due to a complicated series of events, Rosie, Dr. Adam Lee, Rosie's partner Penrose Duckers and Duckers' ex-boyfriend Zeddie Birdsall are all stuck in Tanria when the final portal breaks down. Rosie notices that the shadowy vines seem to be spreading and growing thicker on the ground. The various animals and wildlife in Tanria can also clearly see and interact with the vines, but presumably, none of the other people can see what Rosie sees.

Now, Adam, Rosie, Duckers and Zeddie have to work together to try to get the portals working again, or risk being trapped in Tanria, potentially forever. To begin with, animal messages can cross the magical border (it's a whole complicated thing, I can't begin to explain it here) and bring messages, supplies and food from the outside, but as the vines proliferate and thicken, it gets harder and harder for even them to cross over.

Duckers is very amused to see his normally unflappable partner so taken with Dr. Lee, and teases her mercilessly. He also tries to avoid his ex-boyfriend as much as possible, which isn't easy when there's just the four of them there, and Zeddie cooks almost all the food they eat. How can Rosie even hope to have a chance with Adam when she's over a hundred years old and will possibly never die? No one would want to complicate their life with someone like her, would he?

This is the third and final book in the Hart and Mercy trilogy, and while I enjoyed the second book, <i>The Undermining of Twyla and Frank</i>, it didn't enchant me in the way that <i>The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy</i> or this one did. Exploring some more of the mythological sides of this strange and original fantasy world, the story of exuberant demigod Rosie and the reticent and lonely inventor she falls for was an utter delight to read, and I loved finding out more about the portals, how they worked, and how they came to be invented in the first place.

Penrose Duckers has been an amazing supporting character in each of the three books so far, and part of the joy of reading the series has been seeing how he has developed over time. He is young and inexperienced when he partners with Hart in the first book, he goes through a lot of personal turmoil in the second book, and in this one, set seven years after the end of book 2, he has to rethink some of his former decisions and life choices when Zeddie Birdsall comes back into his orbit (Duckers breaks up with him in book 2 because he needs space).

With every story featuring characters who have some form of immortality or can just live a terribly long time, I find myself so grateful that I will never have to deal with something like that. While Rosie has a nice life, there are very few people who can even begin to understand how hard it is to keep dying and resurrecting, seeing friends and loved ones drift away, or grow old and die around you. She's starting to get sick of the whole thing, and the Trickster's sudden reappearance in her life, claiming he wants to be a proper father to her (after most of a lifetime of being neglectful of her and her mother), isn't making the situation any better.

A friend of mine constantly complains that there are very few tall heroines with short heroes (I'm still waiting for Ali Hazelwood to change things up in her writing and try it), so I'm going to recommend she read this book. Rosie is six-foot-five, while Dr. Adam Lee is a full foot shorter than her (five-foot-five). Duckers keeps calling him her pocket boyfriend. At one point, he stands on a little step to reach up to kiss her (it's adorable).

This was a wonderful ending to the trilogy, and very nicely wraps up the story not just of Rosie and Adam, but pretty much all the significant characters we've met over the course of the whole series. If you liked the first two, this one is well worth the wait.

<b>Judging a book by its cover:</b> I'm not a huge fan of the colour orange (even before it became irrevocably associated with THAT one), and I really don't think the shade of blue of the background patterns, and then the bright pink of the heart at the centre of the cover go well together. They all sort of clash. Nevertheless, it continues the very whimsical tradition established on the previous two covers in the series.

This series has quickly solidified as one of my favorites and I’m so happy to be back in this world (and so sad it’s over 😔). Rosie was such a fun side character, so I was so excited when I saw this one was about her.

Undercutting takes place 10 years after the end of Undermining. We get to see our friends from the past books living their life but Rosie, as an immortal demigod, feels stuck as she watches everyone age and move on with their lives. When the portals in Tanria start breaking, she gets stuck inside with the inventor of the portals, Adam (along with everyone’s favorite Duckers! And also Zeddie, who is back 👀🤭).

Rosie was such a fun character. Being immortal has made her a little reckless, but carefree and fun. Adam is the opposite - stoic and hard to read. But seeing these two work together and start breaking down each other’s walls was so lovely to see. I adored these two together.

I also loved seeing more of this world, as we end up stuck in Tanria for most of the book. We get more interactions with the dragons, and more world-building which was so fun. Also loved seeing all of our favorite characters from the past books.

This book grapples with mortality and humanity — what it means to live and what is worth living for. It was such a sweet and tender story, but also filled with a lot of shenanigans (because what else would you expect from Rosie and Duckers together).

The Undermining of Rosie and Adam released yesterday so now you can read this wonderful book, or binge the series if you haven’t read them yet. I love this world so, so much and I hope you do too. (Megan are you sure we can’t get just a couple more books 🤔)

It’s so bittersweet to say goodbye to this world and these characters I’ve come to love so much. I didn’t think any couple could top Hart and Mercy, but Rosie and Adam come awfully close. The found family, rich worldbuilding, and mystery all come together in such a fun and heartwarming way. I really have enjoyed this series so much, its a perfect combo of exciting plot and emotional rollercoasters. The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam is out now! Huge thanks to @netgalley for the ARC!

For me this one just didn’t hit. I think it’s because while Adam was broody it came across, for me personally, as just having no personality. Rosie, Deckers, and Zeddy carried this book with their big personalities and honestly I would have rather gotten Deckers and Zeddy’s book. That being said, if you need a light hearted low stakes romance with cozy magical elements this would be a good one for you! And I know you’re thinking a cowgirl in a desolate wasteland wouldn’t be cozy, but somehow it is? Don’t question it, just read it 😂

Format - E ARC (Netgalley)

Rating- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Spice- 🌶

Series- Hart and Mercy #3

Troupes- romantacy, mural pinning, immortals, Tall queen/short king, found family, age gap

CW- Death of a loved one

This book was both a pleasure and a pain to read. I loved every single second of it but I also am so sad that our time in Tanria and with these amazing characters is over.

Megan Bannen has so far been one of the few fantasy authors that has managed to catch and hold my attention. The world building she does both in Tanria and her human worlds are masterful and her characters are like friends and parting is such sweet sorrow!

This book follows our fav amazon demigoddess Rosie and her short king Adam as the battle one last trial in Tanria. Rosie is tired of her immortal life and dying over and over so when a chance re-meet cute with Dr Adam and a plant only they can see and things really start to get interesting Rosie grabs hold with both hands.

This book has everything you can want in a Romantacy, adventure, a large age gap and dragons. Along with a set of hilarious side kicks with their own side romance!

If this series had to end at least Megan set us out with a bang and a very Happily for now!

Thank you Megan Bannen, Orbits and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

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

This book was such a fun ride!!! I really enjoy this world and absolutely loved the characters. Even though the main characters don’t really know each other at the start, I still found their romance so sweet, felt their connection was genuine, and enjoyed the way they fell for each other.

I loved the side plot with MFC dad—the way the author made it important, yet kept it in the background. And that ending? Wow! It really captured how complicated things can feel when a parent might not have your best interests at heart, but still genuinely loves you. That struggle hit hard.

Also, Duckers is the best side character ever. I loved living through his adventures, even though he wasn’t a main character. I’m usually not super invested in side characters, but with Duckers, I had to know he’d be okay and get everything he deserved. He’s the best sidekick.

While I absolutely loved this series, I’m so sad it’s over. Coming back to this world each year has been such an unexpected joy. I can definitely see a comfort reread in my future.

Ugh, my shaylassss:sob:Okay, never used that phrase in my life before this but it fits because Rosie and Adam are my babies and I loved them so much!!

This series has been one of my absolute favorites ever since Hart and Mercy’s book, and this final installment did not disappoint (especially in the fate of a certain side couple that I am very invested in, thank you for that Megan). It felt like it captured all my favorite things about The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy while still feeling fresh at the same time.

Rose and Adam are SO cute together. The yearning in this book, you guys?? Is off the charts. The tension between these two is so amazing, which makes it all the more satisfying when they FINALLY give in to their feelings. And the way the end played out?? These two don’t play about each other and I love that. I loved the forced proximity of them being trapped in the Mist along with Duckers and Zeddie (which was also the *perfect* setup to reunite those two and GET THEM BACK TOGETHER THANK GOODNESS I WAS DEVASTATED WHEN THEY BROKE UP IN BOOK TWO!!

I still miss the dual POV that we had in book one, but it makes sense for this book because my dapper short king Adam has secrets. Was I able to guess those secrets? Yes, but I'm not mad at it because it just makes him the PERFECT person for Rosie. And even though we don't get Adam's POV, it is *so* clear how down bad he is for Rosie.

I loved Rosie's journey as a main character. She has a very complicated relationship with her godly parent, and I loved watching that develop.

So yeah, please read this series. It’s like a warm hug in cozy fantasy rom-com book form and I may or may not be wanting to reread it from the beginning now.

Oh! It is so bittersweet to leave this strange and delightful land. Every time I read any books in this lovely trilogy, it is mind-bendingly weird, but oh, so fun. This is the story of Rosie, that bodacious, colorful marshall who cannot die because she is a demigod. She has a love/hate relationship with her immortality in that she is getting tired of never dying, but glad she doesn't die because she accidentially does it far more frequently than her co-workers and friends like. She's a 6'5, red-eyed, fashionista who loves her soft clothing, high-end lingerie, and ostrich skin boots. She's Penrose Duckers' latest partner after Hart and Twyla had moved on to greener pastures. Luckily, we get scenes throughout the books with all our favorite characters from the previous books.

Our story begins with one of Rosie's deaths. She is killed trying to figure out what is wrong with one of the gateways that allows people to visit the mists, where the adorable dragons frolic, tourists go to see, and marshals patrol. Rosie sees an invasive vine no one else can see, necessitating a call to the gateway's inventor, Adam Lee. Adam is as opposite from Rosie as a person can be. Rosie is very tall, and Adam is very short. Rosie is outspoken and a bit on the loud side. But Rosie has had a crush on Adam since she met him in the last book. This leads us into their love story, which is sweet and endearing with almost insurmountable odds, but it has us loving them as they solve the mystery of the vine. Along the way, we get involved in Pen's second-chance romance with Zeddie, the adorable dragons (who sneeze sparkles), the legend of the vine thief, and the mystery surrounding Adam. Adam and Rosie's romance is sweet, gentle, and perfect. As I read the last line, this entire story left me happily sighing because it ended with a happily ever after of possibilities for two people who get the gift of growing old together.

Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit Books, for the eArc. These squishy thoughts and feelings are mine.

Another fantastic, cozy fantasy romance that was full of found family, fated mates, end of the world vibes. I loved Adam and Rosie as they sacrificed their own happiness for the good of the world. There was chronic pain rep and lots of laughs plus it was fantastic on audio. I can't get enough of anything Megan Bannen writes!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to read the final installment in this trilogy! Megan Bannen has created such a cozy and fantastical world that it is a joy to visit. In book three, it’s time for the story of Rosie Fox. Rosie is a demigod, but secretly wishes to shed her immortality. When the magical portals that lead to Tanria start to behave strangely, Rosie meets with their inventor- Adam Lee. When an unexpected malfunction occurs, Rosie will have to work with Adam to save Tanria.

I loved The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam! Rosie’s story is heartfelt and charming. I loved her romantic connection with Adam. There are some excellent twists to this story that make it well-paced and impossible to put down. I also loved the inclusion of Duckers and Zeddie! (and the dragons!!) It was fantastic to see characters from the previous books and see how their lives unfolded past the last page of their books. Megan Bannen writes such heartwarming books with deep themes of family, friendship, and romance. This trilogy is not to be missed!

Thank you to Megan Bannen, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

I'm so incredibly sad this trilogy is coming to a close.
I also have to regrettably say this was my least favorite from the three. I felt like the ending didn't give me that satisfying goodbye where we get to say goodbye to everyone one last time, the time jump felt like a quick way to make it end faster. And that's what made me take a star away.
I did however adore Rosie and Adam, my only complaint is that I am a big slow burn lover, and Rosie and Adam? DEF not slow burn haha!

Where mysterious branches start forming in the Mist of Tanria and the portals begin to glitch Rosie is the only one who can see them. Rosie is a hardened Marshall who also happens to be an immortal demigod. Adam is a scientist who might just know more than he’s letting on. Together can they fix the portals and maybe fall in love along the way?