Once again, Megan Bannen brings us to the strange and wild, while albeit dangerous at times, world of Tanria. And…glitter dragons!! We find out a lot more background information in this book regarding the war between old gods vs new gods.

The story begins with Rosie, an immortal demigod, dying. Yet again. Her dynamics and interactions with her partner, Duckers has me cracking up so many times while listening, just so great.

I found we got less romance in this book, which I was surprisingly okay with. Because when we did get it, it was swoony and sweet, heartwarming and sincere. Dr. Adam (our short-king) Lee was the complete opposite of Rosie, at least at first glance - a rule-follower, slightly mysterious, very buttoned-up, a fellow of few words. Rosie and Adam’s attraction to each other was so obvious, to everyone but them. I just love when the MCs truly believe they are being subtle with their long glances, pining from across the room and physical changes when the other is near.

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook, the narrator Kacie Rogers, did a great job with her delivery and having my full attention right from the start. Shout-out to Jim Frangione for his cameo!


Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit, and Hachette Audio for the ALC. The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam is out TODAY!

I wanted to love this book more than I did.

Let’s start with the positive: the audiobook narrator was a true delight. She brought so much personality and warmth to the characters, with distinct, expressive voices that made each interaction feel alive. I’d absolutely listen to another book she narrates.

And I get why readers have fallen for Tanria. Megan Bannen’s worldbuilding leans whimsical without being saccharine: pink grass, purple skies, tiny dragons, and mail-delivering talking animals—there’s plenty to fall in love with if you enjoy quirky fantasy settings with a big heart. The returning characters from earlier books give this one a “neighborhood feel,” which longtime fans will appreciate.

But for me, the pacing was off. I made it about 15% in before putting it down the first time. The romance is nowhere in sight at that point, and instead, we’re treated to extended cameos from past couples, side character funerals, and slice-of-life scenes that felt indulgent rather than immersive. It’s a cozy book, yes, but it got lost in the weeds of mundanity: long sequences about baths, outfits, and filler dialogue left me disengaged.

Tone-wise, this leaned heavily into meme-speak and quirky humor—which might hit right for some, but didn’t for me. Lines like “pet me, hooman” or nicknames like “RoFo” and “Penny-D” pulled me out of the fantasy rather than endearing me to the characters. Your mileage may vary.

As for the romance? It’s sweet and earnest once it finally gets going. Forced proximity, opposites attract, and a bit of wistful immortality angst give it shape. Still, the connection felt rushed—deep declarations of love within just a few days made the emotional arc feel more like wish fulfillment than something earned.

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam

"But that's what life is, isn't it? Trying every single day, even if it might be your last."

OH MY HEART THIS BOOK! Rosie and Adam are just everything. I adored this final trip to Tanria, including the insights into the Gods, the return of beloved characters, and the humor was just spot on. Though I was sad to know this is the final installment in this world, it was such a perfect conclusion to the adventures.

Rosie is an immortal demigod Tanrian marshal, who through a bout of bad luck ends up trapped inside the mist with the uptight portal's inventor, Dr. Adam Lee. Or is it good luck? Adam's stoic exterior slowly allows his dry sense of humor to seep through and delight the effervescent Rosie.

I HIGHLY recommend this one! I think you should read The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy first, but you could be ok reading as a standalone.
I was lucky to read a traveling ARC physical galley alongside the ALC. The narrator did not quite fit for Rosie to me, and I felt the audio distracted from the delight of the story. I much preferred reading the physical copy.

Check this one out if you're looking for:
- Grumpy X Sunshine
- Demigods, immortals, dragons, oh my!
- A return of beloved characters like Hart, Mercy and Duckers
- Incredible banter and dry humor

Thank you to Hachette audio for this ALC! My opinions are my own.

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam was a breath of fresh air. It was a quirky, heartwarming, cozy fantasy set in the delightfully bizarre world of Bushong and Tanria where glittery pink dragons roam the skies and mail is delivered by immortal animals. It had humor, witty banter, a bit of a mystery, complex characters, and the cutest opposites-attract romance I’ve ever read.

Rosie Fox is a Tanrian Marshal and immortal demigod who’s been alive for more than 150 years and is chaos in human form. She does whatever she wants and never thinks about the consequences, is brash, loud, and takes up a lot of space at 6 feet 5 inches tall. Adam Lee is the inventor of the Tanrian portals, and is Rosie’s opposite in every way. He’s quiet, soft spoken, mild mannered, wears bespoke suits, is a brilliant scientist and inventor, and is only 5 feet 3 inches tall. I absolutely adored them together. When the portals begin to fail, they are trapped together in Tanria, the abandoned prison of the Old Gods, and have to rely on lore and ancient history to save themselves.

This was the perfect ending to the series and had cameos of all our favorite characters from the first two books. The audiobook was narrated by Jim Frangione and Kacie Rogers, and I had a blast listening to it! The way they brought the characters to life only added to the charm and whimsy of this story and made me love it even more. Definitely add this series to your tbr!

Thank you to Orbit, Hachette Audio, Hachette, Megan Bannen, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC.

📔The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam
✏️ Megan Bannen
📆 July 8, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🥀 quirky, whimsical world
🥀 cozy fantasy
🥀 gods, immortals, dragons
🥀 delightfully lovable characters
🥀 opposites attract
🥀 great banter
🥀 mutual pining
🥀 forced proximity

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam is my first book by Megan Bannen but I’ve had The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy on my tbr for years, so when I saw this audiobook on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to listen to it!

I really enjoyed Rosie and Adam’s story even though I don’t have prior experience in this world/series. I’m sure it would have been more enjoyable if I’d read the first two books, but it works as a standalone in my opinion.

Rosie is a large immortal demigod that patrols in Tanria, and Adam is a human portal inventor called in to repair the portals to Tanria when they breakdown. Rosie and Adam are not your typical fantasy pairing and I found them to be refreshing! The romance took a bit longer to get going than I tend to expect in standalone but it was kind of cozy, relaxing, and had good emotional depth.

Narration (Narrated by Jim Frangione and Kacie Rogers): not having experience in the world before, at the beginning I had to listen at 1.0 to not miss what was going on, but I was able to listen to most of the book at 1.5 speed. Good inflection and emotional range and the narrators had clear intonation that made it easy to understand and follow what was happening in the story.

Thank you to Orbit and Hachette Audio for the alc copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Rating: 4/5
I received an ARC for my honest opinion

For someone who hasn’t read the first two books of this series, I did not find it hard to understand what was going on. Will I be going back and reading the other books, yes, I will be. I liked that with this book I didn’t have to really know everything that happened in the other books to still enjoy the story and that is all due to the way that Bannen writes, and the narrators.

This was a cute, sweet, a little chaotic, romantic fantasy. There is drama in the story, action, found family vibes, and learning to forgive yourself for past choices. In this book you will meet Rosie who cannot die, she has always come back to life and it’s never a fun moment to die and come back to life. You will meet Ducker, who is Rosie's partner as a Marshall, but he is so much more. He is her family; they have a cute brother/sister relationship. You will meet Adam who is the inventor of the portals that allow people to enter Tanria, with the portals not working Rosie and Ducker are assigned to stay with him the whole time and help him with whatever he needs. Adam determines that the portals are not safe, and they evacuate Tanria but not everyone is able to get out. Rosie, Ducker, Adam and Zetti all get trapped in Tanria and try to figure out what is going on in the mist and why the portals are all shut down.

I loved the adventure that this group had to go through and all the lessons that they learned from while on their adventure. I loved the roles that each character played, and I loved all the lore that was woven into this story. I really loved Rosie’s trickster father. I felt that the characters were well written, and I loved the development of each character, and I can’t wait to read the other books to really wrap this whole beautiful story.

I have to say that the narration was done so well, I loved that the narrators really helped to bring this story to life and helped me to connect with the characters.

I want to thank NetGalley and Hachette for the opportunity to review this book.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book!

Rosie is an immortal demigod Tanrian marshal, and Adam is a taciturn scientist involved with the development of portals. When they get stuck on the wrong side of a portal, along with everyone’s favorite exes - Zeddie and Duckers, what could possibly go right?

The plot and characters in this one didn’t grip me as much as Hart and Mercy, but let’s be honest - nothing will ever top that. You could see plot turns coming, and I wish we’d gotten a little more of Zeddie and Duckers, BUT this book was still a delight!

Returning once more to this wacky, colorful world was like getting a hug from a dear friend. I am truly sad that this is the end, but the author closed the door perfectly.


Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC!

📖The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam 
by Megan Bannen
Book 3 in the Hart and Mercy Trilogy
Genre: a blend of mystery, western, rom com, & fantasy

⭐⭐⭐⭐


🎉 Today is release day for The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam by Megan Bannen!

I was really excited to listen to this book early, now I’m so sad it’s the end of the Hart & Mercy trilogy.🥹 I picked up the first book, The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy, a couple of years ago because the cover was pretty.☺️I didn’t know I was about to dive into one of my favorite 5 ⭐️ cozy fantasy/ mystery/ western/ rom com set in the mysterious world of Tanria. Think wild west with marshals add zombies, shadows, creatures, gods, & lore. Trust me, it’s works & it’s great.

I love Rosie. She’s a tall (6’5”) immortal demigod/marshal, she’s bold, sassy, & loves her lingerie. She’s just a girl. Adam is intelligent, soft spoken & pining. Their love is a sweet slow burn but this book is more than just romance.

We’re dropped back into this beautiful world full of lore & history, we get to revisit found family & friends, and explore what makes life worth living. I’m not going to lie, I shed some tears. This book is the perfect ending to the series.

I wasn’t quite ready to leave this world yet but I’m excited to read other books by Megan. She does such a great job blending genres to create something truly unique.

Format: 🎧
10h 21m
Narrated by Jim Frangione; Kacie Rogers
Narration performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kacie was wonderful bringing Rosie to life, the sass on this girl! Usually I prefer duet style narration but she does so good with the male voices I didn’t mind.

Thank you to @netgalley @orbitbooks_us & @hachetteaudio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

“Time gets away from you, the longer you live.”

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam is an age gap, opposites attract fantasy rom-com and the third and final installment in the Hart and Mercy series. It serves as a satisfying conclusion to this series, set in the same universe but several years after the events of “The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy.”

When portals that allow mortals to enter the mist start failing, the cheeky demi-god Rosie and the dull but formidable portal inventor Adam Lee join forces. In this book, romance takes a backseat to the plot and family dynamics. The slow-burning romance between Rosie and Adam is not angsty but rather heartwarming. Their banter flirty and witty. Rosie provides your typical unfiltered humor, while Adam delivers dry, witty, and snappy remarks; both styles perfectly complement their characters.

From the outset, we learn that Rosie is not entirely content with her existence. In fact, she grapples with the weight of her immortality. The loss of her loving mother and the resentment she feels towards her absentee and narcissistic immortal father have left her feeling isolated and alone. The fact that she outlives friends and others cannot cope with her frequent deaths and revivals further contributes to her inability to form deep connections with anyone.

The longer Rosie is around Adam, she is learning he is not what he seems…

Their individual stories are bittersweet, filled with yearning and suffering. That is until Adam witnesses one of Rosie’s many deaths. Will they have a chance together and can they fix this portal problem?

Many of the prior fun and quirky characters make guest appearances. Hart makes a special guest appearance. Duckers and Zeddie are secondary characters in this book.

I love the world building and the story of how the world came to be.

The audiobook was narrated by Jim Frangione and Kacie Rogers in duet fashion? I appreciate the variation in character voices. None of the voices were offensive. The performance was fantastic. The pacing is perfect. I would highly recommend the audiobook.

Lastly, I want to express my gratitude to Megan Bannen, Hachette Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC, which allowed me to listen to the book and voluntarily provide an unbiased review.

TROPES/ THEMES: portals, opposites attract, fantasy rom-com, tall MFC and short MMC, family, MM, FM, age gap, gods/ goddesses, immortality, sacrifices

This series has such a chokehold on me and this book did not disappoint. I have been counting down the days until I could get my hands on this one. Bannen does interconnected standalones so well. Rosie and Adam had always been on the periphery and it was so lovely to see them get their own stories. I thought the changes in conventional "gender roles" of what is masculine and what is feminine was so well done. Watching Rosie and Adam come together and bring down the walls that each other had.

It was also a really great way to tie in other characters from previous books. They didn't feel overwhelming and were in the book an appropriate amount of time. I thought that their presence added to the story, when they could have easily distracted.

I thought the story was really great. Bannen could have easily recreated three books that followed the same path, but each book is so distinct and this was no different. I loved that we got explore even more of the mythology and history and folklore of this world. To be able to continue to worldbuild, right until the very end,

And I would be so remiss if I didn't mention Zeddy and Duckers. I loved their side story so much, and if they weren't getting their own book, this was absolutely perfect.

Regarding the audio narration itself - this was great. So much personality was added to each of these characters. And to be able to track the aging/growth of everyone from book one through now, was just a wonderful added layer.

I really loved this conclusion to the series! It was such a high note to end on. I didn’t love the slang used though as some of it already feels dated now. But I did get that Rosie was different to Adam. I love the dragons in this being like puppies! The author truly created a unique world in this series of books. Overall, I had a great time!

The audiobook was well done. I liked the FMCs voice and delivery. Felt like the book came alive!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is by far my favourite audiobook of the year! I loved the story telling by narrator Kacie Rogers. The story had me completely hooked from blamo tinky fart face, to the soul warming briar thief and everything in between. Fingers crossed I get to return to world of Tanria again, thank you @meganbannen

WOW that was such a wild ride! I really enjoyed Rosie's cameos in the first two books, and I had so much fun being in her head for this book. I am soooo happy to see her get her HEA. The entire story was so exciting from beginning to end. I thought Adam was so interesting and I could just tell there was more to him, but that was nothing like I could have imagined. IT WAS AMAZING.

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam by Megan Bannen is book 3 in the Hart and Mercy series. I have enjoyed the previous books and liked this one as well. I suggest reading the previous books to help you understand the setting more. But if you jump into this one you could still understand it and enjoy it.

Rosie is an immortal demigod that has patrolled Tanria for decades. She dies (again) from an electrocution when she was exploring a portal with shadowy thorns. Adam Lee is the creator of the portals. They need to work together after being trapped inside the Mist. It was enjoyable to hear their story.

It is narrated by Jim Frangione and Kacie Rogers. They did a nice job. Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this advanced copy in exchange of my honest review.

4⭐️ This was so cute. I love that Adam was kind of awkward and clueless. Rosie was spicy and fearless. 4.5⭐️narration from Jim Frangione and Kacie Rogers. When I tell you Adam was weird in the best way, Jim made that work. Kacie did a wonderful job bringing out Rosie’s spunk while keeping her real with the hurt from her past.

Rosie is getting bored of patrolling of Tanria. She is a demigod after all. One day a man named Adam Lee comes to check on one of the portals. Unfortunately, the fix turns into a big problem as both Rosie and Adam get stuck in the Mist. Will they be able to handle each other. What happens with they find a way back. Will they both get back or one have to stay.

Thank you @hachetteaudio, @orbitbooks_us, @netgalley, and Megan Bannen for the advanced listener and reader copy. #hachettepartner #theundercuttingofrosieandadam #meganbannen

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Thank you so much to @hachetteaudio @netgalley @meganbannen for my review audiobook!

I have been so excited for this book since I finished The Undermining of Twyla and Frank in October 😭

I love these books so much. They’re such a comfort series for me now, and this one was everything I needed it to be! I loved being back in Tanria and getting to learn about Rosie and Adam, as well as getting to hear about beloved characters from the first two books (I’m a total Duckers stan). And I loved the audio of this one, it was such a fun listen and I loved the narrator!! If you’re in the mood for a cozy, heartwarming fantasy romance, please give this series a try!!

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is one of my absolute favorite romances and I have loved getting to return to their world time and time again.
The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam takes place about ten years after Frank and Twyla’s book. Rosie Fox is a statuesque 157 year old demigod who has always found joy in the small pleasures - good music, a cozy home and luxurious undergarments, to be specific. Lately, she can’t seem to stop dying. When the portals into Tanria start malfunctioning, Rosie notices something strange that only she can see. Portal creator Adam Lee is called in to help, but the problem is more complicated than expected. Somehow the pair find themselves trapped in Tanria alongside exes Penrose Duckers and Zeddy Birdsall.

I’ve been curious about Rosie Fox since she was first mentioned in TUOHAM, and I’m so glad her story is that one that wraps up this trilogy. Kacie Rogers did an excellent job with narration and giving life to Rosie and all of the other characters we meet along the way. I had no problem distinguishing between characters. Rosie and Adam are definitely opposites, but I loved their connection. Who doesn’t love a bashful short king? This book is different from the others in the trilogy in that we spend the majority of the novel in Tanria, and I’m so glad the author decided to do that. Tanria has changed a lot since the defeat of the Drudges in book one and I loved seeing how the lands have changed over the past decade. We also learn more about the lore of the land, and meet a few more of the gods who have only been mentioned thus far. And the dragons are back!

And I’m so glad we got to catch up with all of our favorite characters from previous books (Zeddy + Duckers forever 🩷). While I’m sad to see this trilogy end, I think this was the perfect way to end it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for a review copy. I can’t wait to see what Megan Bannen writes next and I look forward to rereading these books in the future.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a very cute and cozy fantasy with a sprinkle of mystery and just the right touch of age-gap romance. I really liked Rosie—she’s a total badass—and Adam’s slightly nerdy charm grew on me. The narration was strong as always; I listened at 2.0x and found the voice acting really engaging.

That said, I didn’t expect the amount of god-related themes in this installment, and it pulled me out of the story at times. Definitely still a fun listen, just not my favorite from Megan Bannen.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC!

Thank you NetGalley, Orbit, and Hachette Audio for both the ARC and ALC

**edited to add my review of the ALC- 7/7/25**

Story 5 ⭐️
Narration 4 ⭐️

It feels like an ending and a goodbye, but a beautiful one. I have loved all three of the Hart and Mercy books, but this one felt different, it hit harder. Rosie and Adam, their story felt special and I loved both of them so much. Rosie with her lack of restraint and filter, and Adam with his dry humor and endearing quirks. And of course, you can never have enough Duckers. If this is truly the last of the Hart and Mercy series, it will have ended in the most perfect way possible.

**I was lucky enough to get the ALC as well as the ARC, and being able to listen to the final chapter in this trilogy that quickly became one of my favorites. Kacie Rogers does an excellent job, and I loved her Rosie, and the production quality made this a fun listen. It made this being the goodbye to this series even more special.

3.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Megan Bannen for the audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a whimsical, cozy, and heartfelt conclusion to a delightfully quirky romantasy series. I had such a lovely time returning to this world, it’s one of those stories where the setting, characters, and humour feel like a warm hug.

The strength of this series lies in its quaint yet richly layered world, brimming with bizarre creatures, magical oddities, and heartfelt humor. Megan Bannen’s world-building continues to be both immersive and brimming with personality, offering equal parts magic and mischief.

Rosie is a delightful protagonist, she’s fun, grounded, and brimming with charm. Her narrative voice shines even more through the fantastic audiobook performance by Kacie Rogers, whose slightly raspy tone gave Rosie just the right blend of spunk and sincerity. She made Rosie feel like someone you might’ve met in the roaring twenties.

Adam brought a dry, understated humour that was a refreshing contrast to the whimsical tone of the world. His subtle wit worked far better for me than if he’d been overly comedic. The chemistry between Rosie and Adam did feel a bit rushed, it leans into the “insta-love” side of the spectrum, which isn’t usually my thing. I would’ve liked a bit more buildup to emotionally invest in their relationship, especially given the short span of their shared story.

However, their connection made sense within the lighthearted nature of the novel, and their banter definitely brought plenty of smiles.

As for the audiobook, Kacie Rogers absolutely nailed the tone, and Jim Frangione provided a great complementary touch in his limited but impactful role narrating the lore. Together, their voices really brought the world and its characters to life.

While the central romance didn’t completely win me over, I loved the humour, adventure, and emotional touches that carried through the book. The series’ signature tone remains intact here, equal parts endearing and eccentric.

One thing I would’ve loved more of is Duckers and Zeddie. Their story deserved its own spotlight, and while Bannen tried to give them a satisfying send-off, I felt like the timeline skipped over some of the most compelling parts of their journey.

This book (and series) is perfect for readers who enjoy cozy fantasy with older protagonists, cheeky humour, magical mishaps, and a strong found-family vibe. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s part of the charm.

Despite the romance not fully clicking for me, the world, the humour, and the heart made this a memorable read. I'm sad to see the trilogy end, but so grateful for the magic it brought.