3.5 Stars

Thank you Netgalley for gifting me the audiobook for this story. All opinions are my own.

The audiobook was beautifully made, the voices and personalities were just as I pictured the characters to be. Loved the voices for the audiobook.

Storyline was okay. I loved the adventure Rosie goes on with her friends, the found family throughout this book, and I loved the idea behind the plot line. I just felt like Rosie and Adam fell in love with each other without anything really happening. We were told that they had this instant connection and always loved each other, but I never felt that connection. chemistry for that matter. It just felt like something was missing between them and they were just thrown together in the end. I believe they were a great match and I loved the ending. But I didn't feel the chemistry the way I did with Hart and Mercy.

The world building, as always, was top notch. We get riding dragons, the old Gods being more present, and learning a little more about this world along with seeing my favorite couple (Hart & Mercy). The story was enjoyable, but not my favorite from the series.

I enjoyed this one a lot, though I do think that this book was more about Duckers and Zeddie more than it was about Rosie and Adam. And honestly, I had been hoping to get a Duckers and Zeddie book, so this sort of worked in that role? I liked that they got a second chance, both having more experience and age behind them, so they could sort through their feelings like adults. Good for them.

And, now onto the actual couple in the story... Rosie is a demi-god and is immortal, and NGL, she dies in some rather gruesome, but also funny ways throughout this book. And Adam is a scientist who is helping to fix the portals that allow folks to access Tanria. Only, they get stuck on the wrong side and there is a big mystery to solve and THINGS are revealed. I liked both of them, I liked the story, and I liked how Bannen made a relationship between an immortal demi-god and a human work. It was clever and well done.

A really nice way to end this fun series.

An inventive and quirky read with sharp humor and plenty of wit. Rosie and Adam’s dynamic kept me entertained, and Megan Bannen’s unique voice shines through. That said, the pacing felt uneven at times, and some of the emotional beats didn’t land as strongly as I hoped. Still, it’s a clever, fun story that fans of offbeat, character-driven fiction will likely enjoy.

This was my favourite of the series so far.

Per usual, Megan Bannen’s Book is the perfect combination of cozy fantasy, cozy mystery, and romance. There really cannot be a better combination. This story follows an immortal demigod Rosie after she dies (again) patrolling and looking my side a portal. Enter Dr. Adam Lee. All the portals break down and Tanria is emergent evacuated. Naturally, Rosie and Adam are forced into close proximity when they become trapped in the mist and learn they are more alike than they thought.

Megan Bannen is an auto-read for me. This book, while following the cozy trend, is so unique to me and I highly recommend it.

In this, the third book in Megan Bannen’s Hart and Mercy series, she brings us back to its roots and back to the world of Tania!

Immortal demigod Rosie Fox has been alive for 157 years and she has spent many decades patrolling Tantia in contemplating the monotony of eternal life…. That is until disaster starts hitting the Tanya portal and she finds herself along with her partner Ranger Dukkers, his ex-boyfriend Zeddy, and the cute portal inventor, Dr. Adam Lee trapped in Tania!

With Adam‘s portal skills and Rosie‘s demigod abilities, they lead the crew and try to find a way out of the mist! But everyone knows a little forced proximity is the recipe for romance and outgoing. Rosie is going to give everything she’s got to crack uptight Adams shell!

I had a lot of fun in this book that really brought back the vibe of the first book in the series. I also really loved seeing Ducker and Zaddy again and them getting pushed together for a second chance. Rosie‘s demigod arc and her old god father added a lot of interesting elements to the story. This book was what I would call light on romance, but high on adventure.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jim Frangione and Kacie Rogers I really enjoyed their complementary voice work. Jim did an excellent job with male characters and provided a good variation and unique styling to each of the voices. As well, Kacie provide an excellent dimension to the female characters.

I’m not usually a big fantasy reader, but I do enjoy the cosy environment that author, Megan Bannen has created in this series. Reading these books gives me a warmed baked cookies type of vibe- the definition a comfy good time read.

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam is a heartfelt and deeply human story about love, mistakes, and the complicated ways relationships can shift over time. The writing is intimate and raw, making it easy to feel the characters’ emotions—both the tenderness and the hurt.

Rosie and Adam’s relationship is portrayed with nuance; there are no easy answers or perfect people here, just two flawed individuals trying to navigate their choices and the consequences. I appreciated how the author wasn’t afraid to explore the messy, uncomfortable moments right alongside the sweeter ones.

The pacing is steady, allowing the emotional beats to really land, though there were a few moments where I wanted things to move a bit faster. Still, the authenticity of the characters and the thought-provoking themes made this a very rewarding read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Orbit for this ARC Copy!

I love this series so much. It is so unique and fun, and the romance is always a surprise. I think this may have been my least favorite of the series, but I still really enjoyed it and am glad that we got to spend time with more dragons in this installment.

I love how all of the characters in this series are so different and unique, and their romance stories are wholly their own. It is really immersive and fun that it is not just carbon copies of the other romances in the series. Also, there is a bonus romance that just makes me so happy so if you enjoyed the first two books in the series you should definitely enjoy this one too. I hope this series goes on forever.

I’m a bit of a dummy, diving straight into book three of this series without reading the first two (though the first one has been patiently waiting on my bedside table since I got it in a FairyLoot box ages ago). But honestly? This book did a great job filling in any gaps, and I never felt lost.

The pacing is excellent, with a gradual reveal of information that keeps you hooked from start to finish. I’m in awe of the worldbuilding: it feels so solid and lived in that my brain happily filled in the rest. It’s cozy fantasy at heart, though with slightly higher stakes than most, all while keeping the whimsical, colorful warmth that makes Tanria so charming. Cute, cheeping dragons included... without tipping into overly childish territory (though it's a bit of a fine line).

This is an opposites-attract romance, pairing immortal demigod Rosie Fox with uptight inventor Adam Lee. I liked them both, but their connection developed a bit too quickly to feel fully believable... yet somehow still managed to read like a slow burn? (Magic, I guess.) Adam is deliciously awkward, full of self-pity, and the most endearing sort of nerd. He’s a different flavor of brooding than you usually see in romantasy, which was refreshing. Rosie is vibrant and a little reckless, and together they had some genuinely cute moments.

My favorite part, though, was the thematic core: an exploration of what it means to live—and to love—forever. Immortality is one of my favorite tropes to see unpacked, and this was a fun, bittersweet place to do it.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators delivered strong performances throughout, capturing both the humor and the heart of the story.

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam by Megan Bannen ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Here are some things you'll find in this book:
-great friendships
-fast pace due to danger for the whole kingdom
-swoony love story
-world building is a bit complicated but those who've read the other books will be fine
-the plant is not GOOD in this one lol
-forced proximity
-magical creatures

This one was tender and swoony and lovely. I really love the world the author has built and I really loved the nods to past characters from the previous 2 books set in Tanria.

I love this series so much and this addition definitely did not disappoint! I knew I was going to like Rosie from the little glimpse of her we got in Twyla and Franks story, but I was not prepared to love her as much as I did! This author has a way of writing characters that you just can’t help but fall in love with (and whose love stories you can’t help but root for)! I’ve really enjoy the contemporary feel she brings to her fantasy world! Also glad we got more glittery dragons!
I’m going to hold out hope that this isn’t the last we hear from Tanria!

(Advance Listening Copy courtesy of NetGalley and Hachette Audio/Orbit.)

<b>A perfectly-paced 5⭐</b>

This was my first Megan Bannen book and it did NOT disappoint!

The pacing is just brilliant, with a gradual reveal of information that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The worldbuilding feels effortless and complete—masterful, really—and it stands alongside the pacing as the true stars of the book. I loved the characters and the romance, but they were outshone by the pacing and worldbuilding. It was a wholly unique reading experience.

Rosie, our POV character, is vivid and likeable, with a voice that’s easy to follow. She’s been smitten with Adam since they first met around five years ago, though there are moments where she’s not entirely convinced of that fact—and honestly, at first, I was really confused. She’d be mooning over him and I’d catch myself thinking, <i>“Really? THIS guy? He’s so flat.”</i> But there’s far more to Adam than appears at first glance, and that depth, like with the rest of the book, is revealed slowly and to great effect. (Plus, his dry humor is a highlight.)

Their existence—trapped in the same place—feels slow and drawn out, almost torturous, but in the best way possible. Their relationship builds in much the same way, with just the right amount of tension to make every interaction count.

<b>🎧 Audio-Specific:</b> The narrators, Jim Frangione and Kacie Rogers, were both perfectly suited to the mood and the stressful (yet slow-motion) ambiance of the story, enhancing the overall atmosphere without ever breaking immersion. Also, the voice for the mail-carrier dik-dik, Gobbo, was <i>super fun</i>, so every time he showed up, it was an unexpected delight! It’s well worth it to listen to this one.

<b>TL;DR</b> — Want the unique experience of falling in love with a book first for its PACING before getting swept up in all the other wonderful elements? Check this one out!

I’m so sad for this series to be over, but excited to see what’s to come from Bannen. Luke the others this one was a cozy fantasy you can disappear in.

I really enjoyed the last two books in this series and whew! I was so stoked to get this audiobook ARC from NetGalley.

The Undercutting of Rosie & Adam picks up with a grown-up Duckers. Not that he’s the main character, and not that it’s important—I just adore him. Rosie, his reckless, lightly jaded, immortal demigod partner, is who we’re really here for.

The portals to Tanria are going haywire, and shadow plants have sprouted to wreak havoc. Adam, inventor of said portals, gets called in to fix them. After an ill-fated mishap leaves them trapped in Tanria with only Duckers and Zeddie—the forced proximity was ✨giving✨—they embark on a journey that absolutely none of them asked for.

The opposites-attract trope is alive and well in this one. I liked both Rosie and Adam enough, but their connection developed far too quickly to feel believable. Somehow, it’s also a slow burn. Magic, I guess. A bloody handkerchief isn’t enough for most people, and it didn’t feel like enough here, either.

Adam is deliciously awkward, rife with self-pity, and the most wonderful nerd. I wish his character had more substance, but he was a different sort of brooding than you usually see in romantasy, which was refreshing. Despite his awkwardness, there were some genuinely cute, quippy moments between him and Rosie. Sometimes, though, the humor landed awkwardly—more middle-grade than adult romance—which distracted me from what could have been a fully grown-up love story… lingerie kink and all.

Rosie’s complicated relationship with her father was relatable, and I liked that even after 150 years she’s still, at times, willing to give him a chance. The sudden changes of heart, sometimes mid-sentence, were enough to give me whiplash, but we can’t have it all.

Overall, it was… fine. I still love the story and the world, but this read like a lot of fluff with a smidge of substance, and the plot that was there was woefully predictable. The audiobook narration kept me going—I don’t think I would have read it nearly as quickly if I’d had to do it on my own.

3.5⭐️

Thank you Hachette Audio, Orbit, the author, and NetGalley for this ARC!

I really loved how clever this novel was. From the character development, to the world building, you can tell that Bannen really knew where they wanted their story to go.

Thank you to Hachette Audio for my gifted ALC. My opinions are my own.

Synopsis: final book in the Hart and Mercy series, the demigod Rosie, her partner Duckers, and Adam Lee may just be in a bit of a pickle when the portals stop working.

Read this for:
- size difference (she’s 6’5”, he’s pocket size)
- age gap
- returning characters from the series
- devious gods
- shadowy plants
- Demi gods
- grumpy/sunshine
- dragons

My thoughts: I have loved all of the books in this series and Rosie may be my favorite main character, she’s spunky, snarky, jaded, and lonely. Adam is probably the quietest, dry sarcastic grump around, but I loved reading him opening up to Rosie’s sunshine snark. Rosie is a girl after my own heart.

The narration was fantastic, Kacie Rogers gave a wonderful performance as Rosie with the slight rasp and bubbly cadence. Kacie is the primary narrator since most of the novel is from Rosie’s point of view.

Highly recommend the whole series!!

Fantastic on audio!

From the author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy comes another enchanting, heartwarming journey set in the whimsically magical world of Tanria—complete with dragons, donuts, and delightfully complicated feelings. The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam offers readers a perfect blend of cozy fantasy, slow-burn romance, and laugh-out-loud banter, all wrapped in a story that manages to be both tender and adventurous.

Rosie and Adam are an unexpected but irresistible pairing—one impulsive and spirited, the other guarded and precise. Their dynamic is electric, full of friction and warmth in equal measure. As they navigate an increasingly tangled world, they also begin to unravel their own emotional armor, leading to a deeply satisfying (and often hilarious) opposites-attract arc.

The worldbuilding is rich and whimsical without being overwhelming, and the character work is where this novel truly shines. Though the pacing dips slightly in the middle, the charm, wit, and emotional payoff keep you turning the pages.

A magical and meaningful read that explores connection, purpose, and finding joy in unexpected places. Perfect for fans of cozy fantasy, reluctant heroes, and romantic tension with a quirky twist.

Hark! Is this my favorite book of the series?

Megan Bannen, you absolute angel. I loved this story. It waaaas a bit insta-lovey (which is not my cuppa), but we can forgive these lover birds because they have been around a loooong time. Who is gonna begrudge them clinging onto someone who finally GETS them? Someone LIKE them?

Rosie is sooo ::chef’s kiss:: We barely learn anything about her in the previous book except that she’s tall, red (or pink!), and has lived a looooong life (which is funny because she also has a tendency of dying a lot). I love that though she’s big and tough, she’s also hella feminine (ask her about her lingerie collection).

DYING over the “short king” jokes over here. Ummm Oscar Isaac, Tom Holland, Daniel Radcliffe, Donald Glover, Mark Ruffalo, Zac Efron, James McAvoy…pick your type; I could go…all these dudes are 5’8” or shorter, so let’s not sleep on short kings LOL My biggest complaint about him is that he’s so mysterious and quiet through a good chunk of it. I wish we knew more about him.

There’s a little smidge of a mystery that is thoroughly intertwined with our MMC, and the TENSION the wonky doors caused. Oof. I think I gasped a loud a few times.

Duckers and Zedie (but especially Duckers). What can I say except I adore them? Duckers has been our sassy, sarcastic companion throughout the series, and I’ve really enjoyed seeing him grow.

It really goes to show you how good a writer Megan Bannen is and how much she wants you to invest in her characters, because here I am writing this review a full month (and several books) after I read this one.

LOVED IT. Need a special edition/sprayed edges cover for my library now.

The narrators deliver strong performances from start to finish. Their pacing, inflection, and emotional range are all excellent, bringing depth and nuance to the story. Character voices are varied enough to distinguish easily, and the narration flows conversationally, not just like rote narration.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, Orbit, Orbit Books, and Megan Bannen for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc. I have tried multiple times to get into the noon and always DNF around the 35% mark. It just isn’t for me

Ugh this world is just so unique and sweet!! I loved having such a badass, big, sunshine-y heroine with a small, grumpy man. Such a fun dynamic, and it worked really well with this setting and world. I LOVED the secondary characters and relationships a lot too. My main negative was that it got a little insta-lovey once the main relationship developed. But otherwise it was lovely, and the audiobook was excellent!

Queer rep: Secondary queer male and female characters, MM couple, FF couple

***4.0 Stars***

Overall,
While not my favorite of this series, I had a really good time with this book. Megan has a way of putting together unique couples and weaving their story into something incredibly entertaining. Rosie is essentially a Demi God, like 7 ft tall and struggling with the meaning of life. While Adam is a closed book inventor that has secrets and is very average in height. When things with the portals start going wrong they both go on an expedition to find out why. I guessed much of the ending before we got there, but I was fine with that. I am not sure if there will be another story in this series. The way that it ends makes me think no. However, what do I know. 100 percent recommend to those who enjoyed the first two books. I would also recommend this to those who like quirky romantasy.

I received an Audio Arc of this book and the narrator was the same as the first two. Very good.

***I received and audio arc of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. Thank You Netgalley***