Story: 3.5 ⭐ (Rounded up)
Spice: 1.5 🌶️
Narration: 4 ⭐

I really enjoyed the narration for this book so much. Kacie Rogers was perfectly casted for the role of Rosie. The way she was able to bring her to life, and I could picture her right in front of me, was something to behold. She just really made the story so much more fun. This was a dual narration with Jim Frangione and Kacie Rogers. Jim only had 1 chapter (POV) so to me; it was more of a single narration.

I love Rosie. She a 6'5, demi-god, bull of a women, an utter confident queen and her polar opposite, Adam 5'5 with shoes, pocket king who's serious, and has a dry sense of humor. Who says opposites don't attract. They are forced to work together to fix the portals into Tanria. They get stuck alongside Rosie's work partner, Duckers and his ex-Boyfriend and have to find their way out. There are dragons too!

The narration really saved this book for me. It brought my rating up a lot higher. I just wasn't feeling the romance itself, and truthfully wanted more of Penn & Z, but it was funny and so many innuendos my chest hurt from laughing. It was also great getting cameos from the other couples and a few other characters.

This is a fun romantasy with action, love, dragons, some despair and a lot of yearning. The main character is a positive demigod with daddy issues and complicated feelings towards her own immortality. It’s quite the mix but I enjoyed the somewhat strange story and the plot made me want to read it in the first place. I was sadly not a fan of the narrator. After a couple of hours I got used to her accent, which I must admit worked well with Rosies voice, but the male voices never did. I don’t need the narrator to make different voices, it became more annoying than a help. Most dialog also ends with “said…” so you are well informed. Dr. Lee sounds like he has a sore throat and poor Ducker reminds me of Goofy, minus the cursing..
The Big “plot twist”, or what to call it, was not very hard to guess but a lot of romantasy and romance are a bit predictable. You read it for entertainment. I realise this sounds like a quite negative review but I liked most parts. Would probably give it 3,5 stars but I think it deserves to be rounded up to a 4.

3.5 ☆

A cute end to a whimsical series! It took me a bit longer to get into this one than I would've liked, but I had a decent time overall. Whatever Bannen put in book 1 that made me adore it felt forced in this one so I can't say I fell in love with it. The writing was overly descriptive (I don't care to read about the quality of a character's underwear) and much of the dialogue was meme-ish.

The narrators did a good job bringing the characters to life! Kacie Rogers perfectly captured Rosie's rasp and Jim Frangione's haunting voice added a layer of wistfulness to the story of the Briar Thief.

I loved Adam's dryness. His subtle humor was more enjoyable than when a character is supposed to be lighthearted and funny but it reaches the point of annoyingness (sorry, Rosie). The story especially became more interesting as he began to peel back his layers as much of what he was hiding pertained to the plot.

I understood Rosie's struggles and felt her pain and that's where our connection ends. She's got a big personality, I get that, but she was a bit too much for me. And that was one of the things she stated as having been to past partners, but damn she really was. She got a joke off here and there that was funny but trying to be funny 95% of the time gets old fast. And the cat being named "Blammo Tinky Fartface"... that's all I'm gonna say about that.

Rosie and Adam's romance was a bit insta-lovey and I didn't care for that so it made it hard for me to connect to that part of the story. They had a single instance five years prior that they were both holding on to and while I understand that (believe me, I do), it wasn't enough to build a relationship on. I get they were forced to be in close proximity to one another due to their circumstances but one instance half a decade ago + one week shouldn't equal an 'I love you'. This isn't to say I hated their relationship; they were adorable! It just took me a while to care about them together.

I enjoyed the plot and Duckers more than anything. The stakes were high those last 10ish chapters and the closer we got to the end, the more emotional I got. I would've liked a little <i>more</i> from the epilogue, but I think the cameos sprinkled throughout the story made up for it. This world means so much to me and I'll forever miss it.

This fantastical world includes lovable, multilayered characters, humor, and strange happenings. While I enjoyed some bits more than others, they're still decent reads overall and I'd definitely recommend!

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam is a cosy romance with charming moments and gentle humour. While the setting and premise were sweet, I struggled to fully connect with the characters and their story. I read as a standalone book and I don't think you need to read the first two books, though I may have connected with the story better if I did.

Rosie was confident and brash, in contrast to Adam's quiet and considered nature. Despite not fully connecting with them, I thought they were a great balance to each other. I listened to the audio and Adam's voice did give me a bit of an ick, though the chemistry was still there between the characters.

Overall, the book has heart, but for me, it didn't fully draw me in.

I listened to an ARC audiobook and the expected release date is 8 July 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

5/5 stars

The whole trilogy is a big 5 star series for me! I love every single book and this last one was no different. I would read endless books set in this world if I could.

Rosie and Adam were ✨chefs kiss✨ and for people worried that there won’t be a book about a certain couple iykyk, don’t fret: you’re being fed as well!

The audio production was fantastic and the narrators did a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life! 10/10 would/will listen again.

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam by Megan and Adam by Megan Bannen
Narrators, Jim Frangione and Kacie Rogers
I may have done this book a slight disservice because I came late to this series and had just finished book two, which I really loved, when I started this book. This story is kind of slow to take off and I might not have stuck with it except for having loved book two so much. Which is good because when it finally does get some momentum it is like a roller coaster ride, or should I say flying on a dragon?
My only real gripes are with the narration. First, why do they not stick with the same narrators throughout the series? I hate this because you get a certain voice in your head for a character and suddenly it’s completely different. Very annoying! Second, although Jim Frangione is a favorite narrator, his part was pretty limited. Kacie Rogers was not a bad narrator but she completely changed the way Duckers sounded and she had some odd mispronunciations.
Overall, I have really enjoyed these books, world building, dragons, friendship, community, and romance. What’s not to love?

This series snuck up on me! I always go into them thinking it's going to be a silly goofy time and the last 20% rips my heart out EVERY time! Megan Bannen has done it again! I have no idea how she convinces me these people are my best friends in less than 400 pages! I particularly loved Rosie, As a very tall lady I could relate to her a ton. I was lucky enough to get an arc of the audio book and I loved the narrator! She had great voices for each character. Shout out the Nimkilim in this book. The narrators performance of him had me laughing out loud every time! To cut a long story short I would absolutely recommend The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam!

So I’ve been just a so-so fan of this series since the beginning. I’m sad to learn at the end that I should’ve been listening to this series in audiobook format instead of reading a physical copy. Because let me tell you the audiobook was such a better reading experience.

Now even with that said. I still give this a 3 ⭐️ but I do believe Rosie & Adam’s story was my favorite. Partially because it was also Duckers and Lee’s story. And like I said after finishing every previous book in this series I will go to war for Duckers. I cannot say enough good things about this man.

But I digress, in terms of the premise I found it so much more interesting than Frank and Twyla’s book. We have failing portals and only Rosie can see what’s impacting them. Adam, the portals inventor is brought in to fix the problem. He realizes that it can’t be fixed and calls for Tanaria to be evacuated. Just when they think they got everyone out a straggler appears. Causing them to delay. Leaving Rosie, Adam, Duckers and Lee stranded. The four must uncover the secrets causing the portal collapse and somehow make it home.

Like I mentioned earlier my favorite character throughout this entire trilogy is Duckers. My man literally carried this book. His sarcasm and witty banter had me busting out laughing multiple times. Plus his compassion, love and loyalty towards Rosie pulled on my heart strings. Watching him teach Rosie valuable life lessons about the importance of living even if she’s immortal. Is something we should all appreciate and never take for granted. I also loved seeing small glimpses into Duckers & Lee’s relationship. We didn’t get as much as I would’ve liked but what we were given had me cheering that our boys finally got a happily ever after.

My least favorite part of this book was probably the romance between Rosie & Adam. Now don’t get me wrong in the end I love them and I think they are perfect for each other. However, I think their relationship started out with way too much insta-lust. Like I get that they are both going through inner turmoils and feel very isolated because of that. But way too many times they both came across as horny teenagers. When in reality Rosie for example is 157. So minor ick. My only other complaint is the epilogue. Since this is the last book to my knowledge I wish we would’ve gotten more of tying our other previous book characters into the ending. We got a little tease with Hart & Mercy, but nothing from Twyla and Frank. But that’s just me nitpicking.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a unique romcom experience. Lastly Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this advanced reader copy. My review is my own thoughts and feelings

This series!!!

I have loved this world and the characters in it. This one follows Rosie (she is Hart’s friend and a demigod) and immortal Marshall that runs head first into any and all problems cuz death doesn’t last for her. She and her partner Duckers get stuck in Tanria with Adam and Zeti and are working to get back and save the day.

The romance didn’t thrill me like the other two books. I don’t know if it was because what I really wanted was a Duckers and Zeti book or if the chemistry just didn’t feel as thick?
What I loved was the added layers of world building with the gods and the old war.

I hope this isn’t the final book.

Thanks to netgalley and hachette audio for an alc

PERFECTION!

thank you to netgalley and hatchett audio for the audio arc :) !

the undertaking of hart and mercy is an incredible start to this trilogy (it is easily one of my favorite books i've ever read), and the undercutting of rosie and adam feels like a perfect ending (yes, i cried, what about it). i'm going to miss these characters and the world of tanria deeply, and i selfishly hope that one day we will get penny d and zeddie's story so i can have one last trip to tanria with my faves!

i LOVE that the story is about a tall fmc and a short mmc (shoutout short kings, i love you). it's so refreshing to see a romance story that isn't the common "big guy, tiny gal" trope that we see so often (don't get me wrong, i enjoy that trope, but it's nice to have something different too!). rosie is a total badass and i love her cleverness, wit, and confidence. adam is a fantastic, charming, ~mysterious~ mmc that i couldn't get enough of. i was giggling and kicking my feet watching them develop feelings for each other and it was so so SO adorable seeing rosie get flustered. the slow burn was sooooooo wildly good oh my GOD. the wait was totally worth it! i always look forward to all the silly jokes bannen weaves throughout her stories and i often found myself grinning ear to ear while listening to the audiobook because of the romance AND the humor.

which, speaking of, holy moly the narrator was INCREDIBLE. my favorite narration of the three books!!! kacie roberts' voice was so soothing and lovely to listen to, she felt like the perfect choice for rosie. the way she portrayed different characters and emotions made it easy to sit down and listen to the book for hours. the dik-dik voice was very silly, but simultaneously suited him incredibly well. it was always great to get a visit from him so i could hear his goofy voice! jim frangione's part was absolutely terrific and he did a fantastic job narrating adam's backstory as well.

last but not least, i loved how much info we learned about the lore of the gods. i definitely feel like this story taught me more about topics i had always been curious to know more about and it felt like such a treat to finally have in depth information.

goodbye hart, mercy, twyla, frank, rosie, adam, duckers, and zeddie. it was lovely meeting you all!!!

Oh my goodness! This series has been a go to for me and this ending was perfect!

Not only was Adam and Rosie's story so very lovely, we get Zeddie and Duckers who have been my favorites since the start!

Love that the books include mystery, magic and of course all the love! Add in that the audiobook was SO well done and it makes it even better!

I was so excited for the ALC and it exceeded my expectations!❤️

4 Stars

I would like to start by saying thank you to @hachetteaudio & @netgalley for giving me a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Cute, cozy, and a little chaotic - in the best way.

The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam is another fun, emotional ride from Megan Bannen. Rosie (a literal immortal) and Adam (grumpy, mysterious doctor guy) have great chemistry, and their slow-burn romance had me rooting for them the whole way. The weird magical world with portals and demigods is still such a vibe, and I loved the quirky details - like animal mail couriers and sentient thorns.

It was a little slow for my taste in parts, but honestly, it still delivered all the feels. If you’re into soft-hearted romance with a dash of danger and humor, this one’s worth the read.

I adore this series and loved getting to see Rosie and Adam fall for each other. I think fans of Duckers will enjoy this one as well. This installment is a bit more fantasy heavy so readers who like a bit more fantasy will love this one. I loved seeing the familiar characters and learning more of the lore of the universe Megan Bannen created.

I listened to the audio for this one and really enjoyed it!

Narration: 5/5
Book: 3.5/5 (Rounded up to 4)
Speed: 1.75x

First off, the narration- as a primarily single narrator with a cast of characters, Kacie Rogers, did fantastic! She did a great job with tone, delivery, and varying the voices to bring personality to each character. I definitely would pick up a book based off of her narrating again. I found the pacing of the audio a little slow, but I also know that unless there is a heavily accented character, I typically listen to my audios anywhere from 1.25x to 2x.

Now onto the main event-I loved diving into a new fantastical world. While this does technically work as a standalone, there is so much richness that is missed if this is the book you dive into first. While I know this is a romance, Rosie and Duckers friendship steals the show. The romance does take a bit to develop, but it was great to see a tall FMC demi-goddess with a short academic MMC.

Overall I found this book incredibly enjoyable and would read and/or listen to more books from this author.

Thank you Megan Bannen, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC!

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.

After already reading an ARC of this book a few months prior, I actually now got listen to the audiobook version for this one, and I have to say — the female narrator is incredible. She brings Rosie to life with a slightly raspy, grounded tone that’s absolutely perfect for a heroine like her. It really enhanced the experience and made me appreciate Rosie’s character even more!

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 Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a beautiful, whimsical fantasy novel. It can easily be read as a standalone, but I do think it’s more meaningful if you’ve read either or both of the books the precede it. Rosie and Adam are so lovable, and you can’t help but root for them. They have backstory that you learn as you go and is both predictable and unpredictable. Even the things you predict are still impactful and endearing.

The narrators were clear to understand and engaging. I listen to audiobooks on double speed and could still understand everything perfectly which is a sign of a great narrator.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The audiobook version of The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam was a pleasure to listen to. The story is strong, and I love the universe that Bannen has crafted. Her storytelling is so vivid that the reader can easily visualize the world's landscape, making you wish you could really see it in person. I enjoyed how the story and relationships evolve throughout this book, as well as how the characters develop as the narrative unfolds. The narrators chosen to tell the story did a superb job of really bringing it, and the world it takes place in, to life. Just wait until you learn about what dragons sound like!

Just perfection. I honestly can’t get enough of the world of Tanria and literally kicked my feet with glee when I realized Book 3 was coming! This book has it all - cozy slow-burn romance heavy on the pining, a potentially world-altering mystery with high-stakes, and a strong dose of adventure and immersive fantasy. Rosie and Adam’s relationship developed very differently than the protagonists of the first two books in the series, but was just as heartfelt.

Biggest bonus outside of the main plot? The amazing BFF chemistry between Rosie and her work partner Duckers, complete with goofy nicknames and in-jokes. Anyways, run, don’t walk, to get this book! (Though I do think you need to read Books 1 & 2 first to really understand some of the finer points of the plot).

Read if you like: Short kings with an aura of mystery, getting sentimental over handkerchiefs, opposites attract

Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I listened to the audio version and it was also perfection.

Book 3 in the undertaking series. I love this world, books 1 and 2 were easy 5 stars for me. This book continues the world building with a new couple, and a side couple you’ll recognize. This story had some beautiful moments and life lessons. Unfortunately I just didn’t connect with Rosie and Adam like I did the couples in the past book. The story was also not as engaging overall. I’m not sure if the problem was the story or mostly the audiobook, but either way I don’t recommend the audiobook.

Thank you so very much for the arc.

4 ⭐
.5 🌶️

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced listener copy of this book. The narrator did a really good job. I ARC read the first two books and loved them, and this one is no exception. This is a fun series, I love that we get more from characters in the first two books, especially Duckers he is one of my favorite characters from the series. Rosie can't die, well she can but she always comes back. To most that may seem like a great thing, but not to someone who has been alive for so long and would like to one day die. When she gets electrocuted it messes with the portals, that is when Adam comes in to fix the portals, but instead they get stuck with each other. This does have some swearing and slight spice, so recommended for 16 and up I would say. Highly recommend this whole series!