The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
Set in a world full of magic and demigods, donuts and small-town drama, this enchantingly quirky, utterly unique fantasy is perfect for readers of The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Invisible Library. "A uniquely charming mixture of whimsy and the macabre that completely won me over. If you ever wished for an adult romance that felt like Howl's Moving Castle, THIS IS THAT BOOK." --Helen Hoang, author of The Kiss Quotient Hart is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the strange and magical wilds of Tanria. It's an unforgiving job, and Hart's got nothing but time to ponder his loneliness. Mercy never has a moment to herself. She's been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son Undertakers afloat in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart, who seems to have a gift for showing up right when her patience is thinnest. After yet another exasperating run-in with Mercy, Hart finds himself penning a letter addressed simply to "A Friend". Much to his surprise, an anonymous letter comes back in return, and a tentative friendship is born. If only Hart knew he's been baring his soul to the person who infuriates him most--Mercy. As the dangers from Tanria grow closer, so do the unlikely correspondents. But can their blossoming romance survive the fated discovery that their pen pals are their worst nightmares--each other? "Truly outstanding romantic fantasy." --India Holton, author of the Dangerous Damsels series "An unabashedly offbeat adventure." --Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light "I cried twice and smiled plenty." --Olivia Atwater, author of the Regency Faerie Tales series "A little sweet, a little spicy, a little sharp and entirely moreish!" --Davinia Evans, author of Notorious Sorcerer "I showed up for the fantastic, fun fantasy setting but it was Hart and Mercy that kept me reading." --Ruby Dixon, author of Ice Planet Barbarians
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Readers say *The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy* offers a wonderfully original world blending supernatural threats with Western and small-town themes. ...
⭐⭐⭐⭐️ / 4 stars
A love story like no other and I am all for it!
It's fun, fantastical, and quirky; not quite like anything I have read before.
I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers banter between Hart and Mercy and the talking rabbit mailman was a hoot.
Thank you to the Libro.fm Librarian ALC program, Hachette Audio, and the author for this complimentary Audiobook Listening Copy.
A love story like no other and I am all for it!
It's fun, fantastical, and quirky; not quite like anything I have read before.
I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers banter between Hart and Mercy and the talking rabbit mailman was a hoot.
Thank you to the Libro.fm Librarian ALC program, Hachette Audio, and the author for this complimentary Audiobook Listening Copy.
A lonely demigod marshal, a struggling undertaker, anonymous love letters, and zombies. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen certainly has an imaginative combination of ingredients. The world was wonderfully original, but the humor and character development lacked maturity.
Hart Ralston patrols the dangerous wastelands of Tanria to protect the living from reanimated corpses known as drudges. Mercy Birdsall spends her days keeping her family's struggling mortuary afloat while navigating the expectations placed on her as a woman in a traditionally male profession. Their encounters are anything but pleasant. Hart and Mercy can barely tolerate each other, but an anonymous letter sent into the unknown sparks an unexpected penpal friendship. Neither realizes that the person sharing their deepest thoughts through the ether is the very person who drives them crazy in real life.
I enjoyed Hart's dangerous work protecting the community from drudges. The combination of supernatural threats, Western influences, and small town life reminded me of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Megan Bannen has created an imaginative world where death is both a daily occupation and a very real danger.
Mercy's struggle to preserve her family's mortuary was a compelling element. Her determination to continue the Birdsall legacy despite societal expectations and financial pressures gave her arc meaning. I appreciated the exploration of gender inequality and the limitations placed on women pursuing traditionally male occupations. I wanted Mercy to succeed and prove that her abilities mattered more than her gender.
Unfortunately, Mercy's immature personality became frustrating. She initially appeared intelligent, capable, and resourceful. Then, her impulsive behavior and persistent anxiety surrounding decisions undermined those qualities. Hart and Mercy's interactions and their constant bickering seemed more juvenile than charming. I struggled to connect with their humor and personalities.
Hart's decision to write a letter into the unknown, only to receive an unexpected response from Mercy, was a lovely approach to develop their relationship. Their letters revealed vulnerabilities, insecurities, and desires that their face to face interactions did not allow them to express. I admired how the correspondence helped me understand their emotional worlds and made their growing affection believable. Their written connection had a tenderness that I wished was translated to their in person interactions.
Pick up The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy if you enjoy whimsical fantasy, enemies to lovers romances, and unconventional magical settings.
Character and relationship development was nice and at a good pace. The fantasy aspect of the book was unique and I found myself looking forward to reading the letters shared between them as much as the characters were; I could feel the flirtatious vibes and the spark of something new - 10/10 on that account.