The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

"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?

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.

"Truly outstanding romantic fantasy." --India Holton

"An unabashedly offbeat adventure." --Freya Marske

"I cried twice and smiled plenty." --Olivia Atwater

"A little sweet, a little spicy, a little sharp and entirely moreish!" --Davinia Evans

"I showed up for the fantastic, fun fantasy setting but it was Hart and Mercy that kept me reading." --Ruby Dixon

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Published Aug 23, 2022

448 pages

Average rating: 7.56

116 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Janice
Sep 14, 2025
6/10 stars
I don't know how I feel about another Shop Around the Corner retelling.
literarily_occupied
Aug 12, 2025
8/10 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐️ / 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.
kristylynn
Mar 27, 2025
8/10 stars
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.
Green Energy
Jan 28, 2025
9/10 stars
A light and airy romance comedy, I love the FMC,I love even more that she's a curvy girl. The story was equal parts heavy and equal parts like, A mixture of family and friends with a touch of daddy issues, and miscommunication. But what's a rom-com without miscommunication. Mercy is delightful even though sometimes her temper gets the better of her. Hart is a little self-loathing, But he's too adorable not to forgive. This was a great breath of fresh air um gonna try book too eventually, when I need another breath.
YvetteF
Jun 12, 2024
10/10 stars
This was an unexpected delight. I don’t rate with 5 stars often lately but this was unique with great world-building. Characters were enjoyable and I loved getting to know them. Adding this one to my favorites shelf. I can see myself revisiting this again in future (just in case I may have missed some small detail). Loved it!

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