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“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
The Princess Bride meets You've Got Mail in this enchantingly quirky, completely refreshing fantasy with a rom-com-worthy premise, perfect for readers of The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Invisible Library. Hart is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the 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 equally full of magic and demigods as it is donuts and small-town drama, this utterly unique fantasy is sure to sweep you off your feet. |
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Add to Goodreads • Book club discussion guide
Add to Goodreads • Book club discussion guide
Praise for The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy:
"A crispy, hot-fried, pastel-dipped piece of delicious fantasy fiction wrapped up in a ravenous rom-com. This is a unique read!” Buzzfeed
"In Bannen's (Soulswift) adult debut , the roller coaster of Mercy and Hart's journey is full of sizzle and emotional turmoil, as well as plenty of sci-fi adventure and humor. Readers will be captivated by the land of Tanria and will want to stay connected with these characters long after the book ends. " Library Journal
"This quirky mash-up will entertain romance readers, especially those that enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope." Booklist
“A lovely, macabre fantasy romance about life, death, and Actually Living. I cried twice and smiled plenty.” Olivia Atwater, author of Half a Soul
“Megan Bannen broke me, made me laugh, then put me back together again. At turns hilarious, sexy, and ugly cry poignant, it's a romance, wrapped in a western, wrapped in a fantasy that also manages to reimagine You've Got Mail in the best possible way. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is one of those books you'll be thinking about long after you've read the last page.” Manda Collins, author of A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
“THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY broke my heart, put it back together, then tucked me into bed with a forehead kiss. Packed with earnest characters, wit, action, and reluctant yearning, this is easily my favorite fantasy romance of the year.” Jen DeLuca, author of Well Met
“Perfect for readers who love enemies-to-lovers mashed up with a touch of secret penpal romance. 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
“This book is a gooey (and hot!) romance immersed in a tasty layer of quirky fantasy, like some decadent chocolate treat. A little sweet, a little spicy, a little sharp and entirely moreish!” Davinia Evans, author of Notorious Sorcerer
“Romantic, wildly creative, and utterly charming, The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy is a fantasy unlike any I’ve read before. Come for the banter, chemistry, and flawless enemies-to-lovers vibes, and stay for the gorgeous worldbuilding and beautifully depicted emotional landscapes. An absolutely stunning story.”
Lana Harper, New York Times bestselling author of Payback’s a Witch
“With its wonderfully unique setting, lovable characters, and engaging mix of humour and spice, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is a truly outstanding romantic fantasy. I loved both its kookiness and its deep authenticity. An instant favourite!” India Holton, author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
“If Lewis Carroll and Nora Ephron teamed up to write a magical Western, this would be the result. An unabashedly offbeat adventure full of dead gods and mostly-dead zombies, family drama, swoon-worthy love letters, and a Very Good Dog, The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy oozes romantic fun like a corpse oozes dubious fluids.” Freya Marske, author of A Marvelous Light
"Megan Bannen has found her voice with this incredibly smart, and hilariously weird debut. A must read!" Nisha Sharma - award winning author of YA and contemporary romance
“THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY is warm, compassionate, and compelling ... It's a deeply charming, intelligent exploration of the macabre that brings with it solid worldbuilding and characters you want to cheer for.” Vivian Shaw, author of Strange Practice
“Megan Bannen remains the queen of swoons upon swoons upon swoons! THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY is a playful, quirky gem--full of feels and guaranteed to deliver the perfect grumpy/sunshine fix!” -Sierra Simone, USA Today bestselling author
"Bannen's from-the-heart romp through a magical, western-inspired world is packed with a fistful of romance readers' most beloved tropes. Hart and Mercy's enemies-to-lovers dynamic is deliciously snide yet steamy, and the unknown pen-pal plot device recalls the classic romcom film You've Got Mail ... From the couple's first showdown to a hard-won happily ever after, this swoon-inducing journey is one wild and satisfying ride." Jaclyn Fulwood, blogger at Infinite Reads
USA Today's Best Paranormal Romance Books
2023 RUSA Reading List Winner for Best Romance
Parade Magazine's 125 Best Romance Books of All Time
Oprah Daily's 10 Best Fantasy Romance Books
People's 23 Cozy Halloween Romance Reads That Put the 'Spice' in Pumpkin Spice
BookRiot's Best Books of 2022
Paste Magazine's Best Fantasy Books of 2022
BuzzFeed's 35 Absolute Favorite Romance Novels
Apple Books Best Audiobooks of 2022
Apple Books Best Books of August 2022
Amazon Editors Pick, Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books in August 2022
"A crispy, hot-fried, pastel-dipped piece of delicious fantasy fiction wrapped up in a ravenous rom-com. This is a unique read!” Buzzfeed
"In Bannen's (Soulswift) adult debut , the roller coaster of Mercy and Hart's journey is full of sizzle and emotional turmoil, as well as plenty of sci-fi adventure and humor. Readers will be captivated by the land of Tanria and will want to stay connected with these characters long after the book ends. " Library Journal
"This quirky mash-up will entertain romance readers, especially those that enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope." Booklist
“A lovely, macabre fantasy romance about life, death, and Actually Living. I cried twice and smiled plenty.” Olivia Atwater, author of Half a Soul
“Megan Bannen broke me, made me laugh, then put me back together again. At turns hilarious, sexy, and ugly cry poignant, it's a romance, wrapped in a western, wrapped in a fantasy that also manages to reimagine You've Got Mail in the best possible way. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is one of those books you'll be thinking about long after you've read the last page.” Manda Collins, author of A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
“THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY broke my heart, put it back together, then tucked me into bed with a forehead kiss. Packed with earnest characters, wit, action, and reluctant yearning, this is easily my favorite fantasy romance of the year.” Jen DeLuca, author of Well Met
“Perfect for readers who love enemies-to-lovers mashed up with a touch of secret penpal romance. 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
“This book is a gooey (and hot!) romance immersed in a tasty layer of quirky fantasy, like some decadent chocolate treat. A little sweet, a little spicy, a little sharp and entirely moreish!” Davinia Evans, author of Notorious Sorcerer
“Romantic, wildly creative, and utterly charming, The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy is a fantasy unlike any I’ve read before. Come for the banter, chemistry, and flawless enemies-to-lovers vibes, and stay for the gorgeous worldbuilding and beautifully depicted emotional landscapes. An absolutely stunning story.”
Lana Harper, New York Times bestselling author of Payback’s a Witch
“With its wonderfully unique setting, lovable characters, and engaging mix of humour and spice, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is a truly outstanding romantic fantasy. I loved both its kookiness and its deep authenticity. An instant favourite!” India Holton, author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
“If Lewis Carroll and Nora Ephron teamed up to write a magical Western, this would be the result. An unabashedly offbeat adventure full of dead gods and mostly-dead zombies, family drama, swoon-worthy love letters, and a Very Good Dog, The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy oozes romantic fun like a corpse oozes dubious fluids.” Freya Marske, author of A Marvelous Light
"Megan Bannen has found her voice with this incredibly smart, and hilariously weird debut. A must read!" Nisha Sharma - award winning author of YA and contemporary romance
“THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY is warm, compassionate, and compelling ... It's a deeply charming, intelligent exploration of the macabre that brings with it solid worldbuilding and characters you want to cheer for.” Vivian Shaw, author of Strange Practice
“Megan Bannen remains the queen of swoons upon swoons upon swoons! THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY is a playful, quirky gem--full of feels and guaranteed to deliver the perfect grumpy/sunshine fix!” -Sierra Simone, USA Today bestselling author
"Bannen's from-the-heart romp through a magical, western-inspired world is packed with a fistful of romance readers' most beloved tropes. Hart and Mercy's enemies-to-lovers dynamic is deliciously snide yet steamy, and the unknown pen-pal plot device recalls the classic romcom film You've Got Mail ... From the couple's first showdown to a hard-won happily ever after, this swoon-inducing journey is one wild and satisfying ride." Jaclyn Fulwood, blogger at Infinite Reads
USA Today's Best Paranormal Romance Books
2023 RUSA Reading List Winner for Best Romance
Parade Magazine's 125 Best Romance Books of All Time
Oprah Daily's 10 Best Fantasy Romance Books
People's 23 Cozy Halloween Romance Reads That Put the 'Spice' in Pumpkin Spice
BookRiot's Best Books of 2022
Paste Magazine's Best Fantasy Books of 2022
BuzzFeed's 35 Absolute Favorite Romance Novels
Apple Books Best Audiobooks of 2022
Apple Books Best Books of August 2022
Amazon Editors Pick, Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books in August 2022