Synopsis:
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?
Review:
Hello again dear reader or listener, today I bring cozy shenanigans and whimsy, wrapped in a fantasy rom-com.
I was spending way too much time in my own head the last few days and needed something to distract and enthrall, which The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy succeeded perfectly in doing! Let me tell you all why and show you why you need to add this delightful book in your never ending TBR, even if you’re not tendentially a romance reader.
Bannen toes the line of a few subgenres with this book for one, so even though the main structure is that of a romance, the fantasy worldbuilding is almost as elaborate and involved as you’d expect of a romantasy or urban fantasy novel, while also having stakes that are only occasionally and mildly higher than what you’d look for in a cozy fantasy. Moreover, the ambiance and vibes of this story are so strongly Ghibli that I found myself thinking of Howl’s Moving Castle more than once. There is whimsically silly/alternative technology, an intriguing mythology, a fairly simple yet bureaucratic magic system reminiscent of Pratchett, and that undefinable mix of common yet charmingly uncanny je-ne-sais-quoi that Gaiman brings to the page.
Also, there are zombies. So, there’s that.
With a letter exchange premise inspired by the 1998 Hanks and Ryan movie, You’ve Got Mail, Undertaking is an enemies-to-lovers romcom that is both full of romance and aggravations (the good kind), but also endless heartfelt family or found family moments and a delightfully varied cast of side characters that enrich the story. In fact, I’d argue that half of what I enjoyed most about this book were the different kinds of family dynamics and how they each presented tensions and struggles that come from that good place of healthy families wanting the best for each other but maybe going about it the wrong way. I felt that Bannen navigated the nuance of such situations so well, so that I was actually rooting for everyone because they all had a valid point, while at the same time exploring the way in which even well-intentioned expectations can be harmful to those you’re trying to help and build resentment or prejudice.
All the marks for that side of the story.
As for the romance plot, I went through it all (almost). I laughed, I snorted, I rolled my eyes so hard they almost fell off, awwwed and, finally, I mumbled at my kindle for the characters to get their shit together. But never in the annoyed way, on the contrary, I was invested! I wanted to see them grow and develop and learn and mature. Something which the author rendered very well especially because she gave her story the time to breathe, by allowing for a slightly longer timeline than commonly found in romances. The development and growth and changes were all believable and genuine in that they took place over several months and not in the whiplash speed of a few weeks at most.
Bannen subverts several tropes while at the same time managing to fall prey to a couple clichés, which was a shame but also very dependent on personal views/beliefs. For instance, our female lead is not a petite and fragile for a change, but I also joked over on Twitter how silly the mindset of being a spinster with no prospects at (gasp) 30 is. At the same time, Bannen saw the I Can Fix Him trope and said No Thanks, he can do the work himself, while also showing the female protag fix herself at the same time. And for that she’s got my appreciation.
Another thing I found refreshing, coming from my now Seasoned Romance Reader status (insert hair swish for effect), was the spice in that it is possibly among the most realistic and genuine I’ve read in a while. Especially for first time lovers etc. Bannen hit the sweet spot (hah) of realistic yet sensual, tender, sexy, and not vulgar, making for passionate steamy scenes that were neither a fade to black nor overly prolonged or repetitive. I’d probably give it a tentative 2.5 chilies out of five but those scales are way too subjective so take that one with a grain of salt.
In all, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is a charming and endearing adult comedy with lots of heart, nuanced relationships, cozy LGBTQ+ rep, foulmouthed characters, and a soft yet passionate romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously nor is it afraid to have flawed characters.
Until next time,
Eleni A. E.
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