This is an enemies to lovers romantic comedy focusing on death and featuring zombies. Hart is a lonely demigod warden tasked with overseeing the safety of humans facing a growing drudge problem (drudges are essentially zombies). Mercy is the oldest daughter in a long line of undertakers struggling to keep the family business intact despite growing problems both inside her family and from her competitors. Hart and Mercy hate each other… or do they? This book has a somewhat convoluted premise but a very sweet and spicy execution. Seriously there’s a lot going on here (multiple gods, demigods, magical creatures, souls, abstract geography, etc). Despite having to do more mental work than I desire for a light romantic comedy read, I loved so much of this book. I laughed, I cried, and I loved these characters.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for this ALC!

Content Warnings: Death, Violence, Something that’s basically a zombie, lots of death.

This is a tough one for me because most of my complaints are general content which points to the fact that this book just wasn’t for me. I know based on what is popular in contemporary romance right now that this will be hit with a large audience, I’m just not that audience.

I’m going to list a couple of the things that did not work for me. Who knows, maybe what didn’t work for me will be a selling point for others!

1. The male gaze: Listen, I’m not totally naive, I know men are gross. But the sexualization that Hart was placing on Mercy within the first 5 minutes of this audiobook made me incredibly uncomfortable. The man can’t even think about her without sexualizing everything she does. (No really, wiping her dirty corpse hands on her pants was sexualized.) Now usually I can handle this if the sexual attraction goes both ways, but this felt really unequal because when we get Mercy’s point of view, she doesn't sexualize Hart AT ALL. So that made me feel a little extra icky.

On the flip side - Mercy is a plus size woman so it was nice to see that body type being described as attractive and sexy! So if you’re good being *horny on main* then this may be for you!

2. World Building - There isn’t much of it. This book takes place in a fantasy world where there are demigods and creatures but also humans and dogs and also zombies? Lots of random information was thrown at me but not fleshed out enough for me to actually picture the setting. At no given point in this entire book did I have a clear idea of the background or world as a whole really looked like.

On the flip side - If you want a fantasy romance that is heavy on the romance and family dynamics but light on the fantasy, this fits! The world in this feels just a hair away from contemporary so if you’re looking for something that’s not in the current world but also doesn't contain a lot of intense world building then I’d recommend this!

I also wasn’t a huge fan of the anonymous letters plot looking back at it. Hart and Mercy’s relationship would have worked out just fine without that and the content of the letters almost felt childish to me in comparison to the age of the characters.

What did work for me were the side characters! Mercy and her whole family dynamic was an absolute joy and Duckers, Hart's young apprentice, had my entire heart. Honestly I was more interested in the romance between Duckers and Zeddie, I’ll take a book about them pls.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Machete Audio and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I found the Undertaking of Hart and Mercy hard to rate. There was so much to like, but also, so much that did not work for me. In fact, reading this has finally made me realize why I enjoy fantasy and romance, but not when they are combined. I felt like the author tried to do too much at once, resulting in multiple plotlines that were not fully fleshed out.

I was very intrigued by the fantasy aspect of this book. It felt a little steampunk, set in a Western with Gods and monsters. Yet, the worldbuilding fell felt. While, it wasn't terribly hard to follow along, I did feel like the world was never fully formed. I wanted, and needed, a deeper understanding and picture of the world, and the factions in it.

While, I absolutely love an enemies-to-lovers trope, the relationship between Hart and Mercy seemed initially drawn out and then suddenly rushed. I found it hard to care about them as a couple. I will say that the steamy scenes were perfect for my taste - open door and detailed to my liking. Yet, they don't waste space. Meaning they aren't on every other page.

This book has been compared to You've Got Mail, and I was initially intrigued by the epistolic nature of them getting to know each other. However, the dialog in the letters seemed young compared to their actual ages, and honestly, by the end, this whole plotline seemed unnecessary, and made the story feel unfocused.

I enjoyed the author’s writing, but what I liked the most were the side characters. Several are done very well. I also felt like the LGBTQI+ representation was handled seamlessly.

I do think several people, especially fantasy romance lovers will enjoy this. If you are like me and prefer the genres separate, I'd skip this one.

This story is a duel POV, and the audio has two narrators. I enjoyed both.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the chance to listen to this early. My opinions on this novel are my own.

I read the e-book of this book and I ABSOLUTELY ADORED IT. I saw the audiobook and knew I wanted to give it listen. It was the BEST decision ever. I was missing these characters and had a major book hangover from it and was already feeling like I wanted to read it again even though I just read it, so the audiobook filled all those needs. The two narrators were EXCELLENT. They had me laughing, crying, and kept me fully invested throughout. They brought so much life to Hart and Mercy!! I especially LOVED how the letters were read. Highly recommend this unique fantasy read!! One of my absolute favorite reads this year!

Full review from when I read the e-book: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4544409690

RATING: 5 million out of 5!

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is an original and quirky enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance. Hart is a marshal that protects the magical wilds of Tania, and Mercy is single-handedly helping keep her family’s undertaking business afloat. It was hate at first sight for these two, until a letter changes everything. I have some mixed feelings about this book. It’s such a unique world but I do wish there had been more world building—there’s a lot of just contemporary real-world items that feel like they don’t fit in this fantasy world and I just wanted a little more world building because some of it felt so unique. Also, Mercy’s whole family drove me kind of crazy—Mercy loves and gives with just her whole heart and she deserved so much better. Also, I found myself getting a little frustrated with Hart—there’s some grump/sunshine vibes throughout and he was just a little too heavy on the grump for me at times. But there was a lot I did like too. First, I loved the letters and wish there had been more. The You’ve Got Mail vibes were just so great. And Mercy—she was wonderful. She has so much love and dedication and I just really rooted for her. She was just such a good person and I loved her journey to finding what she wants. Plus the chemistry with her and Hart was really good. They’re flirty and I loved the change in them as they grew from hate to love and Hart loves so fully too. These two are both so lonely in the start and I loved the story of their connection as it grew and allowed them both feel like they didn’t have to be alone. Plus their steam was greats The fantasy elements of Mercy’s business were so interesting too and I just really wanted more of it. This book is whimsical and fun and sweet and a unique ride!

I also loved this audiobook is done with two narrators. I liked both voices, but with there has been a little more emotion for Mercy’s side—she nailed the sunshine vibes of mercy but I think the emotional sides of mercy were a little lost in how it was read

A unique romance I didn’t know I needed. Zombies, demigods, a foul mouthed talking rabbit, and an alternate universe old west setting. The characters were so well written that it was hard not to fall in love with all of them, foul mouthed rabbit included! I loved The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy from to finish!

This is unlike any romance over ever read, and I think this is more of a fantasy with romantic elements. At times this felt deeply human and fragile, and at others it felt sterile and like I was kept at arms length. And there really isn't a driving plot here, more introspection into the two main characters individual lives and struggles.

I really wanted to love this but too many things felt off here. The pace dragged, and the romance went from enemies to bed buddies in a blink, which didn't suit the tone of the book at all.

I’ve slowly been getting back into fantasy thanks to all the new witchy romances. This story follows the relationship between an undertaker Mercy and a demigod Hart. It has such great banter between them as part of the grumpy sunshine trope! I listened to the audiobook and the narration is excellent. If you’re looking for a new fantasy romance, put this one on your list!

So I read an eARC copy of this book a couple months ago and absolutely LOVED it. As soon as I saw the audiobook, I knew I needed to get my grubby little paws on it. I always listen to the audiobooks of my favorite books, and I wanted to make sure it was just as good as the ebook!

I'm happy to report that I loved both of the narrators!! Male narrators can get a little funky for me, but Hart's guy was great and Mercy's was perfect. I also listen to books pretty much without fail at 2.0x speed and this audiobook is well suited to the speed. Success!

Below is my original review of the eARC:

✨A wild and resounding yes but also a wild and resounding what just happened.✨

I feel like I need to reread in order to really process my thoughts because I really can’t articulate why it worked for me but it absolutely did. Helen Hoang said it was a romance and that’s basically all I needed to know. I don’t really think anything can adequately prepare you for all of the feelings you’re going to feel, so just go into this understanding you’re going to understand nothing until you understand everything.

The closest thing I can compare this to is The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels meets You’ve Got Mail. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy isn’t like The Wisteria Society at all but they’re also absolutely the same. Doesn’t make sense? Perfect. I want you confused, intrigued, and ready to risk it all for these two morbidly hot cinnamon rolls.

I laughed, I cried, I wondered aloud what I was reading several times, I blessed the rains down in Africa, I thanked the maker. Seriously, I really did cry. I did not think this book would make me cry. Oh how the turntables…

The romance hit me hard and Hart and Mercy really were the perfect enemies to lovers. There were talking animals, dead bodies (so many dead bodies), steamy scenes, and zombies. The world was both foreign, a bit dystopian, and definitely fantastical, but it also had enough snapshots of our normal life to ground my understanding. It was cool to see how both worldviews were entwined, as you’re kinda just dropped into the story without extensive worldbuilding. Again, you’ll be confused until you’re not.

Overall, I’ll definitely be reading the next book by the author and will be forever happy I most assuredly judged this book by its (lovely) cover. Give this a read if you want to explore a romance maybe a tad out of your comfort zone! I guarantee the hart (see what I did there?) of the book is rooted in a heartwarming romance between two lost souls, looking for love in all the wrong places.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶.75/5

It made me wonder, what’s so great about living that you wouldn’t want to die?”

Charming, funny, whimsical, and cute. This was just such a lovely novel. So many beloved tropes take place. Enemies to lovers, pining, grumpy/sunshine/, and more. If you like the writing style that takes place in The House in the Cerulean Sea or Under the Whispering Door, this book is going to be what you’re looking for.

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy has that tinge of sadness but that immense, shining hope. There’s love and laughter. There’s a beautiful clarity that you need when the world around you seems dull and lifeless. There’s a gloriously weird storyline and worldbuilding. It all comes together to make something unique and wonderful.

“I thought, if living is this miserable, why wouldn’t people want to leave it behind?”

In all the craziness going on the in the world today, this is exactly what I needed to brighten up my day. There’s romance, there’s action, there’s fantasy. I loved the way the author used Gods and Demi-Gods.

Not only did I have the joy of reading this novel physically, thanks to Orbit, I was also able to continue my reading while I went about my chores for the day. I didn’t want to put it down, and Hachette Audio made that possible by gifting me an audio copy, as well. Michael Gallagher and Rachanee Lumayno did a fantastic job of bringing Hart and Mercy to life. I found myself smiling to myself while listening, they did the most amazing job at portraying the humor and the yearning within this novel.

“Suddenly, all I wanted to do was make this woman laugh as often and as much as I could. It wasn’t love at first sight, exactly––more like a knowing. I understood then and there that I was going to fall in love with her if I stuck around. So I stuck around. And that pain I felt, the one I couldn’t figure out, went away. Poof. Just like that.”

You can grab this book August 23, 2022 in the US and August 25, 2022 in the UK. I highly recommend that you do!

I really didn't know what to expect going in to The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, but it certainly exceeded whatever expectations I did have. This book was unlike anything I have ever read. It was fun and sweet and emotional and everything I didn't know I needed from a fantasy romcom. (Can we please have more fantasy romcoms from this point on?)

“I’m sorry,” he sobbed.
“I don’t want to hear ‘I’m sorry, Mercy’ or ‘I don’t deserve you, Mercy’ or ‘I hope you find someone else,
Mercy’! I want to hear ‘I love you, Mercy’!”

Hart and Mercy have the perfect enemies to lovers build up. The two continue to hate one another while unknowingly getting to know the other better. I found their banter to be amusing and their letters to be incredibly touching. Hart is such a sweet man, even if it is buried under a rather bristly surface.

Other things you can expect in this book:

- talking, mail-delivering, meddling animals
- queer rep
- discussions on grief and trauma
- mentor/mentee relationship/s
- large family dynamics
- found family
- demigods

Note: you may want to keep tissues nearby for this one.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

TW: Grief, trauma, death, in-depth discussions of mortuary services

Content Notes: [parent recovering from heart attack; backstory/off-page parental death (cancer); violence; gore (hide spoiler)]

Since people keep asking me this question: YES, this is a Genre Romance Novel with a central romantic arc and HEA (happily-ever-after). There is on-page sex. I wouldn't lie to you!

***

This is very weird and morbid and funny… I don’t know how to describe what I just read, sorry. 😅 The book defies categorization (I say this as a compliment). I wouldn’t do justice to the worldbuilding if I attempted to clumsily explain it, so I’ll spare us all. I was very confused about what the hell was going on for the first twenty percent, but then something clicked and everything made perfect sense going forward. So if you’re struggling in the first few chapters, hang on and give it a chance.

Overall: a very innovative You’ve Got Mail retelling in a Shrekian (read: secondary world with contemporary references/objects) fantasy romance. Recommended for fans of The Princess Bride, Pushing Daisies, and Galavant.

Thank you to NetGalley, Machete Audio and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: death of a loved one (past), grief, parental abandonment

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f fantasy romance
-frenemies to lovers
-epistolary
-opposites attract
-I hate how attracted I am to you

Thank you to Sil for hyping this book. somehow this was a soft, soft romance that also dealt with death and immortality. The world building was effortless, immediately pulled you in and never let you go. I adored everything about this. The nicknames, the epistolary, how awkward they were with each other because they couldn't deal with their feelings, how they trusted the other so much.

Hart and Mercy just fit each other in the best ways. There were such thoughtful twists and turns, just the right amount of angst, and some zombies. These two accidentally falling in love, figuring it out, and just being the other's soft spot, just soft tenderness and I need more immediately. Cannot wait to read what is coming next from this author.

This was amazing as an audio and I loved how the letters were read.

Steam: 3