There is something so pleasing when you find a book that hits the sweet spot of originality, good writing, great characterisation and also one that is exactly what you need to read at that moment whether you knew it or not. I applied to read The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy from Netgalley on a bit of a whim and I am so glad I did.
A beguiling mix of inventive fantasy and satisfying enemies to lovers romance, the book is set in a world where humans can access another plane through a portal. This plane was once home to the old gods and so there is plenty of rich pickings for intrepid humans, but those pickings come at a cost - lost souls drift around looking for a dead body to inhabit, and when those bodies start to rot they are quite willing to kill to get a new host. That's why marshalls patrol the plane, to make sure all work there is legal and to kill the zombie-like drudges. Marshalls like Hart, a demigod and a bitter, misunderstood man who blames himself for the loss of his mentor years ago.
Part of his work is to bring the now safely dead to an undertaking for formal last rites. Unfortunately he has quite the feud with the undertaker he uses most, run by a tall, annoyingly cheery and even more annoyingly attractive young woman. As for Mercy, every day Hart turns up at her funeral parlour is a day ruined. But when, overcome with loneliness, Hart sends a letter out into the world addressed simply to a friend, it's delivered to Mercy. The two start exchanging honest, personal and anonymous letters, never dreaming that the friendship they are forging is with their bitter enemy. Meanwhile drudges are increasing in number to dangerous proportions, Mercy's business is in trouble and her family think they know what she wants without ever stopping to ask her.
The world building is exquisite and beautifully clear with no infodumping or complicated maps needed, just great writing. I especially love the nimkilim, animals who were once messengers of the gods who now deliver the post. Mercy and Hart carry the book, complicated, brave characters with complicated hearts. I loved it.

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy has been high on my anticipated reads list ever since I read Soulswift last year. And it definitely didn’t disappoint.

The book follows Hart and Mercy (obviously), a marshall and an undertaker who, because of a misunderstanding many years previously, hate each other. And then, in a fit of loneliness, Hart writes a letter and sends it to “a friend”. And Mercy ends up with it.

What drives this book is the dynamic between Hart and Mercy. I mean, it’s a romance so you have to a. like them both and b. want them to be together, so they have to have a good dynamic. And, as with Soulswift, Megan Bannen is very good at creating it. Hart and Mercy snipe at each other a lot, but in a way that you can tell it’s more than hatred. (Or, it’s only hatred when they’re trying to convince themselves of it.)

But it’s not just the dynamic between Hart and Mercy that’s good about this book, it’s also the rest of the characters and their relationships. Yes, Hart and Mercy are the most fleshed out (understandably so), but it’s not to the detriment of the supporting cast. Each of them also leaps off the page, so that the book feels about more than solely Hart and Mercy’s romance.

On top of this, I think this is a book that balanced well the romance plotline with other side plots. Sometimes, I find myself getting a little bored by romance novels which are only about the romance, with nothing else happening (I mean, this is likely more an issue that the authors can’t write compellingly enough for me for the romance alone to carry the book but that’s a whole different conversation). Here, though, there’s plenty else going on, with Mercy’s family, Hart’s old mentor(s), and a minor mystery plot too. None of it overshadows the romance, but complements it instead.

So, really, I enjoyed pretty much everything about this book. In fact, the only slightly negative thing I have to say is about the “Nuzzle Nook”. Frankly, this is something that gave me a full body cringe every time that it came up in the book (which was far too often for my liking). There was nothing sweet about Mercy naming the area around Hart’s collarbone this. It was, actually, just a little embarrassing to me. Especially with the capital letters. But, I suppose, nothing I couldn’t overlook when I liked the rest of the book as much as I did.

Still. Straight people are so weird.

This was such an interesting concept and the world building was so unique. Fully enjoyed reading and it was easy to fall in love with the characters particularly their witty banter, full review will be posted on Instagram on 13th August. The link will be provided on the day.

This book is a delight. It took only a minute for me to fall in love with Mercy and Hart and it was also so very easy to connect with the rest of the characters as well. Each and every one of them is interesting, completely fleshed out and there for a purpose, not to mention funny in their own ways. I was hooked to the love story from the very beginning and that aspect of the story felt like the strongest part of the book at first, as it took a little time for me to grasp all the fantasy aspects that where mentioned. But that part caught up quickly and I fell for the mythology aspects and the zombie and steampunk elements. It sounds like a weird mix, but believe me it all comes together beautifully!
My favorite thing about this book were the letters Mercy and Hart exchange with each other. Not only did they remind me of “You’ve got Mail” but the friendship, vulnerability and understanding they represent was just heartwarming! What a special book!

Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown Book UK for this wonderful arc. In return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review.

This review will be posted to my Goodreads and Storygraph accounts and to my instagram account @colada_books upon publication on the 23/08/22.

This was a fantastic read that I was completely immersed in the whole time I was reading it. Thw writing was really well done, I adored the characterisation and the world building was - well out of this world. I literally wanted to jump into this book and lay down roots. One of the best books I have read this year and I cannot wait to read more by the author.

A beautifully written book. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read

I want to wrap this book around myself and take it with me everywhere I go. Hart and Mercy is an exceptionally angsty enemies to lovers romantasy with a sassy heroine and a cinnamon roll hero, and I wish with all my heart that they were real.

The world building is masterful, and every single character was immediately added to my list of All Time Favourite People (real or imaginary, living or dead). The book has a wicked sense of humour and a little bit of steam (fans self) and I will be making it my go-to easy read from this point forward.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book has an unusual setting in a Western/Zombie land. Trying to keep up with the setting took a little time, but once you're in, you're in!

This has a really different vibe, a thrilling, heart wrenching romance throughout. Loved it!

After loving The Bird and the Blade and Soulswift (and having my heart shattered in a million pieces) I was ready to dive in Megan's new book. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy was such a good story, and something I've never read before. You'll immediately love all the characters and their relationships, and you'll laugh with them and root for them. And in full Megan Bannen's style, you'll also shed some tears (I mean, we're talking about her, so I was ready). It's not a full 5 stars read because I didn't fully grasp the worldbuilding, despite being explained through the story. It was strange, a western-zombieland setting with Old and New Gods and portals. Something very unusual, like Wonderland. All in all, I enjoyed it very much and totally recommend it!

Perfect. I'm gutted it's finished and I kinda wish I'd not read it so I could read it for the first time all over again.

You've got mail meets a western, fantasy/steampunk(ish) meets zombies, there's a lot going on and I worried it would be overwhelming and not work but it just bloody does and it does oh so well and the read is effortless.

Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. Gonna read it again.

This was an absolute delight that pulled me out of my reading slump. A steampunk/new mythology mixture of A Winter's Promise and Owl's Moving Castle, it is exactly the engrossing thing I needed these days. I stayed up till 4 am to read it and then almost missed lunch with my friends to finish it. It is a great balance of sweet, heartfelt, and action-packed enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. I especially appreciated the lovely and introspective discussions and moments about death and immortality which really hit home for me. If you're looking for a romance to warm your heart set against the backdrop of a world full of lost souls and new and old Gods, this one is for you.

I absolutely loved this book! Charming, original, intriguing - I had a great time reading it. Loved the romance and thoroughly appreciated all the nods to You’ve Got Mail, while also being swept into a beautifully imagined world that felt completely its own thing. The world building was fantastic, Hart and Mercy were both such loveable, well-rounded characters and their romance was handled so well. The mystery element of the book kept me frantically turning the (digital) pages and the ending was completely satisfying. I’ll be recommending it to everyone!

Certainly a romance like no other! I’ve read a fair few romances in my time, and this one managed to set itself worlds apart. It was a glorious mix of fantasy with an undertone of drama and danger. Who’d have thought a romance element with the main setting of death at an undertakers would work so well?

Mercy deals with death on a daily basis. She is tasked with easing the passing of the dead to the afterlife, salting and preparing the bodies and singing the enchantments to safely deliver them over the salt sea. Hart on the other hand, is a Marshal, who regularly passes by to drop bodies to Birdsall’s & Sons, and to Mercy. Only caveat is? They absolutely loathe each other.

The plot of this story was completely adorable. The idea of them writing these sweet letters to each other without even knowing who they were writing to was so endearing. It was so addicting to read and honestly, some moments of this book had me smiling from ear to ear. The added element of the drudges, lost souls inhabiting the bodies of the dead was a great addition and really built up the world in this story aside from just focusing on the characters. It was really brilliant.

I’d definitely recommend this book to hit all the marks for romance and mystery!

Since my usual idea of romance is saying I love going for a run, I love a cappuccino and only under extreme duress admitting to loving (tolerating) my wife and that my usual read involves space marines or Cthulhu I was absolutely stunned to find I really enjoyed (not loved) this book, the awkwardness and self doubt of the characters was like looking in a mirror, the world it’s set in was interesting and intriguing but it was the relationship of our heroes ? that made this a page turner, I will be buying this on Audible to relive the angst and ecstasy