Megan Bannen concludes her beloved Hart and Mercy series with The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam, the third installment that brings readers back to the whimsical yet poignant world of Tanria. Following the unexpected success of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy and the delightful The Undermining of Twyla and Frank, Bannen delivers a finale that feels both inevitable and surprising, tackling themes of immortality, loneliness, and the courage required to truly live.
This third book diverges from its predecessors in meaningful ways. Where Hart and Mercy’s story centered on correspondence and miscommunication, and Twyla and Frank explored midlife romance with glitter-breathing dragons, Rosie and Adam’s tale dives deeper into existential questions about what it means to endure when everyone you love eventually leaves.
When Forever Feels Like a Curse
Rosie Fox, our immortal demigod protagonist, has been patrolling Tanria for decades with the kind of world-weary resignation that comes from watching civilization cycle through the same mistakes repeatedly. At one hundred fifty-seven years old, she’s accumulated over a hundred deaths and resurrections, each one serving as a stark reminder that she cannot escape her endless existence. Bannen captures this weariness with remarkable authenticity—Rosie’s immortality isn’t portrayed as a gift but as an increasingly heavy burden.
The novel opens with Rosie’s latest death by electrocution, caused by her investigation of shadowy thorns only she can perceive within a portal. This incident brings Dr. Adam Lee, the portal’s inventor, to Tanria for repairs—and immediately establishes the central tension between two characters who are fundamentally similar yet approach their circumstances differently.
Adam Lee emerges as perhaps the most complex character Bannen has created in this series. At approximately two thousand years old, he makes Rosie seem positively youthful, yet his response to immortality has been to retreat into work and emotional isolation. His inventions—toilets, printing presses, gramophone, even Marks Code—represent his attempt to find meaning through contribution rather than connection.
Opposites That Attract Through Shared Pain
The opposites-attract dynamic works brilliantly here because both characters share the fundamental experience of immortal loneliness while coping with it in contrasting ways. Rosie maintains her emotional openness despite repeated losses, while Adam has constructed elaborate emotional barriers to protect himself from further pain. Their relationship develops through small moments of recognition—Adam seeing past Rosie’s seemingly carefree attitude to the profound sadness beneath, and Rosie gradually understanding that Adam’s coldness masks deep vulnerability rather than genuine indifference.
Bannen’s dialogue sparkles throughout their interactions. Rosie’s irreverent humor plays beautifully against Adam’s dry wit, and the author demonstrates particular skill in showing how these characters slowly drop their defenses. When Rosie calls Adam “Dr. Sassafras” and he responds with unexpected humor, we witness the beginning of real intimacy between two people who have forgotten how to be genuinely close to another person.
The romantic tension builds naturally through shared experiences rather than forced proximity. Trapped together within the Mist when all portals fail, they must navigate not only their growing attraction but also the mystery of the invasive briar that threatens Tanria itself.
Fantasy Elements That Serve the Story
The briar serves as both plot device and metaphor, representing how trauma and pain can grow into something that consumes everything around it if left unchecked. The plant’s connection to Adam’s body—literally rooted in his chest—creates urgency while symbolizing how emotional wounds, when suppressed rather than properly addressed, can eventually threaten everything we hold dear.
Bannen’s worldbuilding remains as charming as ever, though this installment feels slightly less whimsical than its predecessors. The stakes feel higher, the tone more serious, though moments of levity still punctuate the narrative. The author’s decision to include characters from previous books—Hart, Mercy, and their family connections—provides satisfying continuity without overwhelming new readers.
The fantasy elements never overshadow the emotional core of the story. Whether dealing with gods, magical portals, or resurrection mechanics, Bannen keeps the focus firmly on character development and relationship dynamics.
Technical Craft and Minor Shortcomings
Bannen’s prose has matured throughout this series. Her ability to shift between humor and pathos within single scenes demonstrates growing sophistication as a writer. The author excels at revealing character through dialogue and action rather than exposition, though there are moments where the pacing slows during necessary worldbuilding explanations.
One minor criticism involves the resolution of certain plot threads. While the emotional climax involving Rosie’s choice between immortality and sacrifice feels earned and powerful, some aspects of the magical system could have used clearer explanation earlier in the narrative. Readers may find themselves occasionally confused about the rules governing the briar’s growth and the mechanics of portal travel.
The novel sometimes struggles with balancing its ensemble cast. While Duckers and Zeddie provide necessary comic relief and emotional support, their subplots occasionally feel underdeveloped compared to the central romance. However, their presence adds warmth to what could otherwise become an overly intense two-person drama.
Character Development and Emotional Resonance
Where “The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam” truly succeeds is in its character work. Rosie’s journey from resigned acceptance of her immortal fate to actively choosing how she wants to live feels genuine and hard-earned. Her relationship with her father, the Trickster god, adds layers of complexity to her character without overwhelming the central romance.
Adam’s character arc proves equally compelling. His gradual transformation from emotionally isolated inventor to someone willing to risk vulnerability again feels believable despite the compressed timeline. The author takes care to show rather than tell us about his evolution, allowing readers to witness his walls slowly crumbling through interactions with Rosie.
The supporting characters, while less developed, serve their purposes well. The appearance of the Warden (from Hart and Mercy) provides satisfying series continuity, and the various marshals and Tanria residents create a lived-in feeling for the world.
Series Context and Thematic Depth
As a series conclusion, “The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam” succeeds in providing closure while exploring themes that resonate beyond the fantasy setting. Each book in the series has dealt with different aspects of love and commitment—Hart and Mercy focused on overcoming communication barriers, Twyla and Frank celebrated finding love later in life, and Rosie and Adam examines what it means to commit to another person when you know loss is inevitable.
The novel’s exploration of immortality as burden rather than blessing feels particularly relevant. In a culture obsessed with youth and longevity, Bannen asks challenging questions about whether endless life would actually be desirable if it meant watching everyone you love fade away repeatedly.
Memorable Moments and Emotional Impact
Several scenes stand out for their emotional resonance. The sequence where Rosie must pull the briar from Adam’s body serves as both literal action and metaphor for the painful process of helping someone heal from deep trauma. Their conversations about favorite books and personal history reveal character depth through seemingly casual interactions.
The climactic choice Rosie faces—whether to sacrifice herself to save Tanria—feels genuinely earned rather than artificially dramatic. Bannen has built to this moment through careful character development, making Rosie’s decision feel both surprising and inevitable.
Comparative Reading and Series Placement
Readers who enjoyed The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow or The Once and Future Witches by the same author will likely appreciate Bannen’s blend of romance and fantasy. The series shares DNA with Terry Pratchett’s work in its gentle humor and underlying humanity, though Bannen’s tone is generally more romantic and less satirical.
Within the series itself, this book feels like a natural progression toward more serious themes while maintaining the core elements that made the previous books successful. Readers should start with The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy to fully appreciate the world and character connections, though this book could theoretically stand alone.
Final Verdict
The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam succeeds as both a satisfying romance and a thoughtful exploration of mortality, loneliness, and the courage required to remain open to love despite inevitable loss. While it may not match the pure whimsical joy of its predecessors, it offers deeper emotional rewards and a more mature perspective on love and commitment.
Bannen has created a worthy conclusion to her series that honors its roots while pushing into more complex emotional territory. The novel’s flaws—occasional pacing issues and some underdeveloped supporting characters—pale beside its considerable strengths in character development and thematic depth.
For readers seeking fantasy romance that asks meaningful questions about love, loss, and what makes life worth living, this book delivers. It’s a bittersweet but ultimately hopeful story that suggests even immortal hearts can find peace through connection with another soul.
Similar Reads Worth Exploring
For readers who enjoyed “The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam”:
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune – for whimsical fantasy with emotional depth
- The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow – for portal fantasy with romantic elements
- The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow – for feminist fantasy with strong character relationships
- Beach Read by Emily Henry – for opposites-attract romance with emotional complexity
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab – for immortality as curse rather than blessing
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – for epic fantasy with romantic subplots