Reviewed: August 16th, 2022
Released: August 23rd, 2022
Genre: Fantasy Romance
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?
Set in a world full of magic and demigods, donuts and small-town drama, this enchantingly quirky, utterly unique fantasy is perfect for readers of The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Invisible Library.
Helen’s thoughts: 5/5
I loved it! It was a little confusing to begin with but perservere. There is a lot of worldbuilding and unusual names to begin with, but once you get into the story you are hooked, and it does not stop. I read it in one sitting!
Mercy and Hart are wonderful characters, and this is a true enemies to lovers romance, and their snarky confrontations are brillantly written. All the characters are wonderfully developed, from Hart’s apprentice Pen and his relationship with Mercy’s brother and Mercy’s sister and her donut! Strong feisty women meet brave men, and make a difference in their world.
There are plenty of quirky creatures to make you smile and none of them are afraid to cut to the chase and say what they think!
A detailed world with a believable origin story provides a rich backdrop for this romance to blossom. It will have you smiling and crying!
A wonderfully whimsical tale that you won’t be able to put down.
About the author:
Megan Bannen is a former public librarian whose YA debut The Bird and the Blade was an Indies Introduce Summer/Fall 2018 pick, a Summer 2018 Kids’ Indie Next List pick, and a Kirkus Best YA Historical Fiction of 2018 pick. While most of her professional career has been spent behind the reference desk, she has also sold luggage, written grants, collected a few graduate degrees from various Kansas universities, and taught English at home and abroad. She lives in the Kansas City area with her husband and their two sons. She can be found online at meganbannen.com
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If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
Helen Garraway 