The Undermining of Twyla and Frank ✨️

Written by Megan Bannen
Releases July 2nd, 2024

Thank you to Megan, her team and #Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

The first book in the series, Undertaking of Hart and Mercy was probably my favorite book of 2023. That book was charming, enchanting and packed an emotional punch that really resonated with me.

I am really excited that Megan Bannen continued this world of fantasy, country western with a mix of modern and back in time all in one. In the first book you have the equivalent of zombies/undead and in this book.. DRAGONS! ✨️

Twyla and Frank are briefly introduced in the first book so it was interesting to read their backstory and their next chapter. Both Twyla and Frank are slightly older characters that are in a different season of life than most leading characters. I found that very refreshing as your life is not over in your 30s, 40s, 50s etc. There's always room for another adventure!

I personally am not a big fan of the friends to lovers trope especially when they have known eachother for more than a dozen years. The author does a great job of setting the stage of two characters that were still trying to heal from previous relationship baggage and how that holds then back from a beautiful possibility.

I think of the quote that says, "Everyone comes with baggage. Find someone who loves you enough to help you unpack."

Overall the story is one of hope and possibilities, laughter and witty banter and the reminder that you are never too old for a new adventure!

And DRAGONS!! ✨️

I do recommend reading Undertaking of Hart and Mercy before reading Undermining of Twyla and Frank.

Sci-Fi & Fantasy- 4 stars
Romance- 3 stars

This was shelved as Sci-Fi & Fantasy on NetGalley and I think that was the right call.

If you are looking for a book similar to The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, this is not similar romance wise.

I really enjoyed the fantasy elements in this book. They were very unique and entertaining.

However, I found the romance lacking for two main reasons.

The first being the love triangle. Admittedly, I'm not the biggest fan of them and I didn't think it added to the romance at all in this book.

Second, the book only has Twyla's POV so we never get to hear Frank's thoughts or feelings about Twyla. A single POV and the vey slow burn in this book really made the romance lacking for me.

I absolutely adored this book. First off please give me more fun romances where the characters are 50+. This is a slow burn best friends and co-workers to lovers story. Twyla is an incredibly relatable character. She is a mom and grandma but she has so many dreams and wants outside of that. Frank is funny and caring. This world is so inventive and I loved the addition of dragons. Fans of Hart and Mercy will also love what we get of them in this book. I won't spoil anything but I was in tears. Like the first book the other characters in the story are delightful. I was so excited to have Druckers back. This feels like such a full world. I hope to goodness we get more books in this setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This sequel did not disappoint. I enjoyed getting to know both characters and jumping right back into the world.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen is a third person-POV cozy romantic fantasy. When a baby dragon latches onto Frank, Marshall Twyla, his partner, meets Quil, a draconologist who gives her the romantic attention she's been missing since her husband passed away. But as she explores dating again, something is still missing.

One of the best parts of this book is that Twyla and Frank are both middle-aged and either divorced or widowed. They've had their kids, they've had all their firsts, they've done all the things that are supposed to be done with The One and neither has been married to The One. If anything, I quite think neither would believe in soul mates. It's very hard to find a book so focused on romance that has all of those firsts out of the way because it's usually something couples in Romance genre books have to look forward to.

The cozier aspects come through in Twyla and Frank’s friends-to-lovers relationship and the dragons. These dragons don't spew fire but instead spew glitter and Mary Georgiana, the baby dragon that imprints on Frank, is a sweetheart who stays quite literally attached to Frank as much as possible. As for Frank and Twyla, we see them sing love songs together and share intimate moments that indicate affection but neither makes a move until Twyla has already started something with Quil.

This is technically a sequel to The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, but I have not read that book and was not lost. Hart and Mercy do make an appearance and fans of their romance will be pleased, I think, but it's mostly about Frank and Twyla in this book. So if Frank and Twyla is a bit more up your alley than Hart and Mercy but you're worried about being lost, I don't think it will be a problem for most readers.

I would recommend this to readers of Romantasy looking for middle-aged couples, fans of cozy fantasy that has strong romance elements, and those looking for a cozy romantic fantasy with dragons.

I adored this book. Megan Bannen does such an incredible job with the fantasy world she's created, making it fun and whimsical with just a touch of danger and our FMC is a middle aged badass grandma! How cool is that?

So. We meet Twyla and Frank. They're best friends and neighbors and definitely NOT an item! They are partners at work and just trying to survive till retirement. (yes, you read that right...they're both almost retirement age) Then things happen, there's a glittery mess and suddenly, Frank has a new hanger-on that necessitates a visit from the local draconologist. Chaos ensues, there's exposed knees (oh my!), there's romance, there's calamity!

This is a slow burn, friends-to-lovers that dumps all the tropes on their head. I loved this second chance at romance for both Frank and Twyla, and the very real conversations around being in your 50s. Although it's set in this beautiful, whimsical fantasy world, it's also so down to earth and realistic.


***Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit for the arc of this!***

This was such a good, easy, cozy fantasy book! Highly recommend reading during spooky season, it really sets the mood. Definitely recommend reading the first and second book!

It was great to be back in this fantasy world with seeing characters from the first book. This time we are reading the story of Twyla and Frank who are neighbors and coworkers and are in their 50s. Twyla has been widowed for 10+ years and Frank divorced. There's a lot of subplot with dragons which was fun. I liked Twyla's growth journey and coming to who she wanted to be in her 50s.

Megan Bannen did a great job with the narration. For me, the story's pacing was a bit slow and I lost interest here and there. Thank you @orbitbooks_us @librofm @netgalley for a copy of this book.

I loved revisiting the world from Hart and Mercy. This was a great way to continue the story. I hope there are more!

“Woman, I couldn’t say no to you if I tried. And I have no intention of trying.”

I was so excited for this one - I really enjoyed Hart and Mercy’s story and it was nice to be back in Tanria. We still get the whimsy and quirkiness of the fantasy world alongside a sweet romance. The world-building is so immersive and well done that as a reader you can create a picture of this world in you mind.

First off, I loved that this was a middle-aged couple. I know books like that exist, but it was great to see it in such a popular series. Twyla and Frank are also such great characters; they feel fully-developed, but we still get to see their growth throughout. They have such great banter and their friendship really bleeds through, leading to their romantic relationship.

This book also introduces dragons into this world. The founders were supposed to have rid the world of dragons, but a baby dragon imprints to Frank. It draws Twyla and Frank back into action, where we see them do their work as marshals and see their chemistry build. The introduction of the dragons feels integral to the plot and Twyla and Frank's story. They need to work together on this while they're both trying to determine their feelings for each other. It feels like you can see Frank struggle with this while Twyla is dating someone else, and it creates such a great tension that you want to see finally snap.

“You mean you slept with him? In a sexy way?”

There is so much packed into this story, but it rarely feels dull. It does feel like it;s a bit on the long side and could have been cut down in parts, but overall it's such a fun, beautiful story,

oh 4.25 stars, darlin'! (not ah, not darling) (very important distinction)

Oh my goodness what a delightful time spent back in Eternity and Tanria with the marshals and gods/goddesses and and talking animals delivering mail and old-timey technology mixed into the new world- but this time with baby dragons !!!!

I was a little nervous about this one as a followup to the Undertaking of Hart and Mercy- things in the world seemed fixed enough that marshals weren't quite needed, and Twyla and Frank were so established in a decades long friendship- but I was proven so wrong. Am I a friends to lovers fan now?? Honestly might be just for our middle-aged marshals and best friends!!!

This was a great exploration of aging as a woman, a wife, and a mother- how you see yourself vs how the world sees you, understanding and appreciating your body even if its a little different, how you adjust your relationships with your kids as you move into adulthood. Twyla is an amazing character to study and I hope I age as gracefully as she does! Her relationship with Frank and the deep well of friendship and love that runs through it- love that is enough as it is, or can only be enhanced by adding in new elements. Truly so blessed to be a darlin' in a world of darlings.

I also really loved getting more of Duckers in this story- now a full fledged marshal, adjusting to new partners, showing exuberance for life and wanting to experience it all. I hope we get his story next, especially with his new demigod partner- what a fun adventure they'll have!!

Thank you so so much to Megan Bannen and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!!

4.5 sparkly stars!

Demigods and donuts and glitter spewing dragons… oh my! The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is one of my all time favorite books so I could barely contain my excitement getting to visit Tanria again. The Undermining of Twyla and Frank exceeded all of my hopes and I had a blast reading this book. I adore when side characters are so endearing and memorable that they capture our hearts and land their own stories. Getting Twyla and Frank’s book was such a gift and Megan, I can’t thank you enough for this GEM of a story! I loved that Frank and Twyla were in their 50s and we NEED more stories with mature characters falling in love and kicking ass.

I adore Frank and Twyla so much, but Twyla's journey resonated with me so deeply. Twyla is a kindred spirit, the dear friend you’d entrust with your deepest secrets and vulnerabilities, and such a remarkable and deeply human character - she’s generous, kindhearted, and an epic badass. I greatly appreciated the honesty with which Twyla spoke of motherhood and how the emotional labor and mental and physical demands of raising humans can feel incredibly overwhelming and cause us to lose sight of ourselves in the process of making sure appointments are made, everyone has shoes that fit, there are enough snacks in the pantry, and a laundry list of other items. Seeing Twyla rediscover herself and her voice and take up space in the world again was not only powerful and moving, but incredibly encouraging for those of us who are in the thick of raising little dragons.

If you loved The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, I guarantee you will love Twyla & Frank so very much! Bannen’s fantasy worlds are my favorite to spend time in… they’re colorful, cozy, and whimsical, and filled with the most charming characters and delightful banter that will have you giggling out loud. It’s impossible to read Bannen’s books without the biggest smile on your face the entire time.

Closing with two items… 1) Frank becoming a foster parent to a baby dragon might be the cutest thing you’ll ever read. 2) This is my PLEA for my dear, darling, delightful Duckers to get a book! I loooooove him!!

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank

So much about The Undermining of Twyla and Frank is refreshing and delightful. The world introduced in The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy continues to be unique and charming. If the people don’t win you over, the animal side characters will.

While I would almost qualify the first book of the series as a nod to horror romance, the sequel replaces blood with sparkle, giving it a much lighter feel overall.

I adore it when characters in romances are more mature and experienced in life. Twyla and Frank are both in their early 50s, which I greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, the heroine’s age is referred to non-stop and, in many instances, disparagingly. It was such a bummer to read because it distracted me from the story, becoming repetitive and coming across as rude. It’s an unfortunate instance where a smaller component of the writing spoiled my experience.

Thank you Megan Bannen, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for my advanced copy review. My opinions are my own.

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank is out July 2nd.

Plot - 3
Writing and Editing - 3
Character Development - 4
Personal Bias - 3
Final Score - 3.25

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Banner - eBook ARC
4.5 stars!

Step into the world of "Undermining of Twyla and Frank" by Megan Bannen, where quirky meets charming in a delightful fusion of mystery and mischief. This book is like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket on a rainy day—comforting, entertaining, and full of unexpected twists!

Picture this: Twyla, a retired librarian with a penchant for solving crossword puzzles and Frank, her trusty Dachshund sidekick who has a nose for trouble, find themselves embroiled in a plot that threatens their peaceful town of Cozyville. From the first page, you're drawn into their world where everyone knows everyone (and their dog), and secrets lurk behind every picket fence.

Bannen weaves a tale that's part Nancy Drew, part Miss Marple, with a dash of "Scooby-Doo" antics thrown in for good measure. The characters are as colorful as Twyla's prized flower garden, each with their own quirks and secrets that add layers to the story. You'll find yourself chuckling at the witty banter between Twyla and Frank, who are an inseparable duo with a knack for stumbling upon clues when they least expect it.

The mystery itself unfolds like a puzzle box, with each chapter revealing new pieces that fit together perfectly by the end. Just when you think you've cracked the case, Bannen throws in a curveball that keeps you guessing until the final pages.

But what truly makes "Undermining of Twyla and Frank" a standout is its heart. Beneath the cozy exterior lies a story about friendship, community, and the joy of sleuthing—even when the odds are stacked against you. It's a reminder that no matter your age or species (yes, even dogs!), adventure awaits around every corner.

So, if you're looking for a book to curl up with on a lazy Sunday afternoon, look no further. "Undermining of Twyla and Frank" is a delightful escape into a world where mysteries are solved with wit, charm, and just the right amount of dogged determination. Grab a cup of tea, settle into your favorite armchair, and enjoy the ride with Twyla and Frank—you won't regret it!

Although I only mildly enjoyed The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, I was interested in reading more of Megan Bannen’s work, however, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank has since dissuaded me from all future projects. I just do not think I am Bannen’s target audience; readers who like severely slow romances with no buildup. I will not deny that Bannen has a talent for writing, it is evident throughout this book, it is only her characters do not move me. I found I just really didn’t care. I kept waiting for the story to pick up, but unfortunately, I was waiting until the very last page. I would only recommend this book to those wanting to enjoy a really lighthearted easily forgettable romance. 2 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me with this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. It was such a good sequel to the first book. I absolutely adored the Undertaking of Hart and Mercy as well. This was a perfect addition to the story and to this different and beautiful and crazy fantasy world. It's so different from other fantasies that I've read but I will continue anything that Megan puts out. I'll continue to read them because I was just so engulfed in these stories, and I just love the grumpy character that Frank plays. He’s just so sweet with kids and so sweet with Twyla so I just absolutely loved it. They had such cute banter as well. Duckers is always will always be my favorite I hope if there’s ever a next book in the series we could see one centered around him. The characters are just so relateable (except for the monster hunting lol). I did think that this, one was a little bit slower paced but not in a bad way. I was still engulfed in the story. It was just more of a slow burn than the first one. The first book was enemies to lovers this was more seeing a friend in a different light than you had previously. I love a good friends to lovers trope. I loved this story and can't wait for it to come out. I even ordered a special edition from Fairy Loot because I was just so excited. I loved it so much so can't wait to read anything else by Megan and I definitely recommend The Undermining of Twyla and Frank hands down.

The undermining of Twyla and Frank 3.5⭐️2.75🌶️

Fantasy Romance
High Fantasy
mythical Beasts
50’s Main Characters
Friends to lovers
🏳️‍🌈 side characters
Sherif vibes


After having been introduced to Twyla and Frank in the first book of this interconnected series, it was so great to learn about their friendship. I like how the background was given on both of their prior marriages. The way the history between the two main characters was presented was so nice! It was a perfect mix of comfort and explaining where the reader isn’t left feeling like they missed out not being introduced to them until this time in their lives.

The pacing was really good. The dragons were a great addition to the story. The cowboy vibes were steady.

I do have to say that if you don’t read Undertaking of Heart and Mercy you will be a little lost. All of the strong info world-building was in the first book. Not much was brought to the world itself except the dragons… which is fun, but doesn’t tell us much about the world itself.

Side note: I finally realized what this series feels like. It feels like Rango… the Johnny Depp animated movie about the lost chameleon. That’s what the world feels like, just with humans added in.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

OMG a romance where the characters are in their 50's!!!!! Twyla and Frank have been BFF's for over a dozen years and are partners in the Marshal's. One day on their current stint they come across a dead marshal and then accidentally discover dragons... to say this is a complicated situation is putting it mildly.
I really enjoy this world and was super happy to be back in it, especially with characters closer to my age group. I liked that the author didn't shy away from things like menopause and other later life issues. Frank is awesome and I wish we got his POV in the book, Twyla is mostly great but her inability to make decisions on her own behalf got a bit irritating for a bit until she pulled her out of her butt and then it was all good again.

I would like to personally thank whoever approved me for this ARC because I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK.

Ahem.

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank picks up several months after the events of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy (which is in my top three books of all time). Twyla and Frank are best friends, neighbors, and partners in the Tanrian Marshalls. And, oh yeah, 50+. Rumors are circulating about dragons in Tanria, and when young Marshall Duckers's partner turns up dead, he's paired with our heroes to investigate.

They discover dragons.

(I want an illustrated version of this book. Please. PLEASE. THE DRAGONS ARE SO CUUUUTE.)

Anyway. A dracologist (what a cool freaking job!!) is sent to investigate with them, and Twyla finds herself grappling with her attraction to the dracologist and Frank's new jealousy.

I think my favorite thing about this book and its predecessor, is how delightfully <i> weird </i> they are. In a good way. The characters are so real and relatable despite being in this strange world inhabited by zombies (formerly) and dragons (presently). I love the way Bannen sets up her religion and technology, the way these two things work together. How the world feels sort of modern, but also sort of fifties, and also like a whole other fantasy world. (It isn't Earth at all, but it doesn't <i> not </i> feel like Earth, probably because of the semi-modern setting.

Also, I cried at how relatable Twyla is as a wife and mom and all the expectations that come with those titles. I also frequently find myself feeling like a chair and turn around and rely on my partner too much as well. (That's not gonna make sense unless you read the book, sorry.)

This book is definitely in my favorites of the year, and I am SO grateful to have received an advanced copy. Thanks to Netgalley, Orbit Books, and Megan Bannen for the arc. This is my own rambly, screechy review.

I will preface this by saying I read the first book in this world and I gave it five stars and loved it so I went into this one with really high expectations. Twyla and Frank have been friends for years, best friends, in fact. His wife left him and her husband died and they just gravitated towards one another. They are partners at their jobs and just there for one another through thick and thin.
Twyla hasn't thought about dating in the 13 years since her husband passed, but a new scientist has her thinking otherwise. Frank, clearly, is in love with Twyla but is scared to tell her because he didn't think she wanted to date again. Now she has a new BF and he's just up in arms.
I will tell you that friends to lovers isn't my jam, but if you love a When Harry Met Sally vibe, then this book is for you. The characters are older, which I enjoyed, but I never truly felt the connection strong between them. There were elements of the ridiculous in this, and it is a fantasy novel, but be ready to really suspend your belief here.
Thanks to Orbit, Netgalley and the author for an early copy.