THE UNDERMINING OF TWYLA AND FRANK by Megan Bannen occurs in the same world as THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY, and has the same flavor of Old Western meets fantasy with romance. Only this time it's dragons instead of drudges, aka zombies. Twyla is a middle-aged woman with all the relatable issues and regrets we have. She's also a Tanrian Marshal, though with the drudge problem gone their job has gotten considerably less dangerous. Until dragons. Her partner is Frank, her next-door neighbor and fellow formerly-married, middle-aged best friend. It's clearly a He Falls First, It Was You All Along romance, but the journey is a twisty, bumpy ride. It's an enjoyable slow burn, with enough mystery in the plot to keep you turning the pages to find out what happened, both with the dragons and with the romance. It's a must-read whether you loved the previous book or just haven't read it yet!

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank showcases Megan’s unparalleled writing prowess. Her prose is not only sophisticated but also incredibly immersive, drawing readers into a meticulously crafted world with ease. Having delved into her previous work, 'The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy,' I was eager to immerse myself in this narrative. Megan’s world-building skills are exceptional, offering a refreshing and creative setting that captivates from the first page. The return of Duckers/Pen added depth to the story, and the characters, notably Frank at 53, were masterfully developed, defying stereotypes and resonating with authenticity. Her ability to make characters of varying ages relatable and compelling is a testament to her skill as a storyteller. Overall, 'The Undermining of Twyla and Frank' is a testament to Bannen's talent, leaving readers with a profound connection to the characters and their journey."

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this early. I really enjoyed this book, love how we got more of the Marshal's Frankd and Twyla, from "The Undertaking Of Hart and Mery." I also loved how Hart and Mercy made appearances in this book as well, so we got to see where they were in life. The characters are so loveable, Twyla is a 53 year old woman who lost her husband 13 years prior, when she became widowed and needed money, her best friend/neighbor got her a job with him as his partner as a Marshal. This story is the sequel to "The Undertaking Of Hart and Mercy," so takes place after Hart had made Tanria safer, so Frank and Twylas job is safer and more boring, that is until they discovered Dragons!! This book was cute, it was sweet, it had me laughing. The only criticism I would say is It is a bit long, but highly recommend reading this.

'The Undermining of Twyla and Frank' is a real treat, filled with laughs and a lot of heart. She nails it when it comes to showing how Twyla and Frank grow and change, making their friendship and later romance feel real and right for their age. It's a fresh look at love and it hits home with all the ups and downs of dealing with grown children. This story is down-to-earth, touching, and just a great read all around.

This was a DELIGHTFUL addition to the series. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is by far one of my favorite books I've ever read and this did not disappoint. The characters are so well written that you can't help feel like you are part of their world. It had all the cozy feel good stuff like Hart and Mercy while somehow still being it's own story with different goals. I admittedly don't relate a lot to the two main characters but I was so in love with both of them that it didn't matter. I devoured this in one day!

If you are a romantasy reader you might wonder where are all the people over 30? Do they ever fall in love? Well, the answer is they are in this book! Twyla and Frank's story has the same sweetness and humor from Hart and Mercy's story and adds in cute dragons!

I love when a book can be set in a completely different world, but still feel completely relatable. One thing Twyla deals with is feeling like she has to sacrifice her wants for her family and is expected to do certain tasks just because of her gender. She may be patrolling a world with magic but I think most women will still relate to her.

I also really loved Frank's character. He cares about Twyla so much and is such a great friend to her! He's also an excellent dragon daddy and overall a good person. We get some glimpses of Hart and Mercy in this one as well as some of our other favorite characters from the first one.

One thing I will note though is some younger readers (late teens or early twenties) may not relate to this one as much as the first one. However, I think it's a great story and there are so many romantasy books with younger characters if that is your preference. I highly recommend this one to romance and fantasy readers! If you are like me and like a fantasy world but also need your HEA this one is for you!

🌶️🌶️🌶️- There are a couple open door scenes in this one. One including a toy.

This book was very cozy and fun and I loved diving back into this world, but it didn't keep my interest like The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. And god, I hated quill. His interactions with Twyla made me want to go crawl in a hole. He gave me the ick.

The story itself was cute and I love Frank and Twyla, but I just got bored. So if you're looking for something cozy, look no further. If you're looking for something fast paced and swoon worthy, maybe look somewhere else.

It's always hard to follow up a beloved book. The first in this series, The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy, wrecked me in the best way and I love it with my whole heart. This was enjoyable but just couldn't reach that high bar.

Twyla and Frank are Tanrian Marshalls, partners, best friends for years, and on their way to retirement. I loved getting a love story for MCs in their 50s. And who doesn't mind some dragons? I also like generally what Twyla had to say about her life and carrying the emotional labor and child rearing and how she wished it had been different. It just was all sort of slow? So slow. With entirely too much of the background mythology of this place written up to no end (I really didn't need a primer on this world's weddings (not Twyla and Frank's wedding, this is not a spoiler)).

Happy for Twyla and Frank. Kinda sad for how much anger and resentment Twyla is carrying around. I wish them a happy life together. And lots of fun with dragons.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost, thank you for the ARC of this book. I was looking forward to reading it. The first book, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, was one of my favorite books last year.

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank was a great read! Twyla and Frank are both Marshalls, guarding a land that was once occupied by gods and deadly spirits. Their job has become more safe and boring. Close to retirement age, they discover something previously thought to be myth that could change everything - even their friendship.

Bannen's use of dialogue is so witty - I literally laughed out loud multiple times. Also, the characters are well developed and loveable. As a woman over 40 I could relate to Twyla and her feelings as she is getting older. Even though Duckers is the youngest of the group, he is very observant. I would love if he had his own book. If you like good banter and a fun plot, this book is for you.

4.5/5 stars
This cozy fantasy romance was funny and touching. It revisits to world from The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy but mainly focus on two middle aged work partners (Twyla and Frank), who are nearing retirement.

Fifty-something romance is not something I have seen much of and this portrayal of coworkers and their changing dynamic felt so true. Family and partner dynamics are front and center in this novel.

There are newly discovered dragons, returning equimares, and message delivery nimilkins.

I enjoyed this as much as the first book.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I love love LOVED Hart and Mercy and I am so happy I got to dig into Twyla and Frank’s story too. It’s really rare to get a romance with characters above the age of 50 and it was so refreshing to read a romance like this.

The lore of this world goes completely over my head but the DRAMA? THE ROMANCE? More please!!!!

I adored this book! I loved The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy so I was very excited to return to this world.

This book features Twyla and Frank, two Tanrian Marshals, that have been partners on the job for over a decade. They are both in their 50’s and have also been next door neighbors for years. They became best friends after her husband died and his wife left him. After the events of book one Tanria isn’t as dangerous as it used to be. There are some new discoveries that are about to shake things up in Tanria.

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for access to this eARC for review! I loved this heartfelt and fun story that transports us back to the wilds of Tanria. I enjoyed finally getting a glimpse into the deep friendship between Twyla and Frank and the complexity of those feelings when they become a little well… more. Not only does this story add in a dash of snark and humor, it also examines familial roles, values, and feelings of appreciation and belonging. If you enjoy a sassy best friends to lovers story with a side of mystery, and perhaps dragons, you won’t be disappointed to pick up Megan Bannen’s new book!

Another ridiculously cute and cozy story back in Tanria by Megan Bannen! I just knew after I saw When Harry Met Sally but with dragons, this was going to be a good book and I was not let down!

Twyla and Frank are two Tanrian Marshals bored out of their minds and on the verge of retirement when a death occurs that shakes up their boring life.

Both of the MCs were an instant hit for me! I could hear these characters in my head. Their banter between their friendship, work relationship, and eventual attraction to each other was fantastic. The fact that they were in their 50s I think made them that much more interesting and enjoyable. The humor ladies and gentleman! *chef’s kiss* Super slow burn but worth it.

Tanria is such a unique, quirky and utterly enchanting world and Bannen builds it perfectly just like she did in the first book. Plus with the first books background details, she gives us a different part of Tanria and with added Dragons this time. Tons of fun and full of vivid detail.

This was a friends to lovers true slow burn fantasy romance and I just loved it! We see a glimpse of Hart and Mercy too which was nice. This was such a fun, heartwarming read and I fully recommend if you enjoyed The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy.

so friggin' delighted that I had the opportunity to read this ARC. we love to see a heroine in her 50's thriving! Plus, I'm always a sucker for friends-to-lovers and DRAGONS??? PINK GLITTER DRAGONS??? we got to see Duckers again!!! I adored the exploration of vulnerability in an aging body. this was so heartwarming, I love this series!

overall, there were some pacing issues (the ending felt really rushed to me), but I had a great time.

Wow! This book is fantastic. Full of adventure, humor, romance, wonderful characters and dragons. This book is engaging and fun. I absolutely love this book.

This is such an interesting series to me!! It's a quirky fantasy romance set in one of the most original worlds I have read. This is a standalone and honestly is one I would say you do not have to read the first book BUT I would recommend it. The characters in these books are so fun!! This one introduces us more to Frank and Twyla. They are marshalls like Hart was on in book 1. They work with Duckers who is also from book 1. Anyways Frank and Twlya have been friends for the past 12 years. They are inseparable. They have retirement plans together. This is the story about how all of that changes and it involves DRAGONS!! The buildup in this was really cute. I liked that both of these characters were at a different phase in their life. I had a huge smile through most of this book but it was mega wattage by the end.

Twyla and Frank have a plan. They are going to work their rounds for a few more years and then retire and start a B&B somewhere. Twyla has no room for romance. She doesn't need a man after how her husband made her feel. She has her kids and Frank and the future. All that changes when they find none other than a baby dragon on tour. Not only have they found a baby dragon, but the baby dragon has bonded with Frank. It will not leave his body. Now a dracologist is called in to learn more about this species that everyone thought was extinct. The dracologist is handsome and to Twyla's shock asks her out. And this is when things start to change with Frank. Now he is acting weird around her. He makes Twyla wonder why I man would ask her out. Then one night Frank's life is in danger. All thought leaves Twyla's head- she is thankful he is alive. And then she has the best most erotic kiss of her life with FRANK. The same Frank who she can't not have in her life. The same Frank who she can't ruin his friendship with. So she backs off- calls it a mistake. But was it? What if she really feels for him? She is starting to think he feels for her too. Like loves her and wants to be with her feels. But she is scared. What if he treats her how her husband treats her? What if they don't work? Or what if he takes away her choice and doesn't give her a chance because she has hurt him?

This book is a true slow burn. I don't think anything ended up happening between Frank and Twyla until like the 60% mark on my Kindle, but it was worth it. We get to see the quirkiness of all of the other characters. We get to see Hart and Mercy get married. We get to see the transformation and realization that Twyla loves Frank and would do anything for him. This was a wonderful story about friends that turn to lovers and how their dream changes together and now involves a dragon refuge. If you haven't picked up this series, I highly recommend it!! I hope there will be a book 3- not sure who it would be though- any thoughts??

*Cozy Romantasy

*Second Chance

*Friends to Lovers

*He Falls First

*Pink, Glitter-Breathing Dragons

🐉The Undermining of Twyla and Frank (ARC from NetGalley)🐉 July 2, 2024

Honestly, I am not a fan of second-chance romances, but this was such a sweet story! Both the MCs are in their 50s. They are best friends that eventually become lovers. There are pink, cuddly, glitter-breathing dragons. I want one!

It is completely necessary to read Hart and Mercy before this one, but it does help things make more sense. You also get glimpses of the characters from the first book.

“Will you promise to never marry me?”

“Will you live next door to me and spend time with me when you feel like it and go home when you need to have your own space? Will you let me love you however you see fit for the rest of our lives?”

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this ARC! I really enjoyed this cozy story. Bannen has created such a unique world that feels like just the perfect blend of contemporary and whimsical fantasy. This book to me was very different than Mercy and Harts book. We only have Twyla's POV which made it really feel like her journey and not so much a romance. The focus is on how she is navigating her current stage of life.

There is very little actual romance to this, which was was a let down after really enjoying the romance in book 1. I think if we'd had Franks POV I may have been more invested since Twyla was so oblivious for so long. The climax of the book and the villain also felt a bit too cheesy for me after reading about Hart's battle in book 1.

Overall, I had fun reading this and I recommend it as a light and cozy fantasy but not as a romance. Also, Duckers continues to be a stellar side character!

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy was one of my most unexpectedly amazing books of last year and I'm so thrilled to see more within this strange little universe. Readers will fall in love with Twyla, Frank, and all the whimsy of their love story.