A huge thank you to Netgalley for choosing me to read the ARC of The Undermining of Twyla and Frank.

I rated this at 3.75⭐️

This is a very cozy and sweet fantasy story. A sequel to The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, this story follows the life of Twyla and Frank, who we originally met in book one. This book navigates second chance romance after becoming widowed, middle-aged leads, and friends to lover undertones.

The story started off a little slow. Eternity is pretty safe these days, so I really felt Twyla and Frank's boredom. BUT, as the story builds, it is filled with fun world building, plot twists, and DRAGONS. Every story with dragons (especially baby dragons) is worth reading. If you are looking for a feel-good book to snuggle up with and enjoy some light-hearted banter, then this is the book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
I read the Undertaking of Hart and Mercy as an ARC and did not at the beginning realize how so very lucky I was to experience this universe early. Megan Bannen, her characters, and this world, have my whole entire heart.
This sequel so very much lived up to my expectations and was a follow up to Hart & Mercy that both continued to build an incredible and unique world while telling a new and exciting story with the same amount of love, humor, and heart as the first. Bravo!

👏🏽Megan👏🏽Bannen👏🏽

I tore through The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy and The Undermining of Twyla and Frank was NO DIFFERENT!! I love a second chance/late in life romance 😭 I especially love best friends to lovers. This novel is such a perfect mixture of friendship, love, and fantasy. The world that Bannen has created is beautiful and colorful and all together so cool. I loved how the story picked right up after Hart and Mercy’s story 🥹 I devoured this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved that this book featured older (early 50s) MCs and dealt with a lot of realistic challenges and thought processes that someone would have later in life. They also navigate a super adorable friendship/somethingship that serves as the backbone of most of the book and I thought it was done so well. This felt somehow cozy, even though the heroes faced a lot of dangerous situations in a western/fantasy backdrop.
The only trouble I had with this book was the pacing and plot which were super slow and then everything would happen in a few pages. While the journey was enjoyable, it would have been easier to get through the book if the pacing were a little more even. Also, the MC makes a comment about people being born with certain "equipment" getting socialized into subservient roles as she's discussing marriage with her daughter. While the point she was making was very much relevant in addressing gender roles in straight relationships, it felt a little weird that the conversation didn't qualify that "equipment" does not necessarily define gender. Although to be fair, not every discussion about gender roles with a cis/straight child would maybe have that qualification, it just felt like a weird way to define that issue.
However, it was an absolute delight to revisit this world and the characters from undermining. I also really enjoyed the new characters/creatures including one that was the greatest of all time...cough* Mary Georgina *cough. I look forward to Bannen's future books and I hope she writes many more in this world -hopefully all including a certain creature.

Anyone who knew me back in the summer of 2022 knows how obsessed I was with The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. I made my book club read it and bullied my friends into reading it too. I was nervous to read the sequel because I didn’t want the series to potentially end, and how could it possible live up to the first book??

She did it. Megan Bannen did it, y’all. This book is so beautifully written and so different than the first book, while still carrying the same tone and world. I cannot express enough how much I love this place that the author created and how badly I wish I could live there. I didn’t think it was possible to love anyone as much as Hart and Mercy, but dammit, Twyla and Frank are equally as magical.

I cannot tell you how much I love these books. 'Undertaking' took me by such surprise, it pulled me in to Eternity and now I would be more than happy to spend 6 books there. Twyla is such a gem, a middle-aged mom who has given her entire life. She's tired and she's drained, but she keeps giving because that is what moms do. Her journey is one I will carry with me for a long time. I do wish we got a little bit of Frank's POV, but even without it I melt when he calls her "darlin." (Anyone else get Sam Elliot vibes? Also Agent Aubrey from Bones is Duckers.) Megan Bannen, please keep this town going. I'm begging you.

Once again, Megan Bannen has created something truly and completely DELIGHTFUL in The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. There were several times while reading that my nine year old looked over and asked what I was giggling about 🤭 because there was so much humor and charm that I couldn’t contain the squeals of delight and feet kicking joy this book brought me.

If you enjoyed The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, you can expect the same quippy dialogue and many familiar faces! In addition, we’ve got some new members of the cast including adorable hedgehogs delivering mail, a short-shorts wearing professor, and (my favorite) DRAGONS.

And nestled in this cozy fantasy world is the sweetest best friends to lovers romance.

Twyla and Frank.

I personally LOVED our MC’s being in their 50s and the different topics Bannen was able to explore because of it. I especially appreciated Twyla’s reflections on her life and motherhood, much of which I could relate to in my current chapter. (Although my husband is NOT a Doug and for that I am so grateful). Even with the best partners though, I think it’s easy for moms to feel invisible and lose pieces of ourselves in the raising of small humans. So, I was cheering for Twyla as she started to come out of her shell and get her groove back 😏✨

And then we have Frank “dragon daddy” Ellis . Yalllll. What an absolute gem. His patience and understanding. His twang (everytime he called Twyla darlin’ had me swooning). The little and big ways he showed he cared. All perfection.

Frank and Twyla.

(And Mary Georgina. And Duckers.)

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more!

Salt Sea, I loved this book so much! 💜

Right off, I did NOT EVEN read the synopsis before requesting this ARC… I loved The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy so much, and now we get to go back to Tanria and have more adventures, but this time with Twyla and Frank? Oh yes, sign 👏🏻 me 👏🏻 up 👏🏻!

Ok, so with that said… Twyla and Frank have been next door neighbors for years, and they’ve bonded and become best friends in the years since becoming middle aged and single. She’s a widow, he’s divorced, they both have grown children, and he got her a job with the Tanrian Marshals a while back so that she could put her daughter through college. She’s his partner at work and in life, but neither of them have declared romantic intentions for one another... they are so platonic, it’s not even funny. As a matter of fact, Twyla is in the throes of menopause and has pretty much decided that she’s “closed up shop”, for anyone, for good.

When long-presumed-extinct dragons appear in Tanria, things at work and in life get complicated for Twyla and Frank. A series of events force them to evaluate what they mean to each other, and while you (the reader) see it coming from 500 miles away, they are both totally clueless. The romance is slow and steady, but worth the wait.

I was on the fence- four stars or five for this one? At the end of the day, five it is- for how much I identify with Twyla- know her so deeply that she might as well be me. The parts that grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go are when Twyla is describing what it feels like to be a woman in a world made for men. I’ve possibly never felt a character so deeply and intimately as this.

Furthermore, this series just makes me feel good. How long will it be? Please give me twenty more books just like this! I know it’s a tall order, a lot to ask- but I seriously could keep reading about this magical world and the people in it forever, and never get bored.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank is published by Orbit Books and will be released on July 2, 2024. Thank you Netgalley and Orbit for a digital ARC in exchange for my review!

I was given the opportunity to read an ARC for my honest review.

Wow, what can I say?? I LOVED this book. It got me in the feels with motherhood challenges. Twyla, I love you and I feel for you. I could see myself in her even though I'm only 31. The love blossoming with Frank was just perfect. It gave me all the butterflies and heart feels. 🥹

The magic of the dragons was so cute. Just want to hold all of them. I also loved seeing how her children started to express verbally their love, which is what every mother wants to hear. 💜

I hope there is a 3rd one, not sure where it would go, but I love the magic of Tarnia.

This was such a great sequel. I loved seeing some of the characters from the previous book with the addition of the new characters, but I also liked that the book could be read as a standalone. The fantasy elements of the book are very neat and you learn more about how this particular world functions. I also really appreciated the diverse ages that this romance series portrays.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in return for my honest feedback.

I'll start out by saying I went into this with pretty high expectations because anyone who knows me, knows that Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is literally my favorite book in existence so to say I was extremely excited to get the ARC of Twyla and Franks story is an understatement. Being in the world of Tanria again was the same thing as coming home (wink wink). I had SO MUCH fun with this book, it was such a wonderful reading experience. I don't think I've ever read a romance book where the characters are in their 50's so this was so new for me and let me tell you I LOVED it!!! I didn't expect to identify with her as much as I did and it was a pleasant surprise. The dynamic between Twyla and her kids was so interesting to see, there was a pretty decent balance of fantasy in it as well and DRAGON DADDY FRANK!!! Man I loved seeing him care so much for that little dragon. Speaking of Frank, I will say I was a little sad to see there was no Frank POV's, I was really excited to potentially get inside his head but honestly other than that, this book is honestly perfection.

Now onto my overall FAVORITE part of the entire book. Shockingly enough, it was not the adorable and steamy romance between Twyla and Frank, though they did come in a close third next to THAT ONE EVENT that I will not spoil but I just want to make it known that made my heart burst of happiness forever and ever like I will never move on from that it's quite literally my roman empire. But no, even though Twyla and Frank hold such a special place in my heart, my absolute favorite part of this whole book was none other than PENROSE DUCKERS! Oh man I think he's gonna go down in history as one of my all time favorite side characters ever. The humor, the goofyness, the dynamic between him, Twyla and Frank. It had me dying throughout the entire book. I just love him SO MUCH like that's my son. I have zero clue about Megan's plans for the future of this world but I seriously hope one day he could get his own book because I'd love nothing more than to get into his head and read more about him/see him get his HEA.

All in all, this was such a cozy, hilarious and bittersweet read. I don't ever want to say goodbye to this world, it's my favorite thing ever. I'm so incredibly sad that it's over for right now but I cannot wait to get the physical copy in my hands. If you've been debating on reading the first book (The undertaking of Hart and Mercy) this is your sign to do so before this one comes out! You won't regret it, I promise.

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

This unfortunately fell so flat for me, which is super disappointing because I loved The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy!! I personally did not feel the same whimsical and quirky feelings in this book as I did in the last one, and it honestly just left me rolling my eyes at the absurdity of it all. It was really hard to wrap my head around the setting and the different elements and it really took me out of the story.

On top of that I also couldn't personally connect to the characters given their age and I found Twyla and her inner monolouge wildly irritating. Overall I just really struggled to get into this story and decided to DNF.

This is the only time in my life I feel like I’m getting smarter while reading about pink sparkly dragons! Megan Bannen is a wizards of words and evokes all the emotions all the time. I enjoyed returning to the world she has crafted and getting to briefly and not so briefly revisit some chapters I already love. Frank and Twyla can now be added to collection of loved characters! I’m so glad I was able to read an advanced copy of this book and can’t wait to add it to my collection!

Did I drop everything to read this book the second I was approved for the ARC? Yes, yes, I did. Did I lose countless hours of sleep finishing it faster than I should? Also, yes. Did I enjoy every single second of this story? 100% YES!

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy was hands down my favorite read of 2023. Hart and Mercy destroyed my heart, put the shattered pieces back together better than before, and then lovingly wrapped me in the softest blanket while handing me a mug of hot cocoa. When I saw ‘The Undermining of Twyla and Frank’ was being released in July 2024, I immediately preordered it, and I literally squealed with delight when I got approved to read the ARC. Let me tell you, this book DID. NOT. DISAPPOINT.

‘The Undermining of Twyla and Frank’ picks up right after ‘The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy.’ Hart has purged Tanria of the drudges, and with no more zombies to fight, being a Tanrian Marshal has gotten a little boring. There is nothing to do but patrol and stop poachers from stealing graps. That is until Duckers’ new partner is found dead, drenched in glittery goo, with an extra-large, clawed footprint next to him. Duckers is convinced it’s the work of a dragon, but there are no dragons in Tanria. Or at least, no one has ever seen one—until now.

When Twyla, Frank, and Duckers answer a distress flare to find terrified poachers carrying two dragon eggs, being chased by a giant pink dragon—they can’t believe their eyes. The momma dragon is obviously very unhappy about someone taking her eggs. While the poachers escape Tanria through their illegal portal, the momma dragon breathes glittery goo all over Frank, making him drop and crack one of her eggs. After the mom dragon flies off with the undamaged egg, Frank discovers that the abandoned egg is hatching. It’s not long before an adorable, pink, baby dragon, flies from the shell and attaches herself bear-hug-style to Frank’s torso. Whether Frank likes it or not, he just became a dragon daddy.

After accepting that dragons are real, the marshals bring in Dr. Quill Vanderlinden to study these strange, glitter-breathing, vegetarian dragons. It doesn’t take long before Frank becomes attached to his cuddly new companion and names her Mary Georgina. Everyone agrees that it’s best to keep the dragons’ existence a secret while they solve the murder and figure out what the heck is going on in Tanria. And they had better figure it out fast because things are heating up and getting dangerous.

Everything about this book is just aces. Twyla and Frank’s relationship is adorable and heartwarming. They’re best friends who are clearly deeply in love, yet they’re the only ones who can’t see it. If you’re a fan of cozy fantasies with a little bit of mystery, love stories that make your heart flutter, dragons of the pink, glittery variety, and anthropomorphized mail-carrying hedgehogs who love grape soda and wear squeaky rain boots, run, don’t walk, to preorder ‘The Undermining of Twyla and Frank.’ This book will make you giggle, belly laugh (thanks, Duckers), and maybe shed a tear. But most importantly, it will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling like you’ve just received a big, warm hug.

Megan Bannen crafted a masterpiece when she wrote The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, and she has done it again with The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. I was captivated by this story, and I will recommend the series to anyone who will listen. The only thing that could possibly make me happier is if book three of this series is about Duckers and Zeddie getting their happy-ever-after (Megan, if you are reading this—HINT HINT).

** I received this book for free from Orbit Books, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. **

Before I comment on Undermining, I must ask if you've read The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy? That was book 1 in this series, and it was So. Good! Yes, strange and not what I normally read, but still So. Good.

Which made a perfect set-up for this second in the series, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. Again, not my normal genre (ugh, dragons that spit glitter?) But this book was Also. So. Good. Five stars for both titles, and on the foundation of the first book, this second was like greeting an old dear friend I'd never seen. The synergy created a third dimension of enjoyment.

The pacing is excellent, the engagement between reader-and-book is exceptional, and I was at all times eager to return to it when my life would release me to read. I loved Mercy and Hart, but I adored Twyla and Frankie. I got impatient with the slow development of the romance (which did not interfere with the action!), but that's just because author Bannen wrote the romance and its context so beautifully. Don't miss this one!

Publication date is July 2, 2024, Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the chance to (leap on and devour) read this So. Good. book. I think fondly of all other readers who will get a chance to enjoy it!

This book, on the heels of “The undertaking of Hart and Mercy” had turned Bannen into an auto-buy author for me!

I loved heading back into Bannen’s universe, which is imaginative and completely different from other fantasy offerings. This story is a friends-to-lovers slow burn featuring Twyla and Frank, two Tarnian Marshalls in their mid-fifties. I enjoyed characters outside of the standard twenties/thirties age range- Bannen does an amazing job of describing the insecurities and acceptance that comes with this stage in life! Obviously the addition of dragons to this world is so fun, especially since they are so different from what readers are used to (as is always the case in Tarnia)! I wholeheartedly recommend this book and look forward to whatever else the author comes up with!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for this wonderful ARC!

This books reads like an ode to growing older while learning more about yourself, and I thoroughly enjoyed being back in Eternity with Frank and Twyla! I especially appreciated the representation of a “woman of a certain age” still having time to learn, grow, and reassess the life she’s lived. Bannen does an excellent job with Twyla’s character development, but I finished the book wishing she’d spent a little more time with Frank, although I understand that his steadfastness and steadiness is part of Twyla’s reckoning. This book also features my favorite trope, “idiots in love”, so bonus points there!

As always, the world building is excellent- where can we find our own pet dragon? It was fun to visit with Hart and Mercy for a few moments as well, and I look forward to hopefully spending time on a future adventure with Duckers. An excellent addition to Eternity’s roster of books that I’ll be recommending to others!

2.5 stars

I loved the undertaking of hart and mercy and was so excited when I got approved to read this ARC but I'm so sad I didn't love this one.

I was expecting a cozy and adorable romance similar to Hart and Mercy but this one just didn't deliver like the previous book. Frank and Twyla had chemistry but the overall storyline and pacing felt off.

Minor spoilers ahead

Some parts are really slow and others felt rushed. The sort of love triangle that lasts half of the book felt a bit out of place especially since Twyla and Quill didn't have a lot of chemistry and she constantly talks about how he does things that bother her but Frank doesn't do those things. The ending with Zeddie and Duckers really bothered me but maybe we'll get their story in the next book? The zootopia ending was a low point for me and I was glad the book was finally over. Overall this just didn't do it for me.

While I enjoyed the world building, the first half was slow. Right at the 50% mark, the action picked up and there were DRAGONS! I’m not sure that I enjoyed Twyla’s character while Frank was an absolute dream! I will continue to read books by this author but this one was missing something for me. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

I devoured this in 2 or 3 days. I've been dying, haha, to return to this world. We get glimpses of Hart and Mercy. This is a slow burn just like book 1. I don't know how Bannen manages to get you on the edge of "cmon then!!", and not screaming in agony. It's a fine line and Bannen walks it well. I love the new characters and the familiar ones. I don't read a lot of romance, but I adore that Bannen creates equal opportunity stories. I don't want to spoil anything, but I think this fantasy is mellow enough to give this to your Mother, Aunt, or Grandmother to enjoy as well. There are a lot of life lessons and realizations. I hope there are more stories to come!