Y'all, I loved the chance to go back to this world. Fantasy is not usually my jam, but the fact that this draws me in says so much about how wonderful it is! This story centers on Twyla and Frank, best friends and coworkers, who are also solving a murder and navigating some dragons. Sounds like a ride, right? Well, amidst this, the story is so real and wonderful. I fell in love with Twyla and Frank (just like I did with Hart and Mercy) and their story as I ventured back to the world of Tanria. If you haven't found your way to this story, you must as it's just so many fantastic feels. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this July 2024 release!

I loved this story.
Twyla is a 52 year old widow with 3 grown children.
Frank is a divorcee just a few years from retirement.
They are Tanrian Marshals (read The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy if you don't know what that is) and have been partners and best friends for 8 years.
Their adventure takes us from a smuggling ring to the possibilities of dragons, all while Twyla tries out dating for the first time in 13 years, and Frank grapples with how he feels about it.
I LOVE the characters! The crime plot was more background to their relationships, but it was really fun and compelling too.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit books for an early copy for review.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was a LOT of things at once. 3.5 stars

This is the 2nd book in The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy series, I don't really think it can be read as a standalone. That said, I loved the first book so so much but this one did not hit the same. Don't get me wrong, I liked this book but I think the vibes are far different from the first so be prepared for that.

Middle aged Twyla and Frank are longtime Tanrian Marshall partners and best friends. After the events of the first book, the job has gotten a little boring for them...until they discover a dead body of another marshall AND a baby dragon. Together, along with a good looking dracologist and fellow marshall Penrose Duckers, they attempt to figure out how these dragons suddenly showed up in Tanria and the cause of the other marshall's death. And also maybe confront the feelings they have for each other?? Yeah this is a friends to lovers book too!

This book was WAY goofier than the first, sometimes it was great but other times it fell flat for me. I think that's just humor styles but it was a good time. Far less creepier than the first one but that makes sense with the ending of the last book. This book is single POV, Twyla's perspective. Her cute midwestern mom vibe was so cute but it was also great to see her grow as a character and learn to set boundaries and ask for things SHE wants rather than always prioritize the needs of others.

I also enjoyed the focus on the emotional and physical labor women (especially wives and mothers) are expected to take on simply for existing. Twyla is always expected to do so much for others without getting her needs met or even considered. Seeing her overcome that and learn how to push back against that expectation was great. Reminds us all to treat mothers as human beings and empower older women to regain their agency. There were times her rage was PALPABLE, I was getting secondhand anger from her adult son's behavior. Twyla is also a milf!!! This book is so so pro milf/dilf. GRILF EVEN. Love that for her.

All in all, this book was sweet n spicy, goofy and magical and warmed my heart. Part rom com, part mother/older woman empowerment book, part sparkly fantasy dragon book. Fun ride.

CW: Sexual content, really just one chapter so skip if you feel so inclined.

Megan Bannen has done it again!
This book is an absolute delight. Older MCs, friends to lovers, interesting plot, and characters that feel so alive it’s as if they’re right there in the room with you.
Bonus Points: DRAGONS!
While this book didn’t have me weeping like Undertaking did, it did have me swooning from all the banter and emotions.
At this point, I’d give my left arm for another book set in this world. I can’t wait to have my friends read this book!

I’m not a fantasy/romantasy reader but there was something about the description for Megan Bannen’s The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy that pulled me in and I absolutely fell in love with the world of Tanria and the fantastical reuse of the Shop Around the Corner trope where two people who can’t tolerate each other in real life fell in love through anonymous letters. I was so delighted to see that a new book was coming out from the now series and even more to get an Arc.
This book is about Twyla and Frank, two Tanrian marshalls in their 50s who are best friends that now reuses the When Harry Met Sally trope. Twyla was mentioned in Hart and Mercy (who also make an appearance here) and she is an incredible protagonist and this book is sort of her coming-of-middle-age story where she finally accepts to go after what she wants in life. The banter and friendship between Twyla and Frank is incredible and it’s wonderful to see them accepting their feelings and the book features maybe my now favorite, most fun sex scene ever. Oh, did I also mention there are dragons???
Take a chance in the world of Tanria and read about a unique love story between a couple that’s not really featured in mainstream romance: people in their 50s.

Thank you for the opportunity to read before the publication!

Shout out to the bookish gods & goddess for blessing me with my most anticipated book of the year early.

Thank you Orbit Books for the advanced copy of "The Undermining of Twyla and Frank"

Naturally, I shamelessly said "f you" to my tbr pile and immediately started. After nearly passing out from said approval and a week of reading, we are with a cozily hearted and joyful Dani.

I loved this book, duh. Everything about it is just a giant hug. It's so cozy I could have curled up in the pages & lived in its prose for the rest of my days. How can you not love a book that gives a middle aged couple a second chance at love AND adorable creatures that deliver mail throughout the entire book? Could have fooled me.

I could gush about this book all day. She start's immediately following the events of "The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy" which L O V E. Are we kidding? Continuing forward from my favorite book from last year. Say less.

Don't even get me started on the pages I could write about this beautiful second chance romance Megan Bannen is releasing into the world! I love that these characters are in the middle of their lives. The maturity yet you still get those butterflies from falling for the first time. UGH *chefs kiss* I really appreciated how Twyla and Frank were just normal people. They are single parents. They have real struggles. They aren't shiny and perfect beings that usually make up eighty five percent of romance novels. It's refreshing to have regular & hardworking people find love.

Let's take a moment to give props to the authors who expertly mix genres. *insert holy music here* I know I am just unloading on the romance but "The Undermining of Twyla and Frank" is so glorious that it has a sparkly touch of mystery, a punch of adventure and a wheezily snort of comedy.

I am literally smiling at my computer just reliving this book in my head.... *happy sigh*

Did I mention that there are cute creatures that talk and deliver mail and drink grape soda? Subscribed.

The world. The characters. The magic. The love. All of this just make this book so so so so so special.

- Middle Aged Characters
- Second Chance
- Grumpy Sunshine
- Serrano Spiced
- Lil Bit of Mystery
- COZY AF
- Seriously this is a HUG

Just wait until you guys meet Mary Georgina *squealing*

"The Undermining of Twyla and Frank" publishes on July 2, 2024. Just pre-order her now. You will not regret it. Trust your resident cozy book lover.

This might be another book that is just not for me.

What I was expecting: a whimsical tale of adventure about two middle-aged marshalls who approach their age, career, and love life with humor
What I got: a slightly depressing tale of a middle-aged mother who never prioritized herself and some kinda "meh" dragons

I will preface this review by saying that while I have not read the first book, I felt I was missing only some minor world-building.

What I liked: I was worried this would be exclusively character-driven, but it's not. There is a plot that drives the story forward, and I was actually surprised to see that by 75% of the book, I was really enjoying the parts that were character-driven. I loved that this book involved a romance with older characters and the dynamic between Twyla and Frank is adorable and fulfilling in the end, the ending as a whole was very well done, and both funny and adorable. Even though I don't feel as though this was a great book for me, I still enjoyed parts of it and found it to be well written.

What I didn't like: While I did appreciate that this was not solely character-driven, it was a slower start to get to where the plot begins, which is in about chapter 4. I had also expected the book to approach middle-aged marshalls with light-hearted humor about aging. Instead, I got a lot of diminutive sexist jokes or comments from the female main character herself that she was "past her expiration date." Twyla reinforces many negative stereotypes about older women by being an insecure, pathetic doormat who only talks about her saggy breasts and aging body. This is incredibly frusterating given her job and the fact that she literally spends the majority of the story investing a murder and hanging out with dragons. Meanwhile, the male main character, Frank, is shown as generous and confident. I wished we spent more time on him, particularly after their romance begins because the way their relationship is writen is just so good. Unfortunately, their relationship happened so late in the book that we didn't get much of it. Instead, most of the book was spent with them wrapped up in a miscommunication that felt out of place with 50-year-old characters who have known each other for 12 years.

Who's it for? This one definitely seems better suited for those who are interested in a mature FMC working though her feelings on her past and her own insecurities with a light fatasy setting vs someone who's looking for a whimsical fantasy romance.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a really enjoyable fantasy romance. It was the perfect friends to lovers romance. I really loved the story and I could not put it down.

Oh this book was such a treat. It introduces a charming new cast of characters in the delightful and whimsical world of Tanria. The characters from the first book make minor appearances but the main focus is on new characters, primarily best friends Twyla and Frank.

We follow their friendship as they navigate adventures as Tanrian marshals in the post Hart world. As marshals they deal with things you’d expect like hunting smuggling rings, as well as things you don’t, like dealing with ridiculous and incompetent hedgehog mail carriers. They also discover that dragons may not actually be extinct anymore. Oh and the dragons are pink! And they breathe glitter slime instead of fire? The perfect balance of silliness and legitimate conflict. Through it all, the chemistry and love (both as friends and potentially more) between Twyla and Frank is so sweet and heartwarming.

The author does such an incredible job of mixing the fantasy world she has created with things that almost feel like they could be in our world. But the feelings and struggles? Those are absolutely real and utterly relatable. I love that the characters are middle aged instead of barely out of their teens like you find in so many fantasy books. The author also weaves topics like struggles with body image, motherhood and adult relationships artfully into the story.

This book is cozy fantasy at its finest. It’s full of love and humor and was just a pleasure to experience. If you love low-stakes, cozy fantasy with a friends to lovers storyline, this is for you. For me, it is absolutely a new favorite.

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy was one of my favorite reads last year, and so saying I was beyond excited when there was a follow up, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank, would not be an understatement! In this story, we have Twyla and Frank, one widowed, one divorced, who are two Tanria Marshals and are the best of friends. When they go on a tour in Tanria, with the threat from the last book behind them, the least thing they expected was to find themselves in a mystery of a turned up dead Marshal and uncover what they thought where extinct dragons, along with their friendship becoming muddied.

This book gives off the coziest of cozy fantasy vibes, with a cozy mystery too. I loved being back in this world, the portal to Tanria and all the little things that make this fantasy world unique, such as the cutest dragons that spit glitter, I just want to take one home. What this book does that I haven't read before is give a middle aged woman (and mom!) a chance to star in a fantasy book. Twyla is a mom, a "Wammy" (grandmother), and is ready to get back into the dating world, not putting up with the housewife that her late husband subjected her to. With the mystery, cutest dragons, a strong middle aged female trying to navigate the dating world with her best friend Frank by her side, we get a friends to lovers set in a unique world where your mail could be delivered by hedgehogs, elephants, or other talking critters. Reading this book just gives me happy smiles.

After reading this book, I love going back to the cover and noticing all the little details that are revealed in the book!

A very thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

4.5⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The story follows Twyla and Frank best friends and coworkers. The slow burn friends to lovers romance was done so well and I enjoyed every moment of it. This was such a cozy and whimsical read filled with lovable, endearing characters and best of all dragons! I love the world that Megan Bannen has created and hope there will be more books in the future.

Prepare to be swept away by a delightful whirlwind of wit, charm, and romance in 'The Undermining of Twyla and Frank'. Megan Bannen has concocted a truly refreshing tale that breathes new life into the romance genre with its inventive plotline and irresistibly quirky characters.

found myself utterly captivated by the the friendship of Twyla and Frank and it set the stage for a rollercoaster of emotions and laugh-out-loud moments.

What sets 'The Undermining of Twyla and Frank' apart is its ingenious premise. The details in the setting are so creative, and readers are treated to a romantic journey that is as heartwarming as it is hilarious. She has crafted a supporting cast of characters that are as endearing as they are eccentric, each adding their own unique flavor to the story.

I loved the Undertaking of Heart and Mercy and this book is up there just as high for me.

Loved every second of Frank and Twyla’s story. I wasn’t sure I could love anything more than Hart and Mercy, but then you went and threw adorable baby dragons in the mix. I will happily read any story that comes out of Tanria. The banter is absolutely wonderful and the world just keeps growing larger and more colorful. Loved it!

This was a really sweet follow up to The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. It's not often you find a sweet and lighthearted take on a second chance at love and middle aged characters. I loved the character of Twyla and her personal development throughout the story, though I found myself disliking her children 80% of the time. I did feel like I missed the dual POV that the first book in this series incorporated and would have loved to hear more of Frank's perspective. The story also definitely benefitted from the legwork that 'Undertaking' did in terms of world-building. However, this book scratches the itch for a sweet, lighthearted romantasy, and I'd recommend it for fans of 'Undertaking' and Erin Sterling's "Ex Hex" series.

It was a joy to be back within the worlds that Bannen has created. Tarnia is different, quieter after the events that take place in Hart & Mercy but there are big surprises that unfold and it is so much fun. Bannen brings us dragons and, without giving anything away, they are pretty amazing. I enjoyed the glimpses we see of Hart and Mercy again.

Twyla and Frank have been neighbors and best friends for over a decade. They’ve been through it all but there have never been romantic feelings between them. When a newcomer comes into the scene, their realization of each other starts to shift, though not for Frank who the reader can see already loves Twy as more than a friend. The shift to something more is a slow burn with this romance feeling more secondary but I didn’t go into this expecting it to be a romance. It felt true to the characters and fit the story well.

The relationship between Twyla and Frank is really everything. Their friendship is deep and one of a kind and I love how Bannen shows glimpses of their shared past and the unfolding of their story. This is a comfortable read. It moves at a great pace and with lots of humor and heart. It’s a feel good book with excellent side characters and a fun, mystery twist. Bannen explores motherhood and gender roles in a very relatable way. I loved that these main characters were older and still living their best lives, making dreams come true, and finding love.

I loved this book and will highly recommend it.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for an ARC of this book!

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank follows a middle-aged widow, Twyla, and middle-aged divorcee, Frank, as they patrol Tanria in the aftermath of the events of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. After the drudges are gone, there isn’t much for them to do in their role, until they accidentally discover the existence of dragons. Twyla and Frank tackle their unresolved feelings for each other and the realities of parenthood all while dealing with their increasingly complex jobs as Tanrian Marshals.

Bannen’s writing is simply spectacular. This was very stylistically different from The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, but still contained the same charm. It was part thoughtful reflection on motherhood, part slowwww burn friends to lovers romance, and part exceedingly fun cozy fantasy. I loved the pacing and Twyla’s POV/character development. I also thoroughly enjoyed the return of many of the characters from the first book, including Duckers. I wholeheartedly recommend!

Like many people, we read The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy and were absolutely enthralled with the world, the characters, the romance - everything! It may not be fair, but of course we read The Undermining of Twyla and Frank with heightened expectations. This book was fun, the romance was sweet with a little spice, the gods took an interest in our main character, but we found this one to be just fine.

We loved:
The 50-something leads;
The wacky, heartwarming plot;
The references to Hart and Mercy (that wedding!!!);
Just spending more time in Tanria!

Honestly what we wanted more of was the romance between Twyla and Frank. Unlike Hart & Mercy, this book is single POV: we only get to experience the world through Twyla's perspective. It's a given that Twyla and Frank are in love, but that means we don't get to see why. Why is Frank pining for her? Why doesn't he step up? (We sent about 10 "STEP IT UP, FRANK" texts to buddy readers while reading this one.) Why is everything Twyla's fault? We are truly romance readers at heart, so I guess we just needed a little more romanciness for this book to hit the bullseye.

Do we still love Tanria? Yeah. Do we still want to read Duckers's book? Hell yeah! This one sits firmly in the "good, not great" camp.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

This was a delightful return to the world of Tanria. It follows best friends, work partners and next door neighbours Twyla and Frank as they work together to face the newest threat to Tanria, dragons.

This book is full of lovable and endearing characters, humour, complex relationship dynamics and a little mystery. It is a welcome addition to The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. I’m really hoping there is a third book featuring Duckers…

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

I adored Megan Bannen’s other book so was so excited for this and it totally delivered! I loved Twyla and Frank and the banter and development was just amazing. It’s such a different and unique book as is her other book that it may not be for everyone but it sure is for me! 100% recommend and will add to our library!

Megan Bannen has done it again. This book was like a warm, fuzzy hug. I loved being back in Tanria with Twyla, Frank and DUCKERS ! Laugh out loud funny, seriously the pop culture jokes and references are A+. It was also really nice to read about middle aged characters that have real life insecurities and problems with dash of magic and glitter. If you love “ friends to lovers “, rom-coms, fantasy and cozy mysteries this is the story for you.