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!!

Unfortunately I think maybe these books just aren't for me because while I liked them well enough they both felt a bit underdeveloped so I wasn't hooked on them much

Megan Bannen has done it again with yet another adorable, heartwarming and super fun romance, thats sure to put a smile on your face. (I mean this book has pink dragons that can breath glitter- how can you not smile)

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank follows the development of best friends to lovers set against the backdrop of Tanria, where the sudden appearance of dragons which were previously believed to be extinct adds a whole lot of excitement to their roles as Marshalls. With a plot to uncover and dragons on the loose, Twyla and Frank find their friendship developing into something more.

I adored Twyla and Frank their friendship and romance was so heartwarming and sweet with their easy laughter and care for each other. I adored how both our MC's are older and have previous baggage and relationships to work through. The focus on Tywla coming into her own and exploration of her emotions about her previous marriage and how the pull of family can often lead you down a road where your doing everything for everyone else and nothing for yourself was masterfully depicted.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As always with the second book in a series, you worry that it won’t be as good, for this book that was not the case at all. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Twyla and Frank work as marshals and stumble upon a body, leading them to a baby dragon. Whilst uncovering the species, they find a plot is afoot, putting them in danger. This is an excellently written friends to lovers, with a plot that is warming. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

5 stars

I loved the first book in this series and pre-ordered this as soon as I could - and I fell in love with this book in so many ways. It was maybe a little slow in the beginning but otherwise I don't have a single bad word to say. I really enjoyed this being more of a romance between an older couple rather than the characters being around 18 like in most romantasy books at the moment, and enjoyed how it was the same characters who featured in previous books. The romance was 10/10; the banter and the love, just perfect. With friends to lovers and a second chance at love, there is so much joy and love and care and this book that just made me feel so warm and cosy. Adventure, romance, and comedy are all woven throughout this book and I enjoyed every page.

Lastly, baby dragons!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the advance reader copy.

I hadn’t read the first book in the series and don’t think I’m going to go back and try either.

Unfortunately this was very high on my anticipated reads and felt like it fell short. Which is funny as the book itself is long.

The main reason for the stars is the cute baby dragon, Duckers and Zeddie.

Listen the AMOUNT of times I keep saying this as Frank and Twyla 😅. Even NOW I typed the title the other way around. I’ve only ever heard the name Twyla from Schitt’s Creek so I don’t know how common it is. I had hoped I would enjoy this as much as the first book so I’m glad to say that I totally did! It introduces new-to-us characters in a familiar world and brings new life to the world-building.

This, unlike its predecessor, isn’t so heavy on the world-building. Which is a feat considering there’s literally dragons 😂. I don’t know about you but when I see there’s dragons in a book I automatically think heavy world-building. Guessing Bannen thought we got enough of that in book 1 and dialed it back. It’s not even that this focuses more on the romance; it’s more character-driven than anything else. Twyla learns how to be more herself, put her first, what her dreams are in life. Plus she delves into new love – but clearly her journey and character growth is set ahead of romance.

I so loved Twyla and Frank as main characters! They show up for a scene in Hart and Mercy (which I didn’t even realise). Bannen does such a great job in letting you get to know them and their personalities before you’re even halfway through the book. Twyla shone in this book. Not to say that Frank didn’t have a great story, but the focus was more on her. Her journey, her story, dreams, wants, all that. I liked that what she wanted to be her own person, be more than a mom, grandmother, friend, Marshall. I loved watching her realise that she could do things for herself.

Frank is an absolute darling and he fit Twyla so well. Not only as a romantic interest (look it’s not a spoiler, it says so in the synopsis), but as a main character. Even though his journey isn’t as big or prominent as Twyla’s, he still develops quite a bit over the course of the book. Just like Twyla, he realises what he wants and tries to go for it. I’d definitely love to have Frank as a best friend/romantic partner.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC of The Undermining of Twyla and Frank.
Oh, I really enjoyed reading this book. It's truly magical and a pure bliss. And ohh those dragons were just the cutest beings of the whole book.

I loved The Undertaking of Heart and Mercy, yet I really struggled to get into this book. I think the main issue for me was that the characters didn't grip me, we're in different life stages - and I haven't experienced that stage yet, so they didn't resonate with me. I also struggled to get into the book becasue of how the previous book ended - it resolved one of the main world building parts of the book, and the reason for the Marshals' existence.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the book, I would put it down to me not connecting with the characters/caring enough about them. I would still potentially read further books in the series, depending on which characters they focused on. I also do sometimes struggle with low stakes fantasy, espeically if I can't connect with the characters as that's usualy a driving factor for mainting my interest in the book.

Loved the first book and love the second book, though the first a tiny bit more since it had been a bit darker than this one but still so enjoyable.
This was so cozy and I adored the characters!
It has everthing a fantasy lover might adore: dragons. cozy vibes. older characters (in their 50).
Just a very sweet and entertaining book!

Really loved this. After reading the first, I was so excited to return to this world and was not disappointed! Highly recommended

I don't know how but this was even better than the first! I like the idea of a friends-to-lovers romance but often find it doesn't pan out as I hope, not the case with this book!

Frank is amazing, Twyla is amazing. The two together are even better. I also found a lot of Twyla's experiences in the book resonated with me and helped me see my ideas but into words, never have I highlighted a book so much! I can't wait for the next one in the series!!

Thank you for providing this ARC. I enjoyed the first book, however this one was not as high stakes, thus somewhat lacking and I did not enjoy it as much.

One again the world Back history in this universe confuses me like nothing else.

I just don't think things are explored well enough for thing to make sense to my brain.

However i still love it.

There is just something soothing and funny about this authors writing style that just grips you and keeps you wanting to read.

And this book has DRAGONS. These ones are the twilight kinda dragons though and honestly it just makes it all sound insane yet amazing.

My one MAJOR gripe with this one though was how many times Twylas age was mentioned. It was pretty much every chapter.
. I also missed the Dual POV aspect we had in book 1. I really think seeing Frank's POV would have been delightful


And we love to see more of Duckers

I loved the first book in this series, and this was a slightly lower stakes continuation in the same world.

It’s always nice to see a slightly older cast of main characters, and I enjoyed seeing the way Twyla and Frank’s lives and past experiences - both together and apart - impacted their decisions as the plot progressed.

I’m a sucker for a dragon, so the inclusion of an adorable dragon hatchling was always going to be a win from me, and I hope they will feature in future books in this world.

Overall, I loved the second book in this series and hope to read more from this author in the future.

Thank you so much for approving me for a copy of The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. Unfortunately this title isn't working for me at the moment and so I've had to set it to one side.

This series is exactly (exactly!!) what I want from fantasy romance: emphasis on the romance, and a lot of humour in both the romance and the world building. Because truly, who comes up with pink, glitter-breathing dragons? You can't not love it.

It was amazing to see how large a role the previous characters played in this sequel, since I've come to love them so much. But it was especially amazing to get to know Twyla and Frank better, because they were so loveable. I don't think enough books have middle-aged (or older) main characters, and I loved their dynamic, given their history and their baggage and their long friendship. I especially loved seeing Twyla find her happiness after feeling like she was just there to be useful for others for so long. And Frank is such a wonderful love interest, supportive and caring and a genuine best friend.

I really enjoyed being back in this world and I loved Twyla and Frank and their dynamic. I also really enjoyed the plot of this with the dragon mystery. My only criticism is that I wish this was more dual POV because I did find myself not quite connecting to Frank as much as a character and this made me slightly less invested in their romance than I could have been.

Love love love this. Frank is the slight grey attitude that is highly addictive in these books. The reason we come back again and again and again. We need our fix of shadow dragon daddies.

After thoroughly enjoying the first book in this series I was looking forward to this installment and it did not disappoint. After only a brief introduction in book 1 I found I went in with no preconceptions. Twyla was such a real and well rounded character and I loved her growth throughout the book and how she took back her life to make it her own in the end. Frank is such a sweetheart, I wanna be his best friend. I cannot wait for the next book in the series. Megan is such a creative world builder, I wish I could go to the dragon sanctuary for real cuz it sounds so fun!