cience fiction fantasy cowboy friends to lovers middle age romance with disco dragons.

Excellent mix of themes to return us to the world of Eternity and Tanria and the Tanrian Marshals.

We follow the exploits of Twyla and Frank, friends, neighbours, and Marshals as they patrol Tanria without the endless hordes of the undead to bother them.

Instead though they have dragons, and more difficult than dragons, family conflict, though these are some of my favourite dragons ever.

I’m not a big fan of steamy spice, specially when it doesn’t really progress the story, and even more so when it makes no sense and stands out like a sore thumb and hinders the character development.

You will be pleased to know that this has such a spicy sex scene between two grown adults I had to stop reading it on public transport!!! But this is also a wonderful scene where we get to know more about both the characters involved and is pivotal to later scenes in the book. A massive well done to Megan for making it all so believable.

Full of fun, found family, friendship, and packed full of humour I really enjoyed this and found it nice to read about people close to my age would heartily recommend.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Having loved Megan Bannen's previous work I was delighted to dive headfirst into The Undermining of Twyla and Frank - my expectations were arguably set dangerously high especially given that this book also promised dragons!
I would say that this story delivers exactly what it says it is going to. When Harry met Sally but with dragons is precisely what this book is and it does not skimp on the friends-to-lovers trope. Alongside that lovely romance, there is also the plot which, while it definitely comes secondary to the romance, is still remarkably intriguing and helps the book feel like it has even more substance.
I definitely appreciated the representation of an older couple in a market somewhat saturated with young lovers, I liked that Bannen didn't shy away from the spicier scenes just because this couple were more rich in years. I would say if you've enjoyed T Kingfisher's romance in the past, as many have, this would be a great book to pick up.
Finally I will say that while you do not need to read the first book in this universe to understand the plot, you will be spoiled for book one slightly so I would recommend reading them in order if you have not already read The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy.
I received a free digital review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved, loved this book from start to finish .......... it was so unusual for the main characters to be
middle aged , for them to have a later in life sexual attraction and be able to carry out acts of heroism despite their age ,
but also able to put the greater good first ,
The story is full of twists and turns, discovery of a special species and a friends to romance HEA but
can they survive the adventures to come ........... a real page turner . Romantic suspense and whimsy at its very best !


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

2.5 stars

A whimsical and cosy fantasy romance with dragons and glitter

It took me a while to get into The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, but once I did, I loved it. This one also took me a long time to get into, but it didn't deliver like the first book, which was quite dark in places. Other early readers loved this, but for me, it shoulda been called the underwhelming of Twyla and Frank...😂

Things I liked:
🎉The characters were older! It was refreshing to read a romance featuring characters in their 50's.
🎉I like this wacky and unique world.
🎉The discussion on marriage and motherhood.
🎉Friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes, and the two of them had a great friendship.

Having said that, this book was so long and boring in parts, yes a book about dragons was boring, and also very silly at times...
Twyla's single pov got old fast, and Frank didn't always feel like a fully fleshed out character, dual pov would've worked better for me.

Then there was the ridiculous plot and villain reveal and the motivation behind it..it felt cartoonish, and it just wasn't it.

My other main gripe was the love triangle. I hate it when a character dates someone who is not the main love interest for a chunk of the story, and it didn't help that I strongly disliked the guy...

So yeah, this was cosy and fun in parts, but I feel like the magic of book one was missing. This was definitely a little too quirky for me!

3 Stars
One Liner: Sadly, underwhelming

No one expected a middle-aged and widowed Twyla Banneker to become a marshal. But Frank Ellis, her friend and workplace partner, helped her find the footing she needed to survive. Eight years later, they have settled into a rhythm at the job. The land of Tarnia is less dangerous and safer, which doesn’t bode well for their job but gives them some relief.
However, things start to spiral out of control when they find a dead body. Soon, Frank becomes a foster parent for a baby dragon! There’s something sinister going on, and the Marshalls have to solve the case. Life gets harder when Twyla realizes Frank could be much more than a best friend.
The story comes in Twyla’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
So, I admit I pretty much forgot the previous book and remember only vague stuff about some letters. Thankfully, I could recollect a few more details as I read this one (not a lot but enough to follow the story and visualize the setting).
I like that the lead characters share a great friendship. This is hard to write without making the whole thing sound off in a friends-to-lovers romance. However, the transition isn’t smooth. It comes a bit too late and is a bumpy ride (much like the battered ducks used in the book).
I also like that the couple are older and in their 50s. This should make them more mature, right? Not always! Still, it’s good to read books with different age groups.
Why do we get only a single POV in this one? The book (desperately) needs Frank’s POV. Instead, we have Twyla going on and on for 400+ pages, which gets repetitive (annoying and boring). I understand Twyla’s situation. I truly do. But she needs to be more than someone who goes on a rant whenever possible. Moreover, the lack of Frank’s POV means we are stuck with being in the FMC’s head throughout.
The book has dragons but the cutesy type. They release glitter (and not fire). This is actually cool. However, the dragons are underutilized in the plot. There’s so much to do with them (observing how they eat, swim, and poop is not enough!) but except for a little in the climax, the rest doesn’t explore their potential. The baby dragon is adorable, though!
The book is a drama. There is supposed to be a mystery but forget about it if you want to enjoy this one. Mystery is used as a plot device for more drama (angst once, humor next). The reveal made me laugh at the absurdity of the whole thing. I think that’s what the author was aiming for. If not, well… *shrug*
At least there’s an epilogue, so bonus points for that. No denying that the book tackles some important themes about marriage and motherhood. But, TBH, don’t hit the readers on the head with it. We understand soon.
There are quite a few F-bombs scattered in the book. Some might find it excessive. I ignored them mostly. Duckers is fun when he is not being too goofy. His love track has some developments, so we are likely to get more details in book three.
The pacing is a bit uneven due to the repetition. Trimming down the content to 330 pages and then adding Frank’s POVs for some 20 pages would make this a great read and feel more like romance.

To summarize, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank is a decent read but ends up underwhelming when it could have been a lot better. Read this as women’s fiction with a wee bit of mystery and a touch of romance.
My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK (Orbit), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Thank you to Megan Bannen, Netgalley and publisher for providing me with an digital arc to read and review!

About:
The second book in the series expands upon the world we were introduced too in the first book. We now follow two Tanrian Marshals: Twyla Banneker, a widowed middle-aged woman, and her partner and best friend, Frank Ellis. The duo stumbles upon a glitter-covered corpse near a dragon-sized footprint, leading them to require the help of Dr. Quill Vanderlinden, a charming scientist intrigued by both Twyla and the dragons they’re investigating...

My thoughts:
Megan Bannen’s writing is so witty and engaging, she creates the perfect blend of humor and suspense! Twyla and Frank’s dynamic forms the heart of the story, with Twyla serving as a relatable protagonist juggling her roles as both a mother and a marshal. Frank is the quintessential best friend—loyal, supportive, and occasionally hilariously grumpy. I'm in love with the characters, particularly Twyla, a middle-aged heroine proving that adventure and self-discovery know no age limits!

I loved this book more than the first one, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves mystery, fantasy, and humor with heartwarming and lovable characters.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'The Undermining of Twyla and Frank' by Megan Bannen.

Honestly, I preferred this book over book 1. 'The Undermining of Twyla and Frank' features an older cast of characters but they are written in a way you can relate to them no matter your age. This story is a fun lighthearted read featuring dragons!!

Hart and Mercy was one of my favourite books of last year, so I was super excited about getting the arc for this one!! And in many ways, it met my expectations - the plot has some stakes, the writing and dialogue is fun, and I'm still really the worldbuilding. Also, it had some ADORABLE dragons that I absolutely fell in love with!!
The reason for the four stars is just a me thing honestly - sadly I found that the middle focused on stuff I personally wasn't really that interested in (Quill....), and I wish that structurally we'd have some chapters from Frank's POV just so that I could feel more connected to the dragons and his side of things. This is just me being very nitpicky though, I think that for most this will be a hit just like Hart and Mercy was!

I loved this book! I am a huge fan of romance books focusing on people who have messy lives finding love when they are not looking for it. Twyla and Franks relationship was beautiful and I would love to learn more about their retirement jobs! Plus dragon dad Frank was so wonderful!!

In a Nutshell: An entertaining romantasy featuring a middle-aged lead pair and dragons. Second book in the Hart & Mercy series. Can be read as a standalone but better if read in series order. Not as dark as the first book, but enjoyable enough. Recommended to cosy fantasy lovers.

Plot Preview:
Twyla & Frank, both fifty-three-year-old Tanrian Marshals whom we briefly met in the first book, have been best friends & neighbours since ages and job partners since eight years. Motherly Twyla finds her job a welcome change from her domestic life, though no one can picture her as a tough Marshal. Frank, though, is somewhat bored of his work. With the dangerous drudges eliminated, it has become far less exciting. Or that’s what he thinks.
When the body of a Tanrian Marshal turns up covered in glitter, the last thing Twyla and Frank expect to pop up is a dragon. But that’s not the only danger they have uncovered. Soon, their friendship is tested in more ways than one.
The story is written in the third person perspective of Twyla.

This book is the second in ‘The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy’ series. While the story is standalone, there are several characters who continue their arcs from the earlier book. I’d recommend reading this series in the right order.

Bookish Yays:
🐉 Twyla is not a model character. She’s a traditional mom who would rather be quiet about her needs and silent about her doubts than vocalise her protests and confront her loved ones. Her journey of self-realisation over the course of the book is mostly great. Though she isn't always likeable, she's always believable, and that makes her journey convincing. Her thoughts on "the invisibility of being a middle-aged mother" really resonated with me. I also love how her mom habits come into play even in her role as a marshal. Then again, those who want likeable FMCs might not connect with Twyla.
🐉 Frank is a more loveable and sensible character, albeit with his own foibles. The strong silent type, the best friend with secret feelings, the grumpy marshal who does everything necessary for his “foster child”. He was the perfect counterfoil to the impulsive and underconfident Twyla.
🐉 Fabulous to see a lead pair in their early fifties still rock their jobs as marshals. The portrayal of the two felt very realistic. They are mature in some ways and naïve in others, and often bumble and stumble their way through the trickier aspects of personal and professional life, just as we do.
🐉 Romantasy is considered a young reader’s genre. I honestly don’t know how the YA/NA crowd will feel about a middle-aged couple getting it on in a fantasy setting. But I love the age rep. It is a pleasure to see middle-aged romance being depicted without treating the characters like they are in their sunset years. There is a proper build-up to the romantic feelings, there are other relationships along the way, there is lack of confidence about their physical attractiveness, there is even steamy passion. In all honesty, I am not at all fond of steamy scenes in fiction, even when the couple is younger. But I just appreciate the true-to-life depiction of all aspects of a relationship in this book, including certain things that aren’t my cup of tea but still realistic.
🐉 The first book had insta love based on the enemies-to-lovers trope, which isn’t my favourite. This book has a slowburn friends-to-lovers romance. No wonder I liked this better! Slowburn love always works better than insta romance for me. Moreover, this is also a second chance romance, so the uncertainties of the couple’s feelings added further depth to the love story.
🐉 Wonderful to see characters from the earlier book! Mercy is in a limited role, and Hart gets a slightly longer page space. But Alma Maguire and Pen Duckers have a strong appearance. Duckers especially makes a mark as he is away from under Hart’s huge shadow.
🐉 There are a few new characters as well, some of whom are entertaining. The nimkilim (postal worker) in this book is a vast improvement over the alcoholic rabbit from Book One.
🐉 Twyla and Frank being best friends means that their relationship is full of banter. There are many funny scenes as well.
🐉 The worldbuilding is better in this book. There’s more explanation about the autoducks and the equimares, and also a clearer detailing of the Tanrian geography.
🐉 Dragons! I'd have considered the mention of dragons to be a spoiler but if you've read the first book, you would remember that it hinted at the presence of dragons in the next one. Plus, the blurb mentions dragons, and the cover also has dragons! So I happily announce: the book has dragons! I love dragons! Moreover, the portrayal of the dragons in the book is not at all like you see in typical fantasy; that’s a bonus. I wish there had been even more of the dragons, but there’s another book coming in the series, so there’s always hope.


Bookish Mixed Bags:
🔥 The book takes a while to get going, but once it does, the proceedings are entertaining. That said, the core plot is somewhat weak. The book is marked as a fantasy romance, and both those aspects are handled well. However, the first book felt much darker and more complex because of its themes and also because of the zombies. This book is very easy-going in comparison. There is a minor mystery in the book, but its resolution felt almost cartoonish (which, I think, was deliberate.) I didn’t mind all this much because I was looking for a light and entertaining read when I picked this up, and it delivered.
🔥 I have mixed feelings about the epilogue. I loved the kind of HEA depicted for the couple, but the “Look-at-us-all-We-are-like-the-Brady-Bunch” scene felt like an overkill.
🔥 This book is about 60 pages lengthier than the first book, even though the plot isn’t correspondingly intricate. Some part of the book could have been trimmed without any issue. However, I didn’t find the book dragging at any point, so the extended length wasn’t a major problem for me.

Bookish Nays:
💥 The title gives equal billing to Twyla AND Frank. Then why do we not have any chapters from Frank’s perspective? I get that the book is more a journey of Twyla’s self-development,, but even a few interludes from Frank would have made a difference.
💥 As with Book One, there is a generous sprinkling of cuss words throughout the book. I ignore cuss words when they are required to establish the characters’ personalities. In this book, they weren’t required at all.


All in all, despite some reservations about a few writing choices, I enjoyed the book to a great extent, even more than Hart and Mercy’s story. Though the “cosy” is far greater than the “fantasy” in this cosy fantasy, it creates a unique experience by having middle-aged romantic leads and making them feel convincing. The book isn’t just a romantasy but about the self-realisation journey of a middle-aged woman who finally learns to let go and also to live life on her own terms.

If you have already read the first book, I suggest you don’t compare this with the first book nor expect a similar reading experience. The two novels might have the same Tanrian setting, but have very different, almost contrary vibes. Better to read each as independent books.
Recommended to romantasy lovers looking for cosy fantasy vibes through a middle-aged love pair.

4 stars.

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit for providing the DRC of “The Undermining of Twyla and Frank” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed the return to this world! The book was fun, smutty and with good discussions about marriage and relationships. I hope we'll get a third book in this series!

I loved returning to this world Bannen had created, and Twyla and Frank are fantastic characters! I felt so frustrated for Twyla and was screaming for her to get her second chance, and then I wanted to scream AT her before she finally figured it all out 😂

I read book 1 & 2 back to back and ooft I did not want to leave this fictional world.
A new auto-buy for me.

A delightful story full of whimsy and humour like Terry Pratchett's Discworld but with romance and a little spice. I raced through these books and cannot wait to return.

What a joyful ride! After „The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy" became one of my favourite books of 2022, I was happy to discover new sights (or sides) of Tanria. Megan Bannen's worldbuilding is unique and quite simply fun. Her way of reimagining certain mythological creatures made me laugh out loud while it fit perfectly in that quirky world.
Twyla and Frank are lovely protagonists I enjoyed watching overcome their own personal struggles while dealing with unprecedented external circumstances. I was cheering for them the whole time.
If you want a cosy, fun read which warms your heart, then read "The Undermining of Twyla and Frank". Loved every second of it. 💖

A book full of so much joy, heart warming giggles that I dare you not to smile like a Cheshire Cat at while you read it.

Megan Bannen’s "The Undermining of Twyla and Frank" is a delightful, heartwarming tale blending fantasy and romance. Set in Tanria, the story follows widowed Twyla and her best friend Frank as they patrol a land once home to the Old Gods.
Their mundane routine is upended by a glitter-covered corpse and an unexpected baby dragon, plunging them into a deeper conspiracy. As their friendship deepens, Twyla realizes her true soulmate might be Frank.
This engaging rom-com with dragons offers relatable themes of love and duty, making it a must-read for romantasy fans, especially those seeking mature characters and a happy ending.

Review to follow. Love this series it’s unique and interesting and the characters are well written. 3. 5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.

When I received this ARC, I hadn't read The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, but I soon devoured the first installment of this series, and therefore I adored this world in The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy so so much, and I'm so glad Megan Bannen returned to Tanria a second time to deliver this tale.
Twyla and Frank - both now in their early fifties - have been neighbours and Tanrian marshalls together for a very long time. I instantly enjoyed the approach to this book. With the characters being mature in age compared to most fantasy characters, there were new elements of character development or storyline to enjoy and it was a breath of fresh air. The pacing of this book matched well with the slow navigation Twyla, the main protagonist, shares throughout.

I loved the addition of Duckers (he was a favourite in the first book of mine), he helped the story along and gave the two mains some relief and help along the way.

It took me a little while to read this series, but I am so glad I did. I enjoyed the whimsical side of this world, it adds the elements that I love to see in storytelling. Ive come to read many books where the main characters are older (40 - 50) and I have to say that it allows the story to be more mature, without the finicky state of someone who is younger.

If you like whimsy, magical, friends to lovers with a good sense of humour, then this world and book is for you. Please get your hands on it immediately.

I had promised myself I wouldn't do it anymore. I wouldn't request a copy of a sequel before reading the first book. However, I couldn't stop myself with this book. Before I could remind myself of the promise I had made I had already pressed the request button. And, publisher Orbit was so kind to send me a copy! Which meant that I had to finally start the first book, which had been rotten away on the shelves for quite some time already, so I could start this second book!

In this case it's possible to read this second book without having read the first. We're following a new couple, there is a new plot and although the characters of the previous book do cameo you will still be able to follow without knowing their story. However, the main reason I'm really glad that I read the first book, is that now the "wait, you two aren't a couple yet?" from every other character makes so much sense. After reading the first book I thought this was gonna be a prequel!

What I also absolutely love is that the characters in this book are a little older than the average romance couple. Both Twyla and Frank are over 50. They each have a family, they each have lost a romantic partner and therefore they have different dreams and different wants. The result is a refreshing romance where everything is a little less perfect and way more realistic. They're at a point in life where they need and want something different from a partner.

The author also did an amazing job to have the fantasy plot fit the general theme of the story. Because the fantasy plot, which is about dragons as the cover already gives away, is about family, about caring for others, about allowing the other to be free and themselves. It's about being a parent and a partner and trying to protect your children from your own mistakes. It's about love. For people, for dragons, in a romantic way and in a platonic way.

I hope the author will write another novel in this world. I will for sure check it out as soon as possible!

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy was one of my favourite romance reads last year. A lovely surprise of cozy fantasy, romance, friendship and family I adored everything about my visit to Tanria.

The second instalment in this series had a lot of life up to, but thankfully Twyla and Frank did not disappoint.

Best friends, Twyla and Frank have been by each other’s side for the past eight years. Widowed and wanting a change from her domestic life, Twyla joined the Tanrian Marshals to protect her home town of Eternity, where she partnered up with Frank.

Following the events of the previous book Twyla and Frank’s jobs have become a lot less exciting. That is until they find a glitter-covered body and a dragon-sized footprint. But dragons are believed to be long dead so Frank and Twyla being their investigations. Throw in a handsome scientist, the duo find themselves caught up in a criminal plot they must race to solve.

I loved everything about Twyla and Frank and it was so nice to see a portrayal of romance for characters in their 50s. Bannen explored this period of life, navigating divorce, adult children, grand children and trauma with aplomb and I adored it all.

Cozy fantasy is becoming one of my go to genres and this series is a must read for anyone who is looking for similar recommendations. Tanria is a wacky, developed and beautiful written world that jumps so visually from the page.

I can’t wait for Rosie and Adam’s story next year!