The Undermining of Twyla and Frank

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.

Genre: Romantasy
Narration: Third person past tense, single POV
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The Undermining of Twyla is the second book in this world. This is a romantasy book that's heavier on the romance than the fantasy, though it does involve some adorable dragons. Twyla and Frank are the main characters. They've both been in marriages before, they have kids, and are pretty settled in life as marshals. When a coworker is found dead, and dragons are possibly involved, they get pulled into figure out the mystery of both these creatures and the death.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, more than this one.

Note: While this is marketed as When Harry Met Sally I don't see any parallels between these two other than that they're both friends to lovers. This isn't good or bad, it's just is. But don't go into it expecting WHMS vibes.

Read this if you: really liked the first book and want to see the continuation of that story in the same world, love friends to lovers with a slow burn, wanna enjoy a romance with older characters than usual.

• Paranormal Romance
  - Friends to Lovers
  - Partners in Crime
  - Next Door Neighbors
  - Acton Packed RomCom
  - Second Chances
  - Dragons
  - In their 50s

It's rare that I get to read a romantasy about a middle-aged (50s) woman. I'm about to be 40, and soooo many of Twyla's thoughts and insecurities were shockingly relatable. I adored her journey with Frank, I was annoyed at her for not seeing him and his feelings, but also got it because I've been there, so deep in your own feelings and troubles that it's hard to look up. I couldn't read this fast enough.

I didn't love it as much as the previous book, but it's still super fun and super cute. And the twist near the had me rolling!

Is there such a thing as a “fantasy women's fiction” genre? If not, I think Megan Bannen, in her second installment of the Hart and Mercy series, just invented it. I liked the book's best friends-to-lovers romance, but I absolutely worshipped everything about 53 year old FMC Twyla. She may have difficulty in getting up off the ground (can relate) or telling her son NO when he drops the grandkids at her house without any notice. But she's still a badass marshal who can kill a zombie drudge or face down an unfamiliar, fierce beast. Twyla wrestles with her sudden romantic feelings for her partner Frank, while also trying to establish a meaningful, fulfilling identity aside from wife and mother. Her hard-fought realization that she deserves more is arguably more satisfying than the romance (although Twyla and Frank's unconventional happy ending is a hoot). Plus, while there is a love triangle (ugh), it allows Twyla to have a makeover courtesy of her bemused daughter, and go on a date for the first time since her husband's death. Twyla and Frank features less life-threatening action than [b:The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy 58510253 The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy (The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, #1) Megan Bannen https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1639888350l/58510253.SY75.jpg 91899176] (whose MCs appear long enough to have a wedding), but the story feels more intimate, and there are more opportunities for humor. Bannen continues to explore and expand her unique fantasy world, where people bake peach pies and wash dishes, use equimares and autoducks as their modes of transportation, and accept the daily mail from talking animals. Initially, I was slightly disappointed by the not-quite-extinct fierce beasts (dragons), but eventually I decided that their appearance and behavior were a good match for the story's tone. Bannen will publish at least one more book in the series in 2025, [b:The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam 215547926 The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam Megan Bannen https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1720114733l/215547926.SY75.jpg 221975343]. Judging from the few glimpses we get of Rosie, it should be an exciting ride.

Older couple, friends to lovers, and glitter spitting dragons? Sign me in! The MMC has acne scars? I'm not sure my heart can take all this normalcy! Megan Bannen, are you telling me that real people can find love as well??

The undertaking of Hart and Mercy is one of my favorite fantasy romances and I was ecstatic to be back to Eternity and Tarnia. Hart and Mercy remain my favorite couple, and I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say that seeing them get married was my favorite part of this book. However, Twy and Frank are beautiful characters and I loved every single minute I spent getting to know them.

I loved to see Twy navigating through her life and job, overcoming her fears in love and relationships.

Frank is everything that is good in the world. He has such tenderness in him, I just wish he had more voice in the story and more time to show his steady and quiet love.

I'll be anxiously waiting for more books in this world.

I would like to thank Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Pre review:

I got it and I'm ecstatic!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit and Netaglley for the eARC!

A fun, second chance love involving an older main couple (fifties), dragons and our beloved Penrose Duckers.

Sequel to The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, this follows the events quite nicely after, with ample time to allow the folks of Eternity to have a breather before the next big thing happens. While like the first book, with the aim of a dual POV, there is more of a definite focus on Twyla rather than Frank. We get to know Twyla and her hardships more than we do Frank, and when he does get a turn, it comes through what Twyla knows.

There's a strong ‘mom' vibe this time round, most likely because of Twyla's age. There's less action (apart from the end) despite it starting off with purple riding boots and glitter puke. This is definitely more of a coming-to-maturity book than the previous.

However, it was still an enjoyable read and the plot was more focused. The culprit reveal was a little surprising and, well, stupid honestly, but that's more to do with who it was than how it was presented.

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


This was such a cute follow up to Hart and Mercy! It gave me all the feels and expanded on the superb world we were introduced to in the first book. While it's not really required to read the first book, I would recommend it otherwise you will miss out on a lot of cute moments and Easter eggs from the first book.

I absolutely adored the dragons in this book as much as I adored the couple. I am a total (self-appointed) dragon connoisseur and absolutely loved how they were written in this book. Totally refreshing after reading higher fantasy dragon books, but with way more plot and intrigue than a typically rom com.

In all I will never not recommend this series and this author is an instant auto buy for me. With these two books it proves to me that she can't miss! I can't wait what she does in future books, #JusticeForDuckers

In this book you will find: Second chance romance, friends to lovers, jealousy, baby dragon, relationship issues, kidnapping, on page violence, off page death, the most romantic man you will ever hope to meet, and so much more!

For more of my reviews, check out my blog.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for providing an ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Okay, so if you know me at all, you'll know that I absolutely adored Bannen's The Undertaking of Hart + Mercy when it came out. When I got the notification that Bannen had written a sequel to my beloved zombie-fantasy-romance, I about lost my cool. I think I screamed a little bit. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? All the reasons I loved Hart + Mercy are right here in Twyla + Frank. It's just as absolutely charming, odd, and absolutely original as the first book – but this one has the added bonus of being about older people. Twyla and Frank are both in their fifties and what a breath of fresh air that is. They have people-in-their-fifties-problems, not young-people problems. They've been friends for twenty plus years, but still can't admit their feelings for one another.

YOU KNOW, THE GOOD STUFF.

Plus there's suddenly dragons in Tanria or whatever.

Seriously, Megan Bannen, I don't know what I did to deserve your books but holy crap. Thank you? Thank you, thank you. Thank you for making Twyla badass, but still a middle-aged mom/grandmother. Thank you for making her finally realize she deserves to be unashamedly happy. Thank you for making Frank such a sweetheart, too.

GOD, I JUST REALLY ENJOYED THIS. The characters of the previous book are present in the background, but only Hart, Duckers and Zeddie really have speaking roles. It works in a really just wonderful way. I'm spewing feelings here, but honestly – please pick up The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. Especially if you loved Hart + Mercy.

I'll be over here waiting anxiously for anything that Megan Bannen decides to write.