The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy #2
Fantasy Romance
July 2, 2024- Orbit

Review by Angela

I was super excited for this follow up to The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. Especially when I heard it would feature two middle aged characters who have been best friends for a very long time.

Twyla Banneker and Frank Ellis are neighbors, best friends, and partners with the Tanrian Marshals. Twyla is widowed with three adult children and multiple grandchildren. She is comfortable with her life, and her job enables her to pay for her daughter’s medical school. Frank is divorced with two adult children and I’m pretty sure has been in love with Twyla for years but is afraid to rock the friendship boat so is comfortable just to carry on with their relationship the way it is.

That all changes with the discovery of dragons, a dragon expert arriving who is interested in Twyla romantically, a nefarious plot from outside forces, and Twyla and Frank realizing that their lives are in danger. Even with all that the pacing in this book is slow, and as much as I was interested in the overall story, I did put it down for a time and turn to other review books. Once I came back and the action picked up, I was all in right up until the end.

This is a romance between older characters, which I adored, and it also focuses quite a bit on Twyla’s reemerging sexuality and the best friends overcoming their fear of ruining their friendship and admitting they are in love. It’s lovely, dragon spit and bombs going off under beds aside.

The worldbuilding is fantastic, and I was so excited to not only see Hart and Mercy’s wedding but having the chance to catch up with all the rest of the secondary characters. Duckers remains my favorite and I’m kind of hoping he is the main character in a future book.

Looking forward to continuing this series when the next book releases next year.

Grade- B-