The Undermining of Twyla and Frank - by Megan Bannen (Paperback)

About the Book

"The entire town of Eternity was shocked when widowed, middle-aged Twyla Banneker partnered up with her neighbor and best friend, Frank Ellis, to join the Tanrian Marshals. Even her own children seemed appalled, save her youngest daughter Hope. Eight years later, Hope is off at medical school with the support of her mother's income, and Twyla and Frank are still patrolling Tanria, the former prison of the Old Gods. It's a mostly uneventful occupation since Marshal Hart took care of the infestation of the undead, but one Twyla refused to relinquish partly because her son Wade seems to expect that will leave her open to be a full time nanny for his children. But when Twyla and Hart discover the body of one of their fellow Marshals, covered in what looks like liquid glitter and near a footprint that can only be described as dragon-sized, the job suddenly becomes a lot more interesting. Everyone knows the existence of dragons in Tanria is nothing but a myth...until evidence to the contrary quite literally lands in Frank's hands in the form of a dragon egg. Quill, a handsome dracologist is called in from the university to help them investigate, and for the first time since her husband died, Twyla finds herself the flattering focus of an appropriately-aged man's attraction. Why on earth that should bother Frank, she doesn't know-but her longtime partner sure doesn't seem to care for Quill. As Twyla and Frank's investigation becomes more complicated, so does their easy friendship. And Twyla starts to realize that her true soul mate might just be the person who has lived next door all along.."--

Book Synopsis

From the author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy comes a heartwarming fantasy with a best friends-to-lovers rom com twist set in the delightful demigod and donut-filled world of Tanria.

The entire town of Eternity was shocked when widowed, middle-aged Twyla Banneker partnered up with her neighbor and best friend, Frank Ellis, to join the Tanrian Marshals. Eight years later, Twyla's rewarding career patrolling the strange land of Tanria remains a welcome change from the domestic grind of mom life, despite the misgivings of her grown children.

Fortunately (or unfortunately) a recent decrease in on-the-job peril has made Twyla and Frank's job a lot safer ... and a lot less exciting. So when they discover the body of one of their fellow marshals near an enormous footprint--and Frank finds himself the inadvertent foster dad to a baby dragon--they are grateful to be back in action.

Soon, the friends wind up ensnared in a nefarious plot that goes far deeper than any lucrative Tanrian mineshaft. But as danger closes in and Twyla and Frank's investigation becomes more complicated, so does their easy friendship. And Twyla starts to realize that her true soul mate might be the person who has lived next door all along...

Review Quotes

"Hilarious, heartfelt, and irresistibly charming." --Stephanie Burgis, author of Wooing the Witch Queen

"A delightful story worth every minute of your time. Fans of cozy fantasy will find a lot to love here, from glitter-breathing, poodle-esque dragons to a down-to-earth romance between two middle-aged heroes on the brink of retirement. Seriously, the dragons breathe glitter. What more could you want?"
--Kirkus

"Romance, fantasy, and humor blend together in a mature yet whimsically romantic story." --Booklist

"Bannen's witty prose and skillful genre blending shine as she seamlessly weaves together elements of romance, mystery, and adventure. The mature protagonists, particularly the wonderfully complex Twyla, offer a refreshing perspective on love and self-discovery in midlife. Bannen's heartfelt exploration of second chances and the transformative power of friendship resonates. Perfect for fans of T.J. Klune and Alix E. Harrow, this cozy, humor-filled romp celebrates the enduring magic of love at any age."
--Publishers Weekly

"A charming romantasy full of humor and adventure."--Library Journal

"Bannen manages to seamlessly blend fantasy, romance, and modern family dynamics, all while making you laugh until you (literally) cry. Not only is it sweet without being saccharine, it's also jam packed with whimsy around the kindest, biggest heart. I love this book so much that I would bury bodies for Twyla and Frank so deep no one would ever find them." --Lish McBride, author of the Uncanny Romance series

"One of the coziest, most whimsical fantasy reads I've ever come across! Megan Bannen has created a world that you'll never want to leave and characters that will carve a spot into your heart. This series is playfully unique, delightfully steamy, utterly romantic, and overall unmissable!"
--Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis

"Megan Bannen's writing is deeply adorable and heartbreakingly hilarious. Life is hard. Do yourself a favor and read The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. It's a bear hug of a book full of wonders and pink dragons." --Jayci Lee, author of Nine Tailed and That Prince is Mine

"A little sweet, a little spicy, a little sharp and entirely moreish!"

--Davinia Evans on The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

"An unabashedly offbeat adventure."

--Freya Marske on The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

"I cried twice and smiled plenty."

--Olivia Atwater on The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

"I showed up for the fantastic, fun fantasy setting but it was Hart and Mercy that kept me reading."

--Ruby Dixon on The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

"Truly outstanding romantic fantasy."

--India Holton on The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

About the Author

Megan Bannen is a former public librarian and an award-winning author of speculative fiction. Her work has been selected for the RUSA Reading List, the Indies Introduce list, and the Kids' Indie Next List, along with numerous best-of-the-year compilations. While most of her professional career has been spent behind a reference desk, she has also sold luggage, written grants, collected a few graduate degrees from various Kansas universities, and taught English at home and abroad. She lives in the Kansas City area with her family and more pets than is reasonable.