By: Megan Bannen
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Publisher: Orbit Books
“Early in their friendship, they had discovered a mutual tendency to burst into song whenever the lyrics to a particular ditty seemed relevant to the topic of conversation. Considering the fact that most of the records cranked out of the Bushong music scene over the past half century wailed about lost love and bitterness, it was pathetic how close to home some of those songs hit.”
Megan Bannen, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
The Undermining of Twyla and Frank, by Megan Bannen, was another charmingly wonderful romantic fantasy to read. I loved being back in the town of Bushong riding along with the Tanrian Marshalls, Frank Ellis and Twyla Banneker. Frank and Twyla are best friends who have lived next door to each other since their children were little, and their families were very close. As the years passed, Frank, a Tanrian Marshall, divorced when his wife left him, and Twyla is a widow, her husband passing away 13 years prior. The two grew closer and Frank convinced Twyla to join the Tanrian Marshalls, much to the dismay of her family. One of choices Ms. Bannen made that I absolutely loved was making Frank and Twyla 53. Her joining the marshals at “her age,” was simply unfathomable to her children, who, to them, she was the wife, the mother, provider, taking care of everything, and not a middle-aged woman taking a potentially dangerous job. As a (ahem) middle-aged woman myself, it was so refreshing to read about someone like me. A woman with the same insecurities and life experiences that come with age. I felt the same way with Frank, seeing my husband reflected in his physical differences as he aged. The chemistry and ease of their friendship was so well written. The story was thoroughly engrossing, a perfect balance of romance, fantasy, and intrigue. Just when Frank says to Twyla that the job has gotten a little boring since the now Sherrif Hart Ralston rid Tanria and Bushong of the undead Drudges, patrolling the mysterious mist-shrouded area of Tanria is just not exciting. That is until a colleague ends up dead, covered in a glittering unknown substance and a giant footprint next to him. What ensues is a fantasy filled with mystery and intrigue, and unexpected twists and turns. Woven seamlessly throughout is Twyla and Frank’s relationship and how it is evolving. It was great to see our old friends Mercy, Hart, Zeddie Birdsall, and his boyfriend, Tanrian Marshall Pen Duckers. Duckers role in this book is greatly expanded. I cannot say enough good things about The Undermining of Twyla and Frank, a friend to lover’s romance, with plots twists and turns, and an abundance of love and humor in Ms. Bannen’s beautiful prose. I absolutely loved this book.
Twyla and Frank’s friendship is written with such chemistry, it absolutely leaps off the pages. They are truly best friends, while most people think they are romantically involved. This speaks to the fact that no one thinks a man and woman can be “just friends,” but the two truly are, sharing their innermost secrets to no one else but each other. The choice to make them over 50 was, in my opinion, excellent. When we think of representation in books, we rarely consider older characters, and those characters perhaps having sexual relationships. Ms. Bannen nails it with Twyla’s insecurities about her aging body. I know because I feel the same, and I kept thinking, “Yes! I feel that, too!” To connect with characters so strongly, I always feel is the mark of excellent writing. This line shows Twyla thinking on the role of women and motherhood, and how certain things are often taken for granted:
“Echoes of her late husband drifted around her, this pernicious and lingering Old Gods notion that a uterus somehow endowed one with inherent childcare abilities…”
Megan Bannen, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank
The acknowledgment that aging is difficult, and the changes our bodies go through, is never lost on either Twyla or Frank. They have all the aches and pains that come with it. Of course, I particularly related to Twyla and the inevitable changes. The changes in our bodies that come with childbirth, the weight that sometimes creeps up, menopausal changes, and the fact that we simply are not as young as we used to be. Ms. Bannen balances out these insecurities with Twyla learning to accept her body, and that she is worthy of a man finding her attractive. This book is not an endless diatribe on aging, so that is not what I am conveying. What I am illustrating the very real, and relatable characters Frank and Twyla are. To write middle age characters as “super marshals” would not only be unrealistic, but would take away from the relatability of them.
“She thought about her extra pounds that weren’t going anywhere, the flesh of her body that seemed to be oozing downward like a lava flow, the way her skin was becoming crepey, the incomprehensibility of any man finding her sexy. But then he kissed her again, kissed her with passion and with wanting, and for the second time that evening, she thought, Why not?”
Megan Bannen, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank
Pen became a main side character, and Alma is back as well as the Tanrian Marshal Chief also with an expanded role. Pen had some truly laugh out loud lines, as he pretty much says anything that he is thinking. Of course, this is much to the dismay of Twyla and Frank, who he is now working with on this case. He and Zeddie are navigating some difficulty in their relationship, and Frank and Twyla are there to help. As the investigation heats up with a major discovery, Dr. Quill Vanderlinden is brought in. He is attracted to Twyla and takes her to dinner, and Frank has a very curious response to this, since Twyla has not been on a date since the death of her husband. I think adding Quill to the mix served several important points. His expertise was essential to the developing crime and discovery. Frank took an almost instant dislike to him, which served to build tension, and finally, he made Twyla feel beautiful, being able to look at herself and see her worth. Our nimkilin mail carrier is back, except now it is a hedgehog named Hermia who is not the best at her job. But she is cute and lovable, so they put up with her bumbling the mail delivery.
I always loved the world building in these books. Tanria is a fascinating concept, a strange, mist shrouded place the marshals patrol for the safe-keeping of the towns. It was created by the Old Gods and it is both beautiful and terrifying. One little minor spoiler about the case Frank, Twyla, and Pen are trying to solve, is the discovery of dragons in Tanria. They are on the cover, so it may not really be a spoiler. How can you not love a fantasy that has dragons? Even the dragons Ms. Bannen creates are adorably unique. A baby imprints on Frank, and he stuck with this baby dragon on his chest for quite some time. Once thought extinct from Tanria, they discover even more. Dragons who do not breathe fire or eat people. No, these dragons spew a sticky glitter and are vegetarians. And yes, I wanted one for a pet! Pen’s enthusiasm and humor at finding the dragons is infectious. The case also involves illegal mining, and a complex situation begins to emerge. The mystery of where the dragons came from, how it is connected to the mines, and who killed the marshal. I loved it. It was exciting, fun-filled, with so many unexpected plot twists and turns.
“He dropped her and whooped. “Woo! Woooooo! Did you see that? Dragons! In Tanria! Who was right? I was right!”
“You were right,” Frank agreed, bemused.
“In your face, Ellis! Haaaaaaa!”
Megan Bannen, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank
The pacing and prose of this book were beautifully done. Ms. Bannen writes humor, romance, and fantasy and puts them together perfectly in The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. There was never a moment that I was not totally engrossed in this novel. On one page I was laughing out loud from the barbs the characters were making, and on the next page, my heart was breaking for Twyla and Frank. Pen was just a wonderful addition to add the perfect amount of levity to the story. There were so many aspects of this book to love. Twyla was a strong female protagonist, and as a middle-aged woman, she is portrayed a realistic woman of this age, with all that comes from aging. I think it is safe to say that Twyla, like Mercy, is a relatable character in both how hard she works and how she looks. She realizes how beautiful as she is, and that was completely refreshing, as was having a FMC that was older. Frank deals with the guilt of his divorce and his regret that perhaps he was gone too long on patrols in Tanria. As they navigate the case, and with the presence of Quill, they are forced to examine their evolving relationship. Pen and the other characters are just as amazing, fun, and lovable. Once again, I felt like I was going back to visit family when I read this book. Ms. Bannen has written another perfect romantic fantasy in The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Overall Thoughts
It is safe to say that I absolutely loved Megan Bannen’s The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. Ms. Bannen has written a fabulous friends to lovers romantic fantasy, with a twist. Twyla Banneker, a sharp, smart, Tanrian Marshall, along with her best friend and partner, Frank Ellis, unravel a complex case, and the wonderful discovery of dragons. Dragons that are among my favorite in fantasy, with their unique glitter spitting and vegetarian diet. With humor, heart, and love, she crafts a story of how these two people, who are best friends, navigate the complexity of how their friendship has evolved. The choice of older main characters, complete with all the joys of aging, made for wonderfully relatable characters that I loved. There is love throughout this book. The love of family, the love of friends, and the shared love between two people. It is also an amazing fantasy with unique magic and world building. Tanria, a creation of the Old Gods, is both a dangerous and beautiful place, though not everyone should enter. Pen, who we met in Hart and Mercy, is back with an expanded role and was laugh out loud funny, and so endearing. I loved the LBGTQIA+ representation, Zeddie, and Pen, as well as Alma, married to her wife, Diane. It all comes together to make a romantic fantasy that was sheer perfection. It was a joy to read and I wish it did not end. It is a must read for fans of romantic fantasy. If you typically don’t read romantic fantasy, I urge you try The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. I know you will love it as much as I did.
Book Summary
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…
You can find out more about Meggan Bannen on her website at: https://www.meganbannen.com/
My thanks to Orbit Books for providing me with an ARC copy of the book.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eBook.
Order a signed copy of The Undermining of Twyla and Frank at Rainy Day Books
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Review of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Megan Bannen is a former public librarian whose YA debut The Bird and the Blade was an Indies Introduce Summer/Fall 2018 pick, a Summer 2018 Kids’ Indie Next List pick, and a Kirkus Best YA Historical Fiction of 2018 pick. While most of her professional career has been spent behind the 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 husband and their two sons.
