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Undead #1
Ni muerta ni casada
Ha sido una semana de lo más movidita para Betsy Taylor. Primero, pierde su trabajo. Luego, para colmo, muere en un accidente de coche. Pero lo que realmente le molesta (además de despertar en la morgue vestida con un traje color rosa chicle y zapatos baratos, cortesía de su madrastra), es que no logra permanecer muerta. Todas las noches se levanta con un antojo terrible de sangre. Y la dieta líquida no le sienta demasiado bien.
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 2, 2004
615 people are currently reading
34176 people want to read
About the author
MaryJanice Davidson
145 books5,408 followersMaryJanice Davidson is an American author and motivational speaker who writes mostly paranormal romance, but also young adult and non-fiction. She is the creator of the popular UNDEAD series and the time-traveling historical fiction A CONTEMPORARY ASSHAT AT THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. MaryJanice is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author who writes a bi-weekly column for USA Today and lives in St. Paul with her family. You can reach her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,100 reviews
January 14, 2008
This is one of those guilty pleasure books that you feel somewhat embarassed about. Shuffling through the romance section of Barnes & Noble is a new and awkward treat for me. Not only did I not expect to ever read anything from this side of the bookstore, I never expected to enjoy it quite so much.
Before I go any further, my macho side feels compelled to point out that I originally stumbled upon one of Davidson's books in the new releases section and, having recently read Christopher Moore's Bloodsucking Fiends and You Suck, the page and a half I read of the book seemed like just the thing to cure my vamp itch. To my bemusement, I found the series in the romance section. This notwithstanding, I didn't hesitate in scooping up the first in the series, a lovely pink and purple book.
Now that my inner-male is somewhat pacified, I can continue talking about the book itself. Each book in the series is very short, only a few hours of reading time. But what they lack in length, they more than make up for in fun. Davidson's protagonist, Betsy, is a zany, smart-alecky newbie vamp who, of course, blunders her way from situation to situation with a charming mix of naivete and sass. Beyond the somewhat gratuitous "torrid love scenes" indicative of the genre, which, despite their female perspective manage to be excitingly readable (read: it's not all man chests and pork swords), this book throws at you a fun mix of spontaneous, wisecracking characters that don't fail in providing a few hours of lighthearted entertainment. If you like vamps and sex (or shoes), this series is worth the awkward trip to the romance section. I recommend grabbing a couple of these books as they are very quick reads and indulgently addictive.
Before I go any further, my macho side feels compelled to point out that I originally stumbled upon one of Davidson's books in the new releases section and, having recently read Christopher Moore's Bloodsucking Fiends and You Suck, the page and a half I read of the book seemed like just the thing to cure my vamp itch. To my bemusement, I found the series in the romance section. This notwithstanding, I didn't hesitate in scooping up the first in the series, a lovely pink and purple book.
Now that my inner-male is somewhat pacified, I can continue talking about the book itself. Each book in the series is very short, only a few hours of reading time. But what they lack in length, they more than make up for in fun. Davidson's protagonist, Betsy, is a zany, smart-alecky newbie vamp who, of course, blunders her way from situation to situation with a charming mix of naivete and sass. Beyond the somewhat gratuitous "torrid love scenes" indicative of the genre, which, despite their female perspective manage to be excitingly readable (read: it's not all man chests and pork swords), this book throws at you a fun mix of spontaneous, wisecracking characters that don't fail in providing a few hours of lighthearted entertainment. If you like vamps and sex (or shoes), this series is worth the awkward trip to the romance section. I recommend grabbing a couple of these books as they are very quick reads and indulgently addictive.
August 12, 2018
This sounded like a fun read, but it wasn't!!!
**1.5 "More Annoying than Entertaining" stars**
The heroine dies in a car accident only to wake up in the funeral home a few nights later. On her way home, she accidentally kills a few bad guys that are robbing and talking about raping a mom and her daughter. She then assumes she's evil and try's kill herself. Drinking Clorox, jumping head first off a high rise, drinking holy water, and sleeping in the sun to name a few. This is all suppose to be funny, but I found it annoying and silly. Why would someone that didn't commit suicide be so obsessed with killing herself.
When none of that works, she visits a church and talks to a minister. He convinces her that she is not a spawn of the devil, so she contacts her family and friends to let them know that she is a vampire and that she's here to stay. Her dad and stepmom are not happy and want nothing to do with her.
I really hated the heroine, Elizabeth Taylor, but referred to as Betsy. She's superficial, judges others by their clothes or looks. Allowed a vampire to rip open her friend's neck and gorge on him but never lifted a finger to make it stop. She just stood there like an idiot and allowed her helpless friend to be "vampire raped". At least that's what she called it when another vampire bit her without permission. Yet she killed two men when they robbed a woman in an alley. Oh, and she could only be persuaded to join the good guys in a war when they offered to buy her name brand shoes. Did I mention she was s shoe snob?
I didn't care for the hero, Eric Sinclair. He was a know it all, stuffy, pompous vampire. So what if he was sexy and hung like a horse. Those two qualities alone are not enough to make me love a hero. There was no real chemistry between him and Betsy. Though she was attracted to Sinclair, she didn't like him, and wanted nothing to do with him either.
This book is suppose to be funny, but it missed the mark for me. I was SO offended by the heroine's best friend, a black female that like to refer to white people as whitey and honky. Yet she claimed to love Elizabeth. I never understand why its ok for blacks to be racist and use derogatory comments towards whites, as if it's comedic. Well it isn't comedic!!! It's horribly offensive!!
I hung in there because I wanted to know how this would end, only there was no true ending. Just a teaser to try and make you read book 2. But I don't like any of the characters enough to read book two.
Spoiler Rant
Sinclair sends her name brand shoes daily in hopes of gaining her affection, Prada, Gucci, etc. Which is so fucked up. You win a prostitute's heart with gifts and money. That is not how you win a decent woman's heart.
**1.5 "More Annoying than Entertaining" stars**
The heroine dies in a car accident only to wake up in the funeral home a few nights later. On her way home, she accidentally kills a few bad guys that are robbing and talking about raping a mom and her daughter. She then assumes she's evil and try's kill herself. Drinking Clorox, jumping head first off a high rise, drinking holy water, and sleeping in the sun to name a few. This is all suppose to be funny, but I found it annoying and silly. Why would someone that didn't commit suicide be so obsessed with killing herself.
When none of that works, she visits a church and talks to a minister. He convinces her that she is not a spawn of the devil, so she contacts her family and friends to let them know that she is a vampire and that she's here to stay. Her dad and stepmom are not happy and want nothing to do with her.
I really hated the heroine, Elizabeth Taylor, but referred to as Betsy. She's superficial, judges others by their clothes or looks. Allowed a vampire to rip open her friend's neck and gorge on him but never lifted a finger to make it stop. She just stood there like an idiot and allowed her helpless friend to be "vampire raped". At least that's what she called it when another vampire bit her without permission. Yet she killed two men when they robbed a woman in an alley. Oh, and she could only be persuaded to join the good guys in a war when they offered to buy her name brand shoes. Did I mention she was s shoe snob?
I didn't care for the hero, Eric Sinclair. He was a know it all, stuffy, pompous vampire. So what if he was sexy and hung like a horse. Those two qualities alone are not enough to make me love a hero. There was no real chemistry between him and Betsy. Though she was attracted to Sinclair, she didn't like him, and wanted nothing to do with him either.
This book is suppose to be funny, but it missed the mark for me. I was SO offended by the heroine's best friend, a black female that like to refer to white people as whitey and honky. Yet she claimed to love Elizabeth. I never understand why its ok for blacks to be racist and use derogatory comments towards whites, as if it's comedic. Well it isn't comedic!!! It's horribly offensive!!
I hung in there because I wanted to know how this would end, only there was no true ending. Just a teaser to try and make you read book 2. But I don't like any of the characters enough to read book two.
Spoiler Rant
Sinclair sends her name brand shoes daily in hopes of gaining her affection, Prada, Gucci, etc. Which is so fucked up. You win a prostitute's heart with gifts and money. That is not how you win a decent woman's heart.
March 21, 2020
“Just because I’m dead doesn’t mean I can’t have a life.”
Based on the cover, I thought it would be a light story and it was. At the beginning, it looked like a PNR parody, featuring all the vampire clichés, but the author made a success out of using them. The story is told from Betsy’s viewpoint, and her voice is fun and snarky.
I love Betsy, there is so much potential in her character. She is a newbie vampire with extraordinary abilities. She has to learn much about her vampire nature, but also has to rise to the challenge of her new position in the vampire society. Betsy’s rhapsodic attitude, her independence, and her cheerful, offbeat behavior result in a lot of funny situations.
I enjoyed the situational comedy elements, the witty, laugh-out-loud dialogues, Betsy’s playful ripostes, and her sarcastic tendency to rename people.
The world-building has shortcomings, but it doesn’t lessen the entertainment value of the story.
The erotic scenes are surprising, light, and intensely erotic. No romance yet, I guess it comes later. It's the first book of the series, so it's absolutely fine. I'm glad it's not rushed but I hope it won’t be long-drawn out either.
Undead and Unwed is a great starter book of the Undead series, and it is highly different from the paranormal romances I’ve read before. I enjoyed every single line of it!
My favorite quotes.
August 29, 2016
Super funny book that delivers the snark!
It's not a deep or complicated urban fantasy or anything. It's simple, cute, silly, and fun. Like a chick-flick book.
Personally, I don't have the shoe-fetish that we woman are all supposed to have. I must have missed that day in Femaling 101. But, Betsy the vampire still had enough other qualities that I could relate to - such as being a smartass. When she meets a large group of vampires, she has a few questions:
"Why don't we turn the goddamned lights on? Why are you all wearing black? Why do you all look like extras from a B-movie vampire set?"
Right? The goth thing is so over.
So, I need to keep reading this series until it annoys me. It will happen. We all know it will.
It's not a deep or complicated urban fantasy or anything. It's simple, cute, silly, and fun. Like a chick-flick book.
Personally, I don't have the shoe-fetish that we woman are all supposed to have. I must have missed that day in Femaling 101. But, Betsy the vampire still had enough other qualities that I could relate to - such as being a smartass. When she meets a large group of vampires, she has a few questions:
"Why don't we turn the goddamned lights on? Why are you all wearing black? Why do you all look like extras from a B-movie vampire set?"
Right? The goth thing is so over.
So, I need to keep reading this series until it annoys me. It will happen. We all know it will.
April 26, 2010
Maybe it could be a 3 stars rating.
This book made me laugh hard most of the time. Although you must understand that it is a book to have a nice time, a fast and fun read. Don't expect any more that that because you won't get it. There's nothing serious about this book. There's no real romance neither. But still I had a great time.
The heroine is amazing. What can I say? I loved her humor. She's wicked and naughty, LOL. She really does have a great personality. My only problem was that she was too vane and shallow most of the time. I mean, it was funny to see a heroine like her and I didn't really mind that she was like that but it would have been nice too see a deeper side of her as well, at least for a little while. But it never came. Maybe that's why I couldn't give a higher rating to this book.
Also a more interesting plot would have been nice. I mean, she turned into a vampire and save all the vampires from the bad vampire... really? Something greater could have happened. But it was a different point of view to the vampire world for sure.
Don't get me wrong, I'm just mentioning the reasons for why I couldn't give this book a higher rating, but doesn't mean that I didn't like it because I had a great time reading it. And I have higher expectations with the next books in the series.
Although I still hope our heroine gets a bit more mature, at least just a bit... It's not much to ask, LOL.
This book made me laugh hard most of the time. Although you must understand that it is a book to have a nice time, a fast and fun read. Don't expect any more that that because you won't get it. There's nothing serious about this book. There's no real romance neither. But still I had a great time.
The heroine is amazing. What can I say? I loved her humor. She's wicked and naughty, LOL. She really does have a great personality. My only problem was that she was too vane and shallow most of the time. I mean, it was funny to see a heroine like her and I didn't really mind that she was like that but it would have been nice too see a deeper side of her as well, at least for a little while. But it never came. Maybe that's why I couldn't give a higher rating to this book.
Also a more interesting plot would have been nice. I mean, she turned into a vampire and save all the vampires from the bad vampire... really? Something greater could have happened. But it was a different point of view to the vampire world for sure.
Don't get me wrong, I'm just mentioning the reasons for why I couldn't give this book a higher rating, but doesn't mean that I didn't like it because I had a great time reading it. And I have higher expectations with the next books in the series.
Although I still hope our heroine gets a bit more mature, at least just a bit... It's not much to ask, LOL.
January 23, 2011
I have no idea why an author would make a narrator so incredibly unlikeable. Her rabid materialism is offputting, she mouths off to everyone, she juvenilely makes insipid puns on the names of people she doesn't like. She dislikes other characters for no apparent reason. She rips off jokes from Clueless, among other places. She's a registered Republican who knows nothing about the issues; a PETA member who gets sanctimonious about animal testing but still eats meat. She insists that the slaves had it good in Gone with the Wind, and she's not joking. She gets in a racially motivated fight with a black woman and is a total asshole about it.
Don't get me wrong, I like light entertainment as much as the next person. But there's a difference between light entertainment and trash, and the trash is where this book belongs.
Don't get me wrong, I like light entertainment as much as the next person. But there's a difference between light entertainment and trash, and the trash is where this book belongs.
February 2, 2008
Betsy has had a bad day. She gets laid off from work and then hit by a car and smashed into a tree. When she wakes up in a coffin at the funeral home, wearing a ghastly pink suit and her "stepmonsters" cheap pink heels, she thinks she's a zombie and tries to top herself. Again and again and again. It takes a six-year-old to point out to her that she's got fangs and is a vampire.
That's just the beginning of Betsy's really bad week. Her best friend Jessica takes it all in her stride, and so does her mum, but she discovers there's a power-hungry, badly-dressed vampire king who sees her as a threat and has put a price on her head - because all the usual weaknesses don't affect her: the sun doesn't burn her, crosses and holy water don't affect her, she can control her thirst and dogs just love her. She may be the prophesised queen they've been waiting millennia for, but all Betsy wants is to rescue her collection of designer shoes from her stepmonster and resist the lure of one oh-so-sexy vampire, Sinclair.
Undead and Unwed is flippant, irreverent, funny, sexy and very very annoying. That is to say, Betsy is very annoying. She's caring at heart, but her superficiality does not make her a likeable character. Her flippancy does, though. It's a tough juggle, humour and sexiness, but Davidson just manages it. I have to agree with most of the other characters, though, when they tell Betsy to SHUT UP! God she can talk!
On a completely unrelated note, you don't fill a teapot with water and put it on the stove to boil. That's a kettle. And, as far as I was aware (maybe this is a cultural thing?) a handbag is a largish bag with a long strap that can hold wallet, keys, tissues, lipstick etc., and a purse is the feminine version of a man's wallet, not the other way around. Oh, and the past tense of "tread" is "trod", NOT "treaded" - which isn't a word.
That's just the beginning of Betsy's really bad week. Her best friend Jessica takes it all in her stride, and so does her mum, but she discovers there's a power-hungry, badly-dressed vampire king who sees her as a threat and has put a price on her head - because all the usual weaknesses don't affect her: the sun doesn't burn her, crosses and holy water don't affect her, she can control her thirst and dogs just love her. She may be the prophesised queen they've been waiting millennia for, but all Betsy wants is to rescue her collection of designer shoes from her stepmonster and resist the lure of one oh-so-sexy vampire, Sinclair.
Undead and Unwed is flippant, irreverent, funny, sexy and very very annoying. That is to say, Betsy is very annoying. She's caring at heart, but her superficiality does not make her a likeable character. Her flippancy does, though. It's a tough juggle, humour and sexiness, but Davidson just manages it. I have to agree with most of the other characters, though, when they tell Betsy to SHUT UP! God she can talk!
On a completely unrelated note, you don't fill a teapot with water and put it on the stove to boil. That's a kettle. And, as far as I was aware (maybe this is a cultural thing?) a handbag is a largish bag with a long strap that can hold wallet, keys, tissues, lipstick etc., and a purse is the feminine version of a man's wallet, not the other way around. Oh, and the past tense of "tread" is "trod", NOT "treaded" - which isn't a word.
September 21, 2012
The first good thing that I have to say about this book is that I love the title. It's funny. So, when I picked it up I had great expectations to it's entertaining value during my daily commuting. Sadly, I was wrong.
This book was in my opinion not funny at all, although I must stay that it tried very hard to be a funny book. Too hard, even.
The second positive that I have to say is that it's read quite quickly. That is a good thing, for a book this bad should either be tossed right away or be over with quickly. It really made me cringe, and that happens rarely when it comes to books.
This book pays lip-service to the political correctness of today (mandatory best friend of colour), chick-litt shoe-owning and fashion obsessiveness, vulgar-"love"-scenes, overly simplistic story-telling, and un-interesting one-dimensional characters.
Don't bother with this book - unless you are looking for chick-litt with a vampire twist. If that is your thing. If you must, check out Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series, compared to this trash, Harris' books are literary treasures.
My verdict: 1 star
This book was in my opinion not funny at all, although I must stay that it tried very hard to be a funny book. Too hard, even.
The second positive that I have to say is that it's read quite quickly. That is a good thing, for a book this bad should either be tossed right away or be over with quickly. It really made me cringe, and that happens rarely when it comes to books.
This book pays lip-service to the political correctness of today (mandatory best friend of colour), chick-litt shoe-owning and fashion obsessiveness, vulgar-"love"-scenes, overly simplistic story-telling, and un-interesting one-dimensional characters.
Don't bother with this book - unless you are looking for chick-litt with a vampire twist. If that is your thing. If you must, check out Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series, compared to this trash, Harris' books are literary treasures.
My verdict: 1 star
June 4, 2025
Within about 20 pages, I knew this wasn't the book for me, but I really wanted to like it. I just never connected well with the MC, and it seemed to set the tone for the rest of the book.
I found a lot of the book to be too cheesy in humor, and the MC, Betsy, was annoying and shallow. I guess this just wasn't my kind of humor. In search of a light-hearted read, I was instead met with annoyance and disgust for Betsy.
The book as a whole has good elements, but when I can't find it in myself to give a crap about Betsy, I just can't really connect with the better associative characters and events. It is an excellent premise, but I was obviously not the targeted audience for it.
2 stars for me. It was ok... Not hate, but not something I want to read again or continue on with in the series
I found a lot of the book to be too cheesy in humor, and the MC, Betsy, was annoying and shallow. I guess this just wasn't my kind of humor. In search of a light-hearted read, I was instead met with annoyance and disgust for Betsy.
The book as a whole has good elements, but when I can't find it in myself to give a crap about Betsy, I just can't really connect with the better associative characters and events. It is an excellent premise, but I was obviously not the targeted audience for it.
2 stars for me. It was ok... Not hate, but not something I want to read again or continue on with in the series
March 15, 2011
I think I'm still shell-shocked from reading this book. I belong to a "fascinating" book club where we only try and pick horrendous and/or fun/lights reads to make fun of when we get together. I actually had higher hopes when I started this one. I found out it was based in the Twin Cities where we all live, it had some witty and entertaining writing and it had been compared to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", which is my favorite television show of all time.
No - just no. I was really sickened by this book. The writing was dribble. No respectable woman in her thirties talks this way to others. She writes Minneapolis as if it's The Bronx at 2 a.m. every night. The character can't even walk on one of the streets in Minneapolis in the evening without getting mugged continuously. But above all, this book is so unnecessarily graphic that it wasn't even a dark comedy. My husband actually asked me if I was feeling well when I was reading the last chapter because my face looked so concerned.
Yes, I knew what I was getting myself into, but I had no idea it would be THIS bad.
No - just no. I was really sickened by this book. The writing was dribble. No respectable woman in her thirties talks this way to others. She writes Minneapolis as if it's The Bronx at 2 a.m. every night. The character can't even walk on one of the streets in Minneapolis in the evening without getting mugged continuously. But above all, this book is so unnecessarily graphic that it wasn't even a dark comedy. My husband actually asked me if I was feeling well when I was reading the last chapter because my face looked so concerned.
Yes, I knew what I was getting myself into, but I had no idea it would be THIS bad.
June 20, 2012
I read this last year and was just suggested it again. I never finished it so I didn't think it was fair to include it in my books read, but now I just want to rate and review it so that it won't be suggested to me again.
I am aware that this is just a fun read and not meant to be taken seriously, but honestly I couldn't stand it. The main character is a complete superficial, materialistic, idiot. There were some funny parts, but it was not enough to redeem this book for me.
Wasting my time on this type of book frustrates me when there are much better books to read out there.
I am aware that this is just a fun read and not meant to be taken seriously, but honestly I couldn't stand it. The main character is a complete superficial, materialistic, idiot. There were some funny parts, but it was not enough to redeem this book for me.
Wasting my time on this type of book frustrates me when there are much better books to read out there.
October 10, 2018
kitapta ki bütün karakterler ruh hastası. Bir tane normal adam yok ama bayıldım. 😂
Betsy harika bir kadın 😂😂😂
Betsy harika bir kadın 😂😂😂
August 5, 2010
I wish Good Reads had more “star categories”. I would give this book 4 stars for concept and 0 stars for execution. This is another choice from my book rental club. Sometimes those choices have felt like crap shoots. Part of the problem stems from the fact that I make my choices based on reviews and book descriptions on the book rental web site. None of the reviews I read warned me that were this story a movie, it would be rated a very hard R.
The book cover is also misleading. Its cover art gives one the impression that this might be a lighthearted literary romp. There is nothing that warns you about what is contained within the pages of this story.
This is Carrie Bradshaw (of “Sex and the City” fame) meets Dracula. Elizabeth Taylor aka “Betsy” Taylor is having a very bad week. First she loses her job. Then she gets killed by a sliding car whilst chasing after her errant cat. She then wakes up in the morgue “dressed in a pink suit and cheap shoes courtesy of her stepmother”. She exits the coffin and the morgue in a royal snit about the clothes she’s wearing and at the same time trying to come to terms with the fact that she knows she’s dead and should not be up walking around. She would like her life to get back to normal as soon as possible and spends a good part of this story trying to make that happen. But you learn that a few months prior to Betsy’s untimely death, she had been attacked by some creatures that seemed very animal like to her and had reported the attack to the police. She makes the decision to test out whether or not she can die. She purposely puts herself into situations that would normally result in the death of a normal human being and discovers among other things that she has enormous strength and can no longer stomach her favorite foods. Dogs adore her and men can’t resist her.
This story is funny. Mostly the part about how she finally comes to terms with who and what she has become. Unfortunately, Ms. Davidson has chosen to give her main character as well as several others what’s known as “potty mouths” with EXTENSIVE use of the infamous “f” word on nearly every other page it seems. I don’t use this kind of language myself and do not like hearing it or reading it. It is offensive to me and ruins a story for me with its frequent use. The English language is extensive and I just feel that an author does not need to resort to the use of profanity to make a point or to use it as a tool for characterization purposes.
This is a very cleverly conceived story. But in my estimation the editors for Ms. Davidson could have turned this into a PG rated story and not lost a bit of the very original and humorous story line. I would like to see how Betsy further deals with her new status as a vampire with scruples and designer shoes, but assume that all the subsequent books in this series would be written in the same style as this first one was. Won’t be reading any more of this series or anything else written by this author.
The book cover is also misleading. Its cover art gives one the impression that this might be a lighthearted literary romp. There is nothing that warns you about what is contained within the pages of this story.
This is Carrie Bradshaw (of “Sex and the City” fame) meets Dracula. Elizabeth Taylor aka “Betsy” Taylor is having a very bad week. First she loses her job. Then she gets killed by a sliding car whilst chasing after her errant cat. She then wakes up in the morgue “dressed in a pink suit and cheap shoes courtesy of her stepmother”. She exits the coffin and the morgue in a royal snit about the clothes she’s wearing and at the same time trying to come to terms with the fact that she knows she’s dead and should not be up walking around. She would like her life to get back to normal as soon as possible and spends a good part of this story trying to make that happen. But you learn that a few months prior to Betsy’s untimely death, she had been attacked by some creatures that seemed very animal like to her and had reported the attack to the police. She makes the decision to test out whether or not she can die. She purposely puts herself into situations that would normally result in the death of a normal human being and discovers among other things that she has enormous strength and can no longer stomach her favorite foods. Dogs adore her and men can’t resist her.
This story is funny. Mostly the part about how she finally comes to terms with who and what she has become. Unfortunately, Ms. Davidson has chosen to give her main character as well as several others what’s known as “potty mouths” with EXTENSIVE use of the infamous “f” word on nearly every other page it seems. I don’t use this kind of language myself and do not like hearing it or reading it. It is offensive to me and ruins a story for me with its frequent use. The English language is extensive and I just feel that an author does not need to resort to the use of profanity to make a point or to use it as a tool for characterization purposes.
This is a very cleverly conceived story. But in my estimation the editors for Ms. Davidson could have turned this into a PG rated story and not lost a bit of the very original and humorous story line. I would like to see how Betsy further deals with her new status as a vampire with scruples and designer shoes, but assume that all the subsequent books in this series would be written in the same style as this first one was. Won’t be reading any more of this series or anything else written by this author.
December 7, 2008
SO this book is about a narcissistic, slightly stupid woman who dies and becomes a vampire. But, she has all of these abilities that other vamps don't. She can walk in the daylight, go on holy ground, wear a cross, etc... The reason is because she is the foretold queen that has finally risen. Some of the current bad-ass vamps find out and want her to join their side.
Overall, the book was okay. I wasn't thrilled with it. I thought that the author was trying a little too hard for the characters to be funny. I mean I did laugh out loud towards the end, but some of the jokes and bantering sounded too forced. I did like the relationship between Sinclair and Elizabeth. They were interesting together especially since she hated him and also was attracted to him at the same time. Towards the middle I really hated Elizabeth's character, she was so vain, but by the end I just laughed at her. I will read the next book in the series just to see if the series gets better or worse. I hope the writing isn't quite as forced.
Overall, the book was okay. I wasn't thrilled with it. I thought that the author was trying a little too hard for the characters to be funny. I mean I did laugh out loud towards the end, but some of the jokes and bantering sounded too forced. I did like the relationship between Sinclair and Elizabeth. They were interesting together especially since she hated him and also was attracted to him at the same time. Towards the middle I really hated Elizabeth's character, she was so vain, but by the end I just laughed at her. I will read the next book in the series just to see if the series gets better or worse. I hope the writing isn't quite as forced.
January 28, 2024
3.5 ⭐
Avrei sicuramento assegnato a questo libro un punteggio più alto se non fosse per la traduzione veramente scadente. Un vero peccato perché di per sè il romanzo è molto divertente, un paranormal romance che sa intrattenere. Protagonista molto ben caratterizzata, a mio avviso, che però va a discapito dei personaggi secondari che sono soltanto abbozzati. Magari se lo avessi letto in lingua mi sarebbe piaciuto di più.
Avrei sicuramento assegnato a questo libro un punteggio più alto se non fosse per la traduzione veramente scadente. Un vero peccato perché di per sè il romanzo è molto divertente, un paranormal romance che sa intrattenere. Protagonista molto ben caratterizzata, a mio avviso, che però va a discapito dei personaggi secondari che sono soltanto abbozzati. Magari se lo avessi letto in lingua mi sarebbe piaciuto di più.
August 19, 2019
“Just because I’m dead doesn’t mean I can’t have a life.”
Based on the cover, I thought it would be a light story and it was. I hadn’t really read the blurb before I started reading. At the beginning, it looked like a PNR parody, featuring all the vampire clichés, but the author makes a success out of using them. The narration is smart, as the story is told by Betsy’s viewpoint, so you can comprehend and experience things with her.
I love Betsy, there is much potential in her character. She is a newbie vampire, with distinguishing abilities. She has to learn much about her vampire nature, but also has to rise to the challenge of her new position in the vampire society. Betsy’s haphazard attitude, her independence, and her cheerful, cool behavior result in a lot of funny situations.
I enjoyed the situational comedy elements, the witty, laugh-out-loud dialogues, Betsy’s playful ripostes, and her sarcastic tendency to rename people.
The world-building has shortcomings, but it doesn’t lessen the entertainment value of the story. Anyway, I don’t expect a complex vampire mythology from such a light, funny book.
The sex scenes are surprising, light, and intensely erotic without some sickly sweet romantic bullshit.
As for the romance, I’m satisfied that there is no remarkable romance here, I guess it comes later. As the first book of a series, starring the same main character all along, it is absolutely fine. Nevertheless, I hope it won’t be over-elongated either. My expectations are high.
Undead and Unwed is a great starter book of the Undead series, and it is highly different from the paranormal romances I’ve read before. I enjoyed every single line of it!
My favorite quotes.
July 24, 2017
***2017 Summer Lovin’ Reading List ***
Before there was Molly Harper’s Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs there was MaryJanice Davidson’s Undead and unwed. They feel somewhat related, but although I really enjoy Harper’s fiction, I think I have had enough of Davidson’s. The difference, for me, is in the main character. I can relate to Jane Jameson (Harper)—she’s educated, she’s a librarian/bookstore owner, she’s snarky and sometimes a bit neurotic, but always basically good-hearted. Betsy Taylor (Davidson) is another kind of woman entirely—she’s shallow, uneducated, unfocused, mouthy, selfish, and seemingly completely motivated by designer shoes. I’m sure there’s a target-market for Betsy out there somewhere, I’m just not it.
It’s not that she doesn’t get some good lines, like “I was the Queen who brought all the tribes together, who ruled them as one. Like the Speaker of the House, only way more blood thirsty. More Book of the Dead crap, which Tina had been reading to me all night. It was like attending Bible school in hell.” Or when she first meets Eric Sinclair, “His shoes were—whoa! Where those Ferragamos? It was a rare and wonderful thing to see a properly shod man in an underground mausoleum.”
The “humour” missed its mark for me as often as it hit. I felt the author was trying too hard. But, as I have often stated in my reviews, my comprehension of humour in print is challenged. I had to order this volume via interlibrary loan in order to read it, making feel that I had to finish the book to justify ordering it from another part of the province. I shan’t bother with further volumes.
Before there was Molly Harper’s Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs there was MaryJanice Davidson’s Undead and unwed. They feel somewhat related, but although I really enjoy Harper’s fiction, I think I have had enough of Davidson’s. The difference, for me, is in the main character. I can relate to Jane Jameson (Harper)—she’s educated, she’s a librarian/bookstore owner, she’s snarky and sometimes a bit neurotic, but always basically good-hearted. Betsy Taylor (Davidson) is another kind of woman entirely—she’s shallow, uneducated, unfocused, mouthy, selfish, and seemingly completely motivated by designer shoes. I’m sure there’s a target-market for Betsy out there somewhere, I’m just not it.
It’s not that she doesn’t get some good lines, like “I was the Queen who brought all the tribes together, who ruled them as one. Like the Speaker of the House, only way more blood thirsty. More Book of the Dead crap, which Tina had been reading to me all night. It was like attending Bible school in hell.” Or when she first meets Eric Sinclair, “His shoes were—whoa! Where those Ferragamos? It was a rare and wonderful thing to see a properly shod man in an underground mausoleum.”
The “humour” missed its mark for me as often as it hit. I felt the author was trying too hard. But, as I have often stated in my reviews, my comprehension of humour in print is challenged. I had to order this volume via interlibrary loan in order to read it, making feel that I had to finish the book to justify ordering it from another part of the province. I shan’t bother with further volumes.
August 23, 2022
4.6/5 - Darf ich vorstellen: Die wahre Queen B! Queen Betsy. Betsy Taylor. Ja gut eigentlich Elizabeth Taylor, aber das will sie erst gar nicht hören!
Überdreht, als wäre sie aus dem Script von Sex and the City gestolpert, charmant wie Drew Berrymore. Eine herrliche 90er/00er RomCom mit Vampiren, pfiffig, schrullig, smart und liebenswert. Sowohl die Charaktere als auch die Autorin! und die Sprecherin!
Nana Spier setzt dem ganzen die akkustische Krone auf.
Unbedingt das Hörbuch hören!
Ich freue mich auf sämtliche Fortsetzungen!
Nachtrag: kleines Gemeckere zum Ende: hätte der Endkampf auf nur 25-50% der Zeit der anschließenden Sexszene in Anspruch genommen (und wenn es DICH, liebe*r interessentierte*n Leser*in überraschen sollte, dass es in diesem Buch eine abschließende Sexszene gibt, solltest Du vllt doch zu einem anderen Buch greifen. Ich mein: In Star Wars gibt's die abschließende Party, hier wird gevögelt), wäre das Ende für meinen Geschmack runder gewesen.
Auf der Anderen Seite stehen die Prioritäten. Interessiert die Zielgruppe hier eine 2-3 Seitige Kampfszene? Oder liegt der Fokus eher auf... eeeh den Gefühlen der Protagonistin? Hmm
Überdreht, als wäre sie aus dem Script von Sex and the City gestolpert, charmant wie Drew Berrymore. Eine herrliche 90er/00er RomCom mit Vampiren, pfiffig, schrullig, smart und liebenswert. Sowohl die Charaktere als auch die Autorin! und die Sprecherin!
Nana Spier setzt dem ganzen die akkustische Krone auf.
Unbedingt das Hörbuch hören!
Ich freue mich auf sämtliche Fortsetzungen!
Nachtrag: kleines Gemeckere zum Ende: hätte der Endkampf auf nur 25-50% der Zeit der anschließenden Sexszene in Anspruch genommen (und wenn es DICH, liebe*r interessentierte*n Leser*in überraschen sollte, dass es in diesem Buch eine abschließende Sexszene gibt, solltest Du vllt doch zu einem anderen Buch greifen. Ich mein: In Star Wars gibt's die abschließende Party, hier wird gevögelt), wäre das Ende für meinen Geschmack runder gewesen.
Auf der Anderen Seite stehen die Prioritäten. Interessiert die Zielgruppe hier eine 2-3 Seitige Kampfszene? Oder liegt der Fokus eher auf... eeeh den Gefühlen der Protagonistin? Hmm
August 29, 2017
I am sure not many can top Betsy's week from hell. She doesn't have the most luck in that week. First she loses her job (thankfully she didn't like it that much, and I loved her chat about how the company would fall apart now and how she loved that), then she gets killed in a car accident (in the weirdest way), and then she wakes up in the morgue. Yep, our girl is one of the undead, a vampire to be specifically.
But Betsy isn't just any vampire. Oh no, this girl is like a vampire 2.0. Almost nothing that vampires normally have applies to our girl Betsy. Holy water? She just giggles/sneezes. Daylight? Eh, not impressed. Blood? Good, but she doesn't need tons of it.
Soon we meet some stronger vampires namely Sinclair (yummy, but I didn't quite like him due to how he acts and how possessive he is) and Nostrodamus (evil vampire who kind of let power go to his mind a bit too much). Our girl has to pick a side, but anyone who has read the book so far.... knows that Betsy has a mind of her own and no one is going to be dictating her on what to do. And she isn't afraid to also tell her opinion on this.
You can imagine how the story goes from there. Betsy finds out more and more about vampires, how they tick, but she still has a lot of questions as to why the rules apparently don't apply to her. Plus there is the hint that she may just be a vampire queen! Yep, this girl isn't only fabulous, fashionable, but she is also a queen.
Betsy was definitely my favourite girl. I loved her snark, her sharpness, and her love for shoes. She was really fun, and I loved how she eventually embraced being a vampire, and how she learned how to find blood, what to do about all that male attraction that is happening now she is a vampire (yep, this girl got all the boys (and dogs) flocking to her), and many other things. Oh and I can imagine she doesn't want anyone to call her by her full name. The poor thing. ;)
Then there are various other characters that make the book even more fun. Like Betsy's best friend Jessica. I instantly took a liking to her. She wasn't that weirded out that her best friend was now a vampire. Plus, like Betsy, she had a good portion of snark. Next up is Marc, a guy that Betsy saves. I had to get used to him a bit, I found him a bit too weird (and his plans slightly to dark), but later I quite liked him. Betsy mom was just perfection, she was sweet, caring, and doesn't give a dip about the fact her daughter is now a vampire. She is much too happy that her prayers were answered and her daughter came back. Sinclair, well as I said, he was yummy, but it took me some time to like him. Eventually I quite liked him. Tina? This girl has hidden depths, plus she was real sweet and helpful.
Of course there is some sex, quite steamy, quite a bit graphic. But it did fit the book... well OK, apart from that one time with Nick (the second time, not the first) and when we met Marc, that was just ehhhhhhh, nope.
As soon as I liked Sinclair... well, I was just shipping him with Betsy. They do make a good couple, and I was just rooting for Betsy to understand her feelings. Come on girl, everyone can see you have got the hots for that vampire. :P Just go for it already. Chop chop. :P
Phew, I think I have mentioned all that I want to mention. This book was such a fun ride!
This book will not bore you one moment. You will go from hilarity to battles to some romance to some more hilarity. I would recommend it to everyone!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
But Betsy isn't just any vampire. Oh no, this girl is like a vampire 2.0. Almost nothing that vampires normally have applies to our girl Betsy. Holy water? She just giggles/sneezes. Daylight? Eh, not impressed. Blood? Good, but she doesn't need tons of it.
Soon we meet some stronger vampires namely Sinclair (yummy, but I didn't quite like him due to how he acts and how possessive he is) and Nostrodamus (evil vampire who kind of let power go to his mind a bit too much). Our girl has to pick a side, but anyone who has read the book so far.... knows that Betsy has a mind of her own and no one is going to be dictating her on what to do. And she isn't afraid to also tell her opinion on this.
You can imagine how the story goes from there. Betsy finds out more and more about vampires, how they tick, but she still has a lot of questions as to why the rules apparently don't apply to her. Plus there is the hint that she may just be a vampire queen! Yep, this girl isn't only fabulous, fashionable, but she is also a queen.
Betsy was definitely my favourite girl. I loved her snark, her sharpness, and her love for shoes. She was really fun, and I loved how she eventually embraced being a vampire, and how she learned how to find blood, what to do about all that male attraction that is happening now she is a vampire (yep, this girl got all the boys (and dogs) flocking to her), and many other things. Oh and I can imagine she doesn't want anyone to call her by her full name. The poor thing. ;)
Then there are various other characters that make the book even more fun. Like Betsy's best friend Jessica. I instantly took a liking to her. She wasn't that weirded out that her best friend was now a vampire. Plus, like Betsy, she had a good portion of snark. Next up is Marc, a guy that Betsy saves. I had to get used to him a bit, I found him a bit too weird (and his plans slightly to dark), but later I quite liked him. Betsy mom was just perfection, she was sweet, caring, and doesn't give a dip about the fact her daughter is now a vampire. She is much too happy that her prayers were answered and her daughter came back. Sinclair, well as I said, he was yummy, but it took me some time to like him. Eventually I quite liked him. Tina? This girl has hidden depths, plus she was real sweet and helpful.
Of course there is some sex, quite steamy, quite a bit graphic. But it did fit the book... well OK, apart from that one time with Nick (the second time, not the first) and when we met Marc, that was just ehhhhhhh, nope.
As soon as I liked Sinclair... well, I was just shipping him with Betsy. They do make a good couple, and I was just rooting for Betsy to understand her feelings. Come on girl, everyone can see you have got the hots for that vampire. :P Just go for it already. Chop chop. :P
Phew, I think I have mentioned all that I want to mention. This book was such a fun ride!
This book will not bore you one moment. You will go from hilarity to battles to some romance to some more hilarity. I would recommend it to everyone!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
January 2, 2011
I am a huge fan of chick-lit and paranormal romance, so combining the two genres is like reader heaven for me. Seriously, you get the best of both genres with this book: the insecure but lovable protagonist, her bad ass vampire crush, and some steamy sex scenes. What more could a girl ask for?
I was not going to stumble around like a zombie, scaring the hell out of people and pretending I still had a place in the world. "God," I said, teetering for balance, "I'm coming to see you know."
Betsy is having a horrible week. Not only did she die in a tragic accident, she has awaken a vampire-in horrible shoes at that. After coming to terms with her new (undead) life she manages to piss off the head vampire, become a crime fighting vigilante, and oh yeah, learns of a prophecy that will make her the queen of the undead. Whew!
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and I seriously had to cry from laughing too hard. This isn't a stimulating read so don't approach it looking for the secrets of the universe and such. This book should be read if you're sad, stressed, and looking for a a pick me up-that's calorie free.
I was not going to stumble around like a zombie, scaring the hell out of people and pretending I still had a place in the world. "God," I said, teetering for balance, "I'm coming to see you know."
Betsy is having a horrible week. Not only did she die in a tragic accident, she has awaken a vampire-in horrible shoes at that. After coming to terms with her new (undead) life she manages to piss off the head vampire, become a crime fighting vigilante, and oh yeah, learns of a prophecy that will make her the queen of the undead. Whew!
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and I seriously had to cry from laughing too hard. This isn't a stimulating read so don't approach it looking for the secrets of the universe and such. This book should be read if you're sad, stressed, and looking for a a pick me up-that's calorie free.
November 2, 2016
So ein Buch habe ich bei dem Regenwetter gebraucht...
Der sehr humorvolle Schreibstil und die schlagfertige Hauptprotagonisten Betsy mit dem frechen und vorlauten Mundwerk sind eine perfekte Abwechslung im grauen Alltag.
Die Geschichte ist vielleicht nur 3 Sterne wert, weil sie nicht wirklich überraschend war, aber Betsy ist einfach so unterhaltsam. Bin gespannt, was da noch passiert :)
Der sehr humorvolle Schreibstil und die schlagfertige Hauptprotagonisten Betsy mit dem frechen und vorlauten Mundwerk sind eine perfekte Abwechslung im grauen Alltag.
Die Geschichte ist vielleicht nur 3 Sterne wert, weil sie nicht wirklich überraschend war, aber Betsy ist einfach so unterhaltsam. Bin gespannt, was da noch passiert :)
February 22, 2021
4 Stars for Undead and Unwed: Undead Series, Book 1 (audiobook) by MaryJanice Davidson read by Nancy Wu. This was a fun start to the series. I enjoyed the new take on vampires and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. The narration was good too.
January 15, 2012
Oh my God!!! What a giggle!!!
I didn't mean to read this book just yet, I simply wanted to skim the first page just to see what it was like... suddenly, 3 chapters in and a sore belly from laughing, I was hooked!!!
I've never heard of MaryJanice Davidson, never read any of her books and I've certainly never read a comical paranormal book!!! Now? I've heard of MaryJanice Davidson and I love the way she writes her books and how much she made me laugh!!!
Betsy kind of reminds me of me! Let me explain, she was made redundant last week (I was made redundant 3 months ago) and she lives at home with her cat... When Betsy shouted for her cat to come in from the snow, the cat just sat there (just like mine does, as though I'm stupid, like the cat's not the stupid one for being out in stupid weather!), so when she stomps out to get the cat, Betsy's story really begins because she dies (oh, that's where we differ, I'm still alive, I think). Anyway, Betsy is clueless, just like me most of the time and she is funny (yes my friends laugh at me too)... and following Betsy on her journey to work out her life - um, undead life that is, is hysterical... she not only has to work out her undead life, she has to tell her parents and friends that she is still around and then has something else to contend with... something you will find out when you read the book!
I really did love this book, loved the way it was wrote and loved the storyline. It was easy to read, unexpected in places and always ready to make me smile!
It won't be too long before I pick up the 2nd one!!!
(having said this, I must stress that this in not a book I'd recommend for children, there are scenes that are rather explicit)
I didn't mean to read this book just yet, I simply wanted to skim the first page just to see what it was like... suddenly, 3 chapters in and a sore belly from laughing, I was hooked!!!
I've never heard of MaryJanice Davidson, never read any of her books and I've certainly never read a comical paranormal book!!! Now? I've heard of MaryJanice Davidson and I love the way she writes her books and how much she made me laugh!!!
Betsy kind of reminds me of me! Let me explain, she was made redundant last week (I was made redundant 3 months ago) and she lives at home with her cat... When Betsy shouted for her cat to come in from the snow, the cat just sat there (just like mine does, as though I'm stupid, like the cat's not the stupid one for being out in stupid weather!), so when she stomps out to get the cat, Betsy's story really begins because she dies (oh, that's where we differ, I'm still alive, I think). Anyway, Betsy is clueless, just like me most of the time and she is funny (yes my friends laugh at me too)... and following Betsy on her journey to work out her life - um, undead life that is, is hysterical... she not only has to work out her undead life, she has to tell her parents and friends that she is still around and then has something else to contend with... something you will find out when you read the book!
I really did love this book, loved the way it was wrote and loved the storyline. It was easy to read, unexpected in places and always ready to make me smile!
It won't be too long before I pick up the 2nd one!!!
(having said this, I must stress that this in not a book I'd recommend for children, there are scenes that are rather explicit)
August 11, 2015
Awful plot, poorly written, dull and not even slightly funny, I'd like to congratulate this book for being my first 1 star rating on goodreads.
October 13, 2016
This was so much fun to read. It wasn't the usual vampire paranormal book but it was fun to read something different.
August 30, 2021
what in the fresh girlboss hell was this
March 12, 2014
This book is such a cheese fest but delicious all the same. It's exactly the kind of book you'd read when you're down because the ridiculousness of it is just so endearing as a whole.
The heroine, Betsy(yeap), is a newly made Undead and not happy about it, especially considering that what she's seen of the world of vampires so far is sooo last year. She loves her designer shoes, they make her world go round, hates her stepmother, loves her awfully rich best friend and absolutely hates the badly dresses vampires that seem to be after her. Betsy is, like the rest of the book, full of fluff and silliness but in the end it just works for me.
Apart from that we have too many gay people, which I don't really mind at all. Ridiculous gay characters are the best. We have cheesy lines, even cheesier sex scenes and way too cheesy vampire politics. If you're looking for a book with depth, just look the other way. If you want something funny and fluffy this is your book.
The heroine, Betsy(yeap), is a newly made Undead and not happy about it, especially considering that what she's seen of the world of vampires so far is sooo last year. She loves her designer shoes, they make her world go round, hates her stepmother, loves her awfully rich best friend and absolutely hates the badly dresses vampires that seem to be after her. Betsy is, like the rest of the book, full of fluff and silliness but in the end it just works for me.
Apart from that we have too many gay people, which I don't really mind at all. Ridiculous gay characters are the best. We have cheesy lines, even cheesier sex scenes and way too cheesy vampire politics. If you're looking for a book with depth, just look the other way. If you want something funny and fluffy this is your book.
October 1, 2019
I think over all I have read this book 4 times and its still funny!🤣😂 And I KNOW I will read it agian.
July 15, 2019
2.5 stars
It was a 3 for enjoyment and 2 at times for being a bit dated in the quality department.
Honestly, there were times when the narrative voice and banter were so cheesy I groaned and then a couple of pages later I was laughing loud enough to scare my cat. The net was that I was just entertained for a lot of this story. Even when a few things I didn't like showed up, it was evened out by that funny, irreverent and tongue-in-cheek style. I loved Betsey's approach to being dead. This is a paranormal world, but the pacing of the story is definitely all romance. It developed quickly and people rolled with developments super easily. I didn't mind, though, because it matched with the tone and focus of the story.
The dated bits: The "r" word shows up in this. The portrayals of the black best friend and the gay best friend sometimes fall flat and into the camp of stereotypical. While using the crutch of the powerful vampire, this has a guff, alpha male love interest. Multiple times, Betsey says NO and Eric still touches her, grabs her and kisses her, etc. She manages to stand up for herself more often than not, but knowing this is probably the guy we're supposed to be rooting for made me roll my eyes heavy.
I enjoyed the vampire lore we have so far and I loved that the prophecy about this tall, shoe loving ex-secretary. I'll continue with the series, especially because I'm curious about the change over the years.
July 30, 2024
Omg I really enjoyed it, I think it was even better than I remembered it.
I will definitely read the next books.
I will definitely read the next books.
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