Undead and Unwed

Queen Betsy, Book 1

By: MaryJanice Davidson

Narrated by: Nancy Wu

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

MaryJanice Davidson's cult hit Undead and

Unwed is a delightful mixture of Sex and the City and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Waking up in a tacky coffin and wearing off-brand shoes, Betsy Taylor can't believe the horrible turn her life has taken; then she discovers she's a vampire. Soon, Betsy becomes a participant in a power struggle between the forces of darkness. With only her friend Jessica and the hunky vampire Sinclair to help her, this new "Queen of Vampires" will have a tough time getting her afterlife straight.

Dying for more? Don't miss the other titles in the Undead series.

©2004 MaryJanice Davidson (P)2006 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Sexy, steamy, and laugh-out-loud funny, Davidson's chick-lit foray into the paranormal is delightful." (Booklist)

Undead but Funny

I initially came across this book (and then the series) at my local library. I was looking for a more light-hearted and easy read to occupy some free time. This fit the bill perfectly. I've had to stop reading at different points to stop laughing. The Audible addition has not disappointed. There is quite a bit of swearing, so if that turns you off, I've warned you, but I didn't mind. Overall, it's a fun take on the vampire genre that I've really enjoyed.

A New Twist to the Vampire Theme

I have to say that I might be a little more excited about this book because I'm from MN and that is where the characters in the book are located. But in all fairness, this book is hilarious! I love the new twist to the vampire genre. Since the main character is unwittingly turned into a vampire, watching her bumble through "the change" is a real treat. The author has you watching a has been "it girl" become a creature of the night. A light hearted romp through the paranormal genre. A nice break from the typical brooding vampire saga.

A cup of tea.

I find this book to be a vacation for my brain, as it is simple, interesting and comical.

I’m dead and unwed

Best book ever!!! I can’t wait to hear the next one I bet it will be just as good!

Cute. Formulaic. Standard.

Pretty much the standard girl turns into a vampire fodder. Throw in a little sex which is eye rolling. While cute, it was formulaic. I won’t be looking for others in the series. The narrators voice is a little grading with a high pitch whine throughout.

A little annoying at first

Betsy is shallow and self-centered. It’s all about what she’s not getting, but then it shifts and it’s actually enjoyable. Charming and funny, yes Betsy is still self-centered, but somehow relatable. Nancy Wu does a decent job of narrating as the book is first person perspective, but I wouldn’t say she did extraordinary. Either way, fun.

What a Shallow Heroine

Would you try another book from MaryJanice Davidson and/or Nancy Wu?

Maybe, I have enjoyed other books by both.

What could MaryJanice Davidson have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Made the heroine less shallow.

What didn’t you like about Nancy Wu’s performance?

It was fare.

What character would you cut from Undead and Unwed?

The Heroine

Fun story -- quite light of a dark world.

If you could sum up Undead and Unwed in three words, what would they be?

Fun. Funny. Fun.

What did you like best about this story?

The humor of it all as well as the easy-going, youthful language. It was a refreshing escape from our daily, too real gloom.

Which character – as performed by Nancy Wu – was your favorite?

Main character. Least favorite voice was the tiresome stereotypical "Ebonics" accent for Jessica. Distracting and trite.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It relaxed me. A great escape from my normal.

Any additional comments?

Thank you.

Entertaining!

To be quite honest I am not always a fan of vampire books. I find the whole back story and history of vampires to be quite boring but this book gave enough history to know what was going on while still making the plot of the story the focus. I think the characters were great, all quite unique in regards to each other.
The narrator of this book, Nancy Wu, did a really good job. Her animation was great and the differences between her voices for the characters was noticeable, which I quite enjoyed.
Overall it was a pretty entertaining story that gave me a few laughs and made listening to while working a good choice.

Fun, Fun, Fun

What made the experience of listening to Undead and Unwed the most enjoyable?

It wasn't a typical vampire story. It took the weak heroine and turned her into her own hero with a funny story line and interesting supporting characters.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters were fun, diverse and very interesting. The funny things that happen to them made listening and being quite difficult at times!

Which character – as performed by Nancy Wu – was your favorite?

Betsy. Her males have a little to be desired but they are okay.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. I listened to it one sitting.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this story. It wasn't a serious vampire story dripping with cliche and lore. The character was weak by design but was actually more brave than she or anyone else thought she was. She was a vampire most people could identify with. In short, this wasn't your typical Twilight knock off. I was very glad for that!