Undead and Unpopular

Undead #5

by MaryJanice Davidson

Listening length: 5 hours, 35 minutes

As Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor approaches the big 3-1 (in human years, that is), she has a lot on her plate. There are wedding plans to finalize, with no help from her fiance Eric. And Betsy's decided to stop drinking blood, something Eric, the vampire king, may not understand...

So when some guests show up uninvited, and they happen to be the powerful European vampires who have finally come to pay their respects the week before her birthday, Betsy gets really cranky...

Genres: Vampires, Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Chick Lit

286 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 6, 2006

About the author

MaryJanice 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.

www.maryjanicedavidson.org
@MaryJaniceD

MaryJanice's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/maryjanicedav...

http://us.macmillan.com/author/maryja...

Reviews

[Exina · Rating 2 out of 5]

“This place drives me nuts sometimes: nutty vampires, a bitchy werewolf, a zombie, a grumpy billionaire, and a vampire on a hunger strike.”

Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Well, sadly, the book isn’t that hilarious as you may think from the quote above. All of the aforementioned creatures appear in the story, and more, still, the story falls short. Let’s see what we have:

The zombie. Totally pointless. As if he just accidentally took the wrong attic.

The “bitchy werewolf”. It's Antonia, who doesn’t want to be called Toni. Pretty much that's it.

The “grumpy billionaire”. Jessica. But grumpy? Why? Because she has principles?

The “vampire on a hunger strike”. Well, that’s Betsy. She decides not to drink blood anymore:

"—it's just something I have to do for myself, you know? Not drink, I mean. I know it seems dumb to you—what'd you call it? My stupid bid for independence? If I was you, I'd probably think it was dumb, too. But it just seems—this whole past year—like I've been on a ride I can't get off. This is something I can control.”

It becomes clear soon that – not surprisingly – she can’t control it because she is a freakin’ VAMPIRE! She is totally unreasonable, and dizzier than ever.

“Actually, I was starting to think about blood a lot more and more. You know those cartoons when the wolf looks at his friends and they turn into rib roasts and stuff before his eyes?
Jess and Marc were starting to look reeeally good.”

What else?

Laura, the daughter of the Devil. Disappointingly spiritless.

The visit of the European vampires. Boring. I really feel for Alonzo, and I totally disagree with Sophie.

Jon is back at the apropos of the release of Betsy’s biography written by him. He is upset. I’m bored.

I had high hopes for Cathy, but sadly she couldn't fulfill them.

Certain parts of the story are boring beyond belief. I personally don’t give a damn about which parlor is Betsy’s favorite, or the design of the wallpaper.

Anything else? Actually, not much. No action. No story. No dynamism. No excitement. No drinking blood (yes, it is still the vampire story I’m talking about…). No passion. No sex.

Good points:
- Sinclair – he is so cool and gorgeous!
- Light humor and witty dialogues.

All in all. Although Undead and Unpopular has some funny moments, it doesn't live up to the previous books of the series. Hope the next one turns out to be better.

My favorite quotes.

[Jilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh... Is it just me or is Betsy the Vampire Queen getting dumber? She was a lot more sarcastic and fun in the first books. Now she's whiny and stupid. Bleh..

[Lissa Smith Reads'~A Bookaholics Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars:
And the errors and typo hit just keep coming. The first few chapters have you confused because of what happened between books four and five. The author introduces new characters with no explanation what so ever as how they joined the plot line. However, this books is fun mindless read like the rest of the series.

Among some of my favorites. Outstanding literary work. The characters are well developed, interesting. The liked characters are likable and the hated are unlikable. The writing is captivating enough to keep you interested until the end and leave you wanting more. It has a fairly original or uniquely well-developed plot. The pretense and romance was well balanced and done with properly distributed amounts of hints, behaviors and chemistry. Not so much predictable if at all. Overall, loved it, I recommend reading!!

[Terri ♥ (aka Mrs. Christian Grey) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. It didn't feel too short. It did have an element of ridiculousness. It felt silly. The world building felt like "let me pull something out of my hat." The Ant thing, they were useless anyway, so...

And why did she feel the need to name another duo of characters with the same name, Laura? It was Antonia. It's not necessary, doesn't add in anyway to plot or character development.

I'm getting to the point where I don't care. I may or may not continue.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betsy has a lot of things on her mind in this book! A birthday, an upcoming marriage, Jessica's secret, a new delegation of super-old vampires from Europe, and well, a lot more!

Yep, Betsy is going to have a busy schedule in this one, she won't have a moment of rest. When one thing happens the next is already waiting for her.

I loved how Betsy was making a guest list for a birthday party she didn't want. :P Because she knew that she would get a surprise one and wanted to make sure she gets all the things she wants and that those are visited that she wants to see. I had a laugh at how Sinclair and everyone else reacted to her making those lists.

I am quite amused at what Sophie and Liam are planning, I do feel it is a bit rushed though, they haven't known each other for so long, and doing x is something that binds them together for some time.

We also have the marriage that is being prepared. Betsy is very excited, but Sinclair... well not so much. I did think it was a bit eh of Sinclair to act this way. I understand that for you the marriage already happened, but you should know Betsy by now and know that she loves a good party and also is a bit of traditionalist when it is about dating. She wants to seal the deal with a real marriage in front of family and friends. :) 

The delegation, and how it went from a visit (though a very late visit which was a bit of an insult, I agree with Sinclair on it) to something different when we find out something that connects one of them (Alonzo) with one of Betsy's friends (Sophie). Throughout the book Betsy is juggling with finding out a solution for it. She could have picked an easy solution of course, an old vampire one, but instead she wants to find something that isn't going to hurt Alonzo in a physical way. I was definitely proud of her there. That she didn't want to let this issue pass, but that she also didn't want to make it a Nostro way out. Though since it is Betsy you can imagine it may take a while for to figure things out. I won't spoil anything on what is decided/what happens, though I have to say I was a bit shocked. Then again, I can understand why it happened. I wonder what x will do when she finds out.

Delk also makes an appearance and well, I still don't like the little prick. I understand his feelings, but really? What did he expect then? Did he just expect them to frolick around and not care about these things?

I have to say I was pretty pissed at Jessica. I get why she hid it from Betsy, given how Betsy is, but still. This is your bestest friend in the world, a childhood friend, why didn't you tell her? Other people found out already, people know, and you still haven't told her? *sighs* I just didn't like it. It is not as if Betsy hasn't noticed something is off, as you have been a royal bitch for quite a bit before you had to confess/tell the people.
I was startled that she had that, but I was proud (not sure if that is the best word) that she didn't let anything stand between her, she was going to get better, she has a fighting chance and she is grabbing it with both hands.

The zombie thing? - "There's a zombie in the attic," George the Fiend informed me over breakfast.- It took WAY too long before something happened with that. I eventually just got tired of it being said quite a few times and nothing happening. But then I got very excited when something did happen! I have now read book 6 already, so I know why the zombie was there, but when I just finished this book I hadn't had a clue how in heavens name a zombie would just appear.

And I think Antonia (the stepmother, not the werewolf) is a terrible mom. I get that your baby cries, but to dump it with Betsy all the time? No. She also has her responsibilities + a fiance, it is not as if she can just care for it whenever you don't want the baby. Plus the fact that she just let the kid stay for days.

The diet that Betsy tried? Girl, you are a vampire, just drink already. I get that you want to be special, and you are special, but you still need that blood. You practically chomped down on a few people near you.

The humour is just the best. Betsy's snark is brilliant, though at times I feel sorry for those on the receiving end. :P

All in all, I loved this book, flew through it, and want more, more and more! Definitely recommended, but as I also said with the short stories collection, be sure to read #4.5 before this one.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Ronda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isn't Betsy a busy Vampire!!!

Her undead life never ceases to amaze me, she is constantly on the go and always giving me a good giggle...

Betsy is planning her 'birthday surprise' that she doesn't want (I know I know but read the book and you will understand) and then she has her wedding to plan, this is happening 3 months down the line... her Stepmother keeps dropping off 'babyJon' and running late to pick him up, Jessica has a few problems that adds to Betsy's problems and then on top of that she has to deal with the Queen stuff... all this includes being shot and seeing to a murder!!! Wow.. undead life is fulfilling for sure...

I love these books, so easy to read, so ready to give me a giggle and something to help me breath between other books.

Well recommended!

[Sibil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am quite undecided. The first books in this series were fun and entertaining, but I am slowly growing tired of Betsy, she is not bad and she has quite a ton of good things, but sometimes the exact same things that are good, like her being naive and new at all these vampire things, become slightly annoying. And I know that the forte of this series is not the plot but... here the plot was almost non-existent.
It wasn't a bad reading, and it is quite fast, and sometimes it was funny. But I am not really interested anymore in this series. I don't know if I would drop it altogether or if I would try out the next one and decide after that...

[Rina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe it's because I'm not ready yet to read another Betsy story.
Maybe it's because there is not enough Betsy-Sinclair romance in this book.
Maybe it's because there are too many characters dropping in and out of chapters even Betsy herself is confused.
Maybe it's because Betsy can't stop whining throughout the book without solving anything until the end.
Hell, maybe it's because the book is too thin (more value for money, please!). I don't know.
All I know is, I don't enjoy this book as much as Undead and Unreturnable.

But the idea of 'Zombie in the attic' is admittedly quite amusing.


PS: While reading, I couldn't stop thinking why I should pay AUD20 for this book when the large paperback edition of Blood Promise had the same price. I think bookstores should re-think their paperback prices...

[D Dyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot wise this is one of the tighter installments of the adventures of Betsy Taylor, vampire Queen. It’s almost Betsy’s birthday, she’s decided to give up blood drinking and a contingent of European vampires shows up just in time to cause complications. A member of the contingent murdered one of her friends and allies, and the female vampire in question wants revenge. But, despite the tighter plotting I felt that the humorous elements of this installment weren’t worked well into the story. Betsy has a zombie in her attic, her close friend Jessica has been out of sorts, and Eric is still categorically uninterested in their wedding plans. Most of these felt sort of like things that David’s an added in order to get a laugh. And I want the laugh, I just also want it to feel like it has a natural place in the story.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yet one more Betsy adventure & I'm afraid it is getting old. There wasn't anything particularly memorable about this book either. The world didn't grow much & the most interesting conundrum pretty much flopped, IMO. While I might pick up with book 6 as an audio again some time in the future, I'm pretty much burned out for now. The humor is getting stale & that's really about all the series has to recommend it.

[nicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

My girlfriend got me this under the guise of a “blind book date”, where you buy a book wrapped without knowing what the title is, based off a few key words to describe it. The words on this one? “Vampire”, “romance”, and “chick-lit.” All things I enjoy.

This book was fun-ish. Quick and easy to read, which was great for my current reading slump. While one can’t really expect a lot of nuance from a book titled “Undead and Unpopular” I will point out the things that bothered me.

(Of course, take my opinion with a grain of salt, seeing as this is the fifth installment of a series and I had read none of the prior books.)

Firstly, the typos. There weren’t TOO many but they were noticeable. Second, the narrator is so full of herself it’s obnoxious. I get that she’s the queen of vampires, but God is she self-absorbed. Third, there is basically no plot. There’s just a bunch of things happening at once. We’re introduced to new characters only for them to be pointless besides a single character conflict only for them to be killed later for a pretty boring reveal. For a book less than 300 pages, so much and also nothing at all seem to happen.

The love interest is a bore — and maybe that’s because I didn’t get the chance to read the other books, but I don’t see the chemistry between Eric and Betsy at all. Also, the sex scene was so short and boring, it was disappointing. If they don’t have chemistry, there should at least be a fun, steamy sex scene. But we unfortunately don’t get that.

There’s two — two! — gay characters in this book. Tina’s sexuality is mentioned once, only in reference to Betsy feeling unthreatened about Tina’s friendship with Eric because, well, Tina’s gay. Marc’s sexuality is used as the butt of a joke a few different times. Again, I don’t know if these characters get developed outside of this book, but it felt very shallow and very author-trying-to-be-inclusive-but-failing to me.

So. What are the good things about this book? Well. It’s easy to read. It’s silly, and you don’t have to pay a lot of attention to it to get the gist of what’s going on, even 5 books into a series. The silliness helps me take it less seriously, which also made me less critical while reading it. No point taking something seriously when it doesn’t take itself seriously, right? Overall, it’s entertaining, it doesn’t take long to read, and it’ll pass the time.

[Sana Zameer · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's Betsy's birthday. Long live the dumb bitch queen of vampires!
I feel sorry for the vampires. They are stuck with the most conceited person on earth as their monarch. The humor that made the first few books fun has dried out. There wasn't much of a plot and the side characters that made this series bearable couldn't save it.

[Kristerrn! · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first this book confused me as I thought I'd missed something in book before as there seemed to be another Antonia who was going out with Garrett yet who just suddenly appeared. It seems I wasn't aware (neither where others it seems) that there is a short novella between Undead and Unreturnable and this book. This book seemed completely rushed and I didn't really see the whole point of the European vampires, they didn't really offer much in ways of a story, apart from they where meant to be these all powerful beings but where a total let down. This is my least favourite book of the series so far as to me it just seems as if all the characters are selfish and stupid (there really is only room for Betsy with that role). There where too many new inconsequential characters that had nothing at all to add to the story. The so called 'climatic' moments where over in just a couple of pages and where rather of a let down. In my opinion this should be an in-between novella as it just doesn't seem to have anything to offer.

[● ᴢᴏᴇʏ ● · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure what this says about my sense of humor, but every time Betsy’s fangs pop out accidentally and she attempts to converse with a substantial lisp, I just about split a rib.

[Namratha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor is back with a bang and on the verge of a ginormous breakdown!!! Her fast-approaching thirty-first birthday and her impending nuptials have got her knickers in a twist!...add to that a few other pesky details: best friend Jessica seems more cranky than usual, one of her loyal subjects seeks permission to “turn” her mortal lover over to the dark side, a delegation of smarmy European vampires have finally come to pay their respects to the new monarchs AND there’s a rotting zombie in her attic!!!!
As if life wasn’t stressful enough, Betsy has decided to go cold-turkey on the whole “blood-sucking” scene which only succeeds in leaving her in a state of permanent annoyance. And that’s not even counting the unexpected “fang-unleashing” situations she encounters whenever her stress-levels hit an all new high!

Shoe-crazy Betsy continues her reign as the sassy, bad-mouthing, self-absorbed and lovable queen that she was in the past. The book is a perfect example of wicked-bad fun with a great sense of comic-timing and enough raunchy scenes to make it ideal summer-time reading!!!

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have finally been cured of any lingering desire to read Mary Janice Davidson's books ever again. The Undead series has been getting worse with each book... and they seem to have hit rock bottom with #5. (What frightens me is that there's more of them after this... have they reached the outer circles of hell yet, I wonder?)

The characters have magically seemed to lose any depth they may have gained in previous books, there's no plot, and... yeah, that's about it. No characters, no plot. But there is a zombie. Yippie.

[fleurette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The next book in the series and it is just okay. The story is really short, even though quite eventful. But it just didn't fully grab my attention. Also I didn't like the way that the things about Alonzo ended.

The day of Betsy's birthday is coming and so is the her surprise party. In the meantime Betsy decides to give up drinking blood and Jesse has some really terrifying news for her. The delegation of very old and powerful vampires from Europe is coming to meet with the new queen. And everybody reminds Betsy that there is a zombie in the attic.

[Net · Rating 2 out of 5]

As with all books in this series the tongue remains firmly in check. This particular installment was desperately light in plot with a few lose ends left waving. It was more "aday in the life." I am willing to forgive the all over the place plot though because it is a series and this could simply be a book setting up a larger plot down the road.

[Bud · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more like it. Enjoyed this book better than others 4.5 stars for me. More action. More humor. Less romance kept me turned it and I just breezed thru book 5.

[Vfields Don't touch my happy! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Undead & Unpopular was ridiculous. I stopped reading this series 2013. I couldn’t remember why. Three chapters in I recalled I thought Betsy was one of the most ridiculous, self—involved character I’d ever read! I enjoyed all the secondary characters and the overall arc of the books. I’m having a hard time finding books to read so I’ll read on...

[Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The font and double-spacing were a little hard on the eyes. Story was plotted decently but I felt something was missing. Vampire lite comes to mind. I've read worse. I don't particularly recommend this tale. =(

[Montana Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little vampire book. I loved how the author portrayed the main character with flaws despite her being an undead queen. Betsy's friends remind me so much of Scooby and the Gang tracking down ghosts, or for that matter, vampire killers? This was actually the 5th book in the series but it reads well and could act as a stand alone with how it is written.

[Butterfly2507 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Habe das Buch leider nach ein paar Kapiteln abgebrochen. Der Humor ist nicht so meins, viel zu viele Beleidigungen und die Story an sich ist auch nicht interessant. Schade.

[Suz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+

Still cute, still vapid.

[Laura..devouring books like crumpets · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok i do like these books but they are a bit of a Hot Mess at times.... Im Audio Booking them so they do sound a bit whiney at times... But i love it too does that make sense LOL

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like all the infos and decisions we get about the Vampire Politics and how Betsy tries to figure out how to run the show on her own terms, but the Zombie Side Plot kinda lost me a bit and was someone useless (?). Also I would have loved more about Antonia & George (Garret) at some point and also I miss Betsy interacting with her friends a bit, they seem more like side plot devices atm.

[Vivien Parry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delegated problems!

Queen Betsy is not enjoying her life/death! When a European delegation comes to visit life gets complicated - more than it already is! One of the delegates turned someone in his youth and she wants retribution! Can Betsy find a way to make everyone happy? And what about the zombie in the attic? Will Jessica admit just how ill she is?
Yet another hilarious read that makes you glad you don't live Betsy's undead life!

[Alycia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for http://fangsorfur.books.officelive.co...
Book 5, Undead and Unpopular in MaryJanice Davidson's Queen Betsy series will not be a disappointment. Book 5 takes place just a short time after book four. Betsy Taylor (Queen of the vampires) is about to celebrate her 31st birthday, her birthday also just happens to be the date of her death, thus she's been a vampire for one year. Betsy is juggling wedding plans, a living human tradition she wants to participate in with her sexy consort/king and husband Eric Sinclair. Eric constantly dodges and cringes whenever Betsy is trying to make wedding plans, he is not into picking out flowers, wedding colors, etc (like any typical live male counterpart). Betsy has the idea that her friends should throw her a surprise party even though she specifically told them not to fuss over her all the while secretly hoping they are paying attention to her guest lists and gift suggestions. She also decides since she is still squeamish about drinking blood, something she does not have to do often to her relief, that she should just quit drinking blood altogether, something she did with Eric. Their relationship is once again put to the test of compromise on Eric's part and not taking Eric for granted on Betsy's part, both needing to reestablish patience on both ends. European diplomats show up uninvited right before Betsy's birthday to smooth out the political game of Betsy as the chosen queen and the Europeans as her subjects who need to follow her rule. They insult her by paying their respects a year after she becomes queen, but not much happens in the way of diplomacy because as Betsy's vampire friend Sophie leaves the mansion with her living boyfriend (they were asking Betsy permission to eventually change Liam, the boyfriend into a vampire) physically attacks a French vampire, Alanzo who happens to be her maker/murderer. Sophie demands a judgment from Queen Betsy. The European vampires stick around and wait for Betsy to decide. To add to Betsy's overflowing plate, a work of fiction on the best seller list about Betsy's life turns up. Betsy and company must track down former Blade Warrior Jon who still has a crush on Betsy, who in the last book writes a college paper for an English class on Betsy. Eric and others feel they cannot protect their secret identity and Betsy's if the paper is allowed to remain in existence. Eric wipes Jon's mind and Eric's right hand woman, Tina who is always doing his bidding and serving both queen and king, erases all of the paper or so they thought. Now the question remains who leaked it, did Jon and they must find him and tell him all the details. Jon is so mad once he learns the truth at the mansion that he shoots Betsy and leaves, this problem is obviously not resolved and he may reappear in other books. Once more a bomb is dropped that Betsy has to deal with. The knowledge that her best friend and roommate Jessica has a terminal illness. Betsy struggles with this and the decision to propose changing Jessica into a vampire or not.
Sophie never receives restitution and Alonzo is never made to pay for his former actions because he is murdered, and Betsy must deal with a zombie in her attic. Which she is told about repeatedly but does not believe. George the fiend makes a cameo seeming more and more like a regular vampire. His name is actually Garrett and he has a were girlfriend named Antonia, whom Betsy calls Toni because her “evil” stepmother has the same name. The Ant as she is unaffectionately dubbed by Betsy is negligent of her care of Betsy's new half brother BabyJon who keeps showing up at Betsy's house at the most inopportune times for Betsy to babysit. Laura, Betsy's half sister and daughter to the devil pops in and out to help take care of the baby. Everyone worries and wonders when she is going to snap from her Donna Reed self into an alternate version of embarrassing her mother and taking over the world.
This book builds up the story of Betsy and furthers her world nicely, this book was definitely more entertaining than the last one, however the names were hard to keep up with since Davidson uses so many of the same names over for other characters, really?!? I hope there is a neat answer for this problem and not a lack of creativity. I eagerly await for a good laugh out loud Betsy book, hopefully the next one will be a riot!

[C.T. Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undead and Unpopular continues the wonderful adventures of Betsy, Queen of the Vampires. I absolutely this series and won't deny it's been a strong influence on my own writing. The nonstop jokes and oddball characters make it one of the best deconstructions of vampire literature ever made. Well, maybe not, but it's certainly damned funny. Sinclair, Marc, Jessica, Tina, Betsy, Garrett, and Antonia are all wonderful characters. It's rare I like every single member of the cast but that's certainly the case in the Undead series.

Undead and Unpopular is different from the previous entries of the series, with the exception of Undead and Unwed, in that it actually has a plot. It's not much of a plot and Mary Janice Davidson still parodies the concept by having a zombie in the attic which Betsy ignores for virtually the entirety of the book. Even so, there's stuff going on here! Actual stuff! Morally ambiguous situations! Trying to get her biography removed from publication before it reveals the existence of vampires! Sinclair being a jerk about telepathy.

Apparently, one of Queen Betsy's strongest supporters wants the head of Alonzo, a visiting vampire from Europe. Decades ago, Alonzo turned her into a vampire and unleashed her onto the populace like an animal. This is problematic because if you start persecuting vampires for making other vampires, or even general evil, you're going to rapidly run out of supporters. Queen Betsy really needs to put out a blanket general amnesty or something similar.

It's a new situation for Betsy to have to deal with the ambiguities of good versus evil. Alonzo is certainly evil but he's also a person willing to put that aside in the name of vampiric stability. He's also charming and genuinely doesn't see what the problem is with turning someone into a vampire. In that respect he's no different than Sinclair. From Sophia Trudeau's perspective, though, he murdered her and made her responsible for who knows how many deaths until she gained control over her thirst.

Betsy is also trying other things to improve her vampiric unlife like giving up blood. The fact she actually thinks this is possible is hilarious as well as sad. It reminds me of the similar goal of Nick Knight in Forever Knight, who often looked silly trying it. Watching the normally unflappable Betsy slowly descend into hunger-induced witchiness is hilarious. I actually laughed outloud when she started thinking of her human friends as pieces of literal meat like a cartoon coyote. Betsy, sorry, but some needs need to be filled.

There's some terrible and shocking twists in the book which bring real drama to events. One of Betsy's friends reveals a terrible secret about their health while the ending to the Alonzo plot was genuinely shocking. I also love the unvarnished reaction of the in-universe Undead and Unwed author to the discovery Betsy wiped his mind. This is some of Mary Janice Davidson's best writing and I applaud her for what she came up with.

People looking for a serious book will be disappointed but if you're picking up the fifth book in a series which is as laugh-a-minute as this then perhaps you shouldn't be surprised it's more quirky than horrific. Betsy is the least threatening vampire since the Count von Count and proudly so.

In conclusion, this is a majorly fun book and my second favorite in the series so far. For the crime of not telling me about this series earlier, my wife shall hereafter be forever known as Toni. It makes sense in context.

10/10

[Drebbles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor is busy planning her wedding to Eric Sinclair, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t want people to fuss over her upcoming 31st birthday. She also has other things on her mind – she’s decided to stop drinking blood (which is making her really really cranky), she has both a ghost and a zombie living in the house, unexpected vampire guests keep dropping by, one vampire seeks revenge against another, and worst of all – one of her friends is acting oddly.

“Undead and Unpopular” is a lightweight book in an increasingly lightweight series, a series that is long on laughs and short on plot development. Betsy is stagnating as a character – even when she tries to be mature about not drinking blood, she remains immature with her focus on fashionable shoes and wanting a surprise party for her 31st birthday (a stretch of a plot device if there ever was one). Each book recycles the same plots; for example, you know at some point there’s going to be a fight between vampires. There are some funny moments – notably a book within the book – but other plot developments that sound promising, like the zombie in the attic, fizzle out or are underdeveloped. Other plot lines, like the visiting vampires, seem thrown into the book just to set up events like the aforementioned vampire fight. Halfway through the book, I almost gave up reading it, wondering why I was continuing to read a series that rehashed the same old plots in each book. However, author Mary Janice Davidson threw in a potentially devastating plot twist involving one of the main characters that kept me reading. This twist shows some promise and may even help Betsy mature as a character, although in this book it only served to show how selfish she is. If Davidson uses this twist in the right way, it could turn the series into a much more interesting read.

“Undead and Unpopular” is a very light read.