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Undead #10
Undead and Undermined
So this is what being dead feels like. Vampire queen Betsy Taylor has awoken in a Chicago morgue, naked as a corpse. Her last memory is reconciling with her husband, Eric Sinclair, after a time-traveling field trip, including an indirect route to hell (literally), with her sister, Laura. Now she’s Jane Doe #291, wrapped in plastic with a toe tag. Betsy can’t help but wonder, what in hell happened?
Grabbing clean scrubs, Betsy hits the pavement and heads back to her St. Paul mansion to find that her family and friends have been frantically searching for her. And not one of them can explain how she ended up dead and naked - not to mention, in Chicago - until Betsy realizes that she and Laura didn't time-travel alone. What followed them had a wicked agenda: to kill Betsy in a time when she was still young and vulnerable and end her future reign as queen.
But it's not just Betsy's future that's taken an unexpected detour. Everyone in her circle, alive or undead, is feeling the chill. Betsy can't let the unthinkable happen. It would be a day in hell if she did.
Grabbing clean scrubs, Betsy hits the pavement and heads back to her St. Paul mansion to find that her family and friends have been frantically searching for her. And not one of them can explain how she ended up dead and naked - not to mention, in Chicago - until Betsy realizes that she and Laura didn't time-travel alone. What followed them had a wicked agenda: to kill Betsy in a time when she was still young and vulnerable and end her future reign as queen.
But it's not just Betsy's future that's taken an unexpected detour. Everyone in her circle, alive or undead, is feeling the chill. Betsy can't let the unthinkable happen. It would be a day in hell if she did.
279 pages, Hardcover
First published July 5, 2011
119 people are currently reading
4058 people want to read
About the author
MaryJanice Davidson
140 books5,349 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 540 reviews
October 26, 2016
At this point, I really just want to shoot Betsy in the head. Except, she would probably heal and continue to be the dumbest vampire queen to ever not-live.
She is so idiotic now that she can't even carry on a conversation without daydreaming and then having to say, "huh?" every few pages.
And, speaking of daydreaming... This book is actually about 20 pages long. The rest of it is Betsy just "thinking", and I use that term lightly. She is basically rambling in her head the whole book while very little actually happens.
Betsy has serious problems to sort-out, but she continues to prattle on about shoes and act like a dumbass instead of dealing with them. I mean, the least she can do is tell everyone else about what is going on so that someone smarter - like a 2-yr old or a poodle - could come up with a plan to fix the future. But, noooo.....
I'm so frustrated! I have around four more of these books in my book-bag and not much else to read instead. I feel stuck in Betsy-land. Help!!!
Yes, save me, nubile young men!
She is so idiotic now that she can't even carry on a conversation without daydreaming and then having to say, "huh?" every few pages.
And, speaking of daydreaming... This book is actually about 20 pages long. The rest of it is Betsy just "thinking", and I use that term lightly. She is basically rambling in her head the whole book while very little actually happens.
Betsy has serious problems to sort-out, but she continues to prattle on about shoes and act like a dumbass instead of dealing with them. I mean, the least she can do is tell everyone else about what is going on so that someone smarter - like a 2-yr old or a poodle - could come up with a plan to fix the future. But, noooo.....
I'm so frustrated! I have around four more of these books in my book-bag and not much else to read instead. I feel stuck in Betsy-land. Help!!!
Yes, save me, nubile young men!
August 27, 2011
Dear Mary Janice Davidson,
Really? You begged readers to stay with you after the last disaster, I mean book (no, maybe I was right the first time), promising that the next book would begin a positive step forward in the series. And this is what you wrote? Don't get me wrong, I love Betsy's snark, especially when it's echoing around in her head. However that's ALL this book was. Yes, there were a few plot points, but 90% of this book was Betsy zoning out. You could have cut this down to a less annoying novella.
I know a lot of people complained about the last book, saying they missed the funny snark. But now you have overcompensated and have a book filled with little else. I found myself skipping over so much of her thoughts just so I could get on with the rest of the book. And that's not how reading a book should be.
Really? You begged readers to stay with you after the last disaster, I mean book (no, maybe I was right the first time), promising that the next book would begin a positive step forward in the series. And this is what you wrote? Don't get me wrong, I love Betsy's snark, especially when it's echoing around in her head. However that's ALL this book was. Yes, there were a few plot points, but 90% of this book was Betsy zoning out. You could have cut this down to a less annoying novella.
I know a lot of people complained about the last book, saying they missed the funny snark. But now you have overcompensated and have a book filled with little else. I found myself skipping over so much of her thoughts just so I could get on with the rest of the book. And that's not how reading a book should be.
March 10, 2012
Ok, well this one wasn't much better than the previous one. I literally skipped over paragraphs to try to wade through Betsy's annoying ridiculous ramblings to get to the action/plot. That is truly terrible for a reader to have to do that. The same things I didn't like about 9 applies to this one too. Except the short annoying chapters weren't as bad. I would think after 10 books Betsy would be less shallow or immature but nope. She is even worse than before IMO. And why is she calling Sinclair, Sink Lair all of sudden again? It worked before they were together bc she was denying she liked him. Now, it just sounds stupid. Of course, I will read every last book in this series to see what happens but it's just sad that this series has gotten so bad when it started out so good. Methinks MJD needs to wrap up Betsy's story asap.
October 29, 2011
Wishlist, phff, more like, wish it would stop. But, since I can't seem to, here's hoping for an amazing series rejuvenation with #10!
October 12, 2017
Well most of it was better until the last bit where the whole timeline thing got far too confusing for what began as a light funny read. I feel like based on the author’s note at the beginning that maybe she was done with this series or pressured to bring back characters. And this convoluted plot from last book going forward was done to reboot the series. I will continue but I’m not sure for how many more books. I don’t like where the plot is headed.
August 11, 2011
I've read each "Queen Betsy" from the first with both delight and tolerance. It's intentionally silly,ribald and supernaturally cock-eyed. The series and Betsy's antics have been funny enough, up to now, to ignore the crass factor. (especially as the author has been known to make fun of it herself) Based on the Acknowledgement/authors comments this installment appears to be an attempt to correct the last book,(which apparently wasn't well received.) but comes off more like a parody of the series, and more than a little confused by itself.
I've Lost interest.
I've Lost interest.
July 9, 2011
Miserable. Clearly I was in the minority in that I actually LIKED book 9. Davidson got a lot of flak for it though and spun so hard in the opposite direction for this one it feels like wiplash. Betsy is ANNOYING AS HELL and the first 100 pages or so make almost no sense. The sentences literally are so random you cannot follow them. It's like a chihuahua on crack. She goes back to calling Sinclair "Sink Lair" (Why? No reason. Just because it's something she did in the early books probably.) And Sinclair himself has ZERO personality. He's just a besotted puppy following Betsy around mindlessly. Literally.
Almost nothing happens too. So it's not only frustrating to read, it's pointless. Such a HUGE step backwards. This isn't flighty, funny Betsy, this is pointless and annoying.
Really just a complete mess.
Almost nothing happens too. So it's not only frustrating to read, it's pointless. Such a HUGE step backwards. This isn't flighty, funny Betsy, this is pointless and annoying.
Really just a complete mess.
August 13, 2016
WOW. Well, other than the surprise ending (which I wish had been sadder to me, but.... well, it just wasn't), it was just pretty disappointing.
Okay, so I really liked the last book. I thought the time-travelling to figure things out actually worked well for the story. But in trying to remember what the major plot points were in that book so I could read this one, I realized how much people DIDN'T like it. Which is, I suppose, why MJD essentially APOLOGIZED in the intro to this book. (OWN IT, WOMAN!) So I think that in response to the negativity about the last book, she was really trying to "make it up" to us readers by writing something that wasn't so dark and dreary, you know? But she SERIOUSLY OVERSHOT.
Betsy was SO ANNOYING in this book, I wanted to shoot her up with massive doses of testosterone so she would grow some balls, just so I could kick her in them. And while I was at it, I'd shoot Sinclair up, so he would grow some. He was like a pathetic, spineless puppy-dog, following Betsy around and "anything you want, my own"-ing her left and right. I wanted to punch him in the face. Where did his personality go? He used to be a FORCE, you know? A masculine, sexy guy. And now it's like he's just there to have disgusting, destructive sex with Betsy and cater to her every whim.
The writing was terrible. It was like she sat down and wrote it in a week (it'd take that long to type it all up), then just had it published without an editor even looking at it. It was confusing, nonsensical, pointless, and completely random. And did I mention Betsy and crew only accomplished like 4 things the whole time?
(1) She explained what happened in the last book to her friends.... SORT OF,
(2) ,
(3) , and
(4)
Honestly, she could have accomplished those 4 things in about 50 pages, max. But instead, we're regaled with 5 chapters of crap from some coroners POV, Betsy having long and annoyingly STUPID fights with her sister for no reason, Betsy visiting her mom for no reason, Betsy going to Chicago for no reason, etc., etc., etc. Super annoying.
And did I mention how annoying Betsy was? Cuz SRSLY. Not kidding about that. She was acting like a spoiled, selfish 3-year-old who knows way too much about designer shoes. I worry for BabyJon. What a TERRIBLE, IRRESPONSIBLE mother Betsy is! I don't think he's even been in the last 2 books!
Anyway, *sigh* I can't really say that I want to read the next book, but I probably will, because I won't remember exactly how annoying this book was. I just wish I'd been more... saddened... by the ending of this book, but I was just so glad to have the thing over with... I just wasn't into it. At all.
Okay, so I really liked the last book. I thought the time-travelling to figure things out actually worked well for the story. But in trying to remember what the major plot points were in that book so I could read this one, I realized how much people DIDN'T like it. Which is, I suppose, why MJD essentially APOLOGIZED in the intro to this book. (OWN IT, WOMAN!) So I think that in response to the negativity about the last book, she was really trying to "make it up" to us readers by writing something that wasn't so dark and dreary, you know? But she SERIOUSLY OVERSHOT.
Betsy was SO ANNOYING in this book, I wanted to shoot her up with massive doses of testosterone so she would grow some balls, just so I could kick her in them. And while I was at it, I'd shoot Sinclair up, so he would grow some. He was like a pathetic, spineless puppy-dog, following Betsy around and "anything you want, my own"-ing her left and right. I wanted to punch him in the face. Where did his personality go? He used to be a FORCE, you know? A masculine, sexy guy. And now it's like he's just there to have disgusting, destructive sex with Betsy and cater to her every whim.
The writing was terrible. It was like she sat down and wrote it in a week (it'd take that long to type it all up), then just had it published without an editor even looking at it. It was confusing, nonsensical, pointless, and completely random. And did I mention Betsy and crew only accomplished like 4 things the whole time?
(1) She explained what happened in the last book to her friends.... SORT OF,
(2) ,
(3) , and
(4)
Honestly, she could have accomplished those 4 things in about 50 pages, max. But instead, we're regaled with 5 chapters of crap from some coroners POV, Betsy having long and annoyingly STUPID fights with her sister for no reason, Betsy visiting her mom for no reason, Betsy going to Chicago for no reason, etc., etc., etc. Super annoying.
And did I mention how annoying Betsy was? Cuz SRSLY. Not kidding about that. She was acting like a spoiled, selfish 3-year-old who knows way too much about designer shoes. I worry for BabyJon. What a TERRIBLE, IRRESPONSIBLE mother Betsy is! I don't think he's even been in the last 2 books!
Anyway, *sigh* I can't really say that I want to read the next book, but I probably will, because I won't remember exactly how annoying this book was. I just wish I'd been more... saddened... by the ending of this book, but I was just so glad to have the thing over with... I just wasn't into it. At all.
September 10, 2012
Christian Louboutin doesn’t exist, or at least, doesn’t design shoes and clogs are the new fashion forward footwear—what fresh hell is this? What it is, is the alternative timeline that Betsy Taylor, Vampire Queen, finds herself in when she returns from the future Hell. Time travel with her sister Laura, the Antichrist, has been both harrowing and revealing, and Betsy returns determined to put the future right. But what she finds is Nick, claiming his name is Dick, who’s now apparently one of her best friends, a heavily pregnant Jessica (by said N/Dick), no stilettos in her closet and most surprisingly, Garrett, not just alive but calm and sane, who reminds her that she promised to bring Antonia (dead in this timeline, too) back from Hell. At least Sinclair still loves her- with that, she can face anything. And that’s a really good thing, considering that insane vampire Marc Thing, Marc from the future, has followed her back.
Of course, now she has an easy out. Thanks to her deal with the Devil that sent her on the time traveling spree to begin with, she can just read the Book of the Dead and find out how to handle all the crises. So why has Laura hidden the Book and why won’t she give it back?
The newest installment of the popular Betsy Taylor, Vampire Queen Series follows directly after the previous novel in the series, and I would not recommend reading this without having read the other first. The last book, Undead and Unfinished, angered many readers and this book may well follow suit. The most delicious thing about the whole story is the development and growth of Betsy Taylor’s character, and that unfortunately demands a price. This is not the same girl who was Undead and Unwed, and that keeps this series rocking on.
Of course, now she has an easy out. Thanks to her deal with the Devil that sent her on the time traveling spree to begin with, she can just read the Book of the Dead and find out how to handle all the crises. So why has Laura hidden the Book and why won’t she give it back?
The newest installment of the popular Betsy Taylor, Vampire Queen Series follows directly after the previous novel in the series, and I would not recommend reading this without having read the other first. The last book, Undead and Unfinished, angered many readers and this book may well follow suit. The most delicious thing about the whole story is the development and growth of Betsy Taylor’s character, and that unfortunately demands a price. This is not the same girl who was Undead and Unwed, and that keeps this series rocking on.
July 15, 2011
I am so frustrated with this series. When I first discovered it I really liked it, I laughed and thought things were fun. The last book was so boring and going into it if it didn't pick up I was going to give it up. But then there was the shocking reveal about the book and I knew that I would keep reading. So it was with great trepidation that I picked up this book. I feel like it was a complete waste of my time.
The whole book seemed to be Betsy being a drama queen and spouting verbal vomit. I also haven't read a book with so many explanation marks or the ...'s in them. When you notice them all of sudden that is all you can think about, you forget the story.
I felt like this book was filler. At the end there was another event that will have me reading the next book, but again I won't be looking forward to it. At this point I just want answers, I wish that I would be one of those people that could just give it up. My only consolation is that these books are short and read really fast.
The whole book seemed to be Betsy being a drama queen and spouting verbal vomit. I also haven't read a book with so many explanation marks or the ...'s in them. When you notice them all of sudden that is all you can think about, you forget the story.
I felt like this book was filler. At the end there was another event that will have me reading the next book, but again I won't be looking forward to it. At this point I just want answers, I wish that I would be one of those people that could just give it up. My only consolation is that these books are short and read really fast.
July 9, 2011
Second book in a trilogy within the Betsy series that I can only assume will be used to explain a change in Betsy's outlook and attitude in future books. In the last book Betsy travels with Laura through time so she can practice her abilities to jump to different times and places and eventually take over Satan's job; mom wants to retire. Betsy's presence and action in the past causes changes to the current timeline. Their jump of 1000 years to a horrific future caused by Betsy has given Betsy the goal to prevent that future from happening.
This book has Betsy discovering and trying to acclimate to the changes in the timeline and apparently only she and Laura can recall the way things were before their little vacation. Since going back and feeding on Laura instead of Nick in the past, he's much friendlier towards vampires, although Laura isn't too happy about being fed on. Jessica is pregnant and about to pop. Mom has a boyfriend. Someone dead in the prior timeline is now alive and a little different. And someone from the future is sent back to the present time. Steps are taken to meet Betsy's goal to alter the future she saw, but events that take place to try to prevent it seem like it just might be putting her on the path she wants to avoid. By the end of this book we see a more assertive Betsy.
The book starts out with a seven page recap of the entire series. This was well done. There are also a number of quotes and a definition for Retroactive Continuity from Wikipedia which was really a smart thing to add because there are differences in this new timeline that can't be explained by Betsy's visit to the past; at least for now. Hopefully this will make more sense in the 3rd book.
There is actually very little story taking place in this one, much of it dealing with Betsy being stunned and trying to acclimate to how things are now. Betsy's ADD (or ADHD?) is more evident than ever with a huge amount of ink devoted to her sarcastic thoughts and comments which temporarily drag her and us away from a topic or conversation, all to add humor to the story. I'm not sure if there is more of this in these last two books or if it's just becoming old. It is why I loved the first couple of books in the series. I still do enjoy it and have to marvel at some of the things the author came up with, but there's just too much of it.
This trilogy could have easily been one decent size book if half of the sarcastic comments and observations were removed. The author does thank the readers who picked up this book after believing she lost her mind with the last one. It helps, although I'm upset to have paid a hardcover price for the book and have doubts that I will if I read the next one.
I'd prefer to give it 2.5 stars, but since that isn't possible, I'm going with 3.
This book has Betsy discovering and trying to acclimate to the changes in the timeline and apparently only she and Laura can recall the way things were before their little vacation. Since going back and feeding on Laura instead of Nick in the past, he's much friendlier towards vampires, although Laura isn't too happy about being fed on. Jessica is pregnant and about to pop. Mom has a boyfriend. Someone dead in the prior timeline is now alive and a little different. And someone from the future is sent back to the present time. Steps are taken to meet Betsy's goal to alter the future she saw, but events that take place to try to prevent it seem like it just might be putting her on the path she wants to avoid. By the end of this book we see a more assertive Betsy.
The book starts out with a seven page recap of the entire series. This was well done. There are also a number of quotes and a definition for Retroactive Continuity from Wikipedia which was really a smart thing to add because there are differences in this new timeline that can't be explained by Betsy's visit to the past; at least for now. Hopefully this will make more sense in the 3rd book.
There is actually very little story taking place in this one, much of it dealing with Betsy being stunned and trying to acclimate to how things are now. Betsy's ADD (or ADHD?) is more evident than ever with a huge amount of ink devoted to her sarcastic thoughts and comments which temporarily drag her and us away from a topic or conversation, all to add humor to the story. I'm not sure if there is more of this in these last two books or if it's just becoming old. It is why I loved the first couple of books in the series. I still do enjoy it and have to marvel at some of the things the author came up with, but there's just too much of it.
This trilogy could have easily been one decent size book if half of the sarcastic comments and observations were removed. The author does thank the readers who picked up this book after believing she lost her mind with the last one. It helps, although I'm upset to have paid a hardcover price for the book and have doubts that I will if I read the next one.
I'd prefer to give it 2.5 stars, but since that isn't possible, I'm going with 3.
July 8, 2011
Dear Reader, do yourself a favor and don't skip the pages before the prologue in this book as you normally would. And I know you do. You'll find out there's another book after this as this is part of a trilogy. There's also a nice synopsis of the story to date (the previous 9 books). Not that you really want to skip reading those.
Now it was with great trepidation that I picked up this book to read because the previous book in this series, Undead and Unfinished, left me (and a number of other readers) completely traumatized at the end. Dear friends, this title does nothing to aleve that feeling. Betsy comes back from her visit to hell to find herself in an alternate timeline from which she left. She has no knowledge of the shocking disclosure we got from the last book and we get no new information about how it came to be. We lose one of the supporting characters but gain another back. Betsy is her usual snarky self.
Bottom line, I just did not feel this book moved the storyline forward whatsoever. And that's what I'm most disappointed in.
I'm glad it took a while for this title to be released. It's taken this long to get over the end of the last book to be able to consider reading any other title of the author's. But will I read the title that is to follow this? Yes, if only to hopefully obtain the closure needed from Book 9.
Now it was with great trepidation that I picked up this book to read because the previous book in this series, Undead and Unfinished, left me (and a number of other readers) completely traumatized at the end. Dear friends, this title does nothing to aleve that feeling. Betsy comes back from her visit to hell to find herself in an alternate timeline from which she left. She has no knowledge of the shocking disclosure we got from the last book and we get no new information about how it came to be. We lose one of the supporting characters but gain another back. Betsy is her usual snarky self.
Bottom line, I just did not feel this book moved the storyline forward whatsoever. And that's what I'm most disappointed in.
I'm glad it took a while for this title to be released. It's taken this long to get over the end of the last book to be able to consider reading any other title of the author's. But will I read the title that is to follow this? Yes, if only to hopefully obtain the closure needed from Book 9.
August 4, 2011
I can't believe I am giving a Queen Betsy book only 2 stars! But this book is very disappointing, especially after the bomb that is dropped at the end of book 9. Nothing happens in this book. There is a lot of not talking, and talking over people and not listening. If everyone would just shut the hell up and listen maybe we could have gotten somewhere. But it seems Betsy does a lot of nothing in this book. Except moan and complain about her lack of shoes. I know she has always been somewhat superficial but underneath that was a heart of gold for her friends and family. So when she asks for her shoes back instead of Antonia, that was the beginning of the end for me with Betsy. Even though she knows she did wrong she didn't seem that upset about it and that I can't jive with. That's not the Betsy I love. And the whole surprise at the end was just more shock and awe. Not something that was necessary and kind of just thrown in there. Even Betsy's reaction was dull. If these are supposed to be signs she is becoming more and more like Ancient Betsy, well then count me out for the rest of the series.
I will give the next book a chance since this is the second in a trilogy. But some serious work needs to be done to win me back. And the writing needs to be better. Things got so confusing and there were times I didn't know who was talking. I almost felt like I needed to listen to the audiobook to get the whole picture (if they could have even figured out how to do the audiobook...there was no indication at time who was speaking) And so many little things ticked me off. Like why does Nick need to be called Dick. That was unnecessary. And the whole couple chapters from the corner's point of view? Did we really need those? And they reference that his name is Benton, even make note of the joke about Benton and Carter from ER, but then call him Benson for the rest of the time. That confused me more than anything...
There was a lot wrong and I wanted to give MJ the benefit of the doubt because she got a lot of flak after the last book. But I was one who didn't mind book 9 and thought it was an interesting twist. After this book though, I think all those people who complained may be right.
I will give the next book a chance since this is the second in a trilogy. But some serious work needs to be done to win me back. And the writing needs to be better. Things got so confusing and there were times I didn't know who was talking. I almost felt like I needed to listen to the audiobook to get the whole picture (if they could have even figured out how to do the audiobook...there was no indication at time who was speaking) And so many little things ticked me off. Like why does Nick need to be called Dick. That was unnecessary. And the whole couple chapters from the corner's point of view? Did we really need those? And they reference that his name is Benton, even make note of the joke about Benton and Carter from ER, but then call him Benson for the rest of the time. That confused me more than anything...
There was a lot wrong and I wanted to give MJ the benefit of the doubt because she got a lot of flak after the last book. But I was one who didn't mind book 9 and thought it was an interesting twist. After this book though, I think all those people who complained may be right.
July 30, 2011
Well, so much for this book being better than the previous one. In fact, the majority of the latest Betsy adventure is about the last story- the characters rehash it, it's constantly mentioned. While I understand this to an extent as the events were certainly groundbreaking (as far as Betsy herself was concerned, anyhow), was there really a need to use half the book up with the numerous retellings? And Betsy has not gotten any better- in fact, I'd say she's gotten worse. To try and not spoil anything for potential readers, Betsy has only one train of thought in regard to her friend Jessica, to the point where I couldn't understand why Jessica didn't smack the living daylights out of her. Also, at the climax of the book, Betsy proves just how selfish she really is. Though I'm sure it's supposed to read as a funny moment, I just cringed. What happened to the slowly developing but strong vampire queen from past books? It's like she never existed. I'd like to hope that the next book seriously proves me wrong and things get on the upward swing for our favorite ditzy vamp and her friends. I'm enough of a fan of the series to wait and see.
June 12, 2016
I am so done with this series. You would think after 10 books Betsy’s character would have grown. WRONG. She is still the same dumb, shallow blonde stereo type; which was fun for the first few books but it’s gotten old and on my nerves.
Undead and Undermined picks up where Undead and Unfinished left off. Betsy is trying to come to grip with the new time she returned to; after timing traveling with her sister Laura. Against advance, Betsy changed a few times in the past before coming back to the present and now she can see the error of her ways but as usual it’s too late.
Betsy is not the typical heroine. Most of the time she is the reason the day has to be saved.
I vote that Betsy stakes herself and puts everyone around her out of their misery.
If you are fan of the Undead series then by all means read this book; you might enjoy it. But I believe this series has lost it’s fun and needs to end.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy MaryJancie Davidson’s writing I just think Betsy is over. Let’s move on to some new characters. Which is why I’m giving up on Betsy and trying some of Davidson’s other books.
Undead and Undermined picks up where Undead and Unfinished left off. Betsy is trying to come to grip with the new time she returned to; after timing traveling with her sister Laura. Against advance, Betsy changed a few times in the past before coming back to the present and now she can see the error of her ways but as usual it’s too late.
Betsy is not the typical heroine. Most of the time she is the reason the day has to be saved.
I vote that Betsy stakes herself and puts everyone around her out of their misery.
If you are fan of the Undead series then by all means read this book; you might enjoy it. But I believe this series has lost it’s fun and needs to end.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy MaryJancie Davidson’s writing I just think Betsy is over. Let’s move on to some new characters. Which is why I’m giving up on Betsy and trying some of Davidson’s other books.
July 22, 2011
Hmmm. Very strange book. I think this is probably my least favorite in the Queen Betsy series. I'm not even sure what this book was about. It doesn't seem like anything happened as far as the plot. Seriously, it was all just fluff and filler until about page 200, when something finally happened -- and then shortly after, the book ended. From what the author states in the beginning, this book is meant to be the middle book in a trilogy that is within the original series. So, my guess is that this book is just some sort of bridge between the weird stuff that happened in book 9, and whatever will happen in book 11. Sadly, though -- this book was just boring and dumb. I'm not even too sure I'm interested in reading book 11 now, as it seems the series has gotten so convoluted, strange and awkward. Darnit, I really like Betsy and Sinclair, and some of the other characters. I wish it hadn't taken such a wrong turn :(
July 17, 2011
I have loved Mary Janice Davidson's Undead Series since I first read Undead and Unwed in my doctor's office. Before I left I had given the title out to a dozen people who had to know why I was laughing out loud. What can I say? She and Betsy cracked me up.
MJ has warned her readers the series was going to undergo a change, a author described trilogy within a series. Perhaps I am at that time in life when I need the humor (old). Whatever my reason, in 2010 Undead and Unfinished left me wanting to commit felony assault. I am pleased to say at least in some respects Undead and Undermined was better, but still did not answer the questions left from the other. Ms. Davidson does tell us there will be another to take care of that.
While an improvement over last year's work I felt the book had too much back story. Authors always walk a tightrope with series. Backstory is like prunes. Is one enough? Are six too many?
I give the book three stars and wish I could have rated it higher.
MJ has warned her readers the series was going to undergo a change, a author described trilogy within a series. Perhaps I am at that time in life when I need the humor (old). Whatever my reason, in 2010 Undead and Unfinished left me wanting to commit felony assault. I am pleased to say at least in some respects Undead and Undermined was better, but still did not answer the questions left from the other. Ms. Davidson does tell us there will be another to take care of that.
While an improvement over last year's work I felt the book had too much back story. Authors always walk a tightrope with series. Backstory is like prunes. Is one enough? Are six too many?
I give the book three stars and wish I could have rated it higher.
July 28, 2011
I have to state up front . . . I do love the Queen Betsy series. I was actually one of the few that enjoyed Undead and Unfinished. This one though . . . seriously . . . WTF?????
I get that this is kind of the middle book or a trilogy . . . in the middle of an on-going series (???) . . . but this book just doesn't go anywhere. It didn't progress the story. Betsy was even more scatter-brained than normal, and the altered reality was very disjointed.
Just . . . ugh!!!! I'll be reading the next book, but I really, really, really hope the story goes somewhere with the next one.
I get that this is kind of the middle book or a trilogy . . . in the middle of an on-going series (???) . . . but this book just doesn't go anywhere. It didn't progress the story. Betsy was even more scatter-brained than normal, and the altered reality was very disjointed.
Just . . . ugh!!!! I'll be reading the next book, but I really, really, really hope the story goes somewhere with the next one.
Read
July 30, 2011Well that was a waste of 3 hours of my life. Good thing it was a library book. I'd be upset if I had spent money on it. The Betsy books are always fun, weird, fluff. This was just weird, rambling fluff with no fun. Didn't make any sense, and was wholly unentertaining. It felt like the author had to put a book out, so she gave some monkeys some typewriters, and instead of Shakespeare she got whatever this is. I wanted to put it down, but kept thinking something would happen. Nada. The part in the front says this, the previous book, and the next book are a trilogy within the series. Hopefully the next one won't be as awful, and then we can get back to the Betsy we all know and love. 300 pages and nothing happened to move the story forward. Bleh.
August 26, 2011
Why do I still bother with this series. It is just going down hill. And now it has a three book thing going on in the middle of the series. So this is book two. Most of the book is spent talking about things that have nothing to do with the plot. I am tired of the sex and the shoes. I want a story! This was just a whole book leading up to the third book. I forgot what the story is even about. UGHHH!!!
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July 29, 2020
When I started this series I felt it was flawed but entertaining. Now it’s ridiculous.
December 5, 2018
Tenth in the Queen Betsy frothy urban-fantasy series set in St. Paul, Minnesota; this one in an alternate timeline!
My Take
I want to give Davidson a "3" for the whininess she subjected me to, but then I also need to give her a "4" for being able to write someone capable of being so whiny. Whatever else, I have to give Davidson credit for imagination and humor. Even as I want to take Betsy out to the woodshed and whack her with a 4x4. I'd use an 8x8 but I'm just not strong enough to wield it.
The start of the story is a lovely synopsis of the entire series bringing us up to speed, but it goes downhill after that and is almost more irritating beyond words. Davidson drops us into the middle of the story and then hops back and forth until you just want to rip the pages out and reorganize the story to go in order.
Part of my frustration is that Davidson doesn't really advance the story that much with Undead and Undermined. Betsy is so busy being selfish and whining about how awful her life is without anyone getting a word in edgewise, that we run out of pages before we run out of Betsy-Wetsy.
I think I keep reading this because I do enjoy Davidson's irreverent sense of humor and, hey, Sinclair is a hunk. Okay, okay, and I like hearing about the shoes..! Maybe Betsy needs a hearing test???
The Story
Betsy has just returned, still absolutely frantic, from her trip to the pasts and future with her sister, Laura. The whole idea was to help Laura learn to use her powers and the Devil, Laura's mother, would make it easier for Betsy to read the Book of the Dead.
Bit of a backfire, as the future totally freaked both of them, with Betsy running hither and yon babbling like a freshly-fed brook totally unable to hear a word anyone else says. Most of Betsy wants to celebrate that she's home and the tiny bit left wants to fix things. Just as soon as she gets over the fact that the life she's returned to is not the life she left. Clogs, for god's sake! There are clogs in her closet!! Where are her Louboutins???
The Characters
Elizabeth "Betsy" Taylor, Queen of the Vampires, is married to Sinclair, which makes him King. Other than the bedroom and a fashion passion, the two are complete opposites. Sinclair was the son of a farmer in the early 1900s and, for some reason, is in love with Betsy. BabyJon is Betsy and Laura's half-brother and impervious to magical harm—which has caused Sinclair to change his mind about having BabyJon around. Since his parents are dead, Betsy is his guardian.
Jessica is an orphan, she thanks God, and has been best friends with Betsy since childhood. Her parents' deaths have left her a millionaire and everyone lives with her in her mansion. Detective Nick/D-Nick Berry is in love with Jessica and loves/hates Betsy depending upon which timeline he's in.
Tina is the vampire who brought Sinclair over and is now his very efficient Girl Friday.
Marc is an ER doctor who lives with the rest of the gang. Antonia is the dead werewolf from Cape Cod who took a bullet to the brain for Betsy and George is the Fiend who wants her back.
Laura is the Devil's daughter, Betsy's half-sister, and the Anti-Christ who helps out at soup kitchens, goes to church, and aids in other charitable endeavors.
Antonia "The Ant" is Betsy's stepmother and Laura's surrogate mother (she was possessed by the Devil when she conceived so Laura is really the Devil's daughter---Betsy is still not sure if The Ant isn't really the Devil anyway!).
The Cover
The cover is very Betsy. A cute, self-satisfied blonde in sunglasses and a black evening dress with a heart-shaped, plunging neckline with a bat pendant around her neck. The title could cover so many possibilities: Betsy's view of the future with Ancient Betsy; Betsy herself; Laura stealing the Book of the Dead; the Devil telling her the truth about the Book; or, in Betsy's view, her mother snogging some guy!
My Take
I want to give Davidson a "3" for the whininess she subjected me to, but then I also need to give her a "4" for being able to write someone capable of being so whiny. Whatever else, I have to give Davidson credit for imagination and humor. Even as I want to take Betsy out to the woodshed and whack her with a 4x4. I'd use an 8x8 but I'm just not strong enough to wield it.
The start of the story is a lovely synopsis of the entire series bringing us up to speed, but it goes downhill after that and is almost more irritating beyond words. Davidson drops us into the middle of the story and then hops back and forth until you just want to rip the pages out and reorganize the story to go in order.
Part of my frustration is that Davidson doesn't really advance the story that much with Undead and Undermined. Betsy is so busy being selfish and whining about how awful her life is without anyone getting a word in edgewise, that we run out of pages before we run out of Betsy-Wetsy.
I think I keep reading this because I do enjoy Davidson's irreverent sense of humor and, hey, Sinclair is a hunk. Okay, okay, and I like hearing about the shoes..! Maybe Betsy needs a hearing test???
The Story
Betsy has just returned, still absolutely frantic, from her trip to the pasts and future with her sister, Laura. The whole idea was to help Laura learn to use her powers and the Devil, Laura's mother, would make it easier for Betsy to read the Book of the Dead.
Bit of a backfire, as the future totally freaked both of them, with Betsy running hither and yon babbling like a freshly-fed brook totally unable to hear a word anyone else says. Most of Betsy wants to celebrate that she's home and the tiny bit left wants to fix things. Just as soon as she gets over the fact that the life she's returned to is not the life she left. Clogs, for god's sake! There are clogs in her closet!! Where are her Louboutins???
The Characters
Elizabeth "Betsy" Taylor, Queen of the Vampires, is married to Sinclair, which makes him King. Other than the bedroom and a fashion passion, the two are complete opposites. Sinclair was the son of a farmer in the early 1900s and, for some reason, is in love with Betsy. BabyJon is Betsy and Laura's half-brother and impervious to magical harm—which has caused Sinclair to change his mind about having BabyJon around. Since his parents are dead, Betsy is his guardian.
Jessica is an orphan, she thanks God, and has been best friends with Betsy since childhood. Her parents' deaths have left her a millionaire and everyone lives with her in her mansion. Detective Nick/D-Nick Berry is in love with Jessica and loves/hates Betsy depending upon which timeline he's in.
Tina is the vampire who brought Sinclair over and is now his very efficient Girl Friday.
Marc is an ER doctor who lives with the rest of the gang. Antonia is the dead werewolf from Cape Cod who took a bullet to the brain for Betsy and George is the Fiend who wants her back.
Laura is the Devil's daughter, Betsy's half-sister, and the Anti-Christ who helps out at soup kitchens, goes to church, and aids in other charitable endeavors.
Antonia "The Ant" is Betsy's stepmother and Laura's surrogate mother (she was possessed by the Devil when she conceived so Laura is really the Devil's daughter---Betsy is still not sure if The Ant isn't really the Devil anyway!).
The Cover
The cover is very Betsy. A cute, self-satisfied blonde in sunglasses and a black evening dress with a heart-shaped, plunging neckline with a bat pendant around her neck. The title could cover so many possibilities: Betsy's view of the future with Ancient Betsy; Betsy herself; Laura stealing the Book of the Dead; the Devil telling her the truth about the Book; or, in Betsy's view, her mother snogging some guy!
August 6, 2011
Okay. So I read the reviews for the 10th installment and they weren't that favorable, but being me, I figured I still had to make up my own mind on the matter.
To clarify, you know how when a book (or a movie) does something to the storyline that you hate the idea of - and then you leave the book thinking... "well, that just ruined it for me"? Although MJD did do something in the storyline that made me feel that way, my one-star vote doesn't really have that much to do with it.
As I mentioned... this is the 10th book. At this point Betsy's typical shoe-related wool-gathering while important things are being discussed is tiresome. For those who read book 9, you KNOW that something big has to change or our beloved Sinclair is in danger. I went into book 10 believing that we'll see some serious steps toward fixing book 9. Most of this book is spent rehashing the things that happened before. I get why she has to do it, but I'm not a giant fan, myself.
Betsy's shoe obsession has been in every book - so though I'm not a Shooey myself, I knew it'd be in this one... I thought it was very off-putting in this installment. It wasn't just finding shoes or talking about shoes... it was like shoes were an additional character.
Then - the book is very disjointed. It jumped back and forth and was a little difficult to follow. (Not like you CAN'T follow it, but that you say, "Wait, what?" more often than you'd like to.)
I did enjoy (as I always do) the banter between Betsy, Jessica and Mark. I did have a couple of LOLs while reading.
BUT...
When I finished, I said, "I don't think I can even read the last one - even to find out what happens."
SO, do I recommend "Undead and Undermined"? Not so much - but if you've read the others, read this one and decide for yourself... but maybe wait for the last book of the story arc so that if you leave this one pissed, maybe the last will redeem it. If you haven't read the others, start at the beginning. They're a fun romp into the world of vampires, they're a quick read, and they act as a good sorbet (I read them after the Black Dagger Brotherhood so I could 'clear the slate' so-to-speak).
To clarify, you know how when a book (or a movie) does something to the storyline that you hate the idea of - and then you leave the book thinking... "well, that just ruined it for me"? Although MJD did do something in the storyline that made me feel that way, my one-star vote doesn't really have that much to do with it.
As I mentioned... this is the 10th book. At this point Betsy's typical shoe-related wool-gathering while important things are being discussed is tiresome. For those who read book 9, you KNOW that something big has to change or our beloved Sinclair is in danger. I went into book 10 believing that we'll see some serious steps toward fixing book 9. Most of this book is spent rehashing the things that happened before. I get why she has to do it, but I'm not a giant fan, myself.
Betsy's shoe obsession has been in every book - so though I'm not a Shooey myself, I knew it'd be in this one... I thought it was very off-putting in this installment. It wasn't just finding shoes or talking about shoes... it was like shoes were an additional character.
Then - the book is very disjointed. It jumped back and forth and was a little difficult to follow. (Not like you CAN'T follow it, but that you say, "Wait, what?" more often than you'd like to.)
I did enjoy (as I always do) the banter between Betsy, Jessica and Mark. I did have a couple of LOLs while reading.
BUT...
When I finished, I said, "I don't think I can even read the last one - even to find out what happens."
SO, do I recommend "Undead and Undermined"? Not so much - but if you've read the others, read this one and decide for yourself... but maybe wait for the last book of the story arc so that if you leave this one pissed, maybe the last will redeem it. If you haven't read the others, start at the beginning. They're a fun romp into the world of vampires, they're a quick read, and they act as a good sorbet (I read them after the Black Dagger Brotherhood so I could 'clear the slate' so-to-speak).
August 23, 2011
This review was posted at Under The Covers
I remember the days when I used to find Betsy Taylor (yes! her name is Elizabeth Taylor) extremely entertaining! She was cute in her dumb ways, always thinking about shoes, and sales, and somehow stumbling through being the Vampire Queen because, lets face it, she's never had the skills. But after 8 books and so many events and battles, how can she possibly still be the same Betsy Taylor, if not worst, than during book 1!
Betsy made some good decisions in this book along with some plain terrible ones (how could you put SHOES before the life of your friend, seriously???). The different realities and time travels confused me a bit at the beginning, or maybe it was just Betsy's head?
And then there's Sinclair. What happened to the sexy, alpha Vampire King?!?!?!!? It was as if someone cut off his balls in this book. He kept waiting for Betsy to make decisions and lead them, instead of taking charge of some situations.
The side characters are still funny, Laura, the devil, Jessica, Mark... they all still kept some of the humor in the book.
All I can say is I've enjoyed the series a lot, it has provided many laughs, but the time has come for me to just give up.
I remember the days when I used to find Betsy Taylor (yes! her name is Elizabeth Taylor) extremely entertaining! She was cute in her dumb ways, always thinking about shoes, and sales, and somehow stumbling through being the Vampire Queen because, lets face it, she's never had the skills. But after 8 books and so many events and battles, how can she possibly still be the same Betsy Taylor, if not worst, than during book 1!
Betsy made some good decisions in this book along with some plain terrible ones (how could you put SHOES before the life of your friend, seriously???). The different realities and time travels confused me a bit at the beginning, or maybe it was just Betsy's head?
And then there's Sinclair. What happened to the sexy, alpha Vampire King?!?!?!!? It was as if someone cut off his balls in this book. He kept waiting for Betsy to make decisions and lead them, instead of taking charge of some situations.
The side characters are still funny, Laura, the devil, Jessica, Mark... they all still kept some of the humor in the book.
All I can say is I've enjoyed the series a lot, it has provided many laughs, but the time has come for me to just give up.
December 4, 2011
It saddens me to give this novel a one rating. I have loved much of the series so far, though i'd probably never give any book more than a 3-1/2. The books are totally crazy adventures filled with mindless hilarity, snark, shoes, and a touch of sexy thrown in. However, I am so sick of after 3 years, and it seems drastically longer to the ready, that Betsy hasn't grown as a character, at all. I know Betsy herself claims to have grown, but seriously, when the first thing she can think about is shoes instead of saving her dead friend, I think that's totally Betsy book one. Actually, I liked Betsy a lot better in book one, i think she was a warmer and funnier character who wasn't snarky for page filler sake. What makes matters worse is that pretty much nothing happened in this installment. It was a rehash of everything that happened in the last book, with the fun of now we're in a new timeline thrown in. I really, really, really, hope that MaryJanice can turn her series around. I will probably read every book that comes out, but i got my at the library this time instead of buying it, which i will always do in the future, because these books just aren't worth buying. As for new readers, i'd say read the first 3-4 for fun with the future knowledge of the much snarky, boring, predictable, filler books ahead.
August 11, 2011
I've been generous in giving this 1.5 stars (even though I am showing 2).
This new trilogy arc did not get off to a good start and this second book was worse even if slightly redeemed by its final pages and an unexpected twist.
In her opening MJD introduced me to a new phrase: Retroactive Continuity (Recon) which is basically what she did in introducing the time-travelling story. Indeed, I found I could forgive L.J. Smith for changing her Vampire Diaries from the early 90s to current day because in contrast to this novel her reconning was mild.
Here it felt as though pretty much the entire novel was taken up with explaining the timey-whimy shenanigans with an attendant paper-thin plot. I know as an amateur fiction writer I've had those occasions when I've been stuck to know what to do with my characters or story and faffed about for page after page to try to move things on until my muse comes back on line. Still I am writing for my own pleasure, not charging folk for it.
So a second disappointment in a row for this once fun sparkling series.
This new trilogy arc did not get off to a good start and this second book was worse even if slightly redeemed by its final pages and an unexpected twist.
In her opening MJD introduced me to a new phrase: Retroactive Continuity (Recon) which is basically what she did in introducing the time-travelling story. Indeed, I found I could forgive L.J. Smith for changing her Vampire Diaries from the early 90s to current day because in contrast to this novel her reconning was mild.
Here it felt as though pretty much the entire novel was taken up with explaining the timey-whimy shenanigans with an attendant paper-thin plot. I know as an amateur fiction writer I've had those occasions when I've been stuck to know what to do with my characters or story and faffed about for page after page to try to move things on until my muse comes back on line. Still I am writing for my own pleasure, not charging folk for it.
So a second disappointment in a row for this once fun sparkling series.
October 24, 2014
If you haven’t read the previous books in this series, please don’t read this review. There will be spoilers.
Undermined definitely takes a turn in tone; the story has begun to get dark. I asked for more of the whole hell story as well as details about what the future was like and Undermined gives you that… sort of. It wasn’t quite what I expected and as I just said, the tone has changed significantly, but Betsy’s smart-alec mouth and air headed actions continue.
Sex scenes… not so many anymore as the tone changes. However the profanity is still there so as with previous books, you might not want to listen to the audiobook on speaker in the presence of children.
Finally, as with the others in the series, Undermined is basically an entertainment only book. As the story begins to get dark, there may be a few personally enlightening moments to be found, but I think most people will not take much notice. Nevertheless, this series is an extremely entertaining read. It is well written, the narrator is perfect and I recommend all the books so far.
June 13, 2016
A quick summer vampire read...! Betsy (Don't call me Elizabeth) Taylor, Vampire Queen, awakens buck ass naked in a Chicago morgue, wondering how she got there. She last remembers reconciling with her hot vamp king love, Eric Sinclair, following a weird time travel trip with her sister Laura, the Antichrist. Something has followed them back, an evil Marc Thing that future Evil Betsy created torturing him until insanity. His wicked agenda is to kill Betsy when she was still vulnerable and end her future reign as evil bitch queen. Eric and Betsy and company battle his ass...
It is a cute vampy tale and all, I just found it hard to really get into an finish. I liked the humor and the vampires but that was about it. It is #10 in a series so I am sure there are fans of this who like it more than I. I liked the cover though, reflective paper on the sunglasses and the bat necklace; cool!
It is a cute vampy tale and all, I just found it hard to really get into an finish. I liked the humor and the vampires but that was about it. It is #10 in a series so I am sure there are fans of this who like it more than I. I liked the cover though, reflective paper on the sunglasses and the bat necklace; cool!
April 7, 2024
What I don't understand? All the people who have given these books 1 and 2 stars, but they are on book ten in the series and say they are planning on finishing it. I know that I wouldn't even finish a one-star book, unless it was required reading for a class. Let alone finish a series when there are so many amazing books to read.
Betsy is now living in an altered timeline, after she and her half-sister, Laura, made a few changes while time traveling in the last book. One of the more disturbing developments (at least for Betsy; I probably wouldn't even notice), Christian Louboutin was never born. Betsy is obsessed with shoes. I am one of those women who is only concerned with whether or not I have comfortable shoes that are in good condition.
Anyway, love this book!
Trigger Warning: Suicide
Betsy is now living in an altered timeline, after she and her half-sister, Laura, made a few changes while time traveling in the last book. One of the more disturbing developments (at least for Betsy; I probably wouldn't even notice), Christian Louboutin was never born. Betsy is obsessed with shoes. I am one of those women who is only concerned with whether or not I have comfortable shoes that are in good condition.
Anyway, love this book!
Trigger Warning: Suicide
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