Undead and Unfinished

Undead #9

by MaryJanice Davidson

There's only one thing Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor hates more than the threat of hosting a traditional Thanksgiving dinner (after all, how traditional is her family?), and that's trying to get through the Book of the Dead without going insane. Every time she's tried reading it, she just gets blindsided - until this time, when the devil strikes a bargain. She offers Betsy a chance to get through the cursed (literally!) thing cover to cover and finally discover all its mysteries. There's just one teensy little catch.

Betsy and her half sister, Laura, have to go to Hell. Just long enough for Laura to finally embrace her dark heritage (after a rebellious youth of charity work and teaching Sunday school) and make nice with her mother, aka Lucifer, by picking up such skills as slicing through time and the universe with a hellfire sword. While such things might sound fun, time travel is proving to be an alarming journey for Betsy and Laura. Not only are they interacting firsthand with their own family's past, but in doing so, they're dangerously impacting the future in ways they never anticipated.

Of course, that's what Mother wanted all along. Damn her.

Genres: Vampires, Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Fiction

296 pages, Hardcover

First published May 26, 2010

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

[Jilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh my gosh - what is happening to this series? It's not funny anymore. The ending? It was actually disturbing and sad.



Betsy and Laura go to hell, and then do a bunch of time traveling. The time-traveling part was pretty cool. We get to see Sinclair as a child and when he first was turned. Since Betsy hasn't bothered to learn anything about her husband in the year or so they have been married, this is a revelation. And, then we see the future and it is bleak. Like, let's just all commit mass-suicide bleak because there is no hope.

Why is this happening? When did this cute and funny series decide to try and be a dark paranormal story? I really just hate everything right now.

[Tera · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me make this comparison; You know how your mom made that one meal all the time from your childhood and you swore when you grew up you would never make it? For me it's tuna casserole. It's disgusting and you really don't like it but everyonce in awhile you find yourself craving this unfulfilling ick. You know you won't like it, you know you won't feel good after you're done, but for whatever reason at that time you need to have it. That's how this series is for me. This is the tuna casserole of my reading experience. I know they aren't good. I know I won't feel better after I read them. I know they are in no way satisfying. I know I will eventually read it though.
I will say that although this wasn't good, it was better than the previous 8 before it. That is something right? I liked that it was a little darker a little more insight and a little less meaningless sexual drivel.

To recap this is tuna casserole and I recommend no one read them. I will be reading the next one that comes out.

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

Yes, I know this book has a lot of bad reviews due to the not so gentle reminder of books pasted. Nevertheless I must say that personally- I think it is her best and she has opened hard plot lines that can keep the series going and guess what????? Bets will have to do some quick growing and not being so self-centered. I cannot wait to see where MJD takes the series. I think it will grow to be unforgettable if she plays her plots and story line right. I loved this one bets of all because it causes you to gasp with the last line and leaves wanting the next book.

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm really not sure why I continue reading this...drivel. (See, I avoided saying "cr@p"--oh, I guess I didn't.) This series WAS fun. I wasn't reading it to gain back lost brain cells or anything. The flighty, breezy style suited the description of the main character. If you choose to read these, stop with book 6. Just pretend there were no sequels. My guess is that MaryJanice Davidson actually didn't write the subsequent three books since that author didn't even have the facts straight (such as they were) from the earlier books. There was also an endless repetition of "events up to this point" (despite, as mentioned, the failure to maintain certain key elements from the mythology, if you will, of the previous six). I felt like I was reading an inappropriate-for-children children's book.

Anyway, I'm onto better things now.

I would like to reiterate: DO NOT READ BOOKS 7, 8, or 9. If you read one, you'll read them all. They are not worth it. Books 1-6 are fun (nothing great, but fun). But stop there.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a total let down! I originally thought maybe my lack of intrest for the 9th Undead book was due to the narrator (listened to this in MP3 format)but it was due to both the narrator and the story. I get why the story went the way it did, and the ending still sucked for me anyway, but it just seemed very sporadic up until there was an actual goal to the story. I loved all the Undead books, and yes, Betsy being a total flake gets old, but this one just sucked. Maybe I will try and read the book since my intrest really couldn't focus on listening to the story being told, but I think I will still have the same reaction. I expected something way different to end this series, not a "happily ever after" ending but something that made sense! After the Epilogue, I just looked at my CD player in my car and said "really? What was the point?" Major upset for me, but to each is their own I always say.

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

I’m not sure how to rate this. I’m not sure I like where the story is going but intrigued enough to move forward. I don’t like Betsy and the fate of Eric Sinclair whom I do like. Oh well. On to the next.

[Mrs. Missive · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay I am thoroughly confused. Queen Betsy had begun to grate my nerves in the last book, and she had screwed up so many things, I was left aching for a HEA. And we had now included vampires, werewolves, ghosts, the devil, and zombies oh my. So we had hit our supernatural fill right?

Of course not. Well now the Antichrist and Queen of the Vampires are taking a field trip to hell....of course. And how can we possibly add to this paranormal clusterfuck? Well Laura should grow wings and time-travel of course. *sigh*

Baby Jon is pushed off to the side, and mentioned as an afterthought a couple of times. Betsy's a super mom.

But dispite all the craziness this book got back into the humor and story-telling style that I really enjoyed in the other books. I really enjoyed the trip to hell and through time, and ironically I think we actually saw Betsy realize there are other people in the universe in this book, and there was FINALLY a little character growth on her part that I was starving for in this series.

And I won't write about it, because I don't want to put that huge of a spoiler in the review, but the ending screwed up this whole "yay good story" vibe. Honestly the way the tale was ending would have been a KILLER way to wrap up the series. Then...*sigh* Davidson throws in an effed up Epilogue (that I honestly re-read a couple of times to wrap my brain around it) and it killed the whole thing for me.

I had to give this story three stars because I did get completely engrossed in the book. But a big "BOO!" for the Epilogue.

[Wicked Lil Pixie (Natasha) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Undead & Unfinished is the 9th novel in the Queen Betsy series & I can honestly say I wish I had skipped straight to the last few chapters. If there was ever a character I wanted to stake, after reading Undead & Unfinished without a doubt I would have staked Betsy.

Betsy wants to read the Book of the Dead, but it kinda makes any vampire who reads it insane. So when her half-sister Laura wants to go visit her mother (Satan) in Hell (Laura is the Antichrist) Betsy tags along & makes a bargain. She wants to be able to fully read the Book of the Dead, since the book has always been right about everything in the short glimpses she’s had of it. Satan agrees & Laura is sent with Betsy to figure out how to jump time, little do they know they are impacting their futures, which is exactly what Satan wanted.

At the start of the book & really for the first 100 pages, we get a recap on what has happened in the previous 8 books. Fans really didn’t need that, this is supposed to be a light PR which doesn’t require a recap so intense, mostly filled with Betsy’s ego. The book ends up coming off as boring & truly annoying…it pains me to say that as a fan, but I have to be honest with you all. I can usually read an MJD novel in hours, this took me near three days, nothing gripped me & made me want to keep going other then the fact it was an MJD novel & I couldn’t DNF it.

I was happy to get my hands on a copy of this book a few days in advance, little did I know this was one of the hardest reads I’ve ever had to struggle through. I am a huge fan of MaryJanice Davidson, but something happened & this book just killed me to read. Between Betsy’s constant designer name dropping, to a whole new level of “It’s all about me”, I really hated Betsy in this novel. She was so self-centered & full of herself, by the 100th page I was ready to quit reading. I couldn’t do that to MJD, she’s been one of my favorite authors since I started reading PR but by god this was killing me.

There wasn’t as much of MJD’s humor, while there was humor most of it just wasn’t funny. While I understand why this book had to be written, it really could have been made into a short story which would have made Betsy not as annoying. There is a shocker when you find out just who wrote the Book of the Dead, but again this could have all been done in a short story, it dragged too much. Did I mention Betsy is so completely self absorbed in this book that you may want to stake her?

If you are a fan, I’d wait for the paperback edition…cause really it was a disappointment.

[Crystal Moreland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfinished is quite slow to start and stays such until about 2/3 of the way through. However, having experienced this in a couple of other past Betsy books, I stuck with it. Then, it gets good. Then, it gets great! I have never been able to quite bond with the arrogant, assanine, yet protective and loving Sink Lair. However, experiencing his past in this chapter of the Undead novels sealed the bond I was so hoping to acquire. Then...the epilogue. WHAT THE HELL?! The very last page was beyond description. Shock. Outrage. Disbelief. Utter disappointment in our heroine and her psychotic half-sister. My first instinct was to take every one of the prior Undead books, Unfinished included - countless hours engulfed in the series - and find the nearest fireplace to burn the living (or unliving) undead shit out of them! My second instinct (and the one I ended up going with) was to open up the next book and hope with everything I have that somehow it wouldn't be so. (The great benefit of starting a series after there are more than a dozen books out already - being able to immediately find some sort of solace in knowing you don't have to wait another year to find out what's killing you to know.) So, I have begun the 10th installment of the Betsy books sincerely hoping that Sinclair won't end up as the epiologue of Unfinished leaves him. No wonder the Book of the Dead keeps finding its way back to Betsy...she and Sinclair are destined to be together...no matter what the form aparently. This one is a doozie! Just prepare yourself to be completely unprepared for the ending. And don't be stupid and cheat by reading the epilogue first.

[April Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I am one of the few who actually liked the book. Do I like the timeline being messed with, not necessarily, but I realize the storyline will get boring unless the author shakes things up. It is also nice to be surprised/stunned by an author every once in a while which is what happened when I read the last sentence of this book. I didn't see that ending coming. Hopefully Betsy will be able to straighten up the timeline so that some things don't happen but I don't see how the last sentence can be avoided. I must admit it was pretty ingenious of Mary Janice Davidson to come up with the idea that just about made me fall out of bed in shock. I am curious to find out what new revelations will come out in the next book.

I have read many reviews complaining that Betsy is cold and evil (for lack of a better term) in the future, but let's not forget that she is powerful and power corrupts. She doesn't have any of the "good" influences around anymore and she has lived for a long time and has become jaded. This is something I am sure Betsy will try to prevent from happening in future books.

Also see Mary Janice Davidson's response on Amazon.com customer discussions thread WTF-Is Mary Janice Davidson On Crack?

[EowynRN · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have always loved these books. They were one of my first vampire romance series that I really enjoyed, and I gave this rating one extra star for one positive reason. Besides that, it was awful.

The positive: She finally got her MOA (Mall of America) references right. It used to drive me up the wall when she would sit there and describe Nordstroms, and yet call it Macy's!! Granted, I worked at the Mall of America for over a year, and it was my mall growing up so I'm bias. Let me say that I am a payless person, but I know shoe people, and shoe people would not be caught dead buying their shoes in the trashy shoe department that is in the pathetic, back corner of the 2nd floor of Macy's. It's kept hidden away like a black mark of shame on the Macy's brand name. Go to any other local mall with a Macy's, and they have a fabulous shoe section. MOA...not so much. That being said, she always described the amazing first floor shoe area where you could buy $800 shoes (I touched one once), and could see Orange Julius outside...and that's Nordstroms!!!! I think it bugged me so much because a native Minnesotan should know better if they are going to write about it, lets be accurate. So, although this is a vent about the previous books, I'm glad for the MOA accuracy in this book. And that's where the positive ends.

I know MJD wanted to do something different with this book, but to me it was a betrayal of the reader. I understand that you want to write the book you want to write, and that you thought the series was going nowhere. BUT if that's the case, why keep writing the series? Because your publisher is optioning the books? That's just called a sellout. If you wanted to write a time traveling, horror, mystery, then you should have ended the Betsy series and started a new series.

To me, passing this book off as part of the Betsy series is nothing more than a facade, and showing complete disrespect of the reader. You are acting like you are so above everything that you can just write some stupid book without the male lead (or any male) and pass it as part of the series, and then tell the readers to trust you the next book will make up for this. If you need to make up for this book, maybe you shouldn't have published it in the first place? Maybe you should have combined the two books if it was going to leave your readers so hollow.

That being said, the Epilogue was awesome. Awesome for a horror novel, but if I take it out of context of what I was expecting and disappointing with when I made my purchase, the ending was refreshing in a bone chilling, kept me up an extra 2 hours at 3 am kind of way. Granted, I still don't count this as a positive since I didn't sign up to read a horror novel.

Will I read the next book in hope? yes. But I'm just going to be on the 300 person wait list at the library. Maybe it will only be 100 after this book.

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

It seems as though the same thing that happened to Janet Evanovich's Plum series around book #9 is happening here as well. This book was a huge disappointment. This is one of the first times that I found Betsy to be very annoying. She's usually clever, witty and funny but this time she was just a real pain in the ass biatch. I actually kind of smiled every time Laura punched her. Although, come to think of it, maybe we were supposed to start not liking her, given the way the story ended.
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT
The ending was unbelievably hideous! I'm going to have to assume that the author knows exactly what she's doing and already has the next book in this series all planned out. The ending pretty much assures that readers are going to stick with this series. How can we not? As I was being disappointed along the way, I was thinking how I would most likely stick it out and continue with the series (like I have with Plum) but just not be half as enthusiastic as before. With this ending however, I'm dying to see how/if MJ is going to turn things around. That has to be part of her reasoning behind this book's horribly dreadful storyline. Surely she knows that most series start to lose their lustre midway through and need something shocking to inject some excitement and life into them. I can't figure out why else you would do that to a beloved main character. All I can do now is wait for the next installment. If that one is as bad as these last two, I'm done.

P.S. I don't like that MJ decided to add time travel to the menagerie of paranormal activity in this series. It's just too much.

[Nikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

First of all, I just wanted to say that I love this series... and then I read this book. I always enjoyed the humor that had me cracking up reading this series. There is too much rambling on about stuff that I don't really need (or care!) to know about!
Betsy and Laura go to hell and end up traveling through time. (And I lose out on some much needed Sinclair fixes. And where are all the other characters?! I miss them!) Some things get changed, but I gather that that's what the devil wanted. In the last 20 pages or so, I was like WTF? What is happening? (especially in the very confusing, and f'd up epilogue) It turned from a humorous romantic type series, to dark and dreary. Where is the humor I loved this series for?! Ugh... I don't like the way this is going. Betsy does finally realize that the universe doesn't revolve around her. Then at the end of the book I just wanna kill future Betsy. I guess we will learn, sometime in the next few books or so, why she gets the way she is. (but I hope that she really doesn't turn out that way)
Since I'm not one to quit a series, I guess I'll keep reading on. I hope that all of the time traveling will eventually get things back on track again to the series I, and many others, want it to be. *sigh* No HEA for Betsy and Sinclair. (oceans of blood & despair and all that, or a skin covered Book of the Dead tend to interfere with this HEA) *sniff sniff, tear tear*

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undead and Unfinished has officially taken the Queen Betsy series from its humorous vampire roots and elevated it to an unexpected, crazy and totally shocking level of twisty-turny fun. Betsy and Laura travel to Hell, but if that wasn't enough, they also travel both back into the past and into the far off future "fixing" events that affect Betsy's current life.

Between the time travel and the (completely awesome) glimpse into Hell, Undead and Unfinished is almost solely a Betsy and Laura based book. Most of the other characters come into play at certain points in their journey, but this is definitely the sisters show.

Undead and Unfinished answers tons of questions, some of which readers have had since the very beginning. The book showcases Davidson's witty, biting humor, which is utilized well in the back and forth between both Betsy and Laura and Betsy and Satan. That's right, even Laura's showing her own snarky humor. Is Betsy rubbing off on her or is she really starting to embrace the evil?

We see the future in Undead and Unfinished and it isn't pretty. The events of this book set Betsy and Laura on a mission - the repercussions of which will be felt for the rest of the series. Speaking of major changes, the ending of this book contains a huge, epic series-changing reveal that no one will ever see coming.

Undead and Unfinished is one of books that makes you rethink everything you've read in the series thus far. I was completely blown away, which is saying a lot as I've come to expect greatness from this series already. In a word - wow.

[Kimberley doruyter · Rating 2 out of 5]

time travel..... really

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Undead and Unfinished is the ninth book in the Queen Betsy vampire series by MaryJanice Davidson.

Just days after Elizabeth "Betsy" Taylor has returned home from meeting with the Wyndham werewolf clan, Betsy begins to feel guilty about her lack of knowledge on the history of her husband Eric Sinclair and assistant Tina. Considering all the dramatic events that have unfolded since Betsy became a vampire, not to mention becoming the "Queen" of all vampires, she realizes she has never had the time to properly get to know her extended family. As if this new task weren't enough to keep her busy, Betsy's dead stepmother (otherwise known as "The" Devil) Antonia, arrives to take Betsy and her sister Laura on a tour of Hell -- after all, Laura will inherit the task of running Hell one day. Laura's newfound talent of time-traveling also adds spice to the latest (and BEST!) novel to date in the series.

Undead and Unfinished is BY FAR the best novel in the Queen Betsy series for many reasons! First, because we have grown to love and know the characters over the previous eight books, the premise of learning more about the history of vampires Tina and Eric is incredibly intriguing. Up to now, we have picked up bits and pieces about Eric's family and his turning into a vampire, but not the explicit details -- including the question of why Tina and Eric have never been lovers.

In addition, the time-traveling aspect adds a whole new element to the plot, as it satisfies numerous curiosities and opens up pertinent plot points for upcoming novels. The story behind the creation of The Book of the Dead is lightly touched on and the novel's ending is a complete shocker -- in fact, I had to read it over again several times to make sure I grasped what was actually happening. Wow! The plot certainly does thicken as MaryJanice Davidson has promised us in the last few author introductions.

Hardcore fans will absolutely LOVE reading Undead and Unfinished, while those who enjoy the series on a moderate level or those who have considered giving up lately will completely, undoubtedly change their minds. Undead and Unfinished is not to be missed!

The next novel in the series is Undead and Undermined, due to release July 2011. Books seven and eight in the series are Undead and Unworthy (2008) and Undead and Unwelcome (2009).

Visit http://dreamworldbooks.com for more book reviews.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The good: Undead and Unfinished was—for the most part—more fun that the last few books, and though it's still lacking the laugh-out-loud humor of the earlier books, I actually smiled here and there. It was never boring, even though it was my third literary visit to the underworld in the last week. I enjoyed MJD's take on hell (and the references to The Devil's Advocate, a movie I love). And I also liked the time travel jaunts sprinkled with Betsy's usual insanity—especially the glimpses of Sinclair's and Tina's pasts.

The bad: A 296-page book with 75 chapters (and a prologue and epilogue)? Yes, 75 chapters. Um . . . why? It just made the book feel choppy, in my opinion. And I'm probably exaggerating, but it seemed like there were more chapters than references to Sinclair. Meh. (I have officially recategorized this series. It is not paranormal romance in any way, shape or form.) Also, there are still too many times I just want to slap Betsy—and her getting regularly decked by Laura isn't nearly as satisfying. And Laura? Meh again.

The ugly: The über creepy Book of the Dead, Betsy's über creepy glimpse of the future and the über creepy epilogue. *shudders*

I'm going to give this one 6/10, because I know there's no way MJD will end the series on this über creepy note. Right? (ó.ò)

[Melissa Wehunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I don't even know how to rate this one. I just finished it and for the first 30 minutes after I was done I just whined and moaned to my husband about how stupid the ending was and how mad and upset I was about the direction this series had taken. I was saying things like, "This is supposed to be Chick-lit and romance!" and recalling fonldy, when I actually found MJD's writing to be erotic. :) Ahhh, those were the days. Since when did this series become so serious and such a downer?

After a little thought though, I GUESS I can see where she might be going with the whole Sinclair/Book of the Dead thing. I don't have to like it, but I suppose I should have faith that Betsy will figure out a way not to completely ruin this series for me. I'm just saying though...If I don't get a HEA, I'm going to be seriously pissed off.

One last complaing though before I go drown myself in another books so I can forget this one...Betsy refers to being 'let down' and 'disenchanted' with Sinclair. Since when have those characteristics ever been Sinclair? He's a rock! Like someone else said in their reveiew, I'm all for character development, but you can't develop a character if he's not existant in the storyline. (sigh). I miss Sinclair, and I just can't believe he would ever be a dissapointment to Betsy. But then again, I guess I'm a sap.

Until the next one...

[Sara ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, first of all, this was probably the longest book in the series. Only 296 pages, but the font was smaller and it wasn't double-spaced like the others practically were. And a lot more happened! I thought the reasons for Betsy and Laura to travel to hell in the first place were dumb, but WOW!! The discovery! I feel like I know so much more about the characters and what's going on (and what WENT on)! Overall, my favorite in the series (although truth be told, I don't really remember the first 7, so... ;)

One thing though... I've read a TON of books: ones with bad endings, ones with great endings, endings I was totally indifferent to, etc., etc., but this one has got to be the first time I ever got to the end of a book and went "Ewww!!!" Hahaha!! But for real! Ewwwwwwww!!!!

I don't know how the next book will go or when it will take place, but wow... I hope things don't go the way they're looking like they're gonna go, if you know what I mean!! Ewwwwwwww!!!! And also sad!!

[Mains · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all of you, (I guess... meh.) was just mind-fuck-ed with the ending of this one. Actually, I started to get bummed right about the Marc part (not revealing much... hate being a spoiler-ass.) and thereafter. Goodness, if this wasn't so wonderfully written, and I didn't stay up til 3:20 IN THE MORNING to finish this, I would have pulled a LONER STAR on this one. Geesh, on audience impact alone this sucked-ass. But, no, I was fair. I have to be. Now, I'm gonna have a nightmare about growing old (considering I'm still fifteen). Oh, Betsy... how I used to envy your good looks, and the money and hot husband and extreme power you didn't even ask for come at your feet. But now, this book just fucked me up about you. Gonna read what is coming next. Tomorrow. Good luck.
Goodnight. (Totally bummed out to the max to be putting a smiley...)

P.S. If anyone I know reads this, sorry to be such a disappointment in proper linggo but I have internet freedom in speaking any shit language I want. :D <--- there. An actual smiley.

[Jenn Mattson · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give it less than one star, I would, but I'm suddenly feeling generous. The same thing is happening here that is happening with two other vampire series that I have followed much longer than I should have. While I've found Betsy to be a hilarious protagonist in the past, in the last two books she has simply become increasingly annoying. It almost seems that someone is parodying Davidson's books and that she's no longer writing them herself. I hardly laughed here, just turned pages, got more and more bored and annoyed, and then finally read the damn "Epilogue" and then was annoyed and horrified. I find it very inexpert writing to have a character develop into something unrecognizable - I'm not against character development, but this feels like Davidson is bored with her current set up and is now just taking it Waaaaaay off the rails. I don't think I'll be reading any more of this (if there are any more).

[Amy Vasquez · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started reading the betty Series just because it was lighht, fun and a no brainer. I was really suprised with this one.
This book's ending had the same effect on me as the movie The 6th Sense. I was opened mouthed and confused. It was like someone slapped me. I seriously re-read the last chapter just to make sure that I read it right the first time. That ending left me unsettled to say the least. I ran right to this site as soon as I was done just so I could see what everyone else thought. I feel like I have so many questions left and I hope that she writes another book just so I can have answers and closure. However, if her next book is anything like this last one, I will probably be done with this series.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like 1-1/2 stars. Most of the book was dreadfully dull re-cap of the past entries in the series, only with less hapless wit and more snarky stupidity clothed as learning. But the last few chapters were... I don't even know how to describe it. Narrated by both current Betsy and future Betsy, we learn some rather horrid things that happen to some beloved characters. Why has Betsy's fun world of loveable unlikely extended family members suddenly gotten so... ugh! I'm sure the point of the next few books will have Betsy trying to avert this possible future, but seriously, did we need time travel in this world? And Eric's future? She'd better fix it. Seriously. Or I'm done.

[Just Call Me Gyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILERS - OMG - can I just say - I can't believe the freaking ending....it blew me away COMPLETELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How does she carry on from here.............can the future be changed........I can't believe Sink Lair is the Book of the Dead and Betsy is the Crazy Vamp that wrote the damn thing.....did anyone else see this one coming???????????? I didn't see it coming at all!!!!!!!! And what happened to everyone else..........I can't wait for the next one to come out.......OMG - I am still freaking out.............

[Sherri Bryant]

This series has run its course for me. The campy humor isn't that funny anymore and is more annoying than entertaining.

[Svenja · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich fand diesen Teil total unpassend zu den bisher gelesenen Büchern der Reihe.

Besuch in der Hölle? Reisen durch die Zeit? Hääää?
Nee, das war mir dann doch zu abgespact :D

[Barbara (VampAngel) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been a long time fan of The Undead/Queen Betsy series, so I was looking forward to reading this book. My week was hectic, so I was only able to sit down and read it yesterday. I was a little apprehensive about it because I had seen some reviews on Amazon and some comments that this book wasn't as good as I was anticipating and that the ending was a shocker. I have to say only the latter is true.

In this novel, the 9th installment in the series, Betsy and her half-sister, also know as The Anti-Christ, go to hell, literally. Betsy only agrees to this unholy visit downstairs to help Laura and to be able to read The Book of Dead. Satan wants her daughter to see her domain and explore her demonic powers, because if she doesn't she will probably go insane. As expected things go horribly wrong, how could they not?

Laura and Betsy have to do some time-traveling and from then on the story picks up becoming very fast-paced. The sister's infernal adventures are fun to read and very enlightening. At first I was worried that Sink Lair Sinclair and Tina (two of my favorite characters) wouldn't be getting a lot of "page time". I was wrong. We get a lot of backstory about the vampiric power duo, which was delightful to read. I had never really considered their pasts. Once Betsy started to think that she never took the time to really get to know them and became curious about that before embarking in her dreaded hellish tour, I realized I was eager to know more too. I was not disappointed. We learned a lot about their history. A lot of questions were answered about Sinclair's love for Betsy and Tina's devotion to her.

I missed the presence of the rest of the cast of characters, since this adventure was centered around Betsy, Laura, Tina and Sinclair, but that is to be expected since there are so many of them now. The book had a lot of twists and turns that I appreciated. I think Laura is totally going to go to the dark side, but I might be wrong. I have seen some interesting theories about it around the internet. I won't get into them, but some do seem to make sense. There were some minor inconsistencies, and Betsy felt a little out of character sometimes (her voice seemed a little different to me). However, I think they aren't inconsistencies at all and will prove to be relevant in the future. Keep in mind we are talking about alternative realities here. I won't say anything else about it though.

I won't spoil you, but the ending was very surprising. I read a lot of complaints about it, but besides being shocked, I was rather pleased with it. I thought it was very original and completely unexpected. I don't think the book ends in a bad note and it is not a cliffhanger in my opinion. I think the people who didn't enjoy it are interpreting what they read incorrectly. It's not like things are set in stone, it just gave the reader some food for thought about what will happen ahead. Keep in mind that time-traveling was involved, and as we all are aware of, as are Betsy and Laura, you never know how your actions are affecting the future. Isn't that time-traveling 101?

I was pleased with the story, it was a fun and light read, as are the other books. Maybe the humor wasn't as sharp as in some of the previous novels, because this is a darker book, but it was still very amusing. I have only one complaint. It involves a big pet-peeve that I have: the dreaded recap of previous story lines in the beginning of a book that is part of a long series. I don't know why many authors do that. It is very annoying. I've read all the books, I know what happened. I don't need to be told it again. If I wasn't paying attention, I wouldn't be reading the series for so long. I don't want to blame the authors, because I don't know if that is their idea, or if the publishers make them do it. I just wish they would stop doing this, it has become quite common.

So, if you are a fan of the series you simply must read this book. It may not be the best one, but I think it sets up very interesting and challenging issue that Betsy will have to deal with in upcoming books. I think this one can be consider a transitional installment, but a very necessary one if MJD is going in the direction I think she is. You might even hate the ending, but it will leave you thinking about it long after you are done and surely asking for more. This books is darker and it's about choices. I think this installment will prove to be a very important one, so pay close attention.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I waffled back and forth between 1 and 2 stars for this one, before finally deciding I couldn't possibly give a book that was so annoying more than 1 star.
What happened?! Betsy Books used to be cute and funny. This book? Not funny. Unless you happen to like being force-fed stupid puns with every sentence. If you do, then this book will be right up your alley. I know, I know. ALL of the Betsy books are full of stupid puns, but this one was ridiculous! MJD lost her mind with Undead and Unfinished! It was like she thought she had to pack every single sentence full of goofy quips.
The only thing that was truly funny about the whole book was the fact that MJD still hasn't updated that retarded picture of herself on the book jacket!
And then there was the ending. Or should I say epilogue? If you've read this book already, then you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't read it yet, let me just warn you right now, MJD evidently can't decide whether this is supposed to be a humorous fluffy read...or a sinister horror novel. I'll be honest, if I hadn't already come to hate every single character in this book by the time I got to the end, I would have been freaked-out. Instead, it just made me giggle. Is she serious? Is that the end? Hmmm. We can only hope.

[JazzRizz · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a marathon read yesterday, I think I'm ready to give this book it's review.

I have to say I struggled through [Book: Undead and Unwelcome]. The characters were really out of sorts to me, and the book just really struggled to keep my attention.

NOT so with this one. Betsy is Betsy. She is always going to be self-centered & self-absorbed, but it's nice to see that she's starting to get out of her -all about me- bubble and start noticing important things about the people that she loves.

Time travel . . . BIG fan here . . . and MJD did a really great job of messing with time lines . . . and I really hope she's not done, because let me tell you - that freaking cliff hanger literally had my slack-jawed!

While I really wish there had been more Sinclair in the book, everything happens for a reason . . . and wow, did this book clear up a lot of things I've wondered about and really set up a great turning point in this series. Time travel totally screws with plot lines, and I can't wait to see were MJD takes us from here!

This is really a love it/hate it book for many though. . . I happen to fall in the love it camp. I can't wait to see what Betsy pulls next!

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not funny at all, a true crime from MJD. Although every paragraph and almost every line is a supposedly witty or bantering remark, I didn't laugh once. Or chuckle. Lots of eye rolling though. Ot was total overkill with the attempts at humor, making none of it have any impact. In addition, most of the book was really boring, banal and blah. There were flashes of the more mature Betsy that I liked in book seven, but she was just buried under the avalanche of bad jokes. I like that the author seems to be building toward a more serious plot, but she doesn't seem to know how to do that and still be funny or interesting. Betsy could actually have two thoughts that weren't obnoxiously snarky (as opposed to humorously snarky) or silly and still be the self-centered but sweet queen of past books. Fans who plan to continue the series should consider getting it from a library or borrowing it from a friend. There are a few things in here, mostly the very odd ending, that fans will want to know before reading the next book.