Book Review: Undead and Unpopular

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Undead and Unpopular     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
MaryJanice Davidson
Class/Genre:   Fantasy   Romance   Horror   Humorous   Vampire
Series: The Undead Series (Davidson) # 5
Berkley, Jun 2006, $22.95

Engaged to marry his highness Eric Sinclair, vampire Queen Betsy Taylor keeps telling the dead and undead not to throw her a surprise birthday party; everyone says they will honor her wishes. The European royal vampires visit, but Eric says they insult them as they should have come last year. Still Eric tries to be the diplomat when a follower Sophie goes berserk. She recognizes Alonzo the vampire who killed her in the late nineteenth century.

As Betsy tries to clam down Sophie, the raging vampire’s human lover Liam wants to convert and to kill Alonzo not in that order. Betsy is a bit cranky as she has given up blood and her visitors don’t make it easier on her as they believe she is undeserving to be queen let alone a vampire. Life after death interferes with buying midnight shoes as she plans her wedding, rehearses to act surprised at her surprise birthday bash, calm down Sophie, and let the Europeans know to stuff their opinions on her in the part of the anatomy that does not see sunshine (of course that is the entire body). Now less than one week before she turns one, there is so much to do and so little time to do it.

This is a terrific Taylor tale that starts off zany (“There’s a Zombie in my Closet”) and never slows down as all hell breaks loose on several fronts. Though often amusing there is a more serious undertone to the fantasy than in previous Undead tales. Besides the Alonzo “crime” that puts quite a spin on cold cases, Betsy best friend human Jessica is ailing with the vampire queen pondering the ethics of bringing her across against her will. As always MaryJanice Davidson provides an amusing entertaining vampiric fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner