This reader's personal opinion, ©2018, all rights reserved, not to be quoted, clipped or used in any way by goodreads, Google Play, amazon.com or other commercial booksellers* 

Overall, glad I revived this abandoned series.  It's supposed to be funny/silly and still was. Queen Betsy is still too self-involved (and -- not naming names or detailing to avoid spoilers -- a character dies saving her TSTL butt).  Random sex acts still seem less erotic than "look how cool we are still going at it.". 

 

I would have DNF'ed if the death scene(s) had been in beginning chapters; Betsy not worth the sacrifice.  I did read mentally preparing myself to just treat fashion designer brand dropping as a running gag.  I very quickly remembered the characters.  Even quicker what amused or annoyed me about this series.  

 

I do do wish the ghost of the dead stepmother who is haunting her hadn't spent a whole book hinting at crap we still don't know.  Not main storyline so not exactly a cliffhanger, but got annoying.

 

I'll toss in some quotes to give you an idea of some Pros and Cons.

 

Pro:

 but . . . really, I was okay until we found her head.

 

“When I want your opinion, Barbie, I’ll pull the string on your back.”

 

Then my dead stepmother said, “This is all your fault, Betsy, and I’m not going anywhere until you fix it.” [well, initially funny except "it" never explained]

 

I was beginning to see where this was going. Oh, it’d be a lovely children’s book: Garrett the Fiend Finds Friends!

 

Yeah, it’s cool, but then you’ve got dead vampire in your hair for hours.

 

“They’re awake,” he gasped. “And they want to kill you.” “Who?” Sinclair, Jessica, Marc, and I asked in unison. It could be anyone. The guys who delivered pizza from Green Mill. Other vampires. The Ant’s book club. Werewolves. Zombies. And, of course, the uninvited guest who’d jumped out the window. So many enemies, so little— 

Con:

He yanked, and my (cashmere! argh) sweater tore down the middle. He shoved, and my skirt (Ann Taylor) went up. He pulled, and my panties (Target) went who knew where.

“Whaaaat?” I whined, moodily pulling off my Herrera boots.

And yes, I was still wearing my Marc Jacobs heels, which helped.

I said grimly, hands on hips. Richard’s black blood dripped slowly onto my—oh no!—Ann Taylor linen pants.

 

Eventually I will read more in series now it's available in library ebooks.

*©2018.  All rights reserved except permission is granted to author or publisher (except Penumbra Publishing) to reprint/quote in whole or in part. I may also have cross-posted on Libib, LibraryThing, and other sites including retailers like kobo and Barnes and Noble. Posting on any site does not grant that site permission to share with any third parties or indicate release of copyright.  

 

Ratings scale used in absence of a booklikes suggested rating scale:

★★★★★ = All Time Favorite 
★★★★½ = Extraordinary Book. Really Loved It.
★★★★☆ = Loved It.
★★★½☆ = Really Liked.
★★★☆☆ = Liked.
★★½☆☆ = Liked parts; parts only okay. Would read more by author.
★★☆☆☆ = Average.   Okay. 
★½☆☆☆ = Disliked or meh? but kept reading in hopes would improve.
★☆☆☆☆ = Loathed It. Possibly DNF and a torturous read.
½☆☆☆☆ = So vile was a DNF or should have been. Cannot imagine anyone liking.  (Might also be just an "uploaded" word spew or collection that should not be dignified by calling itself a "published book." If author is going batshit crazy in the blogosphere over reviews -- I now know why they are getting bad reviews.  Or maybe author should take remedial classes for language written in until basic concepts like using sentences sink in. Is author even old enough to sign a publishing contract or do they need a legal guardian to sign for them?)

I abandoned buying this series after six books.  

 

Main character changed too much, got too snooty and self-involved.  The type of hypocrisy where okay if done by her or to others but heaven forbid others do same or it happens to her or her loved ones.

 

My library has added the series.  Thought I'd try to continue because I really enjoyed book one and some later books have sounded interesting on my feed.

...these just downloaded magically from library ebook waitlist.

 

Change of weekend reading plans!

It had been a well-kept secret for centuries, but now the existence of vampires is all over the news, thanks to Betsy Taylor’s half sister (and the frustrated former Antichrist), Laura. Life for the undead will never be the same, and it’s up to Betsy to do some damage control. But her interview on the local news doesn’t exactly put out the fire. It more or less pours kerosene on it.
 
With all the added attention on supernatural beings, the werewolves are more than a little agitated (never a good thing) and demand that Betsy gets her interview skills, and her family, in order. And while things go from bad to worse in the world, Hell continues to be hell—especially when Betsy’s new parole program becomes about as complicated as you’d expect.
 
With a PR team launching a vampire-friendly campaign, the devil at large and out to make trouble, and mermaids on hand to see who falls—and how hard—the end isn’t just near. It’s here. And if anyone knows how to go out with a bang, it’s the queen of Hell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to admit a little bit of dramatic book trauma now that this series is over, but at the same time I have to give Davidson props for knowing when to end it.

So few authors know when its time to close one journey and wrap it up when its okay to say goodbye. Instead they tend to strangle the life out of a series until it no longer resembles anything it started out as.

I honestly felt that Undead and Done was one of her most beautiful installments - crazy yes but beautiful because there is a lot of morale conflict and soul searching that our queen brings to the plate.

I should mention a warning about suicide (if this topic upsets you or is close to you should take into consideration if you should read it) its rather deep and may bother some who struggle with the issue.

Also topic of note is how Davidson reaches out and gives a nod to previous cast creatures to other books she's written which I thought was great. Long time fans will like this.

The big reveal was less Diana Ross and more Marilyn Manson but who are we to judge? Bes let's the cat out of the bag and it doesn't go over so well once its out. What happens next is well... The rest is as we say is history.

Its great because despite the craziness and the adage of responsibility everything kind of feels full circle when you consider the entire series and where Bes started out.

She's taken on her new world, her abilities, the supernatural surrounding her and she's managed to do it all while still keeping her sanity and if I dare say it her humanity.

But she's grown as well. She's matured. She's become someone that can be respected and understood and related to, also someone not to be miscalculated or messed with but she's still the same woman you love at the start of it all.

If you haven't read this series I highly suggest picking it up and starting it all from the beginning.You won't be sorry.

Undead will be missed but maybe we will get a few glimpses into it sometime in the future. It would be nice to see what happens later on in the world and to our characters and what changes in their lives at some point later down the road.

Bravo Davidson for a fantastic finish to the Undead series. I applaud you. Take a bow, your work is done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                

 

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews received a print copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley/Penguin Publishing

 

 

 

 

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If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like or let me know what you think! I love hearing from followers! Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undead and Unforgiven (Undead #14)by MaryJanice Davidson


If Betsy Taylor has learned anything about ruling Hell it’s: 1) she can't do it alone, and 2) she doesn’t have to. She’s got the help of a devoted vampire king, a dateless zombie, an exhausted new mom, an unshowered cop, a bitchy ghost, a kindly dead priest, and her late stepmother (“Go Team Satan!”). But the latest major hurdle in her post-dead life is so big she can’t even see it until it’s on CNN.
Betsy’s father and half-sister Laura (a former Anti-Christ with a grudge) have outed Betsy to the world. It doesn’t take long for the story to become 24-7 headline news. What’s more, people are not only prepared to believe in vampires, they want to kill them. For Betsy, social media has never felt so…unsocial.
Before long the mansion on Summit Avenue is swarming with reporters, would-be vampire/zombie killers, and desperate emos begging to be turned. Betsy has been forced into the unenviable role as the reluctant face of the vampire nation. All she knows is, she has to look good—this is hi-def!—and stay true to who she is. H8ers be damned.


My Review:
I joined in late to the Undead series and had to backtrack and buy up all the previous books to catch up to the latest installment. Bitsy is fantastic. She doesn't claim to be perfect nor does she strive to be. She's a heroine that relates to you and me and vice versa. However when push comes to shove she isn't afraid to put her foot down or up someones ass.
I love the slap stick comedy, I love the ensemble cast of characters because every single one of them adds another level of hilarity and also a sense of realism to the story. Also and I have to mention the footnotes because: seriously. See number 14: Men are from Mars scene. (I get such a kick out of the back and forth.) The 'Oh-No-you-didn't' moment had me rolling.
I absolutely love Davidson's writing and I can't get enough of it. Love her books, love her characters, love the Undead series. Undead and Unforgiven is the reason why I fell in love with her work to begin with.


My Rating:
5 Stars


Reviewed By: Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews
http://kkmalott.booklikes.com/


Note: I received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley