Review of "Undead and Unwed" by MaryJanice Davidson
- Megan Diedericks
- Jul 29
- 2 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
I don't normally write reviews for books that already have a ton, because what more can I say that hasn't already been said?, but I had so much fun reading Undead and Unwed that I need to talk about it!!!
I loved Betsy, the main character. The book is told from her perspective and she's downright hilarious, purposely unlikeable, and a little selfish. She goes on many tangents, and argues unnecessarily, even when she's supposed to be telling the story—but her personality and argumentative nature was one thing that made me keep turning the page. She's a very complex character; I'm afraid to see what others are saying about her 😂
Obviously, I couldn't help but like her, and I admire her fierce protectiveness when it came to her friends, even if I'm not entirely sure she wouldn't consider—just a little—trading Jessica and Marc in for a nice pair of shoes...
I'm not much of a Romance reader, meaning some of the scenes did make me cringe. Like, girl, you barely know him, stop being so dickmatized and ACT!!! But I know that's my own prerogative, so it doesn't bother me much.
There was a bit of queer representation, which I wasn't expecting, but was glad to read none the less! On that note, I don't think Betsy is fully aware she's probably bi. (Maybe that realization comes later in the Undead-series?)
Now, for the real reason I picked this up at a secondhand bookstore: VAMPIRISM!
I really appreciated the author's thinking in just how Betsy came to be what she is, and why + how she's different from other vampires. The rules of vampirism in this book are explained in a way that makes sense to me, and there were things I didn't consider but now can't stop thinking about! (Like vampires being allergic to garlic because it's a coagulant?! Genius.) I also enjoyed the Fiends, such thought-provoking creatures (that I won't explain so I don't spoil 🤫).
Then there's Eric Sinclair, a favorite character of mine. He reminds me of a couple of brooding dark-haired vampires, except Eric has a personality outside of brooding; although it was a bit difficult to dig said personality out of Betsy's POV.
Because of the genre, there wasn't a lot of time spent on the subplot of a vampire-war, and I personally would have liked more focus on that, but I did enjoy the spin on the Vampire Bible and the Prophecy/Chosen One-trope.
I can only pray to the undead I find the other books the same way I found this one, but the way it ended at least makes it feel like a standalone (unfortunately for me, I am curious about what's next.)
Overall, Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson is very funny, fast-paced, and a book you just sit back with and enjoy!
