Well my eclectic taste and desire for audiobooks have led me to a steamy little treasure. I’ll begin this mini-review by saying that this series has elements that appeal to me (quick pacing, snappy dialogue, refreshing lack of emo-ness considering the subject matter, and steamy sex). The series is a collection of vampire romances by MaryJanice Davidson, featuring Betsy Taylor, Queen of the Vampires. The style is very post Bridget Jones with a considerable amount of sarcastic dialogue and quite blue language. Betsy is a designer shoe loving, 30 year old “super secretary” who has the worst birthday ever; she gets fired, her party is cancelled and then she dies. However, she doesn’t stay dead long and rises the next night with an unnnatural thirst. The first book is called “Undead and Unwed”, and the series all have an “Undead and…” title. There is a certain amount of “Mary Sue” here, despite the author’s avowed desire to avoid that particular aspect. But it’s mostly in the “plot support” area (ie. incredibly wealthy best friend supports our heroine, vampire rules don’t apply to Queen Betsy, vampire powers too conveniently used to resolve plot points) but the issues are at least addressed, if not completely dealt with to my satisfaction. The best features of the books are the characterizations (I like Dr. Marc, Tina the vampire, George the fiend and especially Eric Sinclair, vampire king), the dialogue and MJD’s use of the romantic formula. The series failings come in the area of plot, often too disjointed, with unsatisfactory resolutions of the action sections of the story and narrative voice, she’s perfected Betsy’s POV to the point where the other characters often wind up speaking in her idiom. This is especially jarring in the depiction of the elder vampires who start out well, sly and stately, and too often wind up chattering away like valley girls. However, these are minor points of contention.
On a personal note, I have to credit this series with re-invigorating my erotic imagination of late. (Poor Tiernen I don’t think he knows what hit him.) It’s been nice to have some enthusiasm and ideas to bring into the bedroom (and don’t worry, nobody’s biting anyone else).
TMI stuff, you can enjoy the books without reading this.
Sparkly Things 