AKA:
The Queen Betsy Series
GENRE:
Vamp Romantic Comedy with a touch of Urban Fantasy.
SETTING:
The Twin Cities, Minnesota, with a side trip to Wyndham Werewolf country.
SEX:
Yes, indeedy.
OUR HEROINE(S):
Betsy Taylor, former office worker turned Queen of the Dead
OUR HERO(ES):
Sinclair, powerful for his mere 90 years and always clad in a designer suit.
LOVE RIVAL(S):
Karen was Sinclair’s early lady-friend and Betsy had a bit of a thing for a cop early on, but these two were meant for each other. And prophesied, no less!
SIDEKICKS:
Human — doctor Marc and heiress Jessica; Vampire — the tiny and efficient Tina.
VOICE:
First Person, the adorably vapid, vulgar and vain Betsy Taylor.
VAMPIRE MYTHOLOGY:
Vampires are territorial and tyrannical, with only the oldest and strongest attaining status… until the arrival of the foretold Queen who would rule them all (though this is not always respected by Betsy’s bothersome subjects).
STATUS:
Secret… until not.
SOCIETY:
Modern, and wacky.
NOTABLE POWERS:
Super strength and speed, hypnotism, incredible sexual appeal (Betsy, in particular, can also stay awake for some of the day, touch crosses, say words like “God” and “Jesus”, read minds, heal cancer, remain impervious to a stake through the heart and also see dead people, all of which is considered a mark of her divine royalty).
CREATION:
Betsy was turned when she was bitten by a group of feral vampires; months later, a roadside fatality, she rose as a vampire. So, that’s how it’s done.
WEAKNESSES:
All the stuff to which Betsy is immune, and which makes her so unique.
FOOD SOURCE:
Unwilling and glamoured humans (Betsy prefers criminals) and each other. But Betsy will try to blend and drink anything.
OTHER LEGENDS:
Ghosts, Satan, and significant crossover with Davidson’s Wyndham Werewolves series, plus a novella-length visit with Davidson’s Fred the Mermaid.
BOOKS:
Undead and Unwed (2004), Undead and Unemployed (2004), Undead and Unappreciated (2005), Undead and Unreturnable (2005), Undead and Unpopular (2006), Undead and Uneasy (2007), Undead and Unworthy (2008), Undead and Unwelcome (2009), Undead and Unfinished (2010), Undead and Undermined (2011), Undead and Unstable (2012), Undead and Unsure (2013), Undead and Unforgiven (2015) and Undead and Done (2016).
RECENT:
Undead and Done, out last week, is the final book of the series.
OTHER MEDIA:
Audio books.
MERCHANDISE:
No. Wait. No?
ANALYSIS:
A winning formula of reluctant Queen, recalcitrant humans, defiant minions, smitten leading man, action, adventure, backbiting romance and fashion. Plus, the funny!
WEBSITE:
www.maryjanicedavidson.net
QUOTE:
“‘What’s going on, God?’ I whined. ‘Sure, I haven’t exactly been a frequent flyer for church, but what did I do to deserve this? I was a pretty good gal. I was kind to children and dumb animals. I even volunteered at soup kitchens, for Christ’s sake! Okay, so, yeah, I was kind of materialistic, but quality costs. I don’t think it’s a sin to want the best shoes money can buy. For one thing, they last forever. For another—pride of ownership. Am I right? So, come on. If Hitler wasn’t a vampire, how come I am? Well?’” — Betsy, Undead and Unwed (2004).