UNDEAD AND UNPOPULAR

Vampire queen Betsy Taylor has finally scored an engagement ring, but before the wedding she must put out a number of fires in her realm and come to terms with her vow to adopt a blood-free diet. Narrator Nancy Wu captures the edgy, clever tone of this Gen-X text, with all its overdramatization and self-absorption. Wu delves into Betsy's psyche to portray the 31-year-old vampire as the immature and vulnerable ruler she is and manages somehow to make the character believable. Other female vampires and humans receive similarly skilled attention. Wu's male characters fare poorly, however, as her attempts to lower her voice sound more cartoonish than realistic. Still, fans of Davidson's work will appreciate the spirited performance. R.L.L. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 06/ JAN 07]