Mina and the Undead

Product Information

When Libby becomes a suspect for that murder and others, Mina teams up with her new crush, Jared, to try to clear her sister's name.

In this story we follow seventeen year old Mina who visits her estranged sister Libby in New Orleans where she is attending university after their mother suddenly disappeared, leaving them behind. Family secrets, murder, sisterly relationships and romance all weave together to create a thrilling story with a unique take on vampires that is filled with gore and plot twists. It’s on my bucket list to visit New Orleans one day and experience a slice of its rich history and culture.While it's not a perfect story, I think if you are in the right head space, it can be a hell of a good time. The characters were interesting, although I did think that Della and Lucas were a little less fleshed out than Jared, Libby and Mina. It is such an atmospheric presence throughout, equal parts alluring and dangerous, and I can’t help but feel that the setting plays a major role in how well the book works. Honestly it hit every point for me, the characters were great, the story was so good, and the references spoke to my heart! Mina And The Undead tells the story of 17 year old horror movie loving Mina who visits New Orleans to see her estranged sister Libby and to explore the spooky and dark depths of the city renown for its Vampires!

Unsurprisingly, she's a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan and has gone to conventions to meet James Marsters more times than she cares to admit. I really enjoyed this YA horror which took me back to my 90's teen days when I devoured every teen horror book that came out.

If you’re a fan of vampire tales, sink your teeth into Mina and the Undead and enjoy a thrilling tale of murder, obsession, and romance. If there is a weak link, it is the murder mystery element, which was incredibly effective at building up tension and offering up red herrings to throw the reader off the trail, but the final act doesn’t offer up any major surprises and ends up being rather obvious. From the eery silence and smell of ancient dirt of the St Louis Cemetery, to the gentle Jazz music and acrid tang of alcohol on Bourbon Street, you are so completely immersed in this story that it all comes to life right before your eyes. When Mina lands a part-time job at a horror movie mansion, she meets Jared, Libby’s gorgeous housemate, co-worker and fellow horror enthusiast. Parents should be aware that this is most definitely a young adult novel and is not suitable for younger children.

This one had me hooked from the start with the incredible New Orleans setting and all of its spooky, supernatural vibes. I couldn’t put this book down once I started it stayed up far too late a couple of nights just so I could read one more chapter. Mina seemed to not react to horrible and traumatising events at all, she's always back to watching movies or eating sandwiches minutes after learning something horrifying. Mina must discover the truth and prove her sister's innocence before she becomes the victim of another myth.New Orleans is definitely another character in this story and it’s obvious that the author knows the city well and shares this knowledge through the places she describes and the tale she weaves. The author has been very vocal about her love for New Orleans when promoting the book, and that affection shines through on the page. I have not read a lot of YA but from what I have read I think this book is a little bit different from the generic sort of YA that is around.