Mina and the Undead

Product Information

Following a seventeen-year-old girl (Mina) who grew up in Whitby (a coastal town in England where Draculas’ ship crashes in the 1897 Stoker novel) but is relocating to New Orleans for the summer to stay with her older sister. The unmissable YA Gothic horror of 2021, perfect for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Stranger Things. Meeting her sister's roommate Jared, it seems like it's going to be your stereotypical boy meets girl tale until you throw in Fang Fest.

From the moment I picked this book up, I knew it was going to take me back to some of the vampire stories of my younger days; figuratively as well as literally. Mina must discover the truth and prove her sister’s innocence before she becomes the victim of another myth. I struggle to visualise scenes in books and I always fall asleep if there’s heavy descriptions in them. I was sent a proof copy and I'll be honest, at first I was unsure how I was going to get on with it as it's not my usual genre but oh my goodness, as soon as I started it, I was hooked! I had a hard time reading this slowly as I was desperate to find out what happened next, het desperate for it to never end.What promises to be a fun visit and a chance for the two to reconnect soon devolves into a murder mystery with a decidedly supernatural bent. Bronnie is so lovely with the boys and we also felt that having a man enthusing about the books set a great example. Mina plans to spend the summer exploring all the famous parts of a city known for its myths and legends of vampires and killers, whilst also mending her relationship with her sister. After her first performance as a meatlocker victim, Mina goes upstairs to change and find the next actor to pass her costume to, but finds something much more sinister.

This is a delicious and gruesome tale of the macabre, that is packed full of 1990’s pop culture details and is bound to appeal to fans of horror. Its chapter lengths are relatively short to allow for reading breaks (but the chapter cliffhangers make it hard to put down).

Very nicely written and the chapters kept the plot moving forward to come to some exciting moments in the third act. As she delves deeper into the myths and legends of old Orleans, she must face her demons, and those of her family. Being a huge Point Horror fan in my teens and beyond this is the next generation of the classic Point Horror! Amy does such a great job combining classic tropes with fresh ideas and produces a gripping thriller that engages the reader from the very first page.

After securing a job at her sisters work place; the Mansion of Macabre where her sisters very attractive roommate Jared also works, things are about to take an unexpected turn. The pair share a tragic past, with an absent father and a mother who disappeared under mysterious circumstances.I'm so grateful to have been given an ARC ebook of Mina and The Undead because its completely brilliant and has soared straight into my top ten favourite books! Libby and Mina are very alike, but both react to the events of the book in very different ways, Libby closing up and becoming increasingly unwilling to engage in confrontation, whereas Mina is far more open to talking things out and being proactive. I have even talked the head into a little revamp of the library so that we can display them properly! Mina and the Undead takes its time in introducing the reader to a memorable cast of characters before throwing them headfirst into a chaotic and unpredictable story with a big heart and an even bigger body count.