Unfortunately I can't read this book as it is ACSM format and it's not readable on both my phone or computer.

However I will give it 2 stars for the amazing cover.

I will review it again when it's released!

4.5

I properly enjoyed this fast paced, murder mystery laced with classic horror, blood and gore. I immediately liked Mina as our main character and was intrigued as to what would unfold during her time in New Orleans. The writing was easy to fall in love with and I felt transported to the fascinating, yet dark, world of New Orleans in the 90s. Knowing only a little about New Orleans, I was absolutely enamoured with all of the mythology shared in this novel and how these horrors unfolded to touch Mina’s own life. It made me want to visit New Orleans whilst also simultaneously making me wary.

I wouldn’t say I am hugely into vampires or books about them but I loved the way they were interlaced into this book and the different classic references that appeared. Mina and Libby’s fascination with all things horror was fun. I would definitely be pants taking part in any kind of horror tour but reading along in the safety of my home made it thoroughly enjoyable! I really loved how clearly I could imagine everything whilst reading.

I really loved the characters in this book, especially the complex relationship between Mina and her estranged sister Libby. The way in which their feelings towards each other change and develop throughout the nook was really well done. Not to mention my love for Jared, Lucas and Della too. Another favourite of mine was definitely Thandie who I grew to love for a number of different reasons!

Mina and the Undead is packed full of punches. Full to the brim with adventure, mystery, gore and horror – definitely a favourite read of 2021 so far!

Thanks to NetGalley, UCLAN Publishing and Amy McCaw for my free digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Horror fan Mina is staying with her sister Libby in New Orleans for the summer. Their mother recently left them and Mina is looking forward to spending time with her sister in a town riddled with spooky history. It gets even better when she gets a part time job at a haunted mansion attraction and meets the gorgeous Jared, Libby’s housemate. But the real horrors of New Orleans are yet to reveal themselves. I have been to New Orleans and this book definitely made me want to go back and hunt vampires! With a cast of loveable, easy to root for characters and a plot that keeps the twists coming, Mina and the Undead is a quick, chilling read for fans of 80s and 90s spooky classics. Incredibly absorbing, fantastically nostalgic and the perfect bloodthirsty YA horror book.

My Review
This is an absolute gem of a book, I couldn’t put it down from the moment I started reading. The writing is fast-paced, easy to read and full of beautiful descriptions of New Orleans. I already fell in love with the place when I visited in 2017 and reading this book has made me want to go back even more than before, and I didn’t think that was possible. If you’ve never been you will definitely be adding it to your list after this. All the characters were so quirky, interesting and just a joy to follow.

The Story
We follow Mina in 1990’s New Orleans, the home of delightful beignets, Mardi Gras and live Jazz music. Her father isn’t around and after her Mum leaving last year, she decides to visit her sister, Libby in this city full of life and myths of abnormal beings. With multiple young women being murdered and Mina being an unlucky discoverer of one of these girls, her world starts to get a lot darker.

I certainly got my fill of horror, blood, dead bodies and vampires within the story and I was still left wanting more! For someone who isn’t a big fan of vampires, but with growing interest in the last few months, it’s so interesting to read and I really got sucked into(see what I did there) all the vampire mythology and tales from different parts of the world. As a massive fan of film and tv shows as well, I loved all the horror film references. The nostalgia and pop culture references really engage you as a reader as well, making it incredibly hard to put down.



Some parts were quite intense and I did get emotional a couple of times. I found myself just sitting back and enjoying the story and the atmosphere of New Orleans one minute and then the next I was on the edge of my seat biting my nails! I was so shocked at the twists which really surprised me because I expected it to be a bit predictable. I’m so glad I enjoyed it as much as I did!

The Characters
Mina is everything you want in a main character. She is smart, fun, curious and has such a strong passion for all things paranormal. I really enjoyed exploring New Orleans with her and see her fall in love with the city. She is an extremely likeable and relatable character, you will love her from the start! f you’re in the mood for a bit of romance, like I always am, you will love the spark between Mina and Jared. Sometimes it felt a bit rushed but in the end, it didn’t end up bothering me because I enjoyed their characters and the story so much.

Libby, her girlfriend Della and her friends Jared and Lucas kept the story interesting and very entertaining. I loved them all as soon as I met them and just couldn’t get enough! They are the type of characters that you could see yourself with. I wish I could walk down Bourbon Street with them all gossiping and join in with all the mayhem going on around them!

Overall Thoughts
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is an amazing and unique young adult horror that you won’t be able to put down! There are plenty are surprising twists and you’ll be kept guessing who the killer is until the very end. I really loved Amy’s writing and can’t wait to read more of her work in the future. Please let there be a sequel! If you’re a fan of vampires, romance, drama and the 90s then you have to read this book!

2.5 stars

British teenager Mina is visiting her sister, Libby, in New Orleans for the summer, just in time for the 1995 Fang Fest.
A big horror fan, Mina can't wait to soak up the atmosphere and explore the darker side of New Orleans. She can't believe her luck when she gets a job at the horror movie mansion tour with Libby and her handsome housemate, Jared.
But things take a dark turn when Mina finds the body of a young woman in the mansion. Suspicion is thrown on Libby and things become even worse when more bodies turn up, the killings identical to famous New Orleans past murders.
Who is behind the killings?
Is Mina next?

Mina and the Undead was one of my most anticipated books of the year and I was very much looking forward to reading it. However, I ended up with very mixed feelings about it.
Mina was a likeable and relatable protagonist. She'd had a tough time and had a strained relationship with her sister, which was interesting to read about. However, after reading the book I don't feel that I actually know that much about Mina. Especially about her life back in England - I don't remember reading anything about her friends or whether she even liked school.
None of the characters apart from Della particularly stood out for me - she's the only character that I would like to find out more about.
I wasn't a huge fan of the romance, but I could feel the spark between the two characters. Personally, I prefer a slow burn and the romance felt a bit rushed to me.
The setting of mid-90s New Orleans was interesting, but I would have liked a bit more description to really flesh it out.
The plot was enjoyable to begin with, but after a while I found myself losing interest and I struggled to stay interested. There were some things that happened that I didn't see coming, but there were also some that I did. I wasn't overly invested in what was going on, so anything that was meant to shock me didn't.
My main issue with this book was the writing style - there were many times when I found a character's dialogue or actions odd. There were also several occasions when I felt a scene could have done with more description to help the reader visualise it, and some parts felt a little rushed. I think this was one of those occasions where the novel wasn't for me and I just couldn't get on with the writing style.
Unfortunately, I ended up not enjoying this as much as I thought I would, but I can definitely see other people liking it more.

Overall, this was a mixed read for me.

This book is a stunning example of the possibility of horror.

The setting, 1990s New Orleans, is perfection and so well described I feel like I’m there despite having never been in my life.

Mina is a good protagonist, flawed and believable but with a lot of heart so you want to root for her.

The descriptions of the vampires and the Murders were the perfect amount of gory details to disgust even an iron stomached reader.

There are several surprises within the book that when revealed make perfect sense, but they still have the power to shock with their unexpected answers. A lot of the characters think nothing of double crossing each other leading to difficult conversations.

And at the end of the story, not everyone lives happily ever after which adds a gritty realism to the narrative. Well, as realistic as a vampire story can be. The story is a perfect example of horror whilst also providing a source of family drama between Mina, her sister and their missing mother.

I devoured this book and I think any other horror fan will too.

When Mina heads to New Orleans to visit her older sister, Libby, for the summer, she's expecting to watch some scary movies and have some fun. What she's not expecting is having to face the reality that vampires are real, and one in particular has his eye on her...

The best way I could describe this book to someone who's not read it yet is to say it's like Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Nancy Drew. Combine bloodthirsty creatures with a bit of amateur sleuthing and you've pretty much summed up this book! I loved that this book was set in the 90s and in New Orleans which is full of bloody historical tales, lots of which are mentioned and we get a little crash course in. Think American Horror Story: Coven with the Axeman, Marie Laveau and Madama LaLaurie. It obvious that the author has done her research about New Orleans history which I really appreciate! I also have to note that McCaw has a real talent for describing gore - the beginning of the story is set in a particularly bloody haunted house (I'm a big fan of the bear trap chandelier!) which is described so well that I could really imagine it. It made me wish it was Halloween so I could go and experience a haunted house like this one for myself. To add to that, every time we encounter a murder, it was vividly described enough to give your stomach a turn. This was one of the things that really kept me invested as it felt like I just couldn't tear my eyes away. As for the characters, we did get a lot of diversity. Mina's older sister Libby has a girlfriend and when it came to appearance, all sort of skin tones and hair types were mentioned. We read from Mina's point of view, a horror movie obsessed seventeen-year-old who's not afraid to find her own answers. I really loved her curiosity when it came to getting to the bottom of the murders and reading up on everything she could (that would definitely be me! The reading up, not so much the risking my life I guess 😂).

As for what I disliked, I would have loved to see more emotion from the characters. We see a bit of anger but a lot of the time everyone is pretty chill, even when faced with the murder of their friend and the fact that there are actual vampires roaming the city. Because we don't get to see much of this it felt like some of the scenes fell a bit flat. For example, there's a scene where one of the characters gets badly hurt but other than visiting him in hospital, not much is said about it. On top of that, I feel like we don't really get to know them very much, aside from Mina and by extension her sister, so I would have liked this book to be a bit longer so that we could fully form attachments to these characters. I also thought that Lucas's change in demeanour at the end was a bit abrupt - he goes from tortured artist and a bit shy to ready to kill his friends which felt a bit too much of a change for me.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a fun take on the world of vampires, filled with all the blood and gore you could need!

Marketed as a YA horror, Mina and the Undead certainly falls under one of those terms. A YA with familiar tropes and a generally unsurprising plot, it is an easy read that I can see a lot of people enjoying for its familiarity.

The horror element is a little tricky. I haven’t read much horror myself, minus some classic Gothic horror like Dracula, Frankenstein and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The horror of Mina and the Undead felt more ‘Scream Queens’-esque than anything particularly horrifying. That is, arguably perfect for its YA category, but I’m not sure how taken horror fans will be.

My biggest problem with the book, though, was how unrealistic it was. Vampires aside, the instalove, dialogue and movement of the plot seem weak and, at times, forced. The story moves from plot point to plot point without much of the padding that really immerses you into a story. I was never convinced by the characters or their actions, nor did I come to particularly like any of them. Alongside this, we have 17-year-old Mina frequenting bars in the 21-legal-drinking-age US. Perhaps that was common in New Orleans in 1995, but it only added to my disbelief.

Despite this, I was glad I read Mina and the Undead. If nothing else, it did convince me to try other horror novels. The plot was fun and easy, delving into New Orleans myths with a side of the supernatural. It was nice to read vampires in this context: a slightly different depiction from what most YA readers will be used to. The author’s love for Anne Rice and 90s culture is clear and endearing, to an extent. I am interested to see what Amy McCaw comes up with next, and would definitely be willing to try any future novels.

When this story got going, this story was truly so good. The plot twists, the tension, action and in synergy leading to the end was brilliant and really wasn't something I completely expected, which is something I never mind in a book. The moments in this book where I was on the edge of my seat to find out what happened was incredible, and though I don't know how another book would continue, I do think I want to read more from this writer for sure.

The chemistry between the characters is also wonderful. The burning chemistry between Jared and Mina is great as the book develops and what happens next for them really is something I want to know and Della and Libby are the cutest couple and kind of goals to be honest. The characters are really well developed be that through the story or the diary entries and their growth in the book is done amazingly - and these characters in New Orleans make for a wonderful combination.

I also appreciated how much detail when it came to the era/dates that went into this book, with the style, films, music etc that were popular at the time and really woven into this book brilliantly - costumes, pop culture references and movies weaved into the story so well and were a nice touch to the story.

A great read that you really can sink your teeth (or fangs) into

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for a review.

I loved this book - harking back to 1995 (I was a whole 5 years old) it was a fantastic homage to 90s horror.

Mina was a realistic and believable main character, and the plot was a little predictable but entirely enjoyable with gore, romance, thrills and mystery.

An ode to the classic 90s horror genre is the base for this sensational YA thriller (which I also believe is the author's debut?) I already have a student reserve list as long as my arm for this one!

Mina and the Undead is a fascinating, blood-drenched and wild ride through a supernatural, yet all too human mystery that centres around obsession and power.

McCaw starts off with a bang, with an interesting and intriguing first chapter. I loved the whole homage to classic horror films and their terrifying villains, brilliantly presented through the whole haunted house immersive experience. It just sets the stage so well for the devilish chaos about to ensue and sets that tone that balances horror with touches of comedy.

I really appreciated how McCaw wastes no time in getting into the mystery. You get enough time to have a sense of the characters, but then you’re straight into the action. The presence of evil is tangible and constantly surrounding Mina from the start. The dastardly twists and turns that follow are nothing short of great. This genuinely is a very engaging and brilliant YA murder mystery, with superntaural touches and flourishes that harness the essence of the Gothic genre and transforms it for today’s readers. The plotting is stellar and the pacing is spot on. You have this moments to breathe and become more invested in the characters, but you never feel entirely comfortable, as another gory surprise is often waiting around the corner.

I felt that the setting, both geographically and time wise, really enhanced the story. New Orleans is a place steeped in myth and legend, allowing for that blurring between fantasy and reality to be all the more enticing. The setting just adds this extra level of atmosphere to the enticing mystery shrouded in secrecy and filled with vampirical vibes. Time wise, I loved all the 90s pop culture references, feeling like knowing nods to the reader. It just helped me really enmesh myself in this wonderfully wicked world Mina finds herself in.

Mina and the Undead’s biggest strengths are in its charming characters, well-imagined setting and compelling plot.

who doesnt love the 90's??? I for one am a 90's fan and this gave me the nostalgia i didnt know i needed. It was the perfcet gothic horror. There was a great mix of mystery, gore and vampy vibes.

I'm not going to lie i will always have a soft spot when it comes to vampire books. The 90's pop culture was just everything and i think everybody will love it!

A solid 4.5 stars from me

I really enjoyed Mina and the Undead. It was the perfect mix of horror and mystery, interwoven with the myths and legends that surround New Orleans. The novel was incredibly easy to get absorbed in and I finished it in just two evenings. McCaw obviously has an appreciation for classic 90s horror movies, bands and the city of New Orleans itself. I hope to read more works by Amy McCaw.

4.5 stars (rounded up)

First of all, I'd like to thank Netgalley and UCLan for providing me with an advanced edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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. Set in New Orleans, home of Anne Rice's famous vampires, with two sisters who hail from Whitby, the unofficial home of Dracula, I'd be lying if I said this didn't make me want to keep reading.

Mina and her sister Libby have had their ups and downs, but Mina goes to stay with her older sister for a summer she'll never forget. 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. Jared has a love of the macrabre like Mina, and they quickly bond over it. Mina even gets a job working at a horror house.

Meanwhile, the city is plagued with murders of young women, and when one of those women is discovered by Mina, things start to get complicated.

I absolutely loved this book. Like I said before, it made me super nostalgic, and I ended up reading this with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer soundtrack on in the background.

The characters were interesting, although I did think that Della and Lucas were a little less fleshed out than Jared, Libby and Mina. I think that was more of a plot device than a writing issue, though.

Another thing I really enjoyed was that I couldn't see the plot twists coming. I love it when a book surprises me like that.

I would love a sequel to this, and have pre-ordered my copy ready for release day!

Mina and the Undead is a fun-filled, action-packed, YA horror thriller. Set in mid 90s New Orleans there’s a real gothic vibe which sets the tone perfectly. The horror is more light-hearted rather than full-on scary, similar in style to early Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Lost Boys.

I love this book! For the escapism, the pure tongue-in-cheek fun and plenty of pop culture references for the geeky 90s kids! My only reservation is whether teens will understand the references...However this would make a perfect introduction to the genre for YA readers interested in vampires that don’t sparkle in sunlight!

Seventeen-year-old Mina moves from Whitby (Dracula’s favourite English seaside town) to Anne Rice’s New Orleans to stay with her sister Libby for the summer. When Mina auditions for a job at Libby’s workplace, the ‘Mansion of the Macabre’, in between the horror movie costumes and the fake blood she discovers a real dead body. Soon Mina, Libby and their friends are under threat from a serial killer who seems to be recreating New Orleans urban legends. But is it possible that all the horror stories are true?

Mina and the Undead is a reverential tribute to vampire tropes and references, and a scrapbook of 90s nostalgia—from hair-crimping to rom-coms. (Haven’t thought about ‘My Father the Hero’ for decades but we were obsessed with that one!)

I didn’t particularly enjoy the narrative style. Mina has a slightly stereotyped teenaged attention span—flitting from horrific trauma to trivialities about food, clothes and crushes at the blink of an eye—with a Michael-Gove-approved level of fronted adverbials.

But generally, this was a fun, fast-paced, atmospheric read. Perfect for fans of Buffy and The Vampire Diaries.

Folks, I had so much fun with this one! Mina and the Undead is set in New Orleans, a place that I’ve never been to but am dying to visit (my best friend lives a couple of hours away so how could I not?), and it follows a girl called Mina whose mother is missing. Mina goes to work with her sister in a haunted house and then the murders happen.

That is everything I enjoy all rolled into one, so of course I really enjoyed this book! The references to 80’s and 90’s horror (this book is set in the 90’s too) were so much fun; as a 90’s child myself I was loving all the throwbacks in this book.

Also, I’ve never realised this but a haunted house is the perfect place for a murder??

I’m not sure if Mina is getting a sequel but I would really like one. The ending to this one was so thrilling, and also a lot of fun. I am a bit sad about what happened to who I thought was my favourite character until there was a COMPLETE AND UTTER BETRAYAL, and while I don’t think they’d do much in the sequel, I do hope to find another favourite.

I think you’ll speed through this book with all its twists and turns and just plain entertainment. New Orleans in the 90’s was the perfect setting for this book, and I’m so glad I picked it up.

SUCH GOOD FUN. I loved the references to 90s horror, and the setting was perfect. I could just see the New Orleans that Amy McCaw described - I loved all the characters and settings. Can't recommend enough. Perfect for fans of VE Schwab's Cassidy Blake series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC of this book.

I kind of knew I would love this book. I started rewatching Buffy right before I got the ARC, and it was just what I was in the mood for.

The cover and page design is so gorgeous. Totally set the scene and was just a really fun addition to the book. I also I love that all the characters (and clearly the author!) love the 90s horror vampire aesthetic. It felt like everyone involved loved the vibes, and I definitely did as well.

The greater cast of characters is so well developed and compelling. I loved Della’s warmth and kindness, and her relationship with both Mina and Libby was lovely. I hate when YA characters don’t have friends beyond the love interest, and McCaw has given Mina a great network of interesting, fleshed out relationships.

Libby and Mina feel like real sisters, their fights and conflict coming as a result of two women negotiating the very different people they are. When they reconcile, it feels genuine and real. It was a great portrayal.

I also really enjoyed Mina and Jared’s relationship.They felt like a cute young romance, and it was refreshing in a YA novel to not have the “this is my one and only forever love” vibes. Young romances are just as valid even when they’re not “soulmate” bonds or something.

I was a bit confused by their mom's issues, being obsessed with vampires and letting people drink her blood felt like it should have been framed as more “odd”, but they were treated like common addictions. I decided to sort of suspend my disbelief and decided Mina’s world is a version of our world where that stuff is common. But, in a “our world but add supernatural”, you’d expect this to be a bigger deal.

The supernatural introduction was also weirdly calm to me, and it came quite late in the story. I wish it had been seeded a bit earlier and more clearly, as it felt slightly out of left field to me. Nothing major points to supernatural in the first half and then, boom, vampires. Especially with the reveal of who the vampires were, that could have been alluded to earlier.

When the villains are revealed, for one of them, I genuinely didn’t know who she was because she was such a minor character in the beginning. The other made total sense, and I liked the reveal, but I felt it could have been seeded earlier again.

The book ends sort of openly, so I hope we get a sequel or companion novel. I’d definitely read the next one. This is a fast, fun read for anyone who likes a bit of 90’s nostalgia and horror fun. Four stars.