Dead to the World

Crossroads Queen #1

by Annabel Chase

Lorelei Clay isn’t like other people.

She isn’t even like other supernaturals. Her specialties are the nightmares of the living, communication with the dead, and cooking bacon until it’s golden brown and perfectly crispy—no magic required.

Six months ago she moved to the ultimate fixer upper, a monstrosity from the Gilded Age that borders the local cemetery in the sleepy Pennsylvania town of Fairhaven. Lorelei is content to spend the next few years in solitude, renovating the house and avoiding humanity, until a missing young woman disrupts her plans. Lorelei’s search for the teenager means crossing paths with the residents she’s successfully avoided so far, including the human police chief, the coven, a cursed vampire, the assassins guild, the werewolf pack, and the mysterious and infuriatingly alluring owner of The Devil’s Playground, an elegant nightclub that caters to the local supernatural clientele.

Lorelei plans to find the girl quickly and return to the privacy of her castle walls before anyone learns her secrets, but you know what they say about the best laid plans…

Dead to the World is the first book in the Crossroads Queen urban fantasy series.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Vampires, Magic, Demons, Witches

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 11, 2023

About the author

Annabel Chase is the author of urban fantasy and cozy mystery novels. She would love to live in a magical town where she can shop at Ready-to-Were for the the perfect outfit, flirt with hot angels and vampires, and cook gourmet meals without exerting any effort. Visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Annabel-Chas... or on her website at www.annabelchase.com.

Reviews

[Ronda · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a 3.5 stars...

This was quite a nice read but pretty much rushed at the peak of any situation...

The characters were pretty cool, especially nana Pratt... and of course there had to be a mysterious, sexy demon!

Not sure I'll personally follow this storyline but I can imagine tons of people loving this!

[charlene ✿ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars  

★★☆☆☆

so dull that i'm actually insulted.

Lorelei Clay is unlikeable but not in the funny way, just in an annoying way. The future love interest is the demon guy who is boring. The werewolves are idiots with impulse issues that are not addressed or suffer consequences. the vampires are rude and weird but Otto is cute and I want to keep him.

I love when people can see the dead. Lorelei is mean to her ghosts which are overbearing but bloody hell doesn't mean you should be a dick at every opportunity.

Blog ✿ Goodreads ✿ Twitter ✿ Instagram ✿ Pinterest ✿ StoryGraph ✿ Discovery ✿ 

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

Dead to the World
By Annabel Chase
This was an amazing book with unique characters and a terrific plot! The town has a mix of supernaturals living there. Our gal of the story just wants to be left alone and fix up her rubble of a castle but she agrees to help find a guys sister that's missing. Then while doing that, she makes more deals to see more people. To track clues she has to deal with more people!
No one knows exactly what she is except she can see ghosts but she makes everyone supernatural feel dread.
Excellent book! One of my favorite books this year!

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

This is an interesting, if a bit frustrating beginning to a new UF series. It is also the first book I’ve read from this author. I find I really like her writing style, it flows well and is enjoyable to read. The story itself, however, is kind of a mix.

Lorelei’s character is an enigma - intentionally- the author lets us know she is powerful but refuses to use that power, and is somewhat of a recluse because of it. We never know anything about that power, however (seems it’s a plot teaser that will go on longer than this book). The storyline doesn’t seem to have a clear, definable focus for most of this first book, as well. There is a small-type mystery involved, but we spend most of the book being introduced to all sorts of different characters and people. It’s enjoyable, but not riveting by any means, and seems to be just setting up the overall world that will continue in future books. The last 15% or so it does come together enough to be exciting and end the mystery tidbit that acts as the overall plotline for this story.

Overall, I really did enjoy the time spent and will give the next book a try to see where everything heads.

[Mara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
I can’t pinpoint exactly why this book falls short. It has a interesting plot (if somewhat dejavu backstory), a grumpy FMC that I liked, but not much gripping power. Maybe it’s due to shallow characterisation, plenty of them, none well fleshed out. Even the plot suffers from lack of well roundness (if that’s a word).
At the end of the story what did she tell to the sheriff? Cult doesn’t cover the disappearence of bodies nor Ashley’s story. I mean, she was there, did magic prevent her from seeing? And the girl attitude was all wrong/wierd. They want to sacrifice you and? No reaction?
But I had the same problem (believe) at the start of the story. She’s an antisocial hermit but she caves to a ghost whining and search for a missing girl. The two points weren’t equal so her going out to search needed a much stronger motivation if you want your character to be coherent and cohesive.
Still I may read book 2.

[Katyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, fast KU UF read. It's short - that seems to be true of the series across the board - but nothing feels short-changed. More like it is a serial. I am enjoying the cast, and dying for more details on the FMC - she is so painfully lonely that she's convinced herself she likes it that way. It makes my heart hurt. But despite her intentions, she's gathering companions and puzzling out the secrets of this little town.

Already mostly done with the next, that's how fast they are. I'm just wolfing them down.

[Clarabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annabel Chase est la découverte de mon été. J'aime tout ce qu'elle écrit ! 😎❤️‍🔥

Lorelei vient de s'installer dans le trou paumé de Fairhaven après avoir fait l'acquisition d'un château en ruines qu'elle retape en solo. Son but : se tenir à l'écart de la communauté. C'est déjà bien assez de cohabiter avec deux fantômes. Oui, parce que Lorelei a la Vision. Elle est capable de voir et parler aux esprits défunts. Ce n'est toutefois pas sa seule particularité mais il semblerait que sa nature reste encore un grand secret.

En fait, rien ne va aller selon ses plans. D'abord, l'intrusion de colocs collants. Puis, la requête d'un garçon inquiet de n'avoir plus de nouvelles de sa sœur. Et comme la police a d'autres chats à fouetter, Lorelei accepte de fureter dans les bois proches de sa propriété. Elle fera rapidement la rencontre de l'Alpha de la meute et du démoniaque propriétaire d'un bar pour surnaturels avec qui elle va également collaborer.

Ce premier tome livre ce qu'il faut pour un début de série : du mystère, du rythme, un cadre et de l'alchimie entre les personnages. Annabel Chase a un style simple mais efficace. Son héroïne affiche un abord distant et froid, mais on devine qu'elle s'en sert surtout pour se protéger. Son investissement à retrouver la disparue en est d'ailleurs la preuve ! Et elle va se révéler beaucoup plus sociable en prétendant le contraire.

Je suis curieuse de connaître ce qu'elle cache ! Ce qu'elle va tisser comme liens dans cette petite ville. Et bien plus encore. 😁🔥

[Lorrie (Clockworkbookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024 Reads #94/250

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

No entiendo por qué, pero esta historia a pesar de ser totalmente cliché me tiene totalmente atrapada.

[julia ☆ [owls reads] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty fun all around, but I wish we had gotten a few more answers about Lorelei. I will probably continue the series, though!

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows Lorelei who decides to move from London to a small town called Fairhaven after finding a local fixer-upper across from the local cemetery. Someone in the town enlists her help to find their sister after finding out about Lorelei's ability that she can see ghosts and help them cross over.

This is the first book in the Crossroads Queen series. The main focus of this book is used as an introduction to the world and the characters. After being introduced to the characters, I feel like I don't know Lorelei as well as I do the side characters. The side characters were introduced to me through Lorelei when they were helping her solve the mystery. When they would try to get Lorelei to open up to them and get to know her better, she would shut down because she moved there to get away from people and she's not interested in making friendships but we start to see that mindset shift towards the end of the book. This story does have a mystery plot which I was interested in but I did find it quite unbelievable at times. Lorelei doesn't have any police training background but people come to her for help if they know of someone who is missing and they trust in Lorelei to find them because of Lorelei's abilities to see ghosts and help them cross over. I think it's unbelievable that because Lorelei has certain abilities she can all of a sudden do everything that a cop can do and assist in missing person cases. The ending of this story and how the mystery was solved felt rushed and I would never have guessed how everything wrapped up because no evidence led to that conclusion.

From what I have learned so far about the side characters and this world, I am interested enough to continue on in this series. This series is also marketed as a romance but there is zero romance in the first book and I can't even guess who the love interest would be if there were a romance development in future books. I'm curious to see if we will get a romance development in future books and I would love to learn more about Lorelei's character.

[Mary Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting start to what is going to be a trilogy (I think) about a woman in her mid thirties who can see, speak to and interact with ghosts. Laurelei Clay is a woman on her own, an only child her parents died when she was quite young and her grandfather then raised her, unfortunately he too died when she was in her early teens so since then Laurelei has been on her own. It's not all been bad though, she got to travel extensively and being attuned to the dead meant she could make a lucrative career out of locating heirs for people who died with no will. Lorelei bought the.house "Bluebeards Caste" on a whim after seeing a picture posted online. Located in Freehaven located outside New York it is a quaint small.town.of about 3000 people. What Laurelei couldn't know from the picture was that Freehaven stands on a supernatural crossroads (which supernatural beings can use to travel.from different realms) and that this crossroads also serves to draw supernaturals to its location suffice to say there are plenty of "monsters" in Freehaven. Vampires, Demons, Were's, Fae and Witches.to name just a few. Now there's Laurelei to add to their ranks, they (the supernaturals) can all tell she is.one.of.them but exactly "what" she is has them all stumped and Laurelei isn't telling. She just wants to be left alone with her dilapidated castle, the cemetery next door and the two resident ghosts (that she's allowed to stay) that's not too much to ask......................is it?

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dead to the World is book one in the Crossroads Queen sereis by Annabel Chase.

This novel introduces us to our lead, Lorelei Clay, the little sleepy Pennsylvania town she moved too, and all the supernatural factions that have made this place their home.

It’s a slow read in that we follow Lorelei around as she looks for a missing girl and in doing so gives up her dream of a secluded life. Along the way she meets many different supernaturals and all can feel she’s something, but they don’t know what. The last 20% the pace picks up and we get a little action as the mystery in the missing girl is solved.

I enjoyed following Lorelei around and learning about the town and trying to figure out the mysteries. Lorelei is something and I’m very curious to discover what she is. I’m also interested in the crossroads and figuring out why all these supernaturals have made Fairhaven their home.

Dead to the World was a decent start to the series and an enjoyable paranormal mystery to read.

Rated: 3.5 Stars

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

Dead to the World, by Annabel Chase, is the first installment in the Crossroads Queen series. Lorelei Clay isn’t like other people. She isn’t even like other supernaturals. Her specialties are the nightmares of the living, communication with the dead, and cooking bacon until it’s golden brown and perfectly crispy—no magic required. After years living in London running her own agency tracking down lost heirs, she's made enough money to purchase the castle formerly known as Bluebeard's Castle which has its own moat, and graveyard next door.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Cee · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 30%/ 5 chapters

The plot line-- the mystery of the missing girl, the mysteries around the main character-- and even the setting with the house falling apart, fun but obnoxious ghosts, and multiple types of supernaturals existing in the modern world is are really cool and interesting. It kept me going until I realized I was plain bored.
The main character gives nothing in terms of emotions. I internally read all her lines as monotone, bored, or annoyed. Every other character gives at least a crumb of some emotion or body language, but the MC is a statue walking around.
I do appreciate how her past isn't info dumped on us, but it would be nice to know in depth about things too. Why did she pick London? How did she start tracking people and what skills did she use besides getting lucky? Also, is the fact that people just answer pretty much 90% of her questions part of her magic or just... writing. Why is an assassin just explaining EVERYTHING instead of... idk threatening? Running away? No just... here's my business card and of course let me tell you all the rules and where to find us.... ????? what?

So, yeah.... it's a shame because I really liked the bones of the book.

[Mettesknit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook narrated by
Vivienne Leheny
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was kind of cute.

A lot was lacking in the fight scenes, but the story in itself was cute.

I know this is the first book in this series, and that might be the reason we don't get to know the characters very well.

[Taylor Jefferson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.25

I’m constantly chasing the high from the Kate Daniel’s series. It is the pinnacle of urban fantasy for me. This has potential and it may be unfair to compare, but Lorelei is no Kate.

For only being a 232 page books there is a lot in here. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches, a harbinger, a guild of mage assassins. Lots!!! Despite all of that I wasn’t overwhelmed. Lorelei has lived in Fairhaven for 6 months but wanted to keep to herself. When she agrees to help a local find his missing sister she ventures out and realizes there is a lot more to Fairhaven than a sleepy little human town. We are meeting this cast of new characters at the same time Lorelei is. The story flowed quickly and it was easy to keep up.

What holds me back from rating this higher was that I didn’t really like Lorelei. She was apathetic and a bit mean. It’s obvious there is a history behind her wanting to be left alone but we are given so little it was hard to relate to her character. Her secrecy is supposed to be intriguing but it left me feeling like I don’t know anything about her. Now that the groundwork has been laid I’m hoping the next books get better.

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead to the World is the first book in the new Crossroads Queen Urban Fantasy series by Annabel Chase.

This first book in the series was SO GOOD! OMG!

Lorelei Clay is a fierce heroine, a paranormal like NO Other. She has moved to Fairhaven, Pennsylvania and bought a fixer upper trying to live in solace and stay under the radar.

Things don't work out as well as she planned. There is a missing girl and she searches for her and so much for staying under the town's radar.

The worldbuilding is SO good. I absolutely loved all the different paranormal in this story.

Lorelei's house has a close proximity to the cemetery which adds another dimension to the story.

I can't wait for the next book in the series!

[Jeanny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yawn 🥱. It wasn’t an engaging read. I’ll not continue the series.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice start to a series. So far i'm liking the characters and the world building. I like the supernatural element and that we still don't exactly know what Lorelei is in relation to that world. Potential love interest in Kane but time will tell, just hints that it might develop, no romance in this book. Learning about the different factions in the town and how they interact was fun.

[Ewa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trochę za dużo postaci przez co były momenty kiedy książka była po prostu nudna + czuć, że jest trochę ciągnięta na siłę żeby powstało te 9 części w serii

[tattootheskywithstars · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Really Liked it, it was different and i‘m Really excited to read the Next one! Can‘t wait.

[~Jennifer~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those readers who have to have romance, there is none in this book. Oh, there is potential and the groundwork is being laid(cannot wait til it happens). Slow burns are some of my favorite,but at the same time they kill me.😮‍💨

[Dawn Siemer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery + Dark Fantasy

To be fair, these aren't my normal genres. I like romantic fantasy, and I wasn't sure what I'd find here, but I've liked some of Annabel Chase's other books.

We don't get to learn what kind of supernatural creature our heroine is, but she hasn't accepted her powers or fate. She isolated herself until a mystery fell in her lap: a girl too much like her is in trouble. During the book, she almost makes some friends and maybe there's a guy who is romantically interested in her.

The mystery is twisty and somewhat satisfying. I would've liked to see more character development, and I hate when POV characters have a secret I'm not allowed to know. It feels like a cheap trick.

[Aarann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings abound with this one, but I'm going with three stars, but maybe a high three stars, because there is potential here.

We have Lorelei Clay (five stars for that name, btw), a some-kind-of supernatural with major hermit vibes. We don't know what she is or what she can do, other than other supernaturals are scared of her and don't know why, she can see and talk to ghosts, and she seems to have some control of nightmares. She's tight-lipped, even to the reader, about what she is, even to the point of endangering herself so she does not have to show her true strength. There was a point of the book where she referred to deities being in short supply followed by a sentence along the lines of, I should know, which made me think she's going to be in some sort of demi-god category, possibly? But that's pure speculation on my part.

The dialogue in the book could be a bit stilted. Lorelei just goes up to people and starts asking questions, they respond, she asks something else, they respond. At times it didn't feel like how people speak, and it made me wonder if this was one of the author's first books.

But at the end of the day, I am intrigued by the world and the main character, even if she didn't quite live up to her hermit vibes, and am looking forward to the next book. Although I hope the author cleans up whatever it was that made me not entirely able to get into this.

[Sheia (Hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I totally keep a record of my kills, but I feel conflicted about it."

Genre: Paranormal with elements of fantasy.

✅️ small town
✅️ different species: ghosts, werewolves, demons, goddess, witches, fae etc
✅️ Castle and a moat
🆗️ wit and banter
🆗️ Romantic interest

REVIEW

This book and series is what I lovingly call substandard. Average is another word for it. There is a distinct lack of emotional depth, although there is a conflict in character and plot presented. You just bypass all of them for the cool castle, ghosts and banter. There is just enough of everything in this book to keep one entertained and fascinated.

“Who taught you how to fight monsters?”
“I was born female. It comes with the ovaries.”

And since it averages on about two hundred pages, it all works out well and good. Don't expect much and you will get more.

[Jai M {Cat Crazy Dragon }]

I’m bored. Not working for me. 4 pages in.

[Susan1566 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lorelei has bought the ultimate fixer upper of a house in the small town of Fairhaven. Alone except for 2 ghosts, she is happily working on her house when she is asked to search for a missing girl.
As someone who can talk to ghosts as well as help them on their way, she also has some mysterious powers that we don’t find out about.
While looking for the missing girl she comes across vampires, witches, shifters, human police and the demon owner of a local nightclub. Trying to keep away from others doesn’t seem to be working. There are hints of a greater power that she does not want to unleash as she checks out multiple problems.
This is an easy reading, entertaining book with a good mystery and great characters. The story leaves many openings for future books as she associates with the townspeople.
It’s definitely worth continuing.

[witchy_book_babe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf’d Audiobook at 24%

I randomly downloaded this because the cover is absolutely gorgeous and it sounded like fun. The very beginning had some promise but it just got a tad too boring for my taste.

Also, I’m unsure if this is an interconnected world…I was confused on whether this world was one that has already established if other beings exist or not. It seemed like the FMC didn’t want anyone to judge her upon discovering her Paranormal abilities…yet she would admit it right away to complete strangers. Upon learning that this woman can see the dead and communicate with them, they seemed completely unfazed and accepted this entirely too easily? So, I found that odd.

Overall, for me this was an overly light, Paranormal detective agency vibe. But, I wasn’t able to connect with any of the characters nor did the plot hold my attention.

[Patricia Kearns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead to the World (Crossroads Queen Book 1)

Trying to escape from people, Lorelie brought a derelict castle.
For a woman who sees ghosts, that's strange because it is next to a cemetery .
People have gone missing, and Lorelie is asked to help find a missing girl.
This is an interesting book, with two hunky men and a woman on a mission.
Get it, you'll enjoy it.