RogerBW's Blog

Dead to the World, Annabel Chase 13 February 2025

2023 paranormal fantasy, first novel of a nine-book series. Lorelei Clay is returning to small-town America, but the ghosts still won't leave her alone.

There's a lot of series setup here, in particular the introduction of many people who are clearly going to be recurring characters (local werewolves, vampires, etc.; this is a gallimaufry of a setting). Lorelei herself can see and hear ghosts, but she isn't just a medium; the nature of her powers is clearly something that's going to be dragged out over the series (my money's on minor goddess of death and dreams). Although there are several hot guys about, she really isn't interested in relationships (though I'm pretty sure I can guess how that'll come out too). Indeed, at the start of the book she's been in town six months and made almost no contacts, by choice; but that of course is going to change.

She's also refurbishing a Gilded Age folly, and ends up agreeing to look for someone's missing sister in return for computer help. That of course leads to her having to talk to people, which leads to the aforementioned introductions.

Is this Great Stuff to be praised to the skies? Absolutely not. But it is trying to be a bit more interesting than rote urban fantasy sexy werewolves and vampires, even if the heroine is still the Most Speshul Supernatural Being Ever. This is the closest I've got to the Ilona Andrews feel so far. I'll carry on with the series for now.

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