Though Anna is the Chosen One, things have actually settled down in her life. Anna has been able to work a steady schedule, start dating a new man and basically live the life of her choosing. For the first time in a year since she has become a vampire, everything is normal. Unfortunately for Anna, this is not destined to last. Anna returns home to fine Chael, the representative of Middle Eastern vampires sitting on her couch. Her instinct is to kill him because he represents a threat to her, until he dangles a carrot that she cannot cast away out of hand - the chance to regain her humanity. When Chael brings up Frey's son John John, Anna knows that she must investigate, if not for herself, then to ensure that John John is safe. What Anna does not realise, is that trip to the Navajo reservation, is going to change her life forever. Once there, she must confront her White privilege and decide whether or not she can accept the vampire she has become.

Crossroads is easily the best book in this series since The Becoming. Anna has been very busy running around and kicking ass for most of the past year but while doing so, she has become completely self involved. While Anna has been concerned about the loss of her mortal life, she has done little to sustain the relationships she has developed. I loved that Frey pointed out that she would have known about him breaking up with his girlfriend had he bothered to call. Anna is forced to accept that she only turns to her supposed friends when she needs them and has not been there for them otherwise.

For the majority of this series Stein has seen fit to erase people of colour, and in Crossroads, she seeks to rectify this by setting the book on a Navajo reservation. This is a nice change of pace. Anna continues to be filled with privilege, racism and ignorance, and it is up to Frey to attempt to reign her in. Anna views the Navajo people initially as ridiculously superstitious for their instant distrust of her vampire nature and refuses to acknowledge that vampires do indeed present a legitimate threat to humanity, despite knowing that members of the vampire council seek to enslave humanity. For much of the novel, Anna exotifies the people of colour she interacts with but by the end of book she develops a sort of reverence, which to me, really still reads as false. Part of the problem is that she is on the reservation to seek out the council of an elder. It reads too much like wise person of colour directing the clueless White lady.


I am further concerned by the re-introduction of Chael as a character. Though he was described as a power hungry coward, I fear that he is going to be set up as the antagonist. This would make Anna, The Chosen One, battling against a male of colour for supremacy. When placed into context of the current political divide, it's hard not to see this as demonizing Middle Eastern people. Anna is described as the progressive one because she believes in protecting humanity whereas; Chael would have humanity reduced to little more than cattle. It reads as though Whiteness and of course a Western identity, represents not only morality but civilization and once again casts Middle Eastern people as sadistic, hopelessly backward and animalistic.

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This might be my favorite in the series. As indicated by the title, Anna is indeed at a crossroads when given the choice of staying a vampire or having the chance at restoring her mortality.

Daniel Frey gets roped into helping Anna seek out a shaman and they travel to the Navajo nation's land. In this beautiful land with so much history and the eternal Navajo spirit, Anna feels a kind of peace.

There is non-stop action as the vampire and the panther work to protect Daniel's family and friends from evil vampires and Navajo skinwalkers. Stein does a great job here describing how Anna the rational human meshes with Anna the feral vampire. Which one will Anna choose?

Looking forward to the next book! ( )

As with all of the earlier books I really enjoyed this instalment. I did however find that the book seemed to be 2 stories. There was the beginning of the book which dealt with Anna’s life in San Diego then the second half which dealt with Anna’s time in the desert. Both parts were equally good but I just thought it was a bit strange. It wasn’t until the end of the book that I remembered the beginning and didn’t understand why it was included. So it was in what I am calling the first part of the book where I was really missing the were-panther Daniel Frey, then low and behold not only does he make an appearance but the whole second part is all about him. He and Anna travel to the desert, in particular to a Native American reservation where his ex- girlfriend and son live. I thought Ms Stein’s world building was very vivid and creative and I could easily imagine the landscapes. I like Anna and it is interesting to see her powers as a vampire grow and slowly see her humanity wearing away. One of the main points in the book is that Anna thinks and cares too much about humans but her vampire side is coming out more and more and she is finding it easier to kill. The story was very good and kept me guessing all the way. There are some sad moments too so keep a tissue handy. I thought this was a really good and enjoyable book. There is only 2 left in the series and I can’t see how it will end but I will be along for the ride anyway. I would like to give Crossroads 4 stars. ( )

One of Jeanne Stein's best books. My favorite Ann Strong book, it will keep you guessing to the last page. ( )