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The Demon Trapper's Daughter: A Demon Trappers Novel
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The Demon Trapper's Daughter: A Demon Trappers Novel
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The Demon Trapper's Daughter: A Demon Trappers Novel
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The Demon Trapper's Daughter: A Demon Trappers Novel

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About this ebook

The Demon Trapper's Daughter is the first novel in Jana Oliver's Demon Trappers—a spellbinding young adult fantasy series. Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself—and that's exactly what the demons are counting on…

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta's local Trappers' Guild needs all the help they can get—even from a girl. When she's not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley's out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils—Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life's about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley's routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn't bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers' Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart—and her life?

LanguageEnglish
Release dateFeb 1, 2011
ISBN9781429992848
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The Demon Trapper's Daughter: A Demon Trappers Novel
Author

Jana Oliver

Jana Oliver’s imagination has always had the upper hand despite her attempts to house-train it. When she’s not on the road tromping around old cemeteries, she can be found in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and far too many books.

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one to come out in this series. Riley Blackthorne, the Demon Trapper - Paul Blackthorne's daughter. Has quite a journey ahead of her to become a full trapper. She is off to a good start then her father dies while fighting a demon. The trappers guild has some issues going on with their holy water and demons actually banning together and helping each other out which is unusual for them. Very exciting book, kept me turning the pages to find out what happens next. Honestly cannot wait until the next installment.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    It was pretty slow paced but enjoyable. Beck's took some getting used to as I had yet to read a book with such strong southern drawl in one of its main characters. It had an interesting and unique take on the mythology of demons and angels but I had overall thought it wasn't bad.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    one of my absolute favorite mini series. a must read! you'll love the characters.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Ehhhhhh....this book was alright. It was given to me as a gift, and while I might never have purchased it for myself, I was interested in the premise. Riley Blackthorn (sorry, but what a Mary Sue name) is an apprentice demon trapper in the year 2018. She lives in Atlanta, in a semi-post-apocalyptic world where demons run amok, witches and necromancers are common, and the society we're used to is deteriorating. Riley was bland. Aside from her job capturing errant demons, there was nothing about her that drew me in, so I didn't care what happened to her throughout the story. And she was a complete Mary Sue. She's the only female trapper in Atlanta so that makes her extra special and she's got a long line of suiters. First we hear about her unruly brown curls and deep brown eyes, then we hear about all the men who want her. There's Denver Beck (ugh, really?), the slightly older badass trapper her father trained, then there's Peter, a school friend, who clearly has a crush on her, but isn't on Riley's radar. I know this because he's immediately described as slightly chubby and accountant-looking (nerdy, I guess), so, not hunky = not a potential beau for Riley, but of course he still wants her. There's Simon, the pious, blonde, sexy trapper and the mysterious Ori (or something) who looks like he jumped off a romance novel. So yeah. *MASSIVE EYEROLLING*There are different grades of demons and different ways to defeat them, which was interesting. There's also a system where trappers capture the demons, sell them to traffickers, who then deliver them to the Church (in the Vatican), where they're sent to monks (to be chanted to death?). Then there are demon hunters, who have a license to just kill demons. I'm not clear on why the Church captures some demons and kills others, but it's clear that Oliver put some thought into the system she created. However, some of the vocabulary was off-putting, such as when Riley constantly talks about how she's "always going to trap", and "won't stop trapping". I'm sorry, but I couldn't help think of like drug deals and prostitution. I know this is me being immature, but...whatever.Overall, this was a quick read - something light that doesn't require much thought. It was almost fun, but the writing just wasn't quite there for me. It's the first book in a series, but unless I happen to receive the next books as a gift, I won't be continuing on.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Welcome to year 2018's Atlanta, where demons roam the streets and the government is basically nonexistent. To keep the demons under control there is a guild dedicated to trapping the troublesome beasts. The guild consists of forty something males and one young girl, Riley.

    I really liked Riley. Most of the time. She was funny, cunning, and imperfect. But she was also very harsh on my favorite character, Denver Beck, AKA the backwoods boy. It's quite the funny story really. When Riley was fifteen, she had the biggest crush on Beck. Backwoods boy being a few years older and her father's apprentice, it didn't work out in Riley's favor. Since then Riley's lost the puppy love, but the bitter feelings are still firmly in tact.

    This book was a roller coaster for me. I cried, laughed, cheered, grumbled, and sometimes wanted to give Riley a good thwack upside the head. There was one persistent writing "technique" Oliver used that kinda rubbed me the wrong way. Like I said, my favorite character was Beck and he comes from the backwoods of georgia. That said, Oliver had all of his dialogue contain ya in the place of you and yar instead of your. It was quite distracting and...Weird. But I still adore Beck. He kinda reminds me of Daryl from The Walking Dead T.V show.

    More than halfway through the book I realized something horrible. This book had the potential to become a romance hexagon. No joke. There were literally four different guys that could easily become love interests. Right there I promised myself that I would not finnish the series if something as disastrous as a love hexagon were to evolve. so if this series isn't fully reviewed, you know why.

    I have to admit, this book had a few faults, but its action and lovable characters balanced the scales. But if your looking for a really good demonic young adult book, this is what your looking for!


  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a book that manages to transcend many of the traps that YA urban fantasy type books get into. A smart heroine who is sensible, but still sits in the sweet spot of growing up, dating, but without going overboard.The story is fairly predictable, but its well written. I haven't seen a world like this before - where demons abound, but I don't think the world would be this much like ours.But, the story is a fun, easy read. Its a great way to spend an afternoon, but don't be expecting great literature.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This YA novel is set in a near future economically depressed Atlanta where demons are constantly attacking people and property. The guild of demon trappers works with the Vatican demon hunters to eraidicate them. Riley wants to be a trapper like her dad and is currently his apprentice. Things go wrong at the start of the book when the demons start working in tandem something that has never been seen before. Becasue of this behavior Riley's father dies while working with his journyman hunter, Beck.

    I liked this because the setting seemed realistic and Riley doesn't have some magic skill to hunt demons just weapons, a few magic globes and holy Water. The book doesn't end on a cliffhanger but you know there will be more in the series due to not all questions being answered by the end of the book. I'll be looking to the next one.

    I do have to note that I do know the author having spoke to her over the years at various SF conventions. And that I won this ARC from the Goodreads first reads program.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Riley Blackthorne is one strong lady. She can take one heck of a beating and often gives back as good as she gets. She is no delicate flower. Her life is not glamorous and not one to be envied, even if there are a whole lot of really attractive guys in her vicinity expressing interest. I also like that there is no clear winner on the guy front, which is a bit rare to see in these teen paranormal series (it's more common for the heroine to have a number of choices and to not make a decision in the adult series). Not that Riley is playing them (another yay!), but I suspect her decision for now may not be her decision forever. It's also nice that, although Riley does think about boys (who wouldn't?), they are not her primary concern.

    In addition to all the action and boy drama, there is a lot of religious stuff happening here. Thankfully, it all fits into the fantasy realm in such a way as to not come off too preachy. It's also really interesting that in this post-disaster of some sort world where demons and other paranormal nasties exist, the Vatican has a team of Demon Hunters that kills Lucifer's hordes. Funny how that is both very not how a church should be, but exactly what a church would do. I definitely look forward to finding out more about the way Oliver has set up this world in the sequel.

    Recommended to YA, paranormal, fantasy and dystopia fans. A quick-paced exciting read with some thought-provoking themes.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Okay, I am not usually much for urban fantasy, and I've certainly not read a lot of YA fiction, so I found The Demon Trapper's Daughter quite a surprise.

    Don't be fooled by the comic, almost bathetic tone of the opening. The book soon takes a darker turn and gathers momentum like a runaway truck.

    And the reader is given quite a ride: horror, satire, mystery, romance; strong and quirky characters to cheer for; believable (but sympathetic) teen angst; and (toughest of all for a genre novelist to deliver) passionate, believable human relationships served up by the gallon.

    Jana Oliver is one hell of a good writer.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a fantastic book, and not just for young readers. I mean, I really would have grown as an individual had I read it in my teens, but it is also good reading for adults. The descriptions of her grief over losing her dad are so very, very accurate, as is the Dystopia that the world could have possibly fallen into: insurance companies run amok, for example, and high school classes taking place at night in old grocery stores. Its gritty realism is well-concocted, as are the descriptions of old-boy networks and their disregard for women's abilities. Totally a cool book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Action-packed paranormal filled with great characters, witty banter, and adorable romance. From the first page I was hooked and couldn’t put it down!Opening Sentence: Riley Blackthorne rolled her eyes.The Review:Riley Blackthorne is training to be a demon trapper. With demons running rapid through the streets and society falling apart the Atlanta Guild will take all the help they can get even from a girl. Riley’s father is the legendary demon trapper, Paul Blackthorne, and catching demons runs in her blood. Even though she is a kick butt fighter she is also a normal girl that has to deal with everyday things like homework and crushing on boys. Then there is a horrible accident and Riley’s life is turned upside down. She doesn’t know who to turn to in this time of grief or who she can trust. But with demon activity higher than ever she will have to step up and fill her fathers shoes or give up the one thing she loves most: trapping demons!Riley is such a great, witty protagonist that I couldn’t help but love. She is the only girl demon trapper and because of that the other trappers don’t show her as much respect as she deserves, but that never deters her from doing what she has always wanted. Demon trapping is in her blood and she can’t imagine doing anything else. She is full of great banter and funny comebacks. Being inside her head was always very entertaining and I thought she was the perfect heroine. She is full of attitude but she is also a very sweet girl and I just adored her.Beck has a rough childhood and the only reason he ever made something of himself was because of Paul Blackthorne. Now that Paul is gone, Beck feels like it is his responsibility to take care of Riley. He’s only a few years older than Riley but with his life experiences he feels like their age gap is much larger. He loves being a demon trapper because it gives him a purpose and helps him to forget his heartbreaking past. Beck is sexy, insufferable, and a total sweetheart when he wants to be. There isn’t a romantic relationship between Riley and Beck, but I hope that there might be in future books. I loved Beck and being inside his head was a great contrast to Riley’s voice.The Demon Trapper’s Daughter was a great read full of suspense, romance, and adventure. From the first page you are thrown into non-stop action and I ended up finishing the whole book in one setting. The plot is full of unexpected twists which made the whole story very intriguing. The characters were very likable and perfectly written. The ending is a slight cliffhanger and you are left dying to read the next book. Luckily all the books have already been released so you don’t have to wait years to finish this great series. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great young adult paranormal full of action and adventure.Notable Scene:“Blackthorne’s daughter,” it bayed. It slicked its thick tongue across its lips. Drool rolled down its chin.“Niiice demon … That’s it. Just stay there.” Riley fumbled in the bag and pulled out the cow entrails she’d retrieved from the freezer. Slinging the package as hard as she could, it landed with a plop on the asphalt. Louder snarls came from the beast. In a move that seemed impossible for its bulk, it leapt on the food and swallowed the entrails and the plastic wrapper in one big gulp.“Ah, God,” she said, stumbling backward. That had been her only diversion and it was long gone. Her hand closed on one of the spheres. “I’m leaving now. No need to get upset, Mr. Demon.”“Chew yourrr bones!” it cried, waving its arms in the air.A second later, all Riley could see was a whir of black and white, all teeth and claws. Moving toward her at frightening speed. She tumbled nearly falling. Cursing, she tossed one of the spheres at the oncoming fiend.FTC Advisory: St. Martin’s Griffin/Macmillan provided me with a copy of The Demon Trapper’s Daughter. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    After the first chapter I was really skeptical, I mean… Capturing Demons by reading them to sleep? It just didn’t seem enough kickass.

    But I stuck with it and it got better, not only when it came to capturing demons but also the plot started to ensnare me more. I like a good fantasy book and while this started out slow, at some point I found myself engrossed. I also have to at that dystopian isn’t usually my thing, but here it worked.

    Oh, and when I say slow, I don’t even mean that nothing was happening because there was plenty happening. I just had a hard time connecting to the characters, for example Riley appeared very immature and almost naïve (she is only 17 and you will notice that) but she grows on you. She learns, albeit slowly but she does and that’s what counts most for me.

    There’s a nice variety of characters and I’m sure everyone will find a favorite as their personality are equally different and wide ranging. My favorites were without a doubt Simi and Beck.

    The tragic events at the beginning threw me a bit for a loop. I didn’t really know much about these characters and at that point didn’t care very much for Riley, so while I felt sympathy for her situation, I didn’t truly feel along with her like I do in so many other books.

    I realize now that the event was necessary, reading through all of it while not caring that much took away a lot from the book – almost made it boring for a while. The writing itself was solid and very descriptive in the POVs of Riley and Beck and at no point did I have trouble following the story despite the many plots and subplots.

    The many different plots might be a problem for some but I enjoyed them and puzzling over more than one mystery, trying to find a connection. But at the end you are still left with a lot of questions which made me jump right into book 2.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    One of the saddest things to happen to a reader is anticipating loving a novel and, in the end, upon finishing said novel, ....not really feeling much at all. It's hard to write reviews like this - ones for books that aren't bad, but they aren't quite good either. There's a lot of imagination at play here in this vaguely futuristic world, but it never quite panned out to its potential for me. The focus lavished on Beck, romantic entanglements and Riley's inner drama about both took up far more of the narrative than I would've liked and kept me from really engaging with the plot. There are several interesting ideas at work within the basic setup Oliver has created (demons, levels, the Guild/hunter rivalry), but flat execution and a very immature/often quite brainless protagonist hamper the story. What also killed my interest was the funereal pace; a little action and excitement amid all those night-long vigils alongside Paul's grave all for nothing would've kept me more eager to read.Riley constituted the reason for much of my disconnect here. I wanted to root for this tough girl from Atlanta, but her repeated hardheadness and stubborn refusal to learn wouldn't let me do it. She makes stupid mistakes over and over again, refuses to ask for any kind of help when she needs it most. Those kind of heroines don't last long in the real world - they get snuffed easily, quickly and in Riley's chosen profession of demon hunting, I doubt she'd've made it even this far if she weren't The Main Character of the Series. The potential for a love-square is already set-up around her and that already irritates me to pieces. Riley's not completely irredeemable, I must admit, but it will take a lot of time and growth for me to invest at all within this particular character. And as I have little to no desire to pick up book number two, Forbidden, at this time, I don't know whether I'll witness her evolution. Many other readers and reviewers seem to find her refreshing so I'm going to take it as a case of "it's not you, it's me." and move along.For me, The Demon Trapper's Daughter was a run-of-the-mill affair, not vastly different from any other young-adult supernatural series out there. The original ideas that are here aren't the focus of the novel, but rather instead the emotional relationships between the characters, whcih is a damn shame because the former is far more compelling and unique than the latter. For me, this was a gamble that didn't pay off, but it's far from the worst thing I've even read this month. Just please, please stop with writing the Southern dialect for Beck -- it made me cringe every single time he spoke.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Riley Blackthorne is a teenage apprentice demon trapper in a futuristic Atlanta. Her father is a Master Trapper and doesn't really want Riley to become a trapper -- a field that has until now, been exclusive to males. Demons don't work together; but that changes as the story unfolds. *Spoiler alert: Riley's father is killed by a pair of demons working together. She is left as an orphan; her mother had died previous to the story beginning. She has tons of bills and is required to sit vigil over her father's grave to prevent necromancers from summoning him as a type of zombie that rich folks use as 'slaves.' There are other characters that are interesting and serve as love interests for Riley. The "ending" is a cliffhanger. I wish there had been a bit more of a standard ending, but that doesn't deter me from wanting to continue the series.A refreshing take on a YA fantasy.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Riley hunts demons, like her father, in a world where things went wrong when demons started turning up in the world, where life started to be hard to live for ordinary folk and her dad changed from being a history teacher to being a hunter. They barely make the rent, owe a lot because her mother had cancer and the treatment cost a lot and life is just hard for them both. This throws you into the middle of the action from the word go. Riley is determined to be the first female Demon Trapper and having grown up with it is largely unfazed by it all, what does faze her is the fact that the demons know her, and they're hunting her. It's a world that's almost ours and close enough and yet far enough to be interesting, there were moments when I wanted more information and I'm hoping that it will come with time and the series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Note that UK version of book is called ”Forsaken.” Very engaging first book of a new YA paranormal series. Enjoyed Riley's feisty character as she comes into her own as a demon trapper after learning from her expert father. Her navigation of becoming part of a male-dominated profession and apprenticing to a less than enthusiastic mentor, becoming notorious in the demon world, and juggling her attraction to two completely different guys, create a tension-filled, fast-paced environment. The book ends on a thrilling cliffhanger that promises a very interesting sequel. Recommended for teens and older who are fans of Jennifer Estep, Rachel Vincent, Faith Hunter, etc.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book was really good. The beginning was a little slow and confusing for me, but it eventually picked up. The whole back ground of how the demons and the city came to be was what made it a little confusing. I just wish there had been more detailed back story info. When the book did eventually pick up I fell in love with it. The characters were troubled, deep, and amazing. Riley has an "I won't give up" no quit attitude that you have to admire. She wants something and she is going to go after it full force no matter what is thrown at her or who/what stands in her way. She has lead a rough life, but she takes it in stride and keeps her chin up. Time to get down to Beck. Let me first say that as suck a mysterious/intriguing character I really enjoyed the snippets from his point of view. It was nice to be let into his world. He is so gruff and overprotective of Riley. You can feel (or at least I can/ think I can?) the feelings that they have bubbling under the surface for each other. Simon...I don't know what it was I just didn't like him. This new take on demons and the chaos that they cause in the world is a fresh idea that I greatly enjoyed. The Demon Trapper's Daughter is billed as YA, but I could see it appealing to adult genre fans also. It was pretty gritty. There were plenty of action/violent scenes and some sexual commentary. I think this added to the book and showed how bleak their world and outlook on life is. All in all, I definitely enjoyed this book and will be continuing the series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Book Title: The Demon Trappers DaughterAuthor: Jana OliverPublished By: Saint Martin’s GriffinGenre: Young AdultRecommended Age: 13+Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavocBlog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary CommunityRating: 5 RavensIt’s hard to say that you fall in love with something especially me. I love to read but to get a pull to something to want to read more is not often. Sometimes when the story ends it’s good to leave it at that but with this series I have to say that is not the case. I want more. Riley and all of the characters in The Demon trapper series are spellbinding and I just can’t seem to get enough. I was given this book as a suggestion from someone I had met in a book story. The young woman was really ecstatic about it and I just thought hmm I have to check this out and I was really not disappointed. So if she is out there and reading this. Thank you for the wonderful suggestion. Riley Blackthorne is the daughter of one of Atlanta’s most notorious and well known Demon trappers. There are hunters that just kill demons but to trap them is so much more. Riley wants nothing more than to be just like her father and to learn from him so when she’s allowed to be his apprentice and is set out to take down a demon on her own while her father and his other student are out hunting down a much stronger demon she thinks nothing of it after all she’s a Blackthorne . Little does she knows this is the start of the catalyst that will set her whole world as she knows it upside down. With the Demon Trappers most hated elder Harper calling for her liscense after a little mess up while on her outing. Riley is taken home to relax and recoup. Her father and his other assistant are out trying to trap a couple threes. With the arrival of a level Five Demon her father is killed , leaving Riley without anyone in her family left besides a seriously hateful aunt she refuses to go to and her fathers student Beck is a worse thought even though he does nothing but want to take care of her he still has a way of getting under her skin.Later when she’s assigned to Harper she falls for his other apprentice Simon and in the end the world further tumbles down as Riley fights for her life, her fellow trappers life and to keep her father from being raised back from the dead by Necromancers. Things go from bad to worse and its clearly up to Riley to fix it all or at least be the source to calm the world that’s going crazy around her.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The prospect of a 17-year-old, demon ass-kicking chick was what initially drew me to this book. I like a good story where a female annihilates--who doesn't? So when the first page of this book starts off with Riley (the protagonist) trapping a demon in a library, I knew I was hooked! I've never read a book dealing with actual, scary demons before, so I was pretty excited to delve into Riley's world where Lucifer's minions were very much a reality. Plus, we get to learn about necromancers, witches, angels, and these things that are basically zombies (but not the stereotypical kind). So there are several supernatural aspects to this book to enjoy. Although she's a very strong-willed individual, Riley's character is also very naive about a lot of things. I really enjoyed experiencing her character develop-- she deals with a lot of heartbreak and devastation throughout the story that forces her to mature and open her eyes. She's a fighter and I was rooting for her the whole way. It's not easy being the only female demon trapper in The Demon Trapper's Guild. She's surrounded by men, some who think she doesn't deserve to be a part of the Guild because of her gender. But she holds her ground. She's also very humorous at times, which is always a plus for me. Besides my fondness for Riley, I also quite enjoyed several other characters that were introduced, especially the boys in Riley's life. Denver Beck (a.k.a. Beck) is a true Georgia boy with the most charming/backwoods southern drawl you could imagine, and I am definitely a fan of his. He's cocky, smart, isn't afraid to speak his mind, and he REALLY knows how to get under Riley's skin. I was highly entertained by their constant banter. Simon, on the other hand, is sweet and a gentleman. In my opinion, he's a little boring and too cheesy, but some chicks are into that. A couple of the other guys that are present in this book are Peter and Ori. Peter is Riley's best friend, who is sort of a geek, but totally awesome. We don't know a whole lot about Ori yet, other than he's insanely swoon-worthy. I'm interested to see what kind of shenanigans Riley will get herself into involving one or more of these four guys, because it's bound to happen! In addition to Riley and several of the other characters, I got such a kick out of some of the different kinds of demons that were introduced in this book. Some of them were super creepy and lethal, but others were just comical and somewhat adorable. I also found humor in how some of them were trapped. I've got to hand it to the author for her creativity. She also did very well in creating so many different characters that you know you maybe shouldn't like, but you do anyway because you just can't help yourelf! The end of the book wraps up with more action, devastation, and questions. But there is also encouragement and hope for Riley. I'm interested to see how things will play out for her and the people in her life, as well as learn the back-stories of some of the characters that I am extremely curious about. I'm sure "Soul Thief (The Demon Trappers, #2)" will not disappoint.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Not perfect, but definitely original and gripping. The grit and imperfections serve the story well. I like that it was set in the not so far off future. Riley Blackthorne is one kick-ass demon trapper and I wouldn't mind having a couple of snowball fights with Denver Beck. DEFINITELY reading the sequel really soon.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is one of the most surprising books I have ever read... I picked it up thinking ok I should like this but I ended up loving it. The main character was a strong independent kick ass fighter. There is a small love story that has not developed yet but it is there. There was plenty of humor and fighting and surprises. Can't wait until I read the second book..
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    “Kicking hell's ass one demon at a time...” Forsaken was unbelievably good. It was total kick-ass with a ton of hair-raising moments thanks to those sinister demons.Riley Blackthorne's father, Paul Blackthrone, is a skilled and well-known trapper. And Riley sets out to be just like him. But the thing is, she's the only girl to have a demon trapping license. You can be that's hard, especially since in 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia, demons are running wild and Hell could possibly be stepping up it's game. But when her father dies at the hands of a Grade Five, Geo-Fiend, Riley's torn. She's determined though, to show those demons—and trappers—what she's made of.Her dad's death had me in tears, I cried alongside Riley. But dude, that girl is tough and strong-willed. The characters in this novel—Riley and Beck, who Riley's father mentors, especially—were very realistic that it was easy connecting with them. Reading from Riley's point-of-view as well as Beck's was interesting and enjoyable. Seeing Riley grow, trying to figure out who she is, and fall in love made her even more lifelike and real. Plus seeing Beck's side was a great thing as well, it helps the reader understand more.Jana Oliver brings on a whole new take on Hell's demons. It's unique and doesn't fail to send a shiver down my spine. The romance was appealing and delightful, and I'm still not sure which team I'm on—Team Beck? Team Simon—the angelic and gorgeous guy, or on the team of the mysterious and sexy stranger, Ori? The action was thrilling. The ending was epic and it left me craving for more. Man, I can't wait for Forbidden.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I've seen quite a few reviews for this book that said it was simply amazing so the last time I was at books-a-million, I decided why not and just bought it. I will truthfully state that I am in no way at all disappointed that I purchased this. I thought this book was brilliant! There were so many different supernatural elements all combined that it just led to a very enjoyable reading. I mean you have demons (and demon-trappers obviously), necromancers, witches, etc. You also have the combined element of it being a dramatic story, with a little romance, action, and mystery thrown in. I thought it was all put together perfectly. Oliver just kept adding and adding more events to the story and it kept shocking me over and over but in a good way.And the story was set in the future, which kinda made me view it as a semi-dystopian (which dystopian stories are my favorite). It was set in Atlanta after the time the country took a severe economic downturn. Riley is going to school in an old closed down Starbucks. People haggle food and objects on the streets because they have become too expensive to purchase outright and the government is absolutely no help (they're not today either so who's suprised with that). I loved that it was set in the future though. It made all the events happening in the economic turmoil just that much more dramatic.Now on to the characters. I loved Riley!! She almost reminds me of Rose from the Vampire Academy series (my third favorite book series after harry potter and hunger games of course). She's a kickass ball of fire who doesn't let anybody tell her what to do and she stands up for herself to the Guild to prove she has just as much right to be a girl demon-trapper as the men do. Yay Girl Power!!! The only thing I didn't like was how fast she fell for Simon and how after she met him she kinda started being a swoony girl...ugh. I felt bad for her though. Both of her parents have died and necromancers are trying to raise her dad to use him and debt collectors are trying to take him a collateral. That's just wrong! I love love loveddddd Denver Beck. His southern accent was hotttt and I just wanted him to tell Riley how he felt throughout the whole story. That was basically the only part of the book that seriously annoyed me. They both have feelings for each other but Riley is like "oh he doesn't like me and how can he not see that I like him." Well maybe cause you're hanging all over another guy and calling him your boyfriend right in front of Beck and you're constantly telling Beck how much you dislike him. And then Beck is all "I don't want to put Riley in danger so I can never tell her how I feel." wtf biggest BS ever! If you like someone, tell them. I understand it's dangerous but you can still protect her after you tell her. And Simon....I honestly didn't like Simon at all. Riley immediately falls head over heels in love with him and yeah he seems like a nice guy but there's just something about him that made me really wary whenever he was around.Overall great book with a great supernatural feel :) Can't wait to read the next one!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Riley isn’t your average teenage girl. Riley wants nothing more than to be a licensed Demon Trapper like her father. However, being the only girl in a Trapper’s Guild is not easy and her road to success isn’t going to be smooth. Just as things seem to be going her way, Riley’s world is ripped apart when the demons mysteriously start working together against the Trappers. Thrown off balance and fighting for survival Riley’s world will never be the same. I really loved this book! It was so much more than I was expecting. The story started the action off quickly and then sucked you in further with strong emotional situations. The plot was a web of action, tragedy, friendship and romance – and demons. I really enjoy stories where there are deep connections between families or friends and where they need to rely on one another occasionally, and this story had that. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed getting to know them, even if only for a short while. Riley has a lot of spunk and confidence, but is obviously still learning and growing. She has a great personality and is well developed. The romantic hints and developments were intriguing and the emotions and danger felt real. The world the author created was unique and interesting; I especially loved the little lower level demons. This book is definitely a great start to a series and I can’t wait to get my hands on the second novel, Soul Thief when it comes out in August!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    GREAT book. Engaging characters, really engrossing world and wonderful world building without getting infodump-y, and a plot that sucks you in from the get-go.I had some issues with the relationships - things seemed to move much too quickly between Riley and Simon - and I was definitely disappointed in the ending. I prefer my novels to have some ability to stand alone, not merely be the setup for a trilogy or series. However, the book was so damn good that I will most assuredly buy the next...so I guess mission accomplished with that unsatisfying teaser ending.The worldbuilding here was really the best part of the entire book. The characters, while intriguing, could be a little irritating and/or one-dimensional. The world, on the other hand, was phenomenal. Demons are loose in a "normal" earth, and regular people - schoolteachers, etc - have become demon trappers, while the Church has taken on the role of shepherding society and killing said demons. The apprenticeship system among the trappers is fascinating, and the various ranks of demons are really vivid and well-conceived. Overall, I'd say it's one of the most unique and engrossing fantasy/monster world systems I've encountered recently, and that far outweighs any other shortcomings with the book.Definitely one to read if you like your fantasy on the "normal society with a twist" end of the spectrum.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Every now and then I find a heroine like Riley and say to myself, "Dang, I wish I was more like her." She is fiercely independent, smart, and apparently gorgeous, and has the eye of the hottest demon trapper around. She knows what she wants in life, and even though not everyone has that same drive, we know the feeling. She might be a teenager, but that girl is going places.The tale Oliver has woven is brilliant. She has developed a world with demons so close to our own, and it's eerie. Even without the demons, Riley's story had me believing that we're only one fuel crisis away from her world, a reality that's not so distant. Unfortunately for me (many of you may disagree) the story had to involve angels, but I can look past that, since they play such an important role.I waited on pins and needles for this book to come out, then agonized over how long the libraries near me were taking to get it. I was just about to give up when a nearby system added it to their collection. The wait was well worth it, though, and I am eagerly awaiting the sequel. In the meantime, I'll have to content with Oliver's novella, Retro Demonology, which takes place shortly before The Demon Trapper's Daughter.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    "Forsaken" is centred around a rare thing, an original idea. The world Jana Oliver creates is fresh, plausible and intriguing. Her main character is engaging, her writing skillfully moves the reader through the compleities of plot and place with an admirable ability to achieve focus with a light touch. Her dialogue is witty without sounding false and she packs in just the right amount of teen angst and anticipation to keep the novel grounded and accessible.By the way, "Forsaken" was launched in the US with the much better title of "The Demon Trapper's Daughter" but re-christened for the UK market to look like a "House of Night" clone. I can imagine the conversation at the Brit publisher: "Well, darling, the American title sounds like the first line in a limerick and "House of Night" made us SO much money and they're both supernatural fantasies aimed at teen girls - frankly the simpler the marketing message the better."This is book 1 in a series that I'm sure will prove popular. I've already pre-ordered "Forbidden" which comes out in August.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    [The Demon Trapper's Daughter] is a shallow and less-than fulfilling entry in the urban fantasy genre. Although the world-building is quite fascinating and strongly realized, the writing, dialog, characterization, and plot are all weak enough to prevent me from picking up any sequels or offering any recommendations. Riley is a teenage demon-trapper-in-training in a world set in our not-too-distant future. Demon-trapping is both science and art, with a number of set rules, specific types of 'fiends', a good business in Holy Water, and an interesting relationship with the Vatican. This part of the book shone. The demon trapping world Oliver etches out is engaging and creative and promises lots of room for exciting plot developments and conflicts. I'd love to spend time in this world!Unfortunately, the writing is clunky, something that is particularly noticeable in the dialog. Oliver chooses to spell out a 'Southern Redneck' accent that is just atrocious, but even pardoning that, the fact is that many of the conversations between characters just don't sound like things actual people would say. It's made worse by thin characters who were so cliched and predictable that you almost didn't need to read the book. Riley has a hate-hate relationship with a fellow demon trapper several years her senior that is so incomprehensible (she once had a crush on him when she was young which he, quite rightly, discouraged - now despite all evidence of him being a good stand-up guy her dad approves of, she HATES HIM SO MUCH) that it makes our heroine seem completely irrational. The bits of her PoV that deal with this are just painful to read.Other things don't ring true to consistent characterization. A tragedy early on in the book doesn't ever manage any real emotional impact and seems to affect the characters only on a surface level. To judge by their actions, you'd think months had passed rather than days. Trust is bestowed where it makes little sense and withheld where it makes a great deal of sense. Basically, it feels as if Oliver chooses character action based on the need for 'tension' or 'plot' but has no idea who her characters actually are. I give 'tension' and 'plot' both scare quotes because there's precious little of either in this book. Something happens at the beginning and at the end, but there's very little in between. Some books can get away with this if they manage interesting introspection or internal change. There's none to be seen here. It's a shame, really, because I think Oliver had a great idea, and the pieces of what could be a solid plot are in evidence. The execution was just sorely lacking.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really enjoyed this book, the characters were fresh and the story was original. The only complaint I have is the way the dialog was written. Beck's ya and yer and Stewart's lilt were so forced they took away from the story. I would read the next book in a heartbeat if I knew the dialog was changed. I can imagine my own lilt and southern accent.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Forsaken by Jana Oliver – Teenagers with attitude! Riley is a Demon Trapper - or at least her dad is, and she wants to follow in his footsteps. However, it's a hard profession and there aren't any other female apprentices; and when her dad dies fighting demons, Riley's problems get a whole lot worse. This book is aimed firmly at teenage girls, and my daughter, aged 14, absolutely loved it. Here's what she had to say about it ... “For any of you, who are thinking this is a Twilight “me-too” book because of the blurb, it really isn’t. That blurb sells it so short, and the stuff it talks about doesn’t happen that way. This is really a growing up story, there’s a bit of romance, but it isn’t a major part of the plot. The main part is her finding place in the world. I really sympathised with all the characters, even the ones who weren’t very nice. Anyone who’s enjoyed reading Eragon (Christopher Paolini) or the Maximum Ride (James Patterson) will love this book. I’m eagerly waiting for the next book.”I have to admit, that as an adult, I was not nearly as wowed by this book as my daughter was. My view is that the characters are pretty one-dimensional, there is no depth or richness of descriptive writing, and the constant use of street slang (“ya” instead of “you”, for instance) was distracting. Personally, I don't think it can be compared favourably with Eragon at all; however, there IS some similarity with the Twilight series in that it has a strong female lead.The teenage Riley was (to me) a really irritating character, with her arrogance and her belief that she is as good as the experienced trappers without having to learn the trade ... however, I dare say that is precisely what appeals to the teenage reader!On the plus side, it does have a pretty good story line which carries the reader along, and I will look out for the second volume in the trilogy when it is published.