Thursday, February 10, 2011

Review: The Demon-Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver




The Demon Trapper's Daughter: A Demon Trapper NovelThe Demon's Trappers Daughter by Jana Oliver
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publish Date: February 1, 2011
Paperback, 368 pages

Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal





My Review:
Why I read this: I was contacted by the publicist and it sounded like an interesting book so I wanted to read it.

How is the novel driven: Plot, but characters are very important.


My thoughts: From page one Jana Oliver managed to hook me right inot the story of Riley, who is a Demon Trapper's Daughter and a rising Demon Trapper in her own right.  The one difference between her and other Demon Trappers, she's the only female one.  Beck is her father's apprentice and they don't always get along.  So when things go wrong one evening and Riley is left on her own she remains suspicious of Beck and his reasons for helping her.

So while dealing with regular life, Riley also has to deal with a new teacher, and one she doesn't even like.  The benefit is one of his apprentices is Simon who Riley finds attractive and is attracted to her as well.

But all of that is really in the background.  The book is about Riley coming to terms with her father's death and what it means for her future.  It's also about her desire for revenge and her methods to try and stop whatever is going on with the demons in her hometown of Atlanta.

I really like the character of Riley, she's tough but not invincible and she knows this (though it takes an episode or two for her to fully realize it).  I also like that even though she is a demon trapper, she also is a normal teenager who has crushes, the current one on Simon.

The story moves along well balancing the world creation that occurs in the first book in a series with enough action and plot to make the story move and interest the reader from beginning to end.

Tied up neatly for the first book, but some loose ends left open, I will be looking forward to the next book in this series.  Ms. Oliver has created a solid world and interesting characters, even the ones you don't like as much as others.  But Riley, Simon and Beck are definitely interesting and I am hopeful there will be a love triangle in the future.  I'm not sure which boy I would go for, both have some great qualities.  But Riley who knows her mind will know the one that is best for her.

My Rating: 4.25/5.0


About the Book:

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?

About the Author: 

JANA OLIVER is an award-winning author who lives in Atlanta, GA. She’s happiest when she’s researching outlandish urban legends, wandering around old cemeteries and dreaming up new stories.


***I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  I do not receive money for my amazon links since I live in NC (something about some law), so they are up purely for my readers to have a place to check out the book.***