Review: Forbidden by Jana Oliver

Forbidden (The Demon Trappers #2)

Published: 5th August 2011

Publisher: Panmacmillan

Goodreads description:

Riley's beginning to think being a demon trapper isn't all it's cracked up to be. Her dad's been stolen by a necromancer, her boyfriend's gone all weird and she's getting warm and fuzzy feelings for someone who's seriously bad news. It's tempting to give it all up and try to be normal, but that's not an option. Because the demons have plans for Riley. And they're not the only ones

My thoughts:

I was so excited when I got this book in the post! I couldn't wait to see what was happening with Riley and this instalment did not disappoint. There's so many mysteries going on in this, some answered and some not, and you can't help but feel that the answers are right THERE and you just need one more little piece to put the whole puzzle together. It's a highly exhilarating and toe-curlingly frustrating feeling, but one I adore as it really pulls you into the story. 

Riley was as independent as ever, though I definitely winced at some of the choices she made in this book. Actually, I more than winced, I pretty much yelled at her. Whilst I can see the reasons for her choices, I definitely definitely wish she hadn't made them. But again, it pulls you into the story. I'm so invested in Riley Blackthorne, I feel like she's my little sister or something. Peter totally came into his own in this book as well which was a pleasant surprise. I have high hopes of him becoming a trapper's apprentice.  Simon...omg I don't think any character has ever annoyed me as much as him...well obviously they have but man did I hate him! It's possibly partly because of my atheism but I had NO sympathy for him and I just wanted to slap him and lock him up or something. What he did to Riley was...wow. I couldn't believe it.  Beck was as adorable and confused as ever. Ori...wow. I mean, I kinda saw that coming, but it still knocked me for six. And I felt so outraged on Riley's part as well, again like a protective sister. Harper I liked slightly more in this book as well. 

The plot was definitely faster paced than the previous book, and like I mentioned earlier every mystery presented was added too and developed. I kinda like the way you can see how all this is going to come to a head but you don't know how or why or when or anything. It's great writing on Jana Oliver's part and I am DESPERATE for the next book.  That ending, it was SO good. A cliffhanger yeah, but an anticipatory cliffhanger rather than a *groan* 'why it end there' cliffhanger. So much happened in the space of like, a second it was mind blowing. 

This book was a definite improvement on what was fast becoming a totally awesome series, and for that it gets 5/5 from me. 

Review: Forsaken by Jana Oliver

Forsaken (The Demon Trapper's #1 by Jana Oliver
Published: 7th February 2011
Publisher: Panmacmillan


Goodreads description:


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?

My thoughts:

I really liked this book. I’d definitely characterise it more as urban fantasy than paranormal romance, which I awesome as I don’t think we get enough YA UF. I bonded instantly with Riley, she was very determined and very very independent even to her detriment, which I can associate with as I’d say I was the same way.

I loved the concept of demons in this book, how the lower level ones were basically just pests like rats or cockroaches which got more severe as they went up the levels. I loved that the demon trappers were a recognised (albeit disliked) organisation, rather than one operating secretly.

I love the setting too, it reminded me of the state of things in Dark Angel, with everything going to the dogs and lots of poverty corruption and imbalance in the society. I though Ms Oliver got that across really well, it seemed really realistic.

I quite liked most of the supporting cast, especially Beck, though Simon really got on my nerves, plus I felt the only reason Riley even liked him was because he was the only person to really be nice to her and take an obvious interest with her. I also have issues with how the blurb describes Ori, he showed up ONCE to save her life, and only popped up about half way through. Though I don’t doubt he will play a larger role in the later books, I kinda feel like the blurb misled me a bit on that.

I thought there wasn’t much of a plot really, which was the book’s only downside. I enjoyed reading it, but the pacing was slow and not much concrete seemed to happen. It definitely seemed like a book that was setting the scene for the later books, and whilst this didn’t bother me too much, it’s why the story didn’t get a perfect score from me.

I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of the series, you could definitely see how things were being set up to be major factors in later books which I loved, I just wish a little more had happened in this one. So for that, I give it 4/5