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The Demon Trappers #2
Soul Thief
Riley Blackthorne is beginning to learn that there are worse things than death by demon. And love is just one of them…
Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father's been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that's not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who's made himself Riley's unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective "friend" who acts more like a grouchy granddad. With all the hassles, Riley's almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.
But as Atlanta's demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city's "little" problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell's an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever…
Soul Thief is Book Two in Jana Oliver's bestselling young adult series, Demon Trappers.
Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father's been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that's not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who's made himself Riley's unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective "friend" who acts more like a grouchy granddad. With all the hassles, Riley's almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.
But as Atlanta's demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city's "little" problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell's an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever…
Soul Thief is Book Two in Jana Oliver's bestselling young adult series, Demon Trappers.
339 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Jana Oliver
41 books2,027 followersJana Oliver is an international and Amazon bestselling author who lives in Portugal.
Her novels have won numerous awards, including the Prism Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Supense as well as the National Readers' Choice Award.
Her books include The Demon Trappers Series and Briar Rose (Young Adult), time travel/historical mystery (The Time Rovers Series) and paranormal romance (Tangled Souls).
She is co-author of Socially Engaged: The Author's Guide to Social media, written with Tyra Burton.
She is happiest when she's researching urban legends, peering at old maps and adding to her growing collection of port and Portuguese wines.
Her novels have won numerous awards, including the Prism Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Supense as well as the National Readers' Choice Award.
Her books include The Demon Trappers Series and Briar Rose (Young Adult), time travel/historical mystery (The Time Rovers Series) and paranormal romance (Tangled Souls).
She is co-author of Socially Engaged: The Author's Guide to Social media, written with Tyra Burton.
She is happiest when she's researching urban legends, peering at old maps and adding to her growing collection of port and Portuguese wines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 627 reviews
September 8, 2011
RATING : 5 TEAM BECK STARS!!
When ‘Forbidden’, turned up on my doorstep, 10th August, I did my Team Beck happy dance. I read it immediately, and then was embargoed until 3rd September by Oz publishers, couldn't say a word. But , now I can!
I just LOVE!!!! this series. I absolutely adore Beck. Jana is making us readers work for that relationship we are hanging for, and rightly so.
For some daft reason I thought it was going to be kind of smooth sailing for Beck and Riley in ‘Forbidden’. I thought they would be hanging out killing demons, Riley learning from Beck, cashing in, squabbling, being stubborn with each other.....errr nope. Well they were being stubborn and squabbling..... but , I do understand why Jana took the path she took.
Simon and Riley’s relationship takes an interesting turn. I felt frustrated with Simon, but I understand that Simon’s faith is so strong that nothing can come between him and his belief in God. I did feel a little sad for Simon as he needed somebody to blame.
Beck ..oh...Beck. Great writing on Jana’s behalf, but bad..bad.. Beck. To boot he has now broken a cardinal rule not to piss off a Hunter, me thinks there is going to be some troubles for Beck in ‘Forgiven’.
Did somebody deserve a slap from me (just to clarify, not Jana) ...oooOOOooo girlfriend you did not just go there....* shakes head*
The more I was wanting Riley and Beck to throw themselves at each other, bang around off the walls like the frustrated characters they are, the more I knew it wasn’t the time. Riley and Beck are just not ready for each other. Beck is being the father/big brother figure not admitting to what’s buried under the surface and Riley can act like the wise ass little sister as they are both so stubborn . If Beck’s not growling at Riley, then she is being sarcastic and growling back at Beck, their communication skills kind of suck. It’s going to be an eruption worth waiting for when these two get a clue.
The title for us Aussies and the Brits, ‘Forbidden’ , means many things in this book.
Jana really throws in some curve balls. My heart went out to Beck when he needs Riley’s help. That would have taken a lot for him to swallow and ask. To me that said an awful lot about his trust he has in Riley.
Bff Peter, plays a much meatier role in ‘Forbidden’, he is coming into his own, stepping it up. I love that Riley has her little chicky friend down at the cafe as Riley has a lot of male influence in her life.
Mortimer is a great character. He is what he is, but he has class about him. He is a good guy, I think. Riley needs somebody to trust/help her when she is going all Nancy Drew. Mortimer does stick his neck out.
Ori, Ori, smexi Ori…. I can say no more…
Riley finds herself a most unlikely ally, you are going to love him. He is in Ninja stealth mode.
From one odd relationship to another one.....the grumpy bugger has decided to lighten up a little.
In ‘Forbidden’, loyalties are tested, there is lust, action and you get sucker punched a couple times. You realise how lonely Riley really is. She just wants to find her father. She doesn’t complain about the cards she has been dealt. She will do whatever it takes for the ones she loves. Her own safety doesn’t really enter into the equation. She just wants to be accepted by the boys club that is the Trappers Guild.
Jana is bringing in some more paranormal influences. It will be interesting to see where she goes with this.
The way Jana ended ‘Forbidden’ , I thought the wait for this book was hard...ooo nooooo..... wait until the end of this book ....... are you in for some surprises, the wait is going to drive me all outback feral. You won’t be able to help feeling frustrated that you don’t have ‘Forgiven ‘ to crack open immediately. In a few years , how lucky will the new readers to the series be when they can just read them one after the other, no waiting.
Lucky much.
FAVE QUOTES:
Beck blinked a couple times before his eyes narrowed. ‘I’m the guy ya have to deal with if ya think you’re goin’ out with her.’
‘You didn’t tell tell me you had a brother,’ Ori said, looking over at Riley........
‘Look, dumbass,’ Beck growled, ‘ I don’t know what your game is, but you’re not playin’ it with her.’
He scowled. ‘Like you’re a good judge of character. Your first boyfriend was an abusive bastard and the last one was a self-righteous prick.’
‘So where do you fall on that scale?’ Ori enquired.
When ‘Forbidden’, turned up on my doorstep, 10th August, I did my Team Beck happy dance. I read it immediately, and then was embargoed until 3rd September by Oz publishers, couldn't say a word. But , now I can!
I just LOVE!!!! this series. I absolutely adore Beck. Jana is making us readers work for that relationship we are hanging for, and rightly so.
For some daft reason I thought it was going to be kind of smooth sailing for Beck and Riley in ‘Forbidden’. I thought they would be hanging out killing demons, Riley learning from Beck, cashing in, squabbling, being stubborn with each other.....errr nope. Well they were being stubborn and squabbling..... but , I do understand why Jana took the path she took.
Simon and Riley’s relationship takes an interesting turn. I felt frustrated with Simon, but I understand that Simon’s faith is so strong that nothing can come between him and his belief in God. I did feel a little sad for Simon as he needed somebody to blame.
Beck ..oh...Beck. Great writing on Jana’s behalf, but bad..bad.. Beck. To boot he has now broken a cardinal rule not to piss off a Hunter, me thinks there is going to be some troubles for Beck in ‘Forgiven’.
Did somebody deserve a slap from me (just to clarify, not Jana) ...oooOOOooo girlfriend you did not just go there....* shakes head*
The more I was wanting Riley and Beck to throw themselves at each other, bang around off the walls like the frustrated characters they are, the more I knew it wasn’t the time. Riley and Beck are just not ready for each other. Beck is being the father/big brother figure not admitting to what’s buried under the surface and Riley can act like the wise ass little sister as they are both so stubborn . If Beck’s not growling at Riley, then she is being sarcastic and growling back at Beck, their communication skills kind of suck. It’s going to be an eruption worth waiting for when these two get a clue.
The title for us Aussies and the Brits, ‘Forbidden’ , means many things in this book.
Jana really throws in some curve balls. My heart went out to Beck when he needs Riley’s help. That would have taken a lot for him to swallow and ask. To me that said an awful lot about his trust he has in Riley.
Bff Peter, plays a much meatier role in ‘Forbidden’, he is coming into his own, stepping it up. I love that Riley has her little chicky friend down at the cafe as Riley has a lot of male influence in her life.
Mortimer is a great character. He is what he is, but he has class about him. He is a good guy, I think. Riley needs somebody to trust/help her when she is going all Nancy Drew. Mortimer does stick his neck out.
Ori, Ori, smexi Ori…. I can say no more…
Riley finds herself a most unlikely ally, you are going to love him. He is in Ninja stealth mode.
From one odd relationship to another one.....the grumpy bugger has decided to lighten up a little.
In ‘Forbidden’, loyalties are tested, there is lust, action and you get sucker punched a couple times. You realise how lonely Riley really is. She just wants to find her father. She doesn’t complain about the cards she has been dealt. She will do whatever it takes for the ones she loves. Her own safety doesn’t really enter into the equation. She just wants to be accepted by the boys club that is the Trappers Guild.
Jana is bringing in some more paranormal influences. It will be interesting to see where she goes with this.
The way Jana ended ‘Forbidden’ , I thought the wait for this book was hard...ooo nooooo..... wait until the end of this book ....... are you in for some surprises, the wait is going to drive me all outback feral. You won’t be able to help feeling frustrated that you don’t have ‘Forgiven ‘ to crack open immediately. In a few years , how lucky will the new readers to the series be when they can just read them one after the other, no waiting.
Lucky much.
FAVE QUOTES:
Beck blinked a couple times before his eyes narrowed. ‘I’m the guy ya have to deal with if ya think you’re goin’ out with her.’
‘You didn’t tell tell me you had a brother,’ Ori said, looking over at Riley........
‘Look, dumbass,’ Beck growled, ‘ I don’t know what your game is, but you’re not playin’ it with her.’
He scowled. ‘Like you’re a good judge of character. Your first boyfriend was an abusive bastard and the last one was a self-righteous prick.’
‘So where do you fall on that scale?’ Ori enquired.
August 31, 2011
Loved this book. But honestly, waiting to March 2012 is going to be a killer. Seriously considering dialing up the big "Prince L" and bartering my soul for an early copy of Forgiven to appear on my door stop. That's how good this was, minus the parts where I wanted to drop kick Riley in the face, but then again, that what's I sort of love about her.
September 20, 2011
My oh my, my heart hurts for Denver Beck! Good Lord and damned Lucifer---for all that is HOLY!
Book #2 of The Demon Trapper's Daughter opens with heartache and pain as Riley Blackthorne struggles with the loss of so many fellow trappers at the Tabernacle. The last trappers' meeting at this abandoned church was fatally interrupted as Hell's demons attacked, penetrating through the protective ward. Was it compromised holy water or did Riley's reanimated father betray his own kind?
Soul Thief takes you for a helluva ride in this sequel as Riley Blackthorne comes to terms with the loss of her sweet boyfriend, Simon, now turned paranoid-cold-as-ice "I don't trust anyone" EX, embraces a dark Fallen angel (i.e., Ori), and realizes Beck's feelings for her far exceed just the typical boy-girl attraction of "I'm totally turned on by you".
Riley is one word - kickass! She's a magnet for all of heaven's saints and hell's fiends. Caught in between the battle between good versus evil and lost in the midst of an ancient war between archangels and Fallen, Riley is no ordinary 17-year-old teenager. She's made a deal with Martha, an angel from above, whose motive has yet to be revealed. And even though I screamed a ginormous "HELL TO THE NO", she made a deal with Lucifer himself, the Prince of Hell. Oh no she d-i-d-n-'-t!
Simon – he's gone haywire. Something came undone in his head/heart the minute he recovered from his injuries sustained during the Tabernacle attack. He’s suddenly no longer sweet and loving. Somehow, he became this bipolar freak who thinks Riley should no longer be trusted and is to blame for the demons' victory during the attack. Crazy how he thinks she sold her soul to Hell when she made a pact with Heaven to save his sorry behind!
Ori – okay, told you in my Forsaken review that there was more to him than meets the eye and that I had an inkling I knew what he was. Sure enough, I was right! But, I was mistaken in not seeing his darkness as he is a Fallen. Eeeeek! Seriously, as sexy handsome as he was, I knew he couldn’t be mortal. The whole “midnight-black hair and bottomless dark eyes” – that should have given him away. The ultimate bad boy…and he surely is. I’m so pissed Riley gave her VG to Ori….arrgghh! That had BECK written all over it! YES, I’m so upset!!!! But hahaah, I’m happy Lucifer bounced in and turned Ori to statue. He deserved so much worse than that!
Beck – my hero, even though he hasn’t saved Riley just yet (yeah yeah, Ori saved her twice from that Grade Five demon but his intentions were impure)! Beck’s loving heart is so pure it’s full of light, and that’s all that matters. My heart keeps breaking every time Beck and Riley are in the same room because every cell in my body is screaming, “THESE TWO SHOULD BE TOGETHER!” But they don’t act upon the sparks flying between the two of them…and yes, she’s 17 and he’s 22, but in my head, the loss of both her parents aged her to age 25 already. He loves her so but can never have her…that is the mantra he lives by, and it torments me so. Forgiven (TBR Winter 2012) better bring these two together, or ELSE.
The “or else” was meant for you, Jana….yes, the author! Duh duh dum!!! Obviously, I am crazy about this particular series…it’s urban fantasy like you’ve never read before. Such an EPIC success - it's all because of Beck! Totally five stars!!!
Book #2 of The Demon Trapper's Daughter opens with heartache and pain as Riley Blackthorne struggles with the loss of so many fellow trappers at the Tabernacle. The last trappers' meeting at this abandoned church was fatally interrupted as Hell's demons attacked, penetrating through the protective ward. Was it compromised holy water or did Riley's reanimated father betray his own kind?
Soul Thief takes you for a helluva ride in this sequel as Riley Blackthorne comes to terms with the loss of her sweet boyfriend, Simon, now turned paranoid-cold-as-ice "I don't trust anyone" EX, embraces a dark Fallen angel (i.e., Ori), and realizes Beck's feelings for her far exceed just the typical boy-girl attraction of "I'm totally turned on by you".
Riley is one word - kickass! She's a magnet for all of heaven's saints and hell's fiends. Caught in between the battle between good versus evil and lost in the midst of an ancient war between archangels and Fallen, Riley is no ordinary 17-year-old teenager. She's made a deal with Martha, an angel from above, whose motive has yet to be revealed. And even though I screamed a ginormous "HELL TO THE NO", she made a deal with Lucifer himself, the Prince of Hell. Oh no she d-i-d-n-'-t!
Simon – he's gone haywire. Something came undone in his head/heart the minute he recovered from his injuries sustained during the Tabernacle attack. He’s suddenly no longer sweet and loving. Somehow, he became this bipolar freak who thinks Riley should no longer be trusted and is to blame for the demons' victory during the attack. Crazy how he thinks she sold her soul to Hell when she made a pact with Heaven to save his sorry behind!
Ori – okay, told you in my Forsaken review that there was more to him than meets the eye and that I had an inkling I knew what he was. Sure enough, I was right! But, I was mistaken in not seeing his darkness as he is a Fallen. Eeeeek! Seriously, as sexy handsome as he was, I knew he couldn’t be mortal. The whole “midnight-black hair and bottomless dark eyes” – that should have given him away. The ultimate bad boy…and he surely is. I’m so pissed Riley gave her VG to Ori….arrgghh! That had BECK written all over it! YES, I’m so upset!!!! But hahaah, I’m happy Lucifer bounced in and turned Ori to statue. He deserved so much worse than that!
Beck – my hero, even though he hasn’t saved Riley just yet (yeah yeah, Ori saved her twice from that Grade Five demon but his intentions were impure)! Beck’s loving heart is so pure it’s full of light, and that’s all that matters. My heart keeps breaking every time Beck and Riley are in the same room because every cell in my body is screaming, “THESE TWO SHOULD BE TOGETHER!” But they don’t act upon the sparks flying between the two of them…and yes, she’s 17 and he’s 22, but in my head, the loss of both her parents aged her to age 25 already. He loves her so but can never have her…that is the mantra he lives by, and it torments me so. Forgiven (TBR Winter 2012) better bring these two together, or ELSE.
The “or else” was meant for you, Jana….yes, the author! Duh duh dum!!! Obviously, I am crazy about this particular series…it’s urban fantasy like you’ve never read before. Such an EPIC success - it's all because of Beck! Totally five stars!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2021
This was such a long time ago, but I remember loving it so hard. ✨
September 5, 2011
3.5/5
I was not very impressed with the first one. In fact, I found that it had a lot of the same elements of other books of the same genre. A love triangle, no square of a girl who is in a lot of trouble, with a bestfriend who's secretly in love with her; then a dog-cat relationship with another, only not really. And of course the really good guy. Old hat, I thought. But this second book comes as a great surprise because as it addressed some of those concerns but also brought a whole lot more to the story, and then had me reacting in a number of ways. Peter, for instance, backtracks and no longer acts like bestfriend denied. Yay! But a one thing had me going,
Then there's Simon who in turn had me had me all,
But it's all REALLY good because this time around Beck wasn't sounding like the "Backwoods Boy" she'd come to call him instead he is troubled and confused. I think I like him more in this installment than I did when he was first introduced. His accent isn't that big of a deal because it's how he acted and behaved that had me gritting my teeth and wondering "When are you going to get your act together? Plus there's the wonderful fact that Riley wasn't the center of his world given that there's a lot going on, a lot more to think over (a hot reporter for one and demon hunters moving into the trapper's territory for another.) I liked seeing him be himself where Riley wasn't concerned. The one thing that had me trying to remember him was Ori. Who the heck was he again?
But once things were all out... well, now.. I WANT the next book!
I was not very impressed with the first one. In fact, I found that it had a lot of the same elements of other books of the same genre. A love triangle, no square of a girl who is in a lot of trouble, with a bestfriend who's secretly in love with her; then a dog-cat relationship with another, only not really. And of course the really good guy. Old hat, I thought. But this second book comes as a great surprise because as it addressed some of those concerns but also brought a whole lot more to the story, and then had me reacting in a number of ways. Peter, for instance, backtracks and no longer acts like bestfriend denied. Yay! But a one thing had me going,
Then there's Simon who in turn had me had me all,
But it's all REALLY good because this time around Beck wasn't sounding like the "Backwoods Boy" she'd come to call him instead he is troubled and confused. I think I like him more in this installment than I did when he was first introduced. His accent isn't that big of a deal because it's how he acted and behaved that had me gritting my teeth and wondering "When are you going to get your act together? Plus there's the wonderful fact that Riley wasn't the center of his world given that there's a lot going on, a lot more to think over (a hot reporter for one and demon hunters moving into the trapper's territory for another.) I liked seeing him be himself where Riley wasn't concerned. The one thing that had me trying to remember him was Ori. Who the heck was he again?
But once things were all out... well, now.. I WANT the next book!
July 29, 2011
Loved it. Whats not to love about these books!!! One word - Beck (sigh). I love Rileys character, shes feisty but sweet. Forbidden does not disappoint, its got everything, romance, action and demons. I want a magpie!!!
July 30, 2020
As with the first book, I absolutely detest the synopsis. Seriously, it doesn't do the book justice at all and just makes it sound cheap. The only accurate thing in there is probably calling Beck a grouchy granddad.
Bad synopsis and less-than-impressive cover aside, this is a solid continuation of the story Jana Oliver began telling in Forsaken and makes for an enjoyable, quick read.
Not quite as strong as the first novel, I still found myself intrigued by Oliver's world and her characters even though I found the plot rather lacking this time around. I believe this is just part of the infamous Second Book Slouch that pretty much no author seems immune to. But let's take a closer look:
PLOT: 1.5 / 5
As much as I love Riley and her adventures, the series' second instalment definitely lacks the first book's fast-paced, high-stakes plot.
It picks up right where the first book left off which makes it quite easy to delve into in case you just finished the first book and open the next one right away, like I did. I imagine the transition may be a little more difficult for readers who don't continue with the series right away, though, and find themselves wondering where the hell Riley is and why there's so much police around.
This plays straight into what I've already criticized in the first book: a run-on plot that stretches over the course of four books instead of four separate plots that form a cohesive story in the end, like little puzzle pieces coming together. (See also: the Divergent series. Veronica Roth pulled off a big story that was built from three separate, shorter stories beautifully.)
I prefer having series that keep me interested over the course of many books, but deal with different problems in each book, instead of having the same problem be the foundation for the plot of six books.
Overall, I just feel like the plot wasn't tied up properly in the first book, leaving me vaguely unsettled, like when you leave the house and have to check five hundred times whether you locked the door or not. That same little asshole voice that keeps telling me "But did you really lock it?" is the voice that kept telling me that the first book wasn't quite complete, which probably also ended up costing the second book precious scenes that could have been invested in a different, more interesting story line instead of having to clean up the mess that book #1 made.
Another problem I had with this story was that it moved leisurely, to put it nicely, and nothing really happened for a long time. It was a little like watching Riley do her grocery shopping and hoping not to be mauled by a demon in the cereal aisle. Don't get me wrong, I love domestic scenes filled with peace and happiness, (God knows Riley deserves those after everything that's happened!) but they shouldn't make up two thirds of the plot.
Last but not least, I felt like the Ori-storyline was unnecessary and unbelievable. A random freelancer who keeps watch over (read: stalks) Riley in search of the demon who is threatening her, but doesn't seem to do a very good job at finding it? Good-looking, super sketchy, never answers questions? And Riley just feels attracted to him because - he has a vaguely hot, smoldering bad-boy look? Yeah, right.
Um, no, thanks. I'll take Beck being annoying and denying his feelings for twenty chapters straight over that any day, thank you very much.
Even after 400 pages, Riley's attraction to Ori - whom I perceived as quite unlikable and untrustworthy - seems a little ridiculous and far-fetched. I didn't hate the story line, but I sure as hell didn't love it either.
What I did love were the various insights into Beck's backstory and his true feelings, which were incorporated into the plot in a clever, interesting way and added to my mountain of love for that boy. (I would willingly let some Grade Three demon chew off my legs if it meant Beck gets a happy ending.)
I also tremendously enjoyed how Riley dove into the magical world and the different realms of magic a little more in this book. The feud between witches and necromancers was well-thought out and fun to read; I enjoyed the rituals and the interesting take on different types of magic that Jana Oliver has taken.
CHARACTERS: 4 / 5
There's not much to say here that I haven't said before: I adore Jana Oliver's ability to craft believable characters. They have both good and bad traits, they have good and not-so-good moments, they delight or frustrate you, they make the smartest decision in the world one moment and try to stab a demon in the ass two seconds later. It's delightful.
RILEY, as in the first novel, continues being an honest portrayal of a seventeen-year-old girl who struggles both with being the only girl in a male-dominated job and coping with losing her dad. She grieves, she experiences repercussions from having a front row seat to the slaughter, she gets angry and stubborn and frustrated, but she's also caring and empathetic and brave.
What I love most about Riley is the fact that on one page, you just admire her, and the next, you want to kick her really hard for making a stupid decision. Despite all of her inner tumult and her more or less smart choices, what she does is always understandable. That's all I ask for in a protagonist.
The gold star for favorite character goes, as in the first novel, to BECK who continues being lovable, aggravating, and cool all at once. To me he's the most interesting character in the series and his tremendous development is beautiful to witness.
There are some new characters that are introduced in Atlanta, such as the freelance Demon Hunter ORI. I must admit that I was not a fan of Ori's; he was just too sketchy, too good-looking, too casually cool, too much of everything for me.
I'm not quite sure why his character was necessary to the story, either, so he has to be the first Jana Oliver character I'm not a fan of because he just wasn't as well-written as the others.
On a different note, the relationships between the characters (Riley's and Ori's unconvincing romance aside) were just as enjoyable and complicated as they were in the first book. Oliver portrays both good and bad moments between friends without going overboard or adding too much drama. I loved Simon's character development, . I adored when Beck began opening up to Riley and I enjoyed getting to know Peter King, Riley's best friend, better.
The mutual pining between Beck and Riley continues and intensifies, so I'm just about ready to bribe Jana Oliver for a kissing scene by now. Get it together, you two!
WORLD BUILDING: 5 / 5
I have nothing to add to my absolutely delighted review of Oliver's world-building for book one, except that she continues giving vivid and believable images in a well-thought out world that doesn't appear too alien. She truly deserves all the stars for this one.
DIVERSITY: 3 / 5
As in the first volume, there's a lot left to be desired from this series diversity-wise. Few people of color dot the story, and there is one gay character who is almost never around. A delightful silver lining was Ori, who revealed himself to be quite open to sexual relations with both men and women (though he never specified his sexuality, it sounded a lot like bi- or panexual.)
What does get represented quite well are struggles with old injuries, such as Stewart's mangled leg; dyslexia; and post-traumatic stress disorder. Riley frequently suffers from nightmares and panic attacks after the events at the Tabernacle, which I felt was realistic and portrayed in a respectful way.
All in all, the second book delved into some more diverse topics, if only briefly in some instances.
WRITING STYLE: 5 / 5
Simple, light-hearted, with a good balance between humor and description and a knack for awesome fighting scenes. Everything I like in a book.
OVERALL RATING: 3 / 5
While the plot and Ori's character didn't really do anything for me, I enjoyed Riley's quest and the daily struggles that she dealt with. I adore the characters - Beck especially - and find it a quick and enjoyable read that I finished way quicker than I anticipated. Time really flies while reading this book, which is everything I ask for.
Bad synopsis and less-than-impressive cover aside, this is a solid continuation of the story Jana Oliver began telling in Forsaken and makes for an enjoyable, quick read.
Not quite as strong as the first novel, I still found myself intrigued by Oliver's world and her characters even though I found the plot rather lacking this time around. I believe this is just part of the infamous Second Book Slouch that pretty much no author seems immune to. But let's take a closer look:
PLOT: 1.5 / 5
As much as I love Riley and her adventures, the series' second instalment definitely lacks the first book's fast-paced, high-stakes plot.
It picks up right where the first book left off which makes it quite easy to delve into in case you just finished the first book and open the next one right away, like I did. I imagine the transition may be a little more difficult for readers who don't continue with the series right away, though, and find themselves wondering where the hell Riley is and why there's so much police around.
This plays straight into what I've already criticized in the first book: a run-on plot that stretches over the course of four books instead of four separate plots that form a cohesive story in the end, like little puzzle pieces coming together. (See also: the Divergent series. Veronica Roth pulled off a big story that was built from three separate, shorter stories beautifully.)
I prefer having series that keep me interested over the course of many books, but deal with different problems in each book, instead of having the same problem be the foundation for the plot of six books.
Overall, I just feel like the plot wasn't tied up properly in the first book, leaving me vaguely unsettled, like when you leave the house and have to check five hundred times whether you locked the door or not. That same little asshole voice that keeps telling me "But did you really lock it?" is the voice that kept telling me that the first book wasn't quite complete, which probably also ended up costing the second book precious scenes that could have been invested in a different, more interesting story line instead of having to clean up the mess that book #1 made.
Another problem I had with this story was that it moved leisurely, to put it nicely, and nothing really happened for a long time. It was a little like watching Riley do her grocery shopping and hoping not to be mauled by a demon in the cereal aisle. Don't get me wrong, I love domestic scenes filled with peace and happiness, (God knows Riley deserves those after everything that's happened!) but they shouldn't make up two thirds of the plot.
Last but not least, I felt like the Ori-storyline was unnecessary and unbelievable. A random freelancer who keeps watch over (read: stalks) Riley in search of the demon who is threatening her, but doesn't seem to do a very good job at finding it? Good-looking, super sketchy, never answers questions? And Riley just feels attracted to him because - he has a vaguely hot, smoldering bad-boy look? Yeah, right.
Um, no, thanks. I'll take Beck being annoying and denying his feelings for twenty chapters straight over that any day, thank you very much.
Even after 400 pages, Riley's attraction to Ori - whom I perceived as quite unlikable and untrustworthy - seems a little ridiculous and far-fetched. I didn't hate the story line, but I sure as hell didn't love it either.
What I did love were the various insights into Beck's backstory and his true feelings, which were incorporated into the plot in a clever, interesting way and added to my mountain of love for that boy. (I would willingly let some Grade Three demon chew off my legs if it meant Beck gets a happy ending.)
I also tremendously enjoyed how Riley dove into the magical world and the different realms of magic a little more in this book. The feud between witches and necromancers was well-thought out and fun to read; I enjoyed the rituals and the interesting take on different types of magic that Jana Oliver has taken.
CHARACTERS: 4 / 5
There's not much to say here that I haven't said before: I adore Jana Oliver's ability to craft believable characters. They have both good and bad traits, they have good and not-so-good moments, they delight or frustrate you, they make the smartest decision in the world one moment and try to stab a demon in the ass two seconds later. It's delightful.
RILEY, as in the first novel, continues being an honest portrayal of a seventeen-year-old girl who struggles both with being the only girl in a male-dominated job and coping with losing her dad. She grieves, she experiences repercussions from having a front row seat to the slaughter, she gets angry and stubborn and frustrated, but she's also caring and empathetic and brave.
What I love most about Riley is the fact that on one page, you just admire her, and the next, you want to kick her really hard for making a stupid decision. Despite all of her inner tumult and her more or less smart choices, what she does is always understandable. That's all I ask for in a protagonist.
The gold star for favorite character goes, as in the first novel, to BECK who continues being lovable, aggravating, and cool all at once. To me he's the most interesting character in the series and his tremendous development is beautiful to witness.
There are some new characters that are introduced in Atlanta, such as the freelance Demon Hunter ORI. I must admit that I was not a fan of Ori's; he was just too sketchy, too good-looking, too casually cool, too much of everything for me.
I'm not quite sure why his character was necessary to the story, either, so he has to be the first Jana Oliver character I'm not a fan of because he just wasn't as well-written as the others.
On a different note, the relationships between the characters (Riley's and Ori's unconvincing romance aside) were just as enjoyable and complicated as they were in the first book. Oliver portrays both good and bad moments between friends without going overboard or adding too much drama. I loved Simon's character development, . I adored when Beck began opening up to Riley and I enjoyed getting to know Peter King, Riley's best friend, better.
The mutual pining between Beck and Riley continues and intensifies, so I'm just about ready to bribe Jana Oliver for a kissing scene by now. Get it together, you two!
WORLD BUILDING: 5 / 5
I have nothing to add to my absolutely delighted review of Oliver's world-building for book one, except that she continues giving vivid and believable images in a well-thought out world that doesn't appear too alien. She truly deserves all the stars for this one.
DIVERSITY: 3 / 5
As in the first volume, there's a lot left to be desired from this series diversity-wise. Few people of color dot the story, and there is one gay character who is almost never around. A delightful silver lining was Ori, who revealed himself to be quite open to sexual relations with both men and women (though he never specified his sexuality, it sounded a lot like bi- or panexual.)
What does get represented quite well are struggles with old injuries, such as Stewart's mangled leg; dyslexia; and post-traumatic stress disorder. Riley frequently suffers from nightmares and panic attacks after the events at the Tabernacle, which I felt was realistic and portrayed in a respectful way.
All in all, the second book delved into some more diverse topics, if only briefly in some instances.
WRITING STYLE: 5 / 5
Simple, light-hearted, with a good balance between humor and description and a knack for awesome fighting scenes. Everything I like in a book.
OVERALL RATING: 3 / 5
While the plot and Ori's character didn't really do anything for me, I enjoyed Riley's quest and the daily struggles that she dealt with. I adore the characters - Beck especially - and find it a quick and enjoyable read that I finished way quicker than I anticipated. Time really flies while reading this book, which is everything I ask for.
May 8, 2018
Genauso so gut und spannend wie der erste Teil, freu mich schon auf die weiteren zwei Bände. 4,5 Sterne
February 13, 2012
I'm probably breaking Goodreads protocol here, but I'm actually reviewing this book before I get around to reviewing its preceding book, The Demon Trapper's Daughter, because I think this book gives the reader a lot to chew on, and I wanted to get it down before real life gets in the way.
I consider myself a feminist, though I know the label can be a loaded one. And God help me if the Beck-Riley angle didn't set off some feminist alarm bells for me in the first book. By the end of this novel, though, their dynamic takes an interesting turn, and I'm not sure what to make of it.
The book ended pretty suddenly after that so it's hard to say if Riley took his statements to heart, but I'm personally rooting for Beck to get on his knees and grovel, preferably after Riley punches him. Only time will tell, I guess.
I consider myself a feminist, though I know the label can be a loaded one. And God help me if the Beck-Riley angle didn't set off some feminist alarm bells for me in the first book. By the end of this novel, though, their dynamic takes an interesting turn, and I'm not sure what to make of it.
The book ended pretty suddenly after that so it's hard to say if Riley took his statements to heart, but I'm personally rooting for Beck to get on his knees and grovel, preferably after Riley punches him. Only time will tell, I guess.
February 6, 2017
Riley is in the thick of things. The Tabernacle attack has taken lives and has injured Simon. With all this going on she is scared out of her mind that Simon is going to die. At least Beck is okay and alive that she can live with.
When Riley goes to the hospital to visit Simon she is approached by an angel who says Simon can live if she makes a deal with heaven. Riley wants to know what exactly she is getting herself into so she asks what the deal is. Once she learns of the deal she takes it. What she doesn't realize is that owing heaven a favor is not going to be easy.
Then as things are looking up Simon starts to act funny and breaks it off with her saying she is working for hell. Devastated by what is going down she turns to the one person she knows she can trust Beck. But she also has meet someone new and he is everywhere and she soon finds herself liking him. Ori is striking and treats her like a woman instead of a little girl like Beck does.
With all this drama going on around her she is also caught up in the Vatican's eye sight. They want to know if she is working for hell. As they investigate her they find out that she has the mark of both heaven and hell and they are not sure what to do about that. Being investigated by the Vatican and having all this boy drama and losing her father what is Riley to do?
When Riley goes to the hospital to visit Simon she is approached by an angel who says Simon can live if she makes a deal with heaven. Riley wants to know what exactly she is getting herself into so she asks what the deal is. Once she learns of the deal she takes it. What she doesn't realize is that owing heaven a favor is not going to be easy.
Then as things are looking up Simon starts to act funny and breaks it off with her saying she is working for hell. Devastated by what is going down she turns to the one person she knows she can trust Beck. But she also has meet someone new and he is everywhere and she soon finds herself liking him. Ori is striking and treats her like a woman instead of a little girl like Beck does.
With all this drama going on around her she is also caught up in the Vatican's eye sight. They want to know if she is working for hell. As they investigate her they find out that she has the mark of both heaven and hell and they are not sure what to do about that. Being investigated by the Vatican and having all this boy drama and losing her father what is Riley to do?
June 30, 2011
Looooooved this book. This series is probably my favorite example of YA urban fantasy out there, and this follow-up to The Demon Trapper's Daughter is as gripping and original as the first installment. Beck continues to be one of my favorite YA guys ever, and I can't believe I have to wait until next spring to read the next one. *sigh*
October 7, 2015
really enjoyed this book!
July 17, 2018
Better then the last one.
Things I liked:
1. The expanded explanations on plot points.
2. The general flow felt better -- less her just getting batter by the winds of fate and reacting.
Things I didn't like:
1. Fairies ... er, I mean ANGELS. I hate this trope and Angels are basically fairies these days, with different names. There's a light and dark court, they're dead sexy, they try to smexy up humans (for some reason), have magical powers, etc.
2. The witch hunt thing -- we have reasonable adults but naturally, whenever anything goes wrong, that goes out the window and everyone starts crying WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITCH at the first strange thing that happens.
3. The whole Beck x Riley direction -- I hate Beck. I don't care if he had a hard childhood. Having a hard childhood doesn't give you a right to mistreat people. Fuck Beck. Especially at the end there.
Things I liked:
1. The expanded explanations on plot points.
2. The general flow felt better -- less her just getting batter by the winds of fate and reacting.
Things I didn't like:
1. Fairies ... er, I mean ANGELS. I hate this trope and Angels are basically fairies these days, with different names. There's a light and dark court, they're dead sexy, they try to smexy up humans (for some reason), have magical powers, etc.
2. The witch hunt thing -- we have reasonable adults but naturally, whenever anything goes wrong, that goes out the window and everyone starts crying WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITCH at the first strange thing that happens.
3. The whole Beck x Riley direction -- I hate Beck. I don't care if he had a hard childhood. Having a hard childhood doesn't give you a right to mistreat people. Fuck Beck. Especially at the end there.
July 29, 2011
4.5/5
Forbidden was fast-paced, thrilling and a great follow up to Forsaken, and possibly my favourite “second-in-a-series” of the year. In this book, Riley has to deal with a lot; after the demon attack that takes the lives of several of her fellow trappers and hospitalises her boyfriend Simon, Riley doesn’t think things can get much worse. How very wrong she is. First Simon starts acting all weird, then she’s accused of working with Hell, her guardian-slash-friend-slash-eternal-bane-of-her-existence Beck is set on shipping her out to her aunt in Fargo, and to top it all off, the mysterious freelance demon hunter Ori isn’t letting her out of his sight, and Riley’s starting to have thoughts about him that Heaven wouldn’t be too pleased about. But worst of all, Riley’s dad is still out there somewhere, illegally re-animated, and Riley is determined to find him and let him rest in peace. But finding him is proving to be more difficult than it first seemed, and Riley has other important things on her to-do list – like saving the world.
One thing I really liked about Forbidden was that I felt that, even among all the demons and the angels and hunters, it seemed very real. Riley was a very believable teenager – both in this book and in Forsaken – she got angry, she got jealous, she got impatient and she did a lot of stupid things that any teenager with raging hormones and an authority complex would do. Sure, there were times where I was mentally screaming at her to think about what she was doing, but to me, that just proved how emotionally invested I was in these characters – because if I didn’t care about them, why would I care about what they did? I really liked Riley, and I think her grief and stress clouded her judgment at times, which is why she did a few things that perhaps were unwise. Even so, I was rooting for her the whole time, and I loved her ferocious attitude and her determination to save her dad (I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I really don’t like those “damsel in distress” type heroines that faint whenever something remotely serious happen – which is why I liked Riley so much, because she was the complete opposite).
Another thing I liked about Forbidden was Riley’s best friend, Peter. He played a slightly bigger role in this book, and I really enjoyed reading about him – he was a lot more daring than he was previously, and a lot funnier than before – some of his lines were hilarious! He was also a really great friend to Riley and helped her out whenever he could, whether it be with her boyfriend troubles (I always knew there was something about that Simon I didn’t like) or with her demon troubles (and there were a lot of them), which I think was good of him, because a lot of people would have steered clear from the dangerous world of demons and demon trapping.
However, possibly my favourite thing about Forbidden was the return of Beck. He was definitely my favourite character, and I loved the little snippets that were from his point of view – Riley could be really harsh to him sometimes, and I think sometimes she forgot that she wasn’t the only one grieving about her dad; Beck missed Paul just as much as she did, and all he was trying to do was protect her like her dad would have wanted. It was interesting to read about his internal struggle too – on the outside he was this brash, confident guy that made a lot of jokes and eyed up a lot of women, but inside he was worrying constantly about Riley and trying to decide what his feelings for her meant. I liked reading about his reactions whenever Riley mentioned Ori or Simon – he didn’t think much of either of them, and even if he wouldn’t admit it, it was clear why – even the Masters (head demon trappers) could tell. Of course, he wasn’t all serious and had his funny moments too – and any guy who can admit to loving Taylor Swift, and who can sing along to her songs, is all right with me ;).
Something that surprised me about Forbidden was how much I came to like Mort, a necromancer that had previously been after Riley’s dad’s body. Mort always liked to do things the legal way, so when he heard that Riley’s dad was stolen, he helped her try to find him, no questions asked, and risked a lot to get info for her. He just seemed like a genuinely nice person, with an intriguing back-story, and I’m hoping we get to see a lot more of him in the next book!
For those of you who like mystery, I say only this: Forbidden is full of it. Whether it’s the whole what-the-frigging-heck-is-going-on-with Ori thing or whether it’s the what-on-Earth-are-Heaven-and-Hell-up-to debate, you will be left wondering about a lot of things. By the end, some information (but not all) is revealed, and I can guarantee the first thing your brain will do is go “bfbhhfdjhjdnxng...I need the next book!” That’s what happened to me. I can’t wait until Forgiven is released!
Overall, Forbidden was an excellent addition to The Demon Trappers series, and has left me eagerly anticipating the sequel. For anyone who enjoyed the first book, this is a must read, and I also recommend the series for fans of urban fantasy and for people who like their heroines with a bit more mettle than in your average YA.
Forbidden was fast-paced, thrilling and a great follow up to Forsaken, and possibly my favourite “second-in-a-series” of the year. In this book, Riley has to deal with a lot; after the demon attack that takes the lives of several of her fellow trappers and hospitalises her boyfriend Simon, Riley doesn’t think things can get much worse. How very wrong she is. First Simon starts acting all weird, then she’s accused of working with Hell, her guardian-slash-friend-slash-eternal-bane-of-her-existence Beck is set on shipping her out to her aunt in Fargo, and to top it all off, the mysterious freelance demon hunter Ori isn’t letting her out of his sight, and Riley’s starting to have thoughts about him that Heaven wouldn’t be too pleased about. But worst of all, Riley’s dad is still out there somewhere, illegally re-animated, and Riley is determined to find him and let him rest in peace. But finding him is proving to be more difficult than it first seemed, and Riley has other important things on her to-do list – like saving the world.
One thing I really liked about Forbidden was that I felt that, even among all the demons and the angels and hunters, it seemed very real. Riley was a very believable teenager – both in this book and in Forsaken – she got angry, she got jealous, she got impatient and she did a lot of stupid things that any teenager with raging hormones and an authority complex would do. Sure, there were times where I was mentally screaming at her to think about what she was doing, but to me, that just proved how emotionally invested I was in these characters – because if I didn’t care about them, why would I care about what they did? I really liked Riley, and I think her grief and stress clouded her judgment at times, which is why she did a few things that perhaps were unwise. Even so, I was rooting for her the whole time, and I loved her ferocious attitude and her determination to save her dad (I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I really don’t like those “damsel in distress” type heroines that faint whenever something remotely serious happen – which is why I liked Riley so much, because she was the complete opposite).
Another thing I liked about Forbidden was Riley’s best friend, Peter. He played a slightly bigger role in this book, and I really enjoyed reading about him – he was a lot more daring than he was previously, and a lot funnier than before – some of his lines were hilarious! He was also a really great friend to Riley and helped her out whenever he could, whether it be with her boyfriend troubles (I always knew there was something about that Simon I didn’t like) or with her demon troubles (and there were a lot of them), which I think was good of him, because a lot of people would have steered clear from the dangerous world of demons and demon trapping.
However, possibly my favourite thing about Forbidden was the return of Beck. He was definitely my favourite character, and I loved the little snippets that were from his point of view – Riley could be really harsh to him sometimes, and I think sometimes she forgot that she wasn’t the only one grieving about her dad; Beck missed Paul just as much as she did, and all he was trying to do was protect her like her dad would have wanted. It was interesting to read about his internal struggle too – on the outside he was this brash, confident guy that made a lot of jokes and eyed up a lot of women, but inside he was worrying constantly about Riley and trying to decide what his feelings for her meant. I liked reading about his reactions whenever Riley mentioned Ori or Simon – he didn’t think much of either of them, and even if he wouldn’t admit it, it was clear why – even the Masters (head demon trappers) could tell. Of course, he wasn’t all serious and had his funny moments too – and any guy who can admit to loving Taylor Swift, and who can sing along to her songs, is all right with me ;).
Something that surprised me about Forbidden was how much I came to like Mort, a necromancer that had previously been after Riley’s dad’s body. Mort always liked to do things the legal way, so when he heard that Riley’s dad was stolen, he helped her try to find him, no questions asked, and risked a lot to get info for her. He just seemed like a genuinely nice person, with an intriguing back-story, and I’m hoping we get to see a lot more of him in the next book!
For those of you who like mystery, I say only this: Forbidden is full of it. Whether it’s the whole what-the-frigging-heck-is-going-on-with Ori thing or whether it’s the what-on-Earth-are-Heaven-and-Hell-up-to debate, you will be left wondering about a lot of things. By the end, some information (but not all) is revealed, and I can guarantee the first thing your brain will do is go “bfbhhfdjhjdnxng...I need the next book!” That’s what happened to me. I can’t wait until Forgiven is released!
Overall, Forbidden was an excellent addition to The Demon Trappers series, and has left me eagerly anticipating the sequel. For anyone who enjoyed the first book, this is a must read, and I also recommend the series for fans of urban fantasy and for people who like their heroines with a bit more mettle than in your average YA.
August 2, 2018
4 stars
I love this series. It is an interesting easy read and I love the characters. I never know what's going to happen and it manages to be tense and also light hearted.
I love this series. It is an interesting easy read and I love the characters. I never know what's going to happen and it manages to be tense and also light hearted.
October 7, 2013
HOLY SHIT. HOLY FUCKING SHIT!
Read this book in one day! I know I clicked the "started reading" thing a day before, but really I fell asleep right after doing so lol...
Okay, so on the last 60 pages I was like hmmmm I guess I'll rate this around 4.5 stars.
On the last 20 pages, however, I was surprised at the turn of events.
This book was way better than the first one. I have to admit - I didn't like what happened between Riley and Ori. I mean, with Beck and Justine I thought it was okay since Riley didn't even consider Beck with any interest... soo....
But after reading on and seeing Riley's perspective, I could sort of understand why she did it. She needed to feel loved, but it was just too late that she realised Beck was suffocating her with his love lol.
Honestly, the only thing that surprised me in this book was Paul Blackthorne! Heck, I did NOT see that coming. I LOVE the idea of what he did for Riley. I never would have connected the dots! It's really hard to say stuff without spoiling it and I'm too lazy to chuck spoiler tags lol...
This book had its flaws, which is why I was still a bit reluctant to give it 5 stars, but what the hell - giving it a 5 star rating won't hurt. I'm still finding it a bit hard to envision the world that The Demon Trappers series is set in. It says it's 2018, but really it doesn't even feel that different... I get that the economy is shit, but it still doesn't feel like it's set in the future lol. Maybe it's because the technology is the same or the fact that it's almost absent in the series? And the steel pipe thing doesn't help. Lol, such a basic weapon... It also took me a while to grasp the fact that witches, necromancers, angels etc. exist. This stuff about Lucifer and God and all that is interesting though. But sometimes stuff like witches are just introduced out of nowhere and we're just expected to let it sink in that they were there from the start... lol. Idk, maybe it's just me.
I found it a bit weird that some of the relationships between characters in the book developed so fast. Ayden and Riley's friendship developed pretty fast, lol. I'm starting to like Harper more, but I just can't seem to forget that he can be violent and abuses his apprentices... like what the hell? That's so not acceptable. I can't help but think that Riley only liked Ori for his looks. I get that he "said the right things" and I know that she was vulnerable after that dickweed Simon, but it felt like she was being mind-controlled lol... Maybe she was. Speaking of Simon, don't even get me started about their relationship. Absolutely no chemistry at all. I get that maybe he was being influenced by a greater force (trying not to give spoilers here) and that he looks at her with contempt now, but I think back and wonder - how the hell did Riley fall HARD for this guy? Oh man. I think it takes a lot more than how they interacted in book 1 to fall for someone...
I'm going to say it again. The number one reason I am reading this series is for BECK X RILEY.
These two seriously need to get their shit together. I LOVED Beck in this book. I love how Riley understands him and his deep insecurities. They are just so stubborn though! But I enjoy their banter, especially that scene when they were having a Guild meeting - my God, Riley BURNED him!!!!!!!! So great to read. My mouth was gaping - just like Beck's was.
With the way the book ended though, I feel as if the Riley x Beck relationship plunged back to square one. I really hope Riley's character develops more now. I hope she gets stronger and stops going from guy to guy to feel needed... but I wouldn't mind if she just walked into Beck's arms... or his bed. >:D (I'M REALLY HOPING THEY DO IT IN THE FUTURE LOLOLOLOL)
Oh man, I ship those two so hard.... WHICH IS WHY I SHALL READ ON! I ordered the next two books already. Fuck me, the third book was right in front of me at the bookstore on Sunday but I decided to get it online. Why? Because it was $3 CHEAPER. THREE. FUCKING. DOLLARS. Is it the Asian in me that made me act like a fucking tightass cheapshit? LOL oh gawd...
Here comes the agonising wait for it to be delivered... Hoping it only takes 3 days.... :(
Recommended read.
5/5 stars.
Read this book in one day! I know I clicked the "started reading" thing a day before, but really I fell asleep right after doing so lol...
Okay, so on the last 60 pages I was like hmmmm I guess I'll rate this around 4.5 stars.
On the last 20 pages, however, I was surprised at the turn of events.
This book was way better than the first one. I have to admit - I didn't like what happened between Riley and Ori. I mean, with Beck and Justine I thought it was okay since Riley didn't even consider Beck with any interest... soo....
But after reading on and seeing Riley's perspective, I could sort of understand why she did it. She needed to feel loved, but it was just too late that she realised Beck was suffocating her with his love lol.
Honestly, the only thing that surprised me in this book was Paul Blackthorne! Heck, I did NOT see that coming. I LOVE the idea of what he did for Riley. I never would have connected the dots! It's really hard to say stuff without spoiling it and I'm too lazy to chuck spoiler tags lol...
This book had its flaws, which is why I was still a bit reluctant to give it 5 stars, but what the hell - giving it a 5 star rating won't hurt. I'm still finding it a bit hard to envision the world that The Demon Trappers series is set in. It says it's 2018, but really it doesn't even feel that different... I get that the economy is shit, but it still doesn't feel like it's set in the future lol. Maybe it's because the technology is the same or the fact that it's almost absent in the series? And the steel pipe thing doesn't help. Lol, such a basic weapon... It also took me a while to grasp the fact that witches, necromancers, angels etc. exist. This stuff about Lucifer and God and all that is interesting though. But sometimes stuff like witches are just introduced out of nowhere and we're just expected to let it sink in that they were there from the start... lol. Idk, maybe it's just me.
I found it a bit weird that some of the relationships between characters in the book developed so fast. Ayden and Riley's friendship developed pretty fast, lol. I'm starting to like Harper more, but I just can't seem to forget that he can be violent and abuses his apprentices... like what the hell? That's so not acceptable. I can't help but think that Riley only liked Ori for his looks. I get that he "said the right things" and I know that she was vulnerable after that dickweed Simon, but it felt like she was being mind-controlled lol... Maybe she was. Speaking of Simon, don't even get me started about their relationship. Absolutely no chemistry at all. I get that maybe he was being influenced by a greater force (trying not to give spoilers here) and that he looks at her with contempt now, but I think back and wonder - how the hell did Riley fall HARD for this guy? Oh man. I think it takes a lot more than how they interacted in book 1 to fall for someone...
I'm going to say it again. The number one reason I am reading this series is for BECK X RILEY.
These two seriously need to get their shit together. I LOVED Beck in this book. I love how Riley understands him and his deep insecurities. They are just so stubborn though! But I enjoy their banter, especially that scene when they were having a Guild meeting - my God, Riley BURNED him!!!!!!!! So great to read. My mouth was gaping - just like Beck's was.
With the way the book ended though, I feel as if the Riley x Beck relationship plunged back to square one. I really hope Riley's character develops more now. I hope she gets stronger and stops going from guy to guy to feel needed... but I wouldn't mind if she just walked into Beck's arms... or his bed. >:D (I'M REALLY HOPING THEY DO IT IN THE FUTURE LOLOLOLOL)
Oh man, I ship those two so hard.... WHICH IS WHY I SHALL READ ON! I ordered the next two books already. Fuck me, the third book was right in front of me at the bookstore on Sunday but I decided to get it online. Why? Because it was $3 CHEAPER. THREE. FUCKING. DOLLARS. Is it the Asian in me that made me act like a fucking tightass cheapshit? LOL oh gawd...
Here comes the agonising wait for it to be delivered... Hoping it only takes 3 days.... :(
Recommended read.
5/5 stars.
August 15, 2011
Riley and her guild are back and dealing with the aftermath of the attack on the Tabernacle. Picking up where The Demon Trapper's Daughter left off, Soul Thief utilizes the world building it did in the first novel to plunge Riley and the reader further into the gritty underground of Atlanta with the same cast of real characters, a few new additions and a plot full of jaw dropping twists.
What I loved about Riley in the first novel was her strength but also her vulnerability. She was brave when she needed to be but she was also fragile and broken seeing as she becomes an orphan and has to deal with a lot of other things on top of that. She doesn't lose this balance in the next book. She's still battling with the implications of the first novel and she makes several life changing decisions in this one. What I really appreciated about her is that she didn't make any stupid choices. Every move Riley made was one I'd make myself sans the intense anger towards Beck (though I feel like that's because as a reader I follow him around and get to know what he's really thinking).
Speaking of Beck, I liked his chapters but I'd have liked to see a few more of him. He took a backseat in this novel but it's because Riley's chapters really pushed the plot along. I did like a particular scene where we find out something kind of huge about Beck over barbecue and filling out form but I won't say anymore for those of you who haven't read it.
I also really liked Peter's character who has done a 180 since the first novel. I kept looking at the adventures Riley and Peter went on and saying that that is what real friendship is made out of. Harper's transformation also provided interesting. Even as much as I disliked him in the first novel, I always felt there was more going on under the surface and this novel provided some insight into that for which I am grateful. As for Ori. I'll just say I was right about him... one way or the other.
What I really appreciated about this novel were the twists. I got to a certain point and just sat the book down and said "now, that's a game changer". Ms. Oliver isn't afraid to screw with the normalities we know to make for an interesting plot and I applaud her for that. I'm also really glad that the character's make life altering decisions and do things that they can't magically take back. It makes the stakes feel that much higher and I appreciated that.
The other thing this novel really succeeds at is expanding on the world building from the first novel. We get to know about Deaders in the first book and who summons them but in this novel, Riley is forced to dive into the world of Necromancers. She goes to this auction and I, as a reader, loved finding out the rules and social standards the Necros followed. We also get to learn more about witches and their magic. There are other things introduced that are also expounded upon but I won't mention them so as not to give anything away.
I'm going to say this last thing because I need to: I loved the scenes with Beck and Stewart because of their accents. I found myself reading Beck's dialog in a Southern accent then accidentally reading Stewart's that way and having to go back and change it to Scottish. I loved how their voices sounded together in my head.
Soul Thief weaves together all the things that made the first novel great and stitches them into this new novel while throwing in brand new surprises to make something bigger. Riley's journey is one laden with heart ache and triumph and Ms. Oliver makes the reader care about every bit of it. Soul Thief feels like it's building towards something and I can't wait to find out what happens. You can bet I'll be heading back to Atlanta when the next demon shows itself!
What I loved about Riley in the first novel was her strength but also her vulnerability. She was brave when she needed to be but she was also fragile and broken seeing as she becomes an orphan and has to deal with a lot of other things on top of that. She doesn't lose this balance in the next book. She's still battling with the implications of the first novel and she makes several life changing decisions in this one. What I really appreciated about her is that she didn't make any stupid choices. Every move Riley made was one I'd make myself sans the intense anger towards Beck (though I feel like that's because as a reader I follow him around and get to know what he's really thinking).
Speaking of Beck, I liked his chapters but I'd have liked to see a few more of him. He took a backseat in this novel but it's because Riley's chapters really pushed the plot along. I did like a particular scene where we find out something kind of huge about Beck over barbecue and filling out form but I won't say anymore for those of you who haven't read it.
I also really liked Peter's character who has done a 180 since the first novel. I kept looking at the adventures Riley and Peter went on and saying that that is what real friendship is made out of. Harper's transformation also provided interesting. Even as much as I disliked him in the first novel, I always felt there was more going on under the surface and this novel provided some insight into that for which I am grateful. As for Ori. I'll just say I was right about him... one way or the other.
What I really appreciated about this novel were the twists. I got to a certain point and just sat the book down and said "now, that's a game changer". Ms. Oliver isn't afraid to screw with the normalities we know to make for an interesting plot and I applaud her for that. I'm also really glad that the character's make life altering decisions and do things that they can't magically take back. It makes the stakes feel that much higher and I appreciated that.
The other thing this novel really succeeds at is expanding on the world building from the first novel. We get to know about Deaders in the first book and who summons them but in this novel, Riley is forced to dive into the world of Necromancers. She goes to this auction and I, as a reader, loved finding out the rules and social standards the Necros followed. We also get to learn more about witches and their magic. There are other things introduced that are also expounded upon but I won't mention them so as not to give anything away.
I'm going to say this last thing because I need to: I loved the scenes with Beck and Stewart because of their accents. I found myself reading Beck's dialog in a Southern accent then accidentally reading Stewart's that way and having to go back and change it to Scottish. I loved how their voices sounded together in my head.
Soul Thief weaves together all the things that made the first novel great and stitches them into this new novel while throwing in brand new surprises to make something bigger. Riley's journey is one laden with heart ache and triumph and Ms. Oliver makes the reader care about every bit of it. Soul Thief feels like it's building towards something and I can't wait to find out what happens. You can bet I'll be heading back to Atlanta when the next demon shows itself!
July 28, 2011
It's actually about 3,5 stars for me.
So, the story picks up the day after Forsaken ends. There are lots of casualties, Riley is trying to deal both with the shock of seeing her father and a lot of members of the Guild not exactly trusting her. The entire book mostly focuses on Riley trying to figure out who has raised her father's corpse, the prime suspect always being the creepy Ozymandias. Changes in Peter's life result in his being more involved in Riley's life.
Now let's get to the 3 dudes in Riley's life. Simon is behaving like an lunatic-ass throughout the book. It sort of goes to show that when your faith is questioned, there's really no telling how much you'll be able to handle it. Simon apparently is not handling it very well.
Beck got even more on my nerves in this book. He may have promised Riley's father that he'd take care of her, but the fact of the matter is that he's never had a good relationship with Riley and I don't understand why he thinks that she's going to do as he says. Also, knocking boots with the model-like-reporter goes to show you how much of a pig and a hypocrite a guy can be. He goes crazy when he thinks about her dating Simon or Ori, but it's ok for him to be hitting the sack with some lady that he's spent about...less than a half an hour with. *rolls eyes*
Now, it's Ori's turn. Hot mysterious guy, who is always nice and always comes to the rescue without expecting anything? Yeah, right. Perhaps it's all the YA novels that I've read, but I know for a fact that the innocent ones are usually the assholes, not the nice guys. Halfway through the book I knew there was something going on there with this bastard.
The cliffhanger is reminiscent of the first book. Riley finally meeting up with her father and me going: "Oh...man. You've gotta be sh...kidding me. I have to wait another year for the rest?"
Overall, the story took a few pages for me to able to get into again. It did flow well, even though, I'm starting to get tired of the girl who has one, two, three guys who are into her. I'm starting to get tired of the boyfriend either being MIA in the second book or just being an ass. In this case, the ass being Simon....well, Beck could fit that part, as well for that matter.
I was happy about the way Master Harper treated Riley even when Simon tried to turn him against her and when the Geo Fiend came after her. Can I get a shot out for that old bastard?
So, I was overall, happy with it. Looking forward to the next and final installment.
So, the story picks up the day after Forsaken ends. There are lots of casualties, Riley is trying to deal both with the shock of seeing her father and a lot of members of the Guild not exactly trusting her. The entire book mostly focuses on Riley trying to figure out who has raised her father's corpse, the prime suspect always being the creepy Ozymandias. Changes in Peter's life result in his being more involved in Riley's life.
Now let's get to the 3 dudes in Riley's life. Simon is behaving like an lunatic-ass throughout the book. It sort of goes to show that when your faith is questioned, there's really no telling how much you'll be able to handle it. Simon apparently is not handling it very well.
Beck got even more on my nerves in this book. He may have promised Riley's father that he'd take care of her, but the fact of the matter is that he's never had a good relationship with Riley and I don't understand why he thinks that she's going to do as he says. Also, knocking boots with the model-like-reporter goes to show you how much of a pig and a hypocrite a guy can be. He goes crazy when he thinks about her dating Simon or Ori, but it's ok for him to be hitting the sack with some lady that he's spent about...less than a half an hour with. *rolls eyes*
Now, it's Ori's turn. Hot mysterious guy, who is always nice and always comes to the rescue without expecting anything? Yeah, right. Perhaps it's all the YA novels that I've read, but I know for a fact that the innocent ones are usually the assholes, not the nice guys. Halfway through the book I knew there was something going on there with this bastard.
The cliffhanger is reminiscent of the first book. Riley finally meeting up with her father and me going: "Oh...man. You've gotta be sh...kidding me. I have to wait another year for the rest?"
Overall, the story took a few pages for me to able to get into again. It did flow well, even though, I'm starting to get tired of the girl who has one, two, three guys who are into her. I'm starting to get tired of the boyfriend either being MIA in the second book or just being an ass. In this case, the ass being Simon....well, Beck could fit that part, as well for that matter.
I was happy about the way Master Harper treated Riley even when Simon tried to turn him against her and when the Geo Fiend came after her. Can I get a shot out for that old bastard?
So, I was overall, happy with it. Looking forward to the next and final installment.
August 5, 2011
Struggling to wrap her head around what has happened, Riley also has to try to move forward and figure out who was behind ambushing the trappers. Everyone wants to point the finger at her and her dad, but she just won't stand for it. She knows she didn't do it, she knows Simon laid the Holy Water correctly and that it wasn't the fake stuff. So what happened?
With Riley's mind going in 15 different directions, she knows a few things are on top of her list of "To-Dos". Find her dad, kill the demon, and make sure her boyfriend is ok. But Simon's not the same. Cold, distant, and short. (Basically I wanted to punch him in his gorgeous little face) Has to be post-traumatic stress....Well, at least having the hunky Ori as her body guard is taking her mind off of life for a while. Though she doesn't know much about him, and he seems to always be there for her, Riley can't help but want to know more about him. Feeling as though this might finally be the guy who will diminish the chaos in her life and take down her demon stalker, she can't help but shake her doubt.
While Riley's busy with sorting out her own problems, now the city thinks the Trapper's can't hold their own. So they've decided to call in the big dogs, The Hunters from the Vatican. This doesn't sit well with anyone in the Guild, especially Beck, because they're steppin' on his toes and making the them look bad. All Beck wants is for the Demon who's stalking Riley to be destroyed, for her to move FAR away to her aunt's house, and for Paul (Riley's dad) to be found and put back into his grave. If only life were that simple.
Soul Thief completely exceeded my expectations! Sometimes it's hard for authors to have their sequel supersede the first book, but Jana was able to do that with ease. More magical elements were brought into the second book, like summoning, illusions and necromancy. Yes, the necromancers were in the the first book, but you are actually able to see their work first hand in Soul Thief. As the story went on, I was sitting at the edge of my bed, literally trying to read fast so I could find out what happened next.
All I can say is, WAY TO ROCK THE ENDING! I was not only yelling, "What the F&*@!", but my heart was bleeding for Riley in a way I didn't think was possible! Seriously lady, how do you come up with these endings, they're phenomenal!
5/5
With Riley's mind going in 15 different directions, she knows a few things are on top of her list of "To-Dos". Find her dad, kill the demon, and make sure her boyfriend is ok. But Simon's not the same. Cold, distant, and short. (Basically I wanted to punch him in his gorgeous little face) Has to be post-traumatic stress....Well, at least having the hunky Ori as her body guard is taking her mind off of life for a while. Though she doesn't know much about him, and he seems to always be there for her, Riley can't help but want to know more about him. Feeling as though this might finally be the guy who will diminish the chaos in her life and take down her demon stalker, she can't help but shake her doubt.
While Riley's busy with sorting out her own problems, now the city thinks the Trapper's can't hold their own. So they've decided to call in the big dogs, The Hunters from the Vatican. This doesn't sit well with anyone in the Guild, especially Beck, because they're steppin' on his toes and making the them look bad. All Beck wants is for the Demon who's stalking Riley to be destroyed, for her to move FAR away to her aunt's house, and for Paul (Riley's dad) to be found and put back into his grave. If only life were that simple.
Soul Thief completely exceeded my expectations! Sometimes it's hard for authors to have their sequel supersede the first book, but Jana was able to do that with ease. More magical elements were brought into the second book, like summoning, illusions and necromancy. Yes, the necromancers were in the the first book, but you are actually able to see their work first hand in Soul Thief. As the story went on, I was sitting at the edge of my bed, literally trying to read fast so I could find out what happened next.
All I can say is, WAY TO ROCK THE ENDING! I was not only yelling, "What the F&*@!", but my heart was bleeding for Riley in a way I didn't think was possible! Seriously lady, how do you come up with these endings, they're phenomenal!
5/5
August 5, 2011
Original review at http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/
Firstly, I have to say that Forsaken, the first book in this series, was one of those books that despite the flaws, I loved completely, so when I receive Forbidden in the post, I think I may have squeed. A lot. Then I worried a little, wondering whether this book would be one that I would be adding to my 'Sequels that suck' pile.
Nope, I'm so adding this to my 'Sequels That Totally Improve The Whole Series' pile. Forbidden had the same action and mystery that Forsaken did, a love story, some twists and turns and a fantastic final page, my verdict? Amazing. This book grabbed me the same way that Forsaken did and didn't release me until I reached that very last page, in fact, it got me so absorbed that I was reading it at work...
One of the flaws that I found in the first book was the love triangle, this is cleared up by the end of this book, leaving only one likely candidate for Riley, (which makes me very happy, especially considering who it was). In Forsaken, I was so Team Simon, my allegiance shifted to Beck throughout this one, which meant that there were numerous times when I wanted to slap him across the face and call him a total idiot, Simon... oh my! He just turned totally psycho and Ori... well I never did trust him. I do like the way the relationships changed throughout Forbidden it made me like it a lot more.
Riley, as always, is the perfect protagonist. Feisty and strong-willed, she makes some pretty stupid decisions but I understood them, at times I felt that she got a little angsty and whiney, but this isn't often. I didn't support a lot of her actions but when they backfired I really felt sympathy for her.
My biggest issue with Forbidden is that, because the book is similar to other books in the same genre (I'm going to mention Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda in particularaly), I expected some of the twists and turns, so the climactic, enlightening part near the end wasn't a big surprise to me, and this meant that it wasn't as exciting as it should have been for me.
Overall, Forsaken was a great addition to the series, with all the action, romance and mystery as Forsaken plus some. I am so excited to read the next book in the series and commend Oliver on her amazing storytelling and ability to absorb me in such a fantastic story.
Overall rating: A
Firstly, I have to say that Forsaken, the first book in this series, was one of those books that despite the flaws, I loved completely, so when I receive Forbidden in the post, I think I may have squeed. A lot. Then I worried a little, wondering whether this book would be one that I would be adding to my 'Sequels that suck' pile.
Nope, I'm so adding this to my 'Sequels That Totally Improve The Whole Series' pile. Forbidden had the same action and mystery that Forsaken did, a love story, some twists and turns and a fantastic final page, my verdict? Amazing. This book grabbed me the same way that Forsaken did and didn't release me until I reached that very last page, in fact, it got me so absorbed that I was reading it at work...
One of the flaws that I found in the first book was the love triangle, this is cleared up by the end of this book, leaving only one likely candidate for Riley, (which makes me very happy, especially considering who it was). In Forsaken, I was so Team Simon, my allegiance shifted to Beck throughout this one, which meant that there were numerous times when I wanted to slap him across the face and call him a total idiot, Simon... oh my! He just turned totally psycho and Ori... well I never did trust him. I do like the way the relationships changed throughout Forbidden it made me like it a lot more.
Riley, as always, is the perfect protagonist. Feisty and strong-willed, she makes some pretty stupid decisions but I understood them, at times I felt that she got a little angsty and whiney, but this isn't often. I didn't support a lot of her actions but when they backfired I really felt sympathy for her.
My biggest issue with Forbidden is that, because the book is similar to other books in the same genre (I'm going to mention Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda in particularaly), I expected some of the twists and turns, so the climactic, enlightening part near the end wasn't a big surprise to me, and this meant that it wasn't as exciting as it should have been for me.
Overall, Forsaken was a great addition to the series, with all the action, romance and mystery as Forsaken plus some. I am so excited to read the next book in the series and commend Oliver on her amazing storytelling and ability to absorb me in such a fantastic story.
Overall rating: A
January 22, 2021
I liked The Demon Trapper's Daughter a lot, and Soul Thief is just the sequel that I was hoping for. The plot thickens, tensions grow, relationships evolve and devolve, demons attack.
Riley and Beck might be two of my favorite main characters in urban fantasy. Riley is everything that a great YA heroine should be - she is smart, determined, and strong, yet isn't without her vulnerability. She struggles to succeed in a man's profession, which makes her feisty and stubborn to a fault. All of this makes her an honest and realistic protagonist. Beck is awesome in this book. Beck lovers - you will not be disappointed! He was the most interesting character to me in the first book, and remains so in Soul Thief. I was hoping that this book would see Beck grow, and it does. He is given new responsibilities as the masters begin to entrust him with more of their secrets and duties since they are short handed. It's something that he struggles with but does not shy away from.
Riley and Beck's relationship continues to progress into something more caring and friendly. If you're anything like me, then you want Riley and Beck to get married and have lots of babies and a little pet Magpie. And while that doesn't happen, there are some totally cute and endearing moments scattered in between their disagreements. I'm pleased with their relationship development and can't wait for more.
The plot is paced wonderfully, with a mixture of action scenes and character driven ones. Riley and Beck both have a lot on their plates in this installment and must deal with their new problems as well as continue to keep up with their previous responsibilities and, in Riley's case, investigations. And the ending definitely left me with some eager anticipation for the next book. If you liked The Demon Trapper's Daughter, then I think you will definitely enjoy Soul Thief. And if you haven't started this series yet, then you should, especially if you like urban fantasies with interesting story lines and awesome characters.
Riley and Beck might be two of my favorite main characters in urban fantasy. Riley is everything that a great YA heroine should be - she is smart, determined, and strong, yet isn't without her vulnerability. She struggles to succeed in a man's profession, which makes her feisty and stubborn to a fault. All of this makes her an honest and realistic protagonist. Beck is awesome in this book. Beck lovers - you will not be disappointed! He was the most interesting character to me in the first book, and remains so in Soul Thief. I was hoping that this book would see Beck grow, and it does. He is given new responsibilities as the masters begin to entrust him with more of their secrets and duties since they are short handed. It's something that he struggles with but does not shy away from.
Riley and Beck's relationship continues to progress into something more caring and friendly. If you're anything like me, then you want Riley and Beck to get married and have lots of babies and a little pet Magpie. And while that doesn't happen, there are some totally cute and endearing moments scattered in between their disagreements. I'm pleased with their relationship development and can't wait for more.
The plot is paced wonderfully, with a mixture of action scenes and character driven ones. Riley and Beck both have a lot on their plates in this installment and must deal with their new problems as well as continue to keep up with their previous responsibilities and, in Riley's case, investigations. And the ending definitely left me with some eager anticipation for the next book. If you liked The Demon Trapper's Daughter, then I think you will definitely enjoy Soul Thief. And if you haven't started this series yet, then you should, especially if you like urban fantasies with interesting story lines and awesome characters.
July 24, 2014
WOW!!! Just wow!!! This was better than the first one. Though I gave it the same rating as the first one (due to Riley's occasional stupidness) other than that it was really good. There were more revelations who are the good guys and the bad guys...... and yes, you would be surprised. And yes, I'm all #TeamBeck that's for sure. So Riley, better get your head right!!! Or else....
January 1, 2012
The book? Amazing.!! The plot is getting really interesting. Im really happy for Riley, at least she has her dad now. Which is really good. Beck,is just pissing me off. He should be helping Riley, and not being against her.!!! Simon, is just playing on my nerves. He turned into such a dork..!! And Ori. OMG.!! How could he? Seriously, I thought he was better than that.!!! But, I still want her to be with Beck..:D
May 4, 2019
I don't have a lot to say, mainly because I feel like the nostalgia of the reread makes me biased.
Overall I'm a little frustrated with the plot in general, even though more or less I remembered some things.
So far, either I liked it a bit more back when I first read it, or I don't remember so well.
Overall I'm a little frustrated with the plot in general, even though more or less I remembered some things.
So far, either I liked it a bit more back when I first read it, or I don't remember so well.
November 10, 2014
4.5 stars...
This book was pretty amazing :)
Team Beck....even though he was a bit of a butthead in this book, i still love him! <3
This book was pretty amazing :)
Team Beck....even though he was a bit of a butthead in this book, i still love him! <3
July 28, 2011
Things in Atlanta are a mess. The Guild can’t get a handle on their local demon population and it looks like the Hunters from Rome will have to step in and help. But their kind of help always comes at a price.
No one is sure what happened at the Guild meeting that landed several trappers in the morgue and others severely injured. But whatever it was, someone is to blame and it looks like everyone wants to point the finger at Riley and Paul Blackthorne.
On top of all of this, Riley is still trying to figure out why she’s being specifically targeted by a Grade Five Geo-Fiend and who could have wanted her father so badly yet hasn’t come forward to brag about their success. Plus, her love life has taken a serious turn for the worse. And she was so sure she’d found the perfect boyfriend.
With Denver Beck practically ignoring her except when he’s telling her what to do and Simon still trying to come to terms with what happened to him, Riley only has one shoulder to lean on and that’s Ori’s – a freelance Hunter who has assigned himself as her personal bodyguard.
Having someone who is tall, dark and dangerous looking out for her can’t be all bad. And no matter what Beck says, she’s not about to stay away from Ori. Besides, if Beck can play with danger, in the form of a red-headed reporter, why can’t she?
***
Soul Thief is yet another fast-paced, exciting and gripping young adult novel from author Jana Oliver. The action picks up right where it left off at the end of the first book, The Demon Trapper’s Daughter. Atlanta is in chaos. The trappers are shell-shocked and still trying to regroup after the attack at the Tabernacle.
Riley is desperately trying to get answers about who’s behind what happened to her father, Beck is enlisted as one of the spokespersons for the Guild now that they’ve caught the attention of the Vatican, and the demon who has been after her is still out there somewhere, biding his time.
Jana Oliver has written a sequel that not only continues the events from the first book, but builds on them. She expands her world and gives her characters even more dimension.
Her main character, Riley Blackthorne, is still tough, reckless, brave and stubborn, but the author also shows a side of her that is sympathetic, fragile and incredibly lovable. And she gives readers greater insight into Denver Beck’s thoughts and emotions. She shows a softer side of Beck, while not taking away from any of his strength. He is still fiercely protective of Riley, loyal to Paul, and a trapper through and through.
While the trapping of demons has been moved to the background in this book, there are several new threats to Riley and the Atlanta Trappers. The Demon Hunters of Rome, the Priest that oversees them, and the powerful force behind what happened to Paul Blackthorne are the new and dangerous, perhaps even deadly, ingredients added to the mix.
Many questions are answered, but even more are raised, and a surprise twist takes this in a new direction and leaves events at a cliffhanger at the story’s end.
Soul Thief is undoubtedly a must read, not only for fans of the first book, but for readers who love their main characters with a bit of an edge, demons who are not smokin’ hot, just smoking, and a plot that will keep them glued to the pages right from the start. It is action-packed, tension-filled and one heck of a great read.
(This one got my 6 star rating on the blog.)
On a personal note:
This book so blew The Demon Trapper’s Daughter out of the water. And I freaking loved that book. But this book…I can’t even begin to tell you just how much this one slaughtered me.
I became obsessed with this series when I received an early copy of The Demon Trapper’s Daughter last year from a Goodreads win. It had a completely different feel to any other story about demons that I had read up to that point. There were no hot demon boys – those demons were really disgusting, some of whom were seriously vicious. But there were definitely a few hotties – hello, Den Beck. And in Soul Thief Ori is definitely some major competition.
I read this book in one fairly long sitting. I did take my time with it as I saw absolutely no reason to rush and possibly miss something key. And besides, the longer I took to read it, the more time I could spend with Den, Ori and Riley.
Riley and Den absolutely tortured me in good and bad ways. They are just so perfect for each other – they are both trappers and both are incredibly stubborn and fiercely protective.
I practically can’t talk about anything because there are just so many ways to unintentionally reveal spoilers, especially about Ori and Simon, who play major parts in the book. But I will say that there was a lot more of a mystery in Soul Thief as the characters tried to figure out what was behind what happened at the Guild meeting at the end of the last book.
I love the way Jana Oliver makes her readers think they know everything when the characters don’t, but in actuality she’s only giving us a peek at what’s going on. Misleading us into believing one thing, when whammo it is something so totally else.
There were a few definite foreshadow moments that got me to thinking, which I might have missed if I had read it any quicker. So the ending didn’t completely come out of left field. But I did not expect everything that happened. Oh Riley, what did you do?
I loved Den Beck way more in Soul Thief. I really didn’t think that was possible, but so much more was revealed about him that made him that even more swoon-worthy – he allowed some of his feelings and his vulnerability to show.
The U.S. title is absolutely perfect for the book as, just like the first book, it means something to the story and is not just some arbitrary title.
I am dying to read the next book and I will be cruelly suffering until it’s released, because that ending leaves so much up in the air. So many ways for things to get even worse. So many possibilities for a really, really bad outcome.
No one is sure what happened at the Guild meeting that landed several trappers in the morgue and others severely injured. But whatever it was, someone is to blame and it looks like everyone wants to point the finger at Riley and Paul Blackthorne.
On top of all of this, Riley is still trying to figure out why she’s being specifically targeted by a Grade Five Geo-Fiend and who could have wanted her father so badly yet hasn’t come forward to brag about their success. Plus, her love life has taken a serious turn for the worse. And she was so sure she’d found the perfect boyfriend.
With Denver Beck practically ignoring her except when he’s telling her what to do and Simon still trying to come to terms with what happened to him, Riley only has one shoulder to lean on and that’s Ori’s – a freelance Hunter who has assigned himself as her personal bodyguard.
Having someone who is tall, dark and dangerous looking out for her can’t be all bad. And no matter what Beck says, she’s not about to stay away from Ori. Besides, if Beck can play with danger, in the form of a red-headed reporter, why can’t she?
***
Soul Thief is yet another fast-paced, exciting and gripping young adult novel from author Jana Oliver. The action picks up right where it left off at the end of the first book, The Demon Trapper’s Daughter. Atlanta is in chaos. The trappers are shell-shocked and still trying to regroup after the attack at the Tabernacle.
Riley is desperately trying to get answers about who’s behind what happened to her father, Beck is enlisted as one of the spokespersons for the Guild now that they’ve caught the attention of the Vatican, and the demon who has been after her is still out there somewhere, biding his time.
Jana Oliver has written a sequel that not only continues the events from the first book, but builds on them. She expands her world and gives her characters even more dimension.
Her main character, Riley Blackthorne, is still tough, reckless, brave and stubborn, but the author also shows a side of her that is sympathetic, fragile and incredibly lovable. And she gives readers greater insight into Denver Beck’s thoughts and emotions. She shows a softer side of Beck, while not taking away from any of his strength. He is still fiercely protective of Riley, loyal to Paul, and a trapper through and through.
While the trapping of demons has been moved to the background in this book, there are several new threats to Riley and the Atlanta Trappers. The Demon Hunters of Rome, the Priest that oversees them, and the powerful force behind what happened to Paul Blackthorne are the new and dangerous, perhaps even deadly, ingredients added to the mix.
Many questions are answered, but even more are raised, and a surprise twist takes this in a new direction and leaves events at a cliffhanger at the story’s end.
Soul Thief is undoubtedly a must read, not only for fans of the first book, but for readers who love their main characters with a bit of an edge, demons who are not smokin’ hot, just smoking, and a plot that will keep them glued to the pages right from the start. It is action-packed, tension-filled and one heck of a great read.
(This one got my 6 star rating on the blog.)
On a personal note:
This book so blew The Demon Trapper’s Daughter out of the water. And I freaking loved that book. But this book…I can’t even begin to tell you just how much this one slaughtered me.
I became obsessed with this series when I received an early copy of The Demon Trapper’s Daughter last year from a Goodreads win. It had a completely different feel to any other story about demons that I had read up to that point. There were no hot demon boys – those demons were really disgusting, some of whom were seriously vicious. But there were definitely a few hotties – hello, Den Beck. And in Soul Thief Ori is definitely some major competition.
I read this book in one fairly long sitting. I did take my time with it as I saw absolutely no reason to rush and possibly miss something key. And besides, the longer I took to read it, the more time I could spend with Den, Ori and Riley.
Riley and Den absolutely tortured me in good and bad ways. They are just so perfect for each other – they are both trappers and both are incredibly stubborn and fiercely protective.
I practically can’t talk about anything because there are just so many ways to unintentionally reveal spoilers, especially about Ori and Simon, who play major parts in the book. But I will say that there was a lot more of a mystery in Soul Thief as the characters tried to figure out what was behind what happened at the Guild meeting at the end of the last book.
I love the way Jana Oliver makes her readers think they know everything when the characters don’t, but in actuality she’s only giving us a peek at what’s going on. Misleading us into believing one thing, when whammo it is something so totally else.
There were a few definite foreshadow moments that got me to thinking, which I might have missed if I had read it any quicker. So the ending didn’t completely come out of left field. But I did not expect everything that happened. Oh Riley, what did you do?
I loved Den Beck way more in Soul Thief. I really didn’t think that was possible, but so much more was revealed about him that made him that even more swoon-worthy – he allowed some of his feelings and his vulnerability to show.
The U.S. title is absolutely perfect for the book as, just like the first book, it means something to the story and is not just some arbitrary title.
I am dying to read the next book and I will be cruelly suffering until it’s released, because that ending leaves so much up in the air. So many ways for things to get even worse. So many possibilities for a really, really bad outcome.
May 3, 2012
Genre: YA Paranormal
Rating: 3.5-4 stars
*Review*
17-year old apprentice demon trapper Riley Blackthorne's world is about to abruptly change and dive rapidly into the abyss thanks to several factors that are all working against her. Most of these factors have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Riley or her actions which are intended to be brave in nature, but silly once they are made.
Her father's body has been raised from the dead by an unknown force and nobody is talking about it. The necromancers that Riley knew from protecting her fathers grave, aren't saying much at all. All they know is that it was a Dragon, and it comes to Riley saying "Don't Fail Us." Of course, there's the always annoying collection agents who won't leave Riley alone even though being a minor absolves her from any of her parents debts.
This is the big reveal in the end. When Oliver finally uncovers the reason why Paul was reincarnated, you know that Riley is the reason for it. Naturally, the whole good vs evil is once again in play. Who are the one's actually protecting the demon trappers Angels or Demons and why? Is Lucifer actually the bad guy, or the one who is there to stop the forthcoming Apocalypse from happening. Interesting in that Oliver really portrays Lucifer to be a decent enough character in that he is actually doing God's work in testing humans and angels alike and judging the worthy from the not.
Ori, the so called Freelance demon hunter, is out for something other than protecting Riley from the Level 5 Demon who killed her father. Ori's revelation of who he is, and what he wants from Riley comes with a huge twist once again, in the end. I appreciate the fact that Oliver waited until the last chapters to reveal the underlying plots for Ori and Lucifer. Naturally, this is Riley's biggest mistake since she loses apart of herself that she can never get back.
Demon Hunters sanctioned by the Vatican and requested by those in charge of Atlanta, arrive and aim directly for Riley. They believe that Paul and Riley are the main reasons why 1/3 of the cities demon trappers were killed by a massive demon attack on their meeting place. They pretty much just push the cities demon hunters to the side, and abruptly start killing every demon in sight. Of course, thanks to Simon ::coughasshatcough:: The demon hunters have Riley in their sights and are relentless in their pursuit.
Then there's Simon who Riley agreed to work for Heaven if the angels would just save his life. Simon who Riley fell deeply in love with only to have her heart tore out of her body and stomped on. So much for gratitude! Simon turns out to be the worse sort of asshat I've had the displeasure to read about in a very long time. He is the worse sort of bible thumper as well and really puts Riley in a bind when he believes she has sold her soul to Lucifer.
Riley and her best friend Peter have discovered that someone is definitely messing with the Holy Water in the city and diluting it with water. Unfortunately, with everything else that happens to Riley in this story, this becomes a tertiary storyline. Thankfully, Peter seems to be Riley's only real friend who doesn't go out of his way to betray her. Instead, he honestly does his best to help her get to the bottom of the holy water controversy.
Beck. Ah, who can forget Beck? Beck is a journeyman demon trapper who worked for Riley's father and now considers himself to be her protector as well as her guardian. He is also an army veteran and loves to drink hard and listen to ::gasp:: country music! Beck is 5 years older than Riley and has always thought of her as his little sister. In this book, you get a sense that Beck actually cares for Riley, but the two of them are so hard headed that you wonder who they have co-existed so long without coming to blows. I really am disappointed in Beck however, when he falls into Justine Armando's clutches. Beck, Beck, Beck, Dude!!!
Knowing this was the second novel in a 4 part series, I was a little tepid to read it. Normally the second book in a series is the best one of the bunch. This book, unfortunately, leaves readers with a HUGE cliffhanger and a reunion that I really ought to have seen coming.
I love the world building for this series. The story takes place in a not too future Atlanta (2018) where the city is totally broke and the prices of everything is out of this world. It's a city that has turned into a battle ground between good and evil and those that fight the good fight.
I do appreciate how Oliver hasn't turned Riley into a teetotaler or a coffee drinker. As a hot chocolate lover myself, I can totally respect a fellow chocolate lover. I just wish that Riley wouldn't come across as such a idiot most of the time. Overall, her choices from agreeing to work with Heaven to her new agreement with Lucifer, have all come with steep prices.
You know when an author has grabbed your attention when you start screaming at the characters in the book like they were sitting right next to you. Oliver really puts her characters through the ringers, and I can only hope that the next book is as good as this one.
Next in series:
Forgiven March 27, 2012
Foretold August 2, 2012
Rating: 3.5-4 stars
*Review*
17-year old apprentice demon trapper Riley Blackthorne's world is about to abruptly change and dive rapidly into the abyss thanks to several factors that are all working against her. Most of these factors have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Riley or her actions which are intended to be brave in nature, but silly once they are made.
Her father's body has been raised from the dead by an unknown force and nobody is talking about it. The necromancers that Riley knew from protecting her fathers grave, aren't saying much at all. All they know is that it was a Dragon, and it comes to Riley saying "Don't Fail Us." Of course, there's the always annoying collection agents who won't leave Riley alone even though being a minor absolves her from any of her parents debts.
This is the big reveal in the end. When Oliver finally uncovers the reason why Paul was reincarnated, you know that Riley is the reason for it. Naturally, the whole good vs evil is once again in play. Who are the one's actually protecting the demon trappers Angels or Demons and why? Is Lucifer actually the bad guy, or the one who is there to stop the forthcoming Apocalypse from happening. Interesting in that Oliver really portrays Lucifer to be a decent enough character in that he is actually doing God's work in testing humans and angels alike and judging the worthy from the not.
Ori, the so called Freelance demon hunter, is out for something other than protecting Riley from the Level 5 Demon who killed her father. Ori's revelation of who he is, and what he wants from Riley comes with a huge twist once again, in the end. I appreciate the fact that Oliver waited until the last chapters to reveal the underlying plots for Ori and Lucifer. Naturally, this is Riley's biggest mistake since she loses apart of herself that she can never get back.
Demon Hunters sanctioned by the Vatican and requested by those in charge of Atlanta, arrive and aim directly for Riley. They believe that Paul and Riley are the main reasons why 1/3 of the cities demon trappers were killed by a massive demon attack on their meeting place. They pretty much just push the cities demon hunters to the side, and abruptly start killing every demon in sight. Of course, thanks to Simon ::coughasshatcough:: The demon hunters have Riley in their sights and are relentless in their pursuit.
Then there's Simon who Riley agreed to work for Heaven if the angels would just save his life. Simon who Riley fell deeply in love with only to have her heart tore out of her body and stomped on. So much for gratitude! Simon turns out to be the worse sort of asshat I've had the displeasure to read about in a very long time. He is the worse sort of bible thumper as well and really puts Riley in a bind when he believes she has sold her soul to Lucifer.
Riley and her best friend Peter have discovered that someone is definitely messing with the Holy Water in the city and diluting it with water. Unfortunately, with everything else that happens to Riley in this story, this becomes a tertiary storyline. Thankfully, Peter seems to be Riley's only real friend who doesn't go out of his way to betray her. Instead, he honestly does his best to help her get to the bottom of the holy water controversy.
Beck. Ah, who can forget Beck? Beck is a journeyman demon trapper who worked for Riley's father and now considers himself to be her protector as well as her guardian. He is also an army veteran and loves to drink hard and listen to ::gasp:: country music! Beck is 5 years older than Riley and has always thought of her as his little sister. In this book, you get a sense that Beck actually cares for Riley, but the two of them are so hard headed that you wonder who they have co-existed so long without coming to blows. I really am disappointed in Beck however, when he falls into Justine Armando's clutches. Beck, Beck, Beck, Dude!!!
Knowing this was the second novel in a 4 part series, I was a little tepid to read it. Normally the second book in a series is the best one of the bunch. This book, unfortunately, leaves readers with a HUGE cliffhanger and a reunion that I really ought to have seen coming.
I love the world building for this series. The story takes place in a not too future Atlanta (2018) where the city is totally broke and the prices of everything is out of this world. It's a city that has turned into a battle ground between good and evil and those that fight the good fight.
I do appreciate how Oliver hasn't turned Riley into a teetotaler or a coffee drinker. As a hot chocolate lover myself, I can totally respect a fellow chocolate lover. I just wish that Riley wouldn't come across as such a idiot most of the time. Overall, her choices from agreeing to work with Heaven to her new agreement with Lucifer, have all come with steep prices.
You know when an author has grabbed your attention when you start screaming at the characters in the book like they were sitting right next to you. Oliver really puts her characters through the ringers, and I can only hope that the next book is as good as this one.
Next in series:
Forgiven March 27, 2012
Foretold August 2, 2012
February 14, 2018
Ah Riley is amazing.
November 12, 2020
Ik ben heel benieuwd naar deel 3 Maar nu eerst even een ander boek uitlezen
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