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

The Demon Trapper's Daughter
The Demon Trappers #1
Author: Jana Oliver
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy
Released: February 1st 2011
Review Source: St. Martin's Griffin
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) Demon Trapper Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself—and that’s exactly what Lucifer is counting on… 

It’s the year 2018, and with human society seriously disrupted by the economic upheavals of the previous decade, Lucifer has increased the number of demons in all major cities. Atlanta is no exception. Fortunately, humans are protected by Demon Trappers, who work to keep homes and streets safe from the things that go bump in the night. Seventeen-year-old Riley, only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing attraction to fellow Trapper apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving citizens from Grade One Hellspawn. Business as usual, really, for a demon-trapping teen. When a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood, she realizes that she’s caught in the middle of a battle between Heaven and Hell.

First things first, I thought the cover was perfect for this story line. I liked how it portrayed the story of Riley Blackthorne and how she comes to terms with the death of her father, balancing school, struggling to pay her rent, watching over her father’s tomb, so that a necromancer doesn’t claim him are some of the many challenges she faces throughout this story. Making it seem as she’s balancing the world on her hands and the cover portrays that, I loved it. Riley is special and not only because she’s the only female Demon Trapper. She’s training with one of the roughest masters who was also her father’s apprentice. Beck & Riley do not get along, they never did and when things go wrong, Riley’s apprehensive and suspicious of Beck and his motives in helping her.

The character’s in this story are nicely build and I liked every one of them but I would have liked if Riley’s father, Paul Blackthorne wasn’t killed so quickly and we were able to learn a little more about him. Riley is with another apprentice who’s name is Simon, and although they are together, Simon doesn’t fully understand Riley as Beck does and to top that off, she’s had a crush on him for quite sometime. So I can’t wait for the next installment to see what happens there. There are many different types of demons and many unique ways to trap them. Oh and did I mention that being a Demon Trapper is a paid profession? How awesome is that right?

The beginning of the story started a little slow and throughout the story it has points that were faster then the others and although the story had multiple story lines, I was never bored. Jana Oliver has created a unique, witty, tough and captivating world for you all to enjoy. I recommend this story.