Review: The Demon Trapper’s Daughter by Jana Oliver (The Demon Trappers #1)

Title: The Demon Trapper’s Daughter by Jana Oliver

Published: February 1^st, 2011 by St. Martin’s Griffin

Source: Purchased

Format: Paperback

Challenge(s):2012 TBR Pile Challenge

Grade rate: B

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.

My Review

I had The Demon Trapper’s Daughter in my TBR list for a while and I actually own copies of this book and book #2 in the series.  This book was an enjoyable and a little surprising to me.

Our kick-ass heroine is Riley, daughter of renowned demon Trapper Paul Blackthorne.  Riley is tries to be a good person and wants to be a good trapper.  She has gone through a lot and it seems like trouble follows her around, or maybe she is a little impulsive and doesn’t think things through.  Riley is relatively new and inexperienced trapper, but she is willing to learn. 

Simon is Riley’s love interest, but for some reason I cannot like him.  He is the type of person that sees the world as black or white, good or bad.  He is handsome, good, and responsible and he really cares about Riley, but it seems to be like the relationship develops way to fast.  Now, I love Beck!  He is much less likable, but with more layers and more depth than Simon.  He has his own set of rules and it works for him.  I would love to see more of Beck in the next book (if only Riley will see that and stop being so tough on him!) There are many other characters in the book, both good (Peter, Ari) and bad (Harper) that makes this "alternate world” believable.

The plot and the story are very original.  It takes place in Atlanta (love the setting) in a world were demons exist and are very common.  The demons are very different and range from three inches to over seven feet in height and have diverse powers and classifications.  The writing is straight forward and easy to read.  I will definitely read the second book in the series.

About the cover – I really like the US cover better than the UK (on the left). I like the red color (and its significance), the wings, the city at the background and Riley looking over it with a sphere in hand.