Forgiven (The Demon Trappers, #3)

Mar 28, 2012 Caity rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: the-best-of-the-boys

Dear Beck,
i realize now what a completely BLIND woman i have been. Silly, little me- thinking about Simon or that bitch of an angel. I should have seen that you are PERFECT and always there!
So, please- let's have cute, little blue-eyed babies together
Love,
Riley

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Jun 25, 2012 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-or-paranormal, fantasy-or-pn-favourites, romance, paranormal, 2012-favourites

Jana Oliver’s Demon Trappers series has firmly rooted itself on my favourites shelf. I adored the first two books, and Forgiven, I’m pleased to say, did not fail to impress.

It felt good to be reunited with Beck and Riley after the chaos in the last book. To say Riley made a few reckless choices in Forbidden is a bit of an understatement, but she redeems herself well enough in this installment. The plot is as layered and action-packed as ever as both Heaven and Hell have their eyes set on Riley,...more Jana Oliver’s Demon Trappers series has firmly rooted itself on my favourites shelf. I adored the first two books, and Forgiven, I’m pleased to say, did not fail to impress.

It felt good to be reunited with Beck and Riley after the chaos in the last book. To say Riley made a few reckless choices in Forbidden is a bit of an understatement, but she redeems herself well enough in this installment. The plot is as layered and action-packed as ever as both Heaven and Hell have their eyes set on Riley, our young demon trapper. She has a lot more on her plate than she bargained for, and it doesn’t help that her feelings are in turmoil after her encounter with the dark-haired Ori. Despite it all, she doesn’t give up. If anything, Riley is much stronger in this book than any of the others.

Beck, or Backwoods Boy as Riley likes to call him, is a central character I cannot get enough of. He is one of my favourite male characters of all time, with his southern drawl and no-nonsense attitude. I loved the complexity of his past and ached for him endlessly. Credit is due to the author here for crafting such a wonderful character, one that you cannot help but invest in emotionally. The relationship between him and Riley is an intricate one and much more mature than these things tend to be in young adult books. I was on the edge of my seat just waiting to see how things would unravel between them.

As always, the details of the demon-ridden world and the standing between hunters and trappers were entertaining to read about. There was never a dull moment. The balance of action, suspense and good old normalcy was crafted well, leaving just enough room for some witty humour. The progress in this series is quite commendable, both in terms of plot and character growth. That, if anything, is reason enough to look forward to the final book. I imagine Jana Oliver has some remaining tricks up her sleeve; as to what they are, I can only guess.

The only major aspect of this book I cannot find myself warming to is the ending. I wonder if I’m being too extreme in calling it a sort-of cliffhanger, but it did feel rather cruel to me. Hopefully things will be quickly rectified in the next installment. (They better be). Other than that, it’s safe to say I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It was an entertaining ride to the finish line and I’m already eager for more.

(This review also appears on my blog)
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Apr 11, 2012 Ashleigh Paige rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: could-have-been-so-much-better, rage-rage-rage, the-shameful-shelf-of-get-rid-of-it, i-screamed-at-it, fell-out-of-love-with-this-series, makes-feminist-me-very-unhappy

See more of my reviews sooner on The YA Kitten!

I am mad, people. Mad. Forgiven made me think I had a good book on my hands, but then it hit me in the back of the head with a mannequin arm, laughed in my face while beating me with said mannequin arm, took a few hours of my time and a sliver of my sanity, and ran away. Surprise! It's a bad book! And it was one heck of a surprise, let me tell you. Upsetting element came out of nowhere.

To be fair, I still enjoyed most of the novel. It charmed some l...more

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Becky Paige wrote: "If the characters were willing to recognize these issues, mean it, and either attempt to grow out of it or never sugarcoat the problem,...more
Apr 12, 2012 01:46pm

Mada The fact that Beck and Riley were going to have something was predictable from the begining - because honestly in today YA you don't put two POVs, one...more
Apr 17, 2012 01:11am

Mar 05, 2012 Nina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

I do not think that this cover lives up to the standard set by the two previous books. It failed the test.

4.5 review coming (very soon, hopefully)

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Mar 03, 2012 Ferdy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: angels, decent-heroine, half-decent-hero, likeable-heroine, will-they-won-t-they

4.5 stars - Some spoilers

In the second book we left off with Riley running from the demon hunters and seeking refuge with the necromancer, Mort and her reanimated dad. The demon hunters suspected Riley of aligning with Hell and took a very angry Beck into their custody in lieu of Riley.
In Forgiven, Riley naturally has to face a lot of challenges - she has to convince the demon hunters her loyalty doesn't lie with Hell, save her dad's body and soul, keep her promise to Heaven, go to school, inves...more 4.5 stars - Some spoilers

In the second book we left off with Riley running from the demon hunters and seeking refuge with the necromancer, Mort and her reanimated dad. The demon hunters suspected Riley of aligning with Hell and took a very angry Beck into their custody in lieu of Riley.
In Forgiven, Riley naturally has to face a lot of challenges - she has to convince the demon hunters her loyalty doesn't lie with Hell, save her dad's body and soul, keep her promise to Heaven, go to school, investigate the fake holy water, cope with Ori's betrayl and on top of everything else she has to deal with Beck. Riley handles everything beautifully - she never gives up, no matter what's thrown at her. Riley stays strong, determined and loyal..she survives difficult situations but still acts like a normal 17 year old.
Her friendship with Peter is a welcome change from the usual YA guy&girl best friend trope - neither have unrequited feelings for the other, they genuinely love and support one another as friends. I liked how Peter helped Riley with investigating the holy water scam.. he's a smart, fun, and caring friend..I'm hoping that Peter gets with Simi - Riley's coffee shop friend - in the next book.
Riley's relationship with her dad is also written well, the sacrifices they're both willing to make for the other was sweet and hearbreaking.
Beck also has a lot to contend with - he's dealing with the demon hunters, his feelings for Riley and Justine digging up his past.
I had a lot of mixed feelings for Beck in this one. He's unfairly harsh to Riley for losing her virginity and makes her feel like she's done something wrong. He even thinks and expects that she should have waited until she was 18 to sleep with him. He lost a lot points for that, he expected Riley to remain chaste whilst he slept with Justine and a load of other girls. I hated him for thinking that it was ok for him to sleep around but when Riley sleeps with someone just once she's automatically selfish, easy and tainted. Riley does eventually set Beck straight..that was the best scene by far, I think Beck redeemed himself slightly but I would have liked Riley to make him suffer some more for his double standards and holier than thou attitude.
Riley & Beck's relationship does evolve and even though Beck was a douche for a lot of the book, he's still a good guy. I've never been a fan of the older guy/teenage girl romances because I never quite believe in their HEA as the couple are never shown as equals..it might be written that they are in some cheesy dialogue between the two but it's never actually shown. Thankfully Riley and Beck both start to change, understand and accept each other.. so when fingers crossed they do get their HEA it will be believable.
Simon only had a small part but when he was in it he was still insufferable and self righteous. I hope Riley doesn't forgive him for treating her so poorly - he doesn't deserve it. Harper also had a small role, he was as cantakerous as ever but I do admit I find him addressing Riley as Brat really funny. Stewart the scottish trapper was awesome - he stood by Riley and welcomed her into his home..I want Riley to stay with Stewart instead of on her own..he would be a good guardian to her.
I was quite underwhelmed with the confrontation between the angels/Lucifer and the part Riley played. I couldn't quite believe that Riley's uninspired argument with Michael was firstly what was needed to stop the war between Heaven/Hell and secondly that the nonesense she was saying actually had any effect on the angels. I mean was Riley's little speech all that was needed to stop armageddon.. I really can't get my round why Heaven needed her to stop armageddon because anyone could have stood in her place.
What I particularly liked was how we weren't kept in the dark with what was going on with Hell/the demons, the holy water/demon trafficking and Paul's reanimation. When I found out there was going to be a fourth book I was afraid that the storylines would be drawn out but most of the story arcs since the first book were wrapped up nicely. I'm really eager for the fourth book because it looks like Beck's past will be revealed in more detail and I'd like to know what happened to Ori and if Riley's sacrifice will cause any trouble for her. (less)

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Becky Fabianne wrote: "Hi Becky, tell me about it... I am so pissed with some sexist things Riley AND Beck said that I got mad at Jana Oliver."

I know, that'...more
Mar 12, 2012 04:52pm

Ferdy Becky wrote: I mean, Riley CAN have sex with people who aren't Denver Beck and the world won't end. "

YES exactly!! I'm now leaning towards Ori coming...more
Mar 13, 2012 04:15am

Jul 12, 2012 Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own, publisher-sent, pan-macmillan-sent

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Read is 2012

Thank-you to Pan Macmillian Australia for providing me with a copy to read and review!

Find my review and others like it on my blog here: http://rachybee-the-rest-is-still-unw...

Forgiven, the third book in The Demon Trappers series by Jana Oliver proves to be the best in the series so far with its blend of on your seat action, constant excitement, unparallel friendship and tantalizing romance!

If you’ve read any of my previous Demon Trapper reviews, you’ll be well aware that I love thi...more

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Mar 16, 2012 Samuel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, urban-fantasy

*Sigh* I do wish this series would stop trying to mess everything up.

I loved the first book. I adored it. I would marry it given the chance. Then the second one came along, it was alright in most respects and brilliant in one way, but it just wasn't as good as the first. Now we have this one, and it could be great but it goes out of its way to try and ruin itself.

If you're familiar with the series you'll know the plot, but I'll give a quick recap for those who aren't. It's near future and the e...more *Sigh* I do wish this series would stop trying to mess everything up.

I loved the first book. I adored it. I would marry it given the chance. Then the second one came along, it was alright in most respects and brilliant in one way, but it just wasn't as good as the first. Now we have this one, and it could be great but it goes out of its way to try and ruin itself.

If you're familiar with the series you'll know the plot, but I'll give a quick recap for those who aren't. It's near future and the economy has continued its downward spiral, fuel costs so much that people have to put solar panels on their cars. Oh, and demons are on the loose. I like the setting, it works very well and I never have to try hard to suspend my disbelief because it's so well written. In some ways the city is one of the best characters of the series.

The characters are all likeable, even (most of) the demon hunters who were built up in the previous book to be a bunch of dicks. This was a good move, the hunters could easily have descended into cliche if Oliver tried to make them as unpleasant as they'd been built up to be. I mean, yeah, they do some pretty unpleasant things, but the people themselves are alright.

Beck is still my favourite character, partially because he has a huge poster of Taylor Swift on his bedroom wall, and partially because he's cool and was given an interesting problem and is actually trying to beat it rather than wallow in it like so many characters in so many books. Riley is still her usual self, which is to say stubborn as a mule but still likeable enough, and the supporting characters are still as well written as they were in the previous books.

I know, I know, I gave the book three stars and so far the review has been entirely positive, so what's wrong with the book? Well, the last fifty pages makes me want to hurl the book into a shredder or perhaps a volcano, that's what wrong with it.

Firstly, the big confrontation. It's half past the apocalypse and Demons, trappers and hunters all throw down in a cemetery. When said like that it sounds f-ing awesome doesn't it! Well Oliver dropped the ball. Big time. Maybe it's because YA is not the only thing I read and I've been spoiled by the likes of Lee Child, but Oliver has written us the blandest action sequence ever. It could have been so epic, the plucky demon trappers vs. the hordes of hell, but it's just not. How it all gets resolved is a pile of arse as well, but that's more a problem with YA on the whole than this book in particular. I call it Voldermort Syndrome. You know at the end of the last Harry Potter, it's Potter against the Dark Lord and Potter wins due to a technicality? Well something like that happens here. The thing Riley has to do that's built up as impossible over the course of the book is achieved too easily. It's the problem all authors face when their protagonists are seventeen and they face the army of hell/the Dark Lord/the aliens from the planet Zog.

The second reason the book makes me want to burn it in the last fifty pages is what happens right at the very end. Beck goes all Edward Cullen on us. Beck, my favourite character, goes emo on us. This guy faced down an Archdemon for crying out loud he shouldn't be taking pointers from the Edward Cullen book of how to be an unlikable jackass.

The last few page of this book are so blisteringly idiotic that I felt like my IQ was dropping just by touching the paper the stupid words were written on.

That was a lot of bile wasn't it? Don't let it put you off, the book is still good and still very much worth your time, and if you are in the book's target audience (13-17 and probably female) then you'll love it. It's only because I'm an unpleasable twenty something that I got annoyed at the last pages. Even if you aren't in the book's target demographic then it's worth a read. The Demon Trapper's world is one of the most original on the YA market at the moment, the characters are several cuts above average, and the plot is solid. Just try not to hate Beck for being such a moron on the last few pages.(less)

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Feb 27, 2012 Tyler-rose (The Reading Pile) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: enjoyed, favorites, series

I have very emotional feelings about this book! Specifically the relationship between Beck and Riley, and the ending! I literally just finished the book and ranted to my boyfriend (it included a lot of swearing and well swearing). Safe to say, I'm not a fan of the ending. But that's not, just to clarify, because it's crap. It's because it's a cliffhanger and I don't like where it is heading.

The book itself was actually kind of intense during a lot of the chapters due to what Riley is going thro...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Aa'Ishah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-fantasy, reviewed

Having enjoyed the first two books in this series, I hoped that Forgiven would be just as good. It didn't disappoint.

Riley Blackthorne is in a heap load of trouble. She owes favours to both Heaven and Hell, and the demon trappers are after her. Ori won't keep out of her head and somehow she needs to resolve the issue of the fake Holy Water. Normally she wouldn't mind kicking a little demon butt, but now she's more than ready to just sleep, drink some hot chocolate and spend time with her dad. No...more Having enjoyed the first two books in this series, I hoped that Forgiven would be just as good. It didn't disappoint.

Riley Blackthorne is in a heap load of trouble. She owes favours to both Heaven and Hell, and the demon trappers are after her. Ori won't keep out of her head and somehow she needs to resolve the issue of the fake Holy Water. Normally she wouldn't mind kicking a little demon butt, but now she's more than ready to just sleep, drink some hot chocolate and spend time with her dad. Not necessarily in that order.

Something that struck me when I was reading this was how Riley had changed. While we see much of the teenager side to her that is prevalent in the other two books, there are also glimpses that show her to be older than her years and changed by her experiences. She stops rushing into situations impulsively and therefore making mistakes that way. Instead she chooses to listen more and argue less. I liked that she learned from her experiences and had become stronger. There were times when I thought that instead of complaining she didn't want to do something, she should just get on and do it becaue everyone else was doing things that they didn't want to but were necessary. But to be fair, there was definitely progress in her character, and it made her all the more relatable.

This character development didn't just hit Riley. We saw it with Beck too. After becoming increasingly frustrated in Forbidden with the stops and starts and misunderstandings between him and Riley, I was both relieved and delighted to see them make some headway. Finally he opened up some more and we got to see some touching insights. It took a lot of work for several people to open Riley's eyes and convince her that Beck did in fact love her, but then there were sweet scenes between them. His behaviour towards her changed and vice versa. All was going well...until the very end. I'm not even going to go anywhere with that.

Besides the characters, I loved all the actiony bits. These were pretty fast-paced. I'm not sure whether I should really mention this - I'm sure I already seem crazy enough as it is to those who know me - but for some reason, when it got to the battle at the end, I had the Matt Smith theme tune running through my head. Weird, I know. Maybe because it was the whole good vs evil thing. In any case, the battle scene was incredibly engaging, with even a bit of plot twist to hold our interest that much more. And the thing about the demons? Definitely an interesting idea, as well as somewhat amusing.

Overall, Forgiven more than lived up to my expectations. Before I read this I found out that there's actually a fourth one, which I am absolutely looking forward to. This book was fun and engaging, presenting us with other aspects of several characters. There was even more of Magpie! I know he's only a tiny little character, if that, but I adore him and love the connection between him and Riley. If you haven't read this yet, please do so as soon as possible. And if you haven't started the series yet...well. You're missing out, is all I can say.

A huge thank you to Sam for lending me her copy.

This review also appears on my blog.(less)

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Jul 08, 2012 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: angels, demons, ghosts, magic

What can I say about this book? What can I say about this series? It’s getting better and better!! I absolutely loved this book! It’s not easy to write a series and every book would be a five star review but Jana Oliver is really a very talented author and she succeeded it!

This book is even more dark and powerful than the first two of the series. Many things are happening here and everything is always at stake. The most important thing in the story is that somehow all the characters change. The...more What can I say about this book? What can I say about this series? It’s getting better and better!! I absolutely loved this book! It’s not easy to write a series and every book would be a five star review but Jana Oliver is really a very talented author and she succeeded it!

This book is even more dark and powerful than the first two of the series. Many things are happening here and everything is always at stake. The most important thing in the story is that somehow all the characters change. The events from the previous books make them different. Riley seems more mature and more determined to do her best in saving the world. She learns from her mistakes and she’s trying to understand the reason behind every action. She isn’t judgmental and she recognized her faults. Nothing is easy in her life but she’s working very well under pressure as it seems! I also have to say that I really liked her friendship with Peter because it’s not usual in a YA fantasy book to have a friendship between a boy and a girl. You know, it happens in real life and it’s good to see it in a book!!!

Beck is as always the best! In this book we learn some things about him. Some good and some weird but at the end there are a lot of questions about his life. I am sure that everything will have a good explanation and I am not worried! I have to say that he was amazing in this story. I found it very sweet that he wants to be better in a lot of things and I admire him for that. He is strong and brave and he is the kind of man that a woman will be safe with him forever.

Another good thing with this book is that it has very interesting secondary characters. I can’t say that I prefer one of another because everyone has something unique that I love. Also, the most important detail for me is that not always the evil is evil and the good is good. There is always a grey area and there is always a balance. The sacrifices we do for keeping this balance is what make us humans.

I loved the world-building and the plot! I have to admit that the Demon Trappers series is officially one of my favorites!
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May 18, 2012 Eileen_1225 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourite-series-ever

Oh, MY...!!! -> It's only one thing I can say about this story (it's a comment also to Forsaken and Forbidden).

At start... many, many kisses from Poland!

I'm absolute Team Beck, even if he's sometimes stubborn and blind. But... who cares, if he's cute and lovely like he is?:) He's my favourite book hero ever.

Dear Jana, please, please, please: don't let Riley choose Ori or someone else (Peter for example, who I really like, really, but he just doesn't "fit").
I'll cry all month (maybe a year to...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Kerry-Ann McDade rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reading-a-little-bit-of-everything

I recieved a paperback copy from the publisher for review.

When you talk about your favourite book you could talk for countless hours about it. But when I talk about The Demon Trappers people look at me worriedly! (in a good way of course) because you could say I'm a little bit attached (obsessed) with The Demon Trappers Series.

It is perfectly normal to date a fictional character don't worry Beck agrees with me (as he has no choice and ISN'T REAL) and as much I love Riley she just . . . isn't go...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourites, paranormal

If you’re a long time Demon Trappers fan, like I am, you’re probably dying to get your hands on ‘Forgiven’, especially with the way ‘Forbidden’ (DT#2) ended. This book will take you on a wild ride of emotions; anger, sadness, giddy happiness, and lastly shock, especially with the way it ended. And amazing book that I still can’t believe I’ve finished already, because I feel like it should have lasted longer than it did, but I was so desperate to get to the end that it was over too fast. Although...more If you’re a long time Demon Trappers fan, like I am, you’re probably dying to get your hands on ‘Forgiven’, especially with the way ‘Forbidden’ (DT#2) ended. This book will take you on a wild ride of emotions; anger, sadness, giddy happiness, and lastly shock, especially with the way it ended. And amazing book that I still can’t believe I’ve finished already, because I feel like it should have lasted longer than it did, but I was so desperate to get to the end that it was over too fast. Although, I’m so glad I had the time to read it all in one go, because you really can’t put it down.

‘Forgiven’ picks up exactly where we left off: Riley shocked to see her father animated again and Beck angry at Ms. Blackthorne, but equally pissed off at the Demon Hunters who are currently forcing him to lying in the dirt. It’s a bit awesome having the books that run over into each other this way. The situations the characters are in are definitely not awesome, a little shocking at times, but I love the idea that there is no massive break between books; days we’ve missed, weeks without knowing what the main characters have been up to. You feel like you’re getting every moment of the story. I love it.

So much was going on in this book; so much that had to be resolved. It’s hard to take a breath with all the action and trouble that pops up on every page. Firstly, the Demon Hunters. They’re still in Atlanta and still causing trouble for the Trappers, but you learn to love them a bit more in ‘Forgiven’. Captain Salvatore has some genuinely awesome moments in this book and I kind of hope we’re not done with the Hunters just yet, because I’d hate to lose some of our main characters for the last book. Next, there’s Riley’s involvement with both the Angels and Lucifer. I was a little worried about what this would do to Riley, bringing up Simon and Ori memories, the reasons for being tied to both sides of the immortal war. But she seemed to handle most of it pretty well, even having Ori in her head for part of the novel.

Finally, we have the Fake Holy Water issue. This is probably the only part of the book that made me a little sad. I was desperate to find out what was up with the faulty Holy Water, it’s been on Riley’s brain for so long and even got Peter wrapped up in the mystery (which is awesome, because I love Peter). But I was a little disappointed in the way it was played out. There’s a pretty strong focus in the beginning of the book with Riley and Peter. Then Beck and the Trappers take control and we miss out of seeing that part of the story unless in passing conversations. With the way Riley and Beck’s POVs change, I thought we’d get to see more of it. But that doesn’t change my opinion of the book, because I loved every moment of it. And in the end, the Holy Water issue wasn’t the biggest complication Riley and Beck had to face, so it was necessary for the story to have it become a lesser issue.

It’s not all doom and gloom within ‘Forgiven’, although there is plenty of that considering what Riley and Beck have to face. The pop culture references throughout the book helped bring a few giggles to the story, including a Lord of the Rings mention that had me laughing out loud on the bus, which was a bit awkward.

There were times where I thought Jana was speaking specifically to me. I guess this happens when you talk to authors online; the conversations you have about the book turn out to be random lines within the story. I had to smile when Riley asks about celibate Demon Hunters, when Ayden’s age is confirmed and when Beck’s gold-flecked eyes are mentioned.

And my ever growing obsession with Beck and Riley and their potential relationship grew to new levels; in ways I didn’t think were possible. I still wanted to knock some sense into Beck occasionally for his association with Justine aka. the Stick Chick; especially when he was all upset at missing out on a chance to be with Riley instead. But my love for all that is Beck and Riley – and all they can be when working together – and my need for more of them was definitely satisfied. I can’t get enough of these two.

The ending: Oh.My.Goodness! I’m still so shocked, and yet, oddly hopeful. I’m worried about the consequences of Riley’s choices towards the end of the novel, but I really feel like everything will work out for the best. That doesn’t mean I’m not DYING for ‘Foretold’. I really hope August gets here quickly. Don’t know how I’ll survive the wait, probably through endless discussions about 'Forgiven'.

Fantastic book, Jana. I adored it.

5/5 stars
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Jul 16, 2012 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a joint review of Soul Thief and Forgiven:

Soul Thief and Forgiven are books that build beautifully upon their predecessor, giving us much-desired character growth while intensifying the demonic presence in Atlanta until we’re on the edge of our seats wondering what’s in store for young Riley both physically and emotionally. The world of the demon trappers is a dark one, the number of those fighting evil greatly overwhelmed by the number of demons intent on destroying them, but through it...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Booknut rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: angel-action, bad-boy-but-with-good-heart, devils-and-demons, can-t-get-enough-of, dystopian-challenge, romantic-book-challenge, southern-drawls, soul-suckers, the-bad-guys-are-bad

My summary:
Riley: Kickass Heroine With a Backbone
Simon: Total Jackass with a capital 'j'
Beck: *sighs* Gods gift to women
Ori: Semi jackass
Mort: Such a sweetheart
Peter: BFF for life
Ayden: Makes me wish I had a witch buddy
Simi: BFF for life with coffee on the side
Justine: ************************ witch. There are no words to describe her - none of them can convey how stupid she is. Her and Simon should get together and have a 'we are such jackasses' party.

On a happy note: My life is complete!
(Tra...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

*Update:

Confession: I’m actually very upset right now. It’s odd, I know, considering how much I ADORED reading Forgiven. But that’s the problem – I’m afraid I adored this book too much that I wasn’t able to savor the reading experience. I wasn’t able to put the book down. You’d think I would’ve at least stopped to eat, or drink, or even finish my homework, but NO. Anyways, yes, I’m upset because dammit, not only does Ms Oliver know how to write a damn good book, but because she knows how to writ...more

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Apr 28, 2012 K rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library

The pendulum swung the wrong way with Book 3, but I think I got most of the story I was looking for.

At the end of Soul Thief, Riley was duped and ended up owing both Heaven and Hell and the distinction between good and evil was all muddled. The holy water scam was still wreaking havoc but on its way to being cracked wide open. Hopefully. Some necro had reanimated Paul Blacktorne but it was who was pulling the strings that was the real problem. Beck got pissy and brought a reporter into the whole...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Brian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 02, 2012 Sapphyria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone

Shelves: reading-romances-challenge

"Forgiven" is the third installment of excellence penned by Jana Oliver.

Book 3 starts up where Soul Thief ended and has Riley in hiding from the demon trappers, the Vatican Demon Hunters, Beck, and pretty much everyone else as she tries to figure out what her next steps should be.

Her ex-boyfriend, Simon, insists Riley is aligned with Hell and has spread the word to the Vatican and throughout the Atlanta trappers. Beck found about her tryst with the Fallen angel, Ori. Riley also owes Heaven and...more "Forgiven" is the third installment of excellence penned by Jana Oliver.

Book 3 starts up where Soul Thief ended and has Riley in hiding from the demon trappers, the Vatican Demon Hunters, Beck, and pretty much everyone else as she tries to figure out what her next steps should be.

Her ex-boyfriend, Simon, insists Riley is aligned with Hell and has spread the word to the Vatican and throughout the Atlanta trappers. Beck found about her tryst with the Fallen angel, Ori. Riley also owes Heaven and Lucifer. And to top it all off, she still hasn't been able to lay her father's reanimated corpse to rest. What ever is a girl to do?

Riley has been through so much more than an average seventeen-year-old should ever have to endure. But then again, Riley isn't your average teenager. She's a demon trapper, the first and only girl in the Guild. And she's done quite a few questionable things, not out of selfishness, but in order to protect the ones she loves.

Riley is a very mature seventeen-year-old heroine. She still makes mistakes but all-in-all she does her best to stand behind her Guild and protect them and her friends. Her relationship with Beck turns a corner but it doubles back on itself, much to my dismay.

We get to see more of the Beck that is completely and totally head-over-heels for Riley. He unfairly judges her, however, for her "mistake" with Ori. It's the classic case of guys can sleep with whomever and however many girls they want and it's okay, but the second a girl does it, she gets labeled or harassed for it. Beck was very selfish in his reasons for being mad at Riley's decision. Riley does set Beck straight, however, and doesn't allow him to punish her for a one time deal when he's shared his bed with many women. Beck and Riley both finally do drop a lot of the stubbornness and meet in the middle. The kiss they share before the "big battle" made me weak in the knees. But just as I stated above in Riley's paragraph--the relationship stops before it even has a chance to blossom....darn that Justine!

Justine, stick girl reporter, is a very good antagonist to Beck. Beck has secrets from his past that, if revealed, could change his life forever. And Justine is just the user/good reporter/scorned ex-lover to bring Beck to his knees.

"Forgiven" is an action-packed novel that is just as good, if not better, than The Demon Trapper's Daughter and Soul Thief. Ms. Oliver's writing style is unique and fresh. Her ability to write with passion and such in-depth detail makes reading her tales very enjoyable. For example: On page 108 Ms. Oliver writes: "As the truck headed toward East Point, the silence felt so sharp it would have drawn blood if given physical form."

The storylines are easy to follow but the twists and turns are not easily figured out. I would have liked to see the "epic battle" scene be a little more epic but I'm satisfied with the outcome and had I been in Paul Blackthorne's reanimated shoes, I would have done exactly what he did. His love for Riley is evident even in death and for that I salute him and his methods of attempting to keep Riley safe.

I love the emotional feel to these books. The tension between Riley and Beck is monumental and while they made strides in this book, we definitely need the next book to come out quickly (hint, hint...lol). There were parts of Forgiven that made me laugh out loud, weep internally, angered me, and made me shed a tear or two. The ability to pull emotions out of a reader is one of the main goals that an author has and Ms. Oliver does it in all 3 books.

While many of the story arcs were wrapped up in "Forgiven," there are still some that need to be dealt with and I, for one, can't wait to ride the rollercoaster with Riley, Beck, and the rest of the gang as we conclude The Demon Trappers series with Book 4. (less)

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Mar 23, 2012 Big Book Little Book rated it 5 of 5 stars

Alison: www.bigbooklittlebook.blogspot.com

This is the third book in Jana Oliver’s ‘Demon Trappers’ series. There will be no spoilers for this book but there may be for the previous two.

Life isn’t great for Riley Blackthorne. Her ex-boyfriend wasn’t who she thought he was, her Dad has been reanimated and really isn’t himself and to top it off she has found herself owing a favour to both Heaven and Hell. ‘Forgiven’ picks up exactly where ‘Forsaken’ left off.

I had been looking forward to the releas...more Alison: www.bigbooklittlebook.blogspot.com

This is the third book in Jana Oliver’s ‘Demon Trappers’ series. There will be no spoilers for this book but there may be for the previous two.

Life isn’t great for Riley Blackthorne. Her ex-boyfriend wasn’t who she thought he was, her Dad has been reanimated and really isn’t himself and to top it off she has found herself owing a favour to both Heaven and Hell. ‘Forgiven’ picks up exactly where ‘Forsaken’ left off.

I had been looking forward to the release of this book since I read the last one in August. On the face of it this series is just another one of those teen supernatural books that can be found anywhere at the moment, but in reality this is so much more. ‘Forgiven’ follows Riley, the main protagonist, but also at times switches the viewpoint to Denver Beck, known to most as simply ‘Beck’. Riley is a teen apprentice Demon Trapper, the first girl the guild has ever allowed into its ranks. Beck is a Journeyman Trapper, ex army from a very troubled background. Riley’s Dad took Beck into their family and mentored him in the ‘trapping’ profession. It is this relationship that has really captured my interest. It’s not about instant love but about friendship and how love can grow and is handled in a much more mature way than relationships in books for teens generally are and this is a real strength of the book. I can hold my hands up and say that I absolutely adore Beck. Not instantly likeable, his character has developed over the three books in a way that makes you understand where he is coming from. Life has not been easy for him, and that with the way he cares for Riley makes you love him all the more. Whilst reading ‘Forgiven’ I actually looked forward more to the sections written from his point of view than I did Riley’s. Jana Oliver has created two characters that you can really care about.

The only problem with the book is the cliff hanger ending. Do I really have to wait till August for the next one?

Verdict: A well written teen urban fantasy book with amazing characterisation. Exciting, absorbing and will leave you begging for more.
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Mar 25, 2012 Kelly Hager rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Riley has her dad back (well, his reanimated body, anyway) and he's safe, at least for the time being. Now she can concentrate on clearing her name (the Vatican thinks she's working with Hell) and trying to figure out why the demon activity in Atlanta is so much worse than usual.

Riley is one of my favorite YA heroines. She's smart and funny, but also relatable. She's been through so much (in the last book, for example, she lost her virginity to what turned out to be a fallen angel. As in "workin...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

ORIGINAL REVIEW POSTED at FANGS, WANDS & FAIRY DUST 3/15/12

I was thrilled and surprised to receive a copy of the third novel in Jana's exciting and moving DEMON TRAPPERS series. In each of the previous entries in the series, my heart was broken for poor Riley Blackthorne who was orphaned, attacked, deflowered and who now stands accused of being one of Lucifer's own. It's definitely a book I would have bought the day it came out. And, it seems there are a lot of releases this month!

I don't "d...more ORIGINAL REVIEW POSTED at FANGS, WANDS & FAIRY DUST 3/15/12

I was thrilled and surprised to receive a copy of the third novel in Jana's exciting and moving DEMON TRAPPERS series. In each of the previous entries in the series, my heart was broken for poor Riley Blackthorne who was orphaned, attacked, deflowered and who now stands accused of being one of Lucifer's own. It's definitely a book I would have bought the day it came out. And, it seems there are a lot of releases this month!

I don't "do" books with a religious agenda. And, one of the strengths in Jana's writing is an ability to portray religious topics without promoting a particular religion. While the Church, and Pope, are present it is rare (possibly never) that Christ or the Virgin Mary enters the the story. That's a tough tightrope to walk.

Even with Angels, ("good" and "fallen") archfiends, demons and an Inquisition style group of powerful Church authorities, I never feel proselytized. I'm glad because it is unusual for a YA/Adult crossover book to look at both sex and maturity without becoming a "teaching" moment. And, as much as I read, it is rare that I am as moved as I am with Jana's story about Riley Blackthorne's struggle as the first female apprentice demon-trapper in 2018 Atlanta. Riley's father was killed recently and whose mom died a few years before. She lives in a motel-apartment, has no money, a nasty master-trapper as a boss and the guy her father left to care for her is only a couple of years older than Riley!

Riley is serious, responsible and in many ways much more mature than any teen should be. She puts others before herself. She is handling life on her own, making mistakes and learning from them. She has friends, and a couple of ex-boyfriends. She enjoys normal teenage things like concerts and hanging-out, but she also knows how to trap a demon. Jana's affection for her characters comes through the story. I feel a passion for the story in her writing. Riley isn't the only one growing up; Beck is also getting a lead on his real emotions.

As we learned in my last interview with Jana, the demon-ridden world is based in part to an economic collapse similar to the one currently being faced by the world. Jana seems to see the larger picture of the struggle being good versus evil and a balance of light and dark as the real issues versus one's party or religion. Heaven seems a bit more evil and impotent herein than the Lucifer's minions. Believe it or not, there are things worse than Lucifer waiting to take over the world.!

This is definitely the third in a series, and while some back story is given, FORGIVEN doesn't really stand alone without the first two. Too much happens in this story as a result of or in continuity from the last book. But that's a darn good excuse to read the series if you have not.

I believe Jana's writing has developed even more depth with each novel. All the characters in this volume mature, come to a realization or ten and it vibrates with action and energy. Riley is genuine throughout as a heroine and as a young woman struggling with strength, and dignity in a world that seems determined to crush her.

Jana does not disappoint, nor is the storyline tired. There are new elements here and we feel a little more comfortable about Riley's future by the end. Challenges remain, for both Riley and the world. The next volume (untitled at this time and possibly out in the Fall of 2012) in the series will bring new challenges for Riley, Beck and the rest of the world.

If you have someone reading paranormal YA/Adult crossover this is a Must Read, as it is if you have read the first two in the series. If you know a teen who thinks she has it rough this series might make her think again.
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Mar 02, 2012 Suzan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

I loved this book, probably best of all three so far! I won't give away any major spoilers cause I don't want to ruin it for anyone but I did fall in love with Beck a little bit more and I have a feeling the next book is going to revolve around a lot of his problems, things from his past that are coming back to haunt him and now all that remains to be seen is whether heaven or hell had a hand in them or not? I only wonder cause of a random comment made towards Beck about his mom that may be noth...more I loved this book, probably best of all three so far! I won't give away any major spoilers cause I don't want to ruin it for anyone but I did fall in love with Beck a little bit more and I have a feeling the next book is going to revolve around a lot of his problems, things from his past that are coming back to haunt him and now all that remains to be seen is whether heaven or hell had a hand in them or not? I only wonder cause of a random comment made towards Beck about his mom that may be nothing more then a taunt but may be significant to the next book for all I know! Either way a few issues were resolved, we learned new things about Beck, Harper and most everyone! I've gained a new respect and love for Peter, Mort, Ayden and surprisingly the Demon Hunters as we seen the other side to them, the human side that wasn't shown in the last book. Yes there are changes in Beck and Riley's relationship, some of those changes made me very happy but the ending wasn't quite what I'd hoped for them, though maybe the fourth book which I will be reading as soon as it's released, will give them the ending they deserve! I also want to very much hurt and maim a certain reporter! maybe shave all her hair off and dye her orange, she how she does then when her good lucks have been marred! Though Ori seems to have redeemed himself a little from the last book in this, I still hate him! I really hope he's dead though no-one knows! I also love Simon getting his comeuppance and a dressing down from an angel! He really really had it coming to him! There were a few unexpected twists in the book and at least one other character pleasantly surprised me, though he is still an ass but at least he seems to have been changed for the better at the end of the book. Really looking forward to the fourth and final book in this series and I have everything crossed for Beck and for Riley, I really do want to see those two together cause I think they'd make a great couple and an unbeatable team! I hope this is basically spoiler free but if anyone doesn't agree let me know and I'll make it a hidden review!(less)

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Apr 16, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If things in Atlanta were a mess before, they’re in total chaos now. The Vatican’s Demon Hunters still haven’t left, making life difficult for the trappers. The situation with the holy water hasn’t been resolved, continuing to put people at risk. And the number of demons congregating in the city has risen drastically, creating doubt about the trappers’ ability to do their job.

But for Riley Blackthorne things are even worse. The mistake she made has cost her far more than just her pride. It may h...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Amber (Books of Amber) rated it 2 of 5 stars

This bored me. Meh.

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Review here: http://www.booksofamber.com/2012/03/f...

Forgiven begins where the previous book left us, with people hunting for Riley, and Riley's dad being reanimated. I liked the first book well enough to read the second, and I found that the second book was brilliant! I really enjoyed it, and was really looking forward to reading this book because I was so interested in finding out what happened next. Unfortunately, Forgiven didn't meet my expectations after such a good se...more This bored me. Meh.

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Review here: http://www.booksofamber.com/2012/03/f...

Forgiven begins where the previous book left us, with people hunting for Riley, and Riley's dad being reanimated. I liked the first book well enough to read the second, and I found that the second book was brilliant! I really enjoyed it, and was really looking forward to reading this book because I was so interested in finding out what happened next. Unfortunately, Forgiven didn't meet my expectations after such a good second book.

The plot was kind of boring in this book, there was a lot of getting from Point A to Point B without there being much substance. The romance aspect takes over the action and plotting, and it really irked me. I know Beck and Riley care for each other - even if they're both too frustratingly stubborn to say anything - but I wanted more fighting and more demons rather than scenes of the two of them bickering constantly over nothing.

Riley and Beck also really annoyed me in this book. I wasn't a huge fan of Beck in the first book, but in the second he started to grow on me. I was hoping to like him even more in this one now that he had come to terms with his feelings - even slightly - but that just wasn't the case.

The pair of them whined about each other SO MUCH; it was beyond frustrated. Every page there were at least a couple of mentions of Beck (when reading from Riley's point of view) and what she thought he would think of her. Excuse me? Why do you care so much what he thinks of you? If he judges you then that's his problem. Come on, you're meant to be a fierce protagonist!

It was the same case with Beck and his point of view, except he annoyed me even more. He was so angry all of the time! I couldn't handle the complaining from him or Riley, so in the end I had to skim those bits. There was too much complaining and no character growth, and after reading about the same stuff throughout three novels now, it got old fast.

I did enjoy reading about Riley's father's reanimated. He was sweet, I guess.

This book leaves you on a little bit of a cliffhanger, which I think those of you who like the romance and relationship between the two of them will enjoy, but it didn't leave me intrigued. I couldn't wait to put this book down, I'm sorry to say, and I am not interested in continuing with the series any more.(less)

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Jun 26, 2012 Zoey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It seems I've been reading a lot of 4 star books lately. I have no problems with this.

I can honestly admit that Beck is the reason for about 80% of that rating. Riley herself is an amazing character - she's strong and fierce, but at the same time she behaves like an actual teenage girl sometimes. She's everything I think a female heroine should be - realistic even in a world of fantasy. However, while I have no problems with Riley at all, Beck just . . . shines, I guess you could say. Beck says...more It seems I've been reading a lot of 4 star books lately. I have no problems with this.

I can honestly admit that Beck is the reason for about 80% of that rating. Riley herself is an amazing character - she's strong and fierce, but at the same time she behaves like an actual teenage girl sometimes. She's everything I think a female heroine should be - realistic even in a world of fantasy. However, while I have no problems with Riley at all, Beck just . . . shines, I guess you could say. Beck says and does frustrating things all the time, but he has a heart of gold. He's not your typical teenage boy found in YA - especially considering he's not even a teenager. I love the way he's constantly watching out for Riley. I love how stubborn he is.

And I love how the relationship between Beck and Riley has grown and matured over three books and still isn't done yet. Their relationship is so realistic. They're the kind of "couple" that you'll never stop rooting for. (I use quotes since they're not actually a couple yet. *sadface*)

This book - the entire series - isn't just about romance, though. The demons are just as present and dangerous as they have been in the previous books. The first three fourths of the book are full of suspense. The last fourth of the book, however, is probably why I didn't give this book 5 stars. Forgiven was just about to hit its climax - the war between Heaven and Hell, basically - and then it's resolved after a few words from Riley in like, three pages. I have to admit I was disappointed.

I love all the little subplots that are all part of the bigger story. Riley's father. The fake holy-water. The way the demons aren't acting the way they're supposed to. Jana Oliver does an amazing job at keeping it all connected.

She also does an amazing job with the secondary characters. They're all so different from each other and they each add something to the story - usually something entertaining for me.

Overall: This is definitely a series I think people should read if they haven't started. Full of fun characters, danger and suspense, and battles of good versus evil, they're all amazing books. Forgiven leads you even deeper into the mysteries, and while I felt it wasn't as exciting as it could have been, I'd definitely say this is the best book in the series so far. 4 stars.(less)

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May 22, 2012 Karissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I absolutely love this series. I am not fully sure why that is. Oliver’s writing style just draws me in and I love the characters, the unique magic, and the world. I seriously could not put this book down, I just loved it soooo much. The fourth and final book in this series will be, Foretold, and is scheduled for an August 2012 release.

Riley finally has her dead dad back in custody. But with the Demon Hunters in town from the Vatican (and suspicions of her having made a deal with Hell) Riley is...more I absolutely love this series. I am not fully sure why that is. Oliver’s writing style just draws me in and I love the characters, the unique magic, and the world. I seriously could not put this book down, I just loved it soooo much. The fourth and final book in this series will be, Foretold, and is scheduled for an August 2012 release.

Riley finally has her dead dad back in custody. But with the Demon Hunters in town from the Vatican (and suspicions of her having made a deal with Hell) Riley is in danger. Not to mention the outfall of her liasons with a certain Fallen angel; after learning about that Beck is totally pissed at her. Problem is Riley can sense things are spinning out of control in Atlanta and she fears the final war between good and evil is close at hand.

Riley has finally gets a bit of relief after all of the horrible things that happened at the end of the last book. Her dad is dead, but has been recovered by Mort. But things aren’t going to ease up on her anytime soon, her liaisons with the Fallen Angel have made her a target of the Demon Hunters and now she is forced to go on the run.

Riley does some stupid things in this book, but she also grows a lot as a character. We finally see her opening up to some of the people around her and accepting their help.

We see a ton more of Peter and Beck in this book. It is wonderful to see what an awesome friend Peter is to Riley, she really needs the support and I am so glad he was there for her. Riley finally takes off the blindfold where Beck is concerned and it was great to see things finally heat up between those two.

We also see a lot more of Mort the necromancer, he was a wonderful character. Grandmaster Stewart is also a lot more involved in the plot and there are some awesome scenes involving him as well.

The book is incredibly action-packed. There are some seriously epic battle scenes in here and they are very very well written. So many things are starting to come together in this book. I had an incredibly hard time putting the book down. Oliver’s writing style is just so readable and has so much momentum, it is always a pleasure to read.

Much of the current story is wrapped up in this book, but not all of it. In fact the book ends in a way that will have readers dying to know what’s going to happen in the final book, Foretold.

Overall an absolutely outstanding addition to this awesome series. If you are a fan of action-packed urban fantasy definitely check this series out. Appropriate for young adult and older.(less)

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Feb 28, 2012 Liz rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5/5

Forgiven was another great addition to a series that just keeps getting better and better. In this book, Riley is forced to deal with the consequences of fraternising with a Fallen angel. The Hunters are already convinced she’s working for Hell and if they ever found out what really happened between her and Ori, she’d be shipped off to Rome for sure. Beck is furious with Riley, she’s practically under house arrest and she still has no idea why Lucifer decided to summon her dad, let alone wh...more 4.5/5

Forgiven was another great addition to a series that just keeps getting better and better. In this book, Riley is forced to deal with the consequences of fraternising with a Fallen angel. The Hunters are already convinced she’s working for Hell and if they ever found out what really happened between her and Ori, she’d be shipped off to Rome for sure. Beck is furious with Riley, she’s practically under house arrest and she still has no idea why Lucifer decided to summon her dad, let alone what kind of favour he could possibly want from her. And if things weren’t bad enough already, someone is creating zombie-like demons that can’t be killed, and they’re wreaking havoc across the city. If Riley doesn’t find out what’s going on and who’s behind it all, she won’t be able to stop Armageddon, and she’s sure as hell that Heaven won’t forgive her for going back on her promise.

Riley was as awesome as ever in this book. Even though Ori lied to her and she almost lost her soul, she didn’t let that take her over and refused to be consumed by it. She got on with her life, doing the best she could. I found it easy to connect to her – her emotions were a bit all over the place, but I think that made her quite a believable teen, and despite that she was still able to focus on the important things, like trapping and finding out what was going on with the fake holy water scam. I think Riley grew a lot in this book – she was less recklessly hot-headed and took time to think about what she was going to do next. Even when she was disobeying orders, she did it because she truly believed it was the right thing, or it was to only way to fix what was going on. I think she was learning from her mistakes and becoming a better trapper and a better fighter. After everything that had happened, no-one would have blamed her if she just wanted to give up and mope for a while, but the fact she struggled on was admirable and made her more likeable. One of the reasons I love this series is because of Riley. I like heroines that actually take action instead of watching everyone else do everything for them.

Beck, as usual, was one of the highlights of the book for me. Though maybe not the usual type I go for in YA fiction, I just think he and Riley would be so good together. He was angry at her for the first part of the book, because of what happened with Ori, and he let his jealousy get the better of him. Underneath that though, you could tell he really cared about Riley. He was worried about her, and didn’t want her to get in any more trouble. Later on, when they sort of made up, he did his best to be there for her, and I loved the way the two interacted. It was sort of like “you annoy the hell out of me, but I like you really and you’re funny” and was so great to read about. Beck’s comments about certain people made me laugh too. However, the best thing about Beck in this particular book was that we got a little glimpse into his past – and boy, was it interesting. This is why I loved the bits from his point of view so much – we got to see things about him no-one else did! We’d always been kept in the dark about Beck before he started trapping – all we ever knew was he used to be a soldier. But it turned out Beck was actually hiding something quite shady and dark. I’m so intrigued; I can’t wait to find out more about it. Whatever it is, Beck was desperate for Riley to never found out. After that ending though...well, let’s just say I am excited for book 4!

I also think I’ve grown to love Peter even more. He was so good in Forgiven, such a brilliant friend to Riley. Always there to cheer her up, or offer her advice or lend her a hand. Everyone needs a friend like Peter, really. He was so cute and awesome...ah. If only he were real! Mort was another character that I grew to like even more. He was determined to do the right thing and he was always very sweet to Riley and he made me smile. Ayden, the witch who helped Riley in the last book, was back in Forgiven too, and I really liked her. She and Mort had this great banter going on – as much as they claimed to hate each other, I think they actually got a long pretty well, and their scenes were definitely funny! Captain Salvatore, one of the Hunters, was another funny one. He seemed to be one of the only guys with a good sense of humour and was a refreshing change from all the other, serious Hunters.

The mystery of Ori was not fully resolved in Forgiven, though we did learn a lot more. Although he was turned into a statue, he could still communicate his thoughts to Riley and they were very interesting thoughts indeed. I thought Ori was a bad guy but after Forgiven, I’m not entirely sure what his motives truly were, or what will happen next. I’ll definitely be interested to find out more about him, and the other Fallen, in Fortold.

Overall, Forgiven was a brilliant follow up to Forbidden – if you liked the previous two books, then this is a must-read. The story was awesome, full of things I didn’t expect and had a lot of great action as well as mystery and suspense. Cannot recommend this series enough – with a tough heroine and an exciting plot, give it a go and you won’t be disappointed.(less)

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Feb 28, 2012 Tasnim rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA Fans, PNR Fans, Jana Oliver Fans

Shelves: ya, uf, fave-series, part-of-series

Let me just start off by saying that I would have given this book a 5 star rating had it not been for that ending! *angry face*

I'd pre-ordered Forgiven pretty much after I'd read Forbidden. Expected publication: March so imagine my surprise when I received this book in the post a week early! I'd actually been putting off reading it, and I read other books instead because I wanted to savour it, and as silly as it sounds, I knew that once I'd read it that was it, I'd have to wait months until the...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Amy (Amy's Book Den) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: demons, all-around-paranormal, angels-or-faeries

Riley Blackthorne has a whole lot of trouble coming her way. She managed to get her father's reanimated body back but now owes Lucifer a favor. Things with Beck are shakier than ever after he found out about the Fallen. And Simon told the Vatican's Demon Hunters that she's an ally of Hell. Things get complicated when demons start banding together and become harder to kill. Armageddon is descending on Atlanta's streets and Riley seems to be the center of it. Demons, Archfiends, Fallen, Archangel...more Riley Blackthorne has a whole lot of trouble coming her way. She managed to get her father's reanimated body back but now owes Lucifer a favor. Things with Beck are shakier than ever after he found out about the Fallen. And Simon told the Vatican's Demon Hunters that she's an ally of Hell. Things get complicated when demons start banding together and become harder to kill. Armageddon is descending on Atlanta's streets and Riley seems to be the center of it. Demons, Archfiends, Fallen, Archangels and Lucifer himself will come out for this final battle, and somehow she is supposed to stop them all!

Forgiven is the third book in The Demon Trapper's saga, and it comes with exciting discoveries, scary events, and a whole lot of action! Riley's life gets more and more complicated. The Demon Hunters are after her, Beck hates her guts, and she has to stop the world from ending. There's still the mystery of the fake holy water to solve, and now the demons are returning as zombies after they're killed. It's all a whirlwind of epic battles, and emotion as Riley gets closer to figuring out what role she plays in the battle between Heaven and Hell. Oh yeah, and she still has school! It's pretty amazing how she juggles all these things, but she never gives up. She's screwed up a couple of things, but now she's ready to stand up and make things right.

One of the scenes I loved most is when Peter tells her how stupid she's been and is still being about the whole Beck thing. I was practically cheering that entire page. Though I have to admit Riley has grown as a character, she still jumps the gun to the wrong conclusions when it comes to Beck. Riley and Beck are...Well, I still want to slap them both for their stubbornness. Though in the past Beck did protect her too much, Riley still acted like a brat most of the time, doing things out of spite. So, I guess they're both to blame. At least now they're working on it and being more open and mature about their feelings. It takes the end of the world for them to admit they're head over heels for each other, but hey, whatever works. I've waited three books for that moment when they kiss and now…well, you'll have to read it to find out if I got my wish or not!

I wanted to bang my head against the wall with the ending. That reporter really needs to die, preferably at the hands of a Three who rips her apart. Riley was more mature about it than me, and she's going to fight for Beck and I so love her for that! Seriously can't wait to read the next book (which I believe is the final one?)! If you haven't read this series you definitely must, and if you have then I'll tell you now that this series only gets better and better with each book.
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BBCode	[url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12342454-forgiven?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1329781602l/12342454.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12342454-forgiven?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Forgiven by Jana Oliver[/url]

Forgiven (The Demon Trappers #3)

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