The Demon Trapper's Daughter (The Demon Trappers #1) by Jana Oliver

Jan 06, 2011 Erika Badass rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-s

3.5/5 stars.

I'm gonna review with a Pro/Con List.
I will read the next one in the series. I did enjoy it.

Pro's first :)

1) Interesting Concept with fresh ideas. Demons! No sparkly Vamps!
2) Easy to read Voice/writing style
3) Pretty Decent Charcterization overall, they had depth, stayed true to self, and there were some touching moments.
4) Decent World Building
5) I liked the demons. I liked the Demon world buiding, descriptions and hierarchy

Cons: Not really cons about the book itself, just little...more

64 likes · like · see review

Feb 13, 2011 ~Tina~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, read-2011, young-adult, paranormal, demons-and-zombies, cover-crazz, tbr-booker-challenge

(4.5Stars)

TBR Reduce Challenge #10- 2011 (Alexa)

The Demon Trapper's Daughter is a really solid book. It's fast paced, has some great world building and I loved the clever characters and crisp straightforward dialog and wicked writing style.

Riley is a great MC, I liked that she wasn't some cocky know-it-all with attitude, she makes mistakes but isn't delusional to think she's above it all. She fears but she's a fighter and wants to prove she can be one of the greats, like her dad, and survive in...more

19 likes · like · see review

Feb 10, 2011 Alexa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, 2011-reads, new-adult, young-adult, own

My review can also be found on my blog Collections.

4.5 stars

After reading some reviews, I wasn’t sure whether or not I would like this book. I heard some unappealing things about the characters, especially Riley. I also heard that the romance included a love-triangle. (Actually, it was scarier than that because the reviews made it sound like a love-square.) I don’t enjoy reading a book where I dislike the main character all the way through, and it’s rare that I like a love-triangle or anything m...more
My review can also be found on my blog Collections.

4.5 stars

After reading some reviews, I wasn’t sure whether or not I would like this book. I heard some unappealing things about the characters, especially Riley. I also heard that the romance included a love-triangle. (Actually, it was scarier than that because the reviews made it sound like a love-square.) I don’t enjoy reading a book where I dislike the main character all the way through, and it’s rare that I like a love-triangle or anything more than that. So it just seemed the book wasn't going to work out for me. But I'm so glad I gave this book a chance because this was a case where my experience with the book ended up being completely different from those reviews I read.

The Demon Trapper's Daughter is about seventeen-year-old Riley Blackthorne, who wants to be a Demon Trapper like her father. Riley does as much as she can to prove that she's capable of taking care of herself by holding her own against the demons and the males that dominate the Trapper world she chooses to live in. She isn't perfect though. She makes mistakes and some poor decisions, but she's strong and smart enough to make up for it when it really counts. Some may not like Riley's attitude towards Denver Beck, her father's twenty-two-year-old apprentice, but I think her feelings are pretty justified. She had a huge crush on Beck a few years back, and it seems he went about rejecting her by being a complete ass jerk. I also believe Riley's envious of all the time Beck gets to be around her father, who has been too busy with demon trapping lately to spend quality time with his daughter. The good thing is Riley and Beck's relationship improves little by little through the book. Another thing I liked was that the book also included chapters from Beck's perspective. I really enjoyed his character. He's funny, loyal, and protective. He's been through a whole lot more than most people his age. It was refreshing seeing the world viewed by an adult in a YA book, even though this book didn't exactly feel like a YA.

The book was definitely more focused on aspects other than romance, which I'm glad for. It's true, though, that it sounds like there's going to be love-triangle or potentially even a love-square. At this point, I'm all for Riley and Beck! I'm really liking their development together. However, right now, there's a romance between Riley and Simon. Simon’s another fellow Demon Trapper. He's 20 years old and a really nice, good-looking guy. I can understand the appeal, but I admit I wasn't quite feeling their relationship. It moved a bit too fast, and I felt Simon was lacking that extra special something that would have made him stand out. It didn’t help that there were other, more interesting guys like Beck and the mysterious Ori, who I think could be possible love-interests for Riley. I think Riley and Simon would be better off as friends, but I'm sure there will be (and I’m hoping for) more development in the next book between Riley and all the guys, so we'll see. ;)

I decided to only mention the characters and the relationships in this review, since those two things are the most important to me when it comes to determining if I like a book. (And if I kept going, this review would never end.) I will say though that the ending wasn't what I expected, and I wish it went just a tiny bit slower because there was a lot to take in with all the scene changes. Other than that I thought The Demon Trapper's Daughter was a great start to the series, and I cannot wait to read the next book Soul Thief!(less)

16 likes · like · see review

view all 16 comments

Nic Awesome review Alexa. The characters sound interesting. And even the love square sounds okay. Can't wait to read this now :)
Feb 10, 2011 01:38pm

If it ain't good I don't read it ! This book was okey aside from the depressing sceneary and the lack of understanding during some parts of the book it was okey except when the kept say...more
May 12, 2012 08:41pm

Apr 09, 2011 Ashleigh Paige rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-via-amazon-vine, the-great-shelf-of-awesome, arc, fell-out-of-love-with-this-series

Also appears on The Screaming Nitpicker. I received my copy through Amazon Vine.

In 2018 Atlanta, the city and the United States as a whole is pretty much bankrupt, demons are everywhere, and trappers and hunters are hard at work to keep demons off the streets so they won't kill people or claim souls for Hell. Riley Blackthorne is a demon trapper apprentice, the first female demon trapper in Atlanta, and her dad is the infamous trapper Paul Blackthorne. She's got plans to get places in the city,...more

12 likes · like · see review

Oct 08, 2010 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-2012-new-books-to-buy, ya-supernatural, books-read-in-2010, ya-galley-books

More like a 4.5 rating.

I'm usually introduced to series, after a few of the books have already been released. Sometimes, it's better that way. You don't have to wait a year for the next one. Anyway, this year I'm extremely excited about a few new series, "Nevermore" and "Hex Hall." Now I can add this book to the list, unfortunately it doesn't actually come out until next year, so that means waiting even longer for the second book. It's worth it in my opinion.

I don't usually overly boost about...more

11 likes · like · see review

view all 5 comments

Em Hey, if you like books with demon trappers, there is a series (i think) might be even better than this one. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare:...more
Mar 03, 2011 04:19pm

If it ain't good I don't read it ! This book was okey aside from the depressing sceneary and the lack of understanding during some parts of the book it was okey except when the kept say...more
May 12, 2012 08:41pm

Mar 04, 2011 oliviasbooks rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to oliviasbooks by: Kim

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, urban-fantasy-paranormal, gods-demons-angels-immortals, multiple-povs-letters, unfinished-2011, low-expectations

Maybe my rating might have climbed to 3 stars had I had the interest to find out what happened to Riley, Beck, Simon and Peter after Riley's future had been decided by the Demon Trappers' Guild. Who knows. As it is - I have read 160 pages and struggled for the last 20 or so with the first notions of boredom - my opinion of the book is best represented by 2 stars. The "person" I liked best about the book so far was that tiny, bling-addicted Klepto Demon in ninja garb, who miraculously returned to...more

9 likes · like · see review

Jun 12, 2011 Carmel (Rabid Reads) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Original review posted by Rabid Reads: http://www.rabidreads.com/2011/06/review-demon-trappers-daughter-by-jana.html

This book was such a fun read! I enjoyed it from beginning to end; there were a few sad parts but the quirky lower grade demons always managed to put a smile on my face. I read this book while killing time on the various flights I took during my vacation. There were a few points in time where I didn't touch the book for days but it was easy to pick-up right where I left off. No re-...more Original review posted by Rabid Reads: http://www.rabidreads.com/2011/06/review-demon-trappers-daughter-by-jana.html

This book was such a fun read! I enjoyed it from beginning to end; there were a few sad parts but the quirky lower grade demons always managed to put a smile on my face. I read this book while killing time on the various flights I took during my vacation. There were a few points in time where I didn't touch the book for days but it was easy to pick-up right where I left off. No re-reading required. Although, backtracking a bit wouldn't have been a bad thing in this case because this novel is just so good!

Oddly enough I think the demons were my favorite part about this book. They're ranked on a scale of 1 to 5 (I think 5 is the max because nothing higher was mentioned). Riley only "officially" deals with the lower grades as she's just starting out in the world of trapping. I adored the Klepto-Fiends with their little bags and how they're attracted to shinny baubles. You have one guess as to what this hell spawn's main attribute is! I totally want one! The fact that Riley uses sippy-cups to contain them is hilarious. Don't be fooled though, the lower grade demons can still do a lot of damage and the five's are downright scary.

Riley is a fantastic character whom Jana Oliver developed extremely well. She doesn't take no for an answer and knows from the very beginning what she wants to be when she grows up: a trapper. Miss Blackthorne is the first female in the business and I really admired her determination to make it in a "man's world". Tragedy strikes at every turn but Riley keeps at it. Her young age was comically illustrated a few times such as when she was worried about having to go to school with green demon pee all over. Blackthorne is forced to grow up really quickly in this book but she handles it extremely well. Jana Oliver couldn't have come up with a better character for this story's heroine.

My crush on Beck was almost instantaneous. He's rough around the edges, sarcastic and sexy; the perfect ying to Riley's yang. Nothing romantic happens between these two protagonists but a few hints are dropped and I really hope that sparks fly in the second installment of this series. Overall, Beck still remains a mystery to readers. There's definitely more to him than meets the eye but I guess only time will tell what sort of secrets he keeps! His actions show that he has a softer side beneath his tough guy exterior. There were a few instances where I thought to myself aaaww, he's so thoughtful and sweet!

The Demon Trapper's Daughter absolutely blew me away. This book is a must read! Thankfully the next book in this series is out in August. I'm so happy to have been lucky enough to have won a signed copy. Before anyone asks, no I will not be giving it away; this one is a keeper! Get your own. Now!(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Feb 13, 2011 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

A fantastic start to a series that anticipates to be an action packed and wicked ride!

Something that really stood out for me, was the narration. That's usually not something that "makes" a story for me, but I can't deny it held a certain appeal for me this time around. It's told in a duel perspective, one being Riley and the other Beck. That's not all that uncommon for ya, I love books told in duel perspectives... I think I've mentioned this several times before. But these characters couldn't be...more A fantastic start to a series that anticipates to be an action packed and wicked ride!

Something that really stood out for me, was the narration. That's usually not something that "makes" a story for me, but I can't deny it held a certain appeal for me this time around. It's told in a duel perspective, one being Riley and the other Beck. That's not all that uncommon for ya, I love books told in duel perspectives... I think I've mentioned this several times before. But these characters couldn't be more different, and I don't just mean the age difference, so it made a for a distinct reading experience. Well, for me anyway... and this is my review right, so it's all about my opinion!

The world that Oliver created was intense.... it's sort of freaked me out actually and yet the grittiness of it made it strangely fascinating. Like the whole reanimation thing... having these zombie slaves... how absolutely nefarious is that. Just digging someone up... doing a little black magic, and ta-da mindless mule. Absolutely nefarious yet at the same time it was intriguing. And I can't fail to mention the demons. I'm hoping that I won't be running into one of those things in a dark alley anytime soon... although I wouldn't mind having one of the smaller ones for a pet!

Characterization was great. Riley although at times was inconsistent, I think that is what made her realistic. Especially at her age, I know I didn't know "who I was" when I was a teen, and I can't expect Riley to have it all figured out. Heck, if I'm being honest with myself, I still don't have clue. Well rounded and realistic... that's what I like. Beck was probably my favorite character of them all... he's got some issues, some "real deep down, you're going to have to deal with that shit, before it messes you up big time" issues. He's flawed, and that what I loved about him. I even Harper, the biggest asshole of all time, intrigued me.... and that is saying a lot. Usually I'd just be rooting for the guy to get his head eaten off of something.

I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series, and getting a better understanding of the Guild itself... and figuring out the complete truth behind what Riley's dad was working on.... I know there's got to be more than what was touched on this time around.

Demons, kicking-ass, cute boys.... yes please. Did I mention the cute boys?(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 19, 2011 Theresa rated it 2 of 5 stars

I've never done a DNF (did not finish) review before-- usually I don't get far enough into a book I don't like to actually qualify it as review material. But Jana Oliver's The Demon Trapper's Daughter is unusual in that I made it most of the way before giving it up as being too irritating to be worth the effort to finish.

Obviously you don't need to read this whole review to know what my final verdict will be.

"The Demon Trapper's Daughter" is the story of Riley Blackthorn, the daughter of a wel...more

5 likes · like · see review

Feb 17, 2011 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Demon Trapper’s Daughter (titled Forsaken in the UK) is set in Atlanta, 2018. It’s not precisely a post-apocalyptic setting, but it’s a depressed one, with economic woes plaguing much of the population and demons living openly among humans. These aren’t angsty, misunderstood demons either, but fiends from Hell; the small ones are nuisances and the big ones are deadly.

Seventeen-year-old Riley Blackthorne is an apprentice demon trapper. Her father is himself a prominent trapper, which causes t...more The Demon Trapper’s Daughter (titled Forsaken in the UK) is set in Atlanta, 2018. It’s not precisely a post-apocalyptic setting, but it’s a depressed one, with economic woes plaguing much of the population and demons living openly among humans. These aren’t angsty, misunderstood demons either, but fiends from Hell; the small ones are nuisances and the big ones are deadly.

Seventeen-year-old Riley Blackthorne is an apprentice demon trapper. Her father is himself a prominent trapper, which causes trouble for Riley on two fronts. Other trappers think she’s trying to coast by on his name, and the demons hold grudges and would love to have a shot at Paul Blackthorne’s daughter.

The book begins with what’s supposed to be an easy mission; Riley is assigned to trap a Biblio-Fiend, a low-level demon whose mayhem is limited to damaging books. Everything goes wrong, though, and this becomes the first indication that the demons aren’t acting in the usual way. Demons always prowled alone, but now they’re teaming up with other demons to pose a greater threat. Adding to the danger, the trappers’ supply of Holy Water isn’t working as well as it’s supposed to. Trapping just became much more dangerous, and soon Riley has a family tragedy to deal with.

The Demon Trapper’s Daughter is a grimmer book than you might be expecting. There’s a heartbreaking death, followed by grueling efforts to keep necromancers from stealing the body from the grave. And that’s not to even mention the other destruction dished out by the demons…

Riley is an engaging heroine. She’s in a stormy mood for most of the book, but she has plenty of reasons for that. She’s stubborn, and sometimes too brave for her own good. She’s exactly what a spirited “everygirl” might be if placed in such a difficult situation. The other point-of-view character, Denver Beck, is harder to get a grip on. At times he’s a great hero who’d do anything for Riley. Other times he comes off as a bit of a pig; it’s hard for me to like a character when he spends part of his first scene catcalling girls on the street. His dialogue is also written in a distracting accent. Despite a five-year age difference, I suspect he’s being set up as Riley’s eventual love interest (though she dates someone else in this installment).

The plot is filled with tension and sadness, and occasionally a touch of humor. It’s mainly driven by the mystery of the strange demon behavior and by Riley’s everyday struggles to get by on a limited income and survive in the face of dangers. Riley has to worry about things like bills and replacing demon-damaged clothing, which lends a welcome dose of realism to the story.

If you’re looking for an action-filled YA urban fantasy, and want to read about a young girl in the process of becoming a butt-kicking heroine, The Demon Trapper’s Daughter may be just what you’re looking for. I look forward to future DEMON TRAPPER novels. (less)

4 likes · like · see review

Feb 06, 2011 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 5 of 5 stars

OMG! This book was just DA BOMB!!!! I love reading every moment of it. So much action, emotions, and just everything in was just aghhhhhhhh! SWEET! Riley is the only girl licensed as a demon trapper. Because of this expectations are held high for her and one slipped could forever ruin her. After a trapping goes wrong, Riley is faced with some bad mojo coming her way.

Riley, I love her. I admit I cried during this book. Riley is so strong. I could never had held up the way she did. This chick got...more

4 likes · like · see review

Dec 16, 2010 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, arc

You would think that being a Demon Trapper would be enough to earn you a little respect. It may sound glamorous, but trapping demons is not as easy-peasy as the popular TV show Demonland might lead you to believe.

One: It’s extremely dangerous. Even a level one demon can wreak havoc. A level three demon would like nothing more than to have you as its next meal. And forget about the risk in facing a level five. It would almost be less risky to sell your soul to Lucifer than to battle one of them.

T...more

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 07, 2010 Yan rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. “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. Fortunately, humans are protected by trappers, who work to keep homes and streets safe from the things that go bump in the night.”

The Demon Trapper’s Daughter was a heart pounding, adrenaline kicking novel that tried too much as the first book in the series.

This dystopian world is caused by the economic downturns of cou...more “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. Fortunately, humans are protected by trappers, who work to keep homes and streets safe from the things that go bump in the night.”

The Demon Trapper’s Daughter was a heart pounding, adrenaline kicking novel that tried too much as the first book in the series.

This dystopian world is caused by the economic downturns of countries. The price of gas is a hundred or so dollars per gallon. “With the ridiculous cost of gas even horses made sense now” (18, ARC). Yet if that is true and people are stealing traffic lights and “sold for scrap metal thieves” (18) then why is it, and how is it, possible that the demon trappers own cars. Like I think almost every one demon trapper that I’ve come across in the novel has a car. And then they bitch about being broke. My recommended solution: walk, ride a bike, get a freaking horse since it makes sense now. If the trapper is using an automobile to store the demons in, carpool. Trappers pair up when they hunt so this isn’t too far of a stretch.

Riley is from a long line of demon trappers [not hunters, as hunters think all demons are evil and must be killed whereas trappers merely trap demons, and sell them to get them “purified”]. She’s—what 16, 17?—years old with a smoking body, because we get inner monologues and talks about how pretty she is. I got it, so thanks. She’s also really kick-ass for an apprentice nabbing a level 3 class demon when she’s only allowed to trap a level one. But Riley does get beaten up in these fights and nearly dies at one point. Riley is stubborn and sees very little outside of her own little world. The Demon Trapper’s Daughter offers readers realistic fighting scenes where the good guys get beaten, bruised and bloody. And the possibility death is ever constant.

This is VERY SLIGHT SPOILER so I would advise you to skip this paragraph if you hate spoilers of any kind. Death is a very real thing in The Demon Trapper’s Daughter where one character’s death creates a ripple effect in the trapping world, specifically affecting Riley the most. However, my preference to the way the character’s death is handled is less snark, more grief. A sentence describing the way Riley was in bed for such and such days isn’t effective in drawing out sympathy from the readers especially when the very next scene has Riley a little pissed of for causing her so much trouble. Whatever, it bothered me when I was reading it.

The Demon Trapper’s Daughter is told in two third-person perspective which is good and bad. Bad because one of them annoyed me. It was very repetitive and tiring after a while. Good because it gave a different point of view and set of opinions to the same scene. It also allowed two different reactions and coping mechanisms in regards to the character’s death.

In the novel each demon is categorized by their size, power, and attributes. Oliver does a great job of describing and separating each demon into subclasses and ways to fight them. Yet my problem is where did these demons come from? When did they first appear on Earth? Have they always been there? Have demon trappers existed as long as demons have existed? I’m curious about the over trappers in the world and if there are any aside from Rome.

The Demon Trapper’s Daughter has a set-up for a potential love square. SQUARE! It might be a triangle, or it might be a couple, but it can definitely go anywhere at this point. I clenched my jaw when one kept popping up after another.

Oliver keeps bringing up more questions to the world and another plotline before the previous question was answered. The world building was iffy, but the action top-notch. I found myself having to read the sequel to The Demon Trapper’s Daughter rather than wanting to read the sequel because it interested me so much. While I say that there is a big chance I will not continue with the series.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 26, 2011 Sara Grochowski rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

I'll be honest: I picked up THE DEMON TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER on a whim, but I wasn't very excited about it. I'm not the biggest fan of the cover (though I like it more after reading the novel) and, while the description sounded interesting, I thought it had the potential to be cliche.

I was wrong.

I simply could not put it down. Kickass main character? Check. Detailed world with unique paranormal elements? Check. Good looking boys? Double Check. It doesn't always happen that a novel has all three of...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 30, 2012 Infinite Playlist rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: form-audiobook, connected, creatures-demons, creatures-angels, genre-paranormal, genre-ya, death-murder-loss, wont-read-sequel

Liebes Die Dämonenfängerin,
du bist ein bisschen wie ein überfüllter Bus. Wenn man deinen Passagieren im Alleingang begegnet, könnten sie sich als sympathische Mitfahrer entpuppen, aber alle gemeinsam auf den engsten Raum gequetscht, das macht nur schlechte Laune und selbst den nettesten Fahrgast griesgrämig.

Du hast wirklich ein paar Höhepunkte. Du warst viel ernster als ich erwartet hatte. Es ist heftig mit wie vielen Schicksalsschlägen du Riley bombardiert hast. Am Anfang kamen die ziemlich ers...more Liebes Die Dämonenfängerin,
du bist ein bisschen wie ein überfüllter Bus. Wenn man deinen Passagieren im Alleingang begegnet, könnten sie sich als sympathische Mitfahrer entpuppen, aber alle gemeinsam auf den engsten Raum gequetscht, das macht nur schlechte Laune und selbst den nettesten Fahrgast griesgrämig.

Du hast wirklich ein paar Höhepunkte. Du warst viel ernster als ich erwartet hatte. Es ist heftig mit wie vielen Schicksalsschlägen du Riley bombardiert hast. Am Anfang kamen die ziemlich erschütternd daher, leider hat Riley sich nach dem ersten Schreck viel zu schnell mit ihnen arrangiert und ihnen damit die Glaubwürdigkeit genommen.

Am schönsten fand ich es, dass du mir Beck vorgestellt hast. Die Chemie zwischen ihm und Riley stimmt. Natürlich sieht ein blinder mit Krückstock das, nur Riley selbst nicht. Wie auch, wenn du sie mit einem ganzen Büffet weiterer männlicher Umwerber konfrontierst. Wenn Beck mein Herz nicht von vorneherein für sich gewonnen hätte (jetzt mal ehrlich, der ältere, coole und trotzdem fürsorgliche Typ macht doch immer das Rennen), hätte ich ja fast Schwierigkeiten gehabt mich zu entscheiden. Du hast mir den besten Freund Peter geboten, den braven katholischen Jungen Simon und am Schluss sogar den coolen Dämonenjäger Uri. Bei so einem Überangebot kommt doch kein Mädchen mehr klar.

Zusätzlich dazu schlägt Riley sich mit ihrer Dämonenfängerausbildung herum. Leider beweist sie dabei immer wieder, dass sie nicht die Hellste ist, auch wenn du das gern so dargestellt hast. So an sich hat mir dieses dämonenverseuchte Gesellschaftssystem ja ganz gut gefallen. Es ist mal was anderes, aber es hat definitiv noch zu viele dunkle Ecken und spitze Kanten. Der Staat musste die Schuldgebäude verkaufen und deshalb findet der Unterricht jetzt in verlassenen Supermärkten statt? Wirklich? Und dann dieses ganze Weihwasserkomplott – kann man sich eine langweiligere Verschwörung ausdenken?

Um zurück auf den überfüllten Bus zu kommen: du hast nicht nur das schicksalsgebeutelte Mädchen, ihren Fanclub und ein paar Dämonen einsteigen lassen, nein, dazu mussten sich auch noch Möchtegernvampire, gewalttätige, derb-fluchende Ausbilder, zickige Mitschülerinnen und Engel (!) gesellen. Dabei war der Bus schon voll! Bis oben hin! Das war einfach zu viel für ein Buch.

Obwohl ich fand, dass Luisa Helm dich wirklich schön vorgelesen und Beck es mir irgendwie angetan hat, habe ich nicht so richtig Lust mich mit deinen zahlreichen Geschwistern zu verabreden.

Auf Nimmerwiedersehen,
Infinite Playlist(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 29, 2011 (´*•.¸ღBexღ¸.•*´) rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Demon Trapper's Daughter is a beautifully written, fast-paced action-packed read that will have you enthralled from the first page to the last.

The Demon Trapper's Daughter is Riley Blackthorne, a controversial demon trapper apprentice in the futuristic world of 2018 Atlanta. In this future, the world has been overrun by all kinds of terrible demons and dark things, and it's the job of the Demon Trapper's Guild to capture demons and hand them over for testing (and whatever else the governmen...more The Demon Trapper's Daughter is a beautifully written, fast-paced action-packed read that will have you enthralled from the first page to the last.

The Demon Trapper's Daughter is Riley Blackthorne, a controversial demon trapper apprentice in the futuristic world of 2018 Atlanta. In this future, the world has been overrun by all kinds of terrible demons and dark things, and it's the job of the Demon Trapper's Guild to capture demons and hand them over for testing (and whatever else the government does with them). Riley has always been the rebellious type, and something of a misfit, so the controversy barely rattles her. Instead, she'd rather focus on continuing her father's legacy as a demon trapper. But when Riley's father is killed by a demon, her world is sent into a confusing spiral filled with action, surprise, intrigue and even a little romance. Riley is out to prove that she's not just worthy of her apprentice demon trapper's license, but to be called her father's daughter.

I absolutely blazed through Demon Trapper's Daughter. From the first word to the last, I was completely hooked. First off, Riley is an excellent character. She feels like an honest, believable protagonist that readers can easily identify with and will instantly want to take her side and cheer her on to victory. Most importantly, Riley is not portrayed as being perfect, which is a huge help for readers and makes her easy to sympathize with and want to root for.

Then there's the gritty, dark world filled with all kinds of quirky, fascinating creatures. Debut author Jana Oliver has an excellent job of creating her world with exquisite detail that captures unique characters, creatures and settings. In fact, the entire mythos of the world itself, as well as of the Demon Trapper's Guild is very well constructed and feels solid. As I read on, I only wanted to learn more about it.

But most importantly ‘Demon Trapper's Daughter’ is a well-paced action-packed read that will immediately capture readers and refuse to let them go. I was so wrapped up in Riley and her world that as soon as I put the book down, I wanted to know when the next one was due out. A quick word of caution though, make sure you have time to read before you start this book; it is absolutely addictive.
(less)

2 likes · like · see review

May 17, 2011 Becca rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, own, ya-demon, 5stars, 2011-release, part-of-series

Is this book on your TBR list??? If not, stop reading and add it....

2011 has brought some really fantastic new series into my little corner of the reading world. I've gotten a taste of Nightshade, Stork, Wither, Iron Thorn - with many still on the too read list - I can't say this new series by Jana Oliver is the best of the year. But it's going to be up there!!! Set in 2018, the beautiful shinning city of Atlanta, many of us love, is unrecognizable. Hell has released scores of demons and 17yo R...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 03, 2011 marlene rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

** 3.5 stars **

Okay. So, it took me a while to finish this book. Why? Because it was kind of slow paced. You would have thought a book about demon trapping would be action-packed to the maximum, right? Well, it wasn't. At all. But that doesn't mean it wasn't a good book.

The setting is really cool! Welcome to Atlanta, year 2018. Demons are out in the open.
Riley Blackthorn is the daughter of a master trapper, and she wants to be a trapper too. Problem is; she's a girl. And the demons are up to som...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 30, 2011 Princess Bookie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read2011

My Thoughts: We are introduced to Riley Blackthorne and her father Paul. Paul is an experienced Demon Trapper and Riley is following right in his footprints. She is a daddy's girl and wants to be just like him. She wants to make him proud. I liked the whole concept of this book. It was very interesting to say the least. Paul and Riley are part of a guild and they trap demon's. There are different levels of demons who are more powerful than others.

There are many characters throughout this book. T...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 31, 2011 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: with-reviews, teen-paranormal-fiction, teen-action-adventure, read-in-2011, 2011-teen-book-reviews

Riley Blackthorne is the daughter of Paul Blackthorne, a legendary demon trapper. Seventeen year old Riley longs to follow in her father's footsteps, but sexism, old grudges, and the demon's themselves all seem to want to prevent her from doing that. When the unthinkable happens, Riley must learn how to stand alone and find her inner strength to combat those who would rather see her fail.

Jana Oliver's character development is spot on. I loved Riley. She was tough, realistic, and yes, she still...more
Riley Blackthorne is the daughter of Paul Blackthorne, a legendary demon trapper. Seventeen year old Riley longs to follow in her father's footsteps, but sexism, old grudges, and the demon's themselves all seem to want to prevent her from doing that. When the unthinkable happens, Riley must learn how to stand alone and find her inner strength to combat those who would rather see her fail.

Jana Oliver's character development is spot on. I loved Riley. She was tough, realistic, and yes, she still had some uncertainties. Her flaws were realistic as were her actions. What really impressed me though is Oliver's character development with the supporting characters. Denver Beck was also a well rounded and interesting character with a past that continues to taint his present and his perspectives. Simon the other apprentice demon trapper, loves Riley and has plans of his own and his own faith. Even Harper, the Master Demon Trapper, has a multifaceted personality and I found I wanted to know more about all of them. Oliver's characters pull you in and you find yourself eager to hear more of their stories.

This is definitely the first novel in a series and it leaves much to be revealed. Perhaps too much. I kind of felt that the story ended too abruptly and that I didn't get a satisfying ending. It definitely leaves you with a cliff hanger, but most books with give you some conclusion to the events in addition to the cliff hanger. I didn't feel that here. I felt that the ending left me empty-handed and that I really didn't know any more than I did in the beginning. Hopefully future novels will rectify this flaw and give us the substance we need to continue with the story.

The story is fast paced and virtually non-stop action. While this is a good thing that will keep the readers flipping the pages it also works against the novel. The pace is too quick sometimes, and explanations are never offered for events or circumstances. I would really like more detail on the history proceeding the events in the novel and the situation in the would, as it is alluded to, but never fully explained.

I am going to mention one other thing that has me concerned about this book. This book has presented some what of a librarian's conundrum for me. Although the book is written for teens and marketed to teens it has somewhat of an adult feel to it. There is language and sexual references, that although toned down from what you would find in an adult book, left me feeling like this book would have been better suited to being an adult book. There is a fine line that you walk sometimes between adult materials and teen materials especially in small town conservative libraries. I was not personally offended by anything in this book, but I could see some of my teen patrons and their parents not feeling comfortable with a couple of the sexual references. Before I get too far, let me say that it isn't anything more explicit than you would find in a House of Night novel by Cast. I just feel, after having read the whole book, that it would have been better if the author had just written the book for adults--it would have felt right. As it is, it feels like an adult novel that has been toned down for the teens. I don't know if I am expressing this correctly, but it just didn't fit.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, although I wish there could have been more substance. It is a first novel in a series and I look forward to what future novels will bring. I do intend to read the next book series just to see what will happen next.

Cautions for sensitive readers: Violence, language, and sexual references and situations.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 19, 2011 Ashley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 100-book-challenge-2011, 2011-debut-author-challenge, 350-page-books-challenge-2011, off-the-shelf-challenge, outdo-yourself-challenge

**Slight Spoilers, and a freakishly long review**
When I first started reading The Demon Trapper’s Daughter, I was instantly reminded of the novel Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow, which is a great thing because I LOVED Strange Angels. The comparison stands throughout the whole book, but they’re not so overtly similar that it overshadowed The Demon Trapper’s Daughter. This novel can definitely stand on it’s own in this genre.

The beginning of the book throws you right into the action with Riley, an...more

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 12, 2010 Bird rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult, first-in-a-series, arc, read-in-2010

I won this as part of the Goodreads First Reads program, hoping to love it. Instead, I'm left feeling pretty ambivalent.

The good...

1. Demons! The paranormal market (both YA and adult) is flooded with vampires/shapeshifters/fairies, so it was a nice change of pace to see demons staring in this new series. Most of them are decidedly creepy, but the Magpies seem almost cute to me, with their little thieving antics and bags full of shiny goodies.

2. Lots of mysterious happenings, most of which I won'...more I won this as part of the Goodreads First Reads program, hoping to love it. Instead, I'm left feeling pretty ambivalent.

The good...

1. Demons! The paranormal market (both YA and adult) is flooded with vampires/shapeshifters/fairies, so it was a nice change of pace to see demons staring in this new series. Most of them are decidedly creepy, but the Magpies seem almost cute to me, with their little thieving antics and bags full of shiny goodies.

2. Lots of mysterious happenings, most of which I won't go into so as to avoid spoilers. Suffice to say that the plot was multifaceted, with a number of problems that may or may not be related to one another.

3. Love square? To me, it felt like there are three possible love interests, which would result in the ever-elusive love square. *grin* The appearance of a handsome, mysterious stranger at the end (one corner of the square) was particularly intriguing.

The bad...

1. The worldbuilding felt lacking. At the end of the novel, I was left feeling like I didn't really know much. Why are the demons running around? Has it always been this way, or is it something new? If there are angels walking around on earth, why don't they go all divine and smite the demons' asses off? (I could go on, but you get the idea.)

2. The story moved too slowly for me. After Riley's father is killed, she spends a great deal of time mourning and guarding his grave. Quite understandable, but not much fun to read about, and certainly not the makings of a fast-paced story. There were also scenes that seemed to have no point, such as Riley going to school. A mention of it is fine, since it gives a glimpse into some of the things happening in Atlanta, but multiple pages detailing the events were boring.

3. Simon, the "main" love interest, was a creepy religious fanatic who Riley likes because he seems to gentlemanly and sweet. Um, sure, except for the raving lunatic part. (OK, so there wasn't any raving, but I imagine he's quite capable of it, and am annoyed that she seems unconcerned.)

4. The heavy Christian/Catholic imagery (holy water, consecrated ground, demons controlled by the devil, "master plan," etc.) grated on me.

5. I find Riley annoying. She is ridiculously stubborn about Beck, sniping at him for no reason and seeming to go out of her way to twist his words around so she can get angry at him. And she selfishly ignores how much her father's death must be eating him up, as that was the only father figure he ever had. She's a self-centered bitch in parts, and I wanted to reach through the pages of the book and shake some sense into her.

The problem with having an "eh" reaction to the first book in a brand-spanking-new series is this: If the next book in the series was already out, I would likely pick it up to see if any of my issues were alleviated. But since the next book isn't due out for quite some time (almost a year?), it's unlikely that I'll remember to pick up the next book in a series that didn't leave a very strong impression.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 03, 2011 ♫♥✿LovLivLife Reviews✿♥♫ (Chasity) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-jan, 2011-feb, debut, 2011-debut-author-challenge

http://www.lovlivlifereviews.com/2011...

The Demon Trappers Daughter is just that-a daughter of a Demon Trapper following in her dad's footsteps. While other 17 year olds are reapplying lip gloss, Riley Anora Blackthorne is cursing the demon cuts that must be treated with Holy Water. Lesson to be learned: Use the freshest Holy Water to clean out nasty wounds but be ready to brace yourself.

Jana Oliver is off to a great start and has earned the fan in me. What I love is the setting- 2018 and the wo...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 07, 2011 Tee loves Kyle Jacobson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Holy Crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This book was great! I loved this book. There is good vs evil and lot's of love to go around. Ripley and her father are demon trappers. Then something happens to Riley that makes her have to chose between good and evil. I will not spoil but here is what the description says on good reads.

Riley has always wanted to be a Demon Trapper like her father, and she's already following in his footsteps as one of the best. But it's tough being the only girl in an all-guy world, es...more

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 20, 2012 Maria V. Snyder rated it 4 of 5 stars

Different - very different and I liked that! Instead of hunting and killing demons the main characters is an apprentice demon trapper. The book has just the right amount of world building and action. I also liked Riley and cared about her - she's my type of heroine - smart, stubborn and tends to act first and think later :)

I'll admit, I guessed a few of the plot twists, however, I was surprised by a few things that happened at the start of the climax and during the ending. The ending is just a l...more

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 17, 2010 Anila rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: galleys-are-win, reviewed, clone-the-guy-i-want-one

Just as I was getting sick of YA paranormal, I picked up this book.
I think all that needs saying is: My faith in this subgenre is restored. If more people write books like Jana Oliver, I will be a happy camper. If she keeps this series going with the same creativity, engagingness, and thankful LACK of paranormal love interest or love triangles, I'll be her biggest fan, I swear.
In the meantime:
Thank you, Ms. Oliver. You do your genre more credit than it deserves.

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 22, 2011 bookczuk rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: met-the-author, set-in-the-south, vampires-ghosts-and-other-creatures, fantasy, ya-lit, wnt-to-wean-grandkids-from-sparklly

Last year at JordanCon, I attended one of the writers' workshops that featured Jana Oliver. I'd interacted with her a couple of times already in the Convention and liked that she seemed to have a rich sense of humor and was also a bit bawdy. I was totally unfamiliar with her work, but was very interested in how she organized herself while writing etc. The talk was great, and when I heard that she had a YA novel coming out in a few months, I took a promo bookmark to remind myself to look for it....more Last year at JordanCon, I attended one of the writers' workshops that featured Jana Oliver. I'd interacted with her a couple of times already in the Convention and liked that she seemed to have a rich sense of humor and was also a bit bawdy. I was totally unfamiliar with her work, but was very interested in how she organized herself while writing etc. The talk was great, and when I heard that she had a YA novel coming out in a few months, I took a promo bookmark to remind myself to look for it. The bookmark sat on my bedside table and slowly was buried by the detritus of life. When the days started growing longer and spring approached, I crawled out of my cave and began to dig out from all the piles that had accumulated in the house. I unearthed the bookmark right about the time I got the schedule of this year's JordanCon, and saw that Jana would be back. I was delighted -- and I put off buying her book until the Con. This proved to be a stupid idea, because I deprived myself of several months of delight that reading this book has produced for me. My only complaint is that I have to wait a while for the next in the series to come out.

The book is billed as a YA novel, urban dystopia set in an Atlanta in the not too distant future (2018). But if you're not into urban dystopia or YA books (or Atlanta), don't let the setting, premise or the fact that the main character is a 17 year old girl dissuade you from picking this up. This is a gritty, realistic and absolutely plausible tale (though no real reason beyond the fact that we've messed up economically was given for why our world has gone to hell, quite literally. It may be there, and I missed it because I was steam-rolling through it, entirely caught up in the story ) Characters are well drawn, dialogue is realistic (indeed, Oliver had her teen-speak reviewed by genuine adolescents) and the plot tightly paced. I won't go into a plot summary here, because the publisher has done that quite nicely elsewhere. You won't find sparkly vampires (thank goodness) but you will find demons, and a whole segment of society who have taken up the banner to prevent hell from taking over earth. I was quite pleased by the dynamics between characters, and will say that there was one character (I won't name who it is for fear of spoilers) who I kept thinking, for all sorts of reasons, "there's no way this person is gonna come out of this book alive". Oliver handled the way this character reached the end of the book in a way that I truly didn't foresee, but thought great, for how it moves and expands the plot.

My big complaint, as I said, is now I have to wait for the author and publisher to hurry up and get the next book(s) to me. Will save this (inscribed) copy, and either offer this copy or another one up for a book ring (possibly) or let the grandgirls read it if they're very, very good.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Oct 19, 2012 Splitterherz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

Würdest du dein Leben riskieren, für eine bessere Welt?

Erster Satz:
Riley Blackthorne verdrehte die Augen.

Inhalt:
Riley Blackthorne, lebt in einer Welt voller Gefahren oder besser: In einer Welt voller Dämonen. Doch davon lässt sich das junge Mädchen nicht einschüchtern. Stattdessen beweist sie täglich ihren Mut und zieht mit ihrem Vater los, um jene Dämonen einzufangen. Denn sie und ihr Vater sind Dämonenfänger - Wobei Riley noch in ihrer Ausbildung ist.
Obwohl es ein harter, außergewöhnl...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 02, 2013 Hayley Jones rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Two stars, it could have been three or four but unfortunately the things that annoyed me pulled it down to two stars.

Things I liked:

The world they are living in was interesting and the demons were demon-like.

Some of the secondary characters were enjoyable.

Not everyone liked her as soon as they met her, which is always very annoying when that happens as it isn't true to real life.

It had funny bits in it, not silliness but conversations that took you by surprise and made you laugh out loud.

T

...more

Two stars, it could have been three or four but unfortunately the things that annoyed me pulled it down to two stars.

Things I liked:

The world they are living in was interesting and the demons were demon-like.

Some of the secondary characters were enjoyable.

Not everyone liked her as soon as they met her, which is always very annoying when that happens as it isn't true to real life.

It had funny bits in it, not silliness but conversations that took you by surprise and made you laugh out loud.

The cover looks nice and suits the book.

What I didn't like:

Riley made some pretty stupid decisions,(view spoiler)

The way she treated Beck. This might have been all right if we hadn't had some of the story from Beck's side because it just got annoying. He was feeling guilty and wanted to help her but she always thinks the worst of him.

The sexism. She's the only female trapper, why? The trappers all seem to not want her there, but when she or Beck talks to them they seem fine with her except Harper. I understood why Jana Oliver put the sexism in, but if she was going to have it I felt it should have a constancy and explication why she had to put up with it.

The lack of female characters. Her best friend is a boy and everyone she meets are male. There are a few female characters but they seem one dimensional and all they seem to talk about is how hot some actors in a TV show are. The only other two who don't are a doctor and a witch but it is so focused on their jobs that they didn't really feel like people.

The first chapter annoyed me, she was very focused on cute college boys rather than the fact she was supposed to be catching this peeing demon which wanted to destroy all the books in the library. Then later when we get Becks side as soon as he seeing her he tells the reader she's beautiful which always annoys me as is seems to happen a lot in YA books.

The last thing that annoyed me was the killing off of her father. I was completely fine with Jana Oliver killing him off and that was the problem. The rest of the book is so focused on the death of her dad and what happens next that I felt I should be feeling some of Riley's pain but because as a reader I wasn't given enough time to get to know this character I couldn't really care that he'd died.

The thing that really really annoyed me (I lied when I said it was the last thing):

The way every few chapter or sometimes a couple of times a chapter she talk about the Catholic faith and religion and it felt very preachy and I felt it would have been better if it had been left out or at least toned down. I found it a little distressing and difficult to read because it felt as if Jana Oliver was trying to make me feel guilty about not being a Catholic. This is the main reason the book gets only two stars because otherwise it would have got three.

On the plus side it was better than Twilight.

(hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

(less)

1 like · like · see review

Sep 14, 2012 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library, young-adult

Riley is the daughter of a well renowned demon trapper, and the only female trapper (besides the one on some reality TV show). When her father is killed on the job, Riley must cast a protective circle around his grave and sit vigil until the next full moon or else necromancers will raise his corpse to be a servant to the wealthy. While Riley needs the money to cover the rent, utilities, food and her mother's hospital bills, she does not want her father returned to be a slave. Talk about a unique...more Riley is the daughter of a well renowned demon trapper, and the only female trapper (besides the one on some reality TV show). When her father is killed on the job, Riley must cast a protective circle around his grave and sit vigil until the next full moon or else necromancers will raise his corpse to be a servant to the wealthy. While Riley needs the money to cover the rent, utilities, food and her mother's hospital bills, she does not want her father returned to be a slave. Talk about a unique premise! I loved the premise of this book, and it's nothing like anything I've read before.

I also found the set up to be really interesting. It's Atlanta, Georgia in the near future which has been overrun by demons and is totally bankrupt. There's potholes everywhere with demons lurking in their depths, and school is held in run down grocery stores, old Starbucks, and daycare centers. There's also a black market demon trade. The demon trappers are responsible for responding to demon sightings, while the church provides Holy water for fighting them and healing wounds. I just wondered how the city got to this point, and what the rest of the country is like.

Another thing that I wish was made more clear was why there are no female demon trappers. Is there a historical reason? Old fashion sexism? Or the author's way of having her female lead do something special? I just found it a little frustrating that Riley being the only girl among the trappers is constantly brought up, but with no explanation as to the why of the situation.

The Demon Trapper's Daughter is also a bit more mature than the normal YA, but it's nothing over the top. There's some strong language (a lot more than I was expecting), talk of sex, and violence. But the main character is 17, and the other character that is sometimes followed is in his 20s, so it works.

Unlike many YA paranormal novels, the romance load is very light. Sure Riley gets a boyfriend, but there's no claims of undying love or make-out sessions. This might be because Simon is a "good Catholic boy," but either way, the romance is kind of in the background. However, there does seem to be some hints at a love triangle. In my opinion, Simon doesn't even measure up. He's actually quite a boring character, but he didn't get enough page time to develop. Beck on the other hand is the second POV so we really get to know him. He comes across as a jerk, but underneath that he's a good guy with some emotional demons (in addition to the real demons he fights everyday).

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. If you're looking for something a little different in the paranormal genre, where action outweighs the romance, I'd definitely recommend this one.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.(less)

1 like · like · see review

topics	posts	views	last activity
U.k. and Ireland...: forsaken	1	2	Jun 04, 2013 09:40am
Who Would Play The Characters in A Movie Version Of This Series?	6	35	May 17, 2013 10:09am
LOOKING FOR THE BOOK WITH A HALF DEMON FEMALE LEAD	5	25	May 13, 2013 07:29am
Beck or Simon??	31	96	May 05, 2013 07:32pm
Who's Your Author?: YA BOM: Forsaken	4	24	Apr 29, 2013 01:25pm
LOOKING FOR the BOOK WITH A HALF DEMON FEMALE LEAD	3	16	Apr 28, 2013 01:52am
Is it just me, or is Riley way too vunerable when it comes to guys?	26	72	Mar 28, 2013 09:36am

title link	preview: The Demon Trapper's Daughter
avg rating	preview: The Demon Trapper's Daughter Goodreads rating: 4.05 (8321 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8704448-the-demon-trapper-s-daughter?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312008155l/8704448.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8704448-the-demon-trapper-s-daughter?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver[/url]

The Demon Trapper's Daughter (The Demon Trappers #1)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (12)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Jana Oliver

Books by Jana Oliver

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Forsaken

Quotes from Forsaken