Review: Forsaken - Jana Oliver

Riley Blackthorne.
Kicking hell's ass one demon at a time . . .

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, especially when three of those guys start making her life more complicated:

Simon, the angelic apprentice who has heaven on his side; Beck, the tough trapper who thinks he's God's gift, and Ori, the strikingly sexy stranger who keeps turning up to save her life.

One thing's for sure - if she doesn't keep her wits about her there'll be hell to pay . . .

The Demon Trappers Series:
Retro Demonology (Free Short Story)
Forsaken (Released in the US as The Demon Trapper's Daughter)
Forbidden (Released in the US as Soul Thief)
Forgiven
Foretold
Grave Matters (Novella)
Mind Games
Valiant Light

Visit Jana Oliver's website for more information

Review:
Riley is the only female apprentice Demon Trapper and was only accepted because her father is one of the best.  There is still a lot of resentment amongst the other Trappers who don't think a female should be allowed to join them but Riley is determined to prove she can be just as good as they are.  When her father is killed by a demon Riley must combine her training with protecting his body from the necromancers who wish to raise him from the dead to bring him back as a servant.  Is there anyone she can rely on to help her?

Forsaken (released in the US as The Demon Trapper's Daughter) is a fantastic debut from Jana Oliver that will have you hooked from the very first page.  Set in the near future where demons are roaming the earth the only thing protecting us are the Trappers who catch them or the church Hunters who kill them.  The action is fast paced, the world Jana has created is interesting and populated with all kinds of demonic creatures and I loved the main characters.

Riley and the rest of the Trappers don't have any supernatural abilities, they are all normal humans and have to train hard to fight the demons that are causing chaos in the world.  They do have some pretty cool weapons to play with but it is their training that will keep them alive - if they're lucky.  It is easy to like Riley, she is a girl who has to work twice as hard to be seen as an equal in the man's world of trapping.  Although a lot of the other Trappers don't think she should be allowed to be an apprentice she does have a few allies amongst them, mainly her father's closest friends and his previous apprentice Beck. 

I have to say right now I love Beck!  Riley doesn't have the best relationship with him - she is too embarrassed that he discovered she had a crush on him a few years earlier and knocked her back - but when it comes down to it she knows he is someone she can turn to.  Beck can be snarky and sarcastic but he cares for Riley and has her back against the other Trappers.  I loved the fact that although he is protective of her he doesn't try to smother her - he knows she is capable and works with her to strengthen her abilities so she can look after herself rather than try to keep her hidden away from danger.

The one thing I wasn't too keen on was the triangle, in case you haven't already guessed I'm on team Beck so it isn't hard to guess who I'm routing for.  I didn't really connect with Simon at all, he didn't hold my interest and there is something about him that makes me wary, I just don't trust him.  It remains to be seen if there is any reason for my feelings towards him but I'm looking forward to continuing the series to find out.  I'm also not too sure what to make of Ori who we aren't really introduced to until near the end of the book.  I have my suspicions about him too but I can't really say what they are without giving spoilers.

I've already said what a fantastic debut Forsaken is and I'm incredibly excited to see where Jana Oliver takes the series next.  This is a book I'd highly recommend to urban fantasy and dystopian fans and one I'm really looking forward to continuing.

Source: Purchased

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