Review: Forbidden - Jana Oliver

Hell has a plan for Riley Blackthorne . . .

Riley's beginning to think being a demon trapper isn't all it's cracked up to be. Her dad's been stolen by a necromancer, her boyfriend's gone all weird and she's getting warm and fuzzy feelings for someone who's got more secrets than the CIA. It's tempting to give it all up and try to be normal, but that's not an option with Hell watching her every move.

One mistake will cost her everything - and that's the one she's about to make . . .

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:
While this review won't contain spoilers for Forbidden please be aware that this is the second book in the Demon Trappers series and my review will contain spoilers for the first book. The story picks up just after the ending of Forsaken with the demon trappers having to regroup after their major battle and trying to work out what caused their holy water circle to fail. Some blame Riley's reanimated father while others prefer to believe that it is Riley who is working for the devil. Riley is desperate to prove her innocence and also to track down the necromancer who reanimated her father so she can have his body returned to the grave. She is also worried about Simon who may be recovering physically but who is acting very strangely. The city are no longer sure they can rely on the demon trappers to keep the city safe so they have called in the Vatican's demon hunters which is just going to make things even more complicated for Riley and the other trappers.

I really enjoyed Forsaken (released in the US as The Demon Trapper's Daughter) but I absolutely loved Forbidden (released in the US as Soul Thief). Jana Oliver managed to take everything I enjoyed in the first book and multiply it creating a story that I didn't want to end. I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on the final instalment in the series, Forgiven, so I'm relieved that I only have just over a month to wait! If you enjoyed Forsaken then you need to pick up Forbidden NOW and if you haven't started reading this series yet then what are you waiting for? This is one of the most unique and gripping YA urban fantasy series that I've come across in a long time and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Riley is a fantastic character, she has been through so much that my heart goes out to her but no matter what the world throws at her she just keeps on going. She may have the occasional moment where things get too much for her but in general she doesn't sit around complaining, she is proactive and is prepared to go down fighting. She doesn't have supernatural abilities so she has to rely on her brains and her training to get her through, that and a little help from her friends. She has to face some difficult betrayals in this book and she is going to learn just who her friends really are, she may even discover a couple of surprising allies.

In my review of Forsaken I mentioned how much I loved Beck, well that definitely hasn't changed - apart from the fact that I now love him even more. He is absolutely one of my favourite male characters and I love watching him and Riley together. He can be infuriating because he tries too hard to protect her but you can't really begrudge him for wanting her safe, I did wish he would spend more time helping her train rather than trying to send her away from danger though. In the first book he was a bit less smothering but it was only after coming so close to losing her that he realised how much she means to him and he is still trying to come to terms with his feelings. I have to admit that his actions with a certain reporter made me want to shake him but I'm convinced he will redeem himself so I'm not too worried.

The plot was fast paced and has some fantastic twists to it, there was so much going on that I just couldn't put it down. Jana Oliver manages to weave multiple threads together in a way that makes sure you don't tie everything together until the last minute so you're always kept guessing at how things will turn out. This is a fantastic series that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good story, if you're an urban fantasy fan then this will definitely appeal to you but it also has a dystopian feel to it with the post-apocalyptic setting. I for one can't wait to see how the series ends!

Source: Received from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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