Demon Trapper Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself—and that’s exactly what Lucifer is counting on…
It’s the year 2018, and with human society seriously disrupted by the economic upheavals of the previous decade, Lucifer has increased the number of demons in all major cities. Atlanta is no exception. Fortunately, humans are protected by Demon Trappers, who work to keep homes and streets safe from the things that go bump in the night. Seventeen-year-old Riley, only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing attraction to fellow Trapper apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving citizens from Grade One Hellspawn. Business as usual, really, for a demon-trapping teen. When a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood, she realizes that she’s caught in the middle of a battle between Heaven and Hell.
My Thoughts:
I thought that this was an interesting and original take on the angel and demons genre that's become very popular as of late. Instead of the book centering more on the idea of angels and the divine good of people, this was more concentrated on the dirty and gritty life of poor people called Trappers who risk their lives everyday to expel the earth of demons of all kinds just to earn a few bucks to scrape by. It was a different concept that truly had me hooked from the start.
I really liked Riley as a character. She was strong and independent and smart-mouthed. She didn't take any crap from anyone and was naive enough to have this certain innocence about her that was believable for someone her age. After all, you can't be some hard-core, skilled Trapper that's only seventeen years old. It's unheard of.
And Denver Beck-whew! A guy with a Southern drawl. Yes! I liked that he wasn't the usual innocent British/Scottish--yes, I'm talking about you, Zach!--hottie that just swoops the main heroine off her feet. Which, he didn't because that's not the way that Beck works. Beck was silent and thoughtful, fueled to kill demons by his rage of just about everything, including Riley.
And then there was Simon. Simon didn't exactly swoop me off my feet, but he certainly did for Riley. And here I am, saying 'I really liked' again, but it's true. I really liked how Simon and Riley's relationship budded. It wasn't like the usual 'Oh-my!-I-just-met-you-but-let's-TOTALLY-suck-each-other's-faces-off!' Their relationship is what a real one would be like, not some crazy spur-of-the-moment one. So yes, I liked that.
The story was very interesting and very creative. Just one bite or scratch from a demonic creature and your body begins to rot from the inside out. Sweet nuggets, that's cool! And the big mystery of the book is that different grades of demons are pairing together and taking on the Trappers, successfully. (Which hints to death, by the way!) I'd say that's kind of a big problem. And the Trappers are clueless to what's happening, except for Riley and Beck . . . and her father.
My only complaints about this book are these: 1) Riley pretty much keeps a whole bunch of stuff to herself. It's understandable since she wants to be the only girl Trapper known to history. On the other hand, it got her in trouble and drove me insane. And 2) I, unfortunately, got bored. This doesn't usually happen to me while reading, but I found myself flipping through the pages, looking to see where things would pick up in the action department. And don't get me wrong, the story was overall exciting and interesting. And the slower parts actually had vital information, but it was just pure information being thrown at me with none of the wonders of Oliver's writing really seeping in to the dialogue, internal and external.
This book was a very entertaining read that kept me hooked all the way to the very end. It was different, which was awesome. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, as soon as I can get my hands on it, that is. Overall, The Demon Trapper's Daughter earned four out five stars from me. So, obviously, I'm recommending this baby to all of you reading this.
