Review: Soul Thief

Title: Soul Thief

Author: Jana Oliver

Series: Demon’s Trapper #2

Release Date: August 30^th,2011

Number of Pages: 320

Publisher: St.Marti’s Griffin

Source: Bought

Riley Blackthorne is beginning to learn that there are worse things than death by demon. And love is just one of them…

 Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that’s not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad.  With all the hassles, Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.

But as Atlanta’s demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s “little” problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever…

I found it hard to connect with the story. I just couldn’t get into the book until the end. I don’t really know if it simply because I wasn’t in the mood for this book, or else, but I didn’t find it captivating at all. One of the think I loved about the first one was that it was funny. I had to stop myself so often from laughing out loud in public, but this one didn’t really made me laugh. It annoyed me. Grr… I hate when I don’t like a book I had been anticipating…

First, I have to say that it annoyed me that Riley felt so flat through this book. There wasn’t much spunk to her personality. It was more about her awful love life. Talking about love life, I must say that most of her “suitors” annoyed the crap out of me. First, Simon is a complete jerk with her. How can he treat her like that? Stupid jerk. Than Beck who is clearly attracted to her, but prefers to treat her A) like a daughter B) Like is granddaughter, or C) like a jealous boyfriend. Get a grip dude. Finally, Ori. Yes, at first, he can look like a sexy and mysterious stranger, but he clearly is a manipulative jerk. I don’t like you much now. You can rot in hell for all I care. Or course, there a short appearance by violent ex-boyfriend, which means that we can expect him to be present in the next book. More love drama for Riley. Sigh.

Now, one character that I adore is Peter. Now, that’s what I call a friend. He has is own problems, yet he doesn’t even really care that all they seem to be talking about for most of the book is Riley’s problem. Really great friend for her, which I hope will make her realize that he can need HER help sometimes too.

Overall, it wasn’t that bad. It just wasn’t as good as I had hoped for. I’ll probably read more from Jana Oliver, but will have lower expectation. It simply wasn’t as good as the first one in the series.

Review: The Demon Trapper's Daugther

Title: The Demon Trapper’s Daughter

Author: Jana Oliver

Release Date: February 1^st, 2011

Series: The Demon Trappers #1

Number of Pages: 340

Publisher: St. Martin”s Griffin

Source: Bought

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Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself – and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on…

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps.  The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get – even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood.  And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart – and her life?

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I bought this book in February, because I knew it was a debut. I didn’t know much about it, so when I ended reading it a couple of days ago, I way nicely surprised.

The story was good. It was captivating and interesting. It was original, but I found it hard to imagine Atlanta like that only in 8 years. I can’t really imagine that. I would have set it a little later, just to make it easier to believe. Still, it was really good. After a couple of pages, I was hooked. The ending is really great, and it opens a door for more, the sequel coming out in a couple of months.

The characters were really great. Riley was fun and believable. I wish I could be friend with her. Her father seems like a really great father, even if we don’t see him much in the book. I like Simon, but I mush say that I find him annoying with his faith. It just seems strange that he believes that much, but he wants to be a trapper. I absolutely love Beck. He is so awesome! I wish I could have a Beck in my life *Sigh*.

I really like Oliver’s writing. I can’t wait to read more from her. I like the dual perspective. It helps us understand the story more, by seeing both Beck’s and Riley’s point of view.

I really enjoy the story. I’m really excited for the sequel. It was the perfect entertaining book to get me through the end of the semester.

4/5!