Forgiven (The Demon Trappers #3) by Jana Oliver

Name: Forgiven by Jana Oliver.
Pages: 407.
Publication: 1st March (UK)/27th March (US) 2012/Macmillan Children's Books.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✩
Buy It: Amazon | Kennys | Easons

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

Riley has made a bargain with Heaven, and now they've come to collect. 

Lucifer's finest are ruling the streets and it seems that Armageddon might be even closer than Riley imagined. But with her soul and her heart in play it's all she can do to keep herself alive, let alone save the world. Riley's not afraid of kicking some major demon butt, but when it comes to a battle between Heaven and Hell, she might need a little help..."

Review. Likely to have a few spoilers.

It's 2018 in Atlanta and demons still run riot but this time they seem to be that much tougher. For demon-trapper Riley, demons are just one of her problems. The Vatican and yes, the Pope are waiting for her to make one bad move, Heaven is counting on her, she has boy troubles and she still has to get her homework done for her classes, life is not easy. Yet, neither is stopping a war between Heaven and Hell, which Riley has to do also. How hard can it be? 

Forgiven is more focused on Riley and how is she is dealing with, well, pretty much everything that has happened since book one. She has to deal with how it feels to see her Father again under such strange circumstances as well as the ever old issues of boys. Although Ori may be gone, he still lingers in her head and her heart. She also has to put up with Simon, he ex-boyfriend who believes she works for hell even though Riley is the reason he is still alive.

I love that Oliver has left Peter as just Riley's best friend. He has no hidden feelings for her and is there for her. I'm glad she did not write a love triangle with Riley, Beck and Peter or in this, pentagon, Riley, Beck, Peter, Ori and the still hateful Simon.

I really enjoyed the increased presence of the Demon Hunters. It was fun to have a few fresh characters. They are more three dimensional in Forgiven than they were in the second book, Forbidden. As well as the Hunters, seeing more of Mort, the necromancer and Ayden, the witch and their powers was refreshing.

The one disappointing aspect for me is the fact we see barely any demon-trapping from Riley. in the three books, her skills have barely developed and the only way she seems to get a good trap is if someone is in danger and her adrenaline kicks in. I thought at this stage, she might have learned a few new tricks but sadly, no.

Final Thought.

Although, not the best of the Demon Trappers Series and a little more fillery than I would like, I am sure Forgiven is leading us up to an epic finish in the fourth book, Foretold.

March Releases.

Here are just five of the many YA releases out this March:

Forgiven (The Demon Trappers #3) by Jana Oliver.
Publication: 1st March 2012 (UK)/27th March 2012 (US)



Perception (Clarity #2) by Kim Harrington.
Publication: 1st March 2012.



Rock On: A Story of Guitars, Gigs, Girls and a Brother (Not Necessarily in That Order) by Denise Vega.
Publication: 5th March 2012.



Vampire's Kiss (The Watchers #2) by Veronica Wolff.
Sequel to 'Isle of Night'.
Publication: 6th March 2012.



Buried: A Goth Girl Mystery by Linda Joy Singleton.
Publication: 8th March 2012.

Forbidden (The Demon Trappers #2) by Jana Oliver

Forbidden (The Demon Trappers #2) by Jana Oliver 


Information.
416 pages.
Publication: August 5th 2011.


Riley's  demon trapper life isn't what it's cracked up to be. Her dad's been stolen by a necromancer, her boyfriend's seems to believe that Riley's in team with the demon and she seems to be attracted a boy she really shouldn't be.  The Trapper's are hanging on by a thread and are having issues with The Demon Hunters.Riley feels like giving it all up but that's not option because the demon's are after Riley and maybe they aren't the only ones.


Review.
What a first class sequel! I loved it. These books are for sure on the top of my favourite series list. 


The plot compared to the first book was less action packed. Forbidden was generically a filler book, but a fantastic filler book. Yet, it's a filler book that really moves along whole series's plot which is what a good book should do.


I preferred Riley in the first book. She had be moments in the book where she was really whiny , mainly because her life is falling apart (which is a good reason I suppose). She also made some very irrational and ignorant decision throughout the book. However, I still really like her because she's headstrong, stubborn and ambitious. Although, she does end up being a damsel in distress, usually by accident though!
I have great love for Beck, great great love. The southern trapper, however, is on  one self-destructive path and I really hope that in the next book he doesn't bring Riley and other with him on this path. He like Riley, made some bad decisions. Yet, there is a part of me that cannot be angry because I believe his guilt and his unwanted attraction to Riley is bearing a very heavy weight on him, and not forgetting all the demons.


Riley's love isn't going to well for her either. Simon is putting his faith before anything else and Riley fears that her deal made to save Simon's life is the reason for this new Simon. Riley's distracted too, not by faith however, but by the brooding and mysterious Ori who just always seems to be at the right place at the right time. Throw in Beck as well, acting like an over protective brother. Luckily she has Peter, who in this book, is a more in-depth character. Oliver has a added a new dimension to Peter and I really like his character. 


I love Oliver's writing style. It is fluid and easy to read yet in no way boring.  She wraps Forbidden up in great way with an amazing closing scene which make you want to run to Oliver and BEG for the third book.


Rating: 4.5/5