Barbara S. (barbsis) - , reviewed on 1/26/2012 + 1076 more book reviews

There is tons of stuff I liked about this book and quite a few mysterious things as well. Riley Blackthorne is a demon trapper. Trappers catch the demons and sell them to the church for purification instead of killing them like the hunter's do. There are five levels of demons - from minor biblio-fiends (hate books and piss on them, yuk) to major kick-ass ones, geo-fiends (usually 7 feet tall and have the ability to effect the weather). And a few in the middle like hypno-fiends with the ability to mesmerize humans and klepto-fiends who dress like ninjas and steal shiny things. I found some of the behaviors of the demons to be humorous but most of the bastards are vicious and dangerous. I liked the world building though there was no explanation as to why the city was infested with demons because that is one point that was never clarified. Sure the city had been affected by the economic downturn and everything was super expensive but that doesn't explain where the demons came from and doesn't tell you whether everyone knows about the demons or just the demon trappers. It seemed strange that when the demon trappers were doing their thing, humans never appeared even though they were in downtown Atlanta.

The one major issue I had with the book is master demon trapper Harper. He is a raging alcoholic, he physically abuses his apprentices, he absolutely despises Riley's father, and he has zero respect for women. How exactly does he become Riley's master? Why don't the other 40 or so trappers refute this decision? It is just not feasible that they are not aware of his actions as he is violent and uncontrollable at the meetings. This is really the only thing that didn't fit with the story. I guess maybe it goes with the adage "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Poor Riley has lost her father and must sit vigil at his grave nightly to keep the necromancers from stealing his body and selling him as a slave-like zombie. In between going to school (which was in a new location weekly) and dealing with typical bullying, dangerous demon trapping and her nightly vigil, Riley tries to have time for her best friend, Peter who isn't a demon trapper. However Peter's mother is extremely over-bearing and hates Riley so they really only see each other at school.

Riley is a seventeen year old who is fully invested in being a master demon trapper like her father. She is somewhat sheltered and as a youngster had a major crush on her father's apprentice, Denver Beck. Now she has nothing but contempt for him. I wonder what happened to destroy Riley and Beck's friendship. Now she is interested in another apprentice trapper, Simon Alder but their relationship develops too quickly is seems unrealistic. Oh and what's up with Ori? He's suddenly popping up left and right and he's so mysterious. Is he friend or foe? Riley is center stage of this love-triangle. Who will she choose? Beck, who is slightly older and more worldly. Simon, the religious fanatic with dreams of going to Rome and becoming a hunter not a trapper. Will it be Peter, who has finally given her an ultimatum. Or maybe the sexy and mysterious Ori? I will definitely be picking up book two and enjoying Riley's further adventures.

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