Publisher: MacMillan Children's Books (2011)
Format: Paperback | 448 pages
Genre(s): Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Format: Paperback | 448 pages
Genre(s): Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Description (GR): "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?"
2018, Atlanta. Global economy has failed. Gas is so expensive people turned to horses for transportation. Cities declare bankruptcy. People live in the streets and old hotels; kids go to school in broken-down Starbucks. And demons roam the streets.
Riley Blacktorn lives in an old hotel with her father, a demon trapper. Demon trapping is dangerous work and it barely pays the bills, but Riley wants to be a trapper anyway... the first female trapper. Except... something is not right. The fiends have taken too much interest in her and when the worst happens, Riley will have to face prejudiced trappers, an annoying acquaintance, thieving necromancers and of course... some determined fiends.
I had 'mixed' expectations about this book. P7 really liked it and she usually likes the same books I do but I was a little wary at first because the synopsis said something about three guys and I was imagining lots of teen drama about romance and guys.You know, same old, same old.
Fortunately, it didn't happen (the love quadrangle, what?). The book reads a lot like an adult urban fantasy (it reminded me of the Kate Daniels series which I love to bits, actually). I liked the world-building even though it was a bit inconsistent at times: I mean the author doesn't explain if all the magic being public is a recent thing or not. So I was a little disappointed because there is much about Riley's world that's not explained. I also didn't like Simon much.
I did love Riley she was kick-ass without being bitchy; she was pretty cute. Oh and of course I liked Beck, eheh. I think Jana Oliver really wrote something intricate and original in terms of young adult fiction.
The story did drag a bit, but overall I liked all the action, Riley and Beck. The ending was pretty good and left me very interested in the next book.
Comentários
My hyperactive imagination was also creating a huge love drama, but I think the author did a good job of not letting Riley's love life overtaking the story. Besides, only one of the guys felt like a true love interest (Beck :D), so I just kind of ignored the others. :P
I also enjoyed the fact that this sounded almost like an adult UF, it made the book so much more interesting to me. ;) (I guess I should check out Kate Daniels' series.)
Oh do! It's awesome. The setting is a lot like this one: Atlanta, near future and all kinds of supernaturals. The problem there is that magic rose up from who-knows-where and they get magic 'waves' at random times so you can't use any technology during those times. And witches can't use magic when 'the tech is up'. :P It's cool.