The Demon Trapper's Daughter is book one in the Demon Trappers series by Jana Oliver. Book two, available now, is entitled Soul Thief, and book three, Forgiven, is coming in winter 2012.

Riley Blackthorne's life is fraught with challenges. Her mother's death from cancer sent their family into a financial tailspin, and her father, Paul, a former teacher, now makes his living trapping demons. Riley is intrigued by the demon trapper lifestyle, and pursues a career as the first female trapper. When a simple capture of a minor demon goes wildly awry, Riley is named and pursued by a high-level entity that seems to have knowledge of her that he can't possibly have. Soon, Riley spots the inconsistencies in the Holy Water that protects the trappers from their prey and lives to tell the sordid tale of it all when the trappers find themselves hunted and slain in a masterful attack by the enemy. Add to all of this Riley's love-hate relationship with her father's former apprentice, Beck, and her new love interest in the form of another apprentice trapper, Simon, and this girl has too much to handle. When her father is killed and his body appropriated for purposes unknown, can Riley find it within herself to go on with the path she's chosen?

The Demon Trapper's Daughter is one of the most fascinating and interestingly unique books to come onto the YA spectrum in quite some time. I completely enjoyed the brash, every-girl character that is Riley, and watching her juggle everyday dating trauma against fighting volatile demons was vastly entertaining. Riley is a great role model; she kicks demon booty and still manages to hang onto a sliver of her innocence even as she tangles with evil. Denver Beck shines as a pseudo-big brother figure fighting his obvious attraction to Riley out of respect for her father and her age. He's the perfect foil for Riley with his war-torn worldliness and jaded outlook on life. Other secondary characters are well-crafted and really flesh out the story. In the battle of good versus evil, Riley is the girl I'd want on my team. Five Angels!

Reviewed by: Michelle B.