Forgiven, by Jana Oliver

Series: The Demon Trapper's, #3
Author Info: Website| Facebook| Twitter
Publisher: St. Martins Griffin
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Paperback: 354 pages
Genre: Young Adult - Urban Fantasy
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 7 days
Source: Publisher
Challenge: TBR Pile
Rating: ★★★★★

The days are growing darker for 17-year-old demon trapper Riley Blackthorne. With her father’s reanimated body back safely, Beck barely speaking to her because of a certain hunky Fallen angel, and a freshly-made deal with Lucifer, she has enough on her hands to last a normal teenage lifetime. Though she bargained with Heaven to save his life, her ex-boyfriend Simon has told the Vatican’s Demon Hunters that she’s working with Hell. So now she’s in hiding, at the top of everyone’s most-wanted list. 
But it’s becoming clear that this is bigger than Riley, and rapidly getting out of control:  something sinister is happening in Atlanta… or someone. The demons are working together for the first time ever and refusing to die, putting civilians in harm’s way. Riley thinks she might know who’s behind it all, but who’s going to believe her? Caught between her bargain with Heaven and her promise to Lucifer, Riley fears the final war is coming – and it may be closer than anyone thinks…

Can I just say that I. FREAKING. LOVED. THIS. BOOK! and be done with my review? No? Okay, well it's true. I love this series so much, it's definitely toward the top of my list of favorite YA series. This is one of those series that you just can't help but give EVERY book in the series 5 stars. And that is exactly what I did! I checked because I couldn't remember!

Forgiven completely pulled me into the story like no time had passed. Which, really, between Soul Thief and Forgiven, no time had really passed at all. Which I LOOOVE about this series! If my husband hadn't of stolen this book and started reading it after he finished the first two, I would have probably finished it within two days at least. Once I started reading it again, I couldn't stop. I kept having to MAKE myself to stop in order to savor it, but it was hard!

I can't think of a single thing that bothered me in this book, I mean yeah, sure there was a lot. But it was the things that are MEANT to annoy other you in a book. If that makes sense. That's the only things that bothered me. The writing is amazing and flows well and you just seriously can't stop.

And the characters, oh my! You get to learn a lot more about Beck in this book and I love it and you learn a lot more about the Demon Hunters, which now I've kind of grown to like. At least a few of them. =) You also see who Riley's REAL friends are and she's got a great bunch. =) I'd love to have them as friends!

You get to see her dad a bit as well, though I'm not going to say anything more about that as to not give off any spoilers. And if you haven't started this series yet, DO. IT. NOW! Seriously. I'm not joking. Buy it, borrow it, or even steal it if you have to. Okay, don't steal it....it's free at the library. To borrow....

Anyway, you can see I feel strongly about this series. Speaking of feelings. Oh, my God, what a roller coaster! Jana, I love you, but you drive my heart insane with these awesome books of yours. Really. My heart was thumping from suspense one minute, and then leaping for joy the next, and then completely being shattered the next minute! AAAH! Why?! Why must you torment me? I mean, it makes the book THAT much better, if that's even possible, but oh my!

Overall, this book is kick-ass. This series is kick-ass. Riley and Beck are kick-ass. EVERYTHING is kick-ass. Even the demons. They are scary! But that makes them kick-ass! I mean, I know they are bad and everything, but they are so fun to read about. This whole story arc is. I love this series, and I can't recommend it enough. READ IT! You'll love it. (Now I have the "Try it, you'll like it." Yo Gabba Gabba song stuck in my head, anyone else's children watch that weird show??") Trust me. You won't regret it.

Note: Yes, this was supposed to be the last book. But due to needing to tie up loose ends, because Jana is awesome, there will be a fourth book! It will sadly be the last, but at least there is another one coming! =D

The fourth and final book in this series is called Foretold. It will be released on December 11, 2012. 

                                                                                                                                     
Read my other reviews for this series:

• The Demon Trapper's Daughter (#1)
• Soul Thief (#2) 

Blue Moon, by Alyson Noel

Blue Moon, by Alyson Noel
(The Immortals, #2)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: July 7, 2009
Paperback: 284 pages
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Buy: Amazon
Source: Library
Challenge: TBR Pile
Rating: 
To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

Just as Ever is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an immortal, initiated into the dark, seductive world by her beloved Damen, something terrible is happening to him.  As Ever’s powers are increasing, Damen’s are fading—stricken by a mysterious illness that threatens his memory, his identity, his life.
     Desperate to save him, Ever travels to the mystical dimension of Summerland, uncovering not only the secrets of Damen’s past—the brutal, tortured history he hoped to keep hidden—but also an ancient text revealing the workings of time. With the approaching blue moon heralding her only window for travel, Ever is forced to decide between turning back the clock and saving her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows weaker each day...

Despite the fact that this book was a bit different and very weird to read, I enjoyed it. I can't really explain how it was weird, but if you've read it or you pick it up soon you'll know why. It's just so different from the first book and it's just weird how everything is. Which is the point. It's SUPPOSED to be weird.

After finishing Evermore, I had high expectations for this sequel. It's a very good book, but not as great as the first one in my opinion. But in the end I was left needing to read the third book. I really hope I can get my hands on it soon. I need more of this world and I'm VERY curious as to what happens next.

Just like the first book, the sequel's writing pulls you in and gets you hooked on the storyline and you fly through pages before really realizing it.

The same characters are back from the first book, and they've grown a bit and have become more real since the beginning of the first book. I really like Ever and her friends and Aunt, and definitely Damen. I mean, who wouldn't like Damen? There is a few new characters which I'm still kind of deciding about. Other than Roman, I didn't like him from the start. He really bugged me. With good reasons, which I'm not going to get in about.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I can't wait to continue the series. I definitely recommend it. It has unique characters and a unique storyline and the writing is addicting!

The third book in the series is called Shadowland. It was released on  November 17, 2009. 

Evermore, by Alyson Noel

Evermore, by Alyson Noel
(The Immortals, #1)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: February 3, 2009
Paperback: 301 pages
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Buy: Amazon
Source: Own
Challenge: Off the Shelf
Rating: 
To learn more information on my rating system, please click here!

After a horrible accident claims the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever Bloom can see people's auras, hear their thoughts, and know someone's entire life story by touching them. Going out of her way to avoid human contact and suppress her abilities, she has been branded a freak at her new high school-but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste. Damen is gorgeous, exotic, and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and random energy in her head-wielding a magic so intense, it's as though he can peer into her soul. As Ever is drawn deeper into his enticing world of secrets and mystery, she's left with more questions than answers. And she has no idea who he really is-or what he is. The only thing she knows to be true is that she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with him.

Gosh, I forgot how good this book was! The first time I read it, it was back in 2009 when it first came out! I never continued to the sequel because I got caught up with other books, but I decided to re-read it so I can catch up on this series! I'm glad I did, I got sucked in just like I remember doing when I first read it.

A lot of people like to compare it to Twilight, which really gets on my nerves because it is NOTHING like Twilight. I don't understand how people see it that way. I love Twilight, I really do. It's one of my favorite series, but Evermore is so much better. It has a very unique plot line, which I love.

The writing sucks you in. Noel definitely knows how to write. She has that tone to her writing where you fly through pages without realizing because it just flows so nicely together and as an aspiring writer I really admire it.

And the characters were unique and alive. From the outside, they seem like your stereotypical characters, but once you get to know them they have their own personalities that makes you pull away from it. I like most of the characters, except the popular crowd. They annoyed me. As per usual. But Ever was definitely a great character, though she did annoy me at times. But hey, being annoyed by her those few times really makes her that much more real. Also, I love her name! And I also love Damen, naturally. He's really weird at first, and kind of creepy, but oh so hot! And Haven and Miles, I'd love to be friends with them. They are so weird, and I love it. Though Haven definitely annoys me with her weird latch-ons to new friends like Drina. Ugh!

Overall, I enjoyed re-reading this book and I can say that I will most likely re-read it in the future sometime. This book is unique and has a lot of great things in it. A psychic main character, a hot mysterious love interest, mystery, and awesome friends!

The second book is called Blue Moon. It was released on July 6, 2009. 

Shadowspell, by Jenna Black

Shadowspell, by Jenna Black 

(Faeriewalker, #2)

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: January 4, 2011

Paperback: 295 pages

Age Group: Young Adult

Buy: Amazon

Source: library

Challenge: Support Your Local Library

Rating:   

To learn more about my rating badges, click here! 

On top of spending most of her time in a bunkerlike safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm. A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind?

First off, I'd like to say that I didn't like this as much as I loved the first. I can't exactly tell you why, I guess it's just because I liked the plot better in the first book? I did like this one, though.  I really liked it. It seemed like not a lot happened. I really liked Black's add in of the Erkling, it really added a lot in. I was wondering what would happen without her aunt Grace around, though she did appear in this one, just not a lot.

I was hoping to get more Ethan, and I got it. I really like Ethan, but at times I really want her to be with Keane. I like Keane. I also liked Dana a bit more in the sequel than I did in the first book. She's grown up a bit in a short period of time and she was a little less whiny in this one than I thought she was in the first book.

Overall, I can't wait to read the third book. I'll most likely be picking it up as soon as I can from the library. Jenna is a great writer and I want to pick up another one of her series soon. This is definitely a book you want to pick up if you like fae. It's very unique.

The third book in the series is called Sirensong. It was released on July 5th, 2011.Read my review of Glimmerglass here.

Soul Thief by Jana Oliver

Soul Thief, by Jana Oliver
(Demon Trappers, #2)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: August 30, 2011
Paperback: 320 pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy:Amazon
Source: Publisher
Challenge: none
Rating: 

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…

Wow! That's all I keep saying in my head when I think about this book. I thought I loved The Demon Trapper's Daughter, and I do, but it's sequel definitely knocked it out of the ball park. A lot of people debate whether or not sequels are better than the first, in some cases they aren't, but in this one it is! 

If you haven't read the first book, you should definitely go do it now. I can't stress that enough. You don't want to miss out on this series. It's unique, has a kick ass female protagonist, and just so fun to read.  The writing is awesome, Jana Oliver definitely knows how to write. She pulls you in on the first page and doesn't let you off the ride until the last page. But then you're still hooked! You can't get it out of your head. It's embedded into your mind and you have to get your hands on the next book or you suffer the consequences. Withdrawels! I just finished this book last night, and boy am I suffering from withdrawels.   

They planned this! Have the first two awesome books come out in the same year, and then wait until Winter 2012 for the third to come out. Torture! 

But anyway, on to the characters. Amazing! They are very well developed. Real. They have problems, they aren't perfect. Just the way I like them! And Riley, poor girl just can't get a break! I'm not going to go further into that because I don't want to give away any spoilers. But god, I feel for her. And hmm, Beck. I'm so team Beck. I realllyyy hope to see some Beck and Riley action in the third book. If I don't, I think I'm going to cry. Please?! The other guys can just go to hell. Literally. 

Overall, if you haven't figured it out now, this book was amazing. Definitely on my top favorite series list and Jana is definitely on my author watch list. 

The cover is so pretty. I thought I loved the first book's cover, but this one is my favorite so far. Love the blue and the cemetery background. The model on the cover makes the perfect Riley! 

The third book in the series is called Forgiven. It will be released on February 28, 2011. My review of the first book, The Demon Trapper's Daughter.