Soul Thief: The Demon Trappers 2 (ARC)

Author: Jana Oliver
Genre : Young-Adult – Paranormal
Publication Date : August 30th 2011
Publisher:  St. Martin's Griffin
Age Range : Young Adult
Pages :  320
Date Scoot Read: July 2011
Source: ARC from Soul Thief ARC Tour

Scoot's Rating : 10 – Amazing! Loved it. Read it now!

Synopsis (via Goodreads) :  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…

Scoot’s Review:
Picking up immediately after the events of the first novel in Soul Thief we rejoin Riley Blackthorne as she struggles to cope with her ripped apart life.  Riley has yet to learn the unintended consequences of her deal with heaven and she is on the hunt to find her father’s body.  Thrown on top of it all a Grade 5 demon is still trying to hunt her down and the men in her life are giving her all kinds of mixed – or not so mixed – signals.  I loved The Demon Trapper’s Daughter, so of course I was a little afraid that Soul Thief wouldn’t live up the first novel.  Rest assured; there is no reason to be wary! Soul Thief is a great book! The story once again managed to pull my heart strings in so many directions.  I would be touched and pleased one moment, and betrayed or heartbroken the next.   Characterization in the story is strong and no one seems shallow; each character has a history and depth.  I especially enjoyed seeing smaller characters like Mort the necromancer from the first novel develop into stronger leads in this story.  Riley continues to grow and mature as a person, but she isn’t perfect.  There were a couple of decisions that you just wanted to scream at her for, but when you consider things from her perspective you understood her choices. And Beck, oh Beck.  He is flawed, but so genuine.  If only Beck and Riley could communicate better I think most of their problems would be solved.  I love that we have rotating perspectives throughout the story; the reader doesn’t just see things through Riley’s eyes, giving us a better overall idea picture of what is happening. The romantic elements felt genuine and seemed to follow their natural course; nothing felt forced.  Ori, Simon, Peter, Beck... Riley just has so many men in her life it is a little hard to know what to do with them.  I don’t want to sway or spoil you by voicing my opinion, but let’s just say that I am definitely on a team.  There is one man who I think is the best for Riley, but we will just have to wait and see how things turn out as the story continues.  The action was fast paced and the paranormal elements continued to be intriguing.  If you enjoyed The Demon Trapper’s Daughter you won’t be disappointed with Soul Thief.  Make sure to pick up a copy when it releases at the end of this month!