Book Shelf: Forgiven (The Demon Trappers #3) by Jana Oliver

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…

More info: Goodreads.


Review:

Forgiven, the third book in The Demon Trappers series by Jana Oliver proves to be the best in the series so far with its blend of on your seat action, constant excitement, unparallel friendship and tantalizing romance!

If you’ve read any of my previous Demon Trapper reviews, you’ll be well aware that I love this series. I do; I really do. Jana Oliver’s dystopian world is one I love getting lost in. It’s raw and gritty and Oliver’s exceptional storytelling never fails to captivate me with each and every book. And Forgiven was no exception! This book showcases everything I love about this series and brings it to a whole new level as the stakes are raised and more than just lives are on the line. Told in dual perspectives, it’s fantastic trading back and forth between main characters Riley and Beck to get different views on the events within the book.

I was so thrilled with Riley in this book. After the events of the last book, she really embraces her mistakes and learns from them, growing throughout the course of Forgiven. Oliver writes her so easily emphasisable, that even when I want to shake some sense into her, I want to give her a cuddle too. I liked that she acknowledged her mistakes and that she took responsibility for the majority of them. There's a lot she has to make up for and I honestly felt that her actions in this book were here first steps towards that. Riley is truly growing into a strong leading lady; one that fights for the ones she loves and what she thinks is right. She’s embracing the trapper way of life, but she’s also her own person and it’s wonderful to follow her throughout the series!

As far as male leads go, Denver Beck is one of my favourites. He’s so raw and rough around the edges, but that strength and tenderness to him that we see during the series never fails to steal my heart. I love Beck; I soooo do! He’s such a sweetie, really he is. I think the fact that he has so many flaws and that he’s truly vulnerable and in no way perfect make him the fantastic character that he is. He often makes mistakes and his mouth runs off on him, especially where Riley’s concerned, and this leads to a lot of problems for him, but at his heart he’s such an incredibly good guy. You can see he wants to do right by Riley and her father and the Trappers Guild that have given him the life he leads. In Forgiven he has a lot of issues to work through and it was so endearing watching him do so; it made him so human.

I loved the relationship development between Riley and Beck throughout this book. I admit it seems like two steps forward, one step back with them, but for the most part they really grew together in Forgiven. One of the things I love about the relationship between the two of them is it feels real to me. They’re in no way perfect and they make their fair share of mistakes but when it really matters they’re there for one another. You just know there’s nothing they wouldn’t do to protect the other. Not only is that, but the sexual tension and connection between them is on fire in this book. It’s electric but tinged with so much sweetness and even though Oliver had me wanting to shout in frustration over how things end for them in this chapter of the series, I’m truly hopeful for them in the last book.

Weaving together some incredible fight sequences with magic, demons and tinges of humour, all the characters I’ve comes to love in this series are back! The demon presence in Georgia brings more of the church’s hunters to town and as they work alongside the trappers we love, the race to stop Armageddon is on in a non-stop action packed ride that will not disappoint you with its brilliance. Oliver leaves us all with unsolved questions and a cliff-hanger that has you wanting more. I’m desperate for the fourth and final book, Foretold and am anticipating one hell of an ending!


Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Pan Macmillan Australia (Thank-you so much Charlotte!)
AU Release Date: Available now!
Buy it: Booktopia // The Nile
Reccomendation: I simply adore this series! With each book better than the last it'd be a shame not to find out for yourself how amazing this series is!
Cover: Amazing as always. These covers look so awesome together.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Without a doubt--I'm counting down the days until its release!