Forbidden by Jana Oliver (Young Adult, Urban Fantasy)

August 2011, MacMillan 

424 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Young Adult, Paranormal

Themes: demons - both funny and terrifying, necromancers, angels, devils, trying to lead a normal life, grief, relationships - true/failed/muddled, poverty, trying to fit in, life changes happening all at once, spunk, weapons, inner strength, mild to moderate romance, lots of thrills and violence, a lot of laughs, tissues needed. 

Summary from Pan MacMillan

Riley's beginning to think being a demon trapper isn't all it's cracked up to be. Her dad's been stolen by a necromancer, her boyfriend's gone all weird and she's getting warm and fuzzy feelings for someone who is seriously bad news. It's tempting to give it all up and try to be normal, but that's not an option. 

Because the demons have plans for Riley. 

And they're not the only ones. 

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Riley...she feels easy to relate to with her love of hot chocolate and how she views life. She stuffs up a lot, gets hurt terribly but there's a fiery stubbornness which keeps her going. 

Is there another character who deserves a mention? Mortimer may be a necromancer but he has some good in him which he shows to Riley. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? Absolutely terrifying, as it is after Riley and has already killed and injured a lot of people on the way to her. 

Are there lots of plot twists and surprises? Most of the twists affected Riley on an emotional level which had me wanted to save her from it all. 

One of my favourite parts was...whenever Riley had hot chocolate (with cream!), for no matter what was happening around her she always had time for the best drink ever invented. 

Naturally this gets 10/10 for its realism and for having a protagonist who is fun to know. 

Be sure to find out more about Riley's life, as well as Jana's own life on her website. 

Suggested read

If you after adventure with death and demons, try Rachel Vincent's My Soul To Take