Retro Demonology & The Demon Trapper's Daugher by Jana Oliver

 Retro Demonology by Jana Oliver
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date:  December 17, 2010
ebook

This is a cute little prequel to THE DEMON TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER.  In it you meet Riley who is an apprentice Demon Trapper.  Her dad is a Master and he has sent her out on a job alone. 

This is an alternate world of course, demons have gotten access to Earth and roam free causing anything from small chaos to death.  Riley is only allowed to go on Class One assignments right now.  Some people can't understand or even stand the thought that the world has gone in a different direction and they have chosen an era to live in.  The couple Riley goes to help have chosen the 70's.  The result is hilarious!  This quick little story made me want to read the series.

 Publisher:  St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date:  February 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0312614782
Pages:  368

Set in 2018 in Atlanta, GA, the world is overrun by demons and Riley lives in a hot-zone.  Her dad, Paul, is a famous Master Demon Trapper and Riley is determined to be one too. 

I did want a little more back story than what I got between this one and the short story I read first.  For instance: How did the world end up being overrun by demons?  How did Paul get into the business? Maybe all of those questions will be answered as we move into the series.

Riley is seventeen, goes to school, apprentices at demon trapping, is a bit harsh at times, but comes off as realistic.  I like her! 

Beck, her dad's partner, is a little older than Riley, comes off as pretty smart about what he does but is reckless about it too, he's protective of Riley and seems more complex than he puts out there.

The demons are classifieds from Ones, which are pretty harmless to Fives, which are killers.  The ones are things like Biblio's, they like to destroy books and then there are the ones like ravens, they collect shiny things - they're basically harmless and kind of cute.

Harper is the Master trainer that Riley ends up getting assigned to.  He's mean, drunk, arrogant and doesn't hesitate to slap his trainees.  Yet, there's something there that makes me think we're going to learn more about him and he's going to come out as a better person.

I really like this series so far, it's a bit gritty and realistic and the characters are complex.