Grave Matters

The Demon Trappers #5

by Jana Oliver, Mark Helwig (Illustrator)

A Demon Trappers Novella

A legendary Demon Trapper, Riley Blackthorne frequently battles with Hell’s minions. So when she travels to Scotland to meet up with her hunky boyfriend, and celebrate her eighteenth birthday, she’s thrilled at the chance to leave Atlanta and its troubles behind.

Denver Beck, who has been studying for months to become a Grand Master – a rare and highly dangerous job -- is just as eager to see his girl. He’s anticipating a romantic reunion, keen to take their relationship to the next level.

But Riley’s twisted history with Hell has garnered unwelcome interest by people willing to use her for their own purposes. Trouble is brewing in the land of the heather, the kind that will drive a wedge between her and Beck, and prove the ultimate test of their love . . . and their survival skills.

Bonus content includes demon illustrations and two Demon Trappers short stories.

Genres: Young Adult, Demons, Fantasy, Novella, Angels, Paranormal, Romance

180 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2013

About the author

Jana Oliver is an international and Amazon bestselling author who lives in Portugal.

Her novels have won numerous awards, including the Prism Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Supense as well as the National Readers' Choice Award.

Her books include The Demon Trappers Series and Briar Rose (Young Adult), time travel/historical mystery (The Time Rovers Series) and paranormal romance (Tangled Souls).

She is co-author of Socially Engaged: The Author's Guide to Social media, written with Tyra Burton.

She is happiest when she's researching urban legends, peering at old maps and adding to her growing collection of port and Portuguese wines.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riley and Beck have been apart for months while Beck is in Scotland studying to become a Grand Master but they're finally about to see each other again now that Riley is travelling to join him to celebrate her eighteenth birthday. Unfortunately their reunion doesn't go smoothly thanks to a shocking betrayal by one of the other demon trappers.

I absolutely loved this series so I was excited to get the chance to spend more time with Riley and Beck. It was also nice to see the couple outside of their usual hunting ground in Atlanta spending time together in Scotland. I'll admit that I didn't like seeing their relationship on rocky ground though, they've been through so much together that I had hoped they would be stronger than that. Thankfully they soon work through their differences and band together to stop their enemies though.

Grave Matters is a fairly short novella but I enjoyed every minute of it and my main complaint was just that I wanted more. The book also includes four illustrations by Mark Helwig of some of the different demons we've encountered throughout the series and two other demon trappers short stories written by Jana Oliver. You may have already read Retro Demonology which is a story about Riley's first solo attempt at trapping a demon and is already available as a free ebook but it's nice to now have this story available in print for the first time. The other story is called Personal Demons and it's another prequel to the series this time from Beck's point of view when he's hunting with Riley's father. Both of these short stories give us glimpses into younger versions of the characters we know and love from the series and were a great addition to the book.

This book isn't a good starting point for people who are new to the series but I'm sure Demon Trappers fans will love Grave Matters as much as I did. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that Jana Oliver decides to revisit these characters again in the future but in the meantime I feel a series reread coming on.

[Ferdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoilers

-This wasn't as good as the main Demon Trapper novels but it was still a decent enough read.

-I was expecting Riley/Beck to be all lovey-dovey with each other as they were finally a proper couple but they weren't like that at all, for the most part they were pretty much the opposite. I didn't want them to be all perfect together but what I wanted even less was them being angsty and idiotic with each other.

-What's what: Riley (demon trapper) travels to Scotland to spend time with Beck who's training to be a master trapper or something. Things don't go to plan, Riley gets kidnapped, she acts angsty, and chaos ensues.

-Beck's attitude pissed me off. When Riley turned down his marriage proposal he acted like a right dick… She didn't lead him on or owe him anything. She'd only just turned eighteen, it was unfair of him to expect her to say yes, maybe she wasn't ready for marriage. Did he not consider that she might just be happy with the way things were? Ugh. Why couldn't he be a supportive and understanding boyfriend instead of a douche who turned on the girl he supposedly loved as soon as she didn't worship the ground he walked on. The bastard.

-Why was Beck so cool with Brennan when he was responsible for almost getting Riley killed?! Brennan let a bunch of wankers kidnap her, then he kept poisoning her, he held a knife to her throat, and was involved in a plot that involved her death. Beck should have kicked his arse.

-What was with Riley's magic at the end? I didn't like her suddenly being all speshul and powerful, it just made her less interesting and somewhat of a Mary Sue.

-I didn't find Riley and Beck's engagement romantic at all. Riley was eighteen and she'd only been dating Beck for a few months. I don't care if they end up waiting a few years to get married, I just find teenagers getting engaged cringey.

-All in all, the story was fairly entertaining but I did have issues with Beck's character, and the whole engagement.

[Julia Sarene · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I really loved the three main books I read, this novella was quite a let down.

It was riddled with errors - missing words like "to" at least 20 times in the short novella. I wonder if it was even proofread - not even talking about an editor...

The word "guy" is used 58 times. It feels like every other sentence is "her guy" or something of the like.

Beck behaves like a real douchebag. If any man treated me like that, I would wish them good riddance.
The whole love story between the two felt completely off in this one - and I wanted to strangle them both, but especially Beck most of the way through. If ONE problem will have the whole relationship on unstable ground, it might not be meant to be...

Riley felt quite weak and like a damsel in distress... Instead of kicking ass herself she would most of the time sit around helpless and wait to be saved by her guy.

I really hope book 5 will be as good as the first ones again!

[Joti · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT!!!!! SO RILEY WENT TO SCOTLAND & EVERYTHING WENT TO HELL - SHE'S KIDNAPPED & BECK'S GOT FOOD POISONING & SHE'S TAKEN TO THE GRAVEYARD WHERE SOME IDIOTIC SUMMONERS WANT TO HELP SAVE SOME WOMAN'S DAUGHTER BUT THE SUMMONER IN CHARGE CALLS UP A FALLEN WAS IT? AND RILEY GETS HURT BUT GETS RID OF THE DEMON-SPAWN (OR IT WAS AN ARCHFIEND ??? OMG MEMORY LOSS) SO THINGS ARE A BIT WEIRD BETWEEN RILEY & BECK - HE POPS THE QUESTION ONE DAY &
OMFGGG RILEY TURNED HIM DOWN OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGAROGVIFHVOAHFVAHFVA
SHE SAID NO!!!
NO!!!!
:O
AND SUMMONER FAYNE COMES OVER FOR DINNER & SHE'S A BITCH & SHE'S THE ONE WHO PUT A SPELL ON RILEY - BRENNAN KIDNAPS HER AGAIN & TAKES HER TO THE GRAVEYARD WHERE FAYNE WANTS TO SUMMON AN ARCHFIEND OR FALLEN ANGEL & LET BRENNAN KILL IT SO HE'LL BE A MASTER TRAPPER & BE 'GOOD ENOUGH' & SHE'S USING A SPELL ON RILEY & RILEY'S GOT A KNIFE AT HER OWN THROAT & SHE'S TRYING TO STOP HERSELF FROM SLASHING HER OWN FREAKING THROAT & FAYNE ALSO SUMMONS UP DEAD WARRIORS & RILEY BREAKS THE SPELL & BECK COMES BARGING WITH THE OTHER MASTER TRAPPERS - & THEY SAVE RILEY & BRENNAN'S ALIVE - SOME OTHER SUMMONERS COME SEE RILEY AFTER TO 'UNDERSTAND WTF HAPPENED' & THEY TRY TO TWIST SHIT AROUND & RILEY STANDS UP FOR HERSELF & TELLS THEM HOW SHIT'S GONNA GO :D
AND THAT'S ALL TAKEN CARE OF NICELY
BECK ASKS RILEY TO MARRY HIM AGAIN...
AND SHE YES
YES!!! YAYAYAYYA!!!! THEY'RE PERFECT TOGETHER!!!!
AND SHE HEADS BACK TO ATLANTA & THEY SAY GOODBYE AT THE AIRPORT & AFTER RILEY GOES TO THE SUMMONER MORT TO ASK HIM TO TEACH HER MAGIC CUZ SHE'S REALIZED PPL R NEVER GONNA LEAVE THEM ALONE & SHE'S GOTTA BE ABLE TO PROTECT HERSELF + SHE MEETS MORT'S NEPHEW, ALEX
AHHHH!!!!!
PERFECT PERFECT ENDING TO THE SERIES!! I READ IT A FEW DAYS AGO BUT WAS WAITING FOR IT TO BE PUT UP ON GR SO I COULD FREAK OUT IN A REVIEW!!
BECK & RILEY <3

DID I MENTION GORGEOUS COVER??? RILEY'S OMFGGG SO PRETTY!!!!

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked seeing Riley out of her element on her trip to see Beck in Scotland. It's too bad that the rotten luck that she seems to have followed her and as soon as she touched down things went to crap. I would have thought that Beck would have realized something was wrong with Riley sooner when seemed so different. I did like that Riley learned something about herself on the trip. Not sure yet if it's a good thing or not. She'll have to decided that once she gets a handle on things.

[court of stories · Rating 3 out of 5]

꧁GRAVE MATTERS꧂
R E V I E W

– setting in Edinburgh
– demon trappers
– necromancers
– 5th book in the demon trappers
– playful banter
– enemies to lovers couple (though this isn‘t relevant for this book)

I love this book series, I really do love it. What may have been Harry Potter, Divergent or for many German folks die Edelsteintrilogie, that‘s the Demon Trappers for me. This is the first book series I‘ve been obsessed with. I read it in 2013–2014 I think, and back then there were only 4 books, and the fourth book ended in a way I thought it was the last one (and btw you can read just the 4 books and it‘s a satisfying ending)
However, there are more books and I‘m going to read them all, and I already started doing so with this one…

‘Grave Matters‘ is the kind of book that‘s nice to have, but do I need it? Nahh not really. But it‘s nice. This is definitely a ‘for the fans‘ kind of book. I‘m glad I‘ve read it because I could spend more time with my beloved characters, but it‘s not even close being as good as the fourth book. It‘s more of a bonus. Though I‘m curious about the new paths this story opens for Beck and Riley and what the following book may bring.

I‘m kind of unsure what to think of this book. I don‘t think it‘s terrible or something, I just think it isn‘t what I was used to in the previous 4 books. This may be the setting (well, for sure it‘s partly the setting), this may be because Beck feels different due to his grand master training, and Riley feels different as well. However, I think it is a good book, maybe a little bit predictable, but good. I‘m rambling, so I‘ll stop this here, and hope my review on the next book in this series will be more concrete.

3/5⭐️

P.S.: the bonus content is pretty great. There are some illustrations of demons, and two short stories – the first one about Beck and Paul Blackthorne, the other about Riley first solo–trapping a demon. I kind of liked the short stories more than the actual book, because it was more back–to–roots, and less about the grand master guild, necromancers etc. 😅 And something I also really liked Becks short story is how you get more insight in his and Paul’s mentor–apprentice–relationship and how he was a father figure to Beck, eventhough it‘s just a glimpse

[Olivia Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 rounded up

[Jaysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great insight into the life of Riley and Den when they spent time together in Scotland!

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate to say that the very short extra stories that were included at the end of this novella were more to my taste than the actual book. It was not what I expected and even though it did have a HFN ending there was no definitive indication that Denver and Riley would ever get their HEA together.

Good thing is there is another full length novel that takes place after Grave Matters which picks up where it left off and hopefully will give the pair what series fans have longed for since they became a couple.

[Sapphyria · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Please read Books 1-4 before reading Grave Matters**
**There may be Grave Matters spoilers in my review. It's not intentional but necessary to the quality of my review**

I've really missed Riley and Beck, so when Jana Oliver announced a novella I jumped all over it. I started by reading excerpts of Grave Matters on her website http://gravematters.janaoliver.com/. Then when the novella was available in print, I purchased it right away. I own all 4 of the full length novels in the series and it's nice to be able to add Grave Matters to the collection. The novella also contains 2 short stories, including Retro Demonology, which has only been available previously as a free eBook.

Riley and Beck get a lot of face time in the novella and not all of it is good. Treachery occurs as soon as Riley lands in Scotland and it's up to Riley, Beck, and the occupants of the home where Beck is completing his training, to figure out who's after Riley this time. The finally realized relationship between Riley and Beck is in jeopardy, Riley's life is in danger, and Beck will have to come to terms with what being a Grand Master will actually entail. All of this is squeezed into the 142 pages of Grave Matters.

I loved the concept of the novella and, really, you can't ever go wrong with Riley and Beck. The friction that develops between Riley and Beck is unexpected and played out quite well. The cause and effects of the trouble certainly plays upon the reader's emotions. After working so hard to get their relationship to where it was at the end of Foretold, I was distraught when the relationship began to crumble. Well played, Jana Oliver, well played! The dissolution of Riley and Beck is fully dependent upon the other actions within the book. There is action, adventure, misunderstandings, and of course, the attempt to use Riley for, and by, the forces of evil.

I must admit that Grave Matters wasn't nearly as dynamic as the four full length novels in the series. There just didn't seem to be as much suspense and nail biting build up in the novella. The ultimate reason for all of the happenings in Grave Matter were written cleanly and cohesively, however, and the entire novella was still very good. I'm glad I purchased the novella for my bookshelf.

I certainly hope this isn't the last we hear about Riley and Beck. They are one of my absolute favorite power couples. I'd almost like to see them cross over from the young adult genre into the adult genre and see where that takes them; especially now that Riley is eighteen.

Review Copy Courtesy Of: My Bookshelf

[Alice Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. The thing I like best about self-publishing is that authors are able to continue their stories when their publishers have obviously gone insane and discontinued a fantastic series. What I love about Grave Matters is that we see Riley and Denver moving on to a new life. Of course, the past comes back to haunt Riley as every nutcase in the world now wants to challenge her based on her reputation. The best part is that they know only the barest of what she has been through, and so the comeuppance is exceptionally gratifying. One thing that is great about this series is that even though there is religious symbolism, the characters don't act out of their standard, boring religious archetypes. The concept of demons, as expressed by Jana Oliver, is far more interesting and fluid than religion could ever express.

Grave Matters reveals some interesting things about both Riley and Denver, that they are more than they were both raised to be. The discovery of that, however, takes them on a hard and painful path. Riley has niggling doubts that bring out Denver's insecurities. My only complaint here is that Denver has gained confidence in recent months, yet he is rehashing the same old self doubt of just being a simple man. The sentiment fell a bit flat for me as I would have expected more conflict between his new confidence and his old lack. Riley's constant one-liner inner monologues were a bit redundant sometimes as well.

The two short stories at the end were great. Set before the first book of the series, they are action packed and funny, and far better than the average bonus short story. I have to say that Jana Oliver has found the best use of Melville's "Moby Dick." Ever. I also got a kick out of Riley's reference to an Ilona Andrews book -- very funny! Read the first books of this series, then buy this one. You'll be happy you did!

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riley and Beck have survived the war and are finally a couple. They can't seem to get enough of each other so when they discover Beck is being sent to Scotland to begin his Grand Master training Riley is devastated. But Riley wants Beck to have this chance to prove himself as a Grand Master.

Riley goes to Scotland for a visit when she encounters some kidnappers and Beck acting strangely. Riley isn't so sure she made the right decision in coming to see Beck. Even though things start off on a bad note they end up on a good note.

There are so many twits and turns in this novella it will have you on the end of your seat waiting for what is coming next. Will their week together be a good one or will it be a bad one?

[Julie-anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riley goes to Scotland for her 18th birthday to meet up with Beck mid-training. As soon as she gets off the plane, she's in danger and then when she meets up with Beck - she's paranoid. They figure out what's wrong and aim to fix it - along with their relationship.

I was so upset when this series ended - especially as it came as a bit of a surprise to me, I never knew it was the last book until I was reading it! I love Riley and I love Beck. I love the world that Jana Oliver has built here and vaguely post-apocalyptic view on the world. So I was excited to get another wee (too wee) look at the world.

Also love that this is set in my homeland! Don't ask me why but I love reading a story with street names and places that I can actually picture, everything set elsewhere is a total blindside for me. Although as much as I love these books, this series and this author - I always hate reading Scottish characters written by non-Scots authors. The words don't read right for me, all the "ya" and "ta", I can't say that in my head - it sounds wrong. Of course, that may just be me - I am unaware of how other Scots feel on this manner but I feel this way about most Scottish characters I read. Our language is hard to write, especially if you don't speak it - considering the main differences in our language are all to do with pronunciation, it is hard to make it come across purely in the written word.

If you've read the other books in the series, read this. If you haven't read the rest of the books in the series they go Forsaken, Forbidden, Forgiven & Foretold - go buy them and you're welcome in advance.

[Margaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a short story who's taking place between the fourth and the fifth book. It was nice to see Beck and Riley again. I am so in love with her she's such a badass! It's a little cheesy around the edge (marriage at eighteen really??) but i don't know it kind of feel right anyway. On my way to start the next book !

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

cant wait to read the 5th one! this novella was so cute!

[Rute Canhoto · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://rutecanhoto.blogspot.pt/2015/0...

[Jessica Tomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short but sweet book in the demon trappers series. It was a 4 star read for me. I enjoyed the plot and change of scenery in this novella. The development of the grand masters and understanding just how few there are was compelling. I enjoyed how much Beck has grown up and how far he has come from the first book. Beck has been troubled and complicated for most of the series and it was good to see him settled and how maturely he handled the challenges presented in this novella. Riley continues to mature into a strong young woman who can overcome whatever challenge is thrown at her. I did like how Riley was faced with self doubt and how she found the inner strength to overcome this and realise that it was due to something more complex. The plot felt a bit rushed however that is always the case with such short novellas.

This book also contained two short stories, one for Beck set 3 years before the first book. I loved seeing a young novice apprentice Beck. Seeing the parallels between his apprentice days and Riley's shows how they are two peas in one pod!

Riley's short story was also a flashback story about her first solo trapping job. The girl can't catch a break with Biblio fiends! It took more of the comedic tones that subtely run through this series. Both short stories were fun little snippets into the protanganists' pasts.

[Claudia Marcela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Riley está camino a visitar a Beck en Escocia, pero las cosas no resultan como ella las soñó.

Estaba segura que este libro era necesario para ver la dinámica entre Beck y Riley ya que está confirmada su relación y están más fuertes que nunca... pero entonces la mitad del libro fue sobre secretos, desconfianza y corazones rotos. Aunque exista una "justificación" para todo el desastre emocional, no me pareció una buena trama.

Solo el principio y el final se enfocan en los asuntos de los demon trappers, pero se quedó muy desaprovechado todo el misticismo alrededor de los grandmasters.

Lectura entretenida y nada más.

El nivel de inglés necesario para entender el libro es intermedio.

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been one of my absolutely favorite YA urban fantasy series. I really enjoyed going back to revisit this world. I didn't realize a 5th book had been released in this series and am so excited to pick that up as well. I love these characters and this demon infested world!

This is a great novella for fans of the series. I wouldn't necessarily recommend as an intro to the series since there is a lot of backstory for these characters that you don't see in this novella. However, it should read okay as a stand alone.

I loved how this story showed our characters moving on. Riley is working on training apprentices and Beck is studying to become a Grand Master. Their reunion is sweet and amazing and plagued with all the complications that plague Demon Trappers.

Oliver does an amazing job all around with this story (and the whole series). The action scenes are breathtaking, the characters intriguing, and the world is well developed and engaging. The writing flows beautifully and the dialogue is snappy and fun. This was such a fun and easy story to read.

Overall I adored this addition to the Demon Trappers series. I would recommend this whole series to urban fantasy fans. I was beyond ecstatic to hear that a fifth book, Mind Games, came out in this series...last year...HOW DID I MISS THAT! Anyway, highly recommend to urban fantasy fans I love it!

[Kera · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was honestly hoping that THIS would be the book where I could dive in further into Riley and Beck's relationship.

And I get that demon's come for trappers, I get that, but the part where Riley was being "controlled" seemed...I don't know...I didn't like it. I feel like after all Riley has been through that she would break through a simple compulsion trick quite easy, especially if she hadn't seen Beck for such a long time.

I was hoping for more pages of them. Just them. No demons. No drama. Just them.

Again, my opinion. I ship them so hard though, and I really understand that fighting monsters is part of them, but because of the previous books, I was hoping for just them.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a really good novella and short story combined. I love the trip to Scotland and how it was described. I love how I kept guessing at how things would turn out for Riley and beck. I liked their story. the other 2 short stories where really brief but good. the first was about how beck faced down a 3 with Paul. it was nice seeing their relationship. the second was about Riley trapping on her first solo run. it was awesome to read about that advice she gives to the young trappers in the for told.

[Leanne Crabtree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its been a while...

...Since I read the first four books in this series but I know I fell in love with them and Riley and Denver.

So yeah, I'd forgotten a lot of what went on and it took me a while to get into this. But I'm happy for the couple.

P.S. I'm not sure if this book has been updated since I bought it back in 2015/2016 but there are quite a few missing/extra words floating throughout and I'm pretty sure Fayne turns onto Faye at some point.

[Jessica Buwalda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is been a while since I’ve visited this world but it only took a couple of pages before it all came back to me. It’s been years since I’ve read the first one and with all the reading I’ve done since I have to and can acknowledge that maybe a little more editing should have done into these books so that the plot and characters can shine. Although the writing can improve a bit, the characters and the world created by Jana Oliver is one that is always immensely enjoyable.

[Zoe Russell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my favourite series but this one didn't feel like Riley, she felt weak and like a damsel in distress and not at all like the personality that we have grown to see in the first 4 books.
The relationship between her and Beck felt very much like back to the start of the series with them not being on the same page or taking the time to really centre on the others emotions which you would come to expect now.
The writing itself felt rushed and unproofread with missing words throughout.

[Jessica Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this addition to the series, probably more than the series itself! It was exciting and jam packed with action, and it was awesome to catch up with all the characters and see how they're getting on. So glad Jana Oliver decided to give us some more Riley and Beck. Hoping there's a next one with a bit of Ozy in because that seems like it would be a lot of fun

[Erin Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diving back into this world years after originally reading the series was such a fun trip down memory road.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was good, but there were so many errors in it. It definitely needed edited better.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good read.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a rollercoaster of a novella this one was. So many times where you just didn't know what was going to happen.

I was happy with how it ended though. Perfect little book set between books 4 and 5. Giving you insights to the international guild.

[LineDalbro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Demon Trapper, Riley Blackthorne frequently battles with Hell's minions. So when se travels to Scotland to meet up with her hunky boyfriend, and celebrate her eighteenth birthday, she's thrilled at the chance to leave Atlante and its troubles behind. Denver Beck, who has been studying for months to become a Grand Master - a rare and highly dengerous job - is just as eager to see his girl. He's anticipation a romantic reunion, keen to take their relationship to the next level. But Riley's twisted history with Hell has garnered unwelcome interest by people willing to use her for their own purposes. Trouble is brewing in the land of the heather, the kind that will drive a wedge between her and Beck, and prove the ultimate test of their love ... and their survival skills.

Spoilers ahead - så er du advaret!

Riley glæder sig til at gense Beck efter flere måneder hvor de har været adskilt. Selvom hun har travlt med at oplære nye dæmonfanger-lærlinge og skolen, savner hun alligevel sin kæreste helt vildt, men den romantiske start på turen, hvor Beck ville hente hende i lufthavnen, kommer skidt fra start. For Beck er der ikke til at hente hende i lufthavnen! Hun bliver i stedet hente af en anden dæmonfangere - eller det tror hun i hvert fald. Pludselig befinder hun sig i situation som kræver al hendes styrke og mod for at komme ud af i live.

Beck glæder sig også til at gense Riley, men han er pludselig blevet syg, så han kan ikke hente Riley i lufthavnen. Da han finder ud af at nogle har kidnappet hende i lufthavnen skynder han sig afsted for at finde hende. Han havde - ligesom Riley - håbet af få nogle dage uden dæmoner, blod og død, men desværre har skæbnen andre planer.

Riley klarer dog - som sædvanelig - sig selv, men det er ikke uden men. Pludselig er hun ekstra opmærksom på alt omkring hende, selv hendes tillid til Beck er ikke hvad den har været. Han forsøger at være støttende og forstående, men hun skubber ham væk og da han stiller det spørgsmål hun havde håbet på han ville stille, er hun pludselig i tvivl og siger nej. Dette frustrerer Beck mere end noget andet og han ved ikke om de kan komme tilbage efter det.

Som et sidste forsøg på at finde ud af hvad der er galt, tager Beck Riley med til det gods hvor han er ved at uddanne sig til Stor Mester. Her håber at de andre Stor Mestre kan hjælpe med til at løse gåden om Rileys pludselige adfærdsændring og da svaret endelig står klart for ham, er Riley igen i fare og denne gang kan hun risikere at miste livet, hvis ikke han når frem i tiden og selv hvis han gør, er Riley nødt til at finde sin indre styrke og turde gøre noget hun ikke havde troet var muligt.

Vil Beck få chance for at stille sit store spørgsmål én gang til - og hvad vil Riley svare hvis han gør?

Og en lille bonus info - vi får Beck at se i kilt i denne historie!! Oh yearh...

Riley cupped his face, inhaling his aftershave.
"I thought you were awesome before, but now you're just..."
She sighed. "You are sooo handsome, Den."


Denne lille novelle slutter på fineste vis fortællingen om Riley og Beck (jeg har dog hørt rygter om at der skulle komme mere....!!). Novellen er bygget op som de andre bøger, man skifter synspunkt mellem Riley og Beck og der er masser af aktion, drama og kærlighed. For nu troede vi som læsere jo lige at det hele bare skulle være godt, men nej, det kære par skal igennem endnu flere prøvelser for at få hinanden.

Det er virkelig hjerteskærende at læse hvordan både Riley og Beck reagerer da hun siger nej, og det knuste virkelig mit hjerte, for det hele var bare så smukt, men det skulle ikke være, og selvom de begge to prøver at håndtere det, lykkedes det ikke. De fornemmer begge to at noget er ændret og de frygter begge at det nu er for sent. Heldigvis finder de dog hinanden igen - jeg siger ikke hvordan og jeg siger heller ikke om Beck for chancen igen, for det skal I som læsere selv finde ud af.

Jeg elsker stadig denne serie og selvom jeg synes denne bog afrunder fortællingen godt, er jeg stadig ikke klar til at sige farvel til dem, så jeg håber meget på en efterfølger!

Til sidst i denne bog er der også to endnu korte fortællinger. Nemlig fortællingerne om hvordan Beck klarede sin første niveau 3 dæmon, som bestemt ikke var nogen nem opgave og fortællingen om hvordan Riley klarede sin første solo mission.