*ARC* Department 19
By Will Hill
Hardcover: 496 pages
Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks (31 Mar 2011)
Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks (31 Mar 2011)
Genre: Young Adult - Paranormal/Dark Fantasy/Thriller
Source: Publisher
Source: Publisher
Rating: 
Synopsis - In a secret supernatural battle that's been raging for over a century, the stakes have just been raised – and they're not wooden anymore. When Jamie Carpenter's mother is kidnapped by strange creatures, he finds himself dragged into Department 19, the government's most secret agency. Fortunately for Jamie, Department 19 can provide the tools he needs to find his mother, and to kill the vampires who want him dead. But unfortunately for everyone, something much older is stirring, something even Department 19 can't stand up against…
My thoughts - Pretty and alluring vampires did you say? Sorry to break it to you, but I think you have it all wrong. Just ask Jamie Carpenter, he should know. The day he watches his father die and his mother taken away is the very day that Jamie meets the not so fictional man himself -- Frankenstein. So, I'm sure I'm supposed to be scared of crazy ole Frankenstein, but the author made him so cuddly, cute, and lovably awesome in my eyes that I just wanted to give him a big cuddle! I know, I know; sometimes my strangeness knows no bounds.
It's Frankenstein who takes him to the super-awesome secret organisation Department 19. Whilst staying there he realises that vampires are pretty real, his father was hardly who he seemed, and most of all, he can kill any hopes of finding him any vampire hot chicks anytime soon. In this book they are animalistic predators who eat first, hold no guilt, and are completely out of control. Oh wait, maybe he shouldn't cross out all vampires just yet *side eye*
What I found interesting was the take on vampires. Will Hill has took it way back when it was not so cool to be a vampire, when vampires weren't so romantic and great looking. I like that he has done something out of the norm in recent vampire-related YA today when he could have done something much more predicable.
What surprised me the most was probably the violence and the gore because believe me when I say that there is a fair share of it, but taking into account the world building that the author has put quite a lot of effort in, I would say it's pretty necessary and relevant to the story.
The narrative shifts from Van Helsing to Jamie. Van Helsing I may have just adored more than Jamie. He is the epitome of cool, and I found myself eagerly awaiting the moments when his narrative *early 1900s* would arrive. The great comradery he shares with Jonathan Harker, Dr Seward and Arthur Holmword is apparent. I loved how they were so loyal to each other and worked as a team. They represent this brotherhood which I really loved reading about. I might have just enjoyed his story more -- so than than Jamie's. These are the very men whose hard work and dedication led to the the reckoning force that is now Department 19, and it's great g to see the journey that leads up to that moment. It's also interesting to see how the author depicted life in the late 1800s- early 1900s. Can you tell that I completely love Van Helsing? Because I do, completely, in all his awesome glory!
The book did have the tendency to lag at times, and Jamie isn't the easiest MC to like since his hormone ridden and angsty behaviour has the tendency to get him in all kinds of trouble -- leading him to make pretty bad decisions at times, but I like a strong, determined, and driven character. There is no denying that Jamie holds these traits hands down. I would recommend Department 19 for those who are tired of those typical vampire reads, and want something different and a little adventurous.
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