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Department 19 #2
The Rising
James Bond meets Dracula in this epic saga of one boy and a ton of weapons versus the world's oldest evil--vampires as you've never seen them before!
Sixteen-year-old Jamie Carpenter's life was violently upended when he was brought into Department 19, a classified government agency of vampire hunters that was formed to deal with a little problem . . . known as Dracula.
But being the new recruit at the Department isn't all weapons training and covert missions. Jamie's own mother has been turned into a vampire--and now Jamie will stop at nothing to wreak revenge on her captors. Even if that means facing down Dracula himself.
The Rising is a fast, furious, can't-turn-away thrill ride that will suck readers in just like a video game. This riveting second book in the Department Nineteen series is packed with cutting-edge gadgets, international locales, and daredevil action that tumbles ferociously across the page--perfect for fans of Darren Shan and Anthony Horowitz.
608 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Will Hill
53 books565 followersBefore quitting his job in publishing to write full time, Will Hill worked as a bartender, a bookseller and a door-to-door charity worker. He grew up in the north-east of England, is scared of spiders, and lives in east London with his girlfriend. He is a big fan of cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
September 30, 2012
The overlong, occasionally tedious, but overall super fun sequel to Department 19 has Dracula in it, trying to regain his strength after a long time as a dust pile and some bones, but, you know, no such memorable exchanges like this one:
Buffy: Who are you?
Dracula: I apologize. I assumed you knew. I am Dracula.
Buffy: (fangirly glee) Get out!
or this one:
Xander: Nice. Look who's got a bad case of Dark Prince envy.
Dracula: I have no interest in you. Leave us.
Xander: No, we're not going to (imitates Dracula's accent) leave you. And where'd you get that accent Sesame Street? One, two, three — three victims. Mwah, ha, ha, ha!
Buffy: Xander, I'm pretty sure that's Dracula.
Xander: Wow, really? Hey, sorry, man, I was... just jokin' around.
What it does have is lots of GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!
And about a hundred characters switching viewpoints very quickly so that certain battles feel like those slo-mo action scenes in movies! (Which actually worked pretty well.)
And more GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!
And A LOT of flashbacks! So many that I started to get sort of lost! (And let's face it, I skimmed some of Dracula's origin story chapters and because I wanted to get to the real story -- you know, what's happening in Department 19 these days -- because of the GOOOOOOOOOOOORE!)
If the first book in the series was like a summer blockbuster movie, this one is the overstuffed sequel everyone expected, with more battles and explody things and less character development and an unconvincing romance between two characters and a supposedly game-changing plot development that everybody saw coming from a mile (seriously, a mile, did you see how long this book is?), but somehow, it is still enjoyable to those who liked the first one. What can I say -- I had fun reading this book. I read it in a day. Hill's writing is cinematic, and when we're not delving into the past for too long just to give a character his motivation, the pacing is killer. But I'm not sure who I'd recommend this to, aside from people who loved the first book and those who are willing to wade through lots of words to get to the GOOOOOOOOOOORE.
This series should really become a movie and/or video game and I think it will find the wide audience it deserves. It would be light years better than Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, I can tell you.
(Read more quotes from: http://www.buffyguide.com/episodes/bu...)
Buffy: Who are you?
Dracula: I apologize. I assumed you knew. I am Dracula.
Buffy: (fangirly glee) Get out!
or this one:
Xander: Nice. Look who's got a bad case of Dark Prince envy.
Dracula: I have no interest in you. Leave us.
Xander: No, we're not going to (imitates Dracula's accent) leave you. And where'd you get that accent Sesame Street? One, two, three — three victims. Mwah, ha, ha, ha!
Buffy: Xander, I'm pretty sure that's Dracula.
Xander: Wow, really? Hey, sorry, man, I was... just jokin' around.
What it does have is lots of GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!
And about a hundred characters switching viewpoints very quickly so that certain battles feel like those slo-mo action scenes in movies! (Which actually worked pretty well.)
And more GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!
And A LOT of flashbacks! So many that I started to get sort of lost! (And let's face it, I skimmed some of Dracula's origin story chapters and because I wanted to get to the real story -- you know, what's happening in Department 19 these days -- because of the GOOOOOOOOOOOORE!)
If the first book in the series was like a summer blockbuster movie, this one is the overstuffed sequel everyone expected, with more battles and explody things and less character development and an unconvincing romance between two characters and a supposedly game-changing plot development that everybody saw coming from a mile (seriously, a mile, did you see how long this book is?), but somehow, it is still enjoyable to those who liked the first one. What can I say -- I had fun reading this book. I read it in a day. Hill's writing is cinematic, and when we're not delving into the past for too long just to give a character his motivation, the pacing is killer. But I'm not sure who I'd recommend this to, aside from people who loved the first book and those who are willing to wade through lots of words to get to the GOOOOOOOOOOORE.
This series should really become a movie and/or video game and I think it will find the wide audience it deserves. It would be light years better than Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, I can tell you.
(Read more quotes from: http://www.buffyguide.com/episodes/bu...)
March 14, 2012
Review originally posted at The Book Zone (For Boys).
If there was one 2012 release that I was looking forward to reading more than any other this year it was Will Hill’s Department 19: The Rising. I do not think I have stopped shouting about how wonderful I thought the first book was – I have bought multiple copies over the past year for various godsons, relatives, etc and I have recommended it to all of my friends and work colleagues who have teenage sons. It goes without saying that it was also my Book Zone Book of the Year 2011. Imagine my excitement when I discovered that an early proof copy was heading my way just before Christmas – it would make the perfect in-flight reading material for my journey to Canada. Imagine also my utter despair when it had not arrived in time – everyone else seemed to have received theirs, but Bracknell must be in some kind of different time zone as far as post is concerned as this was yet another slow arriving parcel. However, my tweeted despair quickly turned to elation when the wonderful, generous, thoughtful Will Hill emailed me a pdf of The Rising so that I could read it on my Kindle. I joyfully proclaimed that I would read it in a single sitting during my many houred flight, and Will replied that he would be very surprised if I did, as it was 700+ pages long. Was that a gauntlet I heard being thrown down?
Come the following morning the plane took off, and as soon as I was allowed the Kindle was turned on. The next nine hours flew by, the inflight entertainment system (and my long suffering wife) completely ignored/forgotten about, as I was drawn back into the author’s world where nasty, blood gulping vampires exist, as does a government agency, the eponymous Department 19, established decades ago to counter the threat of these unread. And I ‘won’ the challenge – I clicked over onto the final page just five minutes before the light came on to tell us to turn off all electrical gadgets in preparation for the plane’s descent, at the end of what was possibly one of the most enjoyable flights I have ever made. If you thought Department 19 was amazing then fasten your seatbelts tight as the sequel is one truly fantastic ride. Will Hill has taken everything that was so great about the first book, and turned them up to 11!
Now first the bad news – I really cannot tell you very much about the plot except for the very basics. At the end of the first book we were left with a number of questions (and one massively huge jaw-dropping epilogue), and many of these questions are answered in one way or another in The Rising. There are also a number of key developments/revelations that, should I spoil them in any way in this review, HarperCollins and Will Hill might just string me up by my unmentionables and leave me to rot. One or two of these really key developments I had guessed before they were revealed (honest guv!), and one in particular had been niggling away at me ever since I read the first book. This is not to say that they are obvious though, Will Hill keeps his readers guessing all the w ay through this one.
If you haven’t read the first book then you might want to turn away now as I am about to mention THAT epilogue (in fact, if you haven’t read it then leave this review now, and go and buy it or get it from your local library this very minute). As I was saying, THAT epilogue. The Dracula thing that had all those jaws thudding across the land. Yes, in The Rising Dracula has returned, but before you get your hopes up, this story is less about Dracula and more about loads of other things, and it is all the better for this. It is about how Jamie is struggling to cope with the loss of his close friend Frankenstein and his mother being turned into a vampire. It is about Jamie and his growing relationship with fellow Department 19 operative (and vampire) Larissa. It is about Larissa, hating her fangs and vampire abilities and desperate to be seen as a normal person. It is about Kate Randall, the girl they rescued from Lindisfarne. It is about Matt Browning, now recovered physically from the severe injuries he suffered in the first book, but mentally feeling that there is a huge hole in his life. It is about the history behind Dracula becoming a vampire, and the subsequent turning of his faithful followers Valeri, Valentin and the since destroyed Alexandru, and how not even vampire brothers necessarily share the same goals.
Despite it having more action, more gore, and more horror than its predecessor, The Rising is very much about the characters, good and bad, and in my mind this makes it even better than the first book. I became so immersed in their various stories that my emotions during that flight were all over the place. At times my heart was racing, desperate to get to the outcome of an action scene, and then several chapters later I would feel tears almost pricking at my eyes. I went from excited to saddened to fearful to elated and then back again, running the whole gamut over and over again. There was one scene in particular, at the beginning of which I was genuinely afraid for the characters involved, and come the end of that climactic scene I challenge anyone not to be genuinely upset. Will Hill – you are a genius!
This book is a rare thing indeed - a sequel that is better than its brilliant predecessor. It almost wants me to go back to my reviews on Amazon and GoodReads and drop them down to four stars. But Department 19 was my favourite book of 2011 so I can't justify that, so I will just have to imagine there being a sixth star. There is so much more I want to say about it but can’t (I value my unmentionables to much). Yet again I already have a frontrunner for my book of the year – author’s please note, Will Hill has set the bar and in 2012 it may take an effort of Olympian proportions to beat it.
If there was one 2012 release that I was looking forward to reading more than any other this year it was Will Hill’s Department 19: The Rising. I do not think I have stopped shouting about how wonderful I thought the first book was – I have bought multiple copies over the past year for various godsons, relatives, etc and I have recommended it to all of my friends and work colleagues who have teenage sons. It goes without saying that it was also my Book Zone Book of the Year 2011. Imagine my excitement when I discovered that an early proof copy was heading my way just before Christmas – it would make the perfect in-flight reading material for my journey to Canada. Imagine also my utter despair when it had not arrived in time – everyone else seemed to have received theirs, but Bracknell must be in some kind of different time zone as far as post is concerned as this was yet another slow arriving parcel. However, my tweeted despair quickly turned to elation when the wonderful, generous, thoughtful Will Hill emailed me a pdf of The Rising so that I could read it on my Kindle. I joyfully proclaimed that I would read it in a single sitting during my many houred flight, and Will replied that he would be very surprised if I did, as it was 700+ pages long. Was that a gauntlet I heard being thrown down?
Come the following morning the plane took off, and as soon as I was allowed the Kindle was turned on. The next nine hours flew by, the inflight entertainment system (and my long suffering wife) completely ignored/forgotten about, as I was drawn back into the author’s world where nasty, blood gulping vampires exist, as does a government agency, the eponymous Department 19, established decades ago to counter the threat of these unread. And I ‘won’ the challenge – I clicked over onto the final page just five minutes before the light came on to tell us to turn off all electrical gadgets in preparation for the plane’s descent, at the end of what was possibly one of the most enjoyable flights I have ever made. If you thought Department 19 was amazing then fasten your seatbelts tight as the sequel is one truly fantastic ride. Will Hill has taken everything that was so great about the first book, and turned them up to 11!
Now first the bad news – I really cannot tell you very much about the plot except for the very basics. At the end of the first book we were left with a number of questions (and one massively huge jaw-dropping epilogue), and many of these questions are answered in one way or another in The Rising. There are also a number of key developments/revelations that, should I spoil them in any way in this review, HarperCollins and Will Hill might just string me up by my unmentionables and leave me to rot. One or two of these really key developments I had guessed before they were revealed (honest guv!), and one in particular had been niggling away at me ever since I read the first book. This is not to say that they are obvious though, Will Hill keeps his readers guessing all the w ay through this one.
If you haven’t read the first book then you might want to turn away now as I am about to mention THAT epilogue (in fact, if you haven’t read it then leave this review now, and go and buy it or get it from your local library this very minute). As I was saying, THAT epilogue. The Dracula thing that had all those jaws thudding across the land. Yes, in The Rising Dracula has returned, but before you get your hopes up, this story is less about Dracula and more about loads of other things, and it is all the better for this. It is about how Jamie is struggling to cope with the loss of his close friend Frankenstein and his mother being turned into a vampire. It is about Jamie and his growing relationship with fellow Department 19 operative (and vampire) Larissa. It is about Larissa, hating her fangs and vampire abilities and desperate to be seen as a normal person. It is about Kate Randall, the girl they rescued from Lindisfarne. It is about Matt Browning, now recovered physically from the severe injuries he suffered in the first book, but mentally feeling that there is a huge hole in his life. It is about the history behind Dracula becoming a vampire, and the subsequent turning of his faithful followers Valeri, Valentin and the since destroyed Alexandru, and how not even vampire brothers necessarily share the same goals.
Despite it having more action, more gore, and more horror than its predecessor, The Rising is very much about the characters, good and bad, and in my mind this makes it even better than the first book. I became so immersed in their various stories that my emotions during that flight were all over the place. At times my heart was racing, desperate to get to the outcome of an action scene, and then several chapters later I would feel tears almost pricking at my eyes. I went from excited to saddened to fearful to elated and then back again, running the whole gamut over and over again. There was one scene in particular, at the beginning of which I was genuinely afraid for the characters involved, and come the end of that climactic scene I challenge anyone not to be genuinely upset. Will Hill – you are a genius!
This book is a rare thing indeed - a sequel that is better than its brilliant predecessor. It almost wants me to go back to my reviews on Amazon and GoodReads and drop them down to four stars. But Department 19 was my favourite book of 2011 so I can't justify that, so I will just have to imagine there being a sixth star. There is so much more I want to say about it but can’t (I value my unmentionables to much). Yet again I already have a frontrunner for my book of the year – author’s please note, Will Hill has set the bar and in 2012 it may take an effort of Olympian proportions to beat it.
January 9, 2013
I’m really enjoying the Department 19 series so far. (Once I got over scoffing at it using Dracula and Frankenstein and Van Helsing and all those other good old traditional things that is). Enough that I read the sequel in one day, pretty much, and was a little annoyed to realize I’m going to have to wait nearly a year for the next one. That is FOREVER AWAY, GUYS.
Jamie suffers a little from the angry teenage boy trope, but at least he doesn’t speak all in capslock all the time like a certain other English teenage boy (which, really, how did Rowling ever get that past her editor. What, I don’t even.) And his moments of clarity and/or contrition sometimes seem a little contrived. Actually the relationships between Jamie, Larissa and Kate in general often seem a bit stilted and forced. I really didn’t need to be told eight dozen times that, honestly, Kate isn’t interested in Jamie like that. And, really, Jamie isn’t interested in Kate like that. And they’re just friends, no really! It was said so often I was beginning to think the novel would pull some ridiculous soap opera but-they-really-were-in-love-all-this-time twist. (I was very, very glad when it didn’t).
Over all, though: Good book! Liked it muchly, engrossing enough that I didn’t want to put it down while I had the luxury of a whole day to read.
Also: My slashy little heart was set all aflutter by Valentin’s interest in Jamie. Oh, my. Oh my, oh my. I do so hope that, if anyone turns Jamie into a vampire, it will be Valentin.
Jamie suffers a little from the angry teenage boy trope, but at least he doesn’t speak all in capslock all the time like a certain other English teenage boy (which, really, how did Rowling ever get that past her editor. What, I don’t even.) And his moments of clarity and/or contrition sometimes seem a little contrived. Actually the relationships between Jamie, Larissa and Kate in general often seem a bit stilted and forced. I really didn’t need to be told eight dozen times that, honestly, Kate isn’t interested in Jamie like that. And, really, Jamie isn’t interested in Kate like that. And they’re just friends, no really! It was said so often I was beginning to think the novel would pull some ridiculous soap opera but-they-really-were-in-love-all-this-time twist. (I was very, very glad when it didn’t).
Over all, though: Good book! Liked it muchly, engrossing enough that I didn’t want to put it down while I had the luxury of a whole day to read.
Also: My slashy little heart was set all aflutter by Valentin’s interest in Jamie. Oh, my. Oh my, oh my. I do so hope that, if anyone turns Jamie into a vampire, it will be Valentin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2018
That was good damnit. I have never wanted to read another 700 pages since the start of this year, (that doesn't say much really...)
This whole series is literally what I'd want to read in a series. Secretly (not so secretly anymore) I am a diehard vampire fan. Since whenever I read the first book I did on vampires I have literally never been disappointed. (I have not read Twilight which may be the reason why) and vampires just happen to be my favourite supernatural species.
Plus, this book was less wordy, more action. So it wasn't just 700 pages of scenery description (if Fitzgerald somehow collabed with Hill, I'm pretty sure that they novel would have ended at 1100 pages). Gotta love that movie style writing. (I'm beginning to think, I'm better suited to plays- there's less description and more dialogue).
The interactions between the characters, I'll admit, may have felt cliche at times, but that can be overlooked cos the whole thing was just cute. Though, Jamie can sure be a blockhead sometimes.
This whole series is literally what I'd want to read in a series. Secretly (not so secretly anymore) I am a diehard vampire fan. Since whenever I read the first book I did on vampires I have literally never been disappointed. (I have not read Twilight which may be the reason why) and vampires just happen to be my favourite supernatural species.
Plus, this book was less wordy, more action. So it wasn't just 700 pages of scenery description (if Fitzgerald somehow collabed with Hill, I'm pretty sure that they novel would have ended at 1100 pages). Gotta love that movie style writing. (I'm beginning to think, I'm better suited to plays- there's less description and more dialogue).
The interactions between the characters, I'll admit, may have felt cliche at times, but that can be overlooked cos the whole thing was just cute. Though, Jamie can sure be a blockhead sometimes.
April 26, 2019
Personal Response: I thought this book was one of the best books I have ever read. It kept me interested the whole time I was reading it. It made me want to read the third book as soon as I finished it.
Plot: Department 19: The Rising by Will Hill is the second book in the Department 19 series. The book starts off with Jamie, Larissa, and Kate stopping two vampires from invading a blood bank. They turn them in at the Loop for a project called the “Lazarus Project.” Only a certain amount of people in Department 19 actually know what the project is. The book jumps back in time to Frankenstein, who woke up in a truck underneath some pelts of animals. He jumps out of the truck at a diner where he meets a little girl. The little girl is wandering around, because her dad is inside the diner playing poker. The little girl becomes friends with Frankenstein and the two play for a little bit. The little girl screams in enjoyment, but the dad runs out thinking his daughter is getting hurt. The father is going to shoot Frankenstein, but the girl tries to tell the dad that Frankenstein is a friend. Frankenstein takes matters into his own hands by picking up the dad and telling him to be more careful about his daughter or she might get herself hurt. Frankenstein leaves the diner in a semi. The book jumps back to Jamie, Larissa, and Kate. They and a bunch of other operators are stopping a vampire hostage exchange. They kill most of the vampires, but one of the vampires take a big chunk out of Kate’s arm. The book jumps back to Frankenstein, who is in France and is in a secret club that is for monsters. It is owned by Latour, the oldest vampire in France. Latour captures Frankenstein. The book jumps back the Kate, who is looking at her arm. It turns into a fountain of blood. The squad hurries back to the Loop, so Kate’s arm can heal. The book jumps to a mysterious man in Arizona, who is looking for a cured vampire. This mysterious man happens to be Julian Carpenter, Jamie’s dad. He finds the cured vampire and goes to the American branch of Department 19 and turns himself in. A man at the American branch calls up Admiral Seward and tells him that Julian is still alive. The book jumps back to Jamie, who is meeting up with Dr. Talbot, the man in charge with the “Lazarus Project.” He and Talbot have become good friends. Dr. Talbot shows Jamie what the” Lazarus Project” is. It happens to be the start of a cure to vampirism. Dr. Talbot tells Jamie he can not tell anyone about the project. The book jumps to Matt Browning, the boy who is viciously attacked by Larissa in the first book. He is in his room doing some research about vampires. He finds all of these weird pages on vampires. Matt leaves his house and goes into town, where he thinks he sees some vampires. He calls a number, which is for Department 19. Two men show up, but they are not from the Department. Real Department 19 workers come and save Matt. They take Matt to the Loop. Back at the Loop, Jamie finds out about Matt and becomes friends with him. Admiral Seward can’t decide if he is going to keep Matt at the Loop, but decides to let him stay because of his intelligence. He helps out Admiral Seward with the Lazarus Project. The trio is going through a senior home and find a bunch of hostages. They help the hostages escape. After the hostages escape, Jamie and his crew find Valentin Rusmanov, the third oldest vampire. He wishes to make a deal with the Department. He will help the Department beat Dracula, which will save the world, but only if he can kill a couple of people. Larissa and Kate thinks it is a bad idea, but Jamie knows this is the only way they can have a chance of beating Dracula. Jamie asks Admiral Seward if he can go save Frankenstein, which the Admiral said he could. Jamie takes a squad to go get Frankenstein. Jamie and his squad kills most of the monsters and saves Frankenstein, who happens to be a werewolf. The squad flies back to the Loop, but Valeri Rusmanov is attacking the Loop with an army of 200. Jamie tries to find Matt in the Lazarus Project section. When he gets there, Professor Talbot has killed off all the vampires and is about to kill to kill Matt. Talbot was only using the Lazarus Project to kill vampires, not for the original purpose. Jamie kills Talbot to save Matt. Only two of vampires in the project area survived, but one of them is badly injured. He will live though. Back up on the surface, war is still happening between the Department and Valeri Rusmanov and his army. Valeri ends up capturing Admiral Seward, and starts taking him to Dracula. Luckily, Seward drops an UV bomb on the Loop, which kills most of Valeri’s army, but he never got to tell Jamie that his dad is alive. The bomb really damages Larissa and Valentin, but they will live. Cal Holmwood, the main security person for the Loop, becomes the interim director. Cal makes Matt in charge of the “Lazarus Project.”
Characterization: Jamie Carpenter changes from a nervous and awkward operator in the Department to a stone cold vampire killer. Larissa changes from a kind of untrustworthy vampire friend to a trustworthy friend to a lot of people. Kate changes from a scared beginner level recruit to a confident full time operator at the Department. Matt changes from a kid who is viciously attacked by Larissa and has a low chance of survival to the person in charge of the Lazarus Project.
Setting: This book takes place in three places to help move the plot along. The first place moves the plot along is the Loop in the present, which is Department 19’s Headquarters. It moves the plot along by having a lot of major events happen there, like an army of vampires invading the Loop. The second place is current day and 1920 France, which moves the plot along because Frankenstein is located there. The last place that moves the plot along is current day Arizona. Arizona moves the plot along because it is where Jamie’s “dead” father currently is.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to mostly boys ages 13 and above. I chose this age group, because there is a lot of gross things in this book. I would not want little kids reading about it. The second reason I recommend this book for this group would be because the book says right on it, “a video game in a book,” so I figured boys would like it more than girls.
Plot: Department 19: The Rising by Will Hill is the second book in the Department 19 series. The book starts off with Jamie, Larissa, and Kate stopping two vampires from invading a blood bank. They turn them in at the Loop for a project called the “Lazarus Project.” Only a certain amount of people in Department 19 actually know what the project is. The book jumps back in time to Frankenstein, who woke up in a truck underneath some pelts of animals. He jumps out of the truck at a diner where he meets a little girl. The little girl is wandering around, because her dad is inside the diner playing poker. The little girl becomes friends with Frankenstein and the two play for a little bit. The little girl screams in enjoyment, but the dad runs out thinking his daughter is getting hurt. The father is going to shoot Frankenstein, but the girl tries to tell the dad that Frankenstein is a friend. Frankenstein takes matters into his own hands by picking up the dad and telling him to be more careful about his daughter or she might get herself hurt. Frankenstein leaves the diner in a semi. The book jumps back to Jamie, Larissa, and Kate. They and a bunch of other operators are stopping a vampire hostage exchange. They kill most of the vampires, but one of the vampires take a big chunk out of Kate’s arm. The book jumps back to Frankenstein, who is in France and is in a secret club that is for monsters. It is owned by Latour, the oldest vampire in France. Latour captures Frankenstein. The book jumps back the Kate, who is looking at her arm. It turns into a fountain of blood. The squad hurries back to the Loop, so Kate’s arm can heal. The book jumps to a mysterious man in Arizona, who is looking for a cured vampire. This mysterious man happens to be Julian Carpenter, Jamie’s dad. He finds the cured vampire and goes to the American branch of Department 19 and turns himself in. A man at the American branch calls up Admiral Seward and tells him that Julian is still alive. The book jumps back to Jamie, who is meeting up with Dr. Talbot, the man in charge with the “Lazarus Project.” He and Talbot have become good friends. Dr. Talbot shows Jamie what the” Lazarus Project” is. It happens to be the start of a cure to vampirism. Dr. Talbot tells Jamie he can not tell anyone about the project. The book jumps to Matt Browning, the boy who is viciously attacked by Larissa in the first book. He is in his room doing some research about vampires. He finds all of these weird pages on vampires. Matt leaves his house and goes into town, where he thinks he sees some vampires. He calls a number, which is for Department 19. Two men show up, but they are not from the Department. Real Department 19 workers come and save Matt. They take Matt to the Loop. Back at the Loop, Jamie finds out about Matt and becomes friends with him. Admiral Seward can’t decide if he is going to keep Matt at the Loop, but decides to let him stay because of his intelligence. He helps out Admiral Seward with the Lazarus Project. The trio is going through a senior home and find a bunch of hostages. They help the hostages escape. After the hostages escape, Jamie and his crew find Valentin Rusmanov, the third oldest vampire. He wishes to make a deal with the Department. He will help the Department beat Dracula, which will save the world, but only if he can kill a couple of people. Larissa and Kate thinks it is a bad idea, but Jamie knows this is the only way they can have a chance of beating Dracula. Jamie asks Admiral Seward if he can go save Frankenstein, which the Admiral said he could. Jamie takes a squad to go get Frankenstein. Jamie and his squad kills most of the monsters and saves Frankenstein, who happens to be a werewolf. The squad flies back to the Loop, but Valeri Rusmanov is attacking the Loop with an army of 200. Jamie tries to find Matt in the Lazarus Project section. When he gets there, Professor Talbot has killed off all the vampires and is about to kill to kill Matt. Talbot was only using the Lazarus Project to kill vampires, not for the original purpose. Jamie kills Talbot to save Matt. Only two of vampires in the project area survived, but one of them is badly injured. He will live though. Back up on the surface, war is still happening between the Department and Valeri Rusmanov and his army. Valeri ends up capturing Admiral Seward, and starts taking him to Dracula. Luckily, Seward drops an UV bomb on the Loop, which kills most of Valeri’s army, but he never got to tell Jamie that his dad is alive. The bomb really damages Larissa and Valentin, but they will live. Cal Holmwood, the main security person for the Loop, becomes the interim director. Cal makes Matt in charge of the “Lazarus Project.”
Characterization: Jamie Carpenter changes from a nervous and awkward operator in the Department to a stone cold vampire killer. Larissa changes from a kind of untrustworthy vampire friend to a trustworthy friend to a lot of people. Kate changes from a scared beginner level recruit to a confident full time operator at the Department. Matt changes from a kid who is viciously attacked by Larissa and has a low chance of survival to the person in charge of the Lazarus Project.
Setting: This book takes place in three places to help move the plot along. The first place moves the plot along is the Loop in the present, which is Department 19’s Headquarters. It moves the plot along by having a lot of major events happen there, like an army of vampires invading the Loop. The second place is current day and 1920 France, which moves the plot along because Frankenstein is located there. The last place that moves the plot along is current day Arizona. Arizona moves the plot along because it is where Jamie’s “dead” father currently is.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to mostly boys ages 13 and above. I chose this age group, because there is a lot of gross things in this book. I would not want little kids reading about it. The second reason I recommend this book for this group would be because the book says right on it, “a video game in a book,” so I figured boys would like it more than girls.
April 20, 2012
Caroline: www.bigbooklittlebook.blogspot.com
While the pink, fragile scar tissue acts as a visible testament to the horrors Jamie and his friends experienced that fateful night on Lindisfarne, the hidden physiological trauma is no less indelible. Having turned their backs on any semblance of normality and accepted a life of danger and responsibility in the pursuit of world safety, Jamie, Larissa and Kate are now feeling the impact of their decisions and experiences.
A slick three person unit within the super secret department, they work instinctively together, trusting each other with their lives, but not always their secrets and insecurities. The trio cannot help but have matured in the three months following their withdrawal from society and their absorption in to the classified government department; nevertheless they are teens dealing with the huge emotional fallout from book one, coping with anger, grief and the absence of any real parental supervision and support. Jamie particularly is struggling with balancing his recently commissioned leadership while maintaining his friendships with Larissa and Kate.
The only negative thing I can say about this book is its size! You can’t fail to have noticed that with 700+ pages, this is a big book! I have to admit that while a gorgeous signed hardback graces my shelf I found the thought of starting the book a little intimidating not to mention difficult to manage with my preferred reading posture ( lying on my side if you must know). I found a really simple solution, I downloaded the kindle version!
Despite its length, the pacing of the book was spot on and I never felt bored. Will Hill cleverly manipulates multiple story threads, weaving together heart racing action with gut twisting emotional scenes and informative flashbacks to create a compulsive page turner. I particularly love how the author makes references to historical events and figures, grounding the fantasy world building with our own recognisable history.
After 13 years in the health service with up close and personal experience of most body fluids, I consider myself to have a strong constitution, but even I have my limit and Will Hill writes to it. In Department 19 it was the creative use of violin strings, in The Rising, a scene involving Dracula and a library had me swallowing excessive saliva and pushing my lunch to one side. (In retrospect the unpleasant sensation may be due to the first vampire’s maltreatment of books!) However I don’t believe that the bloodletting is gratuitous, this is after all, a war between vicious, carnivorous immortals (old school vamps) and fragile humans. Rather, Hill’s imagery is so unapologetically vivid that it’s Technicolor.
Verdict: This book should come with a health warning; it will cause your stomach to flip and leave you physically and emotionally exhausted, but I promise that you will love every minute of it! Now time to read something light and fluffy, preferably with unicorns, kittens and rainbows!
While the pink, fragile scar tissue acts as a visible testament to the horrors Jamie and his friends experienced that fateful night on Lindisfarne, the hidden physiological trauma is no less indelible. Having turned their backs on any semblance of normality and accepted a life of danger and responsibility in the pursuit of world safety, Jamie, Larissa and Kate are now feeling the impact of their decisions and experiences.
A slick three person unit within the super secret department, they work instinctively together, trusting each other with their lives, but not always their secrets and insecurities. The trio cannot help but have matured in the three months following their withdrawal from society and their absorption in to the classified government department; nevertheless they are teens dealing with the huge emotional fallout from book one, coping with anger, grief and the absence of any real parental supervision and support. Jamie particularly is struggling with balancing his recently commissioned leadership while maintaining his friendships with Larissa and Kate.
The only negative thing I can say about this book is its size! You can’t fail to have noticed that with 700+ pages, this is a big book! I have to admit that while a gorgeous signed hardback graces my shelf I found the thought of starting the book a little intimidating not to mention difficult to manage with my preferred reading posture ( lying on my side if you must know). I found a really simple solution, I downloaded the kindle version!
Despite its length, the pacing of the book was spot on and I never felt bored. Will Hill cleverly manipulates multiple story threads, weaving together heart racing action with gut twisting emotional scenes and informative flashbacks to create a compulsive page turner. I particularly love how the author makes references to historical events and figures, grounding the fantasy world building with our own recognisable history.
After 13 years in the health service with up close and personal experience of most body fluids, I consider myself to have a strong constitution, but even I have my limit and Will Hill writes to it. In Department 19 it was the creative use of violin strings, in The Rising, a scene involving Dracula and a library had me swallowing excessive saliva and pushing my lunch to one side. (In retrospect the unpleasant sensation may be due to the first vampire’s maltreatment of books!) However I don’t believe that the bloodletting is gratuitous, this is after all, a war between vicious, carnivorous immortals (old school vamps) and fragile humans. Rather, Hill’s imagery is so unapologetically vivid that it’s Technicolor.
Verdict: This book should come with a health warning; it will cause your stomach to flip and leave you physically and emotionally exhausted, but I promise that you will love every minute of it! Now time to read something light and fluffy, preferably with unicorns, kittens and rainbows!
July 9, 2013
Darum geht es:
Nach den schrecklichen Ereignissen auf der Insel Lindisfarne bilden Jamie, Larissa und Kate ein Team und begeben sich gemeinsam in den Kampf gegen Vampire. Doch alle drei haben so ihre Geheimnisse, die drohen, die Freundschaft, die sie verbindet, zu zerstören.
Zugleich ist es dem ältesten der Rusmanov-Brüder – Vitali – gelungen, die Asche seines Meisters Vlad Tepes an sich zu bringen. Sollte es ihm gelingen, Dracula wiederzubeleben und dieser seine volle Stärke, bedeutet das das Ende der Welt. Die Zeit, die Department 19 bleibt, das zu verhindern, beträgt gerade einmal 90 Tage.
Ich sage dazu:
Ich bin begeistert! Dies ist eins dieser Bücher, bei denen ich auch nach rund 670 Seiten noch traurig bin, dass es jetzt zu Ende ist. Ich hätte durchaus nochmal die gleiche Anzahl an Seiten mehr lesen können.
Sicher, wenn man es genau betrachtet, sind einige Dinge nicht ganz logisch. Auch dass es sich um 16- bis 17-Jährige handelt, die innerhalb kürzester Zeit zu Elitesoldaten ausgebildet wurden und Einsatztruppen anführen, ist ein bisschen unglaubwürdig... Aber soll ich euch was sagen? Das ist mir völlig egal! :D Ich fand das Buch klasse und will mehr. Punkt.
Gefallen hat mir vor allem, dass die Vampire in dieser Reihe alles andere als kuschelig sind. Auch die unerwarteten Wendungen, die die Geschichte nahm, fand ich toll. Vor allem, dass man sich nie sicher sein konnte, wer nun Freund und wer Feind war. Denn es gibt sowohl Verräter als auch unerwartete Verbündete.
Ich jedenfalls bin gespannt, ob es „Schwarzlicht“ gelingen wird, Dracula zu stoppen, bevor er seine volle Stärke zurück erlangt. Darum hoffe ich, dass die Wartezeit auf den 3. Teil nicht allzu lang sein wird.
Fazit:
Wenn auch nicht ganz ohne Kritik, hat es dieses Buch auf meine Favoriten-Liste geschafft.
Die Reihenfolge der einzelnen Bände:
Department 19
1. Die Mission
2. Die Wiederkehr
© Marion Schauder
Nach den schrecklichen Ereignissen auf der Insel Lindisfarne bilden Jamie, Larissa und Kate ein Team und begeben sich gemeinsam in den Kampf gegen Vampire. Doch alle drei haben so ihre Geheimnisse, die drohen, die Freundschaft, die sie verbindet, zu zerstören.
Zugleich ist es dem ältesten der Rusmanov-Brüder – Vitali – gelungen, die Asche seines Meisters Vlad Tepes an sich zu bringen. Sollte es ihm gelingen, Dracula wiederzubeleben und dieser seine volle Stärke, bedeutet das das Ende der Welt. Die Zeit, die Department 19 bleibt, das zu verhindern, beträgt gerade einmal 90 Tage.
Ich sage dazu:
Ich bin begeistert! Dies ist eins dieser Bücher, bei denen ich auch nach rund 670 Seiten noch traurig bin, dass es jetzt zu Ende ist. Ich hätte durchaus nochmal die gleiche Anzahl an Seiten mehr lesen können.
Sicher, wenn man es genau betrachtet, sind einige Dinge nicht ganz logisch. Auch dass es sich um 16- bis 17-Jährige handelt, die innerhalb kürzester Zeit zu Elitesoldaten ausgebildet wurden und Einsatztruppen anführen, ist ein bisschen unglaubwürdig... Aber soll ich euch was sagen? Das ist mir völlig egal! :D Ich fand das Buch klasse und will mehr. Punkt.
Gefallen hat mir vor allem, dass die Vampire in dieser Reihe alles andere als kuschelig sind. Auch die unerwarteten Wendungen, die die Geschichte nahm, fand ich toll. Vor allem, dass man sich nie sicher sein konnte, wer nun Freund und wer Feind war. Denn es gibt sowohl Verräter als auch unerwartete Verbündete.
Ich jedenfalls bin gespannt, ob es „Schwarzlicht“ gelingen wird, Dracula zu stoppen, bevor er seine volle Stärke zurück erlangt. Darum hoffe ich, dass die Wartezeit auf den 3. Teil nicht allzu lang sein wird.
Fazit:
Wenn auch nicht ganz ohne Kritik, hat es dieses Buch auf meine Favoriten-Liste geschafft.
Die Reihenfolge der einzelnen Bände:
Department 19
1. Die Mission
2. Die Wiederkehr
© Marion Schauder
December 6, 2016
Action Packed! These series has to be pushing the boundaries on YA storytelling. Killing vampires is getting pretty darn graphic! Blood and gore galore. Is the main character still a kid at 17? Or a harden veteran in the war against vampires? This is a well written series that may be geared to a YA audience but this ole reader enjoys the series so far and I plan to continue on reading about Department 19. This was a digital library copy. I have a big old hardback version of The Rising. But I just can't get around to reading these almost 600 page thick hardbacks anymore.
December 27, 2017
Auferstehung
Leidvoll müssen die Mitglieder des Department 19 erfahren, dass die Überreste des Grafen gestohlen wurden und damit seiner Auferstehung nichts mehr im Wege steht. Ihnen bleibt nur ein kurzes Zeitfenster, bis der älteste Vampir seine volle Stärke erreicht und die Gefahr besteht, dass er unbesiegbar wird. Doch zunächst haben Jamie, Kate und Larissa mit eigenen Problemen zu kämpfen. Jamie ist zum ersten Mal akzeptiertes Mitglied einer Gemeinschaft. Für ihn, den ehemaligen Ausgestoßenen und Außenseiter, eine ungewohnte Position, mit der er umzugehen lernen muss. Auch ist die Trauer um den Verlust Frankensteins groß. Das liebenswerte Monster war schnell zu einem Vaterersatz geworden und deshalb wiegt der Verlust umso schwerer.
In diesem zweiten Band der Reihe verrinnt Zeit bis zur Stunde Null. Die Kämpfer erfahren einiges über die drohenden Gefahren und versuchen Mittel zu finden, diesen zu begegnen. Gleichzeitig werden sie auf Außenmissionen entsandt, um Vampire einzusammeln. Die normale Menschheit soll weiterhin so wenig wie möglich von der Existenz des Übernatürlichen erfahren. Gleichzeitig sollen nicht alle gefangenen Vampire umgebracht werden. Ein Forscherteam versucht herauszufinden, welche Änderungen die Verwandlung in den Menschen hervorruft. Vielleicht besteht ein kleiner Funken Hoffnung auf eine Heilung.
Zu Beginn werden etliche Erläuterungen zu den Geschehnissen gegeben, die zwar zum besseren Verständnis nützlich sind, die allerdings etwas Schwung aus der Erzählung nehmen. Nachdem der weitere Rahmen umrissen ist, stürzt eine Menge auf die handelnden Personen ein. Gefährliche Situationen sind zu überstehen, Informationen zu verarbeiten. Kaum erträgliche Ereignisse unterwerfen die jungen Agenten einer schweren Prüfung. Die Ungewissheit, ob der Graf jemals besiegt werden kann, steigt. Doch die Kräfte, die sich ihm entgegen stellen können, vereinigen sich. Und dem Leser bleibt nichts als den nächsten Band zur Hand zu nehmen, um zu erfahren, ob den jungen Helden Erfolg beschieden ist.
Nach dem starken Beginn im ersten Band gewinnt dieser zweite Teil eher langsam an Format, um schließlich sehr zu fesseln.
3,5 Sterne
Leidvoll müssen die Mitglieder des Department 19 erfahren, dass die Überreste des Grafen gestohlen wurden und damit seiner Auferstehung nichts mehr im Wege steht. Ihnen bleibt nur ein kurzes Zeitfenster, bis der älteste Vampir seine volle Stärke erreicht und die Gefahr besteht, dass er unbesiegbar wird. Doch zunächst haben Jamie, Kate und Larissa mit eigenen Problemen zu kämpfen. Jamie ist zum ersten Mal akzeptiertes Mitglied einer Gemeinschaft. Für ihn, den ehemaligen Ausgestoßenen und Außenseiter, eine ungewohnte Position, mit der er umzugehen lernen muss. Auch ist die Trauer um den Verlust Frankensteins groß. Das liebenswerte Monster war schnell zu einem Vaterersatz geworden und deshalb wiegt der Verlust umso schwerer.
In diesem zweiten Band der Reihe verrinnt Zeit bis zur Stunde Null. Die Kämpfer erfahren einiges über die drohenden Gefahren und versuchen Mittel zu finden, diesen zu begegnen. Gleichzeitig werden sie auf Außenmissionen entsandt, um Vampire einzusammeln. Die normale Menschheit soll weiterhin so wenig wie möglich von der Existenz des Übernatürlichen erfahren. Gleichzeitig sollen nicht alle gefangenen Vampire umgebracht werden. Ein Forscherteam versucht herauszufinden, welche Änderungen die Verwandlung in den Menschen hervorruft. Vielleicht besteht ein kleiner Funken Hoffnung auf eine Heilung.
Zu Beginn werden etliche Erläuterungen zu den Geschehnissen gegeben, die zwar zum besseren Verständnis nützlich sind, die allerdings etwas Schwung aus der Erzählung nehmen. Nachdem der weitere Rahmen umrissen ist, stürzt eine Menge auf die handelnden Personen ein. Gefährliche Situationen sind zu überstehen, Informationen zu verarbeiten. Kaum erträgliche Ereignisse unterwerfen die jungen Agenten einer schweren Prüfung. Die Ungewissheit, ob der Graf jemals besiegt werden kann, steigt. Doch die Kräfte, die sich ihm entgegen stellen können, vereinigen sich. Und dem Leser bleibt nichts als den nächsten Band zur Hand zu nehmen, um zu erfahren, ob den jungen Helden Erfolg beschieden ist.
Nach dem starken Beginn im ersten Band gewinnt dieser zweite Teil eher langsam an Format, um schließlich sehr zu fesseln.
3,5 Sterne
June 6, 2019
Das war eine sehr mühselige Arbeit. Ein mühsames Eichhörnchen, wie ich gerne sage.
Gleichzeit war es auch das letzte Buch aus dieser Reihe, das ich mir antun werde.
Ich fürchte, ich bin da einfach nicht die richtige Zielgruppe. Die da wäre: amerikanische 16 Jährige Jungs.
Der Autor ist zwar Brite, die Handlung spielt auch in Britannien, aber es sind mir zu viele Anglizismen. Vielleicht liegt es auch an der Übersetzung. Mir fehlt einfach das typisch britische an ... ja an allem. Der Hauptcharakter Jamie redet wie ein Ami, es gibt Retorten-Ami-Action (leider noch der beste Teil des Buches) und die Storyline ist 08/15 inkl. peinlichem Love-Triangle, das sich weigert eines zu sein. Ich fand die Idee dahinter, dass klassische Horrorfiguren aus der größtenteils britischen Literatur, reale Personen sind sehr sympathisch. Auch wenn mir Frankenstein nicht gefällt (sieht in etwa aus wie Lurch)
hatte ich gehofft, das man die Grundidee weiter ausbaut. Grundidee: Die klassische Horrorliteratur beschreibt halt echte Personen und die Helden aus Dracula (inkl. Dracula als Oberstecher äh Beißer) haben nach dem vermeidlichen Tode eben dessen eine Geheimorganisation namens "Department 19" gegründet, wobei die Erben von Harker, Holmwood, Seward und Co. den Laden schmeißen.
Was bei allem natürlich zu kurz kommtsind die Familien Westenra und Murray (Lucy und Mina. Wobei Letztere mit Göttergatte Jonathan imho die wahren Helden des Romanes Dracula sind).
Generell taugen Frauen nur zur Deko. Auch wenn einige vorhanden sind, sind allesamt unglaubwürdig.
Das Buch macht keinen Spaß. Am liebsten würde ich ne FanFiction ohne die ganze peinliche Scheiße schreiben. Bin aber zu faul.
Gleichzeit war es auch das letzte Buch aus dieser Reihe, das ich mir antun werde.
Ich fürchte, ich bin da einfach nicht die richtige Zielgruppe. Die da wäre: amerikanische 16 Jährige Jungs.
Der Autor ist zwar Brite, die Handlung spielt auch in Britannien, aber es sind mir zu viele Anglizismen. Vielleicht liegt es auch an der Übersetzung. Mir fehlt einfach das typisch britische an ... ja an allem. Der Hauptcharakter Jamie redet wie ein Ami, es gibt Retorten-Ami-Action (leider noch der beste Teil des Buches) und die Storyline ist 08/15 inkl. peinlichem Love-Triangle, das sich weigert eines zu sein. Ich fand die Idee dahinter, dass klassische Horrorfiguren aus der größtenteils britischen Literatur, reale Personen sind sehr sympathisch. Auch wenn mir Frankenstein nicht gefällt (sieht in etwa aus wie Lurch)
hatte ich gehofft, das man die Grundidee weiter ausbaut. Grundidee: Die klassische Horrorliteratur beschreibt halt echte Personen und die Helden aus Dracula (inkl. Dracula als Oberstecher äh Beißer) haben nach dem vermeidlichen Tode eben dessen eine Geheimorganisation namens "Department 19" gegründet, wobei die Erben von Harker, Holmwood, Seward und Co. den Laden schmeißen.
Was bei allem natürlich zu kurz kommtsind die Familien Westenra und Murray (Lucy und Mina. Wobei Letztere mit Göttergatte Jonathan imho die wahren Helden des Romanes Dracula sind).
Generell taugen Frauen nur zur Deko. Auch wenn einige vorhanden sind, sind allesamt unglaubwürdig.
Das Buch macht keinen Spaß. Am liebsten würde ich ne FanFiction ohne die ganze peinliche Scheiße schreiben. Bin aber zu faul.
March 19, 2012
Well where should I start? I can't say much other than I loved it. Will Hill is quite possibly a genius and a master when it comes to teenage horror/adventure novels. I think I can also safely say that it was a second instalment that did not disappoint and maybe even surpassed the first novel.
I was exceptionally impressed by the first instalment and when a limited edition proof (I LOVE my job sometimes!!) of the second novel came my way I guarded it with my life. No one will ever get a chance to read it I am afraid.
I will start of by saying that this book had me up until 1am desperate to finish, unfortunately my eyes could not stay open. The last 200-300 pages were amazing; fast paced and very explosive. What I love about Will Hill's style is how he breaks up the action packed chapters with memories or slower paced segments. It enables the story to flow better and for nothing to lull. That was one thing I definitely noticed. I was never bored whilst reading this. The chapters were longer than the first novel but the content was very interesting.
The novel was based 3 months after the events that concluded the first novel. Lindisfarne and the death of Alexandru Rusmanov (at the hands of Jamie Carpenter, our main character) and unfortunately Frankenstein has come and gone. Jamie is now a full member, Lieutenant no less, of Department 19. His friends Larissa (also girlfriend) and Kate were also recruited as the battle for survival is ongoing and Department 19 need everyone they can. This novel however follows The Rising of the oldest Vampire in the world. DRACULA. In the first novel we discovered that an objective of the Rusmanov brothers was to retrieve the ashes of Dracula, who was killed by the original members of Department 19, in order to resurrect him. This novel focuses on the aim to bring Dracula back to his former glory. After Alexandru was killed the eldest Rusmanov brother, Valeri, takes up the challenge and cares for Dracula until he is fully recovered. This is estimated to take 91 days and throughout the novel new sections of the novel are introduced with the time until zero hour. Thankfully the novel only gets down to 85 days until zero hour. I would have been distraught if the series did not continue.
The storyline also revolves around the disappearance and apparent death of Frankenstein. This is what was great about the title; it could attach itself to many aspects. The rising of Dracula, Frankenstein (yes it is a spoiler I am afraid but I knew it would happen as would anyone who has read the first book.)and even another character but I will leave you on tenterhooks! The development of Frankenstein was brilliant to. We were able to gain an insight into his life in the first novel, but only when considering Jamie's family's history. In this book, due to his memory loss (and Dept 19 unaware of his survival from Lindisfarne) we were able to see more of his past from the eyes of other people he knew. The sub stories in this book were intriguing and just incredibly enjoyable to read.
I must also add a note about Valentin who was a more involved character than before. Firstly I must say that I love him. Even though he is a vampire, one that has little respect for human life. There was just something about him. He seemed eloquent and gentlemanly. And even before we found out the reason behind his allegiance with Department 19 I knew he was trustworthy. I literally wanted to be his pet or wife...anything. Slight obsession at the moment.
The characters were developed further, yes they had changed, for better and for worse, but their characters and behaviour was believable and easy to relate to. The introduction of new characters was well thought out; new characters were there for a reason rather than just an inane addition. It developed the world of Jamie Carpenter, Vampires and Department 19. The characters were strong and the continuing involvement of Matt Browning was a lovely sub plot that had purpose.
All in all I couldn't really find a fault with this book. I was incredibly impressed and satisfied with this novel and very much look forward to the next instalment. I will be writing to the publishers praising them and the talent of Will Hill because I am in awe!!
I always feel like apologising about my reviews because I never know what to say and then say too much. To review this book is difficult only for the fact that the book itself is so complex and astounding that you have to read it yourself to fully appreciate it!
I was exceptionally impressed by the first instalment and when a limited edition proof (I LOVE my job sometimes!!) of the second novel came my way I guarded it with my life. No one will ever get a chance to read it I am afraid.
I will start of by saying that this book had me up until 1am desperate to finish, unfortunately my eyes could not stay open. The last 200-300 pages were amazing; fast paced and very explosive. What I love about Will Hill's style is how he breaks up the action packed chapters with memories or slower paced segments. It enables the story to flow better and for nothing to lull. That was one thing I definitely noticed. I was never bored whilst reading this. The chapters were longer than the first novel but the content was very interesting.
The novel was based 3 months after the events that concluded the first novel. Lindisfarne and the death of Alexandru Rusmanov (at the hands of Jamie Carpenter, our main character) and unfortunately Frankenstein has come and gone. Jamie is now a full member, Lieutenant no less, of Department 19. His friends Larissa (also girlfriend) and Kate were also recruited as the battle for survival is ongoing and Department 19 need everyone they can. This novel however follows The Rising of the oldest Vampire in the world. DRACULA. In the first novel we discovered that an objective of the Rusmanov brothers was to retrieve the ashes of Dracula, who was killed by the original members of Department 19, in order to resurrect him. This novel focuses on the aim to bring Dracula back to his former glory. After Alexandru was killed the eldest Rusmanov brother, Valeri, takes up the challenge and cares for Dracula until he is fully recovered. This is estimated to take 91 days and throughout the novel new sections of the novel are introduced with the time until zero hour. Thankfully the novel only gets down to 85 days until zero hour. I would have been distraught if the series did not continue.
The storyline also revolves around the disappearance and apparent death of Frankenstein. This is what was great about the title; it could attach itself to many aspects. The rising of Dracula, Frankenstein (yes it is a spoiler I am afraid but I knew it would happen as would anyone who has read the first book.)and even another character but I will leave you on tenterhooks! The development of Frankenstein was brilliant to. We were able to gain an insight into his life in the first novel, but only when considering Jamie's family's history. In this book, due to his memory loss (and Dept 19 unaware of his survival from Lindisfarne) we were able to see more of his past from the eyes of other people he knew. The sub stories in this book were intriguing and just incredibly enjoyable to read.
I must also add a note about Valentin who was a more involved character than before. Firstly I must say that I love him. Even though he is a vampire, one that has little respect for human life. There was just something about him. He seemed eloquent and gentlemanly. And even before we found out the reason behind his allegiance with Department 19 I knew he was trustworthy. I literally wanted to be his pet or wife...anything. Slight obsession at the moment.
The characters were developed further, yes they had changed, for better and for worse, but their characters and behaviour was believable and easy to relate to. The introduction of new characters was well thought out; new characters were there for a reason rather than just an inane addition. It developed the world of Jamie Carpenter, Vampires and Department 19. The characters were strong and the continuing involvement of Matt Browning was a lovely sub plot that had purpose.
All in all I couldn't really find a fault with this book. I was incredibly impressed and satisfied with this novel and very much look forward to the next instalment. I will be writing to the publishers praising them and the talent of Will Hill because I am in awe!!
I always feel like apologising about my reviews because I never know what to say and then say too much. To review this book is difficult only for the fact that the book itself is so complex and astounding that you have to read it yourself to fully appreciate it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2012
A word of caution – Department 19: The Rising is a direct sequel to Department 19. If you haven’t read the first book in this series, and you really should, there is a distinct possibility that this review may contain minor spoilers. You have been warned!
91 DAYS TILL ZERO HOUR.
THAT’S 91 DAYS TO RUN.
91 DAYS TO HIDE.
OR 91 DAYS TO PRAY FOR DEPARTMENT 19 TO SAVE YOU…
After the terrifying attack on Lindisfarne at the end of the first book, Jamie, Larissa and Kate are recovering at Department 19 headquarters, waiting for news of Dracula’s stolen ashes.
They won’t be waiting for long.
Vampire forces are gathering. Old enemies are getting too close. And Dracula… is rising.
Last year I read Will Hill’s debut novel, Department 19, and I really enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun and a perfect introduction to the action/horror genre for a young adult audience. Vampires, werewolves and a secret organisation that keeps them all in check. I ask you, what’s not to love? The second book is just out on paperback and it picks up the action shortly after the climatic events that ended book one.
It’s nice to see the central character of Jamie Carpenter has continued to evolve. Still in his teens, he is starting to display flashes of the man that he’s going to turn out to be. More confident and sure of himself than in book one, and more willing to take risks. The events on Lindisfarne have left their mark on him. Jamie is totally driven to hunt down the vampires that have caused his family and friends so much grief.
Interspersed throughout the main narrative, there are flashbacks that cover some of the more important historical events in the Department 19 universe. The readers get to learn some of the history of Jamie’s grandfather, John, and his time in the Department. Also the origins of Dracula himself are finally revealed. It was great to discover the story of the blood thirsty warrior prince and how he became a monster with a thirst for blood. Dracula’s first lieutenants, the Rusmanov brothers, are a highlight, and the urbane and sophisticated Valentin was a particular favourite.
When I reviewed Department 19 way back in February 2011, I specifically asked if there could be more werewolves in the sequel. I’m glad to say that the gods of young adult novels (or more likely Will Hill) were listening. As ever, I’ll avoid any spoilers but let’s just say that werewolves, well one in particular, play a key role in the plot.
The second novel is approximately two hundred pages longer than its predecessor, and Hill uses these extra pages to great effect. He takes time to explore more of the monster packed universe that he has created. There is an international feel as the plot moves all around the globe; from the UK, to France, and the United States. There is even a little insight into how Department 19′s counterparts function in other countries, which is a nice touch. The nickname for the US equivalent of made me smile.
This sequel is most definitely a case of bigger, better, faster, more. Hill has upped the stakes (excuse the terrible pun), and there is a genuine sense that things are hurtling towards an epic conclusion. I liked book one, but I loved book two. The final hundred pages alone are utterly bonkers. Lots more action, loads more exploding bloodsuckers (take it from me – this can only ever be a good thing) and more twists and turns in the plot than you can shake a pointy stick at. Bravo Mr Hill.
Department 19: The Rising is published by Harper Collins and is available now. The third installment, Department 19: Battle Lines, is due in April 2013. I’ll be looking out for it.
91 DAYS TILL ZERO HOUR.
THAT’S 91 DAYS TO RUN.
91 DAYS TO HIDE.
OR 91 DAYS TO PRAY FOR DEPARTMENT 19 TO SAVE YOU…
After the terrifying attack on Lindisfarne at the end of the first book, Jamie, Larissa and Kate are recovering at Department 19 headquarters, waiting for news of Dracula’s stolen ashes.
They won’t be waiting for long.
Vampire forces are gathering. Old enemies are getting too close. And Dracula… is rising.
Last year I read Will Hill’s debut novel, Department 19, and I really enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun and a perfect introduction to the action/horror genre for a young adult audience. Vampires, werewolves and a secret organisation that keeps them all in check. I ask you, what’s not to love? The second book is just out on paperback and it picks up the action shortly after the climatic events that ended book one.
It’s nice to see the central character of Jamie Carpenter has continued to evolve. Still in his teens, he is starting to display flashes of the man that he’s going to turn out to be. More confident and sure of himself than in book one, and more willing to take risks. The events on Lindisfarne have left their mark on him. Jamie is totally driven to hunt down the vampires that have caused his family and friends so much grief.
Interspersed throughout the main narrative, there are flashbacks that cover some of the more important historical events in the Department 19 universe. The readers get to learn some of the history of Jamie’s grandfather, John, and his time in the Department. Also the origins of Dracula himself are finally revealed. It was great to discover the story of the blood thirsty warrior prince and how he became a monster with a thirst for blood. Dracula’s first lieutenants, the Rusmanov brothers, are a highlight, and the urbane and sophisticated Valentin was a particular favourite.
When I reviewed Department 19 way back in February 2011, I specifically asked if there could be more werewolves in the sequel. I’m glad to say that the gods of young adult novels (or more likely Will Hill) were listening. As ever, I’ll avoid any spoilers but let’s just say that werewolves, well one in particular, play a key role in the plot.
The second novel is approximately two hundred pages longer than its predecessor, and Hill uses these extra pages to great effect. He takes time to explore more of the monster packed universe that he has created. There is an international feel as the plot moves all around the globe; from the UK, to France, and the United States. There is even a little insight into how Department 19′s counterparts function in other countries, which is a nice touch. The nickname for the US equivalent of made me smile.
This sequel is most definitely a case of bigger, better, faster, more. Hill has upped the stakes (excuse the terrible pun), and there is a genuine sense that things are hurtling towards an epic conclusion. I liked book one, but I loved book two. The final hundred pages alone are utterly bonkers. Lots more action, loads more exploding bloodsuckers (take it from me – this can only ever be a good thing) and more twists and turns in the plot than you can shake a pointy stick at. Bravo Mr Hill.
Department 19: The Rising is published by Harper Collins and is available now. The third installment, Department 19: Battle Lines, is due in April 2013. I’ll be looking out for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2012
It's no secret that Department 19 was one of my favourite books of 2011 so I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second book in the series The Rising. Although this was one of my most anticipated novels of the year I couldn't help feeling a little nervous when I picked it up to start reading - what if it didn't live up to my expectations? I'm glad to be able to say that I wasn't disappointed and if Department 19 was a 5 star read (which it was!) then The Rising is a 10 star one! I'm going to assume that anyone reading this review will have already read the first book so please be aware that this will contain spoilers for Department 19 - I will be careful not to give spoilers for The Rising though! If you haven't read the first book yet stop reading this review now and go out and buy it - I can't recommend this series highly enough!
The attack at Lindisfarne at the end of the first book has had huge ongoing consequences for all of the characters we know and love. Jamie may have built quite a reputation for himself amongst his colleagues by killing one of the oldest and strongest vampires in the world but he is devastated by the loss of his friend Frankenstein. He feels guilty that he wasn't able to save him and is also worried about the changes in his mother. Jamie is lucky to have strong bonds with Larissa and Kate though and they have been helping him cope. I love Jamie for how normal he is, despite the fact that he works for a secret organisation hunting down vampires for a living he is just a 17 year old boy and can be quite a moody one at that. His relationship with Larissa is going well but keeping things a secret is adding extra pressure on both of them and Larissa has her own issues to deal with.
I really enjoyed getting to see more of Kate and Matt too. Since Lindisfarne Kate has signed up to be an Operator and is working in a team alongside Jamie and Larissa. The three of them work really well together and it was good to see a friendship between them all that didn't include some kind of love triangle. Matt returned home after recovering from his attack in the first book but found it impossible to settle back into a normal life. He may be Jamie's opposite in a lot of ways but he is a great addition to their team and I can see him having an important role in the future.
All of the characters have some heart wrenching, emotional decisions to make throughout the story and it was good to see how much they have all grown since we first met them. There has been some serious character development but that doesn't mean there is less action though, in fact the plot progresses at breakneck speed and with more twists and turns than a roller coaster! Be prepared for some absolute shockers - I had to pick myself up off the floor a couple of times. The story takes you around the UK and Europe as well as on a road trip across the US as we follow the Department 19 crew and a few new characters. There will be betrayals from people we trust, surprising new allies and a couple of shock appearances as the Department prepares for the rise of Dracula. The countdown has begun but are you prepared for the consequences?
If you loved Department 19 then I guarantee that you'll love The Rising even more. Will Hill has managed to top the first book in every way and the only disappointment is that I don't have book 3 yet! This series is a must for anyone who wants a gruesome, action packed story full of old style terrifying vampires who in most cases will kill you as soon as look at you.
The attack at Lindisfarne at the end of the first book has had huge ongoing consequences for all of the characters we know and love. Jamie may have built quite a reputation for himself amongst his colleagues by killing one of the oldest and strongest vampires in the world but he is devastated by the loss of his friend Frankenstein. He feels guilty that he wasn't able to save him and is also worried about the changes in his mother. Jamie is lucky to have strong bonds with Larissa and Kate though and they have been helping him cope. I love Jamie for how normal he is, despite the fact that he works for a secret organisation hunting down vampires for a living he is just a 17 year old boy and can be quite a moody one at that. His relationship with Larissa is going well but keeping things a secret is adding extra pressure on both of them and Larissa has her own issues to deal with.
I really enjoyed getting to see more of Kate and Matt too. Since Lindisfarne Kate has signed up to be an Operator and is working in a team alongside Jamie and Larissa. The three of them work really well together and it was good to see a friendship between them all that didn't include some kind of love triangle. Matt returned home after recovering from his attack in the first book but found it impossible to settle back into a normal life. He may be Jamie's opposite in a lot of ways but he is a great addition to their team and I can see him having an important role in the future.
All of the characters have some heart wrenching, emotional decisions to make throughout the story and it was good to see how much they have all grown since we first met them. There has been some serious character development but that doesn't mean there is less action though, in fact the plot progresses at breakneck speed and with more twists and turns than a roller coaster! Be prepared for some absolute shockers - I had to pick myself up off the floor a couple of times. The story takes you around the UK and Europe as well as on a road trip across the US as we follow the Department 19 crew and a few new characters. There will be betrayals from people we trust, surprising new allies and a couple of shock appearances as the Department prepares for the rise of Dracula. The countdown has begun but are you prepared for the consequences?
If you loved Department 19 then I guarantee that you'll love The Rising even more. Will Hill has managed to top the first book in every way and the only disappointment is that I don't have book 3 yet! This series is a must for anyone who wants a gruesome, action packed story full of old style terrifying vampires who in most cases will kill you as soon as look at you.
July 12, 2012
'The Rising' is an intoxicating blend of horror, treachery, action and suspense fused together by a small group of Department 19 teen Operators whose bond is forged by the blood of their common foe - vampires. While the initial installment took great lengths to set the scene and build author Will Hill's world - 'The Rising' reads true to the genre of splatter punk horror and no holds bared violence. There are more graphic depictions of vampiric mutilation than in the predecessor. The gore isn't without cause though, with each scene evoking a true sense of dread towards the sharp toothed monsters, adding further insight into some of their utterly inhumane ways and contempt shown to their live-stock (humans).
This series is YA yet there is a distinctly mature feel about 'The Rising'. No only did the story evolve from the first book but Jamie's growth from adolescent to young man provides a nice semblance and balance to the story. Once again, the theme is mission driven, where first it was Jamie's mother lost, this time round, its a very close friend of Jamie's - one which will shock and awe fans with gruesome revelations, and interesting and thought provoking dynamics.
Of all the solid points, probably the most entertaining aspect to 'The Rising' is the ever expanding history of Department 19 and its sister agencies across the world. In addition to that, Will Hill provides further insight into the rise of the vampires by spotlighting two of the eldest and most dangerous vampires in Valeri and Valentin Rusmanov. Their relationship is one to keep an eye on - once brothers on the battlefield, now brothers in blood.
For the main trio of characters in Jamie, Kate and vampire turned Operative Larissa, all teens with raging hormones equal to their rage against evil vampires, the threats alluded to in the epilogue of 'Department 19' become all too real. Even the sanctuary of the Department 19 headquarters, The Loop is questionably secure. Without a doubt, this book had more twists and turns than most I've read in recent times - and more importantly, ones I didn't see coming. This series is really heating up, I cant wait to see what Will Hill does with the third instalment. 4 stars.
This series is YA yet there is a distinctly mature feel about 'The Rising'. No only did the story evolve from the first book but Jamie's growth from adolescent to young man provides a nice semblance and balance to the story. Once again, the theme is mission driven, where first it was Jamie's mother lost, this time round, its a very close friend of Jamie's - one which will shock and awe fans with gruesome revelations, and interesting and thought provoking dynamics.
Of all the solid points, probably the most entertaining aspect to 'The Rising' is the ever expanding history of Department 19 and its sister agencies across the world. In addition to that, Will Hill provides further insight into the rise of the vampires by spotlighting two of the eldest and most dangerous vampires in Valeri and Valentin Rusmanov. Their relationship is one to keep an eye on - once brothers on the battlefield, now brothers in blood.
For the main trio of characters in Jamie, Kate and vampire turned Operative Larissa, all teens with raging hormones equal to their rage against evil vampires, the threats alluded to in the epilogue of 'Department 19' become all too real. Even the sanctuary of the Department 19 headquarters, The Loop is questionably secure. Without a doubt, this book had more twists and turns than most I've read in recent times - and more importantly, ones I didn't see coming. This series is really heating up, I cant wait to see what Will Hill does with the third instalment. 4 stars.
June 26, 2019
Die erste Schlacht ist geschlagen, doch im Verborgenen lauert die Gefahr. Den Rusmanov Brüder ist es gelungen, Dracula wiederzubeleben und dieser sinnt auf Rache. Jamie hingegen wird seine Schuldgefühle nicht los, die er seit dem Tod von Frankensteins Monster hegt und das seine Mutter als Vampir hinter einem UV-Vorhang in Sicherheitsverwahrung ist, hilft auch nicht gerade die Situation zu verbessern. Trotz seiner Heldentat, einen der ältesten Vampire auszuschalten, bekommt er noch immer starken Gegenwind aus den eigenen Reihen. Sein einziger Trost ist seine Freundin Larissa, die aber auch immer verärgerter reagiert, je tiefer sich Jamie in die Arbeit von Schwarzlicht stürzt. Als Vitali Rusmanov, im Geheiß Draculas dann einen blutigen Kampf gegen Department 19 beginnt bei dem sich die Reihen der Kämpfer deutlich lichten, steht es fest. Es gibt noch einen Spion in ihren Reihen.
Nachdem ich Teil 1 gelesen hatte, war ich zugegebenermaßen nicht scharf auf die Fortsetzung. Aber als sie mir in die Hände fiel, wollte ich der Story noch eine Chance geben. Es hat sich gelohnt. Zwar reicht es noch immer nicht für vier Sterne, aber es ist dennoch eine deutliche Verbesserung zum ersten Part. Das Buch ist immer noch angefüllt mit ekligen Beschreibungen von platzenden Vampiren und brutalen Übergriffen, mit abgefetzten Gliedmaßen und verschmorten Augäpfelt etc, aber ich finde die Charaktere haben sich weiter entwickelt. Und mit dem verrückten Wissenschaftler, der eine Heilmethode gegen Vampirismus sucht, einem Unbekannten der in der Wüste psychedelische Erfahrungen macht, und einem Monster das sich bei Vollmond verwandelt, wurde die Grundstory ein bisschen aufgepeppt. Nachdem ich mich von der Reihe schon verabschiedet hatte, kann ich mir nun durchaus vorstellen auch den Nachfolgeband zu lesen. „Department 19 – Die Wiederkehr“ ist auf alle Fälle besser als „Department 19 – Die Mission“ und ich bin gespannt ob Will Hill es gelingt mich mit seinem dritten Band komplett ins Boot zu holen.
Nachdem ich Teil 1 gelesen hatte, war ich zugegebenermaßen nicht scharf auf die Fortsetzung. Aber als sie mir in die Hände fiel, wollte ich der Story noch eine Chance geben. Es hat sich gelohnt. Zwar reicht es noch immer nicht für vier Sterne, aber es ist dennoch eine deutliche Verbesserung zum ersten Part. Das Buch ist immer noch angefüllt mit ekligen Beschreibungen von platzenden Vampiren und brutalen Übergriffen, mit abgefetzten Gliedmaßen und verschmorten Augäpfelt etc, aber ich finde die Charaktere haben sich weiter entwickelt. Und mit dem verrückten Wissenschaftler, der eine Heilmethode gegen Vampirismus sucht, einem Unbekannten der in der Wüste psychedelische Erfahrungen macht, und einem Monster das sich bei Vollmond verwandelt, wurde die Grundstory ein bisschen aufgepeppt. Nachdem ich mich von der Reihe schon verabschiedet hatte, kann ich mir nun durchaus vorstellen auch den Nachfolgeband zu lesen. „Department 19 – Die Wiederkehr“ ist auf alle Fälle besser als „Department 19 – Die Mission“ und ich bin gespannt ob Will Hill es gelingt mich mit seinem dritten Band komplett ins Boot zu holen.
August 5, 2014
I've stated my main points in my review on the first book and I stand by most of them.
Good story, good characters, good ideas in general with only small things such as the romances giving me a slight tick of annoyance.
I really would have been more accepting of the romance if it had been building throughout the second book and only became official after the major fight. At that point they could have realised how they truly felt for one another and it just would have been so much better than it was.
They even threw in the Shaun and Kate romance from nowhere. At least with Larissa and Jamie we saw them meet. No, we were introduced to Kate and the next thing we know she's serious about this Shaun guy. And much like Jamie, I couldn't help but feel... After everything you have learned and been through, is now really the time to be dating??? It seems like that romance really had no need to be in the book but to fill up pages and it bothers me.
However I still gave this story five star for one reason and one reason only.
Valentin Rusmanov.
Anyone who says they dislike this character is either lying or stupid. I am sorry but he is perfect! He is a bloodthirsty killer, but at the same time he is just so likable to me! He's funny! He's sharp! He's quick! He's strong! He's the perfect character with so many imperfect flaws and that just makes me love him so much more and I just love him! From the very first chapter he was in, I really liked him.
This is the character I look forward to reading about. In fact, my favourite part for the whole of the book was the fight between Valeri and Valentin. It was so short but so intense! I could feel my excitement when he first shouted his brothers name and I just can't explain how amazing it was. Even the fact that Valentin was better than Valeri, it was just... UHHH! SO AWESOME!
So yeah, Valentin alone was amazing enough to make up for all the minor problems I have with the rest of the book and I am so happily looking forward to see more of him in the future books!
Good story, good characters, good ideas in general with only small things such as the romances giving me a slight tick of annoyance.
I really would have been more accepting of the romance if it had been building throughout the second book and only became official after the major fight. At that point they could have realised how they truly felt for one another and it just would have been so much better than it was.
They even threw in the Shaun and Kate romance from nowhere. At least with Larissa and Jamie we saw them meet. No, we were introduced to Kate and the next thing we know she's serious about this Shaun guy. And much like Jamie, I couldn't help but feel... After everything you have learned and been through, is now really the time to be dating??? It seems like that romance really had no need to be in the book but to fill up pages and it bothers me.
However I still gave this story five star for one reason and one reason only.
Valentin Rusmanov.
Anyone who says they dislike this character is either lying or stupid. I am sorry but he is perfect! He is a bloodthirsty killer, but at the same time he is just so likable to me! He's funny! He's sharp! He's quick! He's strong! He's the perfect character with so many imperfect flaws and that just makes me love him so much more and I just love him! From the very first chapter he was in, I really liked him.
This is the character I look forward to reading about. In fact, my favourite part for the whole of the book was the fight between Valeri and Valentin. It was so short but so intense! I could feel my excitement when he first shouted his brothers name and I just can't explain how amazing it was. Even the fact that Valentin was better than Valeri, it was just... UHHH! SO AWESOME!
So yeah, Valentin alone was amazing enough to make up for all the minor problems I have with the rest of the book and I am so happily looking forward to see more of him in the future books!
November 12, 2023
A worthy successor to the original. Better in some ways, worse in others
There’s some teenage romance drama that’s completely unnecessary and kind of kills the tone for a lot of the book. This is a series about hardened vampire hunters waging war on Count Dracula, I don’t want plot lines about friends fighting over who is dating who. Also, no one seems to stay dead in this series, which really cheapens some of the emotional motivation. And this is a slight nitpick, but this book can’t decide how powerful operators are vs. vampires. Sometimes a few operators can take on dozens of vampires, sometimes an equal numbers fight goes to the vampires. There’s also a lot of inconsistency when it comes to the morality of killing vampires; lots of vampires seem to get killed for no reason, but the book also says this is wrong at other times. Finally, the prose is even more workmanlike than the original. Everyone is always smiling or grinning in various ways
But at the end of the day, the book is awesome. Blood-soaked carnage and mayhem abound, the action is tight and frequent, the plot threads jump forward and backward in time in a complex and satisfying way, and there are some moments I’m sure will stick with me for a long time. Definition of a 4/5
There’s some teenage romance drama that’s completely unnecessary and kind of kills the tone for a lot of the book. This is a series about hardened vampire hunters waging war on Count Dracula, I don’t want plot lines about friends fighting over who is dating who. Also, no one seems to stay dead in this series, which really cheapens some of the emotional motivation. And this is a slight nitpick, but this book can’t decide how powerful operators are vs. vampires. Sometimes a few operators can take on dozens of vampires, sometimes an equal numbers fight goes to the vampires. There’s also a lot of inconsistency when it comes to the morality of killing vampires; lots of vampires seem to get killed for no reason, but the book also says this is wrong at other times. Finally, the prose is even more workmanlike than the original. Everyone is always smiling or grinning in various ways
But at the end of the day, the book is awesome. Blood-soaked carnage and mayhem abound, the action is tight and frequent, the plot threads jump forward and backward in time in a complex and satisfying way, and there are some moments I’m sure will stick with me for a long time. Definition of a 4/5
April 12, 2013
Now, some of you may remember (it was only last week...!) that I raved about the first book in Will Hill's "Department 19" series. I've now read the second, & to be honest, I was a little disappointed....
Let's deal with the positives first. The story still engages, moving on from the cliffhanger at the end of the first book. Kate (who was rescued from the attack on Lindisfarne) & Matt (who'd been attacked by Larissa) both survive, & join the department 19 team. The plot coheres well, & the big ending is frankly breathtaking.
However: the book's too long- I did find myself losing interest about 1/3 of the way in, because nothing (apart from a lot of very dull teenage angst) was going on.....it felt like the plot was put on hold for a couple of pages whilst we had the "Character Development" bit...
"The Rising" actually reminded me a lot of "Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix": a good story, but a bit overwhelmed by teenagers being teenagers...
However, it does come good at the end, & I will be reading the next in the series.
Not the best book I've ever read, but not the worst either.
Let's deal with the positives first. The story still engages, moving on from the cliffhanger at the end of the first book. Kate (who was rescued from the attack on Lindisfarne) & Matt (who'd been attacked by Larissa) both survive, & join the department 19 team. The plot coheres well, & the big ending is frankly breathtaking.
However: the book's too long- I did find myself losing interest about 1/3 of the way in, because nothing (apart from a lot of very dull teenage angst) was going on.....it felt like the plot was put on hold for a couple of pages whilst we had the "Character Development" bit...
"The Rising" actually reminded me a lot of "Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix": a good story, but a bit overwhelmed by teenagers being teenagers...
However, it does come good at the end, & I will be reading the next in the series.
Not the best book I've ever read, but not the worst either.
October 10, 2014
This is possibly better than the Harry Potter series. I cant wait till the third book in the series is in the public library! Spoiler Alert! Jamie Carpenter, the main protagonist, saved his mother from one of the Rusmanov brothers and is now an expert operator of Department 19 (the Department Of Supernatural Anomalies) and is also the boyfriend of one of his team mates. Valentin Rusmanov has offered to help Jamie and Department 19 on one condition, he gets complete immunity from any murders he preforms to sustain himself and for Jamie to have a conversation with him. Jamie left the base in search of Frankenstein (A friend who supposedly died in the first book) because of an intelligence report sent to Admiral Seward (head of the department). I will leave the rest of the story for the reader to uncover.
October 20, 2016
1. I don't know when I started it and I don't know if that's a problem so ya.
2.This book is about a kid named Jamie, and he goes into this thing called department 19, a vampire hunting agency. He comes face to face with dracula and he has to pretty much save the world.
3.My opinion on this book was that it was a very good book to be completely honest, I liked how it moved along fast and how action packed it was. It moved along really fast it gave the background of the characters throughout the story, and kept you focused in. It had a lot of action and never really had a dull moment. I really liked this book and I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't have that much patients like me.
2.This book is about a kid named Jamie, and he goes into this thing called department 19, a vampire hunting agency. He comes face to face with dracula and he has to pretty much save the world.
3.My opinion on this book was that it was a very good book to be completely honest, I liked how it moved along fast and how action packed it was. It moved along really fast it gave the background of the characters throughout the story, and kept you focused in. It had a lot of action and never really had a dull moment. I really liked this book and I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't have that much patients like me.
August 6, 2016
Department 19 is a secret government organisation which is responsible for hunting down all the vampires and making sure the rest of the population can sleep sound and safe in their beds every night without the knowledge such a thing actually exists. The people who work for them are hardcore fight machines trained and equipped using only the best, cutting edge and sometimes groundbreaking technology.Honestly this was one of my favorite series there is some mystery involved.I would highly recommended the book for people who are interested in fantasy.
May 24, 2015
The story continues. Dracula is coming closer and Department 19 know it. In this book we get to know Larissa better and also Matt Browning who is now working for Dept 19 in a research lab capacity. But what is going on in the lab? It is worse than any of them know. And who is the man claiming to be Matt's father?
My all time favourite series. A must read for any (real) vampire fans with history woven throughout the book, showing how Dracula came to be...
My all time favourite series. A must read for any (real) vampire fans with history woven throughout the book, showing how Dracula came to be...
December 1, 2016
Enjoying this series. Action packed and fun.
This one was a little hard to follow at times because it was told from multiple viewpoints at times, and it also hope around chronologically as well.
That aside, very exciting read, and I am looking forward to continuing the series.
This one was a little hard to follow at times because it was told from multiple viewpoints at times, and it also hope around chronologically as well.
That aside, very exciting read, and I am looking forward to continuing the series.
Read
August 5, 2012There is a giveaway going on for this on my blog here:
http://appraisingpages.com/2012/08/04...
http://appraisingpages.com/2012/08/04...
April 4, 2013
eher 4,5 Sterne...
March 6, 2018
Jamie Carpenter muss den Verlust seines Freundes Frankenstein verkraften. Dieser stürzte - von einem Werwolf gebissen - über die Klippen in die Tiefe, die Leiche Frankensteins wurde nicht gefunden.
Jamie kehrt als Held zurück, da er Alexandru Rusmanov getötet hat, einer der Vampire, die direkt von Drakula abstammen. Keiner hätte das dem jungen Carpenter zugetraut. Vielmehr sind viele Agenten des Department 19 wütend, denn für sie war der alte Carpenter ein Verräter, bis herauskommt, dass dieser von Thomas Morris verraten wurde.
Das Department 19 erhält immer wieder mysteriöse Fälle, die insbesondere das Team um Jamie lösen soll, zumal diese immer die Nachricht "Er kommt zurück" enthalten. Mit "er" ist kein geringerer als Graf Dracula gemeint, dessen sterbliche Überreste geklaut und zum Leben erweckt wurden. Diese Nachricht versetzt das Department 19 in Angst und Schrecken, schließlich wurde davon ausgegangen, dass Dracula ein für alle Mal ausgeschaltet wurde.
Und so dreht sich der zweite Teil um die Rückkehr Draculas. Gleichzeitig wird von einem graugrünen Wesen erzählt, dass nicht mehr weiß, wer oder was es ist. Kann Jamie und sein Team das herausfinden?
und was hat es damit auf sich, dass Valeri seine Vampirhorden um sich schart?
Der zweite Teil der Department 19 Reihe ist wirklich super spannend geschrieben. Die Abenteuer von Jamie Carpenter gehen weiter. Will Hill versteht es, einen Teenager die Irrungen und Wirrungen der Teenagerzeit zu durchleben. Freundschaft, die erste Liebe, Streit und Versöhnung zwischen Freunden, aber auch die Beziehung zu seiner Mutter kommen nicht zu kurz. Gleichzeitig scheint er seiner Rolle als Lieutnant gerecht zu werden, denn die Anerkennung seiner Vorgesetzten bleibt nicht aus, erst Recht nicht, als er es schafft, Valentin Rusmanov ins Department 19 zu bringen.
Leider fällt der Teil etwas kurz aus, in dem van Helsing Tagebuch schreibt. Es sind leider nur wenige Passagen, die in diesem Buch vorhanden sind, welche ich aber als passenden Kontrast zwischen Vergangenheit und Gegenwart empfinde.
Will Hill versteht es, die Spannung aufrecht zu erhalten, und lässt einen erneut mit einem Cliffhanger auf den dritten Teil lechzen.
Gelungene Fortsetzung!
Jamie kehrt als Held zurück, da er Alexandru Rusmanov getötet hat, einer der Vampire, die direkt von Drakula abstammen. Keiner hätte das dem jungen Carpenter zugetraut. Vielmehr sind viele Agenten des Department 19 wütend, denn für sie war der alte Carpenter ein Verräter, bis herauskommt, dass dieser von Thomas Morris verraten wurde.
Das Department 19 erhält immer wieder mysteriöse Fälle, die insbesondere das Team um Jamie lösen soll, zumal diese immer die Nachricht "Er kommt zurück" enthalten. Mit "er" ist kein geringerer als Graf Dracula gemeint, dessen sterbliche Überreste geklaut und zum Leben erweckt wurden. Diese Nachricht versetzt das Department 19 in Angst und Schrecken, schließlich wurde davon ausgegangen, dass Dracula ein für alle Mal ausgeschaltet wurde.
Und so dreht sich der zweite Teil um die Rückkehr Draculas. Gleichzeitig wird von einem graugrünen Wesen erzählt, dass nicht mehr weiß, wer oder was es ist. Kann Jamie und sein Team das herausfinden?
und was hat es damit auf sich, dass Valeri seine Vampirhorden um sich schart?
Der zweite Teil der Department 19 Reihe ist wirklich super spannend geschrieben. Die Abenteuer von Jamie Carpenter gehen weiter. Will Hill versteht es, einen Teenager die Irrungen und Wirrungen der Teenagerzeit zu durchleben. Freundschaft, die erste Liebe, Streit und Versöhnung zwischen Freunden, aber auch die Beziehung zu seiner Mutter kommen nicht zu kurz. Gleichzeitig scheint er seiner Rolle als Lieutnant gerecht zu werden, denn die Anerkennung seiner Vorgesetzten bleibt nicht aus, erst Recht nicht, als er es schafft, Valentin Rusmanov ins Department 19 zu bringen.
Leider fällt der Teil etwas kurz aus, in dem van Helsing Tagebuch schreibt. Es sind leider nur wenige Passagen, die in diesem Buch vorhanden sind, welche ich aber als passenden Kontrast zwischen Vergangenheit und Gegenwart empfinde.
Will Hill versteht es, die Spannung aufrecht zu erhalten, und lässt einen erneut mit einem Cliffhanger auf den dritten Teil lechzen.
Gelungene Fortsetzung!
March 30, 2018
HRV: Wow. Znam da vam taj izraz ne znači puno sam po sebi, ali dat ću vam kontekst: 1:30 ujutro je, i ja sam upravo završila ovu knjigu tako što sam pročitala 200 u komadu, i ja sam (u novom slengu) SHOOK.
KNJIGA JE TAKO DOBRA!! Upgrade od sasvim solidne prve knjige, bila je luda vožnja od početka do kraja. Povezala sam se s likovima (iako mislim da neki zaslužiju malo više svoj POV, i da bi neke autor mogao još malo više razraditi). I dalje me nije briga za romansu, te su neki zaokreti bili malčice predvidljivi, ali lagala bi da kažem kako svejedno nisam vrisnula kad sam došla do tih djelova. Horor je također pojačan u ovoj knjizi, što mi se iznimno svidjelo.
Ako volite Sci-Fi/Fantasy žanr, obavezno pročitajte ovaj serijal! Nadam se da će nastaviti u ovom tonu i biti još bolji.
ENG: Wow. I know that word doesn't tell you much on its own, but let me give you some context: 1:30am, I just finished this book by reading 200 pages in one sitting, and I. Am. SHOOK.
IT WAS SO GOOD, Y'ALL!!! A complete upgrade from the solid first book, it was a wild ride from start to finish. I've connected to the characters so much (though I still feel some need more of their POVs and fleshing out) and I'm so completely invested in them. I'm still not into any of the romances, but they still manage to make me care here and there, which is okay. The twists were the tiniest bit predictable, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't scream in surprise, anyway. The horror aspect was also upped a notch, and I LOVED IT. The book was bloody, dark and gritty, which is so refreshing to me.
Seriously, if you like Sci-Fi/Fantasy, do yourselves a favor and read this series! I hope it continues like this.
KNJIGA JE TAKO DOBRA!! Upgrade od sasvim solidne prve knjige, bila je luda vožnja od početka do kraja. Povezala sam se s likovima (iako mislim da neki zaslužiju malo više svoj POV, i da bi neke autor mogao još malo više razraditi). I dalje me nije briga za romansu, te su neki zaokreti bili malčice predvidljivi, ali lagala bi da kažem kako svejedno nisam vrisnula kad sam došla do tih djelova. Horor je također pojačan u ovoj knjizi, što mi se iznimno svidjelo.
Ako volite Sci-Fi/Fantasy žanr, obavezno pročitajte ovaj serijal! Nadam se da će nastaviti u ovom tonu i biti još bolji.
ENG: Wow. I know that word doesn't tell you much on its own, but let me give you some context: 1:30am, I just finished this book by reading 200 pages in one sitting, and I. Am. SHOOK.
IT WAS SO GOOD, Y'ALL!!! A complete upgrade from the solid first book, it was a wild ride from start to finish. I've connected to the characters so much (though I still feel some need more of their POVs and fleshing out) and I'm so completely invested in them. I'm still not into any of the romances, but they still manage to make me care here and there, which is okay. The twists were the tiniest bit predictable, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't scream in surprise, anyway. The horror aspect was also upped a notch, and I LOVED IT. The book was bloody, dark and gritty, which is so refreshing to me.
Seriously, if you like Sci-Fi/Fantasy, do yourselves a favor and read this series! I hope it continues like this.
June 15, 2017
After reading the first one of this series I was hoping for just as good a sequel. Well it wasn’t as good, it was in fact astoundingly better!!
Will Hill has wrote a fantastic series of books in this series and book two didn’t disappoint. The book picks up three months after the blood bath at Lindesfarne and after the death of Frankenstein, along with the death of Alexandrou Rusmanov.
Jamie is now a lieutenant in Department 19, his friends Kate and Larissa (who is also his vampire girlfriend) have also been recruited, as the department need all the help they can get. The oldest vampire Dracula is rising and Valeri Rusmanov has taken over from his brother to restore Dracula to his full strength, which is estimated to take 91 days. The book is sectioned into a countdown from 91 to zero hour.
This book focuses more on the three main characters and we are taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, action packed with gore and blood, the book never lets up from beginning to end.
I loved this book and couldn’t find fault in it at all apart from its 700 pages, but they soon fly as you engross yourself in this deep, dark story. Your never too sure what’s going to happen next and the plot twists invariably cannot be predicted either. The ever expanding history of Department 19 unfolds once again throughout this book as it did in the first.
The Department 19 is billed as a boys book/ YA book, but I’d urge anyone to read it as the book has a mature feel to it as well.
I’m looking forward to getting stuck into book three as the heat has well and truly been turned up now.
Will Hill has wrote a fantastic series of books in this series and book two didn’t disappoint. The book picks up three months after the blood bath at Lindesfarne and after the death of Frankenstein, along with the death of Alexandrou Rusmanov.
Jamie is now a lieutenant in Department 19, his friends Kate and Larissa (who is also his vampire girlfriend) have also been recruited, as the department need all the help they can get. The oldest vampire Dracula is rising and Valeri Rusmanov has taken over from his brother to restore Dracula to his full strength, which is estimated to take 91 days. The book is sectioned into a countdown from 91 to zero hour.
This book focuses more on the three main characters and we are taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, action packed with gore and blood, the book never lets up from beginning to end.
I loved this book and couldn’t find fault in it at all apart from its 700 pages, but they soon fly as you engross yourself in this deep, dark story. Your never too sure what’s going to happen next and the plot twists invariably cannot be predicted either. The ever expanding history of Department 19 unfolds once again throughout this book as it did in the first.
The Department 19 is billed as a boys book/ YA book, but I’d urge anyone to read it as the book has a mature feel to it as well.
I’m looking forward to getting stuck into book three as the heat has well and truly been turned up now.
Want to read
March 18, 2022Department 19 the rising by will hill
The rising is the second book in the department 19 series by will hill. This story follows the main character Jamie Carpenter who wants to fight vampires and the supernatural. We learn in the second book that the black light organization's greatest enemy has risen. The book gives us details on the events of draculas rising. Jamie and his team must find a way to stop him and with help from valetin one of the three most deadliest vampires and the secrets that lie behind the lazuris project blacklight might be able to stop dracula. And they have to do this before zero hour.
The main idea of this book is Jamie is with an organization that fights vampires and the supernatural.
Even though I never quite finished the book, I found it interesting and a good read so far. I like how the author brings in new sides of the story with each chapter. The book was difficult to read at times with names of characters. It was to predictal but at times I could see how it might play out. I could see some parts of my life in valetin with his brothers like how with his brother alexandru they were really close then they started drifting apart much like me and my brother. I found that this book might be good for kids in 8th grade and 7th grade.
The rising is the second book in the department 19 series by will hill. This story follows the main character Jamie Carpenter who wants to fight vampires and the supernatural. We learn in the second book that the black light organization's greatest enemy has risen. The book gives us details on the events of draculas rising. Jamie and his team must find a way to stop him and with help from valetin one of the three most deadliest vampires and the secrets that lie behind the lazuris project blacklight might be able to stop dracula. And they have to do this before zero hour.
The main idea of this book is Jamie is with an organization that fights vampires and the supernatural.
Even though I never quite finished the book, I found it interesting and a good read so far. I like how the author brings in new sides of the story with each chapter. The book was difficult to read at times with names of characters. It was to predictal but at times I could see how it might play out. I could see some parts of my life in valetin with his brothers like how with his brother alexandru they were really close then they started drifting apart much like me and my brother. I found that this book might be good for kids in 8th grade and 7th grade.
March 10, 2022
i liked this one better than the first one. again it had multiple storylines going on at the same time, but it was a bit more fast-paced than the first one, which i appreciated, and the characters are more developed and familiar thanks to the first book. still could maybe be considered a bit slow in the middle, but honestly, every chapter is important to the story and it's just a fat book so it's bound to have a lot happening. the climax was just amazing, shocking and heartwrenching and jaw-dropping, and ultimately page-flipping.
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