Department 19 The Rising is a fast paced book that tells the gripping story of a secretive team that fights against the forces of darkness, namely vampires.  

The thing that I like the best about this series is that I do think that it truly gives you a different take on the bloodsuckers. In some cases, they are just "people" trying to live their lives, albeit with different pressures on them than you and I. In other cases, there are those vampires who most definitely have plans for taking over.  

The Department itself makes for fantastic reading even without the menace outside it's walls. I keep wishing there was a supplemental book that told us the full history of the Department and its many secrets. The actual members of the Departments are also enigmas, and the fact that one of our key characters, Larissa, is a vampire is fascinating. As a fan of the genre, I was also keenly interested in how Will Hill describes the powers that his vampires have which although the same as many others still manages to set them apart as very unique entities. 

Something I do have to warn you aboout is that there are many references to the first book in the series which may leave you a little lost if you don't read it first. There are many old enemies rearing their heads throughout this tale that are from the initial volume, so please be sure to read Department 19 before reading The Rising. It will certainly help you enjoy this book even more. 

The twists, turns and deftly described action sequences are what makes this book tick over for me. I felt like I was at Team Leader Jamie's side as the Department tangled with vampires at every turn. It is certainly no easy feat to write good action and Hill has absolutely captured every blow and parry with a level of detail that will make your imagination race when reading it. 

I can absolutely recommend this book. It's a hefty tome, weighing in at over 700 pages and worth every second of your reading time. Great stuff! 

Tory Favro