Overall I would say that Department 19 was okay, but I had a couple problems with this book.

The protagonist was pretty much the definition of a "magic boy." Father dead and estranged from his living mother, he discovers that he is part of a secret society that hunts monsters. With little explanation, the boy is inducted into the order. In two days of training, he does better than the most skilled cadets do in nine months. He is so good, in fact, that everyone forgives him for his shadowy family history, and it is never brought up again that they all hated him in the start.

There is also a really odd romance plot thrown in, where the protagonist basically sees a pretty girl and begins making out with her, despite the fact that she's done nothing but look pretty and try to kill him. True love conquers all apparently.

I'm being a little generous with this book, because it's targeted for a different audience than me. I don't know if I will continue with the series.