Precinct 13

You know, usually when you begin adding supernatural creatures to a book to an excessive degree, my suspension of disbelief is suspended. Not so, here -- I really enjoyed this book, and the many different story threads it threw out in many different directions, waiting to be picked up later. I looked up the author's blog halfway through, and was disappointed to learn that the series would not be continued by her publisher. However, apparently the author is continuing to publish on her own on Wattpad, which I'm going to have to look into. Kudos on the beginning of a kickass series!

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. I found the characters likeable and found myself wanting to keep reading whenever I had to put the book down. The worst part about the ending was that I didn't get to read more about the characters and what was going on in their lives. That's how much this book drew me in and caught my interest. Lots of fresh ideas in a genre that is flooded with reptition right now. Really looking forward to the next book about this fun County Coroner and the 13th Precinct!

This first book in a new urban fantasy series introduces Alex Connor who is the new coroner for Hughes County in Pierre, South Dakota. Alex ran for the post on a bet. She is a new college graduate in forensic science who is a med school dropout. Things got in the way. Like a conviction that her stepmother was a demon, a boyfriend jailed for assaulting her stepmother, and Alex's own mental problems and hospitalization. After all, the things Alex has seen all her life, including trolls under bridges, couldn't possibly be true.

Pierre and her new job should be just the new start she is looking for. However, when her first body gets up and walks off in the middle of an autopsy, she gets involved in the paranormal part of Pierre. When she show more confesses to the police chief that the body is missing, she gets directed to Precinct 13 - the paranormal police force in Pierre. There she meets a number of other paranormals including a half-fae officer, a golem, a technomage, and a werewolf-vampire cross.

Life gets even stranger when she learns that she might be a witch. But if she is a witch, where is her familiar? Enter the former boyfriend - Valentine - who happens to be a very rare dragon and a most unusual familiar. Alex is soon very involved in solving the case of her missing necromancer and also a case involving crop circles and cow mutilations.

This was a fun introduction to a new series. Alex is a great character who adapts pretty well to the new world she has entered. Valentine is also a unique sort of hero and love interest. Dragons are exactly cuddly or human but he is devoted to Alex. I look forward to reading more books in this series. show less

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Precinct 13 is funny, full of wit, and refreshing.

Opening Sentence: I never dreamed of being a coroner.

The Review:

I’m new to Tate Hallaway as an author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The cover is interesting with the many faded symbols all throughout the background. The blurb on the cover, under the title, says “The dead have tales to tell. And sometimes they just won’t shut up.” I knew I was going to enjoy this, and that Hallaway would turn out to be an author right up my alley.

Precinct 13 introduces us to Alex, as bold and daring as they come. After taking a bet from her best friend, she campaigned and won the election for Hughes County coroner in Pierre, South Dakota. show more It wasn’t a fluke chance either. Alex is a forensic science graduate, who dropped out of medical school because of complicated life issues. But all of the complications and her former life in Chicago are behind her now, and as ready as she’ll ever be. Alex’s first day on the job resulted in moving body markings, a new protective snake tattoo, as well as having a fresh corpse getting up and walking from her table. Life as she knew it will change forever, opening up Alex’s eyes to paranormal truths and become a part of something that makes her feel normal.

Precinct 13 is a secretive division of the law that handles things out of the norm. From zombies to magic curses, nothing is too paranormal for Precinct 13. Alex then realizes her ability, ignoring the past of mental issues and finally realizing her potential. Precinct 13 brings the reader on an exciting adventure with many promises of paranormal and fantasy elements.

Alex believes she has mental problems. Aside from romantic problems with Valentine, she has seen and lived through many things. Alex is convinced that her stepmother is a demon, she has seen trolls under bridges, and more tragically, she left her boyfriend as he was jailed for assaulting her stepmother. She is independent and strong-willed, until you involve her mental capabilities. Understandably so, living in a world where seeing paranormal beings just don’t belong. And while others might find the sarcasm annoying, I thought it added to the comic relief of the story.

Precinct 13 has a handful of amazing supporting characters. From Valentine, the elusive romantic interest, to Spenser Jones, the half-fairy lead detective, Hannah Stone, a gollum with both physical and mental strength, Devon, a half vampire and half werewolf, and finally Jack, a technology-using magic user. Every single character had elements to contribute to the whole story, as well as individual entertainment appeal. The personalities did so well to compliment each other, never hindering against another.

Hallaway’s world is different, bordering between reality and fiction. There were enough supernatural and paranormal scenarios to grant this a paranormal/fantasy genre, but who knows, it could also mimic real life. I did feel that there was a lot to explain, which slowed the pacing in the beginning, but once that was all out of the way, it was smooth sailing ahead.

Precinct 13 is funny, full of wit, and refreshing. Hallaway is a great writer who will entertain you throughout the pages. I enjoyed Alex, Valentine, and the officers of Precinct 13, and I think you will too.

Notable Scene:

Her kindness was like a punch in the gut. My eyes threatened to fill with tears. I held them back by biting my lip. She could not know what she was apologizing for, but it was a lot: my lover imprisoned, my medical career in ruins, my family– fuck, my family– my dad walking away when I needed him the most. A life full of accusations of being strange, weird… insane.

“It’s over now,” I heard Jones say. You’re not alone anymore.”

That did it. The floodgates broke. I sobbed like a baby.

FTC Advisory: Berkley Trade provided me with a copy of Precinct 13. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. show less

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

PRECINCT 13 is a funny medical examiner meets police procedural mash-up all wrapped up in an urban fantasy bow. Right from the start, Alex’s engaging voice draws readers into her world. She’s a little crazy in a Sookie Stackhouse sort of way due to the fact that she thought she was crazy her whole life. She’s always seen things that shouldn’t–couldn’t be real. Now in a new town, with a new job, away from a boyfriend who was ‘enabling’ her delusions, Alex is ready for a fresh non-magical start. Instead, after a series of bizarre events, she ends up as the medical liaison for Precinct 13, the magical branch of the local law enforcement. Suddenly, Alex finds out that magic is more show more real than she ever imagined.

Precinct 13 is a strange, fascinating bureaucratic department populated with a variety of supernatural creatures (faeries, technomages, werewolves etc). And for the first time in her life, nobody thinks she’s crazy. For Alex, it’s exciting but a little overwhelming. That’s kind of my impression as well.

For the first half of the book, it felt like I was reading the second book in a series. There are so many cryptic references to Alex’s old life, all her therapy, a scary incident with her boyfriend and stepmother that earned him serious prison time. Then there’s the boyfriend himself. He’s a deliberately mysterious character, but he just sort of shows up with little to no introduction. It really added to the feeling that I had missed something. As the story progressed, some of the details and plotlines got a little convoluted and lost some of the momentum Alex’s voice and the precinct created.

There is no info about whether or not this is a series or a standalone, but while the storyline is resolved in PRECINCT 13, the groundwork is laid for a series. Considering how well thought out and distinctive this world is, Hallaway has more planned for this precinct. I still think the story should have started earlier to avoid that sense that something was missing and maybe simplified a few of the sideplots, but the premise for this book is great and Alex is a quirky yet completely likable protagonist who definitely deserves a sequel or two.

Sexual Content:
Kissing. References to sex. show less

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:

I’m from a small town in Wisconsin (very close to where Tate bases her other series) and my beau is from a small town in South Dakota and has family in Pierre. When I saw that the story was based in Pierre it was just one more reason for me to want to read it after being lucky enough to receive an ARC from the Publisher.

Upon completion of Precinct 13, my exact words were “An absolute breath of fresh air! As a paranormal junkie it is so hard to find truly new material these days & this book surprised me from the first page to the last. :) I can't wait to see what's up next for Alex, Val, Jack, Jones, Stone, Precinct 13 & the rest of the ordinarium in Pierre.”

As show more stated, Precinct 13 is a new and exciting Urban Fantasy - a unique spin on magic that leans more towards the mystery side of things. There is a lot of dark humor, but it’s lighthearted in its own way and I found myself chuckling numerous times throughout the story. Tate also writes in such a way that you feel very much a part of the story with Alex, the leading lady. As things are uncovered for her, they’re uncovered for the reader as well and I thoroughly enjoyed that about Precinct 13.

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Precinct 13 4 Skulls and would recommend it highly. I can’t wait to see what Tate brings us with the continuation of the series! show less

I loved this book! In fact, I devoured it in less than a day. The book is pitched as urban fantasy meets police procedural and it is certainly that. It is also pitched as a paranormal romance and, while I don't generally enjoy paranormal romance, this one was quite enjoyable.

Some of the reviews of this book that I have read talked about not liking the protagonist. I actually found her quite believable, especially based on her back story. I thought the all the characters were interesting and unique.

I read that this is supposed to be a new series, and if so, I am truly looking forward to reading the next books in the series!