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The Vampire Diaries #1-2
The Awakening / The Struggle
This book has Alternate Cover Editions for this ISBN [ACE]
ACE #1
A DEADLY LOVE TRIANGLE
Elena: the golden girl, the leader, the one who can have any boy she wants.
Stefan: brooding and mysterious, he seems to be the only one who can resist Elena, even as he struggles to protect her from the horrors that haunt his past.
Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him. Determined to have Elena, he'd kill to possess her.
Collected here in one volume for the first time, volumes one and two of The Vampire Diaries, the tale of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.
ACE #1
A DEADLY LOVE TRIANGLE
Elena: the golden girl, the leader, the one who can have any boy she wants.
Stefan: brooding and mysterious, he seems to be the only one who can resist Elena, even as he struggles to protect her from the horrors that haunt his past.
Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him. Determined to have Elena, he'd kill to possess her.
Collected here in one volume for the first time, volumes one and two of The Vampire Diaries, the tale of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.
492 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
L.J. Smith
282 books112k followersI have a new blog about my Vampire Diaries fanfic.
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
L.J. SMITH, Lisa Jane Smith, is the New York Times #1 Bestselling author of The Vampire Diaries, The Secret Circle, The Forbidden Game, Dark Visions, Wildworld and Night World series. She has written over two dozen books for children and young adults, and has enjoyed writing every one of them. She lives in the Bay Area of California, with a backyard that is full of flowers, which she adores, especially with many different shades of roses.
She loves to visit a friend's little cabin in the Point Reyes National Seashore area, which has lots of trees, lots of animals, lots of beaches to walk on, and lots of places to hike. Once, while hiking, she saw a snow-white buck which allowed her to follow it nearly half a mile. She also likes to collect things: angels (they remind her of her late mother), tiny boxes from different countries or of fanciful shape, nineteenth century children's literature, and books about quantum physics--especially about the mystery of the dark energy in the universe. A militant optimist, she is also part of the Velociraptor Sisterhood (a fancy way of saying that she likes to read, write and discuss books with strong female characters), and she has traveled extensively in Europe and the Far East. The two countries she loves to visit most are Great Britain, with its historic monuments and amazing country landscapes, and Japan, with its bustling urban life and exquisite mountain scenery.
Her favorite current writer is Terry Pratchett, the author of the Discworld series, for its wild and witty satires on life, death, war, love, assassins, coppers, and Australia. Her favorite classical writer is Jane Austen. Her favorite poets are Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson. Her favorite movies are The Seven Samurai and Avatar (analyze that!). She doesn't have a favorite TV show, because she doesn't have time to watch TV (and only owns one for playing movies).
Her favorite people are her readers, each of whom she cherishes with deep and lasting affection.
Note: L. J. Smith wrote books 1-7 of The Vampire Diaries series. After that, a ghostwriter took over the rest of the series. L. J. wrote books 1-3 of The Secret Circle series. After that, a ghostwriter took over the rest of the series. L. J. did not write any of the Originals or Stefan's Diaries. These were written by Kevin Williamson and/or various ghostwritters.
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
L.J. SMITH, Lisa Jane Smith, is the New York Times #1 Bestselling author of The Vampire Diaries, The Secret Circle, The Forbidden Game, Dark Visions, Wildworld and Night World series. She has written over two dozen books for children and young adults, and has enjoyed writing every one of them. She lives in the Bay Area of California, with a backyard that is full of flowers, which she adores, especially with many different shades of roses.
She loves to visit a friend's little cabin in the Point Reyes National Seashore area, which has lots of trees, lots of animals, lots of beaches to walk on, and lots of places to hike. Once, while hiking, she saw a snow-white buck which allowed her to follow it nearly half a mile. She also likes to collect things: angels (they remind her of her late mother), tiny boxes from different countries or of fanciful shape, nineteenth century children's literature, and books about quantum physics--especially about the mystery of the dark energy in the universe. A militant optimist, she is also part of the Velociraptor Sisterhood (a fancy way of saying that she likes to read, write and discuss books with strong female characters), and she has traveled extensively in Europe and the Far East. The two countries she loves to visit most are Great Britain, with its historic monuments and amazing country landscapes, and Japan, with its bustling urban life and exquisite mountain scenery.
Her favorite current writer is Terry Pratchett, the author of the Discworld series, for its wild and witty satires on life, death, war, love, assassins, coppers, and Australia. Her favorite classical writer is Jane Austen. Her favorite poets are Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson. Her favorite movies are The Seven Samurai and Avatar (analyze that!). She doesn't have a favorite TV show, because she doesn't have time to watch TV (and only owns one for playing movies).
Her favorite people are her readers, each of whom she cherishes with deep and lasting affection.
Note: L. J. Smith wrote books 1-7 of The Vampire Diaries series. After that, a ghostwriter took over the rest of the series. L. J. wrote books 1-3 of The Secret Circle series. After that, a ghostwriter took over the rest of the series. L. J. did not write any of the Originals or Stefan's Diaries. These were written by Kevin Williamson and/or various ghostwritters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,511 reviews
September 9, 2009
2 stars – Vampire Romance/Young Adult
Although the Vampire Diaries precedes Meyer’s Twilight Saga, it’s impossible not to compare the two series, and I have to say that I much prefer Twilight.
This felt a little bit too much like a vamped out version of “Mean Girls”, and I didn’t really get into the story or care about any of the characters at all. They’re all so selfish, juvenile, and petty, and okay, I get that it’s a young adult series, but it felt really immature and teen angsty to me, waaay more so than Twilight. Bella at least is an identifiable, lovable heroine with insecurities, awkwardness, and compassion, but Elena in Vampire Diaries is the rich, spoiled, perfect, popular, blonde, reigning queen of the school, who only seems to want aloof, brooding, mysterious, new guy in school Stefan just to prove that she can have whoever and whatever she wants. And there wasn’t enough (any) relationship building between Elena and Stefan to make me really give a hoot about them; so when dark, dangerous Damon comes to wreak total havoc, I was just glad that it finally spiced things up a bit, ‘cause I was honestly rather bored with the story.
There’s just way too much attention placed on fashion-speak, dear diary reflecting, popular girl rivaling and sniping, and exhaustive gossiping for my taste. It ends with a big love triangle, Elena’s fate hangs in the balance, cliffhanger, so I’m curious to find out what happens, but not necessarily enough to continue reading the series. I will however check out the Vampire Diaries TV series on the CW, which seems like a perfect home for the teenie vampire drama.
Although the Vampire Diaries precedes Meyer’s Twilight Saga, it’s impossible not to compare the two series, and I have to say that I much prefer Twilight.
This felt a little bit too much like a vamped out version of “Mean Girls”, and I didn’t really get into the story or care about any of the characters at all. They’re all so selfish, juvenile, and petty, and okay, I get that it’s a young adult series, but it felt really immature and teen angsty to me, waaay more so than Twilight. Bella at least is an identifiable, lovable heroine with insecurities, awkwardness, and compassion, but Elena in Vampire Diaries is the rich, spoiled, perfect, popular, blonde, reigning queen of the school, who only seems to want aloof, brooding, mysterious, new guy in school Stefan just to prove that she can have whoever and whatever she wants. And there wasn’t enough (any) relationship building between Elena and Stefan to make me really give a hoot about them; so when dark, dangerous Damon comes to wreak total havoc, I was just glad that it finally spiced things up a bit, ‘cause I was honestly rather bored with the story.
There’s just way too much attention placed on fashion-speak, dear diary reflecting, popular girl rivaling and sniping, and exhaustive gossiping for my taste. It ends with a big love triangle, Elena’s fate hangs in the balance, cliffhanger, so I’m curious to find out what happens, but not necessarily enough to continue reading the series. I will however check out the Vampire Diaries TV series on the CW, which seems like a perfect home for the teenie vampire drama.
September 24, 2009
Since these books are going to be a T.V show in Sept, I thought I'd buy the books...
Some people have read it and compared it to Twilight, but I have to say that these books are NOTHING like Twilight except for the part where she's human and the brothers aren't. But that's about it.
So I've read the first one "The Awakening and The Struggle" and I have to say that I was kind of disappointed.
Elena is an uptight snobby girl who gets what ever she wants and when she doesn't she pouts like a 2 year old out to get revenge and sneak in her mothers pantry to steal chocolate!
Her character does improve through out the book, but she was very hard to relate to while reading.
Stefan spends half the book ignoring her ( yes, for a good reason, but still) then when he does finally talk to her...BANG! They are together and "in love"???
I like Damon, at least he's consistent as the "bad guy" in the book. His character is very sexy and very mysterious.
...I just felt like the books did not show just cause as to WHY these two love each other? Not to compare this to Twilight, but at least with those books, it showed the progression stage of Edward and Bella's relationship.
Elena and Stefan have nothing more then a ghost of a memory and some heated attraction for one another?
There was nothing to lead them up to there romance. Elena thought of him as a challenge and for Stefan, Elena just reminded him of a girl he use to love...
Damon is the only character that comes into play that I can understand. He was the one who lurked from afar and didn't try to disguise his obsession with love. His was purely lust. I think this is the first time I have ever rooted for the bad guy to get the girl. I want Elena to be with Damon, Stefan just isn't doing it for me I guess.
I don't hate the books, but I don't love them either.
The only reason I'm giving this two stars is for plot and writing style.
I just wish the time was taken for us to feel why they were in love and not just have it there.
It's sad to say that I think the T.V Series will be better then the books.
Some people have read it and compared it to Twilight, but I have to say that these books are NOTHING like Twilight except for the part where she's human and the brothers aren't. But that's about it.
So I've read the first one "The Awakening and The Struggle" and I have to say that I was kind of disappointed.
Elena is an uptight snobby girl who gets what ever she wants and when she doesn't she pouts like a 2 year old out to get revenge and sneak in her mothers pantry to steal chocolate!
Her character does improve through out the book, but she was very hard to relate to while reading.
Stefan spends half the book ignoring her ( yes, for a good reason, but still) then when he does finally talk to her...BANG! They are together and "in love"???
I like Damon, at least he's consistent as the "bad guy" in the book. His character is very sexy and very mysterious.
...I just felt like the books did not show just cause as to WHY these two love each other? Not to compare this to Twilight, but at least with those books, it showed the progression stage of Edward and Bella's relationship.
Elena and Stefan have nothing more then a ghost of a memory and some heated attraction for one another?
There was nothing to lead them up to there romance. Elena thought of him as a challenge and for Stefan, Elena just reminded him of a girl he use to love...
Damon is the only character that comes into play that I can understand. He was the one who lurked from afar and didn't try to disguise his obsession with love. His was purely lust. I think this is the first time I have ever rooted for the bad guy to get the girl. I want Elena to be with Damon, Stefan just isn't doing it for me I guess.
I don't hate the books, but I don't love them either.
The only reason I'm giving this two stars is for plot and writing style.
I just wish the time was taken for us to feel why they were in love and not just have it there.
It's sad to say that I think the T.V Series will be better then the books.
September 24, 2009
Elena is the most popular girl in school, her boyfriend Matt a classic all-American sporty, nice boy. Then she sees the new boy, Stefan, dark, sensual, and totally oblivious to her. She determines to have him, and promptly gets rid of Matt. There are a few complications, though: one, Stefan is a vampire from the Italian renaissance period; two, she looks a lot like Katherine, the girl he was in love with who made him a vampire before killing herself, thinking he and his brother Damon, whom she also converted, would then stop fighting over her; and three, Damon is also in the city, and he has his sights set on Elena.
These teen vampire books have been out for more than a decade, but have only recently been merged into two single volumes, rather than the original four.
It's a familiar-enough story, a little similar to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books but not (note that it was published in 1991, more than 10 years before Twilight - still, comparisons crop up, though if anything, this could have been inspiration for Meyer).
This is a much darker story than the Twilight books - people actually die in The Vampire Diaries, and Damon is a truly malevolent character. There are the usual elements of "normal" teenager life: home troubles, back-stabbing friends, parties and lusty teenage boys who drink too much. The writing style is succinct and to-the-point, but the details necessary for a dark atmosphere strumming with tension are all there.
I would recommend this double volume, for the first book, The Awakening, ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger, while the end of The Struggle is not quite so bad (though very exciting!). I can wait to read the second volume. I certainly want to find out how it is resolved, since what happens to Elena at the end is a bit frightening, and I was surprised at my sympathy for Stefan, whose pain is very real.
These teen vampire books have been out for more than a decade, but have only recently been merged into two single volumes, rather than the original four.
It's a familiar-enough story, a little similar to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books but not (note that it was published in 1991, more than 10 years before Twilight - still, comparisons crop up, though if anything, this could have been inspiration for Meyer).
This is a much darker story than the Twilight books - people actually die in The Vampire Diaries, and Damon is a truly malevolent character. There are the usual elements of "normal" teenager life: home troubles, back-stabbing friends, parties and lusty teenage boys who drink too much. The writing style is succinct and to-the-point, but the details necessary for a dark atmosphere strumming with tension are all there.
I would recommend this double volume, for the first book, The Awakening, ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger, while the end of The Struggle is not quite so bad (though very exciting!). I can wait to read the second volume. I certainly want to find out how it is resolved, since what happens to Elena at the end is a bit frightening, and I was surprised at my sympathy for Stefan, whose pain is very real.
December 27, 2022
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#1 The Awakening - ★★★★★
#2 The Struggle - ★★★★★
I had The Awakening and the Struggle (the first and second books from the Vampire Diaries series) on my shelf for years.
When I say years, I mean it. It all started when I was in high-school, around 6 years ago, and I was in love with the Vampire Diaries TV Show. When I found out there are books as well, I begged my mum to buy them for me. And once I had them, I never got to read them, because teenage logic...
I recently noticed the Vampire Diaries books sitting on my shelf, forgotten, and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to read it in October, because of the whole spooky vibe. So there it is now - even thought the wheel didn't choose it, I did, because it deserved the attention!
Elena Gilbert is a popular girl in high-school and she always gets what she wants. Boys want to be with her, girls hate her, or want to be her best friends. And when this new boy Stefan comes into town, all mysterious, Elena wants him. But Stefan is hiding a deadly secret that Elena might now be ready for just yet. And her life, as well as the life of everyone living in Fell's Church is in grave danger... Elena finds herself between two brothers - one who came for a new life, and the other, who came for revenge...
Reading this book, while already knowing what the plot it, I thought I found find it boring. But no. I still enjoyed every single page of it, and I still devoured this book in one day.
From the first chapter, this book is intense and captures your attention. It is written in third person, but it also contains diary entries that belong to Elena and capture her deepest thoughts that she doesn't dare share with anyone else.
I loved Elena!
Her character is exactly what I was expected and what I have known to love - brave and fierce, and also willing to sacrifice her own happiness and safety for the people she loves the most.
Elena's friends, Meredith and Bonnie are the friends every girl needs. Funny and caring. A few pages in, and you will get to love them too.
Stefan - the mysterious new guy in school. The guy that tries to stay away from the girl he really wants because he's a danger to her. A little bit of Twilight vibes, but we can get past that. Because there is one thing that Twilight didn't have, that you can find reading The Vampire Diaries...
DAMON
Even though we only get a glimpse of him in this book, we can feel his presence throughout the whole book. We can feel his connection with Elena, as weird and spooky as it may be. All that danger that he carries with him, we all want to see whether there's anything good in him at all. His story is the most intriguing one, I think. His hunger for revenge makes you really understand both sides of the story and choose a side for yourself.
So, are you team Stefan, or team Damon?
I loved reading this - it was an amazing experience and it reminded me of my high-school days, of those innocent happy memories. My teenage life didn't include vampires, but hey - it was still awesome!
Pick the Vampire Diaries up if you love Young Adult spooky books, if you loved Twilight and if you love vampire, love and mystery stories in general.
The Struggle is the continuation of the Vampire Diaries Series by L.J. Smith. The second book that features the life of popular girl Elena Gilbert and her endeavors with the mysterious vampire brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore.
The Struggle continues where The Awakening ends; Elena is looking to talk to Damon, knowing that he has something to do with Stefan's disappearance.
I felt like there was more action in this book, compared to the first one. It made me more engrossed with the story and I was very excited for all the twists.
Elena was obviously the main character in this book, alongside Stefan and Damon. I am not sure how I felt about Elena in this book. She seemed to ignore everyone for a while and just be her selfish self - which resulted in getting people in trouble.
On the other hand, I really loved the history of Stefan and Damon. The memories from hundreds of years ago. The author manager to portray the time very well, and I was easily transported into another world, another time... I think these scenes were definitely the favourite part of this book.
I wish we saw more chapters with Bonnie and Meredith. Even though best friends, it didn't feel like they were too involved in the story. We didn't get to know them properly and it has already been two books. I really hope book three will let us meet these two characters better.
I am happy with the book in general.
The scenes, the plot, the twists - they were all very carefully put together. Elena's love choices are opening up, letting us wonder which brother she might choose. Making us choose sides (team Damon here!). This battle between the love and hate of the two brothers definitely seems interesting.
The ending was everything I was hoping for and now I can't wait for the next book. The Awakening and The Struggle were only an introduction and the real adventures are yet to begin!
I recommend it to all of you that love young-adult, teen romance and vampire stories. It will keep you on your toes for sure!
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#1 The Awakening - ★★★★★
#2 The Struggle - ★★★★★
I had The Awakening and the Struggle (the first and second books from the Vampire Diaries series) on my shelf for years.
When I say years, I mean it. It all started when I was in high-school, around 6 years ago, and I was in love with the Vampire Diaries TV Show. When I found out there are books as well, I begged my mum to buy them for me. And once I had them, I never got to read them, because teenage logic...
I recently noticed the Vampire Diaries books sitting on my shelf, forgotten, and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to read it in October, because of the whole spooky vibe. So there it is now - even thought the wheel didn't choose it, I did, because it deserved the attention!
Elena Gilbert is a popular girl in high-school and she always gets what she wants. Boys want to be with her, girls hate her, or want to be her best friends. And when this new boy Stefan comes into town, all mysterious, Elena wants him. But Stefan is hiding a deadly secret that Elena might now be ready for just yet. And her life, as well as the life of everyone living in Fell's Church is in grave danger... Elena finds herself between two brothers - one who came for a new life, and the other, who came for revenge...
Reading this book, while already knowing what the plot it, I thought I found find it boring. But no. I still enjoyed every single page of it, and I still devoured this book in one day.
From the first chapter, this book is intense and captures your attention. It is written in third person, but it also contains diary entries that belong to Elena and capture her deepest thoughts that she doesn't dare share with anyone else.
I loved Elena!
Her character is exactly what I was expected and what I have known to love - brave and fierce, and also willing to sacrifice her own happiness and safety for the people she loves the most.
Elena's friends, Meredith and Bonnie are the friends every girl needs. Funny and caring. A few pages in, and you will get to love them too.
Stefan - the mysterious new guy in school. The guy that tries to stay away from the girl he really wants because he's a danger to her. A little bit of Twilight vibes, but we can get past that. Because there is one thing that Twilight didn't have, that you can find reading The Vampire Diaries...
DAMON
Even though we only get a glimpse of him in this book, we can feel his presence throughout the whole book. We can feel his connection with Elena, as weird and spooky as it may be. All that danger that he carries with him, we all want to see whether there's anything good in him at all. His story is the most intriguing one, I think. His hunger for revenge makes you really understand both sides of the story and choose a side for yourself.
So, are you team Stefan, or team Damon?
I loved reading this - it was an amazing experience and it reminded me of my high-school days, of those innocent happy memories. My teenage life didn't include vampires, but hey - it was still awesome!
Pick the Vampire Diaries up if you love Young Adult spooky books, if you loved Twilight and if you love vampire, love and mystery stories in general.
The Struggle is the continuation of the Vampire Diaries Series by L.J. Smith. The second book that features the life of popular girl Elena Gilbert and her endeavors with the mysterious vampire brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore.
The Struggle continues where The Awakening ends; Elena is looking to talk to Damon, knowing that he has something to do with Stefan's disappearance.
I felt like there was more action in this book, compared to the first one. It made me more engrossed with the story and I was very excited for all the twists.
Elena was obviously the main character in this book, alongside Stefan and Damon. I am not sure how I felt about Elena in this book. She seemed to ignore everyone for a while and just be her selfish self - which resulted in getting people in trouble.
On the other hand, I really loved the history of Stefan and Damon. The memories from hundreds of years ago. The author manager to portray the time very well, and I was easily transported into another world, another time... I think these scenes were definitely the favourite part of this book.
I wish we saw more chapters with Bonnie and Meredith. Even though best friends, it didn't feel like they were too involved in the story. We didn't get to know them properly and it has already been two books. I really hope book three will let us meet these two characters better.
I am happy with the book in general.
The scenes, the plot, the twists - they were all very carefully put together. Elena's love choices are opening up, letting us wonder which brother she might choose. Making us choose sides (team Damon here!). This battle between the love and hate of the two brothers definitely seems interesting.
The ending was everything I was hoping for and now I can't wait for the next book. The Awakening and The Struggle were only an introduction and the real adventures are yet to begin!
I recommend it to all of you that love young-adult, teen romance and vampire stories. It will keep you on your toes for sure!
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July 15, 2008
Don't let the 4 out of 5 stars fool you into thinking this is good, inventive writing. I picked these books up for nostalgic purposes. Back in the early '90s, when I was an adolescent (oh how I date myself), I read and reread these books. They were so romantic and exciting. I remember even then being annoyed by the hack writing, but overlooking it because of the fantastic nature of the stories. I mean come on, who wouldn't fall for a tall, dark handsome vampire with an Italian accent. I'm only human.
Reading them again as an adult was part experiment but mostly fluff fun. For whatever reason, I'm seemingly incapable of getting through "beach reads" or other books with no real substance and sub par writing...with the exception of Young Adult books. There is a soft spot in my heart for those angst-ridden horror-lite, forbidden romance themes that weave their way through the pages and into the minds of pre-teen girls that are waiting to have their braces taken off and dream of such huge life events like homecoming and (take a deep breath) prom. I am not criticizing girls for this. As I've already implied, I was one of them.
My peeve with this particular series is really more of a concern. The greatest attributes of the primary characters are their beauty, elegance and grace. Love is always a reaction to someone's beauty or passion. The protagonist is "queen of the school". In short, each book is like reading a 250 super model photo shoot. There's just no way you'll ever be these fictional characters. Perhaps that is part of the allure for many kids who read these, but I distinctly remember talking with my friends about which character in the book we'd want to be...and frankly, all are either shallow or wracked with glamorized self-loathing.
The remaining question is why on earth after all this criticism did I give the books 4 stars. Well, they were a welcome regression back to days of summer reading, of staying up too late to find out if the heroine would get the guy and save the town against forces of evil. As simple, mindless entertainment goes, they work just fine. I don't know how a reader first approaching them now would feel about them, but with my childhood link to them, I was rather forgiving of the many glaring problems.
Apparently a new book will be coming out in this series early next year. I must confess, I will most certainly be reading it.
Reading them again as an adult was part experiment but mostly fluff fun. For whatever reason, I'm seemingly incapable of getting through "beach reads" or other books with no real substance and sub par writing...with the exception of Young Adult books. There is a soft spot in my heart for those angst-ridden horror-lite, forbidden romance themes that weave their way through the pages and into the minds of pre-teen girls that are waiting to have their braces taken off and dream of such huge life events like homecoming and (take a deep breath) prom. I am not criticizing girls for this. As I've already implied, I was one of them.
My peeve with this particular series is really more of a concern. The greatest attributes of the primary characters are their beauty, elegance and grace. Love is always a reaction to someone's beauty or passion. The protagonist is "queen of the school". In short, each book is like reading a 250 super model photo shoot. There's just no way you'll ever be these fictional characters. Perhaps that is part of the allure for many kids who read these, but I distinctly remember talking with my friends about which character in the book we'd want to be...and frankly, all are either shallow or wracked with glamorized self-loathing.
The remaining question is why on earth after all this criticism did I give the books 4 stars. Well, they were a welcome regression back to days of summer reading, of staying up too late to find out if the heroine would get the guy and save the town against forces of evil. As simple, mindless entertainment goes, they work just fine. I don't know how a reader first approaching them now would feel about them, but with my childhood link to them, I was rather forgiving of the many glaring problems.
Apparently a new book will be coming out in this series early next year. I must confess, I will most certainly be reading it.
April 26, 2016
I'm DNF'n this book at 30% and I hate not finishing a book but I just can't bring myself to read anymore of it!
Not only is Elena a horrible self-centred bitch after one night of kissing Stefan the next morning she's Florence nightingale! I can't stand her not even a little argh!!!!!!!! Love someone you don't even know?! GET A GRIP CRINGE!
Not only is Elena a horrible self-centred bitch after one night of kissing Stefan the next morning she's Florence nightingale! I can't stand her not even a little argh!!!!!!!! Love someone you don't even know?! GET A GRIP CRINGE!
January 4, 2011
I either read an interview or saw one with Stephenie Meyer who remarked that she got her plot to Twilight from a dream that she once had. After having read this, I can say in all certainty that if she got the idea from a dream, it was at some point after reading this series. Look no further for her source material, here it is.
Just a few of the parallels that I noticed: Stefan (Edward) can read minds. Stefan and Elena fall splendidly and exquisitely in love with each other despite the fact that there's little narrative to their love story. Stefan wants to stay away from Elena because he's a killer, and so on, ad nauseum. Credit L.J. Smith here, though, considering that she was the one that did it first and she did it better (although I'd say not much, since I'm being honest).
Particularly in the first novel, "The Awakening", I found the main character - Elena - to be selfish, spoiled, and revolting. Perhaps it's because the popular, pretty girl foil is simply something that I can't related to, or perhaps it's because the idea of making my friends swear in blood that they won't stop until they 'get me' a boy is totally and completely absurd.
In the second book, Elena is a touch more palatable, but that might have been because the story as a whole got marginally better, leaving less time (but still ample, believe me) for Elena to wax poetic about the unexplainable love for Stefan that seemingly flourished after one kiss.
I'll give this three stars because it did get better in the end, but a more realistic rating would have been two or two and a half.
Just a few of the parallels that I noticed: Stefan (Edward) can read minds. Stefan and Elena fall splendidly and exquisitely in love with each other despite the fact that there's little narrative to their love story. Stefan wants to stay away from Elena because he's a killer, and so on, ad nauseum. Credit L.J. Smith here, though, considering that she was the one that did it first and she did it better (although I'd say not much, since I'm being honest).
Particularly in the first novel, "The Awakening", I found the main character - Elena - to be selfish, spoiled, and revolting. Perhaps it's because the popular, pretty girl foil is simply something that I can't related to, or perhaps it's because the idea of making my friends swear in blood that they won't stop until they 'get me' a boy is totally and completely absurd.
In the second book, Elena is a touch more palatable, but that might have been because the story as a whole got marginally better, leaving less time (but still ample, believe me) for Elena to wax poetic about the unexplainable love for Stefan that seemingly flourished after one kiss.
I'll give this three stars because it did get better in the end, but a more realistic rating would have been two or two and a half.
June 20, 2014
Okay, so I promised myself I wouldn't do this but here I go..... as Kat would say UNPOPULAR OPINION TIME....
I hated all four of these books..... hated..... UNADULTERATED LOATHING!
I had posted this as a two but am changing it to a one .....muahaha... because I am not as nice as I used to be!
Elena is our spoiled, popular, idiotic MC.... and I hate her, she gets everything she ever wants! She has no compassion and is completely self absorbed - how is this different than any other teenage girl you ask? She is the embodiment of all that times ten!! I HATE her!!
And I love L.J. Smith, guys.... I do! I've read her Nightworld series many, many times... and her Dark Visions has one of my favourite love interests of all time..... Gabriel *swoons* :D. So hating these bothered me, A LOT, and not just because I love the show!!
Okay, okay.... the reason I'm breaking my rule to not review this:
I am 100% team Matt!
And I'm gonna tell you why:
He is sweet, he is funny, he is strong and he is kind..... he is everything I would want a teenage girl to love!! He isn't brooding, he doesn't hold grudges, he is loving and understanding without being martyrish! So why is he alone? He is alone because he is not supernatural.... and that fucking pisses me off!! Teenage boys have a raw deal right now, girls are fangirling all over vampires and werewolves and superheroes, how can a red-blooded - most likely clumsy - human boy compete with this fantasy world? He can't! And that makes me sad :(
Dear Ms. Smith, if you wanted to make me love Elena and Stefan .....
March 14, 2017
This omnibus carries the first two books of Smith's tetralogy - "The Awakening" and "The Struggle". I would give the first one two stars, the second one four. The first one was namely too much of a sugary teenage romance - I'm probably too old to read young adult stuff anymore.
There were some things that really annoyed me in these books: Elena was perfection incarnated, the prototype of a Mary-Sue, she had everybody wrapped around her little finger, she always got what she wanted (be it the title of the Homecoming Queen or every boy in school) and when she didn't, she let the waterworks flow, adopting the "you hurt me so" expression. And of course, when two half a century old vampires arrived in town, she was the love of their life at first sight, they wanted to spend their eternity with her and only with her, no other woman had ever mattered *snorts*
But the story did get better - once the author stopped concentrating on the Homecoming Queen's dating plan and remembered that she wasn't writing an after-school special but a romantic horror story. Because the horror part was really well written. It was even rather scary in some places. I suspect that the next two books in the tetralogy will be better.
And yes, this is the series that the CW's adapting for TV. I think it'll fit their programing plan perfectly - it's Gossip Girl with vampires, after all...
There were some things that really annoyed me in these books: Elena was perfection incarnated, the prototype of a Mary-Sue, she had everybody wrapped around her little finger, she always got what she wanted (be it the title of the Homecoming Queen or every boy in school) and when she didn't, she let the waterworks flow, adopting the "you hurt me so" expression. And of course, when two half a century old vampires arrived in town, she was the love of their life at first sight, they wanted to spend their eternity with her and only with her, no other woman had ever mattered *snorts*
But the story did get better - once the author stopped concentrating on the Homecoming Queen's dating plan and remembered that she wasn't writing an after-school special but a romantic horror story. Because the horror part was really well written. It was even rather scary in some places. I suspect that the next two books in the tetralogy will be better.
And yes, this is the series that the CW's adapting for TV. I think it'll fit their programing plan perfectly - it's Gossip Girl with vampires, after all...
March 10, 2008
It's another teen vampire/romance novel. Yay!
Actually, it's kind of cheesy. When Stefan Salvatore shows up at Elena's high school, it's love at first sight. He's gorgeous and exotic, and she's looking for someone new. She's fair-haired and popular and closely resembles his ex.
Oh, there's one more thing: Stefan's a vampire. From renaissance Italy. And another thing: his older brother, Damon, has also shown up. And they're battling for Elena's affections.
So corny, but so fun to read. The ending was a cliffhanger, so I guess I might just have to pick up the next book in the series.
3/10/08
Actually, it's kind of cheesy. When Stefan Salvatore shows up at Elena's high school, it's love at first sight. He's gorgeous and exotic, and she's looking for someone new. She's fair-haired and popular and closely resembles his ex.
Oh, there's one more thing: Stefan's a vampire. From renaissance Italy. And another thing: his older brother, Damon, has also shown up. And they're battling for Elena's affections.
So corny, but so fun to read. The ending was a cliffhanger, so I guess I might just have to pick up the next book in the series.
3/10/08
February 15, 2010
Usually I can't resist these YA supernatural fiction series but Vampire Diaries is actually too wretched for me to enjoy and, oh man, that's saying something. Laughable prose, characters who are inconsistent at best and numbingly dull at worst, and a nonsensical plot cobbled together from various bits of mediocre films like some wrong Frankenstein. No, no, no!
Okay, but, see, I might still watch the TV series. Just one episode to see whether it's as bad. Um. Right. Well. Onward.
I actually saved the book for three weeks after finishing it just so I could include some hilariously bad quotes in review.
"There had been too much fear, too many blows tonight. She could react no longer. She could only stare up at him with a kind of wonder." / "He laughed shortly, without humor, and saw her flinch. It made him hate himself more."
I mean, seriously. I can cope with drab description, but why lay the angst on so thick the reader has to close the book because they're spasming with laughter? HMMM? Spasming with laughter until they CAN REACT NO LONGER. It only MAKES THEM HATE THEMSELVES MORE for reading this effing book!
"'Stefan, I had to come--' she began, and broke off short, because a flash of lightning lit the sky just as the figure in the corner whirled around. And then it was as if every foreboding and fear and nightmare she'd ever had were coming true all at once. It was beyond screaming at; it was beyond anything."
Beyond publishable writing, even.
This is like a first draft of something I've written--I've written stuff this bad, possibly worse--but the thing is, I hide my first draft and massage the weary sentences until they don't suck quite so hard (NO PUN INTENDED YOU GUYS).
I made it to the end of the book but only just barely. Hey, maybe twenty years ago it was cutting edge, but today it's one worn, badly prosed paragraph after another. Please, LJ Smith, give it up.
Okay, but, see, I might still watch the TV series. Just one episode to see whether it's as bad. Um. Right. Well. Onward.
I actually saved the book for three weeks after finishing it just so I could include some hilariously bad quotes in review.
"There had been too much fear, too many blows tonight. She could react no longer. She could only stare up at him with a kind of wonder." / "He laughed shortly, without humor, and saw her flinch. It made him hate himself more."
I mean, seriously. I can cope with drab description, but why lay the angst on so thick the reader has to close the book because they're spasming with laughter? HMMM? Spasming with laughter until they CAN REACT NO LONGER. It only MAKES THEM HATE THEMSELVES MORE for reading this effing book!
"'Stefan, I had to come--' she began, and broke off short, because a flash of lightning lit the sky just as the figure in the corner whirled around. And then it was as if every foreboding and fear and nightmare she'd ever had were coming true all at once. It was beyond screaming at; it was beyond anything."
Beyond publishable writing, even.
This is like a first draft of something I've written--I've written stuff this bad, possibly worse--but the thing is, I hide my first draft and massage the weary sentences until they don't suck quite so hard (NO PUN INTENDED YOU GUYS).
I made it to the end of the book but only just barely. Hey, maybe twenty years ago it was cutting edge, but today it's one worn, badly prosed paragraph after another. Please, LJ Smith, give it up.
May 18, 2011
i don't think there's any way of getting around the fact that i really, really didn't like this book AT ALL. which sucks because i spent quite a bit of money on it, thinking it'd be a great read and fun to read before i dove into the first season of the t.v. show.
alas, it irked me so much i didn't even get past the first part. boooo.
love the cover though. paul wesley + ian somerhalder = HELL. YES.
also: i love the tv series. i should probably have stuck to that instead.
alas, it irked me so much i didn't even get past the first part. boooo.
love the cover though. paul wesley + ian somerhalder = HELL. YES.
also: i love the tv series. i should probably have stuck to that instead.
July 27, 2009
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: WARNING!! This review contains spoilers!! And it's long-I had a lot of venting to do!
With a TV show coming this Fall and Vampire Lit the hot genre, this book has been consistently checked out at my library. A co-worker mentioned she had enjoyed them as a teen and my teen volunteer read it and loved it, so I thought I'd give it a try. I am so annoyed that I wasted my time.
This is one example of when I think the TV Show might turn out better than the books. I never felt any true chemistry between Elena and Stefan, but the previews for the show seem to add more depth to their relationship.
Elena is your typical beautiful popular girl. Everyone kept referring to her as the "ice princess" but I never really saw it. She's mostly selfish, childish, and only is interested in Stefan because he's new, hot and she gets whatever she wants. (She even has a boyfriend in the beginning of the book, but dumps him because "it doesn't feel right" and Stefan is hot) We're supposed to feel sorry for her because her parents died a few years earlier, but that never really seems important, except to give Elena a reason to say "you're not my mother" to her aunt towards the end of book two. She also for some reason spent the summer in Paris, but that's really never explained-I guess it's there to make her seem rich and snotty?? Maybe she gets better by the second book, but she's pretty annoying throughout. She also never tells her friends anything so half the time they have no true reason for being there, other than to prove Elena is popular.
Stefan is handsome, brooding and your typical tortured vampire. He's haunted by his past love, who he and his evil brother Damon fought over, and centuries later he's still not over it all-until of course, he meets Elena.
Stefan ignores Elena, the two barely say anything to each other, but once Stefan saves Elena on Halloween (after he snubbed her at the dance) she tells him she loves him. The two start "dating" and sharing blood (the equivalent of sex for these books) and by Thanksgiving Stefan proposes and they're engaged!!! Ok, read that again, it's not even been a month, she's in high school, and they're engaged?? What the crap???
The thing I really hated about this one, and the few vampire novels I've read, is that the guy is tortured by his past, he's a victim, and claims he only wants to protect the girl and pushes her away. The girl in turn believes she can save him with her love, tries to change him/help him, and believes she's not whole without him, her world would end if she left, blah blah blah. This is not romantic-it's a pattern for a bad relationship. Maybe I'm just too cynical.
There was supposed to be action/suspense, but I didn't think it ever got that exciting. The author isn't that great of a writer (I've heard from those who have read her stuff that in the later books her writing improves) but I found Elena's diary entries too angsty "I can't bear the thought of losing him","we didn't touch each other much-we didn't-but we talked and looked at each other a lot. I want to touch him. More than any boy I've ever known." There's also a point where the bad brother vampire Damon refers to Elena as a "beauteous damsel"-beauteous?? Ooh-you really seem scary now!!
I think if you have middle school vampire fans who are eager to read anything with angsty vampire romance, this series would do. The first two books were pretty tame and although the characters are supposed to be seniors in high school, they acted like middle schoolers. Even though they were written in 1991, they don't feel super outdated. The only things I thought really seemed to age the books were the fact that the girls made a blood pact (I remember adults always telling us never to do that but does anyone even do that anymore?) and that they're all impressed with Stefan's leather jacket.
Maybe if I had read these as a young teen, I would have enjoyed them. I just don't think Vampire Diaries has adult appeal. One good thing about reading this series is that I have even more appreciation for today's young adult literature. These books are the perfect example of why I didn't read YA when I was a teen!
What do you think? Am I being too harsh?
With a TV show coming this Fall and Vampire Lit the hot genre, this book has been consistently checked out at my library. A co-worker mentioned she had enjoyed them as a teen and my teen volunteer read it and loved it, so I thought I'd give it a try. I am so annoyed that I wasted my time.
This is one example of when I think the TV Show might turn out better than the books. I never felt any true chemistry between Elena and Stefan, but the previews for the show seem to add more depth to their relationship.
Elena is your typical beautiful popular girl. Everyone kept referring to her as the "ice princess" but I never really saw it. She's mostly selfish, childish, and only is interested in Stefan because he's new, hot and she gets whatever she wants. (She even has a boyfriend in the beginning of the book, but dumps him because "it doesn't feel right" and Stefan is hot) We're supposed to feel sorry for her because her parents died a few years earlier, but that never really seems important, except to give Elena a reason to say "you're not my mother" to her aunt towards the end of book two. She also for some reason spent the summer in Paris, but that's really never explained-I guess it's there to make her seem rich and snotty?? Maybe she gets better by the second book, but she's pretty annoying throughout. She also never tells her friends anything so half the time they have no true reason for being there, other than to prove Elena is popular.
Stefan is handsome, brooding and your typical tortured vampire. He's haunted by his past love, who he and his evil brother Damon fought over, and centuries later he's still not over it all-until of course, he meets Elena.
Stefan ignores Elena, the two barely say anything to each other, but once Stefan saves Elena on Halloween (after he snubbed her at the dance) she tells him she loves him. The two start "dating" and sharing blood (the equivalent of sex for these books) and by Thanksgiving Stefan proposes and they're engaged!!! Ok, read that again, it's not even been a month, she's in high school, and they're engaged?? What the crap???
The thing I really hated about this one, and the few vampire novels I've read, is that the guy is tortured by his past, he's a victim, and claims he only wants to protect the girl and pushes her away. The girl in turn believes she can save him with her love, tries to change him/help him, and believes she's not whole without him, her world would end if she left, blah blah blah. This is not romantic-it's a pattern for a bad relationship. Maybe I'm just too cynical.
There was supposed to be action/suspense, but I didn't think it ever got that exciting. The author isn't that great of a writer (I've heard from those who have read her stuff that in the later books her writing improves) but I found Elena's diary entries too angsty "I can't bear the thought of losing him","we didn't touch each other much-we didn't-but we talked and looked at each other a lot. I want to touch him. More than any boy I've ever known." There's also a point where the bad brother vampire Damon refers to Elena as a "beauteous damsel"-beauteous?? Ooh-you really seem scary now!!
I think if you have middle school vampire fans who are eager to read anything with angsty vampire romance, this series would do. The first two books were pretty tame and although the characters are supposed to be seniors in high school, they acted like middle schoolers. Even though they were written in 1991, they don't feel super outdated. The only things I thought really seemed to age the books were the fact that the girls made a blood pact (I remember adults always telling us never to do that but does anyone even do that anymore?) and that they're all impressed with Stefan's leather jacket.
Maybe if I had read these as a young teen, I would have enjoyed them. I just don't think Vampire Diaries has adult appeal. One good thing about reading this series is that I have even more appreciation for today's young adult literature. These books are the perfect example of why I didn't read YA when I was a teen!
What do you think? Am I being too harsh?
September 10, 2008
A pre-Harry Potter young adult series that was a guilty pleasure for me at age 26 to be reading in public. But I couldn't put it down. L.J. Smiths characters were a little flat, yes. Her settings felt 2 dimensional to me and I often couldn't get a grasp of what exactly the characters were really like as people, sure. But that doesn't mean the story wasn't spot on! Once I ignored the flaws in Smiths construction of her Sunnydale-esq town with it's Vampire drama lurking in the shadows of a popularity battle between 2 high school girls, I became addicted. I literally couldn't put the book down. I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.
Vampire Diaries reads like a CW teen drama. In a good way! Which made me wonder why this hasn't already been adapted to film or TV yet.
Forget that other, hallow, vapid vampire series- This is the Girl-meets-Vampire story to read. Same plot- only L.J. Smith does it better!
Vampire Diaries reads like a CW teen drama. In a good way! Which made me wonder why this hasn't already been adapted to film or TV yet.
Forget that other, hallow, vapid vampire series- This is the Girl-meets-Vampire story to read. Same plot- only L.J. Smith does it better!
February 2, 2010
While this book did come highly recommended from a friend, my reaction, over and over as I was turning the pages, was "seriously? you're not going to... oh yep. you did" followed by an exasperated eye roll.
Elena is the (blond and, of course, beautiful) Queen of the School who just spent her summer in France with her aunt and her little sister because he parents are dead. Really. (Mary-Sue much??) She has a group of adoring followers, both male and female, as well as the requisite frenemy who is scheming to userp her position in the school's social heirarchy. BUT then a gorgeous, brooding stranger (Stefan) shows up at school and shows no interest in Elena at all. So she's determined to have him. He ignores her. She pretends to ignore him. Of course, he's actually ignoring her because he's in love with her and wants to protect her from his evil vampire-ness. But, because of the magic of true love, once she finally gets him to admit that he finds her *cough* attractive, they're joined at the hip. Throw in a few random dead people, a jock with a grudge, and, oh yeah, Stefan's evil, uber-powerful vampire brother and you have the first two books in this surprisingly popular series.
What it boiled down to for me: A teen vampire novel populated with obnoxious, under-developed characters and a plot that just screams "OH LOOK AT ME AND MY DRAMA QUEEN SELF!"
Not recommended for, well, pretty much anyone.
Elena is the (blond and, of course, beautiful) Queen of the School who just spent her summer in France with her aunt and her little sister because he parents are dead. Really. (Mary-Sue much??) She has a group of adoring followers, both male and female, as well as the requisite frenemy who is scheming to userp her position in the school's social heirarchy. BUT then a gorgeous, brooding stranger (Stefan) shows up at school and shows no interest in Elena at all. So she's determined to have him. He ignores her. She pretends to ignore him. Of course, he's actually ignoring her because he's in love with her and wants to protect her from his evil vampire-ness. But, because of the magic of true love, once she finally gets him to admit that he finds her *cough* attractive, they're joined at the hip. Throw in a few random dead people, a jock with a grudge, and, oh yeah, Stefan's evil, uber-powerful vampire brother and you have the first two books in this surprisingly popular series.
What it boiled down to for me: A teen vampire novel populated with obnoxious, under-developed characters and a plot that just screams "OH LOOK AT ME AND MY DRAMA QUEEN SELF!"
Not recommended for, well, pretty much anyone.
July 16, 2009
"Vampire Diaries" are the earlier books written by L.J. Smith and, unfortunately, it shows. I enjoyed her later trilogies "Dark Visions" and "The Forbidden Games" very much and therefore had very high hopes for "Vampire Diaries."
To my disappointment, the writing is just not as good as I came to expect from L.J. Smith. The characters are not fully developed and more often than not unlikeable. The romance also is not written very well. It is very hard to believe in passion between Elena and Stefan. The narration in "The Awakening" is too choppy; multiple POVs are sometimes confusing and distracting. "The Struggle" however is significantly better written, the ending really pulled off the entire second book for me.
In spite of all this criticism, however, I have to give credit L.J. Smith for creating characters and mythology that were later shamelessly "borrowed" by Stephenie Meyer. The similarities between "Vampire Diaries" and "Twilight" are undeniable. Human-vampire romance set in high school, blood lust, angst, "vegetarian" vampires - all was first written by L.J. Smith.
I will continue on reading this series and hope the books are going to get better.
To my disappointment, the writing is just not as good as I came to expect from L.J. Smith. The characters are not fully developed and more often than not unlikeable. The romance also is not written very well. It is very hard to believe in passion between Elena and Stefan. The narration in "The Awakening" is too choppy; multiple POVs are sometimes confusing and distracting. "The Struggle" however is significantly better written, the ending really pulled off the entire second book for me.
In spite of all this criticism, however, I have to give credit L.J. Smith for creating characters and mythology that were later shamelessly "borrowed" by Stephenie Meyer. The similarities between "Vampire Diaries" and "Twilight" are undeniable. Human-vampire romance set in high school, blood lust, angst, "vegetarian" vampires - all was first written by L.J. Smith.
I will continue on reading this series and hope the books are going to get better.
June 15, 2015
This book sucks so bad I tell ya
Why did I even bother
This is so not working for me
Just stick to the TV series. It has way more bites ;)
Why did I even bother
This is so not working for me
Just stick to the TV series. It has way more bites ;)
June 7, 2018
Actual Rating: 3.5 (for both!)
I don't know why this took me a month to read, it didn't feel that long, I guess it was because of classes...but I really enjoyed these 2 books! I'm familiar with the characters and the general storyline (Atleast from book 1) from watching a little of the show, but it's so different in the book omg.
Book 2 was probably my favorite one (maybe even a 4*) just because of the ending! I wasn't expecting it, till maybe a chapter before where I was like "Hmmmm maybe....", I can't wait to see what happens next. I really gotta pick up the next bind up and read more of it, I can't believe LJ Smith went there so early on in the series! (I also really want to find out more about Katherine, so I hope we get that too because I'm a sucker for the flashback scenes!)
I also can't believe I haven't picked these up sooner, just because I really like Smith's writing style (though I know the later books aren't written by her :')). Because this was a first time read for one of my favourite authors I actually sticky noted the entire book with my opinions and predictions. That might even be the reason I found this book kinda kept me from a complete slump, because it was so fun to sticky note!
My current favourite brother as of these books is Stefan...so we'll see how that goes through the series...
I don't know why this took me a month to read, it didn't feel that long, I guess it was because of classes...but I really enjoyed these 2 books! I'm familiar with the characters and the general storyline (Atleast from book 1) from watching a little of the show, but it's so different in the book omg.
Book 2 was probably my favorite one (maybe even a 4*) just because of the ending! I wasn't expecting it, till maybe a chapter before where I was like "Hmmmm maybe....", I can't wait to see what happens next. I really gotta pick up the next bind up and read more of it, I can't believe LJ Smith went there so early on in the series! (I also really want to find out more about Katherine, so I hope we get that too because I'm a sucker for the flashback scenes!)
I also can't believe I haven't picked these up sooner, just because I really like Smith's writing style (though I know the later books aren't written by her :')). Because this was a first time read for one of my favourite authors I actually sticky noted the entire book with my opinions and predictions. That might even be the reason I found this book kinda kept me from a complete slump, because it was so fun to sticky note!
My current favourite brother as of these books is Stefan...so we'll see how that goes through the series...
March 8, 2010
I humbly admit that when I had first picked up this book, it was after all the Twilight/Vampire buzz - though personally Harry Potter trumps vampire - I had it in my mind that it was going to be just like Twilight a sappy romance that I adore. Seeing as how in my life romance is moot reading about other people, fictional or not, is the only substitute I seem to have. Much like everything else in my life, I turn to the books, to get my excitement and I mean the excitement where your body literally trembles with it and her heart races until you have to physically move around your bedroom or patio or backyard, wherever it is that you fellow good-readers go to enjoy an oh so lovely book. Anyway I had a mental picture in my head about how this book was going to play out, I even thought I would make it to page fifty and then close the book uninterested. That however, is not what happened.
Stephen Salvatoreis the new transfer student at Mystic Falls and with his good looks, reserved attitude, and secretive nature everyone there seems to fall under his spell, that is of course until the sexy steadfast Damon Salvatore comes to steal Stephen's fame. However, though they appear to be the normal fighting brothers underneath the service lies something no one in Mystic Falls is prepared for, will only destruction and chaos from these to dangerously handsome brothers or will it be them who saves the day.
And then filed away in her little bubble you haveElena Gilbert, who writes in a journal because she has no one to talk to. A horrible accident last year took Elena's parents away from her and left her in the hands of her aunt, but somehow Elena miraculously survived the crash leaving her with grief and guilt. The town looks down at her with pity and for the new year Elena is determined to make a change but little does she know that the change Elena is searching for so desperately just might be the death of her. Will she uncover Stephen's secret before it's too late for her to come back from it or will she dive head first into uncharted and dangerous waters to follow her heart?
This book just might have been one of the best books I have read in a long time. I have been debating about the differences and similarities between this and Twilight, if I am being frank I would say there really isn't many similarities. Yes they both are books about vampires and they do have a romance in each of them but other than that they are completely different in many, many ways. I can't quite put my finger on why but I would have to say that I personally liked The Vampire Diaries better than I did Twilight. Though for some reason I have yet to add it to my personal collection. In other news I fully recommend that you read this book, if you have yet to pick it up that is.
Stephen Salvatoreis the new transfer student at Mystic Falls and with his good looks, reserved attitude, and secretive nature everyone there seems to fall under his spell, that is of course until the sexy steadfast Damon Salvatore comes to steal Stephen's fame. However, though they appear to be the normal fighting brothers underneath the service lies something no one in Mystic Falls is prepared for, will only destruction and chaos from these to dangerously handsome brothers or will it be them who saves the day.
And then filed away in her little bubble you haveElena Gilbert, who writes in a journal because she has no one to talk to. A horrible accident last year took Elena's parents away from her and left her in the hands of her aunt, but somehow Elena miraculously survived the crash leaving her with grief and guilt. The town looks down at her with pity and for the new year Elena is determined to make a change but little does she know that the change Elena is searching for so desperately just might be the death of her. Will she uncover Stephen's secret before it's too late for her to come back from it or will she dive head first into uncharted and dangerous waters to follow her heart?
This book just might have been one of the best books I have read in a long time. I have been debating about the differences and similarities between this and Twilight, if I am being frank I would say there really isn't many similarities. Yes they both are books about vampires and they do have a romance in each of them but other than that they are completely different in many, many ways. I can't quite put my finger on why but I would have to say that I personally liked The Vampire Diaries better than I did Twilight. Though for some reason I have yet to add it to my personal collection. In other news I fully recommend that you read this book, if you have yet to pick it up that is.
September 28, 2009
I really didn't like these books. I didn't care about either Elena or Stefan. I saw the previews for the CW show and thought the story looked good. But the TV show is a thousand times better than the book.
I didn't like the self centered Elena or understand why anyone else would either. When she met Stefan I couldn't understand the obsession she had over him, and why she was so hurt that he didn't talk to her. When he finaly saved her at Halloween and they were in love I had to flip back in the book to make sure I didn't miss something. I mean how are they in love already? They never talked to each other, and he seemed to have a distain for her. Their relationship seems empty. I didn't feel like they cared for each other. At about page 222, when Stefan started to tell his back story and explain things to Elena, I thought that the series would start getting good. But no such luck, it was all contrite and boring. I didn't care what happened to anyone. I was almost hoping that Damon wouldv'e killed Stefan and then turned Elena. I got to chapter 6 in The Struggle, and just couldn't waste my time any more. I had to stop reading.
I didn't like the self centered Elena or understand why anyone else would either. When she met Stefan I couldn't understand the obsession she had over him, and why she was so hurt that he didn't talk to her. When he finaly saved her at Halloween and they were in love I had to flip back in the book to make sure I didn't miss something. I mean how are they in love already? They never talked to each other, and he seemed to have a distain for her. Their relationship seems empty. I didn't feel like they cared for each other. At about page 222, when Stefan started to tell his back story and explain things to Elena, I thought that the series would start getting good. But no such luck, it was all contrite and boring. I didn't care what happened to anyone. I was almost hoping that Damon wouldv'e killed Stefan and then turned Elena. I got to chapter 6 in The Struggle, and just couldn't waste my time any more. I had to stop reading.
August 14, 2014
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
I actually read The Fury and Dark Reunion as some all-for-one-price box set thing from Barnes & Noble, but I’m too stupid to find the set I actually read, so I’m only posting a “review” (if you can even call it that) for the first two.
Here’s what you should do with these books:
(1) Don’t waste your time reading them – they are pretty much terrible;
(2) Okay, you ignored my advice and are going to read them anyway? That’s cool. Read them while lounging at the pool (preferably with some sort of rum drink in hand to counteract the awful you are about to experience);
(3) Once you realize I was right and these are a steaming pile of turd, “accidentally” drop said book in the pool and then make a valiant effort to fish it back out;
(4) Bring waterlogged book back home, EDIT: DRINK AT LEAST ONE BOTTLE OF WINE WHILE WAITING FOR BOOK TO DRY, and rather than tossing it in the trash, create a drunken Pinterest craft in order to give said book a new life as a wreath. Then bask in the good vibes you feel being sent down from lumber heaven by the tree who so gallantly gave its life to become such a crap book
(Ermine optional, but highly recommended);
(5) Forget everything I told you about how bad the book version of The Vampire Diaries is and go watch every episode of the television series. Not only is the T.V. version a better story, it has 100% more Boone (if you get this reference, request my friendship IMMEDIATELY)
and if you know who Paul Denton is I’ll freaking marry you (apologies in advance for providing my current spouse with any unwanted brother-husbands).
Mmmmmmmmmm.
I actually read The Fury and Dark Reunion as some all-for-one-price box set thing from Barnes & Noble, but I’m too stupid to find the set I actually read, so I’m only posting a “review” (if you can even call it that) for the first two.
Here’s what you should do with these books:
(1) Don’t waste your time reading them – they are pretty much terrible;
(2) Okay, you ignored my advice and are going to read them anyway? That’s cool. Read them while lounging at the pool (preferably with some sort of rum drink in hand to counteract the awful you are about to experience);
(3) Once you realize I was right and these are a steaming pile of turd, “accidentally” drop said book in the pool and then make a valiant effort to fish it back out;
(4) Bring waterlogged book back home, EDIT: DRINK AT LEAST ONE BOTTLE OF WINE WHILE WAITING FOR BOOK TO DRY, and rather than tossing it in the trash, create a drunken Pinterest craft in order to give said book a new life as a wreath. Then bask in the good vibes you feel being sent down from lumber heaven by the tree who so gallantly gave its life to become such a crap book
(Ermine optional, but highly recommended);
(5) Forget everything I told you about how bad the book version of The Vampire Diaries is and go watch every episode of the television series. Not only is the T.V. version a better story, it has 100% more Boone (if you get this reference, request my friendship IMMEDIATELY)
and if you know who Paul Denton is I’ll freaking marry you (apologies in advance for providing my current spouse with any unwanted brother-husbands).
Mmmmmmmmmm.
December 8, 2021
I had bought this bind up years ago but never ending up reading it. The tv series wasn't my type of show but was still vaugly interested in giving the first two books ago. But meh. This was a case of when I liked the adaption more than the books. Not my cup of tea but probably should have known that going in.
January 17, 2018
I loved this book! Okay, love is a strong word, so as you can tell I'm using it lightly. I did like this though, I, of course had seen the entire show before picking this up, and I have to say that they are nothing alike. Where did a little sister come from? There's no Jermey? Meredith? Since when? I don't mind the differences though, because I'm getting two stories along the same premis. What I didn't like though is how I never knew when Elena and Stefan got together, it kind of, just, happened. I didn't like that, and I know I didn't skip pages, I know this much.
I found myself taking a while to finish this, I don't know why. I assumed I would be heavily engaged with this read. I did like it, just, I don't even know. I gave this four stars because, well, I like the characters, so I may be bias, I just don't know how I feel about the story in this book.
Anyways, I did like the book over all, of course I am going to pick up the continuation of the books (which I own), but I have more books to focus on. I would recommend this book if you want a light vampire romance read, but if you are looking for something more rated R, I would recommend the Sookie Stackhouse series, and if you are looking for more thriller action, I would recommend the Anita Blake series!
I found myself taking a while to finish this, I don't know why. I assumed I would be heavily engaged with this read. I did like it, just, I don't even know. I gave this four stars because, well, I like the characters, so I may be bias, I just don't know how I feel about the story in this book.
Anyways, I did like the book over all, of course I am going to pick up the continuation of the books (which I own), but I have more books to focus on. I would recommend this book if you want a light vampire romance read, but if you are looking for something more rated R, I would recommend the Sookie Stackhouse series, and if you are looking for more thriller action, I would recommend the Anita Blake series!
August 30, 2009
I wanted to read this series before the show started this fall.. as the books are normally better than the shows/movies, but I have to say that I was highly disappointed. I can understand why Stefan would fall for her instantly, but I thought it was kind of cheesy and far fetched that she would fall madly in love with him before she even knows anything about him. story was very flat, the main character Elana got on my nerves, and there were a few parts where I had to re-read something more than once because it just didn't make any sense. I don't have any desire to read any further, but I will probably still try watching the show however I probably won't like that either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2018
I originally read these as separate books but I now one this copy so I wanna add it to my GR books. So I'm just gonna copy and paste my reviews into here.
Book 1:
This was so much better than I expected it to be! I read it in one sitting! I love the TV show but, Stefan is so much cooler in this than in the show. I wasn't a huge Stefan fan, but in the book he is just as awesomely romantic and smoldering as so many other YA vampires.
Of the 3 leads, the only one who I pictured as the actor from the show is Damon. Ian Somerhalder sounds like a perfect description of Damon, except way older. Elena actually referred to Damon as a boy more than once, whereas Ian Somerhalder is clearly not a boy. But still, I didn't really picture Paul Wesley as Stefan, and definitely didn't picture Nina Dobrev as Elena.
Her character is also very different. The Elena here starts out very snobby and high and mighty, but that changes in time. It makes sense that Stefan would bring out the best in her. Although, I don't really get why Stefan would fall in love with her in the first place, the way she was in the beginning. It also happened way too quickly. After two conversations Elena tells him she loves him. Pretty ridiculous really, but besides that its great. The romance between Stefan and Elena is awesome, and the added creepiness of Damon stalking her is perfect. Can't wait to find out what happens next!
Book 2:
I liked this one as much as the first. It was really good with lots more Damon. Getting to know him more as a character rather than just a large crow. It went by very fast though. The story wasn't very complex at all. It felt like something that could have been covered in one episode of the show. But I can't wait to find out what happens next. The ending is sure to lead to an interesting turn of events in the next book, even though it seemed too convenient. Just a way to continue the drama. But continue the drama it will, so why should I complain? 😂
Book 1:
This was so much better than I expected it to be! I read it in one sitting! I love the TV show but, Stefan is so much cooler in this than in the show. I wasn't a huge Stefan fan, but in the book he is just as awesomely romantic and smoldering as so many other YA vampires.
Of the 3 leads, the only one who I pictured as the actor from the show is Damon. Ian Somerhalder sounds like a perfect description of Damon, except way older. Elena actually referred to Damon as a boy more than once, whereas Ian Somerhalder is clearly not a boy. But still, I didn't really picture Paul Wesley as Stefan, and definitely didn't picture Nina Dobrev as Elena.
Her character is also very different. The Elena here starts out very snobby and high and mighty, but that changes in time. It makes sense that Stefan would bring out the best in her. Although, I don't really get why Stefan would fall in love with her in the first place, the way she was in the beginning. It also happened way too quickly. After two conversations Elena tells him she loves him. Pretty ridiculous really, but besides that its great. The romance between Stefan and Elena is awesome, and the added creepiness of Damon stalking her is perfect. Can't wait to find out what happens next!
Book 2:
I liked this one as much as the first. It was really good with lots more Damon. Getting to know him more as a character rather than just a large crow. It went by very fast though. The story wasn't very complex at all. It felt like something that could have been covered in one episode of the show. But I can't wait to find out what happens next. The ending is sure to lead to an interesting turn of events in the next book, even though it seemed too convenient. Just a way to continue the drama. But continue the drama it will, so why should I complain? 😂
November 18, 2011
Spoilers throughout this bad boy:
This was so extremely different from the Vampire Diaries Show and not really in a good way. Elena was not very likeable and she was blonde?!?!?! Weird. She is strong and Katherine is weak?!?! Katherine is dead??? (I believe stefan and Damon believed her to be dead for a while in the beginning of the show, but she most certainly did not choose to kill her own self for their sakes) Stefan wasn't as nice as he is in the show. His darker side definitely was more prominent.
Damon was pretty much evil. Not in a sexy and cool way, just plain evil. His relationship with Stefan is MUCH, MUCH worse than in the show.
Caroline is awful in the book as well. I adore her on the show, so it is just too weird for her to be so terrible.
Bonnie's witchy-ness is not as moving of a story.
Do you catch my drift? The Show is far, far better in my opinion than these two books.
If I had been rating only "The Awakening", I probably would have given it a 2 star review. I did not enjoy it. There was so much story building and the character were no likeable at all.
"The Struggle" was much more fun. Damon's character was still evil, but atleast it was entertaining. Elena was more like the character from the show in it.
Alone, it would have probably gotten a 2.5 star.... up until that ending!!! I did not see that coming. Props for that! So an extra 1/2 star shall be added.
This will not be a book for everyone. People who enjoy Twilight-esque books will probably be into this.
Not bad, not great. I will probably give the next book in line a try just to see if it improves.....
But, for the most part I'm sticking to the show.
This was so extremely different from the Vampire Diaries Show and not really in a good way. Elena was not very likeable and she was blonde?!?!?! Weird. She is strong and Katherine is weak?!?! Katherine is dead??? (I believe stefan and Damon believed her to be dead for a while in the beginning of the show, but she most certainly did not choose to kill her own self for their sakes) Stefan wasn't as nice as he is in the show. His darker side definitely was more prominent.
Damon was pretty much evil. Not in a sexy and cool way, just plain evil. His relationship with Stefan is MUCH, MUCH worse than in the show.
Caroline is awful in the book as well. I adore her on the show, so it is just too weird for her to be so terrible.
Bonnie's witchy-ness is not as moving of a story.
Do you catch my drift? The Show is far, far better in my opinion than these two books.
If I had been rating only "The Awakening", I probably would have given it a 2 star review. I did not enjoy it. There was so much story building and the character were no likeable at all.
"The Struggle" was much more fun. Damon's character was still evil, but atleast it was entertaining. Elena was more like the character from the show in it.
Alone, it would have probably gotten a 2.5 star.... up until that ending!!! I did not see that coming. Props for that! So an extra 1/2 star shall be added.
This will not be a book for everyone. People who enjoy Twilight-esque books will probably be into this.
Not bad, not great. I will probably give the next book in line a try just to see if it improves.....
But, for the most part I'm sticking to the show.
November 23, 2020
It's possible I'm overrating this because I read it right after Marked, which I HATED SO BAD. In contrast, at least this appeared to have been touched by an editor at some point. I can also see why these 2 are packaged in one volume now, since the Awakening ends on SUCH a cliffhanger that it doesn't even feel like an actual ending. This, like the others, is definite teen dream material--the most popular girl in school in the middle of a vampire love triangle, swoon! It actually felt like enjoyable escapism rather than embarrassing fantasy. I actually might read the next one. Or maybe watch the TV show. Is it in Netflix? Let me check. Oh, it is! I liked this book enough that I would try watching the show on Netflix Instant, but if it were only on DVDs I wouldn't waste my 1 Netflix disc on it. I trust that that is a meaningful review comment.
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LMAO I COMPLETELY FORGOT I HAD READ THIS BEFORE, look I read it so long ago that my review differentiates between "Netflix Instant" and my "Netflix discs"!!! an adorable time capsule.
In 2020 I finally got around to watching the show on Netflix (instant). Also recording a podcast about it.
https://www.frowl.org/worstbestseller...
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LMAO I COMPLETELY FORGOT I HAD READ THIS BEFORE, look I read it so long ago that my review differentiates between "Netflix Instant" and my "Netflix discs"!!! an adorable time capsule.
In 2020 I finally got around to watching the show on Netflix (instant). Also recording a podcast about it.
https://www.frowl.org/worstbestseller...
August 20, 2022
2.5✨
I’m only rounding up bc ✨TVD✨
I was soooo excited when this went on sale and I finally bought it. I absolutely love the show, it’s my comfort show and I can watch the first 6/7 seasons over and over.
… this book was nothing like the show.
First off, I hate third person books. I hate reading them, I can’t explain it, I just do.
Secondly, I did not realize elena could get ANYMORE annoying istg. She was worse in the book than in the show, which is completely shocking bc she was terrible in the show. In the book she’s an extreme pick me girl, completely self centered, entitled, and full of herself. She’s also aware she is all of these things. At least in the show she didn’t realize she was the problem and actually thought she was the victim lmao
Third, idk I just think watching the show first ruined the books because characters I liked from the show didn’t exist in the books and characters I liked in the books didn’t exist in the shows.
Overall, unless you finish your TBR and they’re .50 at a thrift store, don’t waste your time. No matter how much a fan you are of the show.
I’m only rounding up bc ✨TVD✨
I was soooo excited when this went on sale and I finally bought it. I absolutely love the show, it’s my comfort show and I can watch the first 6/7 seasons over and over.
… this book was nothing like the show.
First off, I hate third person books. I hate reading them, I can’t explain it, I just do.
Secondly, I did not realize elena could get ANYMORE annoying istg. She was worse in the book than in the show, which is completely shocking bc she was terrible in the show. In the book she’s an extreme pick me girl, completely self centered, entitled, and full of herself. She’s also aware she is all of these things. At least in the show she didn’t realize she was the problem and actually thought she was the victim lmao
Third, idk I just think watching the show first ruined the books because characters I liked from the show didn’t exist in the books and characters I liked in the books didn’t exist in the shows.
Overall, unless you finish your TBR and they’re .50 at a thrift store, don’t waste your time. No matter how much a fan you are of the show.
August 11, 2008
I have to say, that the only bad thing that i found in this books was the undeveloped relationship between Stefan and Elena. Otherwise i loved the book and it definitely deserves 5 stars. i am getting the second soon and i am freaking! i finished this book within hours of starting it, the plot twists and the endearing characters kept me reading. it had just enough conflict in the romance that it actually made me doubt a happily ever after. Although i still am not sure where the series will go. I hate to say it, but it makes me doubt Stephenie Meyer. this books was written long before her "Twilight" (which i consider the most amazing book ever written.) and the plot has an unmistakable resemblance, i have a strong feeling this is one of the books that inspired her book. But they both have unique ways of pulling you in and bringing you into the horror and romance of the character and it is amazing how much i can love a book and compare it to Twilight. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed anything from Twilight to Cirque Du Freak.
December 4, 2021
This was fairly silly... and, completely enjoyable bc believe it or not, silly was exactly what I wanted... and Vampires of course!
Very preppy high-school girls, the Dark dangerous new kid at school (Vampire) and competitiveness between small town kids that escalates quite a bit. Pretty much all I needed for some laid back vampy drama!
It's not a masterpiece by any means, but for me it was exactly what I was in the mood for!
Very preppy high-school girls, the Dark dangerous new kid at school (Vampire) and competitiveness between small town kids that escalates quite a bit. Pretty much all I needed for some laid back vampy drama!
It's not a masterpiece by any means, but for me it was exactly what I was in the mood for!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,511 reviews