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.
Review:
Books 1-2 (The Awakening and The Struggle) are found in one edition and likewise with books 3-4 (The Fury and Dark Reunion). I understand that there are more books in this series; however, I could not bear to read them. These books are predictable, nonsensical, and downright silly. The ending of book 4 left me so enraged that I immediately took both books back to Barnes and Noble where I proceeded to return them for a full refund. That's right, I returned two books that I had already read! That is the only time I've ever done that, but these books warranted it.
In 2009, the CW made these books into a series titled Vampire Diaries. I have been watching the series from the beginning and love it! It does not follow the plot of the books at all, which is a good thing. In fact, the only thing that makes the series similar to the books are the characters' names and the setting/circumstances. If you want to read a YA vampire series, try Vampire Academy, City of Bones, Blue Bloods or Twilight.
Just One Gripe:
See above; I think the worst thing would have to be the ending of book four.
The Best Thing About This Series:
The fact that the CW turned these books into an enthralling series and cast Ian Somerhalder as Damen. Yum!
Appropriate for a younger audience:
Yes, these are appropriate YA books. Some PG-13 rated parts, but overall okay.
Score:
Characters: 2/5
Plot: 1/5
Setting/Imagery: 2/5
Originality: 1/5
Ending: 1/5
Total Score: 7/25
It's too late for me but you can save yourself! Read Instead:
oh no shame you didn't enjoy them, i think the story went downhill after book three, if you didn't like the forth girl just be glad you didn't read return of night fall and im reading shadow souls but i am literally making myself read through it, Damon becomes this pathetic wuss and he was one of the main reasons i loved the series i cant wait to review it have a bone to pick with this series
ReplyDeleteOh, no. I hate to hear that. I think the problem was that I compared these too much to Vampire Academy. Maybe I was too harsh, I can be pretty harsh sometimes...
ReplyDeleteI love Ian as Damon too! It's one of the reasons I keep up with the show. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, and did you manage to get a full refund for the books? I wonder if I can do that with the bookstores here in Malaysia.
I've only read the first book and yeah, most of the things that happen in there make no sense. I didn't even like Elena. But I still want to continue to see what happens in the rest of the books.
I did get a full refund...I felt bad about returning them but just couldn't keep them. I didn't like Elena in the book either but I do like her on the show. And Damon is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI've read all books by L.J. Smith. Many of them seem to follow the "and they find their soulmate...". By far the one that is most worth a reader's time is Dark Visions.
ReplyDeleteKelli:
ReplyDeleteYou were not too harsh. Far from it. I am new to this site and can I just say, it's fabulous! I, too, read the first book containing two novels after watching VD on the CW and loving it. The book was such a tremendous letdown that I had no desire to read books 3 & 4, could care less about what happens to the characters and their plights. You are spot on about the CW doing something right because I find the series enthralling and much more enjoyable than the lousy read I got out of the book.
i am reading the second one, so far its been non sensical. whatever is going on is pathetic. i jst don't even like elena or stefan here. n i donno why i am still continuing maybe to jst see wht happens later. bt the main reason i started ws the series on cw. i am jst so glad nothing much is similar in them both n Ian as damon.. ahem ahem too hot to handle....the series is fabulous n i wanted something more frm books bt so far i have been dissapointed.
ReplyDeletei am reading the second one, so far its been non sensical. whatever is going on is pathetic. i jst don't even like elena or stefan here. n i donno why i am still continuing maybe to jst see wht happens later. bt the main reason i started ws the series on cw. i am jst so glad nothing much is similar in them both n Ian as damon.. ahem ahem too hot to handle....the series is fabulous n i wanted something more frm books bt so far i have been dissapointed.
ReplyDeletethis novel isas as muh as the cw show .... nd i jst the character of damon
ReplyDeleteHello everyone! If you love Vampire Diaries, try reading my blog: www.miscraft.com !
ReplyDeleteMiscraft is a fantasy/mystery novel telling a story of a never-ending hunt, hopeless love, and a world in which years and names have no value. The characters are incredibly flawed and conflicted, constantly leading an inner "good vs. evil" battle. Nevertheless, readers can't help falling in love with them, especially the main two antagonists, Luther and Sophia, who have by far the strangest father-daughter relationship ever told.
The book is told in a suspenseful and ever-twisting narrative, slowly revealing the characters' dark pasts which explain their mysterious behaviors of the present. Miscraft is the first book in the Miscraft trilogy and will certainly ensure some of your nights are sleepless!
great
ReplyDelete