Vampire Diaries #1: The Awakening

Rating:
Summary: omg!!!!
Review: Even with distractions, I read this book in about 4 hours. It was totally awesome. If you like vampires and want an interesting read, then you absolutely need to pick up this saga.

The imagery L.J Smith uses is totally amazing. I was turned onto her first from reading the Nightworld series, but I find the Vampire Diaries to be more well written. Maybe it's because she has about 1200 pages to dedicate to one story rather than a couple hundred pages per book for 10 different scenarios and dozens of characters. This book got 5 stars because it totally got me hooked.

This seried didn't escape without harps though. I don't get why Smith likes to have these people be in their later years of high school. I think that makes too much of a boundary. First years of college opens up a whole lot more possibilities. I know these are supposed to be for young adult readers, but Elena and Stefan were so friggin lovey dovey I found myself saying "why don't they just get it on already?! Jeez!" I know why they don't, but if she were in college, it wouldn't be as taboo. I suppose the blood exchange is an equivalent, but still...

This is a depressing saga though. So much sadness and anger and hatred. I mean, the love in it was wonderful, but still, you can't ignore all the dreariness.

I think Damon should have gotten a lot more focus than he did. That is where much was left to be desired. I mean, Stefan seems hott and great and all, but Damon is the bad boy and bad boys have more appeal to me. I wanted more focus on HIM, not on what he had been doing. I wanted to take a glance into his head every now and again.

Some interesting things I've found when comparing Vampire Diaries to the NightWorld. She does tend to change some facts about the vampires. I don't think they needed to be invited into dwellings in the NightWorld Series and I don't think the sun killed them. She still kept a lot of things similar that I suppose are you typical vampire requirements though.



Rating:
Summary: A Timeless Book
Review: Before Buffy and Angel lite up the tv screens spinning off book series there was L.J. Smith's series 'Vampire Diaries". This was one of the first vampire books I ever read back when I was about 12. Ten years later, and heavy dog eared copy of "The Awakening" volumn #1 of the "Vampire Diaries" the story and plot is still fresh as ever, keeping me coming back again and again. If you love the paranormal, a bit of romance, adventure, two good looking vampires, and of course the age old struggle of school politics then you'll love this book. Stefan, the sweet vampire, with his brother Damon, the 'bad boy' vampire, keep the thrills coming as Elena works through the story finding unknown twists and turns.

Rating:
Summary: My favorite series from my preteen years!
Review: A friend of mine in elementary school introduced me to this series. I think she actually gave me the second one first, then let me read the series in order 1-3. I went out and bought my own copies because I loved it all three so much. And I was so geeked when the 4th came out! The series is about a teenage girl, Elena, who lives with her aunt and meets two brothers who are vampires. She starts dating one, Stefan, not knowing at the time that he is a vampire. (In this series, they can be out in daylight, they just have to shield their eyes with sunglasses). The whole series I have read countless times. These 4 books were all I read for close to 2 years. I pick them up again once in awhile to reminisce. Highly recommended for a preteen that doesn't like "typical" teen series (although now-a-days there are so many more choices than Sweet Valley High and Babysitters Club!!). I wish I had known at the time that she had other series available, although I've always been passionate about vampires.