LJ Smith

The Vampire Diaries: The Fury and Dark Reunion

Michelle20 Comments

Title:The Vampire Diaries: The Fury and Dark Reunion
Author: LJ Smith
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
ISBN: 0061140988
Pages: 520 (combined)
Year: 2007 (books originally published separately in 1991)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Rating: 3/5

Spoiler Warning: I can’t really discuss these books without assuming you’ve read at least the ones that came before it. Actually, you better be prepared for spoilers galore. But you can read my post on the first two books here.

Summary:

The Fury is the story of Elena’s new life as a vampire. At first, Elena has a hard time adjusting but soon she is back to her old self and ready to solve the newest mystery in Fells Church: what is this other Power that keeps turning up? With a visit from an old acquaintance, some help from Damon (who’s not quite as evil as we all thought), and some good old-fashioned team work, the characters face-off against this Power.

Dark Reunion is the story of what happens after Elena’s death. Stephan is gone, the rest of them are trying to move on. But something Evil shows up once again in Fells Church (at least we get an explanation why evil is drawn there) and it is up to the old gang to take it on.

My Thoughts:

The Fury was a good conclusion to the first two books. We all knew Elena would eventually end up a vampire and now we get to see that play out. We learn some more about what really happened in the past and we get a very dramatic ending.

As I understand it, The Fury was supposed to be the final book in the Vampire Diaries trilogy but Smith was persuaded into writing a fourth book (and now two new trilogies are being written). I was rather curious how Dark Reunion would compare since it wouldn’t be told from Elena’s perspective. Instead, Bonnie narrates it with a little narration by the other characters. But I actually think Dark Reunion might be my favorite of the four books. I was actually very interested in what this new Evil was and how they were going to get out of this one. Or maybe it’s that I don’t really like book-Elena that much anyway.

All in all, I still don’t love these books. They’re fine. They’re so quick to get through that I don’t mind spending time on them. But after being soiled by the awesomeness of the television series, these just can’t compare. I wonder what I would have thought if I’d read them first or if I’d read them as a teenager. I think I may have enjoyed them more. Instead, I just find myself making comparisons. I am curious as to how the show will incorporate some of these story lines though and I like having a bit of a heads up. I’m sure I will keep reading the rest of the books.

Recommended for something quick and easy. But if you must choose, just watch the show.

And on that note, here is a promo for Season 2 which premieres on September 9. Can’t wait!

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle [Mini-Review]

Michelle12 Comments

Title: The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle
Author: LJ Smith
Genre: Young Adult/Paranormal
ISBN: 006114097X
Pages: 512
Year: 2007 (books originally published separately in 1991).
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: Dunedin Public Library
Rating: 3.5/5

I didn’t want to do a full review because I didn’t have that much to say about this book (or these books as you guys convinced me to consider these two separate books). I absolutely LOVE the television series. Mostly because they perfectly cast Damon (Ian Somerholder). I really thought that this show would just be your average CW show, but it’s actually good. I promise.

Anyway, because I love the show, I decided I wanted to try reading the books. I have a warning to anyone else attempting the same: the books are very different from the show and not nearly as good.  I don’t really like Elena in the books and a lot of the characters have been changed or combined for the show.   Although the history of the brothers are similar, the time periods are different (Renaissance Italy v. Civil War Era).  I also think you can tell the stories were written in 1991 – the whole concept of what a typical teenage girl is has changed since then.

If I had to choose one, I would take the television show over the books hands down. But I think I’m going to finish reading the series because I’m curious to see how the two differ. Plus I can literally read one of these in a couple hours and that’s rare for me.

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Teaser Tuesday

Michelle7 Comments

“The footsteps sounded right above them. Then there was silence, followed by a slithering sound on the bank.”

– Page 287 of The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle by LJ Smith –

teasertuesdays31

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!