The Vampire Diaries- MC

Well it’s been a crazy few weeks.

There’s been some family problems, internet problems and course problems since I started university BUT you don’t need to worry about that anymore.

Why?

I have an iMac, that’s why.

I’m going to review a -not- manga but actually a teen novel that was written a long time ago.

Not to the extremes of Pride and Prejudice but... never mind...

This is actually a series that was started in 1991 (though it didn’t make an appearance in the UK until ten years later), written by esteemed teen horror/fantasy/romance writer L.J. Smith.

Smith has a lot of novel series under her belt, all with devout fan circles (The Night World series, Dark Visions and the Forbidden Game to name but a few) all of which are celebrating the news:

Although the rights to Smith’s work were sold years ago, it’s finally happened.

The Vampire Diaries is a hit American TV show, in a primetime slot.

And it hits UK screens soon.

To celebrate, I’m going to tell you why this, the first L.J. Smith series I ever found, turned me on to fantasy in my early teens.

An impressive feat, and it’s lasted about 8 years so far.

The first book, titled “The Awakening” introduces Elena Gilbert, orphaned and in the care of her aunt but aptly titled “Queen of the school”. Her home life is stable, her friends are fun, and her boyfriend is the captain of the football team, and her childhood friend.

Unfortunately, none of it is what she’s looking for.

Now I’m the first to admit that Elena seems like the most stuck up character I’ve ever come across- she’s scheming, manipulative and high maintenance.

But then she meets Stefan.

The basic storyline of this book is redemptive love; through Stefan, Elena becomes less selfish, and although she loses her status and all but two of her friends, she finds happiness.

Through Elena, Stefan is able to let go of the past and heal the wounds that the mysterious Katherine gave him.

Not all wounds, of course... he IS a vampire...

Unfortunately, the happy ending fails to happen. The second book is titled “The Struggle” and sees th

e arrival of Stefan’s brother, Damon.

Damon and Stefan were love rivals for Katherine, and she turned them both into vampires before their rivalry forced her to suicide.

But that’s where I stop, or the spoilers will... well, spoil it =D

The Vampire Diaries is an amazing series, and very well written. People who’ve seen the series will undoubtedly make comparisons with Twilight and although Twilight did throw

vampires into mainstream romance there is a lot to be said for vampires that don’t sparkle.

Just putting it out there :)

A short review for now, I’ll post another on Thursday but for now, adieu! Keep biting those apples, and don’t be afraid of trying new things.

MangaCat out!