Vampire Diaries: Stephan's Diaries- Origins
By L.J. Smith
(written by a ghostwriter)
Genre(s): Paranormal,
Young Adult
Pages: 237
Published: November 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen
Summary: "A love triangle that will span eternity…
The year is 1864 and the Civil War rages on. But seventeen-year-old Stefan Salvatore is fighting a battle all his own. Engaged to marry someone he does not love, Stefan falls for a mysterious girl named Katherine. With her gleaming curls and mischievous brown eyes, Katherine is beautiful and seduction…but she also harbors a dark secret: She’s a vampire.
Based on the popular CW TV show inspired by the bestselling novels, Stefan’s Diaries reveals what really happened between Stefan, Damon, and Katherine—and how the Vampire Diaries love triangle began.
(Note: This book is written by a ghostwriter)"
The year is 1864 and the Civil War rages on. But seventeen-year-old Stefan Salvatore is fighting a battle all his own. Engaged to marry someone he does not love, Stefan falls for a mysterious girl named Katherine. With her gleaming curls and mischievous brown eyes, Katherine is beautiful and seduction…but she also harbors a dark secret: She’s a vampire.
Based on the popular CW TV show inspired by the bestselling novels, Stefan’s Diaries reveals what really happened between Stefan, Damon, and Katherine—and how the Vampire Diaries love triangle began.
(Note: This book is written by a ghostwriter)"
Review: This book has me torn on what to think of it. The big thing I noticed
and DID NOT LIKE was that this book does NOT follow the books. If you
read the first couple vampire diary books and read this hoping for a
better understanding of the famous rift, forget it. Apparently this
book follows only the televised version. I have not yet seen the show
so I cannot say for sure, but the scenario of this book has turned me
even further off the show. However, if you like the show, then you may
like this.
Heading off that rant for the time being...
This book is written from the perspective of our vampire hero, Stephen Salvatore. Although, to start with, he is not yet a vampire in this book, but a young man set to marry a woman he does not love. Enter Katherine, a beauty to whom he is instantly drawn to. This book covers his relation to he, the vampire hunt in his town and a bit of Damon too.
SPOILER WARNING FROM THIS POINT IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOKS OR SEEN THE SERIES!!!
So in the books, both Damon and Stephen fall in love with Katherine and literally fight to the death over her and since she had been feeding off them, the both turned to vampires.
Not quite so here, while they do both fall for her, as Stephen sees her true nature he is horrified and turns away from her while Damon accepts her. When the hunt is on, he helps Damon free her. Yet they fail, Katherine is apparently 'killed' as are Damon and Stephan by their own father. They aren't yet dead though, and are instead something between vampire and human. Stephen hunts down a young girl, feeds as he finishes the turn and giddily gives the same girl to his brother so they can be vampires forever together.
So stopping there for a second...that does not even make much sense to me. Stephen was horrified by Katherine in the end. Utterly repulsed by her. So suddenly he is Gung-ho about being a Vamp? Makes no sense to me.
Another big difference from the books is that Stephen is the one unhappy as a vampire and Damon glorifies in its power. in this, Damon didn't want to feed and live forever.
So overall, the story was fun to read. Easy flow and nice characterization but is sways so far from the book and the books came well before the series. This ghost author should have followed the books, not the series! Otherwise, let this be an episode and not a book. Let a book follow a book. Sheesh! Okay, I am putting an end to this rant. But it is why I rated it the way I did. Even though the cover does say based on the show, I feel is should not have been so, and that, honestly, even the show should have followed the books better.
Heading off that rant for the time being...
This book is written from the perspective of our vampire hero, Stephen Salvatore. Although, to start with, he is not yet a vampire in this book, but a young man set to marry a woman he does not love. Enter Katherine, a beauty to whom he is instantly drawn to. This book covers his relation to he, the vampire hunt in his town and a bit of Damon too.
SPOILER WARNING FROM THIS POINT IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOKS OR SEEN THE SERIES!!!
So in the books, both Damon and Stephen fall in love with Katherine and literally fight to the death over her and since she had been feeding off them, the both turned to vampires.
Not quite so here, while they do both fall for her, as Stephen sees her true nature he is horrified and turns away from her while Damon accepts her. When the hunt is on, he helps Damon free her. Yet they fail, Katherine is apparently 'killed' as are Damon and Stephan by their own father. They aren't yet dead though, and are instead something between vampire and human. Stephen hunts down a young girl, feeds as he finishes the turn and giddily gives the same girl to his brother so they can be vampires forever together.
So stopping there for a second...that does not even make much sense to me. Stephen was horrified by Katherine in the end. Utterly repulsed by her. So suddenly he is Gung-ho about being a Vamp? Makes no sense to me.
Another big difference from the books is that Stephen is the one unhappy as a vampire and Damon glorifies in its power. in this, Damon didn't want to feed and live forever.
So overall, the story was fun to read. Easy flow and nice characterization but is sways so far from the book and the books came well before the series. This ghost author should have followed the books, not the series! Otherwise, let this be an episode and not a book. Let a book follow a book. Sheesh! Okay, I am putting an end to this rant. But it is why I rated it the way I did. Even though the cover does say based on the show, I feel is should not have been so, and that, honestly, even the show should have followed the books better.
The books actually have nothing to do with LJ Smith. they're written by a ghostwriter and this one is just a prequel to the show, not to the books. As far as I know theyre not even considered canon in the show. I still like them though :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds weird... I have a feeling they made this especially for the TV fans
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that there was a book series that's to the T.V. show... So it's nice to know that there are two different book series to the Vampire Diaries. Nice review!
ReplyDelete