The Vampire Diaries (the real ones, not the silly TV version)

I have to say I'm completely addicted to these stories, or I should say story. All four novels are really one long story. I've never watched the show, thank goodness because that probably would've ruined it for me (as in the I could never like the show and it would have made me never want to read the books lol). The concepts of the story are very simple and things seem a big mystery until you see the answer was right in front of your face the whole time. They're an exciting read, to say the least, and you can't help but love the characters, even Elena who seems selfish and arrogant, but is still very human and loving. Stefan and Damon, the two brothers, are awesome and the most addicting part of the story, but they still could have been better developed.

What I really love are the concepts surrounding the vampires. These novels were published back in 1991, 20 years ago, before Buffy, before most of any of the vampire craze, but not before Anne Rice, I believe. Smith's vampires are very human, unlike Stephenie Meyer's vampires, for instance, which are more remaniscent of superheros. I really liked Smith's take on vampires. It brought me home to when the supernatural was a bit more simple and not so overdone; back to the Buffy days. (and I could see a lot similarities between Smith's and Meyer's stories, even though I'm quite positive Stephenie Meyer has never read the Vampire Diaries. Interesting, no?)

In other words, I really liked the novels and I would recommend them if your interested in a simple fun read, and you like vampires :) I'm looking forward to reading Smith's "Return" sequels "Nightfall" and "Shadow Souls" written in 2009 obviously sparked by the debut of the TV show. I just have to get my hands on them somehow (if I don't intend on buying them at the moment), along with "Fire" by Kristin Cashore, the sequel (really more of a prequel) to "Changeling".