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Book Reviews of The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1)

The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1)
The Awakening - Vampire Diaries, Bk 1
Author: L. J. Smith
ISBN-13: 9780061064005
ISBN-10: 0061064009
Publication Date: 8/25/1995
Pages: 320
Rating:
  • Currently 4.3/5 Stars.
 12

4.3 stars, based on 12 ratings
Publisher: HarperTorch
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

22 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

jai avatar reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 310 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
The first book of "The Vampire Diaries" series. This is a good start to a 4 part series about a love triangle between two vampire brothers and a girl. Reads very quickly.
nehalemn avatar reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
The whole pretty high school girl falling in love the the guilt ridden, self loathing vampire is eerily familiar.
reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I read these books as a teenager and they lingered with me throughtout my twenties. I just re-read the first two (at 30) and have been on the hunt for the last two in the series. I'll make sure my kids read these as well. They're full of love, jealously and twisted plots but not in an "off limits" way for kids. This series inspired me to read voraciously as a young teen and I haven't stopped since!
steelplace632 avatar reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 60 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I started watching the series first. I wanted to know the nature of the vampires so I got the books because I couldn't wait for the show to tell me. I have to say I like the characters in the show better than on page. Elena is very self centered. As time goes on I like the tv series better. But this is an easy read and you are left wanting more.
reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Just when I thought this was a waste of my time, it picks up! 2 rival vampires that just so happen to be brothers. One is trying to live according to human societal ways. The other lives in the dark, and thrives in it. One girl. Both vampires want this girl. This book ended with one of the vampires missing. The girl looking for him, and the other vampire making his presence known. It seriously left me wanting to read the next in this series. Juvenile to start, but it sucked me in by that last page.
reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on
Helpful Score: 2
This was the first series I read after Anne Rice that had vampires in it so I was a little worried. I was NOT dissapointed at all. I'm also a big fan of a good love story and again I was very happy. Even though the characters are teenagers its not full of a lot of "like" and "totally" and whatever else teenage lingo has been popular. Also, I'm from Virginia which is where everything takes place so I guess I'm a litle biased. Also, these books are a lot like the "Twilight" series so if you like that you will probably enjoy this.
Megwen avatar reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I read this series in 1991 when it was first published. I was 11 years old and a mature reader for my age. I fell in love with it and Have read the entire 4 books over and over again these many years. I am now 28 years old and am still extremely fond of the story. I am THRILLED that the author is FINALLY carrying on with the series in an all new trilogy centered around Damon! YAY
reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
A fun quick read. Much has been changed for the TV series. Books are always better.
2manyb00ks avatar reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 203 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I admittedly only read the first 2 chapters of this book. I started watching the series on TV before I found out about the books. Let's just say the TV series is VERY loosely based on the books. After a few chapters of the details not matching up I gave up and lost interest.

If you haven't started the TV series, try the books first. I think I ruined any chance I had of enjoying this series. (Wish I could write a review without giving this one a star rating.)
carolinct avatar reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 18 more book reviews
I was very disappointed with book. I was only able to get through the first few chapters. I did not like Elena at all. I'm glad I didn't pay for it.
kitchenvampire avatar reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 70 more book reviews
Fairly good books, especially for a young adult novel. Could be appealing to adults. While they aren't as expansive as the Twilight saga, it should be noted that they were written a decade before and that the stories are more dark in nature (death of teenage girls, ghosts, stormy nights, etc..)
reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
Pretty good for teens.
reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 73 more book reviews
I am a fan of the CW show, so I decided to check out the Vampire Diaries books. The books are quite different from the show. I believe the TV show took the basic concept and characters from the books and ran with the idea allowing for many creative changes. It makes sense, because there is not enough material in the books to fill up a weekly TV show and keep it interesting. So if you are hoping the two are going to be the same or similar, youll be disappointed. However, if you can clear the TV show from your mind -- the Vampire Diaries are a great read!

The Awakening introduces the reader to the main characters: Elena, Stefan and Damon along with some interesting and colorful supporting characters. While we follow along with Elena as she deals with school, her friends and family, and falling in love - theres terrible tragedies occurring in Fells Church, Va.

It is best if you can read the 1st three books, The Awakening, The Struggle and The Fury one right after the other. It is actually one big story split into the 3 books. They do not sit well alone.
Rebemdee avatar reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on
I didn't really care for this book. I found it juvenile and the lead character, Elena, was selfish and unlikeable. I wont be reading the rest in this series.
reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 16 more book reviews
This book is actually a hard cover edition.
booklit avatar reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 473 more book reviews
A very easy read. entertaining.
reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 8 more book reviews
I appreciate that L.J. Smith was writing young adult vampire novels twenty years before it became over-popular and overdone. This book started out like addictive candy that I couldn't get enough of, but quickly became less and less interesting. Stock characters, flat plot, and the whole thing felt inevitably dated. I had to force myself to finish, and now I'm done . . . I'll still finish out the trilogy, though. I'm that dedicated.
reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 24 more book reviews
This whole series sucks compared to the show! It's not as exciting and doesn't depict Damon as the sexy, evil but kind brother who loves Elena for her kindness. Elena is selfish and is kind of a bimbo, and why doesn't the tv series have Meredith?! I actually like her in the book.
reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 45 more book reviews
ELENA: Searching for the untimate thrill, she vowed to have Stefan.

STEFAN: Haunted by his tragic past, he struggled to resist her passion.

DAMON: Driven by revenge, he hunted the brother who betrayed him.
reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 114 more book reviews
A Love Triangle of Unspeakable Horror...
ELENA: Searching for the ultimate thrill, she vowed to have STEPHAN:Haunted by his tragic past, he struggled to resist her passion.
DAMON:Driven by revenge, he hunted the brother who betrayed him.
The terrifying story of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.
reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 240 more book reviews
"The terrifying story of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.
loveangel avatar reviewed The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, Bk 1) on + 148 more book reviews
story of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them