Summary
The Vampire Diaries, Book 1: The Awakening launched L.J. Smith's bestselling young adult vampire series in 1991. Set in the fictional town of Fell's Church, Virginia, the novel introduces Elena Gilbert, a high school student who becomes entangled in a supernatural love triangle with vampire brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore. This first installment established the core characters and mythology that would define the series.
Smith's novel helped pioneer the paranormal romance genre for young adults, paving the way for later phenomena like Twilight. The Awakening combines elements of horror, romance, and coming-of-age drama as Elena uncovers the dark secrets lurking in her seemingly ordinary small town. The book's blend of teenage angst and Gothic horror resonated strongly with readers.
In 2009, The Vampire Diaries was adapted into a hit television series on The CW network. While diverging significantly from the source material, the show brought renewed attention to Smith's novels. The TV adaptation starred Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder in the lead roles, running for eight seasons and spawning two spin-off series. This cemented The Vampire Diaries as a major franchise in vampire fiction.
Plot
In The Vampire Diaries, Book 1: The Awakening, Elena Gilbert begins her senior year at Robert E. Lee High School in Fell's Church, Virginia. As the most popular girl in school, Elena is used to getting what she wants. However, her world is turned upside down when she meets the mysterious new student, Stefan Salvatore, and finds herself inexplicably drawn to him.
Despite Stefan's attempts to keep his distance, Elena becomes determined to win his affection. Meanwhile, strange animal attacks begin occurring in town, leaving the residents fearful and suspicious. As Elena delves deeper into Stefan's past, she discovers that he and his brother Damon are vampires who have been alive for centuries.
Elena's pursuit of Stefan causes tension with her friends, particularly Caroline Forbes, who becomes jealous of their relationship. At the same time, Damon arrives in Fell's Church, bringing with him a dark and dangerous presence. The rivalry between the Salvatore brothers intensifies as they both become entangled in Elena's life.
As the novel progresses, Elena finds herself caught between her growing feelings for Stefan and the mounting danger surrounding the town. She must navigate the complexities of her relationships while also uncovering the truth behind the mysterious attacks. The book ends with Elena realizing the perilous situation she's in, setting the stage for the conflicts to come in the rest of the series.
Themes
Forbidden love and supernatural romance
Sibling rivalry and family conflict
Good versus evil
Coming of age and self-discovery
Loyalty and friendship
Power and control
Sacrifice and redemption
Setting
The Vampire Diaries, Book 1 takes place in the contemporary era, likely the early 1990s when the novel was originally published. The story unfolds in the fictional town of Fell's Church, Virginia, a small community with a rich history dating back to the Civil War era. Fell's Church serves as the primary setting, creating an atmospheric backdrop for the supernatural events that unfold.
Within Fell's Church, much of the action centers around the local high school, where protagonist Elena Gilbert and her friends attend classes. Other key locations include the town cemetery, which holds significance for the vampire characters, and the woods surrounding the town that provide cover for clandestine meetings and supernatural activities. The Salvatore boarding house, where Stefan lives, also serves as an important setting for pivotal scenes.
While the majority of the story takes place within the confines of Fell's Church, references are made to the wider world beyond. The vampire brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore have a centuries-long history spanning Europe and other parts of America, occasionally alluded to through flashbacks or conversations. This broader geographical and historical context enriches the immediate small-town setting, hinting at the expansive supernatural world that exists beyond Fell's Church.
Characters
Elena Gilbert: The beautiful and popular high school student who is the main protagonist. Elena is confident and used to getting what she wants. She becomes intrigued by the mysterious new student Stefan Salvatore and pursues a relationship with him, unaware of his vampire nature. As she gets drawn into the supernatural world, Elena shows bravery and loyalty to those she cares about.
Stefan Salvatore: A vampire who has returned to his hometown of Fell's Church after centuries away. Stefan struggles to resist his bloodthirsty urges and tries to live a normal human life. He falls in love with Elena but fears putting her in danger due to his vampire nature. Stefan has a tortured and brooding personality stemming from his dark past.
Damon Salvatore: Stefan's dangerous and charismatic vampire brother. Unlike Stefan, Damon embraces his vampire nature and has no qualms about hunting humans. He returns to Fell's Church to torment Stefan and becomes intrigued by Elena. Damon is cunning, unpredictable, and enjoys causing chaos.
Bonnie McCullough: One of Elena's best friends who discovers she has psychic abilities. Bonnie is caring and loyal but can be naive at times. She becomes crucial in helping Elena and the others deal with supernatural threats.
Meredith Sulez: Elena's other best friend who is calm, intelligent and level-headed. Meredith is observant and often skeptical, providing a voice of reason to the group.
Matt Honeycutt: Elena's ex-boyfriend and friend who still harbors feelings for her. Matt is kind-hearted and dependable, often serving as moral support for Elena and the others.
Caroline Forbes: Elena's rival who becomes jealous of her relationship with Stefan. Caroline is ambitious and calculating, willing to scheme to get what she wants.
Tyler Smallwood: The arrogant school jock who clashes with Stefan. Tyler has an aggressive personality and bullies those he sees as weaker than him.
Quick facts
The first book in the series, The Awakening, was originally published in 1991, nearly 20 years before the TV show adaptation premiered.
L.J. Smith wrote the first four books in the series between 1991-1992, then took a long hiatus before continuing the series in 2009.
The main character Elena Gilbert was initially described as having golden blonde hair and lapis lazuli blue eyes in the books, different from her TV show portrayal.
Stefan and Damon Salvatore are centuries-old vampire brothers from Renaissance Italy in the book series.
The fictional town of Fell's Church, Virginia is the primary setting of the first book, rather than Mystic Falls as in the TV adaptation.
Elena's best friend Bonnie is described as having psychic abilities and Scottish ancestry in the books.
The character of Meredith Sulez plays a significant role in the books but was largely omitted from the TV series.
Katherine von Swartzschild, the vampire who turned Stefan and Damon, is introduced as the main antagonist.
The first book ends with Elena's apparent death and transformation into a vampire, a major cliffhanger.
L.J. Smith was later fired from writing the book series due to creative differences with the publisher, who continued the series with ghostwriters.
About the Author
L. J. Smith, born Lisa Jane Smith in Orange County, California, is an acclaimed American author best known for her young adult fiction series The Vampire Diaries. Smith's passion for writing began in her early school years, inspired by a teacher's praise of her poetry. She pursued her education at the University of California, Santa Barbara, studying experimental psychology before obtaining teaching credentials from San Francisco State University.
Smith's literary career took off in 1987 with the publication of her first book, The Night of the Solstice. However, it was the creation of The Vampire Diaries series in 1991 that catapulted her to fame. This series, along with others like The Secret Circle and Night World, have earned her a place on the New York Times Best Seller list and garnered multiple award nominations. Smith's work has also been adapted for television, with The Vampire Diaries and The Secret Circle both becoming successful TV series.
Beyond her writing, Smith is known for her diverse interests and experiences. She enjoys traveling, particularly to Great Britain and Japan, and has a fondness for collecting angels, tiny boxes, and books on quantum physics. Smith is also an avid reader, citing Terry Pratchett and Jane Austen among her favorite authors. Despite her success, she took a decade-long hiatus from writing in 1998 to care for her sister's children during a family crisis, demonstrating her commitment to family alongside her passion for literature.
Smith's personal life has had its share of challenges, including the loss of her mother to lung cancer and her own near-death experience with an undiagnosed illness in 2015. Despite these hardships, she maintains a positive outlook, describing herself as a “militant optimist.” Smith continues to reside in Northern California, where she finds inspiration in the natural beauty of the Bay Area and the Point Reyes National Seashore, often incorporating these settings into her richly imagined fictional worlds.
