• The Vampire Diaries, Book 1

  • The Awakening
  • By: L. J. Smith
  • Narrated by: Rebecca Mozo
  • Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (1,856 ratings)

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The Vampire Diaries, Book 1  By  cover art

The Vampire Diaries, Book 1

By: L. J. Smith
Narrated by: Rebecca Mozo
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Publisher's summary

The New York Times best-selling series!

The first book in L.J. Smith's New York Times best-selling Vampire Diaries series, the basis of the hit CW TV show starring Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder.

Elena Gilbert is a high school golden girl, used to getting what she wants. And who she wants. But when the boy she's set her sights on - the handsome and haunted Stefan - isn't interested, she's confused. She could never know the real reason Stefan is struggling to resist her:

Stefan is a vampire, and Elena's in danger just by being around him. What's more, Stefan's dark, dangerous vampire brother Damon has just arrived in town. And wherever Damon goes, trouble always follows.

Fans of The Vampire Diaries TV show will find this book packed with the same kind of heart-stopping suspense, fierce romances, and jaw-dropping surprises that they know and love, all brought to life by New York Times best-selling author L.J. Smith.

Listen to more Vampire Diaries.
©1991 Daniel Weiss Associate, Inc., and Lisa Smith (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

Featured Article: Elena Gilbert—The Vampire Diaries Character Guide


Elena Gilbert is at the heart and soul of The Vampire Diaries series by author L. J. Smith. The novels follow her romances and dramas with the Salvatore brothers, Damon and Stefan. Both are vampires who were turned centuries earlier and find their way to Elena's hometown of Fells Church, VA. She is doppelgänger of the vampire who turned the Salvatore brothers nearly 500 years earlier—Katherine von Swartzchild. As the series unfolds, Elena finds herself being pulled between the two brothers.

What listeners say about The Vampire Diaries, Book 1

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

My TVD review

Liked listening to the book. Very much disliked Stefan’s and Damon’s accents no offense I just wished they talked without the accents kind of a mood killer but thats just me. I would recommend this to my sister because she likes tvd and reads book.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

STOP SAYING SALVATOR-IE AND BAD ACCENT

The way she pronounces the last name and makes Stefan sound silly ruined it for me.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Okay but nothing exciting

The book itself: I liked the story but I feel like it was rushed and lacked substance. I was expecting more.

The narrator: She’s actually pretty good for most narrators in this genre however, she does not do Damon or Stefan well at all. I’m not sure if it’s the accent or what but she just could not convey the proper emotions at the appropriate times. It all sounded the same. They really should have had a male narrator for Stefan’s point of view.
The transitions between characters were terrible. They happened with no warning and it sometimes took a minute to realize she switched. She could have at least just said their name before switching to them.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening review By: Jaxon Richard Vinson

I thought the book/audiobook is good. When I started-reading this book, there are some things that I disliked about the book and most of the book I liked. #big Stelena fan@ no Staferine, Delena, Klaroline,etc.🙂

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Guess I should have read before watching the show

Most of us readers know that we always regret watching a show/movie after reading the book. This time I'm perhaps regretful of reading after watching.

While Rebecca has a good voice she doesn't distinguish between any characters other than the Salvatore brothers. At times it's hard to tell whose talking until she says "Elena said or Caroline said, ect"

So far, the book and show differ extremely. I will give the next book (strong maybe) or two a try. So far if I hadn't of seen the show and only read first book on its own I'd have stoped reading as it's dry and slow without much to keep you interested. Perhaps more of the interesting bits that kept me intrigued from the show will come about in the following books.

Overall quite disappointed with it in its entirety. Let's hope the second book is better.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

It's OK

The first book was ok. If I had only bought this book I probably wouldn't have bought the 2nd book, but I had already purchased the 2nd so I listened to it also. It was great! Can't wait to finish the series.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

People u got to read this series

This series is amazing I’m about to start book too now and I love book one the awakening

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

way better than the CW adaptation

i’ve only ever watched the CW show vampire diaries and once I realized that it was based books with the same name after season 4 which is where I stopped watching I immediately raced to find these books and I’m so glad they’re on Audible. I loved everything about the audible book nothing stood out to me that bothered me yeah I feel like the voices could’ve been a little better but it didn’t ruin it for me like other people suggested. I am definitely going to listen to the rest of these books because WOW everything is so different from the show and such a good way!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Still enjoyed

This version is nothing like the tv series so be prepared. The accents of Stephan & Damon are humorous and hard to take. Eliana well just listen for yourself. I don't regret purchasing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Good book

I love the tv show and the books are different than the shows..... But love the both

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