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The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle
The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle
The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle
Audiobook5 hours

The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle

Written by L. J. Smith

Narrated by Rebecca Mozo

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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About this audiobook

The second book in the New York Times bestselling series by L.J. Smith.

This special paperback TV tie-in edition of the second book in L.J. Smith’s New York Times bestselling The Vampire Diaries series features cover artwork from the hit CW TV show based on the book, starring Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder.

Elena Gilbert is quickly realizing that the only thing more dangerous than being in love with a vampire is being desired by two. As Stefan struggles to suppress his instinctive thirst, Damon persists in his quest for Elena’s heart. And a dark turn of events forces Elena to risk her mortality to save one of her immortal suitors.

Fans of The Vampire Diaries TV series 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 bestselling author L.J. Smith.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Release dateOct 27, 2009
ISBN9780061988318
Author

L. J. Smith

L. J. Smith has written over two dozen books for young adults, including The Vampire Diaries, now a hit TV show. She has also written the bestselling Night World series and The Forbidden Game, as well as the #1 New York Times bestselling Dark Visions. She loves to walk the trails and beaches in Point Reyes, California, daydreaming about her latest book.

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Reviews for The Vampire Diaries

Rating: 3.5775261256097557 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

574 ratings42 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Not as good as Twilight but makes you want to keep reading to find out what happens next.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Usually I say that the book is better than the movie/TV show but not in this case: the TV show is actually one of my favorites, but this was disappointing. Good, but Elena was really shallow, and I couldn't believe that for someone who had just lost her parents.......still good though.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I hated this, didn't even finish it. I really like the TV show, though.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book was so weird, and a bit boring. In the beginning it kept going on and on about how Elena's trying to find out what Stefan is, but never actually finding it. It's really frustrating for the reader, since there's not really any suspense cause we already know he's a vampire because of the title: VAMPIRE Diaries. But it's also one of those books that you just want it to end while you're reading it, but you want to keep reading it when you're done. The last page was really interesting, but I guess that's how they get people to read the next book.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    This was definitely not my cup of tea. I admit I didn't completely finish the book, I just couldn't. My eyes were falling out of its sockets.Elena is one of the most disliked characters (imo) and she's obsessive and annoying. So instead of having to finish off the rest of the series I wikipedia-d the next books and am I thrilled to find out I didn't waste my time curled up to this series.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This book starts off immediately from where The Awakening lets off, which I appreciated and also found slightly funny -- it reminded me a lot of the cliffhanger endings of the soap-operas my mother used to watch when I was growing up. Still, it saved the loyal reader from the tedious recap that a lot of YA sequels suffer from and thankfully there was very little flashback or reminder scrambled into the rest of the book either. Plot-wise The Struggle is much weaker than The Awakening, but this is mostly because all of the surprises have been given away and all you are left with in this second book is the continuing drama of the relationship between Stefan and Elena and the lingering threats of Damon and the pitchfork wielders of Fell's Church. It is, however, a more exciting book than The Awakening. There is plenty more action and the ending of the book provides a twist that is probably meant to entice readers to purchase the third novel as soon as possible. It is successful in that way, I think, (I do plan on finishing the series but that is honestly more due to my personal issues with OCD, no really.)Unfortunately there just isn't much else to go on for this novel. The characters are still very dry -- Elena has shown some development from The Awakening, but is still rather one-dimensional. Stefan is exhausting and Damon, though still maybe the more intriguing character in the book, is hardly enough to sustain the reader's interest through the long, winding passages of bland teenage drama. Additionally, any respect I might have had for him as a truly original character is lost as soon as it becomes obvious that he's also developed a ridiculous attachment to a normal human teenage girl. This just isn't behavior that you would expect from not one but *two* people that are several hundred years old and should expect more maturity from their partner. She is not even remarkable for her age in any sense and her interest for me lies specifically in that she is so ordinary. I can almost believe that a *single* several hundred year old vampire would be quirky enough to fall in love with a girl in highschool, but at this point she has become a flat-out Mary Sue. I'm not sure how Smith can recover, but hopefully book three turns some of these mistakes around.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed this book reading about the relationship between Elena and Stefan and Damon. Unlike the tv show which I am a fan of Tyler, in the book not so much he really plays the bratty card well. I liked how Damon kept the mysteriousness of himself. Definitely a great teenage read!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    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.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is book two of the Vampire Diaries series by L.J. Smith. When I read this one and I tried really hard not to compare the book with the TV show as I know these books where written first, but it was hard not to compare them to each other. I believe at the end of the book Elena becomes a vampire by accident and the TV show she doesn't. Now I don't know how accurate the book and TV show are in line. I don't know if one book equals one season of the TV show. But I still noticed difference with the two. I know that they are to be different but I would think that it wouldn't be too different. But I enjoyed reading this book just the same. I recommend this one to anyone who is reading vampire stories or at least the Vampire Diaries series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I did like The Struggle more than The Awakening. I felt there was more action and excitement in this one.

    I am struggling to like Elena in the books however!

    Still looking forward to continuing on with my journey of The Vampire Diaries.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Decided that I can't *stand* the character of Elena in the book and therefore this series is not worth finishing.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was pretty unimpressive. It wasn't awful but it didn't really have a whole lot of substance. It started off pretty good- I quite liked the beginning. However, Elena and Stefan were declaring their love for each other after literally one conversation and it all got a bit silly after that and I found myself rolling my eyes a few times. One minute they had never spoken two words to each other and the next minute they were 'in love'. It was just kind of silly. The writing was easy and light and it was a quick enough read which made up for the lack of everything else.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was pleasantly surprised with how quickly I blazed through this book. I didn't realize it was an almost-20 year old book, but I think that the story, as well as the characters, have stood the test of time. The story didn't seem "dated" like some other books I've read. The plot is somewhat predictable, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable as mind candy. I read loads of YA lit, much of it pretty intense and serious, and it is nice to take a break from the serious, and move into a story you can just enjoy for what it is: a suspenseful fantasy. No having to read between the lines and try to figure out character's motives and pasts, it's all laid out for you. There are a few slightly steamy scenes between Stefan and Elena, but they are tasteful and nothing more happens that making out, although you can definitely feel their passion/desire for one another. This is one of those paranormal romances that I don't have to worry about recommending to younger teens because there is very little swearing, and no sex at all. Overall, I'm giving the book 4 stars for getting me out of reality and into a fantasy for a bit.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    this book was slow in the beginning, but in the end i loved it. i thought it was wayy better than twilight. i like it better because i think this book has more action. this is definetly one of my favorite books.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    While I'm not entirely certain I've forgiven the author for making such utterly shallow and somewhat materialistic characters, I have to admit, I really loved the story and it kept me glued to the book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Much better than Book 1, Elena's still a snooty cow but Damon certainly makes up for what she lacks.

    Overall, better storyline, still a teen romance and not much more, but I'm loving Damon.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    vampire falls in love with human. love can come over everything such as dead and enemy. it's a romantic and adventurous story..
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Elena is used to getting what she wants. She has just arrived back to school, where she is the most popular and the most beautiful student, to find that there is a new boy who is catching everyone's attention. Stefan is just trying to fit in and not use his vampire abilities. He is pretending to be a normal boy in high school. He is drawn to Elena because she reminds him of the vampire that had turned him so many years ago. Eventually Elena and Stefan become a couple, but bad things seem to be following the two of them around. People are being found hurt or dead in the cemetery. A strange man keeps popping up near Elena and she is very afraid. What will happen when a teacher ends up dead at a school event? Who is to blame?After the television has shown (and I have not watched) and my students have raved about the book series, I finally sat down to read this book. I'm afraid that I didn't really like it. I think the only reason that I did not care for the book is because it is a book that needs a sequel in order to be any good. There is no way that you can read this book as a stand-alone young adult novel. It's disappointing to read through something only to find out that it depends on the next book to have some sort of resolution to the conflicts that are building. I enjoy series that have an overall big conflict, but also little ones in each novel that give me some sort of closure and not just a building sense. If a student had turned something like this into me then I would not have graded it highly because there is no falling action. I think the best part of this novel is Stefan. He is a fabulously written character with a lot of back story that makes him entertaining. I don't feel like I should care about Elena. She seems like a stereotypical teenage book heroine. She is prettier than possible, has no overwhelming personality, and is hurt but very good at hiding her feelings about everything. Honestly, I want something new.2/5 stars
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I will admit that I only read this book because of the TV show. I am one of those that will always try out the originating story no matter what. I actually read this on my phone, as part of a new application I downloaded that allowed me to download the book for free. It was my first experience reading a book in an e-format, and it did take me some time to get used to having to scroll down constantly. However, I found myself completely sucked into the story and breezed through the book in what I feel is a record amount of time - complete losses of time while reading. As with a lot of what I've been reading lately, this isn't going to win any awards. The audience is definitely a teenage one, filled with the misunderstood homecoming queen, the brooding new high school hunk, the mysterious bad boy. It's a quintessential teenage story, but again, I'm not going to hold that against it. I found that I couldn't scroll down fast enough. There really was something compelling about the animosity between Damon and Stefan. Ms. Smith kept me wanting to read more, only because I was impatient to find out who triumphs in this battle. She takes the word "cliffhanger" to an entire new level and could definitely give Suzanne Collins a run for her money on abrupt endings. It is a very effective plot device that had me downloading the next book immediately upon finishing the previous one. The first two books in the Vampire Diaries series were light reads but extremely enjoyable. It's already taken so many different twists and turns that it is not your typical teenage vampire drama. I find myself waffling between the good vampire and the bad vampire, which only keeps me engaged. I would recommend this to any vampire lovers out there and can't wait to finish the series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Fairly typical beginning of a vampire saga although with the love triangle element. The downside of this volume is the high school atmosphere (although admittedly the youthfulness of the characters is necessary to carry the passion). I am the wrong gender and age to enjoy accounts that include the pettiness of girls' rivalry and the fluttery expressions of feeling.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A very enjoyable read. The plot had enough of a difference to keep me enthralled and the multilayer characters were exciting to get to know. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I loved this book when I was about 13 and it actually holds up surprisingly well. It's not as dated as I thought it would be, more sensual than I remembered, and I think the TV show's doing a nice job of adapting the plot and characters for today's teens.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Elena, the most beautiful and popular girl in high school, becomes fascinated by the new and mysterious Italian boy in school, Stefan; however, she can’t believe that Stefan isn’t interested in her. What Elena doesn’t know is that Stefan is trying to protect her from what he is—a vampire. The two fall in love anyway, but problems arise when Stefan’s dangerously attractive brother, Damon, arrives in town and decides he wants Elena for himself. The book has numerous similarities to the Twilight series, which readers might enjoy. The author does not seem to develop the characters well and most of them seem shallow, selfish, and weak, even the heroine. That makes it difficult for the readers to sympathize with the characters and engage with the plot. The Awakening is only book one in the Vampire Diaries, therefore, the storyline and characters might develop more as the series progress. Young adult readers might be drawn the darkness, mystery, and suspense if they like vampires-themed literature; however, there are better vampires books out there. Additional Selection.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Ahhh vampire fluff. Easy listening while cleaning. Guilty pleasure :)
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I have to say that this book is marginally better than the first, but the difference is pretty slight. Elena has shifted her obsession about herself to an obsession toward Stefan, which is probably even less healthy. Plus Damon just isn't the Damon from the television show; I miss his snarkiness and the easy banter he can do. I don't feel like writing much about this book, but let me just reiterate - the television show is SO MUCH BETTER than the book series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This author has a gift when it comes to cliffhanger endings, that is for sure. This is the second installment in the series and the second cliffhanger.

    As an observation, this is not a series of books that can be read out of order. Having not read them in order would leave a reader confused and missing too many pieces of the puzzle.

    The mystery that is Damon just grows more and more as this story progresses. He has yet to display a single redeeming quality and so far I just really do not like him.

    I am amazed at the differences in the abilities that the vampires have when comparing the book to the television show. The crow thing just gives me chills and almost makes me shiver every time I see a black bird.

    There are a few editing mishaps one would not expect in a traditionally published book, but not so many as to make it unreadable.

    Overall, this is another quick read and a page-turner. I cannot wait to see what is next for these characters.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Why, why, why am I still reading these? Sigh.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    As The Awakening ended on a cliffhanger I continued with The Struggle and boy did I struggle with it. Many a time I was thinking "No you stupid b*tch, what are you doing?" Elena is none too bright in this, it became fairly obvious that Damon wasn't as evil as she thought him to be but she carried on thinking he was, though biting her against her will wasn't exactly a nice thing for him to do. Her secrets and lies irritated me, she expected total honesty from Stefan but God forbid she return the sentiment.

    Alaric as the new young teacher to replace the dead one was weird and came off as a bit of a paedophile.

    Overall:
    There just was too much teenage angst in this for me to even begin to enjoy the building suspense Smith tries to create.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The writing in The Struggle is better than its predecessor, The Awakening - either that or I've just become more accustomed to L.J. Smith's style, but more on that later I think... I was easily drawn into the story in this novel, hungry (pun intended) to discover what had become of Elena, Stefan and Damon, as well as supporting cast, Bonnie, Meredith, and "mean girl" Caroline. I can't say that I particularly like the place they end up in The Struggle, but I'm willing to pick up the next book based on what I read (as well as Smith's slightly annoying habit of ending each story on a cliff-hanger the size of Pikes Peak.)

    The Struggle is an easy read and one that is entertaining enough to read in one sitting. The build-up to the climax of the novel seemed at times interminable, with brief heart-stopping moments of drama between Elena and Damon forcing me to plod along seeking some kind of real action, any old action would do. As far as brain-candy goes, The Struggle is actually the perfect weekend/holiday read - not something that one would call particularly unforgettable, but all in all a diverting enough read.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Once I stopped comparing this book with the TV show (which is WAY better) and started treating this book series as a different story, I started liking it. It is mindless and relaxing read (or listen in my case). Yes, it is still cheesy but also packed with action (although quite predictable). Anyways, I enjoyed listening to this book while walking to work, running on a treadmill or washing dishes as it is entertaining but does not require too much concentration.