Posts Tagged ‘elena’

I finished this one a couple of days ago, and while I loved the first half, the 2nd half left me somewhat bewildered (I couldn’t always tell if I was actually following the story correctly). I often found myself having to re-read sections just to understand the current situation that i was reading about.

Quick synopsis: Elena is back in what we expected to be “human” form, however she has actually regressed into “new spirit baby”. She is purely angelic, emanating a wholesome radiance. She is frustrated however, as she can think adult thoughts, but is unable to read, write, has forgotten how to speak, is obliged to communicate through basic sign language, and telepathy of images and feelings. She also has to rely on her basic “good vs. evil” instincts to understand her surroundings.

Stefan is her caretaker (after all, her family thinks she’s dead, and the town would simply not understand her paranormal circumstances), and although Stefan and Elena still share a deep loving bond, he feels it necessary to keep a distance when it comes to their love, as he fears he will be taking advantage of her. Of course Elena evolves as the story goes on, but just to give you an idea…

Throughout the book, we come to understand why such paranormal activity frequently takes hold in what should be,  a quiet little town. We encounter new villains who throw the town (and our favorite characters) into a deluge of confusion, and danger.

L.J. Smith has a vivid imagination! She succeeded in scaring me ”Exorcist” style a few times throughout this installment. Her imagery is detailed, and her “scary scenes” have some terrific shock value.

Here’s an example (beginning of chapter 8): Meredith and Bonnie are having a sleepover and Meredith suddenly wakes up in the middle of the night to this:

Now Bonnie was bending over her, but with her face inverted and her eyes shut. She was kneeling at the head of Meredith’s pillow and her upside-down nose almost touched Meredith’s. Add to that an odd pallor on Bonnie’s cheeks and rapid warm breath that tickled Meredith’s forehead, and anyone-anyone, Meredith insisted to herself-would be entitled to a half-scream.

She waited for Bonnie to speak, staring in the gloom at those eerily closed eyes.

But instead, Bonnie sat up, walked backward flawlessly to Meredith’s desk, where Meredith’s mobile lay charging, and picked it up. She must have turned it on for a video recording for she opened her mouth and began to gesture and speak.

It was terrifying. The sounds that came out of Bonnie’s mouth were all too identifiable: backward speech.

All I can say is “EeeeeeeeeeK!!!” That was some creepy stuff (and there are more scenes  like that, throughout the book). Loved that stuff!

My favorite part of the book, of course was Damon, Damon and more Damon – specifically his witty internal dialogue (all of Chapter 12). We are treated to a whole section of his internal musings, (ie: his contemplation of Matt’s name and what MATT must stand for – very funny) and I just had to bookmark this part for other Damon fans out there. Here is an example:

Bonnie is wounded and Damon has taken it upon himself to help her:

Damon changed position slightly to be more comfortable and turned the hot water up again, all while holding Bonnie, feeding her, all-he knew-gracefully and without a wasted movement. This was fun. It appealed to his sense of ridiculous. Here, right now, a vampire was not supping from a human, but was trying to save it from certain death by feeding it vampire blood.

There is so much more to this section, but I will allow you the opportunity to experience it in full. While I was tempted to copy out the whole chapter right here (it is that good, in my opinion, and is the heart of where the story is going with future installments), instead, I will try not to ruin your own pleasure of reading it as it was meant to be read.

Of course, I wanted more like that chapter (it’s a nice breather!), and on occasion, we get it, but the remainder of the book revolves around fighting evil, and more “scary” scenes.

While the book is a lot of fun (and I am anxious for the next installment), it is not one that I was able to read late into the night. This book requires a bit more concentration than my sleepy mind could muster!

CAREFUL!! Slight spoilers ahead if you haven’t read the first book! Do not read this until you have read the first one!

I have finished The Fury and Dark Reunion, and had a blast reading it. This one was actually more of a “paranormal mystery” (even a little on the scary side) than a romance novel, but still well worth the ride!

Elena is now a vampire (since she had shared blood with both Damon and Stefan, it appears she has accidentally “changed” and has come back to life). The first part of the book is a look into the struggles Elena faces with having to cope with her new “undead” status, while she tries to hide from society (her friends and family think she is dead). Both Damon and Stefan have to put their feelings for her (and each other) aside while they protect her, and try to solve the issue of the dominant Power that continues to terrorize the town.

We are taken on a whirlwind of various paranormal occurrences, including Bonnie’s improving psychic powers, Elena’s self discovery, and the secrets with which she entrusts her friends. We also discover the true role that the new history teacher “Alaric” has in town. What we end up with , is a sort of “Buffy the Vampire” team of friends/experts that now have to work together to fight this evil power. New friendships are forged, new powers emerge, and enemies, in all forms, have to be battled.

While there are a few romantic instances that set us up for future installments, be prepared for action and adventure. Friendships are tested, and emotional connections run on a  deeper family/friendship level. Romantic love, while it remains an integral part of the theme, sits mostly on the back-burner in this one folks!

Some funny moments with Elena as a new vampire:

Elena licked her lips.

“No,” Damon said shortly. “This one’s not for biting…”

A little romantic tension

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn about anyone else.” Damon said charmingly. Then he gave one of his ice-cold lightening smiles. “But are you suggesting that this is your choice? Remember, we agreed that when you were more rational you would make one.”

Elena stared at him. Of course it wasn’t her choice, if he meant romantically. She was wearing the ring Stefan had given her; she and Stefan belonged together.

But then she remembered something else, just a flash: looking up at Damon’s face in the woods and feeling such – such excitement, such affinity with him. As if he understood the flame that burned inside her as nobody else ever could. As if together they could do anything they liked, conquer the world or destroy it; as if they were better than anyone else who ever lived.

Well, I must admit I am slightly behind in the times when it comes to these books. I’m a recent convert to the Paranormal Romance categories, so I find myself reviewing books that most of you have already read months or even years ago!

Lucky for me, reading these books well after they’ve first been published allows me to fully immerse myself in a week or two of an entire series (books are like chips to me, I can’t read just one!).

I was introduced to this author last week when I halfheartedly picked up her Volume One of “Night World” (to be reviewed shortly in a separate post). Although I loved the Twilight series, I mostly stayed away from the whole “Young Adult” novels as I wasn’t sure I could relate much to that style. I did enjoy Night World, so I decided to look her up, and was thrilled to discover a slew of other works.

I want to thank L.J. Smith and her publishing crew for allowing me the opportunity to read the entire book “Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle” online for free! (Limited time, but luckily, I was JUST in time!).

This story is set in a high school, with the typical “clique” atmosphere. The “Heroine” (Elena) is the beauty of the school, but unlike most other novels I have read (where the main character is the most beautiful girl in the world but doesn’t know it yet), Elena seems quite full of herself. She knows how she looks, and she uses it fully to her advantage. Also introduced, are her two best friends (Bonnie the “psychic” & Meredith), and her ex-best friend, now turned enemy (Caroline – also a beauty but cruel down to the bone).

A new guy (Stefan) shows up in school (fully equipped with brooding good looks), and Elena is determined to snare him in her web. Much to her dismay, she discovers he never bothers to speak to her, doesn’t even glance at her in the hallways, in fact, he brushes her off coldly when she tries to approach him. This has never happened to Elena in the past, and she becomes fairly desperate to repair her “now challenged” ego. Her scheming ways even go so far as to ask her recent ex-boyfriend, (who also seems like the perfect high school hero), to help her, in her plans to attract Stefan.

During all of the “fun to read” high school drama storyline, a second storyline is forming. There appears to be a dark power hovering in the normally safe little town. People are being attacked, their throats being torn out, and apparently Stefan has been spotted at each of the scenes. Stefan, himself questions whether he could possibly be at the center of each of these attacks (perhaps he is blanking out during the “paranormal power surges” that everyone is feeling). You see, he is a vampire (albeit, a sweet and gentle one who tries to deny his primal violent urges by feeding only on animals). He comes from Italy, and has his own sad story to tell, involving the love of his life, and his biggest rival (his brother Damon). We find out how Stefan became a vampire, why he is so sullen, and, through the introduction of his brother (who becomes an integral part of the story), why he limits his vampiric abilities.

I thoroughly enjoyed the development of each character, and found that most of the storyline kept me captivated. While we get a nice blend of modern day life and “paranormal darkness”, I preferred the storyline involving Damon (the evil brother). Yeah yeah…I’m a sucker for bad boys! Why do I always find myself rooting for the villain?

“I’m going to have you in the end, you know,” he said softly. It was the voice he used at the party, when he’d said “Easy, easy”. There was no mockery or malice now; he was simply stating a fact. “By hook or by crook, as you people say-you’ll be mine before the next snow flies.”

This was good clean fun, and I am off to buy the rest of the series (good strategy HarperTeen) – ya got me!!