The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadow Souls (Vampire Diaries: The Return, 2)

I love the Vampire Diaries books!! I got a little frustrated when Elena was killed, returned as a vampire, then killed again, then contacted via seances. At this point I was even pissed off at the confusion! Does Elena live, does she die, is she a vampire, is she not, is she a ghost or is she a human, does she love Stefan, does she love Damon??? But, I must say, I hung in there and the story turned out to be a fabulous emotional epic journey that made perfect sense in the end!! Even a tear-jerk-er; I'm a sucker for vampire/fantasy love stories. However, in this series, we not only get to experience a romantic love, but we also find out about true friendship and loyalty; the kind of love that is hard to find... Unconditional love between friends that has no boundaries in the absence of immorality and criminal activity. I loved both "The Awakening & The Struggle" and "The Fury & Dark Reunion". L.J. Smith provides a great outlet to find fantasy romance and true friendship. I'm hooked!! The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle The Vampire Diaries: The Fury and Dark Reunion

these books are very good!!! i looked at the review and a lot of them said that this book was badly written. sure it doesnt answer some questions... but who cares??? that just made the books better in my opinion!!! if a book answers EVERY QUESTION it just ruins it. so everybody who hasnt read this series-book... READ THEM!!!

The love in Elena's heart still reaches out for Stefan, but her love for Damon still grows. As much as I want Elena and Stefan to be happy together, I am a Damon fan. Stefan may want her but Damon needs her! He is slowly killing his soul when he dosen't have her love. And as much as it kills him to say it, he cares for Stefan too. This love triangle is slowly destroying them all untill the end. Now Elena must make her choice that will joy one brother, but destroy the other. I think Damon has earned her love by risking everything to make her happy. Even if it means getting Stefan back. He knew once Stefan returns, Elena would be happy in his arms, but not his own. He would do anything to make Elena happy, even if it kills him. Stefan hasn't really done anything to earn Elena's love. Yes he was held captive and tortured, but he had no choice. Damon endangered himself for Elena by his own free will. Stefan is a good person and all, but he is stronger than Damon. Damon is slowly breaking to peaces, he is so delicate. I hope Elena dosn't break Damon even more in the next book.

I'm a Damon fan and this book was everything that I could ever want - and more. L.J. Smith is a master at drawing you into her world and making you believe that you are really there. In that way, this book was especially compelling. I loved the Elena/Damon moments the best. I can't wait for Midnight.

This series is still amazing and I can't wait to see how it ends. Yeah it is different from the original books. There are ups and downs as always. Yeah in Nightfall Elena was different but I loved the Japanese elements that were thrown in. In this book I love that they are taken to a new world. There are so many characters in this book that it is hard to give everyone the time they should have. I read the negative reviews and it is sad they are dragging the rating down on this book/series but people will not be able to please everyone. Someone complained that Stephen did not show up until page 400. He did show up before then but what people need to realize is this book is about Elena's search for Stephen with Damon and her realizing her growing attraction to Damon. I think showing her feelings for Damon as we have always know about Damon's feeling's for Elena and that Damon really does have feelings and emotions brings depth to the characters and helps make them live. Yeah I have not gone through it as fast as I thought I would but life comes up and did not have time to just sit there and read it like I would want to.