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    The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall
    The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall
    The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall
    Audiobook14 hours

    The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall

    Written by L. J. Smith

    Narrated by Rebecca Mozo

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    New York Times bestselling series

    The Return: Nightfall is the fifth book in L.J. Smith’s New York Times bestselling Vampire Diaries series.

    Elena Gilbert is back from the dead, but she’s come back changed—with newfound powers and blood that is irresistible to vampires, including Stefan and Damon Salvatore, the two vampire brothers who love her. Unfortunately, it’s not just vampires who are drawn to her. Darkness is infiltrating her hometown of Fell’s Church and is taking over the minds of young girls. Even worse, a demon has taken possession of Damon, causing him to turn on his brother, Elena’s friends, and even on Elena herself.

    The Return: Nightfall is perfect for fans of the hit CW TV show The Vampire Diaries, as well as fans of the original New York Times bestselling series who can’t wait to see what happens next with Elena, Stefan, and Damon.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateNov 10, 2009
    ISBN9780061988301
    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

    3.5/5

    55 ratings30 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
       Fun series=)
    • 3/5
      The book was entertaining at times, but mostly just annoyed me. Why is Elena an angel? Why, at the end of the story when she's "kicking butt", does she keep stopping to make speeches about just how great she is? I think she's a bit too annoying to be a main character. Not sure why the bad guys left in the end. It seemed poorly written.
    • 3/5
      Apparently this is the beginning of another series of The Vampire Diaries called The Return. I had assumed that when it said "The Return: Nightfall" that this was like the previous book I read: two volumes in one. But no, it's just incredibly long and not all that interesting. I think the previous series must have been so popular that the editor and publisher let L.L. Smith write as much as she felt like.This book seems more suggestive than the others; there is obviously a connection between sex and vampire acts. And Elena gets to stay a virgin while being completely satisfied.
    • 2/5
      I was not as impressed with this book as I had been with the first books in this series. And to tell the truth, I really wish I had not started this one and just left this series by reading the first boks only. This is sad too, because I really enjoyed the first books - and this one, I expected it to be just as good of a read...and I didn't think it was. The other thing is, I thought this would sum up the whole story - but it leaves you knowing that there is more to come in this series, no real ending - at least that's what I feel like after spending almost 2 months trying to read this one. Sorry.
    • 1/5
      This was at best one of the worstly written fantasy books I've ever laid eyes on.
    • 2/5
      This book was ok. It had great potential when it started, but it felt very disjointed and at times awkward. There were times I was reading and thought I had skipped a page because the book did not flow well. I also felt like L.J. Smith was almost trying too hard to make this a great book, but to me, she only succeeded in making it an ok book.
    • 3/5
      I originally thought the 2nd installment of TVD series was ghost written; yep, it wasn't. The original 4 and The Return Trilogy sound like they were written by completely different people. This trilogy isn't as good as the first 4, not by a long shot, but it was a fun read, nonetheless.
    • 4/5
      First, let me state that I liked it. Really, I did. It is a 600 page novel and I read almost 400 pages the first day; then finished it up the next. It was dark and interesting. It kept me intrigued. (On a side note: I personally think it is not really suited for the YA readers.) HOWEVER, there are just so many problems with it. The narration jumps from person to person, and not from chapter to chapter like most books that are written in the third person. Sometimes, it was from paragraph to paragraph. And while the plot was very exciting, it was just all over the place. The prior books in the series (that were written some 17 years before, I might add) are very structured and clear. This book seemed to be an organizational mess. There are scenes that are very intense and the characters are trying to find a way out of their predicament. Then, all of a sudden the author thought that was a good time to come up with a completely off-the-wall solution that makes no sense and doesn’t bother trying to make the reader understand how the current scenario is possible. There are also many inconsistencies and contradictions with the plot and characters. And most of the plot and scenes just seem so.... completely....random. I don't think this book was very well-planned.Another problem that I have is with the stupid love triangle between the girl and the two vampire brothers. Seriously? Are we still doing the love triangle thing? I am really tired of that.Again, I will restate that I liked it. Good read. But, I felt quite a bit of frustration at times over the various problems with the book. Which were many. MANY. After reading on the authors website, I discovered that there are to be two more books in the Vampire Diaries series. This book, NightFall, and the remaining two, will be focusing on the vampire Damon; who absolutely is NOT my favorite character. And while I was very excited about reading this continuation of a nice series, I am now feeling some significant dread at reading the following books. But, I will purchase, and I will read.
    • 2/5
      This book just did not do anything for me, I read 200 pages and that was enough. A big disappointment after the earlier stories.
    • 2/5
      Not like the old books from the 1990's. This had a lot more of the supernatural and some of it just didn't seem to fit or make sense. I liked the old books being about vampires. This book wasn't really about vampires. It was more about black magic, angel-like Elena, and the kitsune, which are like 'were-foxes.'
    • 2/5
      Each book in this series gets weirder. I didn't really like this one very much, but have already paid for the next book so I will read it.

    • 3/5
      A solid read, but not one I'm bound to re-read. I think I will stick to the series, it feels more appealing overall comparitively.
    • 5/5
      My favorite tvd book so far i love that Elenas an angel !!!!!!!
    • 3/5
      Disclaimer: I read this on my phone and will not be downloading another one to that particular application. I don't know if it was skipping sentences, paragraphs or entire pages, but I missed something. I tried not to let this impact my overall opinion of the book, but who knows? In addition, if you haven't read the first four books in the series, there may be spoilers. You have been warned.The fact is, I was not impressed with the latest foray to Fell's Church. I was upset with bringing Elena back from the death in the first place. I thought her death was so unexpected and so brilliant that bringing her back negates that completely and utterly. And then to bring her back even more powerful and superior? Seriously? Why? What makes Elena Gilbert so fantastic that she has to have everything? And since I'm going down this road, why does the heroine have to be blonde-haired and blue-eyed? Haven't we gone far enough away from these cliches of true beauty?I have two major issues that I've never been able to shake. First of all, Elena is just not very enjoyable a character, in my opinion. She's shallow and self-absorbed. I detest the descriptions that she was born to manipulate others, especially men, and takes great pride in that ability. It is not an endearing characteristic. Second, I do not quite buy the love story. The intensity of it feels wrong, or at least forced. As a result, it makes all of Elena's actions seem forced as well. As for this book, the voices seemed wrong. If I did not know any better, I would swear that she was writing dialogue for completely different characters. Damon wasn't the Damon I've come to know and love. Stefan wasn't Stefan. It was almost as if Ms. Smith forgot her characters, who they were and how they spoke. I did not enjoy the plot. Hell demons and malach? The story jumped around so much that it felt like continuity was seriously lacking. I had difficulties figuring out what was happening and to whom. I found the plot itself difficult to follow, or at least to understand. In the end, I was left wondering why Ms. Smith felt the need to revisit these characters after so many years. Given the timing of it, I can't help but feel that it was purely a commercial decision rather than one made as a writer. It felt at times as if she was going through the motions and threw the story line together at the last minute, which may indeed explain several of the weak links. I know this is going to do well among fans, especially considering the fact that the TV show is doing so well. Unfortunately, I do not think this is a well-written, well-plotted, continuation to the series. In fact, as much as I raced through the first four books, I think I am done with the Vampire Diaries as a series. I no longer care what happens to any of the characters, which is a shame because I loved the freshness of the first four. However, I am curious what others think. Have you read it yet? Thoughts? Am I alone in my dislike?
    • 5/5
      Thank you, the book is very good, the audio is spoken in very good quality!
    • 5/5
      SHE SHOUD GO WITHH DAMON!!! HE IS SO MUCH BATER AND DANGRAS
    • 2/5
      THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

      First off, I want to say that the failings with The Vampire Diaries books are clearly not LJ Smith?s fault. I loved the Secret Circle, TV show and books, and I love the Vampire Diaries TV show, and it?s not just because of Damon. Klaus helps too :twisted: But it?s as if this trilogy was only created to milk the characters of the VD for a little more sales and a little more show time and it failed.

      The first four books were half decent. I?m just not one for teeny bopper love stories about vampires. But what irritated me, is that these half decent books were then turned into something - let?s admit it folks - vastly more sexual than the first four books. Suddenly, ?slut? and ?whore? are being thrown around like wildfire, girls are kissing girls and boys all over the place, a 15 year old girl is PermaGluing decorations to her naked skin and acting like a slut. I mean REALLY?!?, What the Heck is going on?

      Short of spending most of book 5 in utter disbelief, I also had to think about the message this is sending teens. Calling other girls a whore for no reason, piercing yourself in multiple places with no anaesthetic, no cleanliness and no medical aid, making deals with demons and PermaGluing things to your bare skin. Seriously?!
      And to make it worse all the characters are insanely crazy. This is a very disturbing read and it ruined the only redeeming character, for me, in the whole series, Damon. I mean, Mrs Flowers sort of reminds me of a more batty version of Amma from the Caster Chronicles, but not enough to improve this book.

      I don?t mind mixing angels and vampires in one story, that?s all good. But Elena, being a human, who dies and then becomes a vampire, who dies and then becomes a spirit, who dies and then comes back to earth as a human angel, who then becomes a human again is all a little bit too much. For a start, it?s confusing. I can?t even remember what powers she had, what she?s still got, what she?s supposed to be anymore. And an angel, who everyone claims is so Pure, kissing people to ?know them? and ?identify them?? It seems like a cheap way to get some kissing into a teen book - not like this book needed much more of it. I bet a lot of teenagers thought it was ?cute? or ?romantic? or whatever, but it?s just wrong.

      And speaking of wrong - Damon! What have they done to him? This red-eyed, possessed Damon is just creepy?beyond stalker, beyond gross, beyond maniacal killer - they take him somewhere dark where I don?t ever want to see him. I mean, Damon is one of those characters who is bad but in a good way. A character that is fundamentally the Bad Guy who turns Good in the end, because of his love for Elena?right? That?s how it?s supposed to be. But I this book, they?ve got him FORCING Matt to kiss Elena, even though Damon fancies her himself, and she?s dating Stefan. Then they?ve got him trying to FORCE Matt to undress her. For a camcorder. That?s the worst part. Damon is trying to make them, practically, make a porn video. And this book is supposed to be for teens?

      They have Damon doing the unthinkable - hurting Elena. Not just any hurt, but real, painful, screaming in agony kind of hurt. Damon would kill anyone who hurt her that way, not stand by and do it himself. It?s just wrong, wrong, wrong.

      This whole book is wrong!

      And did I mention the totally creepy demon, malach? The things that Caroline does, makes my skin crawl. It?s like everything she, Tami and Isabel do is set to make you cringe. But they?re forgetting about the completely terrible influence it?s putting on young girls.

      And what?s worse? I?m not even finished the book yet. I?m about 60% of the way through, and I?ve still got another 2 books to go before this trilogy is over. *shivers* I?m not sure I can stand it. But, in the name of scientific evaluation of absolutely terrible books, I will venture into the unknown and force myself to complete this series. But the truth is that I?m dreading it.

      Lame, lame lame. Trash, trash, trash. I?m sorry but that is the honest to god truth. Speaking of which, I don?t have the will to go through this book again, start to finish, but how many times is the word ?god? or ?oh god? mentioned? It?s repetitive and very annoying.

      I was hoping the crazy malach thing would be over by the end of this book, but it?s not and that just makes me worry and dread getting into the next one. I?m determined to finish, only because I have them anyway. But it?s not going to be pleasant and it?s not going to be any better, of that I?m sure. I wish LJ Smith had just left the series off on Book 4 and never bothered with the whole The Return trilogy. It?s wasting what could have been a half decent series.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this book, I know some will hate it and some will love it, for me personally I fall in the loved it camp. I liked the new creepier scenes (Like Caroline's and the other girls possessions) and I enjoyed reading Damon's struggle with his own demons. I've also read on the authors site that NightFall will be the darkest in the Return trilogy by far so I think in the next book shadow souls we will get to see some of Damon's better side again. I actually had to keep reminding myself that he was possessed from the first page in chapter 1 because he was just sooo evil. I love his character and can't wait to see him make amends in the next two books. Not to mention I really hope we see more of him and Bonnie together. I know there were some inconsistencies, but I figure it's been like over 17 years and I doubt she has the same editor, so I can forgive those as editorial. I just hope Damon shapes up in the next book, which seems to be what's implied on the L.J. Smith site.
    • 5/5
      i have read almost all of L.J. Smith's books. I haven't read the Night World series yet, because I want all the books, but i have enjoyed all of her books. I do have to admit that out of all five of her Vampire Diaries books that this one is my favorite. I enjoyed getting into Damon's mind. I cant wait for her to finish the next two and to read anything else she will written.
    • 3/5
      This book was better than the previous one but not my favorite. It was too long and a little bit too wordy. If I had to read it (fortunately I listened to an audiobook), I am not sure how long it would have taken for me to finish it. Even though the plot was full of action and surprises, it was too depressing as most of the situations seemed like a really horrible never ending nightmare. To make things worse, the escapes from these situations were very unrealistic, too easy and did not make sense most of the time. It seemed as if the author herself had no idea how to get the characters out of the mess they were in but did it anyways. As a result, the plot was not very well planned, rather confusing and guided by only two rules: make everything as miserable as possible and then save everyone. Although I admire author's imagination, this series is getting too magical and unlikely-to-happen for me and I find it quite hard to connect with the characters and be fully drawn in.
    • 2/5
      This book was just weird. Really though what did I just read? At one point I just stared at the book and thought 'Huh?' Some of my favorite things were:
      Baby Elena angel and her sexual relationship with daddy Stefan
      Mutant tree things
      Pregnant Caroline wreaking havoc on the whole town
      Slutty little girls gluing stuff and piercing stuff
      Incestuas demon fox people and a snow globe hideout

      What even happened at the end there?

      I think Miss Smith must have hired a 5 year old to come up with this book. It made no sense.
    • 2/5
      This is one of the oddest books I've ever read. I do like Damon in the forefront but overall the dream-like sequences and style of writing was far different from Smith's books from the 90s.
    • 1/5
      Absolutely appalling. There is no subtlety, no constraint in this book. Too many inconsistencies with character personalities and previous books in the series, so much that I can't begin to describe them without rattling on for days. Fans beware. There is no excuse for this horrible, tedious, lazy bad joke of a novel. More suited to the garbage disposal then a book shelf.
    • 2/5
      I was IN LOVE with the vampire diaries books...except this one. Everyone's reviews are true. It seems that author has forgotten the characters we love so much in the 90s. Elena has gotten annoying, not that she wasn't at the beginning because the golden girl who always gets her way is usually a character most people dislike but Elena in this spoiled rotten, she has someone how become not just the most important person of the town but she may be the most unique person in the world? Give me a break. Another thing that I didn't like was the splintering off of the Bonnie Damon story line because I believe the she could have changed him, more than Elena attempted to. As far as style of the novel goes, I found this hard to read. I was not glued to it like I usually am with books and the thoughts were somehow jumbled to the point where it almost made more sense just to read ever few sentences.Sorry but this book failed. Hopefully the part 2 will redeem the series. For not though I'm perfectly content with the TV series.
    • 1/5
      While I enjoyed the previous books in this series, this book fell short. There were inconsistencies from the previous books where she changed what happened or added more "sexual" parts. It used the same characters but it was a different story. It almost seemed like she was writing for the TV series and trying to fit in with the new wave of vampire books. In my opinion this book really wasn't worth the read.
    • 1/5
      After almost 17 years, L.J. Smith has returned to the Vampire Diaries series. This continuation picks up where the last book left off, with Elena, a high school girl, and Stefan, her vampire love-interest, reunited after her death and return from the spirit world. Elena has transformed into an angelic creature with powers of Light, which also make her the target for the supernatural residents of Fell's Church. Damon, Stefan's vampiric brother, is still drawn to Elena, but so are a pair of kitsune twins.This book is a clunky continuation of a popular series and, because there are vampires and it has a new TV show, it will most likely be a highly-requested title. The language is dated and the characters are beyond unrealistic. While the original storyline ended in 1992, this book takes place in the present, which means the author works in many unnecessary references to technology like mobile phones and laptop computers. Elena's transformation is awkward; she has become an "innocent being," but the other characters must struggle with her flying around, Tinkerbell-like, without clothes and often kissing people to recognize them. This book misses the appeal of the earlier series. There are so many better vampire/supernatural books out there - do your collection a favor and skip it.
    • 3/5
      This book was not that great to read, but it wasn't terrible either. I don't know if I liked it or if I was compelled to keep reading out of sheer confusion and needing to know what the hell was going on. The story seemed sort of outlandish, even considering the genre. The narration was really confusing for me as well. I didn't connect with it.I've never been a fan of Elena, and I share Caroline's feelings toward her in that I do not understand her appeal and why everyone adores her. She is probably my least favorite protagonist ever and she's an oxymoron. Every character is more likable than Elena, even the villains and Damon; Caroline being the exception. The writing was kind of a mess to me. There were some typos that really got to me, like "thing" instead of "think" and "Albert" instead of "Alpert." (And those are just two that I remember off the bat.) Stefan said "lovely little love" more times than I was comfortable with and there were too many additional characters who were thrown into the mix for me to follow or care about.The major fail of it all was that this story was supposed to take place a week after the fourth book, and yet somehow in the early 90's we're video chatting, using cellphones and browsing on the internet. Really?*If there was an option for half stars, this would get 2.5 but.
    • 3/5
      This is an easy to read book, the first book in a second series, that reminded me of a television series. Indeed this series of books was made into a television series.This book was published in 2009. The first series was published as a trilogy in 1991. In februari 2011 the author was fired by her publisher...The supernatural 'malach' element in the book inspired me to add a number of paragraphs to one of my own mythology books.The book is about Elena and her vampire and human associates / friends who have to deal with a pair of supernatural beings and their malach creatures. When everything appears to be lost Elena miraculously realizes that she has some magical abilities left and rescues just about everyone; like a magician pulling a rabbit out of his hat.It is light reading, but this will be the only book by L.J. Smith that I will read. I am aware that there is a huge audience for this kind of book, as has been demonstrated. I expect that females especially will enjoy The Vampire Diaries.
    • 5/5
      Great book with interesting characters and very different for other books in it's genre. Loved it and would recommend it to any paranormal fan.
    • 4/5
      I can’t believe after this many years another book finally came out in the Vampire Diaries series. Boy was this on a totally different level. First off it was almost 600 pages long. I guess following the trend of YA books getting longer. The story also read for an older audience than the original books. It was a little darker and there was more depth to the characters. Stefan actually isn’t in this book very much and you get to take a deeper look into the man Damon is. I really enjoyed that aspect and seeing beyond the shallow, I hate Stefan and I’m a bad ass vampire, persona. I did not realize that this book apparently is starting a new story and will have at least a sequel if not becoming a new trilogy. So you are left at a bit of a cliffhanger. I would say give this one a try even if the first four books felt too young for you.