The Vampire Diaries Book 5: The Return: Nightfall

L.J. Smith
Published 2009
592 pages
Rating: A

Following The Vampire Diaries Book 3&4: The Fury and Dark Reunion comes The Vampire Diaries Book 5: The Return: Nightfall. Now the reason the book is called The Return is because L.J. Smith never intended to write more books in The Vampire Diaries series. It was suppose to end at book four, Dark Reunion. But she decided to write three more books in the series! I'm so happy! This one came out in February 2009 and the sixth book is also coming out in 2009 near the end of the year but the seventh book will be coming out some time in 2010.

Synopsis (SPOILERS written in Italic)

When Elena sacrificed herself to save the two vampire brothers who love her—the handsome, brooding Stefan and the sleek and dangerous Damon—she was consigned to a fate beyond death. Until a powerful supernatural force pulled her back.

Now Elena is not just human. She has powers and gifts that were bestowed on her in the afterlife. What's more, her blood pulses with an overwhelming and unique force that makes her irresistible to any vampire.

Stefan wants to find a way to keep Elena safe so that they can make a life together. Damon, however, is driven by an insatiable desire for power, and wants Elena to rule as his princess. When Stefan is lured away from Fell's Church, Damon seizes his chance to convince her that he is the brother she is meant to be with. . . .

A darkness is infiltrating the town, and Damon, always the hunter, is now the hunted; he becomes the prey of a malevolent creature that can possess him at will, and who desires not just Elena's blood but her death.

My Synopsis

In this book Elena has changed once again. She is not what she used to be. Stefan still loves her unconditionally.... but so does Damon. The old combat between the two dangerous brothers is still raging on... but some of the fire has died. They are learning to forgive each other but one little slip and their newly rekindled comradeship may crash and burn. Meanwhile, something strange is happening in Fell's Church. The girls in town are acting differently. People are changing... becoming more violent. The people you care about the most may betray you utterly.

Bonnie, Meredith and Matt, who is good friends with all of the main characters and is also Elena's ex-boyfriend and a potential love interest for Bonnie, have been attacked and badly hurt during a car accident. Following this event Damon must prove his loyalty to the group by either watching and letting their car get ravaged by an unknown enemy or saving them. But Damon has a hatred for Matt since he likes Bonnie and Damon is also a potential love interest for Bonnie.

Spoilers! Following these events, Stefan leaves an entry in Elena's diary that shatters her world. Stefan tells her he is leaving her and that Damon will take care of her but Elena and her friends suspect Stefan has been taken by force and that Damon is behind it.

Soon the group realizes that something has taken over Damon, since he is being more violent and dangerous than he usually is. Elena must figure out who is behind everything before the entire town gets taken over.

Will everything come together? Will Elena find Stefan with Damon and Matt aiding her or will she fail? Will Damon have the willpower to fight the darkness inside of him and choose good or will he succumb to this unknown enemy's way and hurt the people he loves? The story continues in this endless fight for survival.

Again L.J. Smith's book captivated me from chapter one. It definitely did not disappoint and left me wanting more of Elena, Stefan, Damon, Matt, Bonnie and Meredith. I can't wait for the next two books to come out. You will absolutely love this book if you loved the other ones.

-M