The Vampire Diaries Books in Order

A young-adult vampire romance saga created by L.J. Smith, following teenager Elena Gilbert of Fenton's Mystic Falls and her entanglement with vampire brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore. The original 1990s quartet was later continued by ghostwriters across The Return, The Hunters, and The Salvation trilogies.

Publication order

In the order the books were originally released.

  1. Cover of The Awakening

    The Awakening

    1991 · Lisa Jane Smith

    Elena Gilbert, the beautiful and popular queen of Robert E. Lee High in Fells Church, sets her sights on the mysterious new student Stefan Salvatore,…

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  2. Cover of The Struggle

    The Struggle

    1991 · Lisa Jane Smith

    Drawn deeper into Stefan's secret world, Elena confronts the danger stalking Fells Church as a malevolent power begins to threaten everyone she…

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  3. Cover of The Fury

    The Fury

    1991 · Lisa Jane Smith

    Caught between the two Salvatore brothers, Elena's love for Stefan collides with Damon's dangerous allure as a far greater evil awakens in Fells…

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  4. Cover of Dark reunion

    Dark reunion

    1992 · Lisa Jane Smith

    Months after the events that shattered Fells Church, Elena's friends Bonnie, Meredith, and Matt face a new wave of terror as a malicious power…

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  5. Cover of Nightfall

    Nightfall

    2009 · Lisa Jane Smith

    In the first book of The Return trilogy, peace in Fells Church is broken when Elena comes back changed and a sinister evil begins to spread. As…

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  6. Cover of Shadow souls

    Shadow souls

    2010 · Lisa Jane Smith

    Desperate to rescue Stefan from a supernatural prison, Elena reluctantly joins forces with Damon on a perilous journey into the Dark Dimension, a…

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  7. Cover of Midnight

    Midnight

    2011 · Lisa Jane Smith

    In the final book of The Return trilogy, the malevolent kitsune threat looms over Fells Church as Elena and her friends fight to undo the damage left…

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  8. Cover of Phantom

    Phantom

    2011 · Lisa Jane Smith

    Opening The Hunters trilogy, Elena and her friends try to return to ordinary life in Fells Church, but a new supernatural menace soon shatters their…

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  9. Cover of Moonsong

    Moonsong

    2012 · Lisa Jane Smith

    Seeking answers and a fresh start, Elena and her friends leave Fells Church for Dalcrest College, hoping to escape the supernatural chaos behind…

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  10. Cover of Destiny Rising

    Destiny Rising

    2012 · Lisa Jane Smith

    In the conclusion of The Hunters trilogy, the threat surrounding Elena and her friends at Dalcrest comes to a head as a hidden enemy's plans are…

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  11. Cover of Unspoken

    Unspoken

    2013 · Lisa Jane Smith

    Set in Fell's Church, Elena and her friends face new supernatural threats emerging from the town's hidden past. As mysteries deepen, they must…

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  12. Cover of Unmasked

    Unmasked

    2014 · Lisa Jane Smith

    Hidden truths and long-buried deceptions come to light in Fell's Church, forcing the group to question everything they thought they knew. As…

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Companion & related books

Short-story collections and companion titles in this series.

  • Cover of The Fury and Dark Reunion

    The Fury and Dark Reunion

    2007 · Lisa Jane Smith

    This volume collects the third and fourth books of the original Vampire Diaries series into a single edition. It follows Elena, the Salvatore…

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  • Cover of The Origins

    The Origins

    2010 · Lisa Jane Smith

    The opening volume of the Stefan's Diaries companion series reaches back to 1864 Virginia, where a young, human Stefan Salvatore lives on his…

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  • Cover of Bloodlust

    Bloodlust

    2011 · Lisa Jane Smith

    In this Stefan's Diaries installment, a newly turned Stefan struggles to control his deadly thirst as he and Damon adjust to their cursed existence.…

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  • Cover of The Craving

    The Craving

    2011 · Lisa Jane Smith

    Stefan's hunger for power and blood consumes him as his obsession with Katherine grows darker and more dangerous. Elena and her friends watch…

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  • Cover of The ripper

    The ripper

    2011 · Lisa Jane Smith

    Stefan's transformation into a merciless predator accelerates as he pursues vengeance and supernatural power at any cost. His descent into violence…

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  • Cover of The asylum

    The asylum

    2012 · Lisa Jane Smith

    Trapped within a mysterious and malevolent location, Elena and her companions face psychological and supernatural horrors beyond their understanding.…

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  • Cover of The Compelled

    The Compelled

    2012 · Lisa Jane Smith

    Members of the group fall under powerful supernatural compulsion, forced to act against their will and their friends. The remaining free characters…

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Frequently asked questions

What order should I read the The Vampire Diaries books in?

Publication order — Widely recommended by readers and reading-order sites such as Book Series In Order and Maryse's Book Blog Start with “The Awakening.”

How many books are in the The Vampire Diaries series?

We list 12 books by Lisa Jane Smith , published between 1991–2014.

Where can I buy the The Vampire Diaries books?

Each title above links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.