Complete Vampire Diaries Books in Order

Celebrating the various series expanding on The Vampire Diaries, the story of a vampire and his life.

Below, find a complete list of Vampire Diaries books—including the original novels, plus The Return series, The Hunters series, The Salvation series, and Stefan’s Diaries—with info about each title.

The Vampire Diaries is a YA vampire fiction series of novels created by L.J. Smith. The story centers on Elena Gilbert, a young high school girl who finds her heart eventually torn between two vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. The Vampire Diaries was also developed into a 2009-2017 supernatural teen drama TV series.

The original Vampire Diaries books were written by author L.J. Smith—but the books that followed in the series were written by a ghostwriter (or ghostwriters). Smith had signed a “work for hire” for the original Vampire Diaries trilogy, so Alloy Entertainment owns the series. Alloy is a book packaging and television production unit that produces books, TV series, and movies. Among the TV series produced by the company are Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, The Originals, and The 100.

The Salvation trilogy was written by ghostwriter Aubrey Clark. She also was called to write The Secret Circle series, also created by L.J. Smith.

The Stefan’s Diaries series includes six novels based on the TV series. Although credited to Smith, these books were ghostwritten.

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The Vampire Diaries original book series

1 The Awakening: The Vampire Diaries #1

A deadly love triangle.

Elena Gilbert is a high school golden girl, used to getting what she wants. And who she wants. But when the boy she’s set her sights on—the handsome and haunted Stefan—isn’t interested, she’s confused.

She could never know the real reason Stefan is struggling to resist her: Stefan is a vampire, and Elena’s in danger just by being around him. What’s more, Stefan’s dark, dangerous vampire brother Damon has just arrived in town.

And wherever Damon goes, trouble always follows.

Perfect for fans of Midnight Sun, The Beautiful, and Crave, this first book in the New York Times bestselling Vampire Diaries series by L. J. Smith will introduce new readers to the heart-stopping suspense, fierce romances, and jaw-dropping surprises that captured millions of fans and inspired the hit TV show.

“This is a fast paced novel that puts story before teenage angst. A must read for any watchers of the television series.” (Fantasy Book Review)

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2 The Struggle: The Vampire Diaries #2

Torn between two vampire brothers

Damon: determined to make Elena his, he’d kill his own brother to possess her.

Stefan: desperate for the power to destroy Damon, and protect Elena, he gives in to his thirst for human blood.

Elena: the girl who can have anyone finds herself in the middle of a love triangle—one that might turn deadly…

“The plot of The Struggle is action driven...there is no shortage of excitement. Eerie settings and feelings of menace run throughout the story and serve to heighten dramatic tension that builds all the way to the story’s shocking conclusion. The cliff hanger ending guarantees that there will be no shortage of readers seeking out the next book in The Vampire Diaries series.” (Love Vampires)

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3 The Fury: The Vampire Diaries #3

Love can kill

Elena: with Damon at her side, and wild with her craving for blood, the changed Elena struggles to control her desires.

Damon: his hunger for the golden girl wars with his hunger for revenge against Stefan.

Stefan: tormented after losing Elena, he will do anything to get her back. Even if it means becoming what he once despised....

Getting what they want may come at a deadly cost.

“I have finished The Fury…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!” (Mary’s Book Blog)

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4 Dark Reunion: The Vampire Diaries #4

The Final Conflict...The Last Deadly Kiss

Elena: Now she rises from the dead to recreate the powerful vampire trio.

Stefan: Summoned by Elena, he keeps a promise to her and fights the most terrifying evil he's ever faced.

Damon: Joining the brother he once called enemy, Damon battles this new horror with strength, cunning, and deadly charm.

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The Vampire Diaries: The Return series

5 Nightfall: The Return #1

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.

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6 Shadow Souls: The Return #2

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

Elena Gilbert is once again at the center of magic and danger beyond her imagining. And this time, Stefan isn’t there to help. Stefan is held prisoner in the Dark Dimension—a world where vampires and demons roam free, and where humans are at the command of their supernatural betters.

To save the man she loves, Elena is forced to trust her life to his handsome, but deadly brother Damon. Damon has never concealed his love for Elena, and as the tension between them rises, Elena must face a terrible decision: which brother does she really want to be with?

The Return: Shadow Souls 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.

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7 Midnight: The Return #3

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

Elena Gilbert is back from the Dark Dimension, having successfully freed her vampire boyfriend Stefan Salvatore from imprisonment. Saving Stefan had an unlikely consequence: his vampire brother Damon Salvatore has become mortal. While the trio reels from this latest twist, they must still deal with the demons that have taken over Elena’s hometown, Fell’s Church. But the battle will take Elena, Stefan, and Damon to their darkest moments yet…

The Return: Midnight 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.

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The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters series

8 Phantom: The Hunters #1

The past is never far....

Elena Gilbert and her friends saved Fell’s Church from evil spirits bent on destroying it, but the town’s freedom came at a price: Damon Salvatore’s life.

Damon’s death changes everything. He and his vampire brother, Stefan, had been locked in a vicious battle for Elena’s heart. Now that he’s gone, Elena and Stefan can finally be together. So why can’t Elena stop dreaming of Damon?

As Elena’s feelings for Damon grow, a new darkness is brewing in Fell’s Church. Elena has been to hell and back, but this demon is like nothing she’s ever seen. Its only goal is to kill Elena and everyone she loves.

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9 Moonsong: The Hunters #2

Evil never dies....

After escaping the horrors of the Dark Dimension, Elena and her friends can’t wait to attend Dalcrest College, the beautiful ivy-covered campus where Elena’s parents met. Life with Stefan is better than ever, and with her closest friends Bonnie, Meredith, and Matt by her side, Elena knows it will be their best year yet. Even Damon seems genuinely changed and is getting along with everyone.

But for Elena, moving away from Fell’s Church doesn’t mean she has left her dark past behind. When students start to disappear from campus, every new acquaintance is suddenly a potential enemy. Panic soon spreads and the friends struggle to protect each other.

Then Elena uncovers a long-hidden secret, one that shocks her to the core, and realizes tragedy may be unavoidable. Will Elena outrun her fate? And will it be Stefan or Damon who catches her if she falls?

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10 Destiny Rising: The Hunters #3

Elena Gilbert has never been an ordinary teenager. In love with the irresistible vampire brothers Stefan and Damon, she has died, been brought back to life, fought evil, and journeyed to hell and back to save Stefan.

Now her most dangerous enemy, Klaus, has returned, and Elena realizes she must make a terrible sacrifice to protect her world—and fulfill her destiny…

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The Vampire Diaries: The Salvation Trilogy

11 Unseen: The Salvation #1 by Aubrey Clark

The greatest threats are the ones unseen….

For what seems like the first time, Elena and her friends are happy. Elena and Stefan have built a home for themselves in Dalcrest, and all of Elena’s friends are as in love as she and Stefan are. Even Damon is enjoying visiting his favorite old haunts in Europe, and is more surprised than anyone that he’s traveling with Katherine. But lately, Elena’s Guardian senses are on edge, and she can’t ignore the feeling that danger is coming.

When a new threat arrives in Dalcrest, Elena’s worst fears become a reality. Soon, she and Stefan are battling a vicious Old One who is always just out of their reach. And when Damon and Katherine are confronted with a strange and mysterious enemy, Elena worries the attacks are linked.

As dark forces close in, Elena, Stefan, and Damon struggle to survive the only way they know how—together. But their lives are hanging in the balance, and every moment they share could be their last…

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12 Unspoken: The Salvation #2 by Aubrey Clark

Death is only the beginning...

Elena Gilbert’s entire world has shattered in a single moment. Her true love, Stefan, is dead, staked through the heart by their so-called friend Jack. Now the only thing Elena cares about is destroying Jack and his race of scientifically created vampires.

But Jack’s creations are impossible to kill—immune to sunlight, stakes, and every traditional weapon against vampires. Elena and Damon set out to uncover the mystery of Jack’s dark past in hopes of finding his weakness.

As they spend more time together, Elena and Damon can’t deny that their connection is stronger than ever. Can she face her feelings for him without betraying Stefan’s memory, or are some things better left unspoken?

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13 Unmasked: The Salvation #3 by Aubrey Clark

Love is the most powerful force of all…

Elena Gilbert is dying. When Damon Salvatore avenged his brother Stefan’s death, he broke the sacred deal he’d made with the Guardians—and put Elena’s life at risk.

She should be dead, but instead, the Guardians are offering Elena a once-in-a-lifetime chance: to start over. Ever since she met the Salvatore brothers, Elena’s love for them both has caused endless death and destruction. But if Elena can return to the beginning—her senior year of high school, when she first met Damon and Stefan—and prove that she can exist alongside them without either of them killing a human, then Elena can live.

But the Damon of years ago is unpredictable, rash, and dangerous. The only way for Elena to save everyone—including herself—might be to give up the Salvatores forever. Will Elena be able to sacrifice her own desires for the greater good? Or is her path to tragic love already written in the stars?

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The Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries

Origins (Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries #1)

Origins is the first book in the Stefan’s Diaries series, which reveals the backstory of brothers Stefan and Damon from The Vampire Diaries series.

Set in mid-19th century Mystic Falls, Virginia, three teenagers enter a torrid love triangle that will span eternity. Brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore are inseparable until they meet Katherine, a stunning, mysterious woman who turns their world upside down.

Siblings turned rivals, the Salvatores compete for Katherine’s affection, only to discover that her sumptuous silk dresses and glittering gems hide a terrible secret: Katherine is a vampire. And she is intent on turning them into vampires so they can live together—forever.

Full of dark shadows and surprising twists, the first book in the New York Times bestselling Stefan’s Diaries series raises the stakes for the Salvatore brothers as they face new loves, old treacheries, and unimaginable threats…

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Bloodlust (Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries #2)

Bloodlust is the second book in the Stefan’s Diaries series, which reveals the backstory of brothers Stefan and Damon from the The Vampire Diaries series.

Stefan and Damon Salvatore are now vampires, and must deal with the consequences of their fate. They escape their small hometown of Mystic Falls—which is overrun with vampire hunters—and travel to New Orleans. While Stefan revels in his powers, Damon continues to mourn the loss of Katherine, the beautiful vampire that turned them both.

But New Orleans offers temptations—and dangers. Stefan falls in love with another human, and his will power is tested. Damon ends up captured by an evil, sadistic vampire hunter. Stefan knows that he must save his brother, but will it cost him his new love?

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The Craving (Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries #3)

The Craving is the third book in the Stefan’s Diaries series, which reveals the backstory of brothers Stefan and Damon from The Vampire Diaries series.

Stefan Salvatore has come to terms with being a vampire. The events of the past few months have sobered him, and the fog of his own blood lust has begun to lift. He travels to New York City to start a new life—one that does not require him to kill humans to survive. Instead he feeds off of animals in Central Park.

But the quiet life he envisioned is jolted when he runs into his brother Damon, who has convinced New York high society that he is Italian royalty. While Stefan is regaining his humanity, Damon has completely lost his. Stefan will do whatever it takes to protect Damon from himself—but there is another villain present. A vampire that seeks revenge for a death the Salvatores are responsible for. Stefan and Damon will have to work together to fight the greatest evil yet.

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The Ripper (Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries #4)

The Ripper is the fourth book in the Stefan’s Diaries series, which reveals the backstory of brothers Stefan and Damon from The Vampire Diaries series.

Twenty years have passed since Stefan Salvatore last saw his brother, Damon. Now living in a remote town in England, far away from the haunting memories of Mystic Falls, Stefan is finally able to start over.

But when news from London reaches Stefan of a brutal killer on the loose—who goes by Jack the Ripper—Stefan suspects that the murders are the work of a vampire…his brother.

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The Asylum (Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries #5)

The Asylum is the fifth book in the Stefan’s Diaries series, which reveals the backstory of brothers Stefan and Damon from The Vampire Diaries series.

Trust has never come easily to Stefan and Damon, but now that Samuel—a vampire from Katherine’s past bent on revenge—is determined to ruin their lives, the Salvatores must join forces to defeat their foe. Samuel has already ruined Stefan’s chances at a normal life, and now he’s framing Damon for the Jack the Ripper murders, too.

With the help of Cora, a human girl, Stefan and Damon track Samuel from the glittering ballrooms of London to the city’s asylum, which Samuel uses for his own nefarious purposes. However, while finding Samuel is easy, Damon and Stefan quickly learn that stopping him may be nearly impossible.

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The Compelled (Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries #6)

The Compelled is the sixth and final book in the Stefan’s Diaries series, which reveals the backstory of brothers Stefan and Damon from The Vampire Diaries series.

Stefan Salvatore has always had an uneasy relationship with his brother Damon. But when Damon is taken captive by Samuel—a vampire from Katherine’s past bent on revenge—Stefan is determined to rescue him before it is too late…even if it means seeking help from the most unlikely of places.

Stefan forms a tentative alliance with a coven of witches in order to save his brother, only to learn that Samuel’s end game is far more sinister then they could have imagined. With Samuel on the brink of securing unlimited power, the brothers are in for their deadliest battle yet.

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