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The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters #3
Jagd im Morgengrauen
DESTINED FOR DANGER...
Elena has faced countless challenges - escaping the Dark Dimension, defeating phantoms, discovering she's a Guardian. But nothing compares to choosing between the two loves of her life: Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Elena has reunited with Stefan, while Damon, hurt by the rejection, has become dark and unpredictable. Now Elena's torn between saving Damon's soul and staying true to Stefan.
But before Elena can decide who her heart belongs to, Dalcrest College's campus is overrun with vampires determined to resurrect Klaus, the wicked Old One who will stop at nothing to destroy Elena - and everyone close to her.
As Elena learns more about her destiny as a Guardian, a protector against evil on earth, she realizes that before she can defeat Klaus, she has to sacrifice someone close to her. Elena must decide how much - and who - she's willing to give up before it's too late. . . .
Elena has faced countless challenges - escaping the Dark Dimension, defeating phantoms, discovering she's a Guardian. But nothing compares to choosing between the two loves of her life: Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Elena has reunited with Stefan, while Damon, hurt by the rejection, has become dark and unpredictable. Now Elena's torn between saving Damon's soul and staying true to Stefan.
But before Elena can decide who her heart belongs to, Dalcrest College's campus is overrun with vampires determined to resurrect Klaus, the wicked Old One who will stop at nothing to destroy Elena - and everyone close to her.
As Elena learns more about her destiny as a Guardian, a protector against evil on earth, she realizes that before she can defeat Klaus, she has to sacrifice someone close to her. Elena must decide how much - and who - she's willing to give up before it's too late. . . .
446 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2012
219 people are currently reading
11622 people want to read
About the author
L.J. Smith
337 books112k followersSmith was born in Villa Park, Orange County, California. In interviews, she has said she realized she wanted to be a writer sometime between kindergarten and first grade, “when a teacher praised a horrible poem I’d written”, and began writing in earnest in elementary school. Smith received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1987, followed by teaching credentials in Elementary education and Special education from San Francisco State University.
She taught kindergarten and special education for several years before becoming a full-time writer. Her first book, The Night of the Solstice, was published by MacMillan in 1987, followed by, Heart of Valor in 1990, and the 4-volume Vampire Diaries series in 1991-2. Three trilogies followed: The Secret Circle (1992), The Forbidden Game (1994), and Dark Visions (1995). The first installment of her popular Night World series was published in 1996, followed by eight more over the next two years. In 1998, Smith began a decade-long hiatus from writing, returning in 2008 with a new Web site and a series of new short stories. The Vampire Diaries series was reissued in 2007, followed by re-printings of The Secret Circle trilogy and Night World series in 2008/2009. The Night of the Solstice and Heart of Valor was also reissued in 2008. Three new Vampire Diaries installments were published in 2009 and 2010.
Smith lived in the San Francisco Bay area “with one dog, three cats, and about ten thousand books.”
She passed away on March 8th, 2025, after a lengthy illness.
She taught kindergarten and special education for several years before becoming a full-time writer. Her first book, The Night of the Solstice, was published by MacMillan in 1987, followed by, Heart of Valor in 1990, and the 4-volume Vampire Diaries series in 1991-2. Three trilogies followed: The Secret Circle (1992), The Forbidden Game (1994), and Dark Visions (1995). The first installment of her popular Night World series was published in 1996, followed by eight more over the next two years. In 1998, Smith began a decade-long hiatus from writing, returning in 2008 with a new Web site and a series of new short stories. The Vampire Diaries series was reissued in 2007, followed by re-printings of The Secret Circle trilogy and Night World series in 2008/2009. The Night of the Solstice and Heart of Valor was also reissued in 2008. Three new Vampire Diaries installments were published in 2009 and 2010.
Smith lived in the San Francisco Bay area “with one dog, three cats, and about ten thousand books.”
She passed away on March 8th, 2025, after a lengthy illness.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
March 30, 2012
I won't read any of the ghostwritten books for The Secret Circle series or The Hunters series. By giving a 1 star to these books, I'm showing my dislike for Alloy Entertainment & HarperCollins for firing L.J. Smith. They are not allowing her to write her books the way she wanted, because they only care about what sells and don't have any respect for story telling at all. I personally am a Stelena fan, but just cause I want a story to be one way doesn't mean it should be. They're not mine or anyone other than L.J. Smith's stories to tell anyways.
For those who don't know what I'm talking about, here's the letter L.J. Smith wrote herself to her fans regarding the issue.
"Hi —
Thank you so very much for your kind words about Midnight. I’m so glad
you’re enjoying it, and if you already know that Damon says those three
little words to Elena, then I expect you know what she does for him
afterwards. I can’t say how much I appreciate your understanding of the
book, but at the same time my heart is so heavy that I just can’t keep
pretending about what’s in the future for Delena fans.
You see, I’ve been fired from The Vampire Diaries—mainly because instead of giving my publishers the strict Stelana they demanded, I went ahead and wrote what my heart told me to do. They wanted Elena to “realize that she was fond of or physically attracted to Damon, but that her one true love was Stefan.” But I didn’t see the series that way. And so Midnight is the last Vampire Diaries book you’ll see by L. J. Smith.
You’re probably wondering how this can happen, since I write the series and have done so since 1990. But the truth is simple. When I got a call asking me to write a vampire trilogy for Harper, it wasn’t Harper who was calling me. It was a book packager, now called Alloy Entertainment, calling on Harper’s behalf. Their job was to take authors’ work, put blurbs and covers on it, and sell it to a publisher. When I wrote the first Vampire Diaries trilogy it was called “work for hire.” By the time I found out what that meant it was too late.
What it means is that the book packager, Alloy Entertainment, owns the
books, not me. Even though they are copyrighted to me, I still can’t write them without Alloy’s permission. And they really hated any Delena
content—as well as the many scenes I had given to Bonnie, which they wanted to cut. They demanded only Stelena. And now they’ve gotten an anonymous ghostwriter to do the books, the way a ghostwriter does Stefan’s Diaries.
The first book out after Midnight will probably sound something like my
writing, since I wrote Phantom for them. But instead of edits, what I got back after I wrote it was a letter addressed to the ghostwriter by name, telling her to completely rewrite the book.
I have been fighting, coaxing, and pleading with the people at both Alloy and Harper, as I already had the next two books after Phantom mapped out. But there is nothing to be done. They simply didn’t like the way the series was going, and unlike most writers who work with book packagers, I was not submissive, meek, and eager to please them. Instead, I had my own vision of the books. But you can kiss any more truly meaningful Delena moments goodbye, because I’m afraid it just isn’t the view of Harper or Alloy.
Meanwhile, I am devastated. Of course I have other series done directly
with a publisher: The Forbidden Game, Dark Visions, and the Night World
books. But I put so much of myself into the Vampire Diaries books that
right now I’m devastated. I never imagined anything like this could happen. But still, I can’t say that I regret having written Shadow Souls or Midnight the way I did. I wrote what I did because that was the vision I saw of the characters.
I’m just sorry that from now on Delena readers will have no hope of anything other than a Stelena endgame, and that written by someone who will do exactly what she is told.
Lisa
L. J. Smith"
For those who don't know what I'm talking about, here's the letter L.J. Smith wrote herself to her fans regarding the issue.
"Hi —
Thank you so very much for your kind words about Midnight. I’m so glad
you’re enjoying it, and if you already know that Damon says those three
little words to Elena, then I expect you know what she does for him
afterwards. I can’t say how much I appreciate your understanding of the
book, but at the same time my heart is so heavy that I just can’t keep
pretending about what’s in the future for Delena fans.
You see, I’ve been fired from The Vampire Diaries—mainly because instead of giving my publishers the strict Stelana they demanded, I went ahead and wrote what my heart told me to do. They wanted Elena to “realize that she was fond of or physically attracted to Damon, but that her one true love was Stefan.” But I didn’t see the series that way. And so Midnight is the last Vampire Diaries book you’ll see by L. J. Smith.
You’re probably wondering how this can happen, since I write the series and have done so since 1990. But the truth is simple. When I got a call asking me to write a vampire trilogy for Harper, it wasn’t Harper who was calling me. It was a book packager, now called Alloy Entertainment, calling on Harper’s behalf. Their job was to take authors’ work, put blurbs and covers on it, and sell it to a publisher. When I wrote the first Vampire Diaries trilogy it was called “work for hire.” By the time I found out what that meant it was too late.
What it means is that the book packager, Alloy Entertainment, owns the
books, not me. Even though they are copyrighted to me, I still can’t write them without Alloy’s permission. And they really hated any Delena
content—as well as the many scenes I had given to Bonnie, which they wanted to cut. They demanded only Stelena. And now they’ve gotten an anonymous ghostwriter to do the books, the way a ghostwriter does Stefan’s Diaries.
The first book out after Midnight will probably sound something like my
writing, since I wrote Phantom for them. But instead of edits, what I got back after I wrote it was a letter addressed to the ghostwriter by name, telling her to completely rewrite the book.
I have been fighting, coaxing, and pleading with the people at both Alloy and Harper, as I already had the next two books after Phantom mapped out. But there is nothing to be done. They simply didn’t like the way the series was going, and unlike most writers who work with book packagers, I was not submissive, meek, and eager to please them. Instead, I had my own vision of the books. But you can kiss any more truly meaningful Delena moments goodbye, because I’m afraid it just isn’t the view of Harper or Alloy.
Meanwhile, I am devastated. Of course I have other series done directly
with a publisher: The Forbidden Game, Dark Visions, and the Night World
books. But I put so much of myself into the Vampire Diaries books that
right now I’m devastated. I never imagined anything like this could happen. But still, I can’t say that I regret having written Shadow Souls or Midnight the way I did. I wrote what I did because that was the vision I saw of the characters.
I’m just sorry that from now on Delena readers will have no hope of anything other than a Stelena endgame, and that written by someone who will do exactly what she is told.
Lisa
L. J. Smith"
November 6, 2012
F**king sucked.............Elena should of chose Damon!!!!!!!!! Way to f**k the series up!! The book was a complete waste of time. The whole series was suppose to be about Elena's journey BUT SHE NEVER CHANGED and she stayed with stupid @ss Stefan..............
"The moral of the story is you can cheat as many times on your boyfriend as long as he takes you back everytime..."
To be honest Stefan needed to grow some balls and put Elena in her place...And Elena needed to grow up and realize the person she loved was in front of her damn face the whole time..DAMON!! The writers try pulling some bull crap Stefan is the light path and Damon is the dark.....its like YEAH MAYBE in the first two books but he's changed long since then.......Its like the publishers didn't want character growth bc then it would mean Stelena would grow apart and not end up together....Well no offense its been headed that way for ALONG TIME! Its not like Elena cheated once and realized her wrong and lived with Stefan happily ever after and earned his trust back. Her and Stefan have been slowly growing up and growing apart for awhile and ELena was becoming more and more like Damon.....What?? Like thats a bad thing?? Her and Damon loved each other. Can't the bad guy turn good?? I'm tired of the Stefan equals good and Damon equals bad sh*t. Damon has not been bad for a long time......(the publishers want you to believe what Elena and Damon have is just meerly sexual attraction, which it such BULLS**T).The only books in the series worth reading were the ones by LJ. BC she obviously knew her characters very well. I'm just hoping the TV series put Damon and Elena together, for Christ sakes. AT least they know what the fans like........ If it it were for Delena the story would of sank forever ago. The only reason I kept coming back for more was in hopes she would wake up and choose Damon. But now I know I completely wasted my time on another wannabe Twilight drama.
They say what is it teaching children to go for the bad guy?? Well I just want to know what is it teaching children that you NEED to end up with your High School boyfriend or you'll just want to die??? Honestly Damon was never really bad just misunderstood and ELena seen past all of his fascades. To me that was the true story there.
LONG LIVE LJ SMITH!! Delena for life!!!!!!!!!!!
"The moral of the story is you can cheat as many times on your boyfriend as long as he takes you back everytime..."
To be honest Stefan needed to grow some balls and put Elena in her place...And Elena needed to grow up and realize the person she loved was in front of her damn face the whole time..DAMON!! The writers try pulling some bull crap Stefan is the light path and Damon is the dark.....its like YEAH MAYBE in the first two books but he's changed long since then.......Its like the publishers didn't want character growth bc then it would mean Stelena would grow apart and not end up together....Well no offense its been headed that way for ALONG TIME! Its not like Elena cheated once and realized her wrong and lived with Stefan happily ever after and earned his trust back. Her and Stefan have been slowly growing up and growing apart for awhile and ELena was becoming more and more like Damon.....What?? Like thats a bad thing?? Her and Damon loved each other. Can't the bad guy turn good?? I'm tired of the Stefan equals good and Damon equals bad sh*t. Damon has not been bad for a long time......(the publishers want you to believe what Elena and Damon have is just meerly sexual attraction, which it such BULLS**T).The only books in the series worth reading were the ones by LJ. BC she obviously knew her characters very well. I'm just hoping the TV series put Damon and Elena together, for Christ sakes. AT least they know what the fans like........ If it it were for Delena the story would of sank forever ago. The only reason I kept coming back for more was in hopes she would wake up and choose Damon. But now I know I completely wasted my time on another wannabe Twilight drama.
They say what is it teaching children to go for the bad guy?? Well I just want to know what is it teaching children that you NEED to end up with your High School boyfriend or you'll just want to die??? Honestly Damon was never really bad just misunderstood and ELena seen past all of his fascades. To me that was the true story there.
LONG LIVE LJ SMITH!! Delena for life!!!!!!!!!!!
January 17, 2023
I read all 13 Vampire Diaries books for a video project and I'm team burn the entire boxset. Check out my thoughts on the series on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nLU4l-qJX8o
February 17, 2025
Destiny Rising # 10 The Vampire Diaries
3.5 🌟
Reread
I do not really like their lifes at the University. The plot seems weird to me.
3.5 🌟
Reread
I do not really like their lifes at the University. The plot seems weird to me.
November 26, 2012
As I've emailed to LJ Smith, she responded to us fans that we should continue reading the books, even though it's not hers. As obvious as it seems that the Hunters series is not written by her (loss of the fierce intensity to the plot) we are still her dedicated fans and curiosity is truly killing us, about who Elena chooses. But as a fan, I'll read it to support her but I personally would like to know how Ms. Smith wanted to end the series. After all, her last book (Midnight) ended off with Damon being dead. But the other ghostwriter resurrected him back into the story. But was that part of LJ Smith's plan? This lady is a mind of a genius, being the founder of the books and the successful show. If anything, I think we should read the last book for the sake of the Vampire Queen!
May 10, 2012
Five Stars to show support for the book. I am sad that there is a ghost writer but, there is nothing anyone can do about it. I love the series and I will read them no matter what. I was and always will be a Delena fan. Even if that is a lost cause.
November 6, 2012
WHAT?!?!?!? THERE'S ANOTHER?!?!?!
KILL ME NOW!!!!
Preface:
oh for crying out loud. PUT THE POOR VAMPIRE DIARIES OUT OF ITS MISERY, YOU FRICKING IDIOTIC, STUPID GHOST WRITER! YOU SUCK! CRAWL BACK INTO THE HOLE YOU CAME FROM, YOU TWEED! GO ON! NO ONE LIKES YOU! THOSE WHO DO ARE NUTS!!!!!
Delena comment:
How many times has Elena stepped on Damon's heart? If you counted up all the times you'd end up with a book bigger than Midnight...The ghost writer only worsened it. I love LJ for trying to put my fantasy couple together, I really do. I wish it'd worked out!
*cough cough* loser fags at the publishing company *cough cough* HATERS *cough* Us inconvenienced Delena fans are UNSATISFIED with your product. I DEMAND A DO-OVER--ONE WORTH MY TIME!!
AANNNNNDDD One that puts the rightful soulmates together. I couldn't take another darn book that makes Damon suffer because Elena has for some reason been compelled by God (aka Gay Ghostwriter) to become a soulless freakazoid/zombie/jerkophobe/slutholewhothinksshecancheatonstefanwithpoordamonbecauseshesastupididiotandihateherbecauseshesnowajerkophobichomo
I...can't take any more of it! Kill it already!
What did the ghost writer think would become of the series? That everyone would walk away happy and best friends, like no big deal, like Klaus didn't come back because, face it, they're dragging it out because they're dickholes and have no other exciting plot twist? Did they think everything would end up all honky dory?
NO. JUST NO.
Stefan, you dumb idiot. I liked you in the beginning, but you started sucking it when I realized you were just one of those terrible Edwardians. Although I enjoy you fifty million times more, when Elena cheated on you, you went right back. How FAIR is that? You're supposed to reject her so she can go flying into Damon's arms like there's no problemo on earth, bc she doesn't need you and you don't need her! YOU DUMB***!!!!!!
LEAAAAAAVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ugh. Stupid homos. And yes, the GW deserves that. UGH.
not-to-read
July 30, 2012I think there are many reasons why I don't want to read it. After the whole "L.J. Smith got fired" thing I want to give the first six books five stars only because they were written by the real author-the person who came up with the story.
October 11, 2012
WTH?
They are still writing this book series? the author better find another thing to do, he/she is destroying the reputation of vampire diaries.
I REALLY HOPE THIS IS THE LAST ONE
STOP WRITING THE SERIES!!!
They are still writing this book series? the author better find another thing to do, he/she is destroying the reputation of vampire diaries.
I REALLY HOPE THIS IS THE LAST ONE
STOP WRITING THE SERIES!!!
January 22, 2013
To start right off the bat, I pray to God and all that is holy in this world that there will never be another Vampire Diaries book, except if it were one to set right every crap-tastic thing that happened in this one. As you probably know from my previous reviews, I’m a huge Delena fan, and this book completely ruined every chance Damon and Elena ever had. Very well, I could’ve lived with that. What I can’t live with is that in the nine or more books this series has taken, nothing ever changed. Elena starts out falling for Stefan, knight in shining armor, but ever since that moment, her life has been a rollercoaster of action and disaster, yet at the end she comes up with these amazing, over the top, unbelievable powers, a stronger connection with her friends that has turned into an almost unbreakable bond, and yet she’s still in love with Saint Stefan. I thought they were gross in the first book, but that was nothing for what comes up in this book.
The story is pretty simple. Klaus and Katherine come back from the death, because why would someone come up with original villains if they can just summon the old ones back? Originality is so overrated anyway. In the previous book, this Ethan fellow came up with a ritual, and the purpose of said ritual was to bring back the Old Ones. Klaus is still the epitome of all evil, but apparently now he’s also developed some crazy weird crush on Elena, because at some point he kisses her in a totally pscyhopathic way. Can we say “ewww”? Katherine comes back as well, but not to kick some ass, instead she’s regained her sanity by, you know, dying, and is now working for the good squad. There’s a large bomb dropped on us at the end involving Katherine, a bomb I saw coming about seven books ago, but who’s keeping count. Stefan makes some crazy assumptions as to how Katherine doesn’t really resemble Elena completely since her hair is paler, and Elena is this beautiful shining golden orb. I was ready to puke.
The amount of pages wasted on Elena telling Stefan how much she loves him and the other way around, is astonishing. The amount of WTF-moments is almost hilarious. The only good thing is that Elena has finally chosen a match for life, and of course, it’s Saint Stefan. Because the only logical choice – of actually trying to date Damon first, and figure out her feelings for him, since she literally admits she has feelings for him several times over the course of the book – would be too difficult for our little nitwit to understand. While Elena and Stefan are ready to live happily ever after, of course Damon is up to no good again. Being angry because he’s lost the supposed love of his life TWICE to his own brother, he starts drinking human blood. I doubt I was the only one screaming ‘about time!’ and jumping up and down in my chair hoping to see a glimpse of the old Damon Salvatore. Ah, no luck so far. Damon is still a goody-two-shoes, and in the end, as opposed to letting Elena wither and die like he should if he was half the man he was back in the first book, he still goes out of his way to save her, risking himself over and over again. I was sort of hoping he’d open up his eyes and see that girl really isn’t worth the trouble. Heck, even Katherine would make a more suitable match.
Bonnie is barely mentioned, but she does seem to get more useful screentime now she’s dating this werewolf fellow who is so uninteresting I always forget his name. Caroline and Tyler make a brief but disturbing appearance. Matt falls for this girl, Chloe, who gets turned into a vampire and eventually walks into the sunlight, turning into ashes. Damon leaves town, with no plans or hopes for the future. WTF, ghostwriter? So nobody except Stefan and Elena get their happy ending? I’m feeling sorry for poor Matt who finally finds another girl to pine over that isn’t Elena, and then you decide, on a whim, to let her kill herself? Not that Matt was terribly sad – which makes no sense, and shows sloppy writing – but still, did you have to hand him the bad card again? Then next comes Meredith. At some point, I wanted to rip her neck off. When Damon is off feeding on humans again and re-earning some of his lost self-respect and dignity, Elena and the gang stumble upon him and his latest feed. Then Meredith goes all heroic and mentions how next time, she’ll kill him.
What?
No, seriously, what?
You just made me laugh out loud and rip out the page at the same time. Meredith may be a skilled vampire hunter, but in all previous books it was mentioned time and again she was no match for experienced, century-old vampires like Damon, Stefan and Katherine. So what the hell is this? Since when has Meredith, boring old Meredith become the most powerful member of the gang? So Damon, instead of doing the only sensible thing – which would be, rip her head off, or at least threaten to kill her, and then perhaps make a move to kill Alaric since he’s so bloody useless anyway – does absolutely nothing, because he’s reduced to a puppet, like the rest of the gang. Queen Elena rules with an iron fist, especially now she’s supposedly a Guardian. Another great joke. Who in their right mind would want the earth to be guarded by a teenage girl who took seven books and more to decide between which vampire brother she wanted to date for, oh, all eternity? Right. Not me, in any case.
Strange to say my favorite character in this madness-galore, was Katherine. At least she had some dignity. Except at the end, she should’ve ripped Elena’s head off. All right, I may be a bit in a murderous mood today, but at least it would’ve been a better, more happy-ever-after ending for everyone. Or at least, go off into the sunset with Damon or something. But once again, for the ghostwriter and the publisher or whoever orchestrated that L.J. Smith be kicked out and replaced, has decided it’s for the best if nobody except Stefan and Elena have their happy ending. May I note that this is Stefan, the Ripper, who goes ten thousand times more berserk than Damon whenever he doesn’t get what he want? Hypocritical Saint Stefan who dotes over his little Elena and is willing to sacrifice anyone standing in their way to be together, including his own brother, but isn’t honest enough to fess it up. And Elena, superficial high-school prom Queen who doesn’t care if her best friend Meredith lost her vampire hunter buddy, or Damon lost his will to be alive, or Matt lost his new-found girlfriend, as long as she and Stefan are together for all eternity.
I can’t believe I paid ten bucks for this crap. I know I shouldn’t have bought it, since after the disaster called Moonsong, I wanted nothing more to do with these books. But there weren’t many books in the bookstore, and I wanted an ending, and I hoped that, by some Godly miracle, the ghostwriter had redeemed himself/herself and managed to make this into something halfway readable. Not so. The plot has been used before (same old evil to fight, with the same old traits and function, namely next to none). Klaus is hardly as powerful as he appears. The “epic fight” is anything but epic. In fact, I would have had more fun watching YouTube advertisments than reading through those scenes. The characters are cardboard figures meant to annoy us to death. Elena is the most awful, horrible, annoying main character I’ve ever read about. Stefan’s only purpose is to tell her how much he loves her. He’s even more annoying than ever before, and that’s saying something. I could live with the guy, if only he had a personality. So far, I’ve seen nothing.
Even Damon doesn’t manage to keep up appearances. He falls down to the same cardboard-figure level of the rest. His usual plans and schemes and manipulations have vanished, and he’s just a broken, rejected little vampire boy without any real purpose. Pathetic. I wish Katherine had an ounce of evil left in her and had told him to man up, and who knows, maybe they could go kill some humans together. Damon eerily reminded me of Spike from Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, when he was stripped of all his awesome vampire-qualities and reduced to a whining wreck in the name of great, almighty love. Ugh.
This series has turned from something that was mildly interesting, even if the characters were cliché and Elena a superficial maggot, into an abomination, a disgrace for the YA genre in general. This book is garbage. It’s not worth the stars I gave it. It’s not worth whatever money you want to waste spending on it. Go buy something else. Give your money to charity. Hell, throw it in the garbage bin, it has more purpose there than being wasted on this book.
January 26, 2015
—I NEED TO REWRITE THIS SOMETIME—
The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters: Destiny Rising, created by L.J. Smith (written by somebody), is the third and final book in The Hunters Trilogy as well as the tenth and final book in The Vampire Diaries novel series.
****may contain spoilers****
Elena has faced countless challenges—being in a deadly love triangle between Stefan and Damon Salvatore; turning into a vampire; sacrificing herself for Stefan and Damon by killing Katherine, along with her; killing Klaus for the first time; coming back to life; facing the Kitsune; escaping the Dark Dimension; defeating phantoms; and discovering she's a Guardian. And now Elena faces Dalcrest College—the university where her parents met—being overrun by vampires who want to resurrect Klaus—.
I enjoy this book. Very much. It wasn't as good as the L.J. Smith novels, but it's still good.
US COVER
I really like this cover. Like the previous covers, this cover has a person who looks like a character in the actual book—and the character on the cover is Bonnie. I also like the logo and the ribbon. But the one thing that seems weird is that shouldn't the girl's face be on the other side of the cover? With this girl's face being on the other side of the cover—the same side as the guy on Moonsong, the previous installment—stops the pattern of faces matching. Or is this girl not liking that guy? Moonsong (US cover) is considered the WORST cover of them all—and I actually agree. And, also-also, I wished they kept the background black, like The Return Trilogy. For some reason, it looks like they're trying to get the design different from the one's written by L.J. Smith. Plus, that's another problem. It ain't written by L.J. Smith! And the whole "created by" part ruins it for be—a bit. But, still, at least they managed to stay close to the character's appearance.
UK COVER
This cover, I have to say, is one of the best UK covers. Okay, I'm not much of a butterfly person—though I do care about them a lot—but that doesn't mean the cover can't look great. I didn't really like the apple—they need to be more original!—and the candle covers that are on The Awakening and The Struggle (apple cover), and The Fury and The Reunion (candle cover). I also didn't like the Nightfall cover with the feather and blood. I did like the Shadow Souls—the cover with the key and blood (of course they'd have more blood—they have vampires in it)—and the Midnight cover. But I didn't really like the Phantom cover. (They need to get the TV series cover, already!) And the Moonsong cover? Well, they can be original...not....
The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters: Destiny Rising, created by L.J. Smith (written by somebody), is the third and final book in The Hunters Trilogy as well as the tenth and final book in The Vampire Diaries novel series.
****may contain spoilers****
Elena has faced countless challenges—being in a deadly love triangle between Stefan and Damon Salvatore; turning into a vampire; sacrificing herself for Stefan and Damon by killing Katherine, along with her; killing Klaus for the first time; coming back to life; facing the Kitsune; escaping the Dark Dimension; defeating phantoms; and discovering she's a Guardian. And now Elena faces Dalcrest College—the university where her parents met—being overrun by vampires who want to resurrect Klaus—.
I enjoy this book. Very much. It wasn't as good as the L.J. Smith novels, but it's still good.
US COVER
I really like this cover. Like the previous covers, this cover has a person who looks like a character in the actual book—and the character on the cover is Bonnie. I also like the logo and the ribbon. But the one thing that seems weird is that shouldn't the girl's face be on the other side of the cover? With this girl's face being on the other side of the cover—the same side as the guy on Moonsong, the previous installment—stops the pattern of faces matching. Or is this girl not liking that guy? Moonsong (US cover) is considered the WORST cover of them all—and I actually agree. And, also-also, I wished they kept the background black, like The Return Trilogy. For some reason, it looks like they're trying to get the design different from the one's written by L.J. Smith. Plus, that's another problem. It ain't written by L.J. Smith! And the whole "created by" part ruins it for be—a bit. But, still, at least they managed to stay close to the character's appearance.
UK COVER
This cover, I have to say, is one of the best UK covers. Okay, I'm not much of a butterfly person—though I do care about them a lot—but that doesn't mean the cover can't look great. I didn't really like the apple—they need to be more original!—and the candle covers that are on The Awakening and The Struggle (apple cover), and The Fury and The Reunion (candle cover). I also didn't like the Nightfall cover with the feather and blood. I did like the Shadow Souls—the cover with the key and blood (of course they'd have more blood—they have vampires in it)—and the Midnight cover. But I didn't really like the Phantom cover. (They need to get the TV series cover, already!) And the Moonsong cover? Well, they can be original...not....
January 9, 2013
Please tell me this is the last one...
November 7, 2012
well, im disappointed with this book! i am a super delena fan and this book was nothing but stelena!! i just dont understand why elena does damon the way she does. damon would do anything for elena and instead she chooses boring stefan. elena always has fun with damon and she smiles and laughs and has a good time. stefan is always serious and it seems like she never smiles that much. i think she made a wrong decision in the brother she chose. she said her and stefan would be together forever and that she cares for damon but when he leaves she starts crying. she really gets on my nerves. she treats damon so unfair...she needs to wake up and realize whats infront of her and choose DAMON!!! =)
October 24, 2012
What are they doing to this wonderful series???? Please people; stop writing this garbage that you are trying to pass as VD material...I am so angry and disappointed after reading this book I feel like crying. This book is badly written, boring, senseless and so dull it made my head hurt. The reason why these ghost writers don't leave this series alone escapes me. I do not understand why they are butchering those beloved characters into parodies of themselves. It is SAD... SO, SO SAD! Don't even bother reading this crap. If you are a true fan of Elena, Damon and Stefan (besides the other characters) this book will leave you reeling with anger... urggg... I WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY AND/OR READ THESE HORRENDOUS BOOKS! L.J, we miss you SOOOOO much...
April 5, 2013
I won't read any of the ghostwritten books for The Secret Circle series or The Hunters series. By giving a 1 star to these books, I'm showing my dislike for Alloy Entertainment & HarperCollins for firing L.J. Smith.
*On another note - spoilers*
I asked a friend about the end (no, I didn't bought the book!) and she told me Elena stays with Stefan...so now I'm super happy I didn't bother reading this book! After all this crap...Stefan? Really? That's the best you can do? I admit I would have re-considered reading it if the end was different...You bring Damon back to life just for Elena to reject him? That's just cruel and a f***ing bad joke.
*On another note - spoilers*
I asked a friend about the end (no, I didn't bought the book!) and she told me Elena stays with Stefan...so now I'm super happy I didn't bother reading this book! After all this crap...Stefan? Really? That's the best you can do? I admit I would have re-considered reading it if the end was different...You bring Damon back to life just for Elena to reject him? That's just cruel and a f***ing bad joke.
February 10, 2018
I have 100 more pages but we know it's not gonna get better...3more books and i'll finally finish the series i started in 2012
*UPDATE*
wow...the last 100pages are complete bullshit..wow..i was wrong.it's a 1,5 star book.can't wait for the 11th installment
*UPDATE*
wow...the last 100pages are complete bullshit..wow..i was wrong.it's a 1,5 star book.can't wait for the 11th installment
February 6, 2025
Good will come to those who wait. It's still quite ridiculous, but I confess, Elena and Katherine actually being half-sisters on their mother's side is a very interesting twist. And Katherine may not be so bad, after all? I am intrigued.
October 27, 2024
Ο καιρός περνάει πάρα πολύ γρήγορα, τελικά. Όταν σκέφτομαι πότε ξεκίνησα να διαβάζω τα βιβλία της σειράς "Vampire Diaries" και που βρίσκομαι σήμερα, σχεδόν σοκάρομαι. Αλλά αυτή είναι μια πονεμένη ιστορία που σχετίζεται με το ότι μεγαλώνω και που καθόλου δεν σας νοιάζει. Λογικό! Τέλος πάντων, το δέκατο βιβλίο της σειράς κυκλοφορεί από τις εκδόσεις Ψυχογιός και μετά από πάρα πολύ καιρό, οι αναγνώστες και φανατικοί της σειράς της Smith, θα μπορέσουν στις σελίδες του να βρουν στοιχεία τα οποία με κάποιον τρόπο και σε έναν βαθμό, συνδέονται με γεγονότα που έχουμε ήδη παρακολουθήσει στην τηλεοπτική μεταφορά του καναλιού CW. Δεν ξέρω για εσάς, αλλά για μένα, αυτή ήταν μια ευχάριστη έκπληξη.
Η Έλενα, αφού έχει περάσει για μια ακόμη φορά του Χριστού τα Πάθη, επιστρέφει στην πόλη της προσπαθώντας να χτίσει ξανά από την αρχή μια φυσιολογική ζωή. Όμως, πόσο φυσιολογική μπορεί να είναι αυτή όταν η ίδια είναι πλέον Φρουρός, εκπληρώνοντας ένα πεπρωμένο που ποτέ δεν θέλησε να έχει και που στοίχισε τη ζωή των γονιών της, όταν ο Ντέιμον, πληγωμένος από την απόρριψή της, απομονώνεται, κλείνεται στον εαυτό του και επιτρέπει στην χειρότερη πτυχή του να ξυπνήσει ξανά και να αναλάβει δράση, ενώ παράλληλα, βρικόλακες καταφθάνουν από κάθε γωνιά της Γης υπό την καθοδήγηση του Κλάους ο οποίος έχει αναστηθεί; Μάλλον, καθόλου! Η Έλενα, λοιπόν, θα πρέπει να κάνει ό,τι μπορεί, όχι μόνο για να ανταποκριθεί στο νέο της ρόλο, αλλά και για να προστατέψει όλους εκείνους που αγαπάει.
Αν και το έχουμε ξαναπεί στο παρελθόν, θα κάνω ξανά μια αναφορά στο γεγονός πως, αν και η σειρά στην Ελλάδα κυκλοφορεί με το όνομα της Smith στο εξώφυλλο, από ένα σημείο και μετά τα βιβλία δεν τα υπογράφει η ίδια αλλά ghostwriter. Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες, όσοι δεν το γνωρίζατε, μπορείτε να ρίξετε μια ματιά στα παλαιότερα reviews μας. Το γεγονός, λοιπόν, πως η σειρά άλλαξε συγγραφέα, μάλλον βρήκε σε καλό αφού τόσο ο τρόπος γραφής, όσο και η ροή της αφήγησης, έχουν κάτι πιο φρέσκο και πιο σύγχρονο να προσφέρουν στο αναγνωστικό κοινό κατά συνέπεια, διαβάζονται πολύ πιο ευχάριστα και δεν πιάνουμε τον εαυτό μας να χάνεται ανάμεσα σε μη χρήσιμες φλυαρίες, στις οποίες υπέπεφτε πολύ η Smith ειδικά στα τελευταία βιβλία που υπέγραψε εκείνη. Πιο ουσιαστικές και στοχευμένες ιστορίες, φέρνουν μεγαλύτερο κοινό και μάλιστα, πιο ικανοποιημένο κοινό.
Σαφέστατα και κάποια στιγμή όλο αυτό πρέπει να φτάσει σε ένα τέλος, καθώς έχει αρχίζει να φαντάζει υπερβολικό το γεγονός πως όλα τα δεινά του πλανήτη έχουν ως στόχο την Έλενα, την παρέα και την πόλη της. Σαφέστατα και τα βιβλία απευθύνονται σε ένα κοινό πιο νεανικό. Σαφέστατα και κάθε πράγμα κάνει τον κύκλο του. Παρ' όλα ταύτα, όμως, δεν μπορούμε να μην αναγνωρίσουμε την εξέλιξη των χαρακτήρων αλλά και πως τα τρία τελευταία βιβλία, καταφέρνουν να ισορροπούν ανάμεσα στο συναίσθημα και στη δράση, στον ρομάντζο και την περιπέτεια, το μεταφυσικό με το ρεαλιστικό, προσφέροντας στους νεαρούς fans της λογοτεχνικής αυτής κατηγορίας, αυτό που θα τους ικανοποιήσει.
Η Έλενα, αφού έχει περάσει για μια ακόμη φορά του Χριστού τα Πάθη, επιστρέφει στην πόλη της προσπαθώντας να χτίσει ξανά από την αρχή μια φυσιολογική ζωή. Όμως, πόσο φυσιολογική μπορεί να είναι αυτή όταν η ίδια είναι πλέον Φρουρός, εκπληρώνοντας ένα πεπρωμένο που ποτέ δεν θέλησε να έχει και που στοίχισε τη ζωή των γονιών της, όταν ο Ντέιμον, πληγωμένος από την απόρριψή της, απομονώνεται, κλείνεται στον εαυτό του και επιτρέπει στην χειρότερη πτυχή του να ξυπνήσει ξανά και να αναλάβει δράση, ενώ παράλληλα, βρικόλακες καταφθάνουν από κάθε γωνιά της Γης υπό την καθοδήγηση του Κλάους ο οποίος έχει αναστηθεί; Μάλλον, καθόλου! Η Έλενα, λοιπόν, θα πρέπει να κάνει ό,τι μπορεί, όχι μόνο για να ανταποκριθεί στο νέο της ρόλο, αλλά και για να προστατέψει όλους εκείνους που αγαπάει.
Αν και το έχουμε ξαναπεί στο παρελθόν, θα κάνω ξανά μια αναφορά στο γεγονός πως, αν και η σειρά στην Ελλάδα κυκλοφορεί με το όνομα της Smith στο εξώφυλλο, από ένα σημείο και μετά τα βιβλία δεν τα υπογράφει η ίδια αλλά ghostwriter. Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες, όσοι δεν το γνωρίζατε, μπορείτε να ρίξετε μια ματιά στα παλαιότερα reviews μας. Το γεγονός, λοιπόν, πως η σειρά άλλαξε συγγραφέα, μάλλον βρήκε σε καλό αφού τόσο ο τρόπος γραφής, όσο και η ροή της αφήγησης, έχουν κάτι πιο φρέσκο και πιο σύγχρονο να προσφέρουν στο αναγνωστικό κοινό κατά συνέπεια, διαβάζονται πολύ πιο ευχάριστα και δεν πιάνουμε τον εαυτό μας να χάνεται ανάμεσα σε μη χρήσιμες φλυαρίες, στις οποίες υπέπεφτε πολύ η Smith ειδικά στα τελευταία βιβλία που υπέγραψε εκείνη. Πιο ουσιαστικές και στοχευμένες ιστορίες, φέρνουν μεγαλύτερο κοινό και μάλιστα, πιο ικανοποιημένο κοινό.
Σαφέστατα και κάποια στιγμή όλο αυτό πρέπει να φτάσει σε ένα τέλος, καθώς έχει αρχίζει να φαντάζει υπερβολικό το γεγονός πως όλα τα δεινά του πλανήτη έχουν ως στόχο την Έλενα, την παρέα και την πόλη της. Σαφέστατα και τα βιβλία απευθύνονται σε ένα κοινό πιο νεανικό. Σαφέστατα και κάθε πράγμα κάνει τον κύκλο του. Παρ' όλα ταύτα, όμως, δεν μπορούμε να μην αναγνωρίσουμε την εξέλιξη των χαρακτήρων αλλά και πως τα τρία τελευταία βιβλία, καταφέρνουν να ισορροπούν ανάμεσα στο συναίσθημα και στη δράση, στον ρομάντζο και την περιπέτεια, το μεταφυσικό με το ρεαλιστικό, προσφέροντας στους νεαρούς fans της λογοτεχνικής αυτής κατηγορίας, αυτό που θα τους ικανοποιήσει.
March 11, 2017
I definitely just read it to read it and get another book for my yearly goal... cause i swear its a blur but oh well... still counts right?
January 27, 2013
Elena faces many decisions in this book in the Vampire Diaries: The Hunters. Her first decision was to choose between the two beautiful Salvatore brothers. She chooses Stefan and Damon isn’t too happy. She also learns that she has the option to be a Guardian of earth. She doesn’t want to be one because of how nasty the Guardians can be and she doesn’t want to turn into one of them. But there is a new threat to the world and Elena and her friends will do whatever they can to save it from the danger. The Vitale vampires raised old powerful Klaus from the dead and now he is out to get Elena for killing him. Being a Guardian will help Elena in the fight against Klaus because she will receive new powers. After she meets another fellow earth Guardian and realizes she can still be herself while being a Guardian, she decides she will be one. Damon isn't taking rejection well and he goes back to his old ways of killing innocent girls while feeding. This upsets the Guardians and they tell Elena to kill Damon as one of her task as earth Guardian. Elena has the option of killing Damon and accessing her full powers as Guardian to fight Klaus and save her friends and world form danger. She is determined to not have to make that choice and tries to find another way to save the world without killing Damon.
This was probably the most intense book out of the three Vampire Diaries: The Hunters. I felt bad for Damon when he was heartbroken by Elena’s choice and then later finds out that the girl he loves is assigned to kill him. He is just getting the shorter end of the stick in this book. I was also happy for Elena that her mind is finally at peace with who she really loves with all her heart. This book had a lot more action and fighting in it than the others. The way the author describe the fights scenes was easy to understand of what was going on. Mysteries are finally revealed in this book and it shocked me when I read them. You don’t expect what is revealed which was a nice twist to the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is fan of vampire and romance novels. This book has a nice balance of both love and vampires. You would never expect what happens next and it keeps you wondering what is going to happen. Also not everyone is as they seem. The characters true selves and identities might shock you. There are big secrets finally told and you won’t believe it when you read it.
This was probably the most intense book out of the three Vampire Diaries: The Hunters. I felt bad for Damon when he was heartbroken by Elena’s choice and then later finds out that the girl he loves is assigned to kill him. He is just getting the shorter end of the stick in this book. I was also happy for Elena that her mind is finally at peace with who she really loves with all her heart. This book had a lot more action and fighting in it than the others. The way the author describe the fights scenes was easy to understand of what was going on. Mysteries are finally revealed in this book and it shocked me when I read them. You don’t expect what is revealed which was a nice twist to the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is fan of vampire and romance novels. This book has a nice balance of both love and vampires. You would never expect what happens next and it keeps you wondering what is going to happen. Also not everyone is as they seem. The characters true selves and identities might shock you. There are big secrets finally told and you won’t believe it when you read it.
February 10, 2013
The Vampire Diaries are a series of novels (1-10) written by L.J.Smith. Can I first point out that the TV show is BASED on the novels, not the other way around. I picked up the first and second book in early December 2011 and was hooked by the end of it. I loved the plot, the characters and even the damn setting was amazing and made the novel much more effective. I was literally screaming at the end of the second novel.
With that being said, I bought the third, fourth and fifth books a couple of days later and finished all three of them in four days. I couldn't put them down! By the end of January, I had caught up with the series. I had read 1-8 and was ecstatic about the release of book 9 in March. I was even more ecstatic when I got the ninth book for my birthday. I finished that within a week (it took me longer to read as we were in Orlando at the time on holidays and the only chance I got time to read was on the plane (a nine hour flight), in the queues for the rides or in the car going to the parks) None the less I finished it and could not wait until October for the 10th and final book. I got the 10th book the day it came out and finished it a week later on the bus coming back from my friends house.
I was very sad that the series had ended and wished for more books. The final ending was indeed very good and all loose ends are tied together (Including the mystery of why Elena and Katherine look alike!) and even thought it wasn't the ending I had had hoped for, it was still a very good ending. I have re-read the books so many times at this stage and I still love them to bits!
I haven't been able to find a vampire series since that has been as good as The Vampire Diaries and I honestly think that the novel series should be more well known. The Vampire Diaries are my favourite series of books and wouldn't be replaced for a long long time!
With that being said, I bought the third, fourth and fifth books a couple of days later and finished all three of them in four days. I couldn't put them down! By the end of January, I had caught up with the series. I had read 1-8 and was ecstatic about the release of book 9 in March. I was even more ecstatic when I got the ninth book for my birthday. I finished that within a week (it took me longer to read as we were in Orlando at the time on holidays and the only chance I got time to read was on the plane (a nine hour flight), in the queues for the rides or in the car going to the parks) None the less I finished it and could not wait until October for the 10th and final book. I got the 10th book the day it came out and finished it a week later on the bus coming back from my friends house.
I was very sad that the series had ended and wished for more books. The final ending was indeed very good and all loose ends are tied together (Including the mystery of why Elena and Katherine look alike!) and even thought it wasn't the ending I had had hoped for, it was still a very good ending. I have re-read the books so many times at this stage and I still love them to bits!
I haven't been able to find a vampire series since that has been as good as The Vampire Diaries and I honestly think that the novel series should be more well known. The Vampire Diaries are my favourite series of books and wouldn't be replaced for a long long time!
October 31, 2012
Disclaimer: Yes, I am aware of the ghostwriter issue. I'm also aware that L.J. Smith finetunes her answers, so if you're a D/E fan, she says she was fired for wanting D/E; if you like B/D, she says she was fired for wanting more of them. Etc. Long story short: I bet there were a lot more reasons she was fired than she'll ever say, and since the publisher isn't divulging anyhing, the readership will never know the whole story.
September 26, 2012
these ghost -written books are terrible. Elena was a complete character with her own personality. Part of this personality was her stubbornness and an unwillingness to give up. in these new books she has had a personality transplant and is now a whiny brat where she was intelligent and scheming. Prone to give in wher she was stubborn and unswerving.
October 30, 2012
It sucked. There is nothing else I can possibly say about it.
On a side note - I read the book online, for free. I refuse to buy it because I don't support the fact that a publishing company ruins good literature for the sake of profits and popular opinion. If only L.J. Smith had finished the series the way she wanted to... if only.
ugh.
On a side note - I read the book online, for free. I refuse to buy it because I don't support the fact that a publishing company ruins good literature for the sake of profits and popular opinion. If only L.J. Smith had finished the series the way she wanted to... if only.
ugh.
March 6, 2024
Calificación: ⭐✨(1.7)
Opinión:
"The Hunters: Destiny Rising" cierra la serie con un intento desigual de atar cabos sueltos y satisfacer las expectativas de los fans. Uno de los problemas más notables es la introducción de elementos que, aunque prometedores en teoría, no se exploran adecuadamente en la narrativa. La revelación de la verdadera identidad de los personajes, como la conexión entre Elena y Katherine como medias hermanas, se siente subdesarrollada y apresurada. Este giro, que podría haber añadido capas de complejidad emocional, se presenta de manera tan superficial que apenas deja impacto. 📚
La inclusión de Klaus como el principal antagonista también resulta problemática. Aunque su regreso debería haber generado un conflicto emocionante, la ejecución carece de la construcción necesaria. El enfrentamiento final con Klaus se siente apresurado y desprovisto de la intensidad que se esperaría en el clímax de una serie tan larga. 🤔
La resolución de los conflictos tampoco escapa de estas críticas. Las soluciones a los dilemas presentados, como la capacidad de la sangre de Elena para matar a los vampiros originales, carecen de una preparación adecuada. Un ejemplo claro es el desenlace de la confrontación con Klaus, donde la revelación de la vulnerabilidad de los vampiros originales se presenta de manera casi improvisada, sin una construcción previa que la respalde. 🧐
Además, la dinámica entre los personajes principales, Stefan, Damon y Elena, también sufre en este libro. Las decisiones de los personajes, como la aceptación de Elena de ser una "Guardiana Terrenal" y la decisión de estar con Stefan, parecen abruptas y poco fundamentadas, dejando a los lectores preguntándose sobre la autenticidad de estas elecciones. 🤷♂️
En última instancia, "The Hunters: Destiny Rising" deja a los lectores con la sensación de que la serie podría haber alcanzado un nivel más alto si se hubiera manejado con más cuidado y atención a los detalles. La falta de coherencia narrativa y la ejecución apresurada eclipsan las cualidades que hicieron que los libros anteriores fueran tan cautivadores, resultando en un final que, aunque ofrece algunos momentos emocionantes, no logra estar a la altura de su potencial. 📖✨
Opinión:
"The Hunters: Destiny Rising" cierra la serie con un intento desigual de atar cabos sueltos y satisfacer las expectativas de los fans. Uno de los problemas más notables es la introducción de elementos que, aunque prometedores en teoría, no se exploran adecuadamente en la narrativa. La revelación de la verdadera identidad de los personajes, como la conexión entre Elena y Katherine como medias hermanas, se siente subdesarrollada y apresurada. Este giro, que podría haber añadido capas de complejidad emocional, se presenta de manera tan superficial que apenas deja impacto. 📚
La inclusión de Klaus como el principal antagonista también resulta problemática. Aunque su regreso debería haber generado un conflicto emocionante, la ejecución carece de la construcción necesaria. El enfrentamiento final con Klaus se siente apresurado y desprovisto de la intensidad que se esperaría en el clímax de una serie tan larga. 🤔
La resolución de los conflictos tampoco escapa de estas críticas. Las soluciones a los dilemas presentados, como la capacidad de la sangre de Elena para matar a los vampiros originales, carecen de una preparación adecuada. Un ejemplo claro es el desenlace de la confrontación con Klaus, donde la revelación de la vulnerabilidad de los vampiros originales se presenta de manera casi improvisada, sin una construcción previa que la respalde. 🧐
Además, la dinámica entre los personajes principales, Stefan, Damon y Elena, también sufre en este libro. Las decisiones de los personajes, como la aceptación de Elena de ser una "Guardiana Terrenal" y la decisión de estar con Stefan, parecen abruptas y poco fundamentadas, dejando a los lectores preguntándose sobre la autenticidad de estas elecciones. 🤷♂️
En última instancia, "The Hunters: Destiny Rising" deja a los lectores con la sensación de que la serie podría haber alcanzado un nivel más alto si se hubiera manejado con más cuidado y atención a los detalles. La falta de coherencia narrativa y la ejecución apresurada eclipsan las cualidades que hicieron que los libros anteriores fueran tan cautivadores, resultando en un final que, aunque ofrece algunos momentos emocionantes, no logra estar a la altura de su potencial. 📖✨
April 27, 2020
2.5/5 stars
March 9, 2015
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! 15 MINUTES INTO MY 21ST BIRTHDAY AND I FIND MYSELF WRITING A REVIEW FOR A MEDIOCRE YOUNG ADULT VAMPIRE BOOK...IT'S A GOOD LIFE
Before I Read the Book...
Elena...you better realize in this book that choosing Stefan was a mistake.
...you bitch.
Summary of the Story
Before the gang can stop a still alive (maybe next time make sure the bad guy is actually dead before leaving the room, just a thought) Ethan from resurrecting Klaus, the unthinkable happens.
While Reading
What I Thought
I feel like the reason why Alloy didn't want L.J. to write the books anymore was because she was pro Dalena...now this new author seems like she's trying to force them farther and farther apart. I mean, yes, they have this bond connecting them now, but she keeps telling him she wants Stefan so...it's just annoying.
BRING DALENA BACK
is what I'm saying.
Before I Read the Book...
Elena...you better realize in this book that choosing Stefan was a mistake.
...you bitch.
Summary of the Story
Before the gang can stop a still alive (maybe next time make sure the bad guy is actually dead before leaving the room, just a thought) Ethan from resurrecting Klaus, the unthinkable happens.
While Reading
What I Thought
I feel like the reason why Alloy didn't want L.J. to write the books anymore was because she was pro Dalena...now this new author seems like she's trying to force them farther and farther apart. I mean, yes, they have this bond connecting them now, but she keeps telling him she wants Stefan so...it's just annoying.
BRING DALENA BACK
is what I'm saying.
November 12, 2012
I've avoided publishing this review--I finished over a week ago and just couldn't bring myself to give a Vampire Diaries book a slash, but here goes.
Yet another trilogy in The Vampire Diaries novel series (the Return was the last trilogy written by L.J.Smith), this ‘should’ be the last book in The Hunters series. I started with the very first Vampire Diaries book after the TV series started, so I feel invested in the story. Even though ghostwriters took over, I’ve stuck with them. Don’t mind saying, the ghostwriters are not nearly as good at storytelling, don’t paint vivid word pictures, and haven’t exactly held my interest. But I’m a die-hard.
Destiny Rising continues the story of our characters at college. A tad ‘too’ much, this one was a lot of rehash from the second ‘Hunters’ book--with the exception of more Klaus. Felt kinda like the ghostwriters are trying to make the books parallel the TV show, instead of the other way around. Klaus was a minor character in the early book story, but has been blown to unnecessary proportions in this one. Lots of readers ‘hated’ the alive/dead/vampire/specter/human parts of Elena in the book series, um, the Klaus resurrection in this one? Kinda crossed a line with me. Yes, and you might hate that fact that Elena goes through yet another transformation in this one. Thinking that’s why the title--Elena finally fulfills her ‘Destiny’. For now.
Disappointed that the love ‘triangle’--which again, a lot of readers are done with, got shoved under the carpet in this one, but I guess the powers that be finally got the ending they wanted with the exit of L.J. Smith. The unnecessary Vitale Society carries on in this book, as well as the whole good vampires teaming with werewolves to defeat the Big Bad (Klaus again). Not enough explanation of the magical way any of the plot points come about, nor why mysteriously Alaric now, through reading, has magical powers of his own. Lame. Tragic love interest for Matt, uninteresting love interest for Bonnie. Damon pretty much gets alienated from everyone, targeted by the wrong element, returns to ‘the fold’ and gets shoved out the door at the end. With very little bonding with either his brother (one of the key elements that SHOULD be involved), or Elena (once again/still blind to anything but Stefan). The ending was rushed, forced, and left me thinking, “If this is the last of the present day Vampire Diaries series of books, that was IT?!” No. Just no.
I’m still reading the ‘Stefan’s Diaries’ series, which are all backstories, but don’t know how many more will be written. There’s more potential storyline there, but the writing is still weak. ‘Destiny Rising’ is worth reading if you want to see how the current writers see the finish of the story, but you won’t miss anything if you skip this one. *sigh*
Yet another trilogy in The Vampire Diaries novel series (the Return was the last trilogy written by L.J.Smith), this ‘should’ be the last book in The Hunters series. I started with the very first Vampire Diaries book after the TV series started, so I feel invested in the story. Even though ghostwriters took over, I’ve stuck with them. Don’t mind saying, the ghostwriters are not nearly as good at storytelling, don’t paint vivid word pictures, and haven’t exactly held my interest. But I’m a die-hard.
Destiny Rising continues the story of our characters at college. A tad ‘too’ much, this one was a lot of rehash from the second ‘Hunters’ book--with the exception of more Klaus. Felt kinda like the ghostwriters are trying to make the books parallel the TV show, instead of the other way around. Klaus was a minor character in the early book story, but has been blown to unnecessary proportions in this one. Lots of readers ‘hated’ the alive/dead/vampire/specter/human parts of Elena in the book series, um, the Klaus resurrection in this one? Kinda crossed a line with me. Yes, and you might hate that fact that Elena goes through yet another transformation in this one. Thinking that’s why the title--Elena finally fulfills her ‘Destiny’. For now.
Disappointed that the love ‘triangle’--which again, a lot of readers are done with, got shoved under the carpet in this one, but I guess the powers that be finally got the ending they wanted with the exit of L.J. Smith. The unnecessary Vitale Society carries on in this book, as well as the whole good vampires teaming with werewolves to defeat the Big Bad (Klaus again). Not enough explanation of the magical way any of the plot points come about, nor why mysteriously Alaric now, through reading, has magical powers of his own. Lame. Tragic love interest for Matt, uninteresting love interest for Bonnie. Damon pretty much gets alienated from everyone, targeted by the wrong element, returns to ‘the fold’ and gets shoved out the door at the end. With very little bonding with either his brother (one of the key elements that SHOULD be involved), or Elena (once again/still blind to anything but Stefan). The ending was rushed, forced, and left me thinking, “If this is the last of the present day Vampire Diaries series of books, that was IT?!” No. Just no.
I’m still reading the ‘Stefan’s Diaries’ series, which are all backstories, but don’t know how many more will be written. There’s more potential storyline there, but the writing is still weak. ‘Destiny Rising’ is worth reading if you want to see how the current writers see the finish of the story, but you won’t miss anything if you skip this one. *sigh*
November 22, 2022
Echt ik HAAT STELENA ZO HARD JDKZJDBZ🤮🤮ma oké dan, de plot twist was echt goe ik zag het niet aankomen dus daarom nog een sterretje 👍🏼 eindelijk deze serie uit
April 18, 2013
Het boek kent een uitstekend uitgangspunt wat geschapen is in het vorige boek en het begin belooft veel goeds, maar ergens heb ik het gevoel dat dit boek van hele losse eindjes aan elkaar hangt. Ja, het leest lekker weg en het is vermakelijk op je nachtkastje, ja het bevat hele leuke elementen, maar het was geen wow boek, geen "ik kan het niet wegleggen"-boek, geen spetterende climax, geen slot dat alles afrond. Ik denk dat in dit laatste deel pijnlijk duidelijk wordt dat het einde niet 100% klopt. Dit was niet waar de boeken naartoe bewogen en dit was niet hoe het had moeten aflopen en ow wat ben ik nu nieuwsgierig hoe het had MOETEN aflopen!
Over het boek zelf. Heel veel losse eindjes worden aan elkaar geknoopt, maar wat mij betreft gebeurt dit veel te snel en veel te "makkelijk". De problemen die onoverkomelijk zijn, blijken ineens met een knip van de vingers te zijn op te lossen. Het is verbazingwekkend hoe de climax verandert in een anti-climax. Er zitten wel hele spannende elementen in het verhaal, ook hele interessante elementen, maar het voelt niet als een afrondend geheel en het voelt voor mij een beetje onbevredigend. Er had meer in gezeten, dat voel ik, en ik vind het jammer dat dat er niet is uitgekomen. Er worden verhaallijnen afgeraffeld en ineens afgerond of verdraait. Verrassend in sommige opzichten, maar een beetje te makkelijk in veel anderen...de personages komen er eigenlijk veel te goed en makkelijk vanaf...
En waar ik me het allermeest aan stoor is de verhaallijn van Matt Honeycutt. Het spijt me verschrikkelijk, maar was het nu zo moeilijk om zijn verhaallijn ook even recht te trekken zoals je met de rest hebt gedaan? Serieus, dit voelt vet oneerlijk. De enige die het in mijn ogen ECHT verdiend had...
*SPOILER*Het einde van het boek is te klef voor woorden voor bijna iedereen...Meredith, Bonnie, Elena, Stefan, Damon, Katherine...en wie staat er met lege handen omdat de schrijvers het nodig vonden om zijn vriendinnetje af te slachten? Precies: Matt Honeycutt! Serieus...het hele einde is een lang en gelukkig, behalve van Matt. Volgens mij hebben de schrijvers een hekel aan hem...
Over het boek zelf. Heel veel losse eindjes worden aan elkaar geknoopt, maar wat mij betreft gebeurt dit veel te snel en veel te "makkelijk". De problemen die onoverkomelijk zijn, blijken ineens met een knip van de vingers te zijn op te lossen. Het is verbazingwekkend hoe de climax verandert in een anti-climax. Er zitten wel hele spannende elementen in het verhaal, ook hele interessante elementen, maar het voelt niet als een afrondend geheel en het voelt voor mij een beetje onbevredigend. Er had meer in gezeten, dat voel ik, en ik vind het jammer dat dat er niet is uitgekomen. Er worden verhaallijnen afgeraffeld en ineens afgerond of verdraait. Verrassend in sommige opzichten, maar een beetje te makkelijk in veel anderen...de personages komen er eigenlijk veel te goed en makkelijk vanaf...
En waar ik me het allermeest aan stoor is de verhaallijn van Matt Honeycutt. Het spijt me verschrikkelijk, maar was het nu zo moeilijk om zijn verhaallijn ook even recht te trekken zoals je met de rest hebt gedaan? Serieus, dit voelt vet oneerlijk. De enige die het in mijn ogen ECHT verdiend had...
*SPOILER*Het einde van het boek is te klef voor woorden voor bijna iedereen...Meredith, Bonnie, Elena, Stefan, Damon, Katherine...en wie staat er met lege handen omdat de schrijvers het nodig vonden om zijn vriendinnetje af te slachten? Precies: Matt Honeycutt! Serieus...het hele einde is een lang en gelukkig, behalve van Matt. Volgens mij hebben de schrijvers een hekel aan hem...
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