Read It Like You Stream It: The Vampire Diaries

Crave by Tracy Wolff

This book is perfect if you’re pining for more love triangles between a teenage girl and vampire brothers but also enjoy a flare of dark academia.

“Grace’s world changed when she joined the academy. At the academy she is a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. She can’t decide which faction she should join, or if she should join any of them. The one thing that unites them is their hatred of her. Then there’s Jaxon Vega, a vampire with deadly secrets who hasn’t felt anything for a hundred years. Jaxon has walled himself off for a reason. Does someone want to wake the sleeping monster in him? Is Grace the bait?” (COSMOS)

The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh

If the historical flashbacks of the show were one of your favorite parts, this gripping paranormal mystery, set in the 1800s, is right for you. Better yet, it even takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana – fingers crossed TVD’s very own Klaus makes an appearance in “his” kingdom. 

“In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans is a safe haven after she’s forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent in the middle of the carnival season, Celine is quickly enraptured by the vibrant city, from its music to its fancy soirées and even its danger. She becomes embroiled in the city’s glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group’s enigmatic leader, Sébastien Saint Germain. When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in Sébastien’s own lair–the second dead girl to turn up in recent weeks–Celine battles her attraction to Sébastien and suspicions about his guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.” (COSMOS)

Vampires, Hearts, & Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston

Like you, the author of this book is a big fan of TVD. This book is full of fun Easter eggs and, like The Beautiful, it takes place in New Orleans! Fuston’s book has all of the emotion of the most tear-jerking episode, explores strong parent/child relationships, and has the same blend of paranormal and modern society as Mystic Falls.

“Victoria and her dad have shared a love of the undead since the first vampire revealed his existence on live TV. Public fear soon drove the vampires back into hiding, yet Victoria and her father still dream about finding a vampire together. When her dad is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Victoria vows to find a vampire, so that she can become one and then save her father. Armed with research, speculations, and desperation– and helped by her estranged best friend, Henry– Victoria travels to New Orleans in search of a miracle. She meets Nicholas, who might give her what she desires. But first, he needs Victoria to prove she loves life enough to live forever.” (From Jacket)

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

If Bonnie Bennet was your favorite TVD character but you felt like they did her dirty in the show, this is the right book for you. Deonn was inspired to write this book because of her dissatisfaction with Bonnie’s character arc and treatment, writing a story where she could imagine her getting all of the exciting, romantic, dark academia vibes she deserved.

After her mother dies in an accident, Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC-Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape– until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus. A young mage who calls himself a ‘Merlin’ attempts– and fails– to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw. His failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.” (Adapted from Jacket)

Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

If you enjoyed the darker tones of vampire diaries, then you’re sure to love this dark academia, gothic romantasy. The main male love interest, Susenyos Sagad, is like a cross between TVD’s Damon and Klaus, serving all of the broody, arrogant, and secretly tragic vibes.

“Orphaned heiress Kidan Adane grew up far from the arcane society she was born into, where human bloodlines gain power through vampire companionship. When her sister, June, disappears, Kidan is convinced a vampire stole her—the very vampire bound to their family, the cruel yet captivating Susenyos Sagad. To find June, Kidan must infiltrate the elite Uxlay University—where students study to ensure peaceful coexistence between humans and vampires and inherit their family legacies. Kidan must survive living with Susenyos—even as he does everything he can to drive her away. It doesn’t matter that Susenyos’s wickedness speaks to Kidan’s own violent nature and tempts her to surrender to a life of darkness. She must find her sister and kill Susenyos at all costs.” (Amazon)

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Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

We could talk about the vampires in TVD all day, but let’s not forget about the wolves! Shiver is the first book in a trilogy that is perfect for anyone who found themselves more invested in the show after the wolves were introduced, doesn’t have time for love triangles, and wishes the main female character was a bit more grounded (think a spiced up Bella from Twilight).

“For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf–her wolf–is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, in the frozen woods, in the protection of the pack, and in the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human–or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.” (Amazon)

Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton

TVD has done many interesting but short storylines in its eight season run, like their siren story arc. For those who wish the show had explored those supernaturals a bit more, try Burton’s fresh, hypnotic, and intrigue-ridden fantasy novel!

“Saoirse Sorkova survives on lies. As a soldier-in-training at the most prestigious barracks in the kingdom, she lies about being a siren to avoid execution. At night, working as an assassin for a dangerous group of mercenaries, Saoirse lies about her true identity. And to her family, Saoirse tells the biggest lie of all: that she can control her siren powers and doesn’t struggle constantly against an impulse to kill. But when a mysterious blackmailer threatens her sister, Saoirse takes a dangerous job that will help her investigate: she becomes personal bodyguard to the crown prince. When he turns out to be kind, thoughtful, and charming, Saoirse finds herself increasingly drawn to him-especially when they’re forced to work together to stop a deadly killer who’s plaguing the city. There’s only one problem: Saoirse is that deadly killer.” (Adapted from publisher)

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

Vampires, witches, and werewolves – oh my! While TVD may have “vampire” in the title, it had everything from hybrids to doppelgangers to even the occasional siren. Hunter’s “Shadow Falls” series is perfect for readers looking to explore a vast and diverse paranormal world with unique creatures and powers, all while maintaining the sense of strong core friendships that make up the heart of TVD.

“Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens—but within hours of arriving, it becomes clear that her fellow campers aren’t “troubled.” Here, supernaturals train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic, and live in the normal world. They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought to Shadow Falls for a reason. Enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half Fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a brooding werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Even though Kylie is uncertain about everything, she starts to realize that Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…” (Adapted from Amazon)

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Armstrong’s “Darkest Powers” trilogy is another great series for those who love diverse paranormal creatures, with unique supernaturals like necromancers and poltergeists. This series has a love triangle between the main female character and two brothers, high stakes, and a found family that would even soften Damon Salvatore’s heart.

“My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again. All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don’t even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost—and the ghost saw me.Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won’t leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a “special home” for troubled teens. Yet the home isn’t what it seems. Don’t tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It’s up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House . . . before its skeletons come back to haunt me.” (Amazon)

The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

Here is another witch-centric book that captures the modern-day magical realism of TVD. Baptistes’ story dives into witch lore that TVD only scratched the surface of and stars an ingenious, powerful witch that would do anything to protect the people she loves … just like another witch we know …

“In a country divided between humans and witchers, Venus Stoneheart hustles as a brewer, making illegal love potions to support her family. Love potions is a dangerous business. Brewing has painful, debilitating side effects, and getting caught means death or a prison sentence. But what Venus is most afraid of is the dark, sentient magic within her. Then an enemy’s iron bullet kills her mother, Venus’s life implodes. Keeping her reckless little sister Janus safe is now her responsibility. When the powerful Grand Witcher, the ruthless head of her coven, offers Venus the chance to punish her mother’s killer, she has to pay a steep price for revenge.” (COSMOS)

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening by L.J. Smith

Did you know this show started as a book series? And the best news is, it’s very different from the show, giving you plenty of new twists and turns to let you fall in love with these characters all over again.