In fact, Smith signed a "work for hire" contract back when she had written the original Vampire Diaries novel trilogy, which means Alloy owns the copyrights to the series.

The Awakening (ISBN 978-1-4449-0071-2) is the first novel in the Vampire Diaries series and introduces the main cast of characters Elena, Stefan, Matt, Bonnie, Caroline and Meredith.

The plot of the novel revolves around the romance between Stefan Salvatore and Elena Gilbert and the group's attempts to understand the brutal attacks that have taken place in Fell's Church.

After the murder of their past history teacher Elena attempts to prove Stefan's innocence after he is accused of committing the crime and Damon looks into Alaric Saltzman's role in all of this.

The Fury introduces Katherine as a villain with the plot revolving around a newly turned Elena trying to cope with the stresses of becoming a vampire.

After saving Damon from the horrible Malach that has taken over his body the duo take on Shinichi and Misao, who are planning on killing Bonnie and Meredith.

The Return: Shadow Souls (ISBN 978-0-06-172083-3) takes place after the events of Nightfall and follows Damon, Elena and Matt as they attempt to travel into the Dark Dimension.

When they arrive in the brutal Dark Dimension Elena saves a woman named Ulma and she helps them find the first half of a Fox Key that is needed to rescue Stefan.

Damon, Bonnie, Elena and Meredith attend a party hosted by a woman named Bloddeuwedd who transforms into a huge owl every night.

After shooting the hologram of Shinichi with blessed bullets, Elena attempts to coax Stefan back to health and Damon is transformed into a human after a terrible coincidence.

The Return: Midnight (ISBN 978-0-06-172085-7) begins after Damon has become a human and starts with him tricking Bonnie into giving him Misao's powerful star-ball that can lead him back into the Dark Dimension.

Meredith reveals herself as a Hunter-Slayer a skill that she inherited after Klaus attacked her family and turned her brother Cristian into a vampire.

Matt, Meredith and Mrs. Flowers-the owner of the Salvatore boarding house-attempt to stop her while Damon, who has newly returned to his vampire status, joins up with Stefan, Bonnie and Elena to find the Seven Kitsune Treasures.

It begins with Meredith Sulez fiancé-to-be Alaric Saltzman returning from Japan with a fellow researcher Celia Conner.

Since the Guardians changed the realities of Fells Church (so that all the evil that Klaus, Katherine, and the kitsune twins committed never happened), Elena is no longer dead and she is able to see her Aunt Judith and her sister Margaret again.

Damon manages to escape from the Dark Dimension after it is revealed that the embers of the star-ball Elena destroyed revived him after his death in The Return: Midnight.

In The Hunters: Moonsong (written by a ghostwriter) Elena, Stefan, Matt, Bonnie and Meredith are all attending Dalcrest college just a few hours away from Fell's Church.

Elena chooses to part ways with both Damon and Stefan after they begin to battle over her again leading the two brothers to bond over their shared misery.

Zander reveals himself as a werewolf making Bonnie believe that he is the killer, but a few hundred feet away Ethan Crane is beginning a ritual with the fellow Vitales.

Ethan Crane reveals that he is intent on bringing back the powerful Original vampire Klaus and that he wants to gift him the massive army that he has assembled.

Bonnie places spells sealing up the tunnels from the outside so that no one finds the dead vampires until they have been disposed of, though Ethan actually survived his wounds and now has all of the ingredients he needs to resurrect Klaus.

Klaus instantly kills Ethan and wounds Zander, telling Elena to watch her back before vanishing into the woods.

She is given lessons in mastering her powers by another Earthly Guardian named Andres - who works with her history professor, James - who helps her understand her skills.

Damon is hunting humans again, causing Stefan and Elena to hide his actions from the rest of the group, who already dislike the more sarcastic Salvatore brother.

Meredith runs Cristian through with a stake, killing him instantly, while Damon and Stefan battle against the countless other vampires Klaus has brought with him.

The Originals started half way through the run of The Vampire Diaries, with Legacies airing after the series finale of both shows.

It tells the story of teenager Elena Gilbert, who, while visiting an art gallery, witnesses her little sister being a victim of a bat-like animal.