In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren, which allows bloggers to share what books they’ve received in the past week. They can be from stores, contests, tours or publishers!

• Soul Screamers: Vol 1 by Rachel Vincent (purchased)
• Reckoning by Lili St. Crow (purchased)
• Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (purchased)
• Unleashed by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie (purchased)
• The Return: Nightfall by L.J. Smith (library)
• The Return: Shadow Souls by L.J. Smith (purchased)
• The Return: Midnight by L.J. Smith (purchased)
• Stefan’s Diaries: The Ripper by Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec (purchased)

Lots of The Vampire Diaries this week. I read books two to four of the original series after getting a random craving and ended up getting sucked back in. I had to get more so that’s how I ended up with the next three L.J. Smith books and the fourth book in the Stefan spinoff. I double dipped and bought the Soul Screamers omnibus because I wanted the My Soul To Lose prequel in print. I’m guessing that’s their selling strategy. I still haven’t started the Strange Angels series but at least I have them all now for whenever I get around to it. I wasn’t intending on purchasing this cover for Under The Never Sky, I was going to get the pink and white one, but when I saw it instore early here in Australia I couldn’t wait. Finally, Unleashed was one I ordered a couple weeks ago. I haven’t read a lot of werewolf books, I’m more into vampires myself, but the cover intrigued me. It reminds me a bit of Fallen.

Here are my latest reviews if you want to check them out:
Barnes, Jennifer Lynn, Every Other Day
Smith, L.J. The Vampire Diaries #2, The Struggle
Smith, L.J. The Vampire Diaries #3, The Fury
Smith, L.J. The Vampire Diaries #4, Dark Reunion

Link up to your mailbox and I’ll be sure to check it out!

Title: Dark Reunion (The Vampire Diaries #4)
Author: L.J. Smith
Published: May, 1992 by HarperCollins
Pages: 274
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

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 an enemy, Damon battles this new horror with strength, cunning, and deadly charm.

Final Thoughts:
I’m surprised and impressed by how much L.J. puts her characters through. I can’t say that things ever felt stable or boring. While a lot has changed since the previous book, it still holds the romantic vibe laced with an air of imminent doom. There’s a lot of action this time around, originally being the final book in the series. Personally I liked book three better, but still enjoyed this one for all of its mystery, danger and emotional growth.
Just a warning, there are spoilers for the previous book ahead.

Title: The Fury (The Vampire Diaries #3)
Author: L.J. Smith
Published: November, 1991 by HarperCollins
Pages: 245
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

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.

Final Thoughts:
Just about everything I had a problem with last time around was addressed in this third instalment. The characters evolved, there was real tension, and basically the plot just got better. The last book served its purpose in advancing the overall direction of the series, but in terms of my own personal enjoyment, there was no contest, I couldn’t put down the The Fury. A lot of the teen angst that had plagued Elena faded with the advent of greater problems. Damon’s gradual change also played a part in my enjoyment. While I love evil Damon, semi-good but snarky Damon is just as fun.
Just a warning, there are spoilers for the previous book ahead.

Title: The Struggle (The Vampire Diaries #2)
Author: L.J. Smith
Published: October, 1991 by HarperCollins
Pages: 236
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

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.

Final Thoughts:
A fun escape, although having turned twenty last month, The Struggle is showing signs of its age. The names, the clothing, the speech patterns jarred me at times, but taking it for what it was, I really enjoyed it. Having come into the books after watching the TV series, the differences are obvious, but the heart of it still lies in the love triangle. This Elena is a little frustrating at times, though. I didn’t exactly agree with all of her decision making. The plot may not have been as complicated if she hadn’t been so stubborn. But even with the hurdles, these books have a way of packing a major punch at the end. It’s hard to just read one at a time.