My reviews: Shadow Souls (Vampire Diaries - The Return, 2) by L.J. Smith

Full name: Shadow Souls (Vampire Diaries Book 6, Vampire Diaries - The Return Book 2)

Author: L.J. Smith

Pages: 486 pg.

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books

Release date: May 6, 2010 (first published March 16, 2010)

Synopsis:

ELENA GILBERT RETURNS IN A BRAND NEW, THREE PART, VAMPIRE DIARIES SEQUENCE...

Elena must come to terms to her altered physical state. Even she can barely comprehend what she is now capable of.

Finding herself forced to travel to the Dark Dimension with Damon, Elena is secretly terrified of letting her long-disguised feelings for Damon run wild. For if Damon does lure her into becoming his dark princess, her new power might not be used for good...

My review:

This was the first book I read this summer (summer 2010) and I'm really glad it was. The Reunion sequence, like any other Vampire Diaries book, is fantastic. I can't imagine myself starting to be bored by the well-known characters we all love: Elena, Stefan, Damon, Bonnie, Meredith, Matt and Mrs. Flowers. Of course, the villains aren't missing. We have the fox twins, Shinichi and Misao, starring as the-pain-in-the-butts characters *laughs*. Now this book is awesome. Elena, Bonnie, Meredith and Damon arrive in the Dark Dimension to save Stefan from the Shi No Shi. And, apparently, Elena's short "state" as a spiritual child left her with a Power that must be controlled, otherwise she'll attract all the vamps on Earth - cool. And this Power lets Elena visit Stefan in the Shi No Shi. So amazing, isn't it? And, whoa, Elena gets through so many dangers in the Dark Dimension, it's no wonder she hasn't totally freaked out yet. And (so sweet of him), Damon stays with Elena during all those oh-so-creepy moments. He even takes her pain when she is whipped for not "obeying" her master - which is Damon, because there, every "prisoner" has to have a master and, as they couldn't enter the Dark Dimension but as master + prisoners, they had to enter "undercover". And, well, no one can perfectly fake that.. But, anyway, she finally saves Stefan, they go back home and.. ouch, Damon gets poisoned and becomes..... human. How can we deal with that?! I mean, hey, can anyone imagine harsh and ironic Damon as a human? Well, we'll see what happens next in Midnight (2011)!

I give this book, as usual, a full 5/5 stars. This series is simply amazing. Seems like L.J. Smith could write even two more trilogies to Vampire Diaries *giggles*. I recommend this book for all readers who like YA books, especially vampire ones.

-Ana.