Book #11: The Asylum

Title: Stefan's Diaries #5: The Asylum

Author: Listed as L.J. Smith, Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec, but it's really a ghostwriter

Date started reading: Jan. 23, 2012
Date finished reading: Jan. 24, 2012

Publish date: Jan. 2012
ISBN: 978-0062113955
Number of pages: 256

Official summary: "The hunters become the hunted. ... Driven from their hometown of Mystic Falls, both Stefan Salvatore and his brother, Damon, arrived in Europe looking for a fresh start. But Samuel, a wealthy and cunning vampire, has other plans for them. First he ruined Stefan’s peaceful existence and now he’s framing Damon for the most gruesome murders London has ever seen. United against their common enemy, Stefan and Damon are stunned when they realize that the source of Samuel’s rage lies in their past — tied up with the woman who forever changed their lives. Haunted by the memory of Katherine, the brothers find that their uneasy alliance is tested. Can they overcome their rivalry to defeat Samuel before he exacts his final revenge? Based on the popular CW TV show inspired by the bestselling novels, Stefan’s Diaries reveals the truth about what really happened between Stefan, Damon, and Katherine — and how the Vampire Diaries love triangle began." (http://www.harperteen.com)

How I obtained the book: Pre-ordered from Walmart for $8.97 using gift card received as Christmas gift

Memorable quotes:

• "Before someone dies, their blood races, pounding through their veins, filled with everything that makes them human -- adrenaline, fear, the desire to live." ~ Stefan's opening diary entry
• "It's either kill or be killed in my world." ~ Damon
• "Sense and I don't mix." ~ Damon
• "How can I go wrong when I have the approval of vampires?" ~ Cora
• "What better way to fight a maniacal vampire than to think like one myself?" ~ Stefan 
• "Vampires remind Ephraim of leeches. And Ephraim knows leeches are good for spells, but not for company." ~ Ephraim speaking in third person

My commentary:

• The fourth book in this series (The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #4: The Ripper) was absolutely awesome, and I've been looking forward to the fifth book ever since. This one continues with the concept that the Jack the Ripper murders in the late 1800's were committed by a vampire. I've always been interested in the Jack the Ripper murders, so it's intriguing to me partially just due to that, but the ghostwriter did a ton of research into the real murders and chaos surrounding them for the book. It is a good mix of real history with vampire myth.

Buy on Amazon.com: The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #5: The Asylum