The first two books (The Awakening & The Struggle) are collected into the first volume of The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith, and form the first part of an ongoing series of vampire romance. Set in the fictional town of Fells Church, somewhere in modern North America, we find our protagonist Elena Gilbert, a teenage girl just about to attend her last year at Robert E Lee High School when she becomes entranced by the mysterious newcomer Stefan Salvatore. What ensues is a dark romance between the two protagonists as Elena Gilbert discovers that Stefan is in fact a centuries old vampire, who is locked into a terrifying feud with his older brother Damon.

During the first book, The Awakening, Elena first decides to 'catch' Stefan for herself, not knowing the danger in which she is about to place herself. Stefan tries to resist her advances but is himself drawn to the strange similarities between this young woman and his only other lover, Katherine, who turned him into a vampire. As Stefan gives in and admits his feelings for Elena, a series of vicious attacks rocks the town and the finger of blame points towards Stefan as the source of these crimes. It is only when Elena tries to protect him and accidentally finds out that he is in fact a vampire, alive since the Renaissance era, that she truly begins to understand the nature of the horror surrounding her.

In the second novella of the first volume (The Struggle), what follows is a fight for Elena's affections and indeed her soul as Stefan's older brother is unmasked as the real culprit behind the horrible attacks and tries to win Elena for himself by charm or by force. As the danger solidifies around her, her life is further complicated by a rival known as Caroline who steals her diary and attempts to use it to humiliate Elena and drive Stefan out of town. As Stefan's and Elena's love grows, Elena realizes that she is facing more than physical or social danger as she starts to be seduced by the dangerous allure of the evil vampire Damon.

Accompanying Elena on her journey is her trio of mortal human friends Bonnie, Meredith and Matt who are unwitting pawns in this game that Damon is playing, and who try to protect their friend without really understanding what is happening around her.