Love

Love plays an important role throughout the first two books of The Vampire Diaries, and it is through the romance that plays out between Elena and Stefan that the drama of the story is expressed. At the start of the story Elena has finished her ongoing relationship with Matt in favor of the new, handsome and mysterious Stefan Salvatore, and we can assume that at first it is not love that she feels for either Matt or Stefan. Instead, as the book progresses we see Elena's fascination and attraction become a much deeper emotion as she learns to rely upon Stefan and in turn sacrifices in order to aid him, before realizing quite how much she needs him. Through facing these challenges Elena begins to learn what real love is and what it requires.

Love is also an important theme for the other protagonists in the book, Stefan...