Writing Analysis: Subplots – The Awakening by L.J. Smith (The Vampire Diaries series)

The Awakening is the first book in The Vampire Dairies series, and it follows the story of Elena Gilbert who is a doppelganger for a centuries old vampire who caused romantic havoc between a pair of brothers, Stefan and Damon. The book follows Elena’s readjustment to normal life after losing her parents in an accident, facing ex-boyfriends, navigating high-school, and her attraction to the mysterious hot new boy, Stefan.

What I liked about this was the subplot, see although the plot is as above, the subplot also follows Elena, and her encounters with a black crow, not knowing that it is Stefan’s brother Damon stalking her. The crow appears at the most harrowing times and causes unease in Elena. This leaves me as the reader, unsettled slightly, as I believe something wicked is lurking.

The subplot is crucial to moving the story forward because it lays the foundation for the entrance of Stefan’s brother Damon and shows us without knowing that his personality is darker, and more dangerous than that of Stefan’s. It also leads to Damon’s fascination with Elena.