I’m a huge fan of the television series The Vampire Diaries (since episode 1), and I was so excited when the Original vampires got their own spin-off series. I’m happy to bring you the Kismet Book Tours tour stop for Julie Plec’s third installment in the book series looking at the Originals’ lives when America was first starting to be settled.
But for those of you who aren’t familiar with how fabulous Julie Plec’s Original Vampires are, here’s just a few things to introduce you to how The Originals are in comparison to common vampire folklore that you usually see in books, television, and movies.
Vampires: immortal, sleek, powerful, seemingly perfect, supernatural predators that have been written and rewritten countless times over the past century. What keeps people like me coming back for more when it comes to this monster, especially when the market seems to be saturated at times with anything from the sparkly ones to the depressed types to even children vampires? Originality, gripping storytelling, and complex characters that you can really sink your teeth into are what set some stories apart for me.
Julie Plec’s television series The Originals (which spawned from The Vampire Diaries) and subsequent novelizations of the original vampires’ earlier stories that you haven’t seen on tv, have all those traits and more. When siblings Niklaus, Elijah, and Rebekah (and Kol and Finn) were cursed by their witch mother centuries ago, they became the first vampires. But what makes these Original Vampires so different from the usual vampire fare?
They’re immortal, but only one special kind of stake through the heart can kill them…
While other vampires in their universe can be killed by a wooden stake through the heart, an Original can only be killed by a stake made from a specific white oak tree that grows in their ancestral home of Mystic Falls. Nothing else will kill them, and this makes them more dangerous, more foolhardy, and quite a bit more prideful.
Sunlight isn’t a problem…
With a powerful witch, a specific spell, and a piece of jewelry, the vampires in this universe can walk in the daylight without the risk of burning to death. But remove the jewelry, and they’ll go up in flames fast. A little bit of a burn won’t kill an Original, though.
Humans and Vampires alike can be compelled to do anything by an Original…
Original vampires have a very handy skill where the can look a person or vampire in the eye and compel them to do or say anything, remember or forget anything. They can be that vampire’s puppet. The only protection a human can have from compulsion is to have a special plant called vervain in their system, but it is poison for vampires. Only an Original can compel your run-of-the-mill vampire.
They leave behind a trail of dead in their wake…
Whenever the Originals are in town, you can be sure that there will be casualties—of both the human and supernatural variety. They need blood to survive, and unless you’re a special human pet of theirs, you will more than likely die if one of them feeds on you—especially if Klaus or Rebekah is the one you encounter. Other supernatural creatures like werewolves and witches are constantly butting heads with The Originals over territories and run-ins with Klaus, so the body count goes up with these clashes.
Just because they’re vampires doesn’t mean that they don’t make the same mistakes as humans…
The three siblings have sworn an oath to stay together and protect each other forever, but that leads to trouble and bickering over the centuries. Their wants and needs are just like the humans, and each of them are selfish in their own ways, leading to inner turmoil that manifests in truly violent and dangerous outbursts—to the Originals and anyone else that happens to get caught up in the whirlwind of destruction.
Klaus is hungry for power. He wants control over his siblings, as well as New Orleans and the citizens that live there. He exerts the ultimate control over brothers Kol and Finn by stabbing a silver dagger through their heart, putting them to sleep until the dagger is removed. Rebekkah is always searching for love and a family of her own, falling for the wrong man time after time. Elijah yearns for loyalty, and he often puts his trust in the wrong place when his family lets him down.
About The Resurrection:
Family is power. The Original Vampire family swore it to each other a thousand years ago. They pledged to remain together always and forever. But even when you’re immortal, promises are hard to keep.
Klaus, Rebekah and Elijah Mikaelson had won it all, only to lose it again by 1788. Control of New Orleans is split between the vampires and the werewolves, much to Klaus’s displeasure.
In a dangerous attempt to reclaim his home, Klaus decides to build a vampire army to take out the werewolves once and for all. If he can’t have love, then he’ll settle for power. Elijah lets his brother take the reins as he turns his attentions to a beautiful and mysterious witch. But Rebekah has had enough of her brothers’ love of bloodshed and begins a journey to find her first home and the key to her family’s immortality.
As the battles rages on, the siblings must come together and fight for what they believe in most: family.
About Julie Plec:
JULIE PLEC skillfully juggles work in film and television as both a producer and a writer. She is the co-creator and executive producer of “The Vampire Diaries” and the creator of “The Vampire Diaries” spin-off, “The Originals,” which tells the story of history’s first vampire family.
Plec got her start as a television writer on the ABC Family series “Kyle XY,” which she also produced for its three-year run. She also collaborated with Greg Berlanti and Phil Klemmer on the CW drama, “The Tomorrow People,” the story of a small group of people gifted with extraordinary paranormal abilities.
Her screenplay adaptation “The Tiger’s Curse” is in development at Paramount, and she will produce the feature “@emma” with Darko Entertainment. Past feature production credits include “Scream 2” and “Scream 3,” Greg Berlanti’s “Broken Hearts Club,” Wes Craven’s “Cursed” and “The Breed.”
Giveaway Info:
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Harlequin Tote Bag
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OPI Lincoln Park After Dark Nail Polish
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The Originals Books 1-3
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Seasons 1-4 of The Vampire Diaries on DVD (please note season 1 is Blu-Ray).
Tour Schedule:
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Monday, May 11th – Parajunkee – New Orleans Post
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Wednesday, May 13th – Alice Marvels – Klaus
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Friday, May 15th – PBC – Review
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Monday, May 18th – Fiktshun – Elijah
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Wednesday, May 20th – Life With Two Boys – Quote
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Friday, May 22nd – Bewitched Bookworms – Vampire Post
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Monday, June 1st – Addicted Readers – Quote
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Wednesday, June 3rd – Coffee ands characters – Vampire Post
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Friday, June 5th – Two Chicks on Books – Elijah
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I loved the Vampire Diaries right from the start too and I was shocked that I ended up liking The Originals even more ♥ I’m dying to get into their past and all the stuff we haven’t seen in the show…especially now that season two is over *sobs* Thanks for hosting this incredible giveaway and for the chance to enter!! 😀
Micheline @ Lunar Rainbows Reviews recently posted..Review: The Archived
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I read the first two and loved them, so looking forward to finishing the trilogy!
Rhianna recently posted..Release Day: Mia and the Bad Boy by Lisa Burstein #BackstagePass #Giveaway
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Exciting series! Thanks for the giveaway!
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I absolutely love this show, I’m up to Series 2, and despite Klaus being a really hated person in Vampire Diaries, there are some parts within The Originals that he was actually likeable.
Angelica @ Paperback Princess recently posted..Friday Blogger Hops {Feature & Follow Friday + Book Blogger Hop}
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Def want to read this series! 😀
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Ahhh, I love the Vampire Diaries series! I’ve read the books and watched some of the show and it’s definitely one of my favorites. I love the Originals even more. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!
Krystianna recently posted..Interview with KayCee K. of Double Decker Books!
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Oh my gosh! I love books with vampires! This series is definitely a must have!
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omg! I am so excited! XD
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The Originals started out slowly but it did picked up steam. The series is getting interesting between the witches, vampires, and werewolves. Klaus is someone that you really want to hate but can’t.
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I enjoy a good vampire story. Thanks!
Megan recently posted..Armchair BEA – Character Chatter
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