Series reading guide · guide verified September 7, 2026
Vampire Diaries: Stefans Diaries Books in Order
Every Vampire Diaries: Stefans Diaries book in publication order — 6 in total, spanning 2010–2012.
Stefan's Diaries is the Vampire Diaries prequel written for fans of the TV show: six short novels, beginning with Origins (2010), that go back to 1864 and tell how the Salvatore brothers became what they are. They follow the show's mythology rather than L.J. Smith's original novels, and although her name is on the covers as creator, they were written by a ghostwriter for the series' packager. Think of them as companion reading for the CW series — quick, gothic and very much in the mood of the show's flashback episodes.
Frequently asked
What order should I read Stefan's Diaries in?
Origins (2010), Bloodlust (2011), The Craving (2011), The Ripper (2011), The Asylum (2012) and The Compelled (2012).
Did L.J. Smith write Stefan's Diaries?
No. The books are credited to her as the creator of The Vampire Diaries, but they were ghostwritten for Alloy Entertainment and tie in to the TV series rather than to her novels.
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