First published 2012
Elena Gilbert has escaped the Dark Dimension and looks forward to starting fresh at Dalcrest College, the ivy-covered campus where her parents first met. Her relationship with Stefan has never been stronger, and even Damon appears genuinely reformed, getting along with their group of friends. Elena hopes that leaving Fell's Church behind means leaving danger behind too. But safety proves elusive when students begin vanishing from campus without a trace. Every new face becomes suspect. Every friendship carries potential threat. Elena must question everyone around her as she tries to identify who can be trusted. Her investigation leads her to uncover a secret that has remained buried for years, one that shakes her understanding of everything she thought she knew. As the disappearances continue, Elena realizes that tragedy may be impossible to prevent, and the evil she hoped to escape has followed her to this new place.
Genres: romance, mystery, fantasy, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, secret-past
Setting: Dalcrest College, Fell's Church
Period: contemporary
392 pages · Hardcover · HarperTeen
Content warnings: anxiety, depression, mental-illness