The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls offers a deeper look into the beloved series.
If you’re still mourning the loss of Mystic Falls and its supernatural inhabitants (and Matt), Insight Editions has published the book for you. Before you check it out for yourself, read more about it and get Hypable’s review.
Related: Dear The Vampire Diaries: A love letter to Mystic Falls
About ‘The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls’
With The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls, Insight Editions is offering you a deeper look into the beloved series, The Vampire Diaries. The book is being branded as “the definitive insider’s guide to the world of The Vampire Diaries and the secrets that lie within Mystic Falls.”
Contained within the pages of the book are “unique visuals, never-before-seen photos, fascinating anecdotes and insights from all eight seasons.” The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls features “beautifully illustrated” pages filled with episodic images, behind-the-scenes photos, and many unique items.
The majority of the book was penned by Michael Mallory, a Los Angeles-based writer, but it includes many quotes from the cast and crew of The Vampire Diaries. Also featured is an excerpt from the show’s creators, Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson, a preface by Ian Somerhalder, and an introduction by Paul Wesley.
‘The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls’ review
It’s still so sad that there are no more stories coming out of Mystic Falls, now that The Vampire Diaries has ended, and this book made me feel like I was getting one more little piece of it. More importantly, a piece that I could take home and look through whenever I miss my favorite vampires, doppelgangers, werewolves, hybrids, witches, etc.
I had so much fun flipping through the pages of The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls. One of the highlights was the pure nostalgia factor. There’s just something about seeing those pictures from the early seasons, set so beautifully on every page.
After the introduction, the book began by going through the casting process for all the main characters. Not only did this offer an extra chance to appreciate the people who brought our favorite characters to life, but it also gave some insight into the characters themselves, how they developed, and how they changed from their novel counterparts.
Following the character profiles, The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls dives into the writer’s room, the cinematography, the props, costumes and make-up, and every other essential variable that made The Vampire Diaries everything that it was.
These sections are loaded with quotes from the cast and crew and fun tidbits about the process of making the show. The director of the pilot recounted a book that Nina Dobrev made for him in which she quoted, verbatim, the warning that he gave the cast on the first day of filming. There’s another amazing fact about the art in Damon’s bedroom that I’ll leave for you to discover! It’s morsels like these that make this book special.
Beyond simple quotes, the cast of the show also contributed by providing paragraphs about their favorite moments, episodes, and props. These, along with more memorable moments from the show are peppered throughout The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls.
All of the information and visuals contained in the book would make for a great keepsake, on their own, but the real highlight of the experience is all of the extra pieces put into it.
Hidden throughout the pages you’ll find tons of fun things including a page from Bonnie’s Grimoire, a menu from the real-life Mystic Grill, and my personal favorite, a poster style timeline of the series. With all of the doppelgangers, flashbacks, and expansive history of the original vampires, this is almost an essential tool for watching!
If you love and miss The Vampire Diaries as much as I do, you’ll love being able to hold these pieces of the series in your hands, and re-read them whenever you feel a craving to go back to Mystic Falls.