by L. J. Smith
B. say hi to a few friends as you work your way toward the stereo. You’re ready to help DJ.
C. smile at everyone like he or she is your best friend. You’re always good natured.
D. head outside to see what’s going on in the backyard. You can have more in-depth conversations there—and spy on those trying to take advantage of the dark.
E. acknowledge people with a nod, positioning yourself with your back to the wall near a bowl of chips and an exit.
F. hit the center of the dance floor. It’s your time to shine!
2. What’s the primary quality you are looking for in a soulmate?
A. You are looking for a lot of qualities in a soulmate— now if only you could find them all in one person!.
B. Someone who adds balance to your life
C. Someone to spar with, intellectually and physically
D. Someone who will be there for you in times of trouble
E. Someone with whom to share the night …
F. Someone who recognizes the real you
3. Which famous fictional couple do you admire most?
A. Romeo and Juliet from guess which Shakespearean play?
B. Holden Caulfield and girls in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye
C. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
D. Mowgli and Shanti in the Disney version of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book
E. Prince Phillip and Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty
F. Captain Li Shang and Mulan in the tale Mulan
4. You and your soulmate plan an afternoon in the park. What do you take with you?
A. A Frisbee. Maybe even a yoga mat. You are not one to sit still, and like self-discipline. That said: you have a weakness for jelly-stick donuts. You pack those, too.
B. Wild berries you picked near your house and a field guide, so you can identify any rocks or fossils you might find.
C. A few cans of Coke, some trance music for zoning out, a beach umbrella, and two pairs of extra-dark sunglasses.
D. Iced tea, candy corn, and a few magazines. Your soulmate will have already stopped at the gourmet market to pick up everything else you’ll need for a picnic.
E. A book of poetry and Stratego. And some Mad Libs.
F. Apricot juice, sparkling water, and a few sandwiches. Don’t forget the binoculars for people watching!
5. If you and your soulmate were to take a dream vacation, where would you go?
A. Wherever there’s a good view of the next eclipse
B. Japan
C. The rainforest
D. Somewhere exotic, like Egypt or Quebec
E. Somewhere luxurious: a five-star hotel or maybe a decadent cruise
F. Las Vegas or the Pacific Northwest
6. You’re getting ready for the first dance of the school year. What will you wear?
A. You like form-fitting clothing and opt for a jumpsuit with a low-cut neckline.
B. Something casual and comfortable. You’re there to spend time with your friends, not show off.
C. You plan on pairing dark jeans with a cool leather jacket.
D. You’re not sure yet, but most of your wardrobe is black. So you’ll be wearing black.
E. A white linen sheath dress with an ornate necklace of beautiful beadwork.
F. A tux with cuff links—you know how to look sharp and stick out in a crowd.
7. Your soulmate knows you better than anyone else and plans a treat just for you. What do you do on your date?
A. You get ice cream, then visit the music store, where you are treated to any two albums you want. Just like before you started dating!
B. You spend the evening outside, watching the sun set and the stars come out … and kissing.
C. You expect to go out for an expensive dinner at an exclusive restaurant. And when you get picked up, your date better fork over the car keys ’cause you’re driving!
D. You take a private self-defense class together. And then a nice long walk.
E. You so rarely get to spend time together that it is a pleasure simply to be in each other’s company. But you still enjoy a lavish evening, spoiled with limos and luxury.
F. You pick out a movie (just in case), and while you have a hard time giving up control, you have a lot of fun when your soulmate takes you to a carnival and wins you prizes.
8. You and your soulmate have a fight. What do you do?
A. Your soulmate has a knack for soothing you when you get angry. Calming words and a pressure-point massage are all you need to turn back into your usual self.
B. Fight? You never fight. But if you did, you’d stop holding hands for five minutes. Then you’d promptly make up.
C. You get mad. You yell. You walk away. But tomorrow is a new day, and it’s as if it never happened.
D. After some biting remarks, you stop shouting—and realize that you both had valid points. You agree to disagree.
E. While you are tempted to pull the silent treatment, you decide to be the bigger person and start a conversation.
F. You like getting mad. And your soulmate is going to need to apologize first. No one is going to coax an “I’m sorry” out of you.
9. How would you best describe your soulmate’s relationship with your family?
A. Your family is gone, but your soulmate helps you pay tribute to them.
B. You haven’t had time to introduce them yet, but you think they will get along.
C. Sometimes it gets tense when everyone is together, but that’s only because your family doesn’t know your soulmate well enough yet.
D. Your soulmate believes you are the most wonderful member of the family and has eyes only for you. And it had better stay that way.
E. Your soulmate is your family.
F. Your soulmate immediately charmed your family.
Mostly As? You have a Poppy/James Soulmate. You are friends long before you realize you are soulmates. And then, all at once, everything changes and nothing changes. There is no one you trust more. And no one you want to be with more. You feel safe when you are together, and you are excited to explore this new stage of friendship.
Mostly Bs? You have a Mary-Lynnette/Ash Soulmate. You and your soulmate are both hotheaded and smart, and have a tendency to involve yourselves in other people’s business. You’re not always on the same page, but when you both channel your energies into your relationship, your passion burns bright like the midday sun.
Mostly Cs? You have a Blaise/insert-name-of-a-hot-guy-here Soulmate. Okay, okay. So he’s not quite your soulmate. You’re fine with that. You just haven’t met your soulmate yet. But that’s no reason to sit around moping on the couch. You like to be out and having fun. And if in the meantime there’s a little competition about who gets your time and affection, so be it….
Mostly Ds? You have a Rashel/Quinn Soulmate. You’re serious about everything you do, and your relationship is no exception. Discipline and reserve are an integral part of who you are, though some might perceive you as being cold and distant. Lucky for you, your soulmate agrees that these qualities add to the romantic tension.
Mostly Es? You have a Hannah/Thierry Soulmate. You are charming and compassionate, and sometimes others take advantage of your goodwill—but not your soulmate. Your soulmate is determined to do right by you, even though you’ve had a few bumps in the road. Together you look toward the future, not toward the past.
Mostly Fs? You have a Keller/Galen Soulmate. You and your soul-mate are proof that opposites do attract. Two more different people couldn’t be found, but you complement each other. If it benefits your relationship, you are willing to change so that you can grow together.
The Prophecy
Four to stand between the light and the shadow,
Four of blue fire, power in their blood.
Born in the year of the blind Maiden’s vision;
Four less one and darkness triumphs.
Four Wild Powers have been sent to com
bat the impending apocalypse. Each commands Blue Fire, which is the most powerful of the rainbow of witchlight colors and can conquer even the mightiest spell or beast. But to access the Blue Fire, Wild Powers must summon all of their strength and give of themselves— they must let their own blood flow.
The prophecy states that the Wild Powers were all born in the same year, before Aradia, Maiden of the Witches, lost her sight. That means that the Wild Powers are now seventeen years old and preparing not to take their SATs, but to fight against the end of the world. It is a fight that will require the utmost determination and cooperation. Should even one Wild Power change allegiance or fall, the cause will be lost….
The vampires eagerly await the end of the humans’ reign. They are bloodthirsty and believe the apocalypse will bring them back to power. But they are the only clan remaining under the Night World banner. Of the witches, all but the darkest spellcasters in Circle Midnight have seceded. The Dark Ninjas, a group of stealth vampires and shapeshifters, are eager to fight on behalf of the evil faction of Night World, but will their alliance be strong enough?
Circle Daybreak is summoning all of the support they can to challenge the darkness. Their Circle is growing. Yet, amid the turmoil, the humans are unaware that the Old Powers are rising and that the greatest power struggle of all time is about to commence.
Circle Daybreak
One of the original circles of witches, Circle Daybreak is founded at a time when witches would take human husbands to compensate for the small male-witch population. The Circle embraced inter-race unions and taught magic to humans.
Revived by Lord Thierry as a means to atone for his wrongdoings during the Stone Age, Circle Daybreak is an underground community in modern Night World. Couples composed of a Night Person and a human find refuge and support from Circle Daybreak, and the rise of the soulmate principle brings increased relevance and importance to this group.
As the time of darkness approaches, Circle Daybreak grows in size and purpose. Circle Daybreakers are committed to locating and protecting the four Wild Powers. They believe that Night People and humans can coexist peacefully, and the Circle becomes its own political faction within the Night World. The witches officially secede from the Night World Council in Black Dawn, aligning with Circle Daybreak. When the witches and shapeshifters form a partnership in Witchlight, the ’shifters also lend their support to Circle Daybreak.
The remaining evil Night World powers, the vampires and the darkest of the witches, still have great influence. And with Circle Daybreak and the sinister forces on the Night World Council both clamoring to locate the last Wild Power, the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
The Wild Powers
One from the land of kings long forgotten;
One from the hearth which still holds the spark;
One from the Day World where two eyes are watching;
One from the twilight to be one with the dark.
ONE FROM THE LAND OF KINGS LONG FORGOTTEN
Prince of the Dark Kingdom, Delos is a vampire with the power of the Blue Fire. From the time he was a small child, this Redfern is groomed to use his blue energy at his father’s request. Delos’s golden eyes are mesmerizing—but full of sorrow. “Treated as a weapon from the time he was born,” Delos is most understanding of the gift and curse that it is to be a Wild Power. Delos breaks ties with his family, his past, and the brace that restrains his Blue Fire to decide his own future.
Persuaded to follow his heart by his soulmate, Maggie, Delos’s greatest desire is to exceed his father’s expectations. Delos decides to govern the vampires at Black Dawn not with an iron fist, but with a strong hand. Maggie helps Delos see that he does not need to change who he is in the face of adversity; if he stays true to himself, the necessary power will come from within.
ONE FROM THE HEARTH WHICH STILL HOLDS THE SPARK
Iliana Harman is the prophesied Witch Child. The witches foretell of the Witch Child unifying the witches and the shapeshifters through marriage. Shapeshifters would then join the witches as part of Circle Daybreak, strengthening the Circle for the impending battle against the darkness. Witches waited centuries for the Witch Child’s arrival, though it is unclear if the shapeshifters anticipated her coming with the same enthusiasm.
As with most of the other Wild Powers, Iliana is unaware of her ability to summon the Blue Fire. In fact, Iliana is completely unaware of Night World and her place in it until she is ambushed by a dragon and Keller at the Hallmark store in the mall.
Iliana is pure, delicate even, which, as Winnie in Witchlight asserts, is “not the same as being chicken.” Iliana has an overwhelmingly good spirit, and her genuine interest and concern for others make her well loved by all. She radiates inner joy, and others find it peaceful to be around her, making Iliana extremely popular at her high school. Her pale blond hair and violet eyes captivate the boys, but those familiar with the Night World know they are Harman traits. And like her ancestor Hellewise, Illiana is both courageous and unselfish, winning the respect of even the most critical Circle Daybreaker, Rashka Keller.
Iliana is able to summon the power of the ages, turning her witch-light into Blue Power when fighting Azhdeha.
ONE FROM THE DAY WORLD WHERE TWO EYES ARE WATCHING
With red, flowing hair, a quick temper, and a charismatic personality, Jez’s place in the Redfern family tree is undeniable. But when a secret from Jez’s past creeps into her present, she must reevaluate all that she knows … and leave the Night World behind.
Jez is half-human, a vermin like those she has spent her life hunting for amusement. With a new understanding of her lineage, Jez leaves her life as Huntress to defend and protect humans against the violence of Night World.
But as the Old Powers begin to rise, a flash of Blue Fire is recorded on a newsreel: one of the four Wild Powers lives in Jez’s old haunts. Eager to help Circle Daybreak, Jez Redfern returns to challenge the new vampire gang leader—and to search out the Wild Power. Jez seamlessly infiltrates her old gang, but she soon discovers that she must rely on her human wit if she is to masquerade as a vampire.
As half-human and half-vampire, Jez is the first of her kind. When she doesn’t use her vampire powers, she has no need to feed on mortal blood. And as a human, she is not susceptible to vampire weaknesses. With the sun watching from the human world and the moon watching from the Night World, Jez discovers she is the half-breed Wild Power sent to protect the world from blood and darkness. And, being Jez, she naturally assumes she will lead the way.
ONE FROM THE TWILIGHT TO BE ONE WITH THE DARK …
The full meaning of the prophecy has yet to be understood. Secrets will be revealed, new truths will come to light, and a different kind of power will cause all the prophecies, ancient and modern, to be reconsidered….
Night World Nostalgia
You might remember stumbling upon Secret Vampire in the bookstore. Or possibly waiting with anticipation for The Chosen or Black Dawn to publish, or carrying a stack of four or five Night World books home from the library. Maybe you still have all nine titles on your bookshelves. Perhaps one dog-eared book even sits on your nightstand right now.
Night World has captivated readers since the books’ original publication in the late 1990s. The series got a makeover in June 2008, but no companion guide would be complete without the first-edition covers!
Secret Vampire, June 1996
Daughters of Darkness, August 1996
Spellbinder, October 1996
Dark Angel, December 1996
The Chosen, February 1997
Soulmate, April 1997
Huntress, September 1997
Black Dawn, November 1997
Witchlight, January 1998
25 Facts About L.J. Smith
1. My favorite flowers are Black Magic roses.
2. I am addicted to roller coasters.
3. When I was ten, I wanted to be a nun.
4. For most of my life my hair has been long enough
to sit on.
5. I grew to my full height of 5’4½” by the time I was in sixth grade.
6. My favorite state is Hawaii (favorite island: Maui).
7. I have fainted three times in my life.
8. I want to get a tattoo. (A Japanese kanji that means “power.” I think it might give me some.)
9. My sister calls me Bunny.
10. I am very bad at multiplication.
11. My favorite holiday is Halloween.
12. I think we can all learn a lesson from Yertle the Turtle.
13. I have a phantom cat that jumps on my bed at night.
14. My junior high friends and I once TP-ed an entire school.
15. I am violently allergic to strawberries.
16. I successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver on my nephew.
17. I enjoy earthquakes.
18. In a Scottish castle I think I saw the ghost of a child.
19. I can wiggle my nose.
20. Quantum physics is a passion of mine.
21. I have gotten two traffic tickets in my life.
22. I have cold feet at night.
23. I love sushi with just a touch of wasabi mustard.
24. I scream at the sight of a cricket.
25. I once got a fortune-telling card saying I would marry a prince. Where is he?
L.J. Smith and the Night World—Revealed!
First L.J. Smith wrote the Night World books, and then you wrote to her. Over the years, Lisa has received and responded to countless letters and e-mails. And now she has chosen ten of the most interesting, most frequently asked questions—and answered them. Entertaining and candid, it’s Lisa and the Night World up close and personal!
When did you begin to write?