The Originals by Julie Plec is a story about three vampires named Niklaus, Klaus for short, Elijah, and Rebekah Mikaelson. These three aren't just your average run of the mill vampires however, they are the original family. This means that they are immensely hard to kill and they are the most powerful of their race. They have just made the journey to the New World from Europe and landed in the port city of New Orleans. Their goal is to make New Orleans a home for themselves, hoping to blend in with and join the alliance between the witches and werewolves already living there.

This book takes place in the 1700’s, with a group of different supernatural beings fighting for the chance to call New Orleans home. Fans of the show would rejoice in this prequel to the television show but would be disappointed to find that even hundreds of years earlier their favorite trio of vampires are facing the same problems.

The Originals: the Rise is a book about a vampire family that includes Rebekah, Elijah, and Klaus who returned to their home in Boston from New Orleans. When one of the other vampires who is not an "original" decides to go out with a werewolf, a war begins begins because werewolves are the vampire's arch enemy. Then the werewolves become very angry. So it’s up to the "original" vampire family to stop the conflict between the vampires, witchs, and werewolves.  

Set in 1722 New Orleans this story about the original three vampires is full of star crossed lovers, drama and ultimately pain. Siblings Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah have fled to New Orleans in search of a home safe from their father and vampire hunter. New Orleans is a city engulfed in turmoil as the witches and werewolves fight for control.