What do you think?
Rate this book
Night World #10
Strange Fate
A long-awaited conclusion to the best-selling series finds Sarah journeying with Mal and Kierlan to the Night World to prevent an apocalypse in the dragon-oppressed world of her visions. Original.
528 pages, Paperback
72 people are currently reading
13584 people want to read
About the author
L.J. Smith
338 books112k followersSmith was born in Villa Park, Orange County, California. In interviews, she has said she realized she wanted to be a writer sometime between kindergarten and first grade, “when a teacher praised a horrible poem I’d written”, and began writing in earnest in elementary school. Smith received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1987, followed by teaching credentials in Elementary education and Special education from San Francisco State University.
She taught kindergarten and special education for several years before becoming a full-time writer. Her first book, The Night of the Solstice, was published by MacMillan in 1987, followed by, Heart of Valor in 1990, and the 4-volume Vampire Diaries series in 1991-2. Three trilogies followed: The Secret Circle (1992), The Forbidden Game (1994), and Dark Visions (1995). The first installment of her popular Night World series was published in 1996, followed by eight more over the next two years. In 1998, Smith began a decade-long hiatus from writing, returning in 2008 with a new Web site and a series of new short stories. The Vampire Diaries series was reissued in 2007, followed by re-printings of The Secret Circle trilogy and Night World series in 2008/2009. The Night of the Solstice and Heart of Valor was also reissued in 2008. Three new Vampire Diaries installments were published in 2009 and 2010.
Smith lived in the San Francisco Bay area “with one dog, three cats, and about ten thousand books.”
She passed away on March 8th, 2025, after a lengthy illness.
She taught kindergarten and special education for several years before becoming a full-time writer. Her first book, The Night of the Solstice, was published by MacMillan in 1987, followed by, Heart of Valor in 1990, and the 4-volume Vampire Diaries series in 1991-2. Three trilogies followed: The Secret Circle (1992), The Forbidden Game (1994), and Dark Visions (1995). The first installment of her popular Night World series was published in 1996, followed by eight more over the next two years. In 1998, Smith began a decade-long hiatus from writing, returning in 2008 with a new Web site and a series of new short stories. The Vampire Diaries series was reissued in 2007, followed by re-printings of The Secret Circle trilogy and Night World series in 2008/2009. The Night of the Solstice and Heart of Valor was also reissued in 2008. Three new Vampire Diaries installments were published in 2009 and 2010.
Smith lived in the San Francisco Bay area “with one dog, three cats, and about ten thousand books.”
She passed away on March 8th, 2025, after a lengthy illness.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
Want to read
September 6, 2011I just read that L.J. Smith is currently working on more books for the Secret Circle and Forbidden game series. Is she kidding? Come on! She keeps making excuses about how she has to take her time in order to write Strange Fate well. Maybe if she stopped writing books for the other series... she would have finished Strange Fate by now! I am actually very irritated with her. I understood when I read about her family issues, which was why she took such a long break from writing. I even understood why she was waiting for her books to be re-published. However, THIS IS RIDICULOUS! At this point, I don't think she will ever publish this book. I've been waiting for it for over a decade and I think that is more than enough time to write several amazing books, let along one! I don't even know if I will bother reading this when it finally does come out. (sigh)
-Sorry, I'm just sick of waiting for this book. lol
-Sorry, I'm just sick of waiting for this book. lol
Want to read
February 9, 2013I came to a strange realization recently. I have been waiting for this book for 15 years, over half of my life.
That is a bit disturbing.
That is a bit disturbing.
sequels-to-read
May 15, 2022Wishing the author the best, and still forever hoping to see this final instalment pop up one day!
March 31, 2025
I decided to collect everything I can find out about Strange Fate into a timeline of events leading up to its nonrelease. I do not know L.J. Smith; all the data here is collected from around the internet and thus may not be all correct.
Timeline:
In January 1998 Witchlight, the last of L.J. Smith's books, was published. She'd been bringing out three Night Worlds a year for the last few years, working hard. Strange Fate had a release date—I don't remember what it was but I do remember I'd put in a request for it at the local bookstore. And silence fell. According to wikipedia Ms. Smith stopped writing to care for her brother's children while he battled cancer, and during that time she also lost her mother.
March 2001 the final Vampire Diaries: the Return: Midnight was released. After this all future books were by the ghostwriter. The ghostwriter is anonymous; we don't even know if it's the same person for all the later books.
January 2008 Ms. Smith opened her old blog
October 2009 saw the publishing of the Night World Ultimate Guide
2011 saw the Secret Circle TV series and the news that Ms. Smith was fired by Alloy Entertainment.
October 2012 in an interview with Salt Lake magazine Ms. Smith says she “just finished” The Last Lullaby. So Strange Fate isn't the only lost book!
February 2013 the first chapter of Strange Fate first appeared on Ms. Smith's website. So one chapter is written, anyway!
November 2013 Ms. Smith posts the “What about Strange Fate-- really?” post, which tells us how she decided to split the book into the Strange Fate we hope to know and love and a more “serious” dystopian novel called The Last Lullaby. I actually emailed Ms. Smith about this time, a quick “Dystopias are fun, amirite?” and she responded a quick, “They sure are!” kind of reply.
April 2014 we get articles about tribulations with Alloy, the publisher for Secret Circle and Vampire Diaries. Ms. Smith is no longer allowed to write for Vampire Diaries and Secret Circle. Disagreements about which pairing is the true OTP seems to be the reason for giving VD to ghostwriters. Ms. Smith of course “bit back” by writing fanfiction of her own series so we could continue reading them.
The end of June 2015 had the last facebook post for a good long time. It would be December before fans found out what happened, in the post entitled “And Then I Woke Up.” You've all read it so short version: Ms. Smith had a major medical emergency, was in a coma for like two months, and while she was well enough to post by Christmas she wasn't well enough to do all the normal life stuff. She talks about the difficulty of life in a wheelchair and wanting to write a book with a wheelchair-bound heroine. (Am I the only one who'd love to read that book?)
During 2016 Ms Smith facebooks mostly about her pets. In January she gave us a chatty post about her still-wonky brain and her Goodreads reviews—she seemed to be planning to do many reviews but only one ever appeared.
December 2016 the hardcover Night World editions were published by Simon & Schuster. In the author's note Ms. Smith says Strange Fate is finished.
January 9 2017 silence fell. I couldn't find any news from Ms. Smith after that date.
So what happened? We don't know. The obvious guess is that she suffered a medical setback that left her unable to blog or write. In her blogs Ms. Smith seemed just as eager to get Strange Fate to us as we are to read it, and even if she's just pretending to care about her fans I'm sure she cares about paying her medical bills! Logically, she's got to be doing her best to get the book to us.
December 2017 I called up Simon & Schuster to see if I could get any info the internet didn't have. Explained my question to a nice fellow who checked his computer and said... “Publication canceled.” I sort of asked if there were anybody who might know more, but he said there really wasn't. He also said the 2030 or whenever date we see in amazon is just a placeholder date and doesn't actually mean anything.
So that's the last word on Strange Fate for now: things do not look good. Strange Fate will probably never see the light of day. But Ms. Smith is still alive as far as the internet knows, and she sure seems like a determined lady, so maybe fate will deal her a better hand in coming years and she'll succeed in getting those lost books into the world.
UPDATES: (let's continue this timeline!)
August 2019 a fan managed to briefly get her Strange Fate listed as an ebook on Walmart and amazon. It was not available long and the only evidence remaining is a few reviews.
January 2022 a fan got in contact with LJ Smith, who reported that she was “completely rewriting” Strange Fate and working on Lullaby, while still being in a wheelchair and recovering after “several years spent mostly in the hospital.”
November 2024 a new website! “the ljsmith” might get you there since Goodreads does not allow links. Strange Fate is now two volumes: Mystic and Apocalypse, and Lullaby is finished. Both are in the hands of Ms. Smith’s agent. There does not seem to be a deal with a publisher yet so publication is not guaranteed and if it does happen could be several years away, but Ms. Smith is confidant enough to have a website again so I think I can say we’re closer to Strange Fate than we have ever been.
March 8 2025 LJ Smith passed away. She was in the hospital for pneumonia. News of her passing was released two weeks later, the day I'm writing this update. There is no word yet on what will happen to the books. My heart, and I'm sure the hearts of all us fans, go out to Ms. Smith's family and friends. This is the update I hoped I'd never have to make.
Update a few days later: Ms. Smith's sister has taken over working with the publisher and says "there's no reason to believe (the books) won't still be published." She will update the facebook when there's news. (and I'll update here because why not take the timeline all the way?)
Timeline:
In January 1998 Witchlight, the last of L.J. Smith's books, was published. She'd been bringing out three Night Worlds a year for the last few years, working hard. Strange Fate had a release date—I don't remember what it was but I do remember I'd put in a request for it at the local bookstore. And silence fell. According to wikipedia Ms. Smith stopped writing to care for her brother's children while he battled cancer, and during that time she also lost her mother.
March 2001 the final Vampire Diaries: the Return: Midnight was released. After this all future books were by the ghostwriter. The ghostwriter is anonymous; we don't even know if it's the same person for all the later books.
January 2008 Ms. Smith opened her old blog
October 2009 saw the publishing of the Night World Ultimate Guide
2011 saw the Secret Circle TV series and the news that Ms. Smith was fired by Alloy Entertainment.
October 2012 in an interview with Salt Lake magazine Ms. Smith says she “just finished” The Last Lullaby. So Strange Fate isn't the only lost book!
February 2013 the first chapter of Strange Fate first appeared on Ms. Smith's website. So one chapter is written, anyway!
November 2013 Ms. Smith posts the “What about Strange Fate-- really?” post, which tells us how she decided to split the book into the Strange Fate we hope to know and love and a more “serious” dystopian novel called The Last Lullaby. I actually emailed Ms. Smith about this time, a quick “Dystopias are fun, amirite?” and she responded a quick, “They sure are!” kind of reply.
April 2014 we get articles about tribulations with Alloy, the publisher for Secret Circle and Vampire Diaries. Ms. Smith is no longer allowed to write for Vampire Diaries and Secret Circle. Disagreements about which pairing is the true OTP seems to be the reason for giving VD to ghostwriters. Ms. Smith of course “bit back” by writing fanfiction of her own series so we could continue reading them.
The end of June 2015 had the last facebook post for a good long time. It would be December before fans found out what happened, in the post entitled “And Then I Woke Up.” You've all read it so short version: Ms. Smith had a major medical emergency, was in a coma for like two months, and while she was well enough to post by Christmas she wasn't well enough to do all the normal life stuff. She talks about the difficulty of life in a wheelchair and wanting to write a book with a wheelchair-bound heroine. (Am I the only one who'd love to read that book?)
During 2016 Ms Smith facebooks mostly about her pets. In January she gave us a chatty post about her still-wonky brain and her Goodreads reviews—she seemed to be planning to do many reviews but only one ever appeared.
December 2016 the hardcover Night World editions were published by Simon & Schuster. In the author's note Ms. Smith says Strange Fate is finished.
January 9 2017 silence fell. I couldn't find any news from Ms. Smith after that date.
So what happened? We don't know. The obvious guess is that she suffered a medical setback that left her unable to blog or write. In her blogs Ms. Smith seemed just as eager to get Strange Fate to us as we are to read it, and even if she's just pretending to care about her fans I'm sure she cares about paying her medical bills! Logically, she's got to be doing her best to get the book to us.
December 2017 I called up Simon & Schuster to see if I could get any info the internet didn't have. Explained my question to a nice fellow who checked his computer and said... “Publication canceled.” I sort of asked if there were anybody who might know more, but he said there really wasn't. He also said the 2030 or whenever date we see in amazon is just a placeholder date and doesn't actually mean anything.
So that's the last word on Strange Fate for now: things do not look good. Strange Fate will probably never see the light of day. But Ms. Smith is still alive as far as the internet knows, and she sure seems like a determined lady, so maybe fate will deal her a better hand in coming years and she'll succeed in getting those lost books into the world.
UPDATES: (let's continue this timeline!)
August 2019 a fan managed to briefly get her Strange Fate listed as an ebook on Walmart and amazon. It was not available long and the only evidence remaining is a few reviews.
January 2022 a fan got in contact with LJ Smith, who reported that she was “completely rewriting” Strange Fate and working on Lullaby, while still being in a wheelchair and recovering after “several years spent mostly in the hospital.”
November 2024 a new website! “the ljsmith” might get you there since Goodreads does not allow links. Strange Fate is now two volumes: Mystic and Apocalypse, and Lullaby is finished. Both are in the hands of Ms. Smith’s agent. There does not seem to be a deal with a publisher yet so publication is not guaranteed and if it does happen could be several years away, but Ms. Smith is confidant enough to have a website again so I think I can say we’re closer to Strange Fate than we have ever been.
March 8 2025 LJ Smith passed away. She was in the hospital for pneumonia. News of her passing was released two weeks later, the day I'm writing this update. There is no word yet on what will happen to the books. My heart, and I'm sure the hearts of all us fans, go out to Ms. Smith's family and friends. This is the update I hoped I'd never have to make.
Update a few days later: Ms. Smith's sister has taken over working with the publisher and says "there's no reason to believe (the books) won't still be published." She will update the facebook when there's news. (and I'll update here because why not take the timeline all the way?)
Want to read
December 12, 2012I think I was about 10 when I read all the books in this series (Night World), the four original Vampire Diaries books, and all Secret Circle, Dark Visions and Forbidden Game series books. LJ Smith and Christopher Pike were probably my favorite authors when I was young....
My point: I clearly remember finishing the very last page of the 9th book in the Night World Series - claiming I could look forward to the 10th and final book in the series coming soon to a store near me!!!! I probably had some huge ass grin on my face all day with that news. Sadly, this wasn't a world with social media sites like Twitter and/or Facebook. I didn't even really use the Internet until I was maybe 14, so if there was a way for me to check when the book would release (other than to walk into a bookstore and stumble upon it), I was unaware of it.
I KID YOU NOT: For the next 4/5 years, every single time I stepped foot in a bookstore, I walked straight to the YA section to see if this book magically appeared. It. Did. Not.
Then Twilight happens, LJ's pub steals her books away from her (sad), all her books are re-released and once again the promises start rolling in for the upcoming 10th and final book in the Night World Series. Each and every time the upcoming release date comes and goes, a new updated release date magically appears and it's now a vicious cycle.
It's never coming. And if it does, I'm burning it for the tease it is. This book is nothing more than a serious case of never ending Blue Balls.
My point: I clearly remember finishing the very last page of the 9th book in the Night World Series - claiming I could look forward to the 10th and final book in the series coming soon to a store near me!!!! I probably had some huge ass grin on my face all day with that news. Sadly, this wasn't a world with social media sites like Twitter and/or Facebook. I didn't even really use the Internet until I was maybe 14, so if there was a way for me to check when the book would release (other than to walk into a bookstore and stumble upon it), I was unaware of it.
I KID YOU NOT: For the next 4/5 years, every single time I stepped foot in a bookstore, I walked straight to the YA section to see if this book magically appeared. It. Did. Not.
Then Twilight happens, LJ's pub steals her books away from her (sad), all her books are re-released and once again the promises start rolling in for the upcoming 10th and final book in the Night World Series. Each and every time the upcoming release date comes and goes, a new updated release date magically appears and it's now a vicious cycle.
It's never coming. And if it does, I'm burning it for the tease it is. This book is nothing more than a serious case of never ending Blue Balls.
Want to read
April 2, 2013wow you know you've been waiting too long for a book to come out when even goodreads removes the date of release
update: release date is December 31st 2030... when this comes out (if it does) im throwing it back at the author... the original release date was 1998 come on already please
update: release date is December 31st 2030... when this comes out (if it does) im throwing it back at the author... the original release date was 1998 come on already please
Want to read
October 26, 2016George R. R. Martin fans have nothing on those of us waiting for this book.
Jus' Saying...
Jus' Saying...
Want to read
July 20, 2023Update: October 07, 2015
The year is now 2030. Pluto has been considered a planet again since 2014, the Super Moon occured in 2015, and the aliens finally visited us in 2019. The vampires have been enslaving us since 2024, have burnt all our books, and also banned the art of writing them.
The year 2030 ends. Somewhere out there, millions of fans who have been waiting since 1998 for Strange Fate cry out in their beds as they remember the characters whose stories were never finished.
The book never comes out.
---
Update: So, is the audiobook version out now? Ms. Smith should just self-publish it. She has enough money to do that. And I know that a lot of people would buy it. Because seriously, I just want to know how this series ends.
As of now, the expected publication is in October 20, 2012. This may change.
Wait. What? Is this true? I'm calm? Well, I've only just been waiting for this since 2009. Three long, agonizing years. So, no, I AM NOT CALM.
The year is now 2030. Pluto has been considered a planet again since 2014, the Super Moon occured in 2015, and the aliens finally visited us in 2019. The vampires have been enslaving us since 2024, have burnt all our books, and also banned the art of writing them.
The year 2030 ends. Somewhere out there, millions of fans who have been waiting since 1998 for Strange Fate cry out in their beds as they remember the characters whose stories were never finished.
The book never comes out.
---
Update: So, is the audiobook version out now? Ms. Smith should just self-publish it. She has enough money to do that. And I know that a lot of people would buy it. Because seriously, I just want to know how this series ends.
As of now, the expected publication is in October 20, 2012. This may change.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
July 30, 2012MAJOR EDIT
I was doing some research today and I learned that L.J. had taken 10 years off of not writing. I learned that she had personal family issues. I believe family is the number one most important thing in the world so I understand why she hasn't gotten this book out yet. When things start to alter your life you can lose your motivation for anything you do. L.J. must have lost her motivation and took a long break. It is okay now though because would you want her to write Strange Fate in a state where we all know it could have been better? Of course not. We want her to write the book when she is at her best. Everyone has their own issues. We're not L.J. so we don't know what is going on in her life. Shes doing the best she can and I appreciate it.
![Profile Image for Namera [The Literary Invertebrate].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1647896333i%2F31792110._UX200_CR0%2C96%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Want to read
March 23, 2025⤅ LJ Smith has passed away on 8 March 2025, after her battle with pneumonia.
I've just found out and this news actually came as a gut punch to me. I saw this on a random subreddit as I was scrolling Reddit, but have verified this through a Facebook page run by Lisa's friend/relative (not completely clear on this).
I emailed her in February to tell her how much her books meant to me. I hope she got a chance to read it and understood how much she's made lives better. I'm going to reproduce the text of my email here as well, because it sums up how I feel.
Strange Fate was in final editing and with her agent, so I understand there's a chance it will be published posthumously. I really hope that happens.
Reading the update I wrote below just over a month ago... life comes at you fast.
____
⤅ LJ SMITH IS ALIVE, SHE HAS A NEW WEBSITE SHE UPDATED LITERALLY LAST WEEK, STRANGE FATE IS FINISHED AND WITH HER EDITOR, THERE IS A BRAND-NEW EXCERPT ON HER WEBSITE!!!!!!!!!
My TBR is littered with what I like to call ghost books: they have a Goodreads presence, sometimes a title and even a cover, were confirmed by their authors, etc. Then, for whatever reason, they never materialised. Considering this book has been confirmed and gone unpublished since BEFORE I WAS BORN (and I am officially a quarter of a century old), I figured this particular ghost had well and truly gone on to its reward.
But, literally three days ago, I discovered that this is seemingly not the case. LJ has a new website (https://theljsmith.com/) and I literally do not know what to do with myself. This time, it seems we're actually closer than ever before to a release - maybe even this year.
Do not take my word for it, go check out her website and read the new excerpt (which looks like it might be MFM, something that was hinted at years before RH became such a big thing!!)
I've just found out and this news actually came as a gut punch to me. I saw this on a random subreddit as I was scrolling Reddit, but have verified this through a Facebook page run by Lisa's friend/relative (not completely clear on this).
I emailed her in February to tell her how much her books meant to me. I hope she got a chance to read it and understood how much she's made lives better. I'm going to reproduce the text of my email here as well, because it sums up how I feel.
Dear Lisa
I hope so much that you're well. I saw the photo of your arm you posted and it looked very painful - praying that you're okay!
I am emailing to enter the contest, but I'd also email even if there had been no contest, because I've spent the last 15 years thinking about you and wishing I could tell you how much your books mean to me.
I first read your writing when I was around ten or eleven years old, by borrowing the last volume of the Night World series from the library. I was absolutely hooked. I must have been very confused, although I don't remember it, since I was arriving at book 6 of a 9-book series! But I ate it up, and Jez and Morgead are still one of my favourite couples today. This was right when the Twilight craze meant that vampire romances were everywhere, and I went on to devour the Vampire Diaries series (though only ever the first few books), the Dark Visions trilogy, and the Forbidden Game series.
I can't begin to express to you how much I loved the Night World series. You wrote such strong heroines and incredible heroes - characters who were far more multidimensional, nuanced, and complex than many of your contemporaries'. I LOVE how unashamedly morally grey your heroes in particular can be, when most authors just write bland uncomplicated 'good' heroes. Ash, Morgead, Quinn, Delos - I could read books and books' worth of just their stories alone. Nothing else has ever quite measured up to your stories.
I will finish by saying that I just learnt about the good news of Strange Fate - how it's with your agent and will be published this year, I think? - and to say this has made my year would be an understatement. I'm so delighted I don't know what to do with myself. I am really, really hoping that Sarah stays with both of her two soulmates and there isn't a heart-wrenching choice to be made, but of course this is your story and your vision!
Strange Fate was in final editing and with her agent, so I understand there's a chance it will be published posthumously. I really hope that happens.
Reading the update I wrote below just over a month ago... life comes at you fast.
____
⤅ LJ SMITH IS ALIVE, SHE HAS A NEW WEBSITE SHE UPDATED LITERALLY LAST WEEK, STRANGE FATE IS FINISHED AND WITH HER EDITOR, THERE IS A BRAND-NEW EXCERPT ON HER WEBSITE!!!!!!!!!
My TBR is littered with what I like to call ghost books: they have a Goodreads presence, sometimes a title and even a cover, were confirmed by their authors, etc. Then, for whatever reason, they never materialised. Considering this book has been confirmed and gone unpublished since BEFORE I WAS BORN (and I am officially a quarter of a century old), I figured this particular ghost had well and truly gone on to its reward.
But, literally three days ago, I discovered that this is seemingly not the case. LJ has a new website (https://theljsmith.com/) and I literally do not know what to do with myself. This time, it seems we're actually closer than ever before to a release - maybe even this year.
Do not take my word for it, go check out her website and read the new excerpt (which looks like it might be MFM, something that was hinted at years before RH became such a big thing!!)
Want to read
March 23, 2025OMG I JUST READ ON http://www.amazon.com/Strange-Fate-Ni... THAT THIS BOOK IS COMING OUT ON DEC 31 2030!!
OMGGGG I CANT WAIT THAT LONGGGGGG! I'VE ALREADY BEEN WAITING LIKE 3 YEARS!
Edit: august 27, 2012
DEAR LJ SMITH,
STOP WRITING MORE NOVELS TO THE SECRET CIRCLE AND THE VAMPIRE DIARIES AND PLEASE PLEASE FINISH AND RELEASE THIS BOOK!!
I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANY LONGER!!
-ANA
Edit: January 2023
I was looking at my amazon wishlist and i saw this one LOL and the release date on it is still DEC 31 2030 AHH i've been waiting since 2008 lmao its been... 15 years now? wtf
that 2030 release date is starting to feel realistic because wtfffff—at this rate, it might actually take that long
Edit: February 2025
I hate that the 2030 release date was pretty much accurate (only 5 years off xD)
I'm hoping it comes out this year AT LEAST omg!!
FINALLYYYY, IT IS HAPPENING!! I'M SO EXCITED... though I've been waiting 17 YEARS for this.... which is way too freaking long ughhhhhhh
L.J. Smith has a new website, and she confirmed that Strange Fate is finished and with her editor!
There's even an EXCERPT on her website!! https://theljsmith.com/
Edit: March 23, 2025
I am so devastated to hear the news of L.J.'s passing. She was a big part of my childhood, and I was obsessed with her books. They're what got me into fantasy (other than HP).
The Vampire Diaries, The Secret Circle, and Night World are my favourites. I feel like I need to reread these.
I know Strange Fate was with her editor, I'm just hoping her final book will get published.
OMGGGG I CANT WAIT THAT LONGGGGGG! I'VE ALREADY BEEN WAITING LIKE 3 YEARS!
Edit: august 27, 2012
DEAR LJ SMITH,
STOP WRITING MORE NOVELS TO THE SECRET CIRCLE AND THE VAMPIRE DIARIES AND PLEASE PLEASE FINISH AND RELEASE THIS BOOK!!
I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANY LONGER!!
-ANA
Edit: January 2023
I was looking at my amazon wishlist and i saw this one LOL and the release date on it is still DEC 31 2030 AHH i've been waiting since 2008 lmao its been... 15 years now? wtf
that 2030 release date is starting to feel realistic because wtfffff—at this rate, it might actually take that long
Edit: February 2025
I hate that the 2030 release date was pretty much accurate (only 5 years off xD)
I'm hoping it comes out this year AT LEAST omg!!
FINALLYYYY, IT IS HAPPENING!! I'M SO EXCITED... though I've been waiting 17 YEARS for this.... which is way too freaking long ughhhhhhh
L.J. Smith has a new website, and she confirmed that Strange Fate is finished and with her editor!
There's even an EXCERPT on her website!! https://theljsmith.com/
Edit: March 23, 2025
I am so devastated to hear the news of L.J.'s passing. She was a big part of my childhood, and I was obsessed with her books. They're what got me into fantasy (other than HP).
The Vampire Diaries, The Secret Circle, and Night World are my favourites. I feel like I need to reread these.
I know Strange Fate was with her editor, I'm just hoping her final book will get published.
May 18, 2012
I just realized that I have been waiting 14 years for this book. 14.
That is disgusting. With all of the demand for this book, I can't believe the publishers have not made her write it.
They had the audacity to re-release the first 9 - that should have meant something. But the years on that are coming and going also.
She can say all she wants about "taking time." When she was sick it was understandable, but the way she pumps out books now this is ludacris.
That is disgusting. With all of the demand for this book, I can't believe the publishers have not made her write it.
They had the audacity to re-release the first 9 - that should have meant something. But the years on that are coming and going also.
She can say all she wants about "taking time." When she was sick it was understandable, but the way she pumps out books now this is ludacris.
Want to read
November 14, 2012This book was originally supposed to be published in 1998. NINETEEN. NINETY. EIGHT.
I was 13 in 1998. Now I am 27. I have absolutely zero sympathy for LJ Smith. Finishing the Night World series should have been prioritised over starting new projects and writing new series or extending existing series. I can't lie, even as disappointed and jaded as I am, I will probably still read the book if/when it finally gets released. But I wouldn't be surprised if this never happens. All you guys who are moaning you have been waiting 'three long years' since 2009 or whatever- be prepared for the possibility that like me, you might be waiting a hell of a lot longer than that.
I was 13 in 1998. Now I am 27. I have absolutely zero sympathy for LJ Smith. Finishing the Night World series should have been prioritised over starting new projects and writing new series or extending existing series. I can't lie, even as disappointed and jaded as I am, I will probably still read the book if/when it finally gets released. But I wouldn't be surprised if this never happens. All you guys who are moaning you have been waiting 'three long years' since 2009 or whatever- be prepared for the possibility that like me, you might be waiting a hell of a lot longer than that.
Want to read
June 24, 2012
Why.
Did it take.
So long.
While I go
just waiting for this book, L.J Smith is probably sitting there, writing it like [image error]Really.
I just want to read it.
Want to read
April 30, 2020Oh man, it's 2020 and it looks like Stephanie Meyer's going to be releasing a new book (probably Midnight Sun), which I don't really care about (and this isn't important information in this post).
But, when will the publisher or L.J. Smith ever release the LAST book in the Night World series called "Strange Fate?" I want to know what happens to all the couples, who will have a baby, who will get married, and what happens at the end of the world?
Will Sarah Strange be just like Katherine and wouldn't choose between two supernatural boys? Would she choose both as her soulmates, or will she not choose at all?
We all know that Ash is still working hard to show Mary-Lynette that he's worthy of her.But it doesn't mean that they don't have feelings for each other!
Will Delos ever mature? Will Maggie become a vampire (probably not)? Are they both ruling the Dark Kingdom?
How are Hannah and Thierry?
Did Mary-Lynette pursue a Master's degree ?
How are all the human soulmates handling this Circle Day Break situation (minus the one's who are actually part of the Night World)?
How are the Redfern sisters? Did they ever go back to the Dark Kingdom?
@Simon and Schuster - How many times will I contact you guys on social media to help make this happen? I read, according to L.J. Smith herself (on her facebook page), it really depends on the publisher if they want to release the book.
But, when will the publisher or L.J. Smith ever release the LAST book in the Night World series called "Strange Fate?" I want to know what happens to all the couples, who will have a baby, who will get married, and what happens at the end of the world?
Will Sarah Strange be just like Katherine and wouldn't choose between two supernatural boys? Would she choose both as her soulmates, or will she not choose at all?
We all know that Ash is still working hard to show Mary-Lynette that he's worthy of her.
Will Delos ever mature? Will Maggie become a vampire (probably not)? Are they both ruling the Dark Kingdom?
How are Hannah and Thierry?
Did Mary-Lynette pursue a Master's degree ?
How are all the human soulmates handling this Circle Day Break situation (minus the one's who are actually part of the Night World)?
How are the Redfern sisters? Did they ever go back to the Dark Kingdom?
@Simon and Schuster - How many times will I contact you guys on social media to help make this happen? I read, according to L.J. Smith herself (on her facebook page), it really depends on the publisher if they want to release the book.
wishlist
May 20, 2016So ... funny thing. I was talking about this series with a friend and about how I've been waiting for a decade for this book now.
What's sad is, the last book came out in 1998, so I'm quickly approaching TWO decades now of waiting for the continuation of this series.
Come join me in my (non-denominational) prayer circle, hoping that this book will one day be released.
What's sad is, the last book came out in 1998, so I'm quickly approaching TWO decades now of waiting for the continuation of this series.
Come join me in my (non-denominational) prayer circle, hoping that this book will one day be released.
cant-wait-to-read
January 2, 2012I seriously can't wait any longer!!! I hope it comes out soon, the dates keep getting pushed back from 2010 to 2018. I wish it would be released already! It is a shame to see such a great series come to an end, hopefully this final book will match up to be as good as the others!
February 14, 2018
Well, I've been waiting 20 years for this book. I think it's safe to assume it's never getting published. You'd think by now I'd have given up hope and yet at least once a year I still check to see if there's any news only to be slapped in the face with the same cold disappointment as every year. And it's not like this series is the be all end all of YA books. There are better ones out there by far. And, ya know, I can't even really be angry about it anymore. I'd just like an official post from the author, or someone in charge of getting this book published, letting us know once and for all that it's never gonna happen. That way we can all stop waiting around for nothing. *sigh* See you next year for another round of disappointment, I guess.
December 21, 2019
Might as well add this book to my Read shelf because we all know it’s never gonna release 💀...where did L J Smith even get to...she just disappeared from the internet 🙄 I just want the book and I want closure but I’m not getting my hopes up...
EDIT: I JUST REALISED IVE BEEN WAITING 10 YEARS IM SO DONE
EDIT: I JUST REALISED IVE BEEN WAITING 10 YEARS IM SO DONE
Want to read
June 10, 2012We don't care about Vampires Diaries. Finish this book, I have been waiting to long! AND SERIOUSLY TWO GUYS?! No, I want one you can only have one soul mate (they've said it through all the freaking books!)
LJ Smith, get with the program.
P.S. I was hoping for three stories.
LJ Smith, get with the program.
P.S. I was hoping for three stories.
February 10, 2022
Dear fellow waiters
(It’s been 23 years or so for me so most of my life lol)
Has anyone else noticed her website (last year links just didn’t work anymore but the homepage was still detailed)… has been totally redone, but it’s just one page?
And it says “NEW ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON”??? I swear it didn’t look like that last year but maybe I’m just going crazy from wait? Please comment back to me if you know anything!
(It’s been 23 years or so for me so most of my life lol)
Has anyone else noticed her website (last year links just didn’t work anymore but the homepage was still detailed)… has been totally redone, but it’s just one page?
And it says “NEW ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON”??? I swear it didn’t look like that last year but maybe I’m just going crazy from wait? Please comment back to me if you know anything!
Want to read
March 7, 2015What do I see! July 10th! :O 2012! that's..that's....AWESOME!
Wait. Wait. No. Nope, wrong she hasn't said anything about the release date....
UPDATE
It is now the year 2015 and there is still no news of this book coming out. I really do think that this book may never come out. Also I feel like now there is so much pressure on this book that if it turns out bad, the readers (who have been waiting a long time) will be more enraged. Personally, I would just be happy to have completed the series because I hate leaving things incomplete. Lets hope the books get released. I don't care when OR how badly it is written, just release the book. Curiosity is killing me.
Wait. Wait. No. Nope, wrong she hasn't said anything about the release date....
UPDATE
It is now the year 2015 and there is still no news of this book coming out. I really do think that this book may never come out. Also I feel like now there is so much pressure on this book that if it turns out bad, the readers (who have been waiting a long time) will be more enraged. Personally, I would just be happy to have completed the series because I hate leaving things incomplete. Lets hope the books get released. I don't care when OR how badly it is written, just release the book. Curiosity is killing me.
June 26, 2013
I read the first Nightworld book the month it was released. I don't even know how long I have been waiting for this book now, but I was still in school at that point and I'm 31 now.
George R Martin writes books faster than this. Enough said.
George R Martin writes books faster than this. Enough said.
October 19, 2018
I check this page every couple years but it’s always the same.
September 9, 2022
Update!
According to L.J. Smith's website. She reworked the book to remove Brionwy's story line from Strange fate to create its own book.
She split the reworked Strange Fate into a two part volume. First half is done according to her post on the book but her current publisher, Simon & Schuste, wasn't/isn't intrested in the book being to parts!
I think its time we start a bit of lite/legal harassment of the publisher ao we can get the book we've been waiting on! We can def yave this book by the end of next year if we organize! I'm desperate at this point!
So anyone intrested in helping get a petion going and some email templates made so we can mass send to her publisher, let me know with a comment!!
Lets get this book PUBLISHED!!
https://ljanesmith.net/ask-l-j/ - link to blog and latest update on Strange Fate! ( question & answer toward the bottom.)
According to L.J. Smith's website. She reworked the book to remove Brionwy's story line from Strange fate to create its own book.
She split the reworked Strange Fate into a two part volume. First half is done according to her post on the book but her current publisher, Simon & Schuste, wasn't/isn't intrested in the book being to parts!
I think its time we start a bit of lite/legal harassment of the publisher ao we can get the book we've been waiting on! We can def yave this book by the end of next year if we organize! I'm desperate at this point!
So anyone intrested in helping get a petion going and some email templates made so we can mass send to her publisher, let me know with a comment!!
Lets get this book PUBLISHED!!
https://ljanesmith.net/ask-l-j/ - link to blog and latest update on Strange Fate! ( question & answer toward the bottom.)
Want to read
May 21, 2018Personally triggered because we all know this book is never, ever, ever coming out.
Want to read
May 27, 2023It's 2023 and I'm still hoping for this final installment to be published. Fingers crossed forever.
Want to read
June 12, 2009I've been waiting on this book something like a decade now. Rereading all the others in anticipation of its (hopefully? please?) release. :-)
November 6, 2021
I first read these books when I was around 11. I am now 20 and have reread them multiple times throughout the years. I can’t even begin to explain the absolute disappointment I feel every time I get to the last book :( there are people on here who have been waiting for this books the same amount of time I have been ALIVE. Imagine all the people who actually died waiting for this to come out??
I come online every couple of months hoping that there is an update on Smith and that she is hopefully still well and alive, and am disappointed every single time. It just reassures me to see that there are always new comments with people who feel exactly the same. why won’t they update us on whether we will ever get strange fate or not??? surely it’s less cruel to just tell us its never going to be released???!
There isn’t even any decent fan fiction out there 😭😭😭
i need to know what happens to my favourite couples!!!
What happened to Jez and Morgead? how is she dealing with being the first wild power ?
What about Maggie and Delos!!! how are the wild powers getting along so far!!!
Ash and Mary-Lynnette :(( did he ever come back? did she accept him?
Rashel and Quinn being the biggest power couple in the whole series !! i need more of their scenes 😭
WHAT ABOUT HOW Keller and Rashel are twins????!!!!! I NEED THEIR INTERACTIONS !!
Let’s not forget (for everyone who hasn’t reread in a while)
James and poppy the vampires
Rowan, Kestrel and Jade Redfern
Ash and Mary-lynnette
Thea and Eric and Blaise Harman
Gillian and David
Rashel and Quinn
Hannah and Thierry
Jez and Morgead
Maggie and Delos
Keller and Galen
AND ALL THE SIDE CHARACTERS that helped :(((
I seriously don’t understand how difficult it could’ve been to just release this stupid final book 20 years ago ;-;
I wish i had never picked these up in the first place, and i wouldn’t be waiting for something that’s never going to come. Seriously, waiting for strange fate and knowing it’s never coming is worse than what heartbreak feels like.
i really wish i don’t die before this book gets released
I come online every couple of months hoping that there is an update on Smith and that she is hopefully still well and alive, and am disappointed every single time. It just reassures me to see that there are always new comments with people who feel exactly the same. why won’t they update us on whether we will ever get strange fate or not??? surely it’s less cruel to just tell us its never going to be released???!
There isn’t even any decent fan fiction out there 😭😭😭
i need to know what happens to my favourite couples!!!
What happened to Jez and Morgead? how is she dealing with being the first wild power ?
What about Maggie and Delos!!! how are the wild powers getting along so far!!!
Ash and Mary-Lynnette :(( did he ever come back? did she accept him?
Rashel and Quinn being the biggest power couple in the whole series !! i need more of their scenes 😭
WHAT ABOUT HOW Keller and Rashel are twins????!!!!! I NEED THEIR INTERACTIONS !!
Let’s not forget (for everyone who hasn’t reread in a while)
James and poppy the vampires
Rowan, Kestrel and Jade Redfern
Ash and Mary-lynnette
Thea and Eric and Blaise Harman
Gillian and David
Rashel and Quinn
Hannah and Thierry
Jez and Morgead
Maggie and Delos
Keller and Galen
AND ALL THE SIDE CHARACTERS that helped :(((
I seriously don’t understand how difficult it could’ve been to just release this stupid final book 20 years ago ;-;
I wish i had never picked these up in the first place, and i wouldn’t be waiting for something that’s never going to come. Seriously, waiting for strange fate and knowing it’s never coming is worse than what heartbreak feels like.
i really wish i don’t die before this book gets released
Read
January 7, 2014this is never even gonna end up being written. I loved the original 4 VD books, and that lead me to read the Nightworld books at least 5 years ago. And sorry LJ Smith, but the rest of your newer books suck. Like reeeeaaaallllyy badly. Besides the Forbidden Game series, I loved that too. But the books have gone down the toilet. I gave up on the last VD series but with the co-author, the writing was terrible, as was the plot. Don't even get me started on Dark Visions and the Secret Circle. Then the 3rd Secret Circle book, more VD and a new Forbidden Game. Please stop ruining the originals as an excuse for a 12 year delay of Strange Fate. Release dates of 1998, 2009, 2012,2013 etc. are breaking not just my heart but millions of others. So please just stop writing shitty rip-offs of original books to make more money. And stop delaying. If you're not going to write Strange Fate, then just tell us already and put us out of our misery. And don't write about a soulmate love triangle. It's over done, and is awful. Just do is all a favour and stop writing really bad books, change publishing company to get rid of the co-authors and go back to being that amazing author that re-started the craze for supernatural fiction that wasn't twighshite. Thank you.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews