I loved the books as a teen, it will be interesting to see if they can make it work. I am still worried they will completely ruin it. The first episode was a good introduction. I had some issue because I can't seem to get past some of the casting. Oddly it is Damon, pictured him a bit older and colder. I am looking forward to the next few episodes to see what they do, it is a bit Dark Shadows like.
Side note, there was a ring that Angel could wear into the sun as it made vampires invincible. He destroyed it to prevent himself from living the prospects of pure joy- to save his soul. And the Smith books were out before Angel, as I always wanted Whedon to try a show based on the Forbidden Game series she wrote.