Keller's a teenage shape-shifter from a series of supernatural teen romances that are fun brain candy. She's practical and suspicious, and horribly tactless, but very good at what she does. Daniel Jackson is her guardian here. The Night World books actually come from the same author as the Vampire Diaries, but there was a rights debacle. TVD took off with a couple of tv shows, and The last Night World book got stuck in development heck for eighteen years.
Yes, Phil is the Atlantis born son of Leo and Jemma. He's sad right now because his mom just disappeared along with possibly unborn him, and one of his good friends.