Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4) Reviews

• A powerful message destroyed to tie up everything with a neat bow

  
  By AXLGK8OV3GFRW on 2008-08-02
  I loved the first three books. I have always been a fan of Bella and Edward, but I liked how Meyer introduced the Jacob/Bella dynamic to show the complexity of relationships, and that love means SACRIFICE and making a CHOICE. Plot, character, and substance related issues I've had with the series were compensated by the message I believed Meyer wanted to make--Bella choosing to give up a normal life (and everything that comes with it) in order to be with Edward.
  
  Now, I don't know what message the author wanted to say or what she was thinking.
  
  (Spoilers Below)
  
  Bella didn't have to sacrifice anything apparently. She gets Edward AND a baby AND immortality as a vampire. What about poor Jake--not a problem, he IMPRINTS on the baby, which I find disturbing not so much because it is a baby (though that is creepy just as it was with Quil) but because it's Edward and Bella's baby. Can we say cop out? Life doesn't turn out so neatly. People love and lose (and don't fall for the object of their affection's daughter). But in Meyer's world everyone is one big happy family.
  
  So, girls don't worry. If you have problems, they will ALL work out. Is that what the author wants to tell her fans?
  
  Or is it marriage and family by 18 are the way to go, forget about college, developing as a person, all you need is a husband and a child. No disrespect to people who marry at 18, but Meyer paints a glorified picture of the situation; most 18 years old aren't going to have an endless supply of money and never worry about how the lack of an education will affect their future. Yes, this is a novel, a fantasy, we shouldn't expect or require realism--then why go the mommy route at all? Just focus on Bella and Edward. Bella didn't want children, yet when she finds out she's pregnant she doesn't even freak out; she's carrying a vampire's child and it's just "my heart had grown, swollen up to twice its size in that moment."
  
  Or is the author's message be passive and let others take care of you (what if there is no one else--no, no, girls, there is ALWAYS someone). One of my big issues with the series is how Bella has never had outside interests beyond Edward (or Jake), that she's not an independent person. I hoped Meyer would finally have Bella come into her own in this book, have her lack of personality be the result of high school immaturity or something, but obviously the author thinks a person's entire existence should be defined by others, not themselves. Another great message--not.
  
  Don't even get me started on Bella's power. Again, another major opportunity to strengthen Bella's character is wasted. Also, the explanation of why Edward can get Bella pregnant is ridiculous considering the rules Meyer originally established for her world. The story may be dealing with supernatural/fantastic elements, but it still has to have internal consistency.
  
  I wanted and expected a happy ending. I wanted Bella to become a vampire. I wanted there to be a resolution with Jake. I wanted and expected the Volturi to return. I also expected an intense exploration of pain, sacrifice, vampire Bella having to cope with giving up her family/old life. I wondered if Charlie and Renee would find out--wouldn't it be odd if their child just disappeared--and though a parent does find out (sort of), it was hardly the way I imagined it, especially with the way "newborn" Bella played out.
  
  I wanted Jake angst about her being changed, him maybe not accepting her at first (or at all) but him coming to deal with it in some fashion so you felt there was closure at the end. I would have been fine with Jake moving on, but not with Edward and Bella's daughter.
  
  Finally, why must Bella get everything? So much for a powerful message, I guess.
  
  "You can't expect a message with vampires and werewolves!" I disagree. The best fantasy, horror, and science fiction stories all have a morality/deeper element to them. Fairy tales, as they were originally designed, were meant to teach children a valuable lesson. This does not (and should not) lessen the entertainment value of a story, but I think it's a cop out to say "it's a fantasy," as if that excuses anything. If you look at Lord of the Rings, The Hero and the Crown, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Last Unicorn, Harry Potter, Stoker's original Dracula novel, The Prydain Chronicles, The Little Prince--all of them deal with themes of sacrifice, choice, gaining wisdom, growing as a person, and/or are thought provoking/contain deeper messages.
  
  Sure Twilight began as a dream, but three other books have followed it. Even getting away from message issues, I still have a problem with the plot and character developments of Breaking Dawn.
  
  
  

• What was she thinking when she wrote this?

  
  By A1KNC652ZFMDMZ on 2008-08-02
  I think a lot of fans, die hards and those (like me) who just like to read a good book or series, woke up this morning thinking, "What was she thinking when she wrote this?"
  
  I read the spoilers ahead of time and even though I found them highly amusing, a small part of me wanted them to be fake, even if I ended up with egg all over my face for it.
  
  This review will not make fun of the name Nessie (even though I will stand by my thought that the Loch Ness Monster would not approve) nor will it focusing on Edward going a little to far to prevent Bella the pain of not having children. I think we all can understand why he approached Jacob and the desperation he felt.
  
  The Twilight Series had everything: Powerful forbidden love, choices, sacrifices, and dynamic characters. So much could have been done with the final installment. Rather you were a Team Edward or a Team Jacob fan, you knew Bella would finally have to decide where her heart belonged and fully accept the consequences of her decisions: those good and bad.
  
  I read so many fanfictions while waiting for this book released and I always skipped over the ones where Bella was pregnant because it was so unrealistic, not just because Edward was a vampire but because Bella has always been one of the most immature characters ever created (and I am a Bella fan).
  
  She reminded us all older readers of the pain and greatness of first love. Granted, Bella took it a little too far before, ceasing to exist when Edward left and even resorting to dangerous activities for a delusion of his voice. This was NOT someone I ever wanted to be responsible for a child. She was a child herself. I could easily picture Bella in my head driving her truck with the kid in her lap or accidentally dropping her on her head. I guess its a good thing the child is half vampire. Having a child does not make you an adult or responsible; however as soon as Bella realized she was having one she went from wanting to be protected and cared for to wanting to be the protector. That doesn't happen like that. It's illogical.
  
  Not only is Bella young, she's already married, begging for sex (which turns out to be the only reason shes willing to stay human- that's a good example of maturity), and once again, not even taking her health into consideration.
  
  I am 28 and if I felt a baby kick for the first time, I would freak. I can't imagine what a real teenager would think if that happened. I doubt her first reactions would include joy. I would want my mother. I would be scared.
  
  Bella? No, she calls Rosie.
  
  Which brings me to Rosie. Did anyone else feel sorry for her? Here is this woman who all she wanted was to live and have a child now must endure watching someone have something she would have given her life up for. Nice.
  
  I can't even complain about Jacob. He redeemed himself on some small level even though I never liked how he manipulated Bella into kissing him previous books. I always thought that was borderline sexual assault and really hoped young girls reading that wouldn't have seen that as an attractive quality.
  
  I am not going to even touch on the creepy aspect of him imprinting on an infant but what blows my mind that he imprints on the child of the woman he so desperately loved. How can you even explain that. Its beyond unrealistic and somewhat disturbing. I can begin to imagine the stories Bella and Jacob will share with old Nessie.
  
  Jacob- "I may have pictured your mom naked and pregnant with my child, but hey, you will do."
  
  I know Stephanie wanted to give everyone a happy ending but there was other ways. Phillip and Renee could have had a child and X amount of years later he could have imprinted. A new girl could have moved to town. Hey that would have at least allowed Stephanie to expand the series, and let's admit it, make more money. Instead, he ends up with the child of the woman he loves. That is twisted.
  
  Bella gets everything, which isn't necessarily bad but she gets everything in the most disturbing and inappropriate way. I can not imagine any parent being okay with the message this book provides.
  
  All you need is Men in your life, a baby, marriage, and a small cottage in the woods. No matter how young and irresponsible you are.
  
  Many of Stephanie Meyer's fans will fail to see anything wrong, many of them are young and hung up on the ideal of the perfect Edward, the perfect Love without even acknowledging the message this is sending to them. Already we have enough teen pregnancies, babies having babies, and struggling to be both and parent and a child.
  
  This book tells you that it's okay. Having children that young is Okay.
  
  I have skimmed many of the reviews on Amazon, IMDB, and MISC websites and found that many of her fans think alike on this subject. Many of them saw the potential for a powerful message to be sent to the youth of tomorrow.
  
  A powerful message was sent. A very wrong one.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Relax and Enjoy the Fairy Tale

  
  By A21AGJ5AYA1W4I on 2008-08-03
  Reading all these one star reviews is totally killing my post Breaking Dawn buzz, y'all.
  
  --Please note: this review contains spoilers, as most of the reviews here do.
  
  Bella's happily ever after is heart warming and tidy just like any other fairy tale you might enjoy from childhood, though with quite a bit more blood and (tastefully described married) sex. Many of these one star reviews criticize the happy ending, the early marriage, and motherhood in place of a college education, among various other complaints. I'm suspecting these reviewers would be much happier with an independent Bella who marches off in her human form to get a Masters degree in Psychology before marrying Edward. Or heck, not marrying Edward at all, and eschewing the idea of something so base and demeaning as becoming a wife or parent. Though perhaps it's more the youth of the heroine that causes their lament.
  
  I however, like happy endings and am thrilled she gets to be a mother. Yes, GETS to be a mother. Many people I spoke to who were in "Camp Jacob" expressed their reason: "Because she could have a family with Jacob". Well surprise, she had a family with Edward.
  
  Yes, Jacob imprints on Bella's daughter, but because imprinting on babies/children had previously been introduced in the series, I didn't find this at all unsettling. All this shouting about pedophilia is a little... intense for what really happens. Jacob makes it clear that it isn't a sexual thing at all while the object the affection is still so young. Jacob imprinting on "Nessie" means they all stay a family, which is what Bella wanted all along.
  
  Which brings me to another common complaint: Bella gets everything. Goodness! After fighting for it, tooth and nail, yes, she does. Isn't that what makes most of us smile at the end of Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty?
  
  Some have suggested that having Jacob imprint on someone else would allow Bella to make a sacrifice by finally fully letting him go as well as remove that feeling some reviewers have that she gets everything. I do see this point, and perhaps this happening would have made it a more critically acclaimed book, but as I was reading the story, I was fully involved in watching Bella's story unfold and these things did not negate my enjoyment of the book.
  
  As for the complaint that Bella should have gone to college first -- good grief, does she not have the rest of eternity to obtain as many degrees as she wants? This isn't real life, folks.
  
  For those worried about the impact this book may have on impressionable young teen fans, if you're allowing them to read the books at all (I know some parents aren't), why don't you read the book along with them and talk about the real life application of Bella's choices? Sounds like a great excuse for some good conversation.
  
  One complaint I completely agree with, Bella names her daughter Renesmee, which is hard to read, hard to pronounce, and impossible to spell. I'm amazed that made it past the editors.
  
  Critics argue that you can't shout "But it's fantasy" to cover gaping plot holes. Perhaps to a more critical, serious eye, plot holes exist and are bothersome. But I truly was lost in Bella's story and as I read, very little jumped out as completely unreal or impossible to me. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and consider this rating a 4.5 stars.
  
  Stephenie Meyer has been able to create characters that feel intensely real. I was able to lose myself in the story through all four books. While the first in the series remains my favorite, the characters remained almost tangible people that I cared about and rooted for throughout.
  
  Stephenie admitted herself that pleasing all of her fans would be impossible, but insisted that this was the story she wanted to write all along. I've been a happy voyeur for the ride, and remain a happy fan.
  
  
  
  

• Sadly Disappointed

  
  By A2CFW4Q499T961 on 2008-08-02
  I am deeply disappointed in this book. It did not even feel like Stephenie Meyer was writing the story. I am surprised to say this as I am an avid reader and have devoured the first three books multiple times but I honestly would have stopped reading this book except I was curious to see how much more bizarre it could get. This is not at all what I expected. In my mind, the series now ends with Eclipse. This book was a huge disappointment and I just can't even imagine what Stephenie Meyer was thinking, let alone her editor.
  
  

• A Juvenile Conclusion, A Wasted Opportunity, A Let-Down & A Cop-Out

  
  By A3HUC8541SJ6UT on 2008-08-06
  I'm 46 years old, and I bought the first 3 books for my teenage son. He liked them so much that I read them myself; I was pleasantly surprised! Although Meyer's writing is amateurish in places, she absolutely knows how to tell a tale. For the most part, I was mesmerized. In fact, I read the trilogy twice. And there was so much great story build-up, and so much opportunity for character growth and excitement in this 4th book; I bought it at midnight and read it all night so my son could have it the next day. Wow, am I ever disappointed.
  
  To me, the first book was without question the strongest. The second book was also strong and I really enjoyed the dynamic of the Jacob relationship. It's true that Bella's incessant whining and ludicrously melodramatic pining for Edward (God, shut UP already about your 'wound'!) was aggravating enough to take me out of the story several times - but really, I couldn't put it down. The third book was the weakest of the trilogy, in that there is very little action until the end, the school storyline was all but dropped, and there wasn't a lot of character development - especially from Perpetual Victim Bella, who continued to be incredibly needy and dependent (while inexplicably attractive to every male in Washington), as well as in peril at all times (I hope that doesn't make other young women WANT to be victims!). But still, as I say, the series overall was gripping and enjoyable enough to have me impatiently awaiting Breaking Dawn.
  
  [SPOILERS]
  
  While I was waiting - I was hopeful. I was hopeful that Bella would grow as a person and not be so needy(and tearful, and prone to fainting, and melodramatic, and selfish). And I was REALLY hopeful that Bella would realize how incredibly dysfunctional her relationship with Edward was. (I know the young girls LOVE Edward but please consider for a moment if his personality was NOT packaged in a perfect body with an angel face and velvet voice, as well as super strength and speed, a nice car, and piles of money. Imagine if Edward's personality was in a scruffy working-class joe. I have to believe that most would then see his overbearing over-protectiveness and his controlling domineering nature as just what they are - sick and unpleasant.) I felt that there was some good foreshadowing in the 2nd book (how unhealthy her mourning of Edward was & how she felt better with Jacob) and in the 3rd book (how she realized that she also loved Jacob & and how she was scared to become immortal)that gave me hope that in the end, Bella would see Edward for what he was - her first crush (and yes, those first loves are cripplingly strong) but not her forever love. Neediness is not love! Being told what to do and what to drive and who to be friends with is not being loved! Being a victim is not sexy! Desire to forsake your friends, family, and humanity is NOT healthy! Stephanie Meyer had a great opportunity to show the growth of a young woman, to show the maturity that Bella could have gained that would have made her see the unhealthiness in her relationship(s)... Bella could have acknowledged the Odious Edward as a first love and someone who would always have a place in her heart, but not someone with whom she'd spend eternity - forsaking her own identity in the process. Bella could even have wound up as a College Freshman who cares about friends and education and life - without a boyfriend for a while! There's huge opportunity for character growth there - as well perhaps as a lesson of sorts to Meyer's young readers.
  
  But Meyer cops out incredibly. Bella stays with Edward AND becomes immortal AND does not have to deal with any consequences for this (WTH?) AND has a baby (!) at 19. What sort of a message is this? During the entire tedious book I was cringing to imagine young impressionable girls fantasizing about finding a boyfriend who would tell them what to do, and be jealous of any other man they are friends with, and over-protect them so they never have to learn to take care of themselves, and provide for them so they never have to learn to provide for themselves... a boyfriend they would give up everything for... but it would all be okay and have a happy ending and they would live happily ever after. It sickened me. All I can say is that I hope that the young women of today are mature and self-confident enough to take this series for what it is - an exciting fantasy tale - and not actually dream of an 'Edward' in their lives.
  
  ETA:
  I see that a lot of people are saying that the negative reviewers (such as myself) have a problem with happy endings. I have no problems at all with happy endings! What I have a problem with are happy endings that are too easy, and too neat, and require retcon and deus ex machinas galore to achieve. They aren't 'real' - and of course I don't mean that vampires are real so everything in the book should be realistic - I mean that they aren't true to the story or, in this case, even to the canon of the story. Things like that are a slap in the face to devoted fans - such as myself- who have invested time, money, thought, and emotion into these characters and this story, and (rightly) expect a good payoff - a conclusion that works within the framework that the author herself has created.
  
  The author herself spent 3 books outlining and detailing the many things that Bella would have to give up in order to join the Cullens. She set up the dilemma, the choice that Bella had to make. And then she turned around and allowed Bella to become immortal (& stay with Edward) without actually having to lose anything or make any sacrifices at all! It's fake, unearned, 'cheat' endings like this that I have a problem with - not happiness per se.
  
  I do personally have a problem with Uber-Controlling Edward (I prefer hot to cold, life to death), but I know that a lot of people like the Bella/Edward romance. Stephanie Meyer could have kept Bella and Edward together and still given a conclusion that would be palatable to me, and others. All she had to do was stick to the canon of her world, and have Bella go through the things we thought she'd go through (losing friends and family, newborn-vamp strife, giving up the ability to have a child, etc) to become a vampire... and the inherent conflict in that (plus perhaps an Epic Battle or 2) would have made for a meaty read that stayed 'true' and was therefore satisfying. But, as I said, she copped out and made it all too easy.
  
  This ISN'T a fairy tale. Fairy Tales are for young children. This is a series for adults - both young & old - and I expect a mature level of writing that reflects that. I didn't get it with BD, and I am pissed off about it.
  
  
• Breaking Dawn is the whimpering death of an overrated series.
  By A2TR1OMDAAGA1I on 2008-08-02
  The Twilight series has never been great-- it's been sloppily-written, almost plot-less, and incredibly cheesy-- but it's been a guilty pleasure. Or at least the first book was. New Moon was bad, Eclipse was worse, and now Breaking Dawn is the cherry on top of the really horrible sundae. It rapidly goes from unintentionally hilarious, to awful, to leaving the reader wondering how it ever got published.
  
  Stephenie Meyer's writing has gotten even worse, and the 'morals' in her stories are getting more and more disturbing. What's more, she still can't even back it up with any solid plot (as usual, the first sign of one comes at about page 600 and it ends up being an anticlimax).
  
  In fact, there is not enough plot in the entire series to fill a 768-page book, so one does wonder if Breaking Dawn's editor was out to lunch and/or missing their handy red pen.
  
  To say this book is terrible would be an understatement. I only wish I could give it less than one star.
  
  
• Was I on drugs or was I actually reading Breaking Dawn?
  By A2TFHD8YI0OA2J on 2008-08-02
  All the characters were OOC.
  
  And the NAME. My god, the name! Renesme? Are you kidding me?
  
  The only remotely 'good' part was Jacob. At least he felt Bella's pregnancy was as weird as we did.
  
  All the other books feel ruined to me.
  
  Did I get a fake copy? Please tell me I did. What was SM thinking??
  
  Waste of money. Waste of my time.
  
  
  
  
• are you kidding me?
  By ASQBANGGJ28RQ on 2008-08-02
  This book is awful and a complete mockery of the series. I cannot believe Ms. Meyer wrote this as the final book in the series. Really, how many fan fiction are there with similar plots? Your worst nightmare comes true when Ms. Meyer makes the impossible happen - yes folks the spoilers are ALL true . . . and yes the name is "Nessie". When I read this part I thought this was some kind of cruel joke . . . but, it is not.
  
  Yes fans, we were all duped on this one. I should have stopped reading at book 3 because some of the fan fiction stories have much better plots.
  
  Jacob narrates part of the story and you won't believe who he imprints on . . .well maybe you will . . .
  
  I don't know if I should laugh or cry . . .
  
  All the other books are about choice and sacrifice, this book has a twist to it that leaves the reader thinking "what the hell just happened?" I agree with another reviewer that said this book doesn't have anything to do with the characters or the other books and it ruins the series.
  
  This book is worse then the worse fan fiction - because it makes the worse fan fiction true!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  
  
  
• Soap Opera-ish; Disappointing
  By A1ZF684WEPYGC on 2008-08-02
  I must admit that I was one of those screaming girls last night (early early early this morning!!!) who had to be one of the first in line to purchase (PRE-purchase!!) "Breaking Dawn". I wish I had gone to bed instead!
  
  Being a new fan of the "Twilight" series (and loving EVERY page of Twilight, New Moon (even the part--parts--during which I cried), and Eclipse), I cannot find the words to convey how truly disappointed I was in Breaking Dawn. The plot--disappointing and frankly, a little disturbing and pat--the characters--dull and sorely one dimensional.
  
  The book seems to retain only a little of Stephenie Meyer's voice--as if she was rushed by a deadline or some other force to complete this fourth installment.
  
  Sadly, sadly for her fans....
  
  
• Absolutely LOVED IT!!
  By AAP0J12JUSRV0 on 2008-08-03
  Just finished "Breaking Dawn" and loved the book. (NO SPOILERS in this review). I felt no sense of disappointment in the outcomes of the characters I have grown to know and love over the series. In fact, I was extremely pleased with the outcome, it is exactly what I wanted (and more).
  
  I have read reviews complaining about the writing, and I'm not sure what that's all about. I see no difference in the writing style or language or syntax in this book from the first three books. I found the author's writing to be genuine and amusing.
  
  There also seems to be a lot of disatisfaction about how the stories are resolved. The bottom line is, there is no way to please every rabid fan. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this book... it's entertaining fiction, what it was intended to be all along. It's a suitable ending for the series as told from Bella's perspective.
  
  Don't let the mixed reviews scare you away. The final book stays true to the series with a satisfying conclusion.
  
  A final note: I find it kind of suspicious that not only are there so many 1 star reviews, but that most of the negative reviews got the "most helpful" votes while positive reviews were given the most "not helpful" votes. I realize there are some strong feelings about this series on both sides, but I also know Stephanie Meyer said in an interview that she reads the 1 star reviews on Amazon. HMMM....
  
  
• I'd rate this negative if I could
  By A1YRPUO751J9PW on 2008-08-02
  I don't care how much you loved Twilight, how loyal you are to Meyer, or how you want to delude yourself into thinking this is a good book out of devotion--don't. It's horrible, like published fan-fiction, only worse. Oh, and let me explain near the end of this why you shouldn't listen to the 5 star reviews.
  
  First, the writing is just terrible. So much of it is generically vague and non-descript, and we're constantly told what happens instead of shown. The characters act like dolls, and much of it seems to be trite dialogue. There is a lot of back and forth where it seems like they're only going through the motions. Beyond this though, the first person narration is truly horrible. At times, it feels as if Bella isn't narrating at all, or she's not even there. Some cutoffs from her dialogue to her straight thoughts don't read well, and sound as if she's still speaking out loud when she isn't. There's no reflectiveness in her character, or really much at all. There's also a terrible abuse of unnecessary adverbs and bad dialogue tagging.
  
  "He shuddered convulsingly" (pg 67) will never be a good sentence, and it's not the only one like it. It's redundant in and of itself, and indicative of lazy writing description. This is not to say that adverbs can't exist--they're essential, sometimes. But Meyer's complete abuse of them to convey all her points cheapens the writing. Further, she far abuses such tags as "I lied" and "he questioned" to get her point across about the speech. This is bad, because it's overdone, and if "I lied" is all we get from Bella in particular points to convey the scene (and it is, for there is too much dialogue without much actually happening) then it's not conveying what's going on well. If you were reading quickly, you could have missed it.
  
  The plot, itself, reads like it was stolen from a fangirls wet dream. Meyer is even inconsistent with her own world, essentially breaking her own rules to make the plot work. Good authors don't do that. Sorry Meyer. Maybe you should consider taking actual creative writing workshops instead of bragging that you haven't. It's nothing personal, but you can do better than this crap.
  
  Spoilers below this point. I say you really have to read some to understand just how -bad- this book is. Bella is a horrible role module character, and the messages in this book are not things that should be promoted.
  
  To start with, Bella begins the book by complaining about being rich and getting what she wants. Considering it's in her personality to complain about everything, as it seems, this is somewhat problematic, as it shows a pretty selfish character. She gets a Mercedes Guardian, not even released in America yet, and bitches about it. Not a great way to begin to connect to the audience for one. Am I supposed to feel sorry for her that she has this awesome car? Because that's a big NO. Do I see her as humble for not wanting to be seen with it? No, not particularly. Because she just "doesn't want to draw attention to herself." Because she's getting married at 18, and she's just embarrassed, I guess. But really, not a good way to begin. The narrator doesn't get better.
  
  The wedding was shallow. It's amazing how little of it is actually described, other than being "amazing," which honestly doesn't explain much. Bella essentially loses all doubts she may have had as soon as she gets up there on the alter and kisses Edward, effectively cheapening any depth there could have been to any underlying issues. Bella doesn't come to terms with anything--she just suddenly knows that this is all well and good. At this point it might be worth it to note that there's not even a description of what Bella looks like in her wedding dress, other than "stunning." Come on, Meyer. You even said you were exited to write the wedding. Where's the wedding? Oh, and Bella also hardly seems to worry at all about leaving her friends and family behind forever. Nope, just a little tinge, but really, she can sex Edward, so it's okay.
  
  About the sex. They have conversations about it without outright saying so, and even do the deed once before saying the word outright. This can be fine, but the way it was done was such a mess, it seemed more like Meyer was afraid of sex or the mention of the word. It's somewhat obvious that sex is what they're talking about, but even so, it's still annoying. Also, The sex scene itself was ridiculous and boring. Never mind my personal belief that by Meyer's rules, it shouldn't even be possible (vampires have no blood or any real liquid, except for venom. I wonder how exactly Edward would "get it up" without blood and with a lack of hormones, unless he just has that kind of control over his penis. Although, since Edward is described as basically being as hard as a statue all the time, even if he's flaccid you might get something to work there [though it shouldn't]. And I still have my doubts about how truly amazing their sex should be, as I really wouldn't want cold hard marble in my vagina, no matter what guy I was with. But I digress. Of course, their sex is wonderful, because everything has to be perfect, and Bella is completely a cannon Mary-Sue).
  
  Further about the sex. Edward apparently just can't control himself after the sex, and eats the pillows, tearing them to shreds. The second time he attacks the headboard. Judge that one for yourself. I find it ridiculous.
  Even -further- about the sex. Bella and Edward are, first of all, both virgins until this point. Bella, after realizing just how absolutely amazing it is, decides that she wants it all the time, seriously begging for it like a sick sex-obsessed puppy. Nice going Meyer. That's totally what every 18 year old should act like. Even worse though, is that after her first orgasm, Bella decides that being human really isn't so bad. Because the sex is awesome, and she enjoys being hormonal. Also, great message. The only reason to stay human is to have absolutely amazing sex (that seriously shouldn't be. You know, cold things numb you). She only wants to continue living as human and got to college because of Sex. Sex is apparently everything. Really, you know how to drive home your point Meyer. Never mind the bad representations of females you had in your other books, this takes the cake. The only reason to live is SEX. Without sex with a hot boyfriend/husband you are DOOMED. If you do not have sex, you should beg for it (Bella does) and when you have a sex dream, you should wake up crying about it because it's not real, which will make your boyfriend/husband sex you. Because sex is all you need to make you happy. And this book is for teens? I'm not saying teens couldn't handle the themes--considering the amount of slash fanfiction, most of which written by teens, I really think this is tame and altogether something not hard to deal with. The themes are nothing a 10 year old couldn't take, in all honesty, provided they were mature. But the way it's written is just bad. Meyer, once again, proves that Bella is not at all as mature as she pretends she is.
  
  But of course, she might explain away the sexual obsession with the fact that Bella is pregnant with a mutant half-vampire baby that's, by the way, killing her. "What?" you might think. "But Vampires are STERILE!" Well, by Meyer's laws, they should be. Consult the Twilight Lexicon, and you will find a personal correspondence with Meyer that says pretty explicitly that vampires can't get pregnant. Their bodies freeze exactly as they are and basically die. You know what that means? No sperm. Or, dead sperm, if any. Oh, and since their bodies -can't- change--you get it. So, not only is this impossible, which means Meyer is breaking her own rules (needless to say, bad form), but the baby as a plot device is rather lame. Not only is it a slap in the face, since the idea behind picking Edward was that she'd give that all up, but it's also a bitch-slap to Rosalie and completely points to Meyer making Bella incredibly perfect. This whole thing cheapens the romance, cuts out the struggle, and makes any drama worthless. She's undercutting her own plot. BAD form. Also, Meyer's basically doing her best to give Bella everything when she doesn't deserve it, which again, points to Bella being a cannon Mary-Sue.
  Oh, but possibly worse is the fact that Bella comes to the sudden revelation that babies are good, despite never having wanted one before and there being no actual reason for this. She "suddenly realized" that she really wanted this baby. So, message? Teens should marry early and reproduce as fast as possible--it's always a good thing. Don't wait to pop out those babies. Oh, and you'll love it, no matter what (completely screwing with character and actual reasoning there, it's not developed at all).
  Oh, and by the way. Vampire baby? Grows three times as fast. So despite it only having been a little more than two weeks, there's a baby bump. No, I'm not kidding. It's straight from fanfiction, and there's no reasoning for it. How does Bella realize she's pregnant? Well, at first it might be hard to tell, because Meyer's lack of actual useful description of anything has Bella looking at a generic blue box when half-thought things flash through her brain, meanwhile the readers not getting much of anything. So Bella picks up the blue box, announces that her period is 5 days late, and -then- she tells you it's a box of tampons. And she really couldn't have said "the tampon box?" It's like a lame attempt to try to be dramatic. The entire book is like that. I told you, it's a fangirls wet dream. Edward and Bella sex it up a few times, mutant baby that grows so fast that it'll be full grown (18, physically) in 6 and a half years before turning into a vampire to stay 18 forever, and Jacob imprints on the baby.
  
  Oh, wait, I'm getting ahead of myself.
  
  We also get a few chapters from Jacob's point of view. No, the writing itself isn't much better, although it's nice to get away from our lame heroine. it is through here that we Jacob learns of Bella being "sick" and he decides that must mean they're turning her into a vampire. So, he basically shoves himself into the Cullen's family while alienating himself from his own pack to deal with it. Upon realizing Bella is pregnant, neither he, nor Edward really approve of the kids existence and want to abort it to save Bella's life. What does Edward do though? He tells Jacob that Bella will have his kids with him. Okay, wait, what? They're married, and Edward's making a deal like that? Without even consulting his wife? And Jacob agrees? What? Do I even have to point out how wrong that is?
  
  Oh, and in case you didn't believe me when I told you there's way too much dialogue. Flip through Jacob's chapters. You see all the italics? How it takes up more than half the page? Those are thoughts between the pack members talking to each other. Yes, it really is all like that. All the conversations run too long too, practically hitting you over the head with the point.
  Oh, and Jacob spends a lot of time wanting to kill Edward. Maybe that's one reason people don't like the themes in this book for children. Honestly, it's written in such a way it doesn't matter. He might as well be contemplating squishing a tic.
  
  Oh, and here's a little side-rant. Bella's supposed to have "a private mind" right? But then Meyer also says how easy she is to read. In Jacob's chapter, he says so too. Being easy to read is not compatible with having a private mind. But Logic has long run away.
  
  Oh, and Jacob's descriptions aren't better either. Emmet is "the big one," and Rosalie is "the showy one." Yup. That says a lot.
  And apparently, Jacob can't kill vampire girls, because they're girls (175). That's not Sexist in any way. (These books are all extremely sexist. Not a single strong female character exists. Remember Bella? Not strong).
  
  I'm going to skip over a lot, because one review can't possibly do justice to all the problems this book has.
  
  Skipping over how Bella's basically dying until she drinks some blood and all that such crap, Bella gives birth and is basically dying. That's right, she's dying in childbirth when she gets turned. Raped fanfiction, and generally done before. Bella gets not one vampire superpower, but 2. She gets a LOVE SHIELD that she can use to protect people she loves (which should essentially just be her and Edward and Jacob, because she shows no real love to anyone. No, actually, not even Edward, because it seems more like lust there than love). A Love Shield? Really? Wow, that's not pathetic either. Breaking out the "protected by love" thing is pretty sad, and it's another way to drain the drama. Not that we'd be allowed to believe that anything bad could ever actually happen anyway, because Meyer needed to go for the overkill happy ending that never makes sense if you want to go for even the most minor shot of realism. She also gets the ability to read memories. I don't know how Meyer can justify either of those, since from what we can see of Bella's personality and gifts, neither of these makes sense. And of course, never mind that most vamps would only get one power. Bella is so UBER special, she gets two.
  She's also so uber special, that she turns complete vamp faster than anyone, because her heart was stronger than even Emmett's. That makes no sense, except that Meyer fails at symbolism. It also functions as yet another way to make Bella so extra special that no one can deny it and she lives a perfect life, despite the fact that it makes no sense. Oh, and all that talk about being a crazed newborn vamp? Might as well not be there. Bella is sooooo cool, she adapts without really having to think about it. Because she's soooooooooooooooo special, she defies the reality Meyer had set in place, for no reason. Just like fanfiction. This is lame, and it undercuts the drama. It makes everything that came before it mean nothing. There's no overcoming obstacles. All the obstacles that were there for drama are conveniently taken down, or not true obstacles at all. It's cheap, and bad form.
  
  Do I have to continue to prove this book is terrible?
  
  Well, yes. I'm cutting out again though, because there's no way to fit all the issues with this book in here. (BTW, Bella protects people in the battle with the Voultri with her love shield. Hello, Sailor Moon).
  
  This one's somewhat a personal issue, but the name Renesmee (Renee and Esme) is ridiculous, and WAY too cutesy and overdone, especially considering the rest of the book. And the middle name is Carlie (Charlie and Carlisle). That's just weird. But don't worry. Jacob nicknames the baby Nessie, which is sooo much better (Lockness Monster). That one's just weird.
  
  But to ensure a happy ending for all, Jacob, failing to get Bella, imprints on little Nessie. Which is not creepy, or like a pedophile at all. But don't worry, because it's alright. She's his soulmate now, she'll grow up in 6 1/2 years, and be a complete adult that he can sex (with "chocolate brown eyes" like her mother, because that description is not overused at all. Brown is never brown, it's chocolate). So yeah, he's basically raising the kid he's going to sex up while still technically too young for him and protect the kid from it's own parents, Jacob can insert himself in the Cullen family of love, and everyone's happy. But Meyer has never had issues with older men dating little girls. Edward is, like, 100, remember? I'll leave the ranting on the overtly sexist themes to someone else--there's always someone else ready to point it out. In short, Edward is abusive (overtly controlling) and Jacob, though still my favorite since he was the only character that didn't make me want to murder someone in New Moon, is somewhat like a rapist (forcing himself on Bella).
  
  So Meyer, what was it you said about giving everyone a happy ending? Yeah, you kinda screwed that up when you got your fans both saying the whole Nessie situation was sick. People already have their twilight icon's switched to "July 28 08, the day the fandom died" (the day it was released early in Texas).
  
  Oh, and Meyer's also screwing with the idea of the Incubus to explain away Bella's pregnancy. Edward is now an incubus. Never mind that the incubus and vampire were two distinct creatures, but the incubus generally needs to have had sex at least once before so it can get the sperm to impregnate the women (either it was also a succubus, and it sexed men to get their sperm and then turned into an incubus and had sex with women, or it sexed a succubus to get the sperm the succubus had gotten). If Edward doesn't get sperm, this is a problem. She screwed with the rules, and she's completely butchering another creature that doesn't deserve it. The explanation still doesn't make sense, and it's too much explaining without enough plot.
  
  As for any positive reviews here, let me counter a few of them, and explain why they don't matter.
  
  first of all, to the people saying Meyer left loopholes to get herself out of the Nessie thing. Good authors don't need loopholes. When you reach a point, even a surprising one, there should be some reason that it clicks, and it shouldn't need to be completely re-explained. The explanations are not particularly good either. If she had established a world in which this made sense from the beginning, but simply misled everyone to believe it was impossible, it's different from completely blindsiding people. "She left loopholes" is not an excuse. It's BAD WRITING. DON'T excuse Meyer for it, just because you're devoted and want so desperately to believe it's good and okay. DON'T ignore things that she herself told you. DO think about it logically, even with the story's own internal logic. It fails itself repetitively, and everyone is out of character.
  
  I'll point out that people left 5 star reviews before they read the book. I'll also point out that most of those reviews are exceedingly short. They don't say much of anything. Think about what they actually say. I'm betting some were written out of loyalty to Meyer and Twilight, and this book doesn't deserve it. The book is shallow. Other five star reviews blatantly state they just really want the book, and you can't let that decide for you.
  "This is fiction," doesn't cut it as a reason that Meyer isn't consistent within her own universe. Even if you ignore that the writing has progressively gotten worse after each book she wrote, fiction still has to make sense within itself, or it's not worth anything. Fiction should still say something. Meyer's not saying anything except that Bella can get whatever she wants with no real sacrifice, and all girls should be shallow, have sex, and a great many of other truly appalling things. And she broke suspension of disbelief to do it, which is something you never want to do.
  "Think about Meyer's religion," doesn't cut it either. Why? Because she shouldn't be forcing her Mormon beliefs on us, and even so, she's creating a horrible role model that begs for sex. Begging for sex is stupid. The problem isn't necessarily that Bella's married at 18 so much as this entire thing is idealized. At the point at which this is passed off as the purest form of pure love and something all people should aspire to, it's bad. I don't believe it is true love, but Meyer says it is, and is saying that this is what all true love is like. And forcing your religious beliefs on the masses is wrong. At least, in the US it is.
  
  And seriously -HALF THE 5 STAR REVIEWS ARE WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK-.
  
  "Bella is IN LOVE with Edward it is completely different and she has had to SACRIFICE alot for this." No. Fail. She didn't sacrifice, because she got most of it back anyway.
  
  "I think the book is good, and maybe she wont publish midnight sun because of how bad people are saying Breaking Dawn is." Speaks for itself. Don't rate it good just because you think you won't get Midnight Sun. Trust me, Meyer will get it published. She has too many fangirls who'd buy anything she wrote.
  
  "Isn't every book a glorified fanfic." No, actually. Meyer is fangirling all over herself on this one. Fanfiction is fiction written by fans, often used to create fantasies that the writer wished would happen themselves or making characters do things they wouldn't normally do, or are out of character. Not all fanfiction is like that, but a mass of it is. Meyer is writing her own characters out of character. That's bad. There's a confused definition between an author who likes their own writing and someone who squees over every line they write.
  
  Let me also point out that as of the time I checked, the most helpful favorable review had 1 out of 8 people say it was actually helpful. Negative? 66 out of 79.
  
  So before you buy all those happy reviews, think a little longer.
  
  If this review is making you mad, why? Because the Twilight Saga is your love? Because it has to be amazing? Well, it isn't. This is the only book I've ever found that I'd pronounce complete dreck. Ever.
  
  I don't mind the change in tone of the book. I love darker things. I love gore. That's not a problem.
  
  To the people who say that "you have to read with an open mind," fine. You can do that. But if thinking critically leads to the reasoning that it's not a good book, than it's not a good book. You shouldn't have to tell yourself not to think to be able to enjoy a book. There's a difference between keeping an open mind and accepting that pigs do in fact fly.
  
  Let me explain why I am not surprised.
  
  Twilight was a good book, for what it was. It's not deep literature, but it's an easy read, and it's cute--provided you don't try to look too deep for meaning. The writing itself wasn't amazing. Well, Meyer hadn't written anything before that, so it's not surprising. I finished reading the book, somewhat satisfied. I read it prepared to hate it, and I was pleasantly surprised I didn't have to, even if it'd never be my favorite and it was easy to poke holes in. Problems in that book include Bella being annoying as all hell as a first person perspective. You don't get a real sense for most of the other characters at all, and there're really flat. Jessica is written off as shallow while Bella is being shallow herself (Eric and Mike were only ever nice to her and without even knowing them Bella writes off Eric as a total overambitious geek and Mike as a puppy). He love of Edward focuses far too much on Edward's beauty, and not much on what actually makes them click together. For the sake of space, I direct you here http://otahyoni.livejournal.com/130432.html to see an actual count, and if you really want to know, the fact that Edward stalked Bella while she was sleeping before she even know him is creepy, not true love. There were flaws in the books.
  
  And then they got worse. New Moon was a train wreck. The pacing was horrible. Bella spends over half the book angsting without much actually happening, and to get over it she hooks up. Because You Are Never Complete Without Your Man. She takes months to get over it, which is unrealistic no matter how many times you claim their soulmates. There was no falling in love anywhere. Edward's and Bella's getting to know each other was a game of questionare, and knowing each other's favorite colors does not equal love. Edward wouldn't even let Bella ask him questions, instead insisting that she wasn't allowed. Jacob is better, and actually does something other than stare at Bella. Then he clings to her and angsts about being a werewolf in Now Moon, because somehow despite the fact that every single page in that book is dripping with angst and Bella being semi-suicidal, there's not enough of it yet. There's not subtlety to anything. And the whole plot is a mess and doesn't make sense.
  
  Other problems with the books as a whole are the vampire's vitual perfection, to the point that they're so overpowered there can hardly be much drama without Bella acting like an idiot (when we're told that she's super smart). The books are exceedingly repetitious, mostly on the points of angst and Edwards beauty. I find it irritating. "He's hot" shouldn't make up for a lack in personality. Bella's not allowed to actually be flawed, so everyone loves her for no reason. Having 5 guys after you is not realistic to the extent that it's played in the book. Being clumsy is not a fault when it disappears when convenient and is only used to make her look cute or relatable. I don't relate to Bella at all, and I'm almost 17. I get that Edward's a vampire, but there's not much actually shown that allows there to be any real feeling of danger. He says over and over that he's a danger, but he never backs it up. At that point, it doesn't matter, and when you can't see the fact that it's a problem beyond being told that it is, then it doesn't really exist the way it should. New Moon had literally 20 pages of Bella and Edward going back and forth telling each other they loved each other at the end, all very mushy and overdone, and I might have gotten a concussion with how hard Meyer hit me over the head with the Romeo and Juliet comparison. But she can't really pull subtle. Considering Juliet was naïve and an idiot, and Romeo was lusty and a pimp, the comparison is just a little too perfect in all the wrong ways (seriously, read it. Romeo was after another girl when he saw Juliet and decided she was prettier). And I'm telling you I actually enjoyed reading Twilight. But it was flawed. And New Moon was worse. And Eclipse wasn't better.
  
  So why is it not surprising that Breaking Dawn is seriously this bad? Because while Twilight was good, for the easy read that it is, it wasn't a deep read, and you didn't have to think hard at all. New Moon and Eclipse honestly should have just been one book, because New Moon had about 500 unnecessary pages of angsting. Meyer has been getting worse and worse with each book she pumps out in the series, not better. And for the people who want to blame the pressure Meyer was under for the dreck in this book, don't. She said herself, many events in Breaking Dawn were originally in the direct sequel to Twilight, Forever Dawn, that got pegged. She'd had it written though, so Breaking Dawn wasn't under quite the same pressure as you'd think. Meyer was the one pressuring her publisher to let her go ahead with it. So don't blame pressure on this one.
  
  I could explain even more reasons why I'm not surprised this book is just not good, but it comes down to the fact that I think Meyer needs to actually consider working on her writing, as opposed to living off fans that will eat anything she gave them. Honestly, it's not fair to anyone who was enjoying her work to publish something this bad. Writing for yourself is fine. If you keep it to yourself. But I guess Meyer doesn't care about the fans.
  
  Listen, I'm not saying hate Twilight either. But if you take a look closer, you might see what I mean that it's not perfect, even if you don't agree. I was okay with Twilight by itself.
  
  The series should have ended there, like it was originally intended to. Because there's only so far that a bored housewife can push a book written about a dream she had of a sparkling vampire.
  
  
  As a complete sidenote, it might be interesting to note that the way Meyer describes Bella is very much like the way she herself looks. It's not directly in the books, but it's very exact. Considering I'm sure Meyer was in her own dream somewhere, the idea of it being a self-insert is entertaining, if not provable. But that's a complete other debate.
  
  Just, don't waste your money on this book. Get it from someone else if you must read it.
  
  
  
• Poor ending to an otherwise enjoyable series.
  By AQSVDG8U8D52Z on 2008-08-02
  As a stand alone book, this would've made fine fan-fic on a message board somewhere. As an ending to an otherwise amazing series, it's horrible. This book does not follow in the same thread or tone of the other books, and most things that the reader is lead to believe as fact the author chose to change to fit into her so called story line. Total 180 from the other books. I can't help but wonder if she was forced to write an ongoing series, and struggled to come up with ideas? What started as an amazing series has crashed and burned. She has much talent as a storyteller, but I think she writes much better with only one book - Twilight and The Host are very enjoyable reads. If she has to continue her stories into a series, she seems to struggle.
  
  Stephenie Meyer definately jumped the shark on this one.
  
  
• It should have ended at three
  By A1NYHO7QUC665J on 2008-08-02
  This book is just about as exciting as any other piece of fanfiction with typical Mary Sue's in it. Because that is exactly what it is. A "heroine" who gets everything they ever wanted, even if it makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE whatsoever. To be able to even accept most of what happens in this last book, logic would have to be thrown RIGHT out of the window, and even then, it's hard to swallow. It undermines the relationship between Bella and Edward as well as undermining the wolves and their imprinting process.
  To make matters worse, it throws the feminist movement back about a hundred years. Instead of giving us an empowered, self sufficient heroine who knows exactly what she wants, we get this sniveling little girl who is only complete after throwing herself away, marrying rich and having a baby. Do yourself a favour, borrow it from the library if you must, but don't buy this travesty. Biggest literary fail of the century.
  
  
• Gratitude to a fabulous author.
  By AGZ65Q8KR8LNH on 2008-08-04
  I was thrilled from beginning to end reading BREAKING DAWN, grateful to Stephenie Meyer for writing such a wonderful saga, and saddened to read the bad reviews from petulant readers.
  
  Ms. Meyer has created complete, rounded, fully-faceted characters, and let us go along as they each matured -- even the adults. I was hoping for a book that brought the saga to a happy ending, because that was the point all along: Bella and Edward had a once-in-an-existence love that could meet and defeat any and all challenges.
  
  For those who carp on small details, I ask this question: When did you decide that vampires, werewolves, Volturi, mind-reading and all the other staples of THE TWILIGHT SAGA were permissible, but a baby and a happy ending was not? Either you hand yourself up to be entertained, or don't bother reading.
  
  One other thought: These are Stephenie Meyers' characters, not yours, no matter how you might identify with them. She fleshed out her dream and shared it with the world. To have any response other than gratitude for being taken on a wild romantic ride is sheer selfishness. For those who would rather be right than be happy, pick at details. For those who want to be satisfied over and over by a fine author, grab BREAKING DAWN and the first three in the TWILIGHT SAGA and have the time of your life.
  
  
• Why do people bash books with happy endings?
  By A1HYTYOWA1678F on 2008-08-03
  It's true this book wraps up loose endings, but I can't imagine why so many people think that's a bad thing. It's done over the course of the entire book, not in the last chapter. I laughed, I cried with happiness. I read things I'd predicted and many I hadn't. And then, at the end, I sighed in contentment.
  
  The Twilight-reading world would be screaming if we hadn't had details of the wedding, honeymoon, transformation, and Jake's resolution. We got to see the Denali clan, the Volturi make a nicely threating appearance, and everyone gets a happily ever after. Is that so bad?
  
  As a society we are programmed from middle school to consider anything with a tragic ending "literature" and anything with a happy ending a trite fairy tale. I LIKE reading books with happy endings. Sometimes I'm in the mood to read Doctor Zhivago, but I also appreciate well-written books that don't end tragically. That's Breaking Dawn.
  
  Reviewers are complaining that Stephenie Meyer is encouraging marriage at 18. Hello? She spent a great deal of time explaining that, to most people, early marriage is ewwwwwww. She also spent three books leading up to the circumstances that led to the marriage. Bella and Edward are not typical. Unlike most 18-year-olds, money is not an issue. They intended for Bella to continue her education (even if it were going to be delayed) and there was no expectation of pregnancy. I think it was a POSITIVE message, well argued on both sides.
  
  Also, why do people say it's anti-feminist for Bella to choose to keep her baby? Feminism is about allowing choice and not judging the mother. We were shown both sides -- Bella's unconditional love for her unborn baby, even at the risk of her own life -- and Edward's anguish and desperation at the thought of it killing her. If anything, Bella is more assertive in this book than in any of the others. Edward's always been possessive and protective. Remember him not allowing her to do things, like seeing her friends at La Push or even just being alone? He did it for love and because he was protecting her, but no one could say it was feminist.
  
  I highly recommend this book. It's meaty, satisfying, and well-written.
  
  
  
  
  
• A Breaking Dissappointment
  By A21WEUAP0SGOGD on 2008-08-02
  It seemed that with each new book in the captivating Twilight series that Stephanie Meyer created fresh, emotional, and somehow realistic (in spite of the obvious supernatural connection) plotlines with the solid characters we've grown to love. Except, that is, for this final installment. (**Spoiler Warning**)
  
  Was I expecting Edward and Bella to declare their undying (literally) love? Of course. Did I think Jacob would finally imprint? Certainly. Did I suspect that there would be an ultimate showdown between the Cullens and their various antagonists? Without a shadow of a doubt. These, at least, Stephanie Meyer does deliver.
  
  But I did NOT expect it all to play out as it did in Breaking Dawn. Right from the get-go, Breaking Dawn seems to cast its familiar characters in unfamiliar, uncharacteristic lights. It then manages to go from awkward to just plain weird and wrong. Its soap opera-esque qualities could be expected to be found in any trashy, run-of-the-mill vampire/sci-fi paperback- not our beloved Twilight Series! In the story's narration, it was almost a relief to get into Jacob Black's semi-normal werewolf brain, as opposed to idling in Edward-Bella Impossible/Odd Conflict Land. The return to Bella's point of view is slightly more grounded, but unrelatable, predictable, and... just weird. Not even her long-awaited transformation can make up for the cheesy, random events that any amateur fan fiction writer could have cooked up.
  
  When I waited in line at my local bookstore, counting down the seconds until I could hold this book in my hands, I was expecting, if not a masterpiece, at least something equivalent to its predecessors. What I got instead was a total whirlwhind of "WHAT?"s and "Are you serious?"es. Yes, Ms. Meyer may claim that this is the finish always intended for Edward and Bella. But, to be honest, I kind of wish she'd have just kept this ending to herself and left us hanging with realistic, relatable, satisfying decisions made in Eclipse. One can't help but wonder if the only reason Meyer wrote what she wrote was to keep from avoiding any cliches or "boring" expectations. If that was the case, I wish her a congratulations. We're not bored, but we are totally confused, weirded out, and miffed.
  
  Readers are, at least, spared an unfinished or depressing ending. Sighs of relief are allowable. However, I almost would have rather had a few more sufferings if it meant that the ending of this book were as thematic, inspiring, and downwright sophisticated as the denoument of this saga could and should have been.
  
  
• Saved the Best for Last! (No Spoilers)
  By ABIY2GGW6ZWD1 on 2008-08-06
  I don't remember the last time I have felt so passionate and angry about a novel. I enjoyed Twilight, I liked New Moon, I loved Eclipse, and now I am completely infatuated with Breaking Dawn. Each one got better and better.
  It will be hard to give complete specifics of what I loved about Breaking Dawn without using spoilers, but I will do my best, without ruining the details for someone who has yet to read the book.
  I was one of the ones waiting in line at midnight with a bunch a preteen girls in prom dresses. It would take a lot for a book to be worth that experience. Before I started reading it the next morning, I hopped on Amazon to see the soaring ratings of five stars and was shocked when the vast majority of what I saw was one and two stars. I didn't read any of them at that point so I wouldn't ruin the book's surprises, but I went into it afraid that I would hate it too. At first I thought I was going to, I thought I saw where Meyers was taking it and I kept pleading with her to not go there. She did. And, she pulled it off beautifully. What easily could have been cheesy and contrived kept me in awe page after page and made me fall more and more in love with characters that were already dear to me. The aspects of Bella and Edward's personalities that I always found flat and dormant, I saw grow and mature in this final installment. Ever since I finished the book, I have been sad, simply because I miss it. I want to still be lost in Bella, Edward, and Jacob's world. I am going to re-read all of them immediately, something I didn't plan on doing.
  The complaints I have read on here, I find laughable. The book was too long. It was too happy. It has bad morals. It is weird. It grosses me out. It is contrived, blah, blah, blah. We have spent three books with very little else but angst and stress and tears. It is not a betrayal of the series that the characters don't all slit their wrists at the end. Plus, this book was filled with stressors and tears. And giving a book low rating because you don't like a new character's name is insulting to everyone's intelligence. As for bad morals and a bad message for teenage girls. Get a grip. We are talking about vampires and werewolves, lighten up! If that was your concern, you should have been worried from the beginning about all these lemur-like girls who you believe have no minds their own. They should have been out trying to drink their neighbors' blood years ago! I am teacher, an I can attest that I have seen more girls involved in reading and dreams of writing as a career thanks to Stephanie Meyer's books and her constant encouragement through interviews than any other motivator.
  I wish I had another seven hundred pages to read. Every question I had been dying to know since the very first book was answered, some in ways that I guessed and some that completely shocked me. Having your series wrapped up in a completed way is not a sign of poor or safe writing. When done well, as here, it shows the amount of thought, planning, and detail that was given to these beloved novels.
  I hope that Meyers can take the low stars as a compliment. Anything done well, anything that takes risks, and anything that makes people uncomfortable enough to think is something that has immense value, and it is always controversial and condemned.
  Amazing work, Mrs. Meyers! Thank you for the awesome ride and adding gleaming gems to my library and irreplaceable characters to my heart!
  
  
• I am so disappointed.
  By A1KLPPVFT7JA25 on 2008-08-02
  I am a massive Twilight fan. I loved the first three books and I lost myself completely in each of them.
  
  I was very excited for Breaking Dawn because I didn't know what to expect. The story line could be anything and I had high hopes that Stephenie would make it as interesting as ever.
  
  (Warning: Spoilers ahead.)
  
  The first "book" was okay at the beginning. It seemed normal: Bella nervous for her wedding, a nice little wedding, and then the honeymoon. I expected that much. However, then I got to the end of the first part. If you've read the book, you know what I'm talking about.
  
  I actually put down the book and said, "No way...what is this? Fanfiction?" It took me awhile to pick it up again. And then I had to read from Jacob's POV, which annoyed me since the massive plot line mostly involved Bella. I was so confused: what was I reading? Was this even Stephenie writing anymore? Why did the voice of the book suddenly change? Why were the characters saying things that seemed out of place?
  
  The plot line was messed up, to put it simply. A child? Stephenie said that it was impossible! I read so many fanfiction stories with that plot line and always stopped reading them because it annoyed me. And here was the REAL book with that plot line I loathed the most.
  
  Everyone suddenly seemed out of character. Bella wasn't herself, Edward was saying things that made me question out loud, and everything was changing. And then Jacob - what can I say about him? I was beginning to like him and then throw in that imprinting thing and it's all out of the window!
  
  I'm frustrated. I wanted to see a big epic battle at the end of the book, not just...nothing.
  
  I didn't expect anything. But it still ruined my nonexistant expections. Breaking Dawn has a different feel to it than the other books. I don't believe it's part of the series.
  
  I'm just so disappointed. Why Stephenie?
  
  
• I thoroughly enjoyed it...
  By A351UCVZR3P7ZI on 2008-08-03
  I just finished the book -- it kept me reading right up to the end just like the others. I understand the surprise (although not really the disappointment) of others. I felt that I got all of the closure that I needed regarded Bella and Edward and Jacob. Yes, the imprinting was different, but I found myself laughing and crying all the way through it. It was so satisfying for Edward and Bella to get their happiness.. isn't that what we all want? Sometimes we don't get it in real life, but I don't need additional heartbreak when I read. Getting to experience all of their triumphs after all of their struggles was very satisfying to me.
  
  I also understand where we would all like to have some nice message in there somewhere... but guess what??? They waited until they were married, and their love was strong enough to survive all of the difficulties that came with their marriage and offspring. Is that not a good enough message for anybody? I wanted Bella and Edward to be happy, and I got what I wanted. Now I'm happy!
  
  
• Renesmee? Really?
  By ANFTMB6CWZHZR on 2008-08-03
  As the, er, dawn of Breaking Dawn edged closer, and the spoilers started coming out, I found myself refusing to believe them. After all, they went against so much of what had happened in the previous books (case in point: vampires having babies). I was in disbelief even as the chapters themselves started to trickle in. It was just too bad - horrific fanfiction. The characters were out of character (Renee is psyched for her daughters wedding, after three books of being vehemently against marrying early. Bella dreads marriage, only to discover after the ceremony that it is everything she has ever wanted. She loathes the idea of children only to find, again, that she loves it after it happened). Bella, basically a Mary Sue before this book, loses absolutely nothing. Everything goes perfectly for her. Meyer, again, pays no attention to her previous books as Bella finds herself pregnant (supposedly impossible), Edward finds himself unable to recognize this (despite two rounds of medical school), and no one realizes that the baby might want blood (even though it is half-vampire). The list goes on, really. And, oh, look, a deus ex machina! And another! What to do with Jacob? Let's have him imprint on the demon spawn! That's handy! So not only was the new book complete with Meyer's usual sub-par writing, but the plot was awful as well. I found myself aching for the book to be over with already. The ultimate showdown with the Volturi, billed as a major plot point, barely happened. What a let down.
  
  And the morals! Meyer claims that Bella is a strong female character, but the only way that would be possible would be if strength was basically the equivalent of getting a man, a baby, and nice cottage in the woods, and giving up every bit of one's own character and beliefs. She refuses to grow as a person, instead preferring to be attached to a man she likes mostly because he is hot (it cannot be anything else - they never talk about anything but how much they love each other and, later, the demon spawn). It's an empty book with bad morals full of empty people and bad plot contrivances.
  
  I really, honestly, wish I had not wasted the time to read this piece of trash. If, after reading all of these negative reviews, you still want to read this massive piece of fail, I beg you not to give any of your money to such an awful writer, as well as whatever sort of editor would allow this to be published.
  
  
• Disappointment
  By A1QQEFV51EMD7E on 2008-08-03
  The trouble with Breaking Dawn, and it is trouble, is that the characters don't develop the way that they did in the earlier novels. The novel reads quickly enough, and I was interested enough to finish it, but in the end it was a disappointment. The plot tied things up neatly, everyone getting what everyone wanted. After reading it, you would expect to come away satisfied. Unfortunately, this story just doesn't seem right. Perhaps the author was determined to have a happy ending, and skewered the plot to fit. There were too many conflicts in the story to allow for such a resolution.
  
  Bella's pregnancy simply did not work as a plot device. The reader will recognize the symptoms of her pregnancy pages before Bella herself realizes what is happening. I found that just plain irritating. The fact that Jacob imprints on Bella's daughter was weird. Jacob was so in love with Bella, and now he chooses her daughter? I couldn't accept that.
  
  I also have to agree with other reviewers. The message this novel sends to young people is not a positive one. It is not a terrible novel, but it is a disappointment. The earlier novels in this series were much better. I have to agree with the overall negative tone of the reviewers.
  
  
  
• Stephenie Meyer Imprints on Her Characters (but maybe not her fans...)
  By A4EBQJZVIFYG3 on 2008-08-05
  I really enjoyed the much awaited 4th book in the Twilight Series. But I wanted to post a review to present why I think the response to this book is so split between disappointment and love.
  
  The major plot points seem to be what's tearing the fan base in two:
  Bella and Edward get married
  Bella and Edward have a daughter
  Bella becomes a vampire
  Jacob imprints on Bella and Edward's daughter
  
  #1) Bella and Edward's marriage. For many, the Twilight series is based on passionate, undying, but impossible love. The unlikeliness and the challenge of Bella and Edward's love creates a tension and sense of longing that forms the very core of the first three novels in the series. For the first three books, the inescapability and inevitability of this seemingly impossible love creates and intimacy that's so deliciously tangible that readers can practically taste it. For the first three books the central driving (and intoxicating) question is: Will they ever get to be together?
  
  When Bella and Edward get married, which they do very early on in the 4th book of Meyer's series, for many readers, I expect that this drastically repaints the previous books' tone. A tone that for many, was the point of interest. The longing is gone, the tension is gone, the question is answered: Bella and Edward get to be together. Readers who were looking for the longing and the tension and the tantalizing prospect of impossibility are going to be disappointed.
  
  However, readers who see the series as a description as an evolution of the maturity of love (and I suspect many of these readers will be among the older, married chunk of the Twilight fans) will probably enjoy Bella and Edward's marriage. If Twilight is about falling in love, and New Moon is about losing love, and Eclipse is about choosing love, Breaking Dawn is about committing to and growing that love. Of course, in the 4th book, there are still some unrealistic aspects to Bella and Edward's idealized love: we never see them making any major couple decisions together about money or housing or child-rearing, they still seem to be under the wing of their "parents" Carlisle and Esme, and the insatiability of their desire for one another never seems to fizzle. However, they do seem to develop an awareness that their love for each other is only reinforced by their love of their family--the way the Cullens come together around Bella and Edward and the way their bonds grow deeper as a family is one of the strongest and warmest themes in this 4th book. A theme, again, that perhaps the non-teen Twilighters will thoroughly enjoy.
  
  #2) Bella and Edward have a daughter. I assume that many readers see Bella and Edward's daughter as a plight on their love. I can see that many would think "eeewwww" or "blek--Bella's too young" (Bella's only 18 when she has her baby). And I bet that for many, the baby makes the whole forbidden vampire love way less sexy. A lusty love scene between Momma Bella and Dadda Edward would certainly be a little icky for the younger reader who doesn't want to imagine that parents have the capacity, humanity, desire or equipment to feel impassioned.
  
  But, for the readers (again, probably the older readers) that know and believe that the experience of creating and raising a human being with your partner adds unimaginable layers of depth, understanding, respect, sacrifice, and joy to a relationship--these readers will be very very pleased...maybe even relieved...that Bella and Edward have the opportunity to have a child. To these readers, their love will have reached the apex of its possibilities. To these readers, their love would have seemed shallow and selfish without a child. Again, the resounding theme of the book that's so strong and enjoyable will be family and familial bonds.
  
  #3) Bella becomes a vampire. So much of the fun in the first three books is that Bella is a majorly clumsy, constantly endangered damsel in distress. She's constantly being saved by superhuman, supper hot hunks. They're rescuing her from everything. Every book, Bella's extracted from at least 3 near death experiences. And the whole damsel thing is very very fun for many readers (myself included).
  
  But in the 4th book, aside from Bella's nearly fatal pregnancy, she's not the ultimate victim anymore. And as a newborn vampire, she's even physically stronger than her beau, Edward. For many readers, I bet that undermines Edward's ability to be her hero and dilutes some of his superhuman sexiness. No longer will two hunky supernatural guys be fighting over and perpetually saving the vulnerable, constantly endangered human babe. For others (myself included) this was be a welcome disappearance of Edward's constant upper hand. I really enjoyed that Edward felt unburdened once he no longer had to restrain himself and constantly protect Bella. I also really enjoyed to read how thrilled Edward was that Bella was finally strong. It fortifies their relationship that they're on the same level, and some will like that. But others will very much miss Bella the damsel. For it's Bella's family (again book 4's family theme...) that's threatened by the Volturi in the book, it's no longer just Bella.
  
  #4) Jacob imprints on Bella and Edward's daughter. This will be a letdown for all of those who wanted Jacob and Edward to fight, or who wanted Jacob to sacrifice himself somehow, or who wanted Jacob to keep the Series' rift of impossible love and tension alive by prolonging his fight for Bella.
  
  Yes, it did feel a little "tied up with a bow" for me when Jacob imprinted on Renesmee (Bella and Edward's daughter). But thinking back to previously books, the clues are there. From Book 1 forward, Bella and Jacob constantly describe each other as family and Bella wishes repeatedly in 2 and 3 that Jacob was a family member, not a love interest. By the end of Book 3, even Edward is described as seeing Jacob like a brother. I enjoyed the 4th book's development of Jacob and Edward's unlikely brotherly relationship. Again--Family! Jacob starts becoming part of the Cullens in a really heartwarming, charming way. And the complexity of his friendships with and admiration of Edward and Bella is really compelling.
  
  Finally, I want to add that I was impressed with Meyer's ability to write the book from three points of view: Bella's human perspective, Jacob's perspective, and Bella's vampire perspective. The difference between Bella's human and vampire narration really added a sensory richness and new appreciation for the vampire side of Meyer's world. I think that as Twilight's readers age and start to experience some of what Bella experiences (marriage, children, new families) if they take another look at book 4, they'll have different appreciation for it.
  
  Ultimately, I think Meyer, having magically dreamed her characters and their world, couldn't help but give them everything they wanted and more. She loves them almost as if she's imprinted on them. I think Meyer's imprinted on her fans too and that she desperately wants to give us what we want. But her characters come first. She can't help but spoil them--they are her babies. They are her family. Her adoration of her characters has never been a secret and it's always been evident in her the way her writing caresses them. I think the obviousness of that love is what gives this series so much staying power. I think that the 4th is no exception to that rule: like I said before, right now, Book 4 is more adult than Books 1-3, but I bet that many of the younger Twilighters will grow into this book and love it every bit as much as they love the rest of the series.
  
  
• She ruined the series. I wish I had never read this book.
  By A2X5YC8BHKT3CR on 2008-08-02
  This book completely destroyed a wonderful series that used to be among my favorites, if not my favorite. The events that occurred and the sudden change in the essence of who the main characters are... it is absolutely ridiculous. I wish I had never read this book and could still have the memory of the first three in my mind untarnished by this. Now that's destroyed. With what she's done to the characters and the story in this book I don't know if I'll even be able to sit through the movie, or a rereading of the earlier books, let alone enjoy it. If you haven't picked this up yet and are into the series, whatever you do, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. Just enjoy the first three untarnished by the fourth. Can I get the money and time back that I wasted on this?
  
  
• Breaking Dawn Broke My Heart
  By A2HB0QPG0M93CG on 2008-08-03
  ***Feel Safe. No Plot Specific Spoliers!***
  As a die hard Twilight fan I am dissappointed with Breaking Dawn. Chapters 1-4 are in typical Twilight mode and feels like a continuation of the series. Then slowly in chapter 5 the characters we know so well become diluted and we are expected to believe this wild ride we are taken on. I think there was so much focus on the plot and getting everything to the finish line that the essence of the characters were sacrificed. As I was reading I kept mourning the perfection of scences like the meadow or their first car ride together.
  I think most readers need to be prepared that this book is very plot driven and is no way driven by the characters like in the past. By itself it is a fun, wild ride of a read but not as a part of the series.
  
  
• Yeah, well, I pretty much loved every minute.
  By A28GRFJOO1AZBE on 2008-08-03
  *SPOILER ALERT* I don't agree with many of the other reviewers here, but I think I never took this quite as seriously as they did. The entire series has been fun, smart, humorous, and weirdly thought-provoking. The final book was a total hot-fudge sundae. Total fantasy. And I had a blast reading all of it. I don't particularly feel the need to deconstruct this half to death. I frankly think it would have been a cop out NOT to let Bella become a vampire. If you want to go the feminist route, she finally equals and even surpasses the insane perfection of Edward. She becomes at least as strong as he is, and in some ways stronger. Frankly, I've heard all the arguments in terms of what these books are supposed to be "about". *shrug* For me, these books were about something that most human beings really should give some time and thought to: restraint. It is the theme of all four books as far as I'm concerned. The difficulty of it, yes, but also the nobility of it. *spoiler alert* You may feel that the fact that the author let Bella become a vampire shows no restraint on the author's part, but the fact is that, as Edward has been the example of it, Jacob too though much less successfully and more humanly, Bella's final ability to show complete restraint in her bloodlust, completely controlling her animal urges in a way that shocks all the characters in the book, caps it for me. For me, this has been an enormously fun romp, and the final book was as fun for me as the first.
  
  
• How did this get past her editor?
  By A18GSEN4A48RN7 on 2008-08-02
  First of all, how could this book be written by the same author we all came to know and love in the first 3 books? Second of all, how could her editor, her friends and family, and anyone else who read this book before it was published ENCOURAGE this disaster?
  
  I was up until 6 in the morning reading this book hoping and praying that somewhere it would say "just Kidding...now here's the real book" or "and then Bella woke up from that horrible nightmare".
  
  Did Meyer not realize that the relationship between Edward and Bella was the reason for the success of the first three books? There was no hint of that relationship anywhere in the book.
  
  The Jacob imprinting sub-plot? I didn't think that Meyer would cop-out like that. I thought he'd find someone that would help him learn to live without Bella (and the whole first half of the book things seemed to be going in that direction-Leah could help him get over Bella, and he could help her get over Sam, Meyer isn't a cop out-win, win, win!).
  
  Most importantly, this series was supposed to be written for young adults (and judging by the release party I attended last night, that is a stretch, I took my middle-school aged sister and her friend and that seemed to be the main age group in attendance). Young adults can sympathize with first love. The love between a mother and a child? Leave that to the Lifetime Original Movies.
  
  If you haven't already, do NOT read. Convince yourself that the series ended with Eclipse, and let your imagination run wild for what happens next (for it won't run any wilder than Meyers). And let's have a moment of silence for a short but brillant writing career that will never fully recover.
  
  
• Quite a finale! Is shocking and very surprising!
  By AO7RFXGXSY3LN on 2008-08-03
  This book, highly anticipated was absolutely a stunner. The longest book in the Twilight series, this finishes Bella and Edward's story from Bella's perspective.
  
  First, Breaking Dawn begins with Bella remembering when she told her father, Charlie about her engagement to Edward Cullen, a vampire. Of course, Charlie has no idea that Edward and his family are vampires, or that his daughter is planning on marrying Edward and becoming a vampire herself. Surprisingly, Charlie isn't too surprised by her announcement.
  
  The first 7 chapters are about Bella's wedding and honeymoon to Isle Esme, her new vampire mother-in-law's private island. (Apparently, vampires are very rich, or at least the Cullen family is) Making love with Edward is a problem: he is supernaturally strong, and very afraid he will loose control and hurt her/bite her. Even with those risks, they somehow manage to have a decent honeymoon. Until...
  
  Bella starts feeling funny. She is throwing up, having strange food cravings, and her period is 5 days late. But, she's only been honeymooning for 2 weeks, it couldn't be possible that she is pregnant, can it?? Apparently YES, she can be.
  
  Now, this is where the story really lost its reality: vampires are DEAD. Having children should NOT be a possibility, but for Bella and Edward, a reality they will have to face, VERY soon. Bella's pregnancy is VERY accelerated, and no one is sure what sort of child she will have, vampire, human, vampire human hybrid??
  
  Now the point of view switches to Jacob, Bella's best friend, who is a shape shifting werewolf. He is devastated by Bella's marriage, deeply concerned for her safety while honeymooning, and can't stand the thought of her a)becoming a vampire and b)being with someone besides himself. Now, Jacob and his pack have to make a decision about Bella. The Cullen family promised that they would never bite a human, and if they did, the wolves could hunt them and kill them. Obviously, Bella's situation is NOT something the wolves bargained for: a human WANTING to be willingly bitten.
  
  Without spoiling the ending, Twilight fans, this book DOES wrap up the story with Bella and Edward nicely. SHE DOES become a vampire, and its worth reading, my favorite part of the novel. (Last half) There is closure for team Jacob fans as well, the Volturi come into play, and NONE of the Cullen's die.
  
  I'd say this was a SHOCKING read, it presented MANY surprises I was not prepared for, and went a very different way than anticipated. Many reviewers have been disappointed with Breaking Dawn, and I think they expected something very different too. I loved the book, after I got used to the idea of Bella getting pregnant. If you ignore how far-fetched that idea is, you'll enjoy the book more. We are suspending disbelief by reading about vampires, why not just suspend your disbelief over vampires being able to conceive children?
  
  
• I loved it!
  By A2M4R8R6SU049A on 2008-08-04
  I couldn't imagine how the author could end this story in a satisfying way and had told myself I wouldn't buy the last one. Yesterday, I weakened, bought it, and then sat and read it straight through. I couldn't put it down!
  
  I don't want to give away the plot to anyone who hasn't read it yet -- there are too many nice surprises that should be discovered as you read it. But I believe this is well written, well constructed, and contains a surprising end.
  
  I do agree with the criticism that Bells seems to have it all without adequate sacrifice -- but who cares?? There aren't too many happily ever after vampire stories, are there? And this one truly is happy ever after forever.
  
  Thanks, for the lovely series, Ms. Meyer. I hope you are working on your next book!
  
  
• Disappointing Inconsistencies
  By A1R4P6TX24NHDO on 2008-08-04
  This novel disappoints on several levels. I found the plot to be tedious and forced, the characters to have changed radically from the previous three books in the series, a heavy dose of misogyny in the text, and ultimately, major reversals from the previous trajectory of the series.
  
  (Spoilers below)
  
  First, the story's plot failed to satisfy me. The most interesting element of the plot to me was the impending appearance of the Volturi and the question about their motivations as the guardians/royalty of the vampire world. This question fizzled out both because Meyer introduced at least twenty new vampires too late in the novel and because once the Volturi appeared, she missed the chance to give the Cullens and their allies the chance to fight for their beliefs (thereby showing their commitment to these beliefs).
  
  I also found the characters massively disappointing. Although Bella spends much of the third part thinking about how her personality has remained the same since her change into a vampire, she has lost her two primary characteristics (her clumsiness and cooking for Charlie). I found the scenes between her and her daughter awkward and unconvincing. Edward became very wooden and flat, as did Alice, and Bella's human friends, her parents, and a lot of the Quileute pack disappeared almost entirely.
  
  Bella's changes also reinforce the books' inherent misogyny. From the very first book, Bella's only interest is Edward. Even putting aside his paternalistic attitude of "I know what you need and what is best for you better than you do," reflected in both his dialog and his actions (like buying her the armored car), I find it disturbing that she is so centered on him. In the fourth book, as Bella accepts his many gifts (the car, the house, the jewelry) she becomes less interesting as a character. Other disturbing elements of the plot include Rosalie's and Leah's depression about being infertile and Renee's willingness to ignore her own life experiences to encourage her daughter to take the same actions that she later found to be irresponsible and mistakes. While neither choosing to raise a family instead of going to college or having a career nor wanting children are inherently anti-feminist, I thought that the way all these elements worked together in this book created the expectation for the female characters that they only need succeed in the home, rather than fully explore all the options available to them.
  
  Finally, this book reverses the messages of the first three books. In Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse, it becomes very clear that Bella cannot have it all--she must choose between two types of lives, which comes down to a decision between happiness and security (Jacob) and all-consuming love (Edward). In a series of barely-believable plot twists (which incidentally violate the internal consistency of the world Ms. Meyer has created) Ms. Meyer not only gives Bella everything she wanted (contact with her family, Edward, and Jacob as a platonic best friend) but the thing she didn't even know to request (a daughter). In this sense, Breaking Dawn betrays the story of Eclipse and makes Bella's struggles and difficult choice almost meaningless--she doesn't have to sacrifice anything after all.
  
  I would not recommend this book to anyone; it failed to develop the potentially interesting points of conflict and refused to allow any of its characters to face the consequences of their actions (and thus to grow).
  
  
• From bad to worse
  By A16EF94KHNPCZ7 on 2008-08-02
  Stephanie Meyer was never a good writer. Has anybody read her rough draft for Midnight Sun? In one part she uses the word would 15 times in 4 paragraphs, and she never met an adverb she didn't like. A talented writer will try to use 10 or less adverbs in an entire novel. She will use 15 in a single chapter. Yet, despite her short-comings, she does have a vivid imagination, and was able to create a plot and characters that are beloved by her fans. It is unfortunate that she chose to sell out their faith in her by creating a plot that contradicts almost everything she created before. I believe part of the problem is Meyer's desire to become a writer of adult fiction. Her writing style is better suited to the young adult market. She should embrace her position as a best-selling young adult author rather than trying to introduce adult themes into her juvenile book. J.K. Rowling managed to bring adult themes into her books without alienating her previous fans and target audience. Meyer's has failed in her attempt to do so. If she wants to do her fans a favor, she should give up on the idea of writing more Vampire fiction, or at least more with the Twilight characters, and create a new series from scratch, only this time, returning to her young-adult roots. I feel bad for all the fans of this series who were subjected to a book that was rushed and poorly edited. As Clint Eastwood says in Magnum Force, "A Man's got to know his limitations." Stephanie Meyers tried to rise above her limitations and failed.
  
  

• The Host: A Novel
• Marked (House of Night, Book 1)
• Chosen (House of Night, Book 3)
• Betrayed (House of Night, Book 2)
• Untamed: A House of Night Novel (House of Night Novels)