Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown Young Readers
Release date: August 2, 2008
List price: $22.99 (768p)
ISBN: 978-0316067928
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Review - "Breaking Dawn"
Reviewer: Charise Payne
Rating:
The highly anticipated fourth novel of the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn is being ripped off shelves as quickly as it is being stocked. Stephenie Meyer's newest novel has been breaking sales records across the United States and reminding booksellers of JK Rowling's success.
But the books financial success is the only thing these novels have in common with JK Rowling's Harry Potter series. The media keeps comparing the two authors as equals and even though I loved the Twilight series I can honestly say Stephenie Meyer is no JK Rowling. They are very different and distinct writers but Rowling seems to be able to wrap up her story in a way that makes the reader yearn, scream, cry and wish for more. Meyer's book, as good as it is, falls flat in comparison. Readers screamed for sure but that was only because the book felt all wrong, it is being compared, by some fans, as a good fan fiction not a Stephenie Meyer novel.
Breaking Dawn is the final book in the Bella and Edward story. In Eclipse, the readers last left Bella and Edward engaged and looking forward to starting there life together. The large questions to be answered in Breaking Dawn were: was Bella going to become a vampire, would they get married, could they have sex, what would happen to Jacob and who would die in the vampire war with the Volutri.
As a reader I found myself deeply vested in these characters and eagerly anticipated the answers as they unfolded in Breaking Dawn. But as the answers came, I felt the book lost its appeal and found myself having more questions then resolutions. I kept finding myself asking, where is Alice? And what the heck is up with Edward, where did my hero go?
The book has several unforeseen surprises; some were shocking such as Renesme and Jacob and I was fine with them but others I hated. What the heck happened to the Volutri/Cullen war, why didn't it happen?
The war between the Cullen's and the Volutri has been building for the last three books; it should have happened in this novel. It shouldn't have be left for a future novel that may or may not happen. Someone should have died, someone like Emmett, Esme or Seth, someone who would have made me ball my eyes out. Every great book needs to have the darkness to get to the light and this book did not follow through. Without the war and suffering the book felt flat and unfinished.
The book did have its fun parts; Bella and Edward getting married, the honeymoon, Bella discovering her power and how to control it and the banter between Jacob and Rosalie was priceless. But for once I couldn't say I loved a Stephenie Meyer book; it was good but it wasn't great.
If you are a Meyer fan please get the book and read it, just be prepared to have an open mind. All of your questions will get answered and Meyer does wrap the story up nicely at the end. But unlike Rowling, Meyer's final book will make you want another book you may not get; so be prepared.
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