Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga)

Book four of the Twilight series. A teen paranormal romance. Bella, a young ordinary human girl falls in love with Edward a vampire.

First. This series completly changed how I view vampires. It's not all about evil and blood with Meyers. This series opened me up to teen fiction which is now my favorite reading material. This series also opened me up to shapeshifters, and lots of YA material. Even Faeries and Mermaid books. I'm over 35 and always check the YA sections first now. I actually saw parts of the Twilight movie before reading this and loved it, then started the series. Bella the clumsy human many readers bash, actually ends the first three books being brave, and possible hero material. I won't spoil how this one ends.

Now on Breaking Dawn. This book is artwork and probably the best book I have ever read. When I run out of new books, I often return and end up reading breaking dawn again. I don't know how many times I've read it. The book is three parts. Very long parts, 760 pages, so if you like the series you get a great deal on this. Two books for the price of one. The three parts are first person views switching from Bella to Jacob.

Part one begins with a beautiful wedding and honeymoon. Then tragedy strikes and we're taken into part two from Jacob's perspective.

Breaking Dawn is a page turner you will not be able to put down. It's writing at it's finest. While the series has been bashed for being poorly edited, we see near perfection here. We see huge scale progression from the characters. We see the conclusion to a romance triangle that has kept us guessing since book two. We see nearly every question from the series answered here. We get a lot more of the Cullens, and even a close look inside the pack mind. We get more character dialogue than any book in the series, and maybe more than the rest put together. This is a series you can read over and over, but if your like me, you'll find yourself reading Breaking Dawn the most.

I spent a lot of time reading over the negative post on this book and actually rewrote mine to answer them. I read through several pages of post and will answer each one I can remember here. And that's the point. Every single complaint this book gets can be explained. The only real problems to this book, are a unfinished ending, and it's a bit of a fairytale completion to the series. About ten problems the series has had are answered perfectly in Breaking Dawn. Each one makes sense and can be explained, but taken as a whole. Ten happy endings might be too much of a fairytale. Not to me. I love happy endings. Keep in mind this is a laid back and relaxing series. Intended for teenagers, but excellent for all ages. Yes even retired people.

SPOILERS Answers to complaints about the series.

Charlie doesn't put up enough fight for the wedding.---- What more could Charlie do? Disinherit her? He's been against Edward since the end of book two and seen it does no good. He accepts it hopes Renee can do more.

Charlie should ask more questions after Bella is sick--- Maybe a few, but not many. Remember Jacob has just shown him he's a werewolf and told him if he can't handle to wierdness Bella will leave. Any parent who loves their daughtar would play along. The only other option is to loose her.

Bella turns out graceful--- All vampires are graceful. Alice seems to be more so.

Bella shouldn't be married at eighteen--- There is nothing wrong with marriage or children at eighteen. If you can love, afford, and have time for your child, it's actually better to start early. It gives you more years with your kid. Would you rather be thirty-five or fifty when your kids eighteen?

Bella gets to skip being a newborn. No one else has. Bella should have killed people---- Carlisle, and Rosalie never drank human blood either. Edward avoided killing anyone for ten years after her was a newborn. He killed bad people when he went off on his own. Carlisle was tempted and probably the others as well. Carlisle woke up inside a city and ran off as a newborn. Bella's prepared. She's the only vampire the Cullens know who's chosen the life as a vegitarian beforehand. None of the other Cullens were expecting to become vampires. Meyer gives us hints in book three by saying at least four times "It will be interesting to see how Bella turns out since she's prepared."

Bella can't get pregnant! It's impossible! Vampires are frozen and can't reproduce.---- Meyers never says male vampires can't father a baby. She even gives evidence to say they can in BD page 125-26. She says female vamps can't change enough to carry the baby, but males need to change very little to father a baby. As long as Meyer doesn't contradict a baby being possible, then the baby is fine. What gets me is how can readers believe in vampires in the first place and question a vampire baby? They believe in vampires, werewolves, arms that can move without being attached to a body. They read three books of paranormal and question the fourth book because of a pregnacy they didn't suspect.

Bella gets all these rewards and pays nothing---- How much do you want her to pay? I think she paid too much through the series and again here. She's tortured a little by James. Edward ditches her and she nearly goes insane. She saves Edwards life and get grounded for it. She has to hurt Jacob when she gets Edward back. She has to live knowing all of those people in Seattle are dead because of her. She has to run to Rosalie for help since her loving husband cares nothing about what she wants. She carries a baby that has a fity percent chance to kill her. She suffers three days in agony. No. Bella is like the most forgiving girl on the planet and deserves everything she got.

The wolves conflict ended too easily. Someone should have got hurt---- Honesty did anyone expect the wolves and Cullens to end up as enemies when the series ended? Hasn't that been one of Bella's side plots to get them to get along? Remember the magnets? The whole wolf conflict was based on the word abomination. Meyer wrote this scenario beautifully to make perfect sense the wolves would halt the attack after loosing three of their own. Not to mention abomination is a weak excuse to murder in the first place.

The imprinting is wrong and fixed Jacob's problem too easily----- Meyer is clear it's not wrong. It's very similar to people promising their children away at birth. Even religious people did this a hundred years ago. If it offends you, why didn't you complain after book three? There was a two year old baby then too. I don't think it fixed Jacob too easily. Again we were prepared in book three, and Jacob has suffered enough too.

Their should have been a fight at the end!--- I agree. Meyer totally messed up the ending with the Volturi. But, she had small reasons for this as well. Most of Carlisle's witnesses were there to defend only. Even the fighters. Even though the Volturi attacked first, could gentle Carlisle say charge? The Volturi backed off first so if the Cullens had attacked, it would have been a small form of murder. That's a very small reason, and I agree the ending is totally messed up. Meyer had no reason to end the series this way other than to write us another. Which I hope she does.

This review applies to the Kindle version of the book, purchased through Amazon. This review contains SPOILERS, so if you don't want to know the ending, don't read it. I have to admit that I never read the other books; just watched the movies. I was curious to read the end as I felt that Breaking Dawn 1 didn't end in the right way (Avatar anyone?) However, curiously, when Bella opens her eyes in the book, it was the exact center of the book. I was an English teacher and promoted as an attorney because I was the best writer in my government unit. I did not find the writing terrible, especially as I read the entire book in one night - couldn't put it down. To me, that is good writing. I have a sneaky suspicion that I wouldn't have liked the earlier books. As for "fading to black", this generation has no appreciation of the power of fade to black. Who wants to read all the details of someone else's sexual experience. I think there was plenty of information on the sex as a vampire. In Stephanie Myer's world, becoming a vampire cures all ills, so why not clumsiness too? Of course, her world has nothing to do with the traditional vampire and werewolf legends, the one thing about the series that I didn't like.

What the nay saying reviewers didn't like was, in part, what I did like. I really didn't need to read a full description of a dress. I have an imagination and like to use it. The one thing I agree with is the lack of any anger, disappointment or trying to talk an 18 year old out of getting married. However, as I was married at 19, without too much angst from my parents, it didn't seem as strange to me as it might otherwise have been. Also, Bella is definitely painted as quite obstinate and her father probably knew it was no use so why ruin her day?

The way Stephanie gushes over how beautiful Bella is when human, the transition to vampire beautiful really isn't all that much - no more zits, discoloration of skin, dark circles under eyes, etc. I'll bet that vampirism would actually cure a double chin, but Bella didn't have one as a human. As a woman, I know that there are times I look awful and times I look spectacular. I suppose if I turned into a Stephanie Myers vampire, it would be the spectacular that showed all the time. Also, apparently, there is a glow to the sparkly skin she created for her vampires. I also know that when a woman is graceful, it affects the entire way she looks and is perceived. So, when turned gets rid of your clumsiness and you before graceful, that affects your look as well. A lack of specified description of Bella (other than beautiful) lets the reader use his or her imagination.

You younger generation need to learn that sometimes what isn't spelled out is better than seeing or reading every little detail. Your imagination brain cells have atrophied. You no longer think imagining is a good thing. Watch Casablanca - it's in black and white - and see how affective a movie with no screen sex but plenty of passion is.

Now to the final point - everyone gets what they want and no one has to suffer to get it. Did you not read the part about Bella's suffering that didn't show because of the morphine? Even the movie tried to pick up on that. Apparently, Bella suffered quite a bit to become a vampire. Then she wasn't allowed to see the baby she nearly died for until everyone else said it was ok. Especially as she is described as the strongest of the clan, if I were Bella, I'd have thrown everyone into walls to hold my own child. I can't imagine that even Stephanie's newborns would drink the blood of their own children or parents. Remember, newborns are strong because some human blood remains. Apparently, in Bella's case, some humanity remained as well. Perhaps this was because she spent so much time with Carlisle. How easy did you you think it was for Bella to turn her back on the hikers while hunting? Part of why she was able to do it was because they might have been someone she knew. If she could do that, do you think that she would want to feed on her own child? What if someone put your favorite food close enough to you so that you could smell it, but you knew you had to eat tofu. Could you easily turn from one to the other? These are subtleties that I think the younger generation just doesn't get. Vampires are not supposed to get tired, but Bella had to concentrate so hard in training with her shield that she was exhausted (until she actually got it). Have you ever had to work at something so hard that it gave you a headache or made your body tired? And, even when she "got it", how easy do you think it was for Bella to shield an entire army while facing the Volturri? This is a woman who barely had time to enjoy all the pleasures of her change when she had to abandon them to prepare for a fight? How easy was that? Furthermore, all you males and childless females out there, how easy do you think it is for a mother to prepare to send her child away to keep her safe, especially when she had had such a short time to enjoy the child?

These are not being burned at the stake or losing Edward prices she had to pay, but they were difficult, subtle, pains that hurt almost as much. There was also the pain of thinking Alice was gone for good when Alice was her best friend in the family? Imagine seeing Rosalie, whom you knew wanted to keep the child as her own, was always allowed to hold the child before Bella could? Imagine having the greatest sex in the world and the ability to never get physically tired, but you had to stop to take care of your child. At least at night the child fell asleep so you could go back to sex without feeling you were neglecting her (although the book does describe the mesmerizing feature of Renesmee - that you could watch her sleep for a long long time).

While Bella didn't have to give up Charlie, it's made clear in the book that he would love her no matter what her circumstances were, but just wasn't ready yet to have more than Jacob's transformation ability to deal with. After all, he had dealt with Edward, Carlisle, and Alice in earlier books. And he did rebel when he said "no more lies" because he knew the child wasn't adopted but was Bella's. OK, it might have been interesting if Renesmee tried her hand on your face communication trick on Charlie, but he might have dropped her. It is true that Renesmee's understanding of when she could do things and when she couldn't (and why she couldn't have human blood) is a little out there; but then Stephanie's entire concept of the vampire and werewolf world's drives me crazy, especially as the vampire in love with a human and living in a human world was done so much better by the tv series Forever Knight. If you have never seen this series, rent it or buy it and see how it can be done and still stay true to the real vampire legends. But if you are going to accept Stephanie's world, which you apparently have if you've read the earlier books, then the final book makes perfect sense.

Without having read the earlier books, my thought is that Stephanie Myers grew as a writer rather than the other way around. I look forward to seeing how the screenplay incorporates all of the action and subtleties of the end of this book.

Spoilers Inside

I highly anticipated this book (probably most people who have posted reviews did as well). The book brought on several emotions for me which I will break down in detail. I will not recount the entire plot of the novel, only key points to make comments on.

1. The wedding - the wedding was beautiful and I was glad to see that Bella finally saw her human self as being beautiful. It was nice to see Jacob back, but he did ruin the mood once Bella mentioned the honeymoon and that angered me. The wedding and reception were shorter than I would have like it to be, but there were more important story lines to explore.

2. The honeymoon (part 1)- I thought Meyer did a fabulous job of conveying Edward and Bella's intimacy without being smutty. She reinforced the sanctity of marriage before sex which I believe is a fabulous message to young readers.

3. The honeymoon (part 2) - I was livid once I realized that Bella was pregnant; and, honestly, it was obvious that Meyer would go in that direction from all of the foreshadowing in Eclipse and in Bella's nightmares. I was horrified that a. Bella wanted to keep the baby and b. she ran to Rosalie for help. I could not refer to the baby as such, instead I deemed it vampire spawn. I felt that Edward was a blubbering idiot during this section and I wanted to smack both him and Bella and tell them to pull it together.

4. Jacob's section - I was so extremely angry and frustrated with Bella that Jacob's voice was immediately refreshing. His quips between him and Rosalie kept the mood light when everything else was not. I love that he matured in this section and was not the egotistical idiot that I once deemed him to be. I rooted for him as he took charge and took what was rightfully his - his postion as Alpha. I do admit that the imprintation on Renesmee was a complete and utter shock to me. Given the circumstances it is strange, but it also made complete sense. By incorporating the imprinting on Renesmee into the storyline, it opened up the communication between the wolf packs, allowed for peace to finally come between Jacob and Edward, and created a solid alliance between the wolves and the vampires. As for those who believe that this imprintation promotes pedophilia, I believe that they are misunderstanding the delicate balance and nature of the situation. Yes, Renesmee is just a baby, but no, Jacob is not thinking of her in a romantic or sexual nature. Jacob is first and foremost a guardian and a soulmate. He is not rushing her to grow up, but encouraging her to enjoy her childhood. Jacob will remain a teenager until he decides to give up his shape-shifting ways. Renesmee will become a full grown adult in just seven years and then they can live their happily ever after. For now, he is more a body guard and friend than a lover.

5. Bella- Not exactly the transformation she had in mind, but her tranformation took place because it needed to and not only because she wanted it. It was nice to Bella finally believe in herself and not rely on others. I really felt that Nessie and Bella's relationship was not as close of a bond as it should be. I also felt that Edward seemed somewhat detached from Nessie, and not very fatherly. I was relieved that she did not have to hide from Charlie and that he was somewhat in on their secret life, but I couldn't help but think - what about Renee? She is barely mentioned beyond the wedding. Poor Renee. I was, however, extremely excited to finally see Bella hold her own and become a stronger character once she transformed. I thought her power was amazing and for once she was the one who saved the day.

6. Renesmee - What an awful name. I get that it's a combination of Renee and Esme, but it's still hideous. I hope that fans do not become inspired to name their daughters after her. I did not want Nessie (a name even worse than Renesmee) to be born. I thought she would be an evil spawn that would destroy the characters I have known and loved. Once she was introduced, I, like the characters in the book, melted. How could you not love her? Yes, the Jacob imprinting was weird, but it gave Jacob a purpose in life and created an improved alliance with the Cullens and a reconciliation with his own pack. She was the key to pulling together the vampire clans to prevent the destructions of the Cullens. I really would like to learn more about her character and to see her grow...a Meyer spin-off perhaps?

7. Alice's role- I was aggravated that Alice did not have a voice throughout most of this book. I enjoy Alice's character and thought that she really did not have much purpose in this novel. I was extremely angry when she and Jasper left, but I had a feeling they would be back. Alice quickly redeemed herself in the final chapters, but I still hold a slight grudge.

8. The vampire clans - It was extremely interesting to meet the characters that had been mentioned previously but not introduced. With their help, Bella was able to become the strongest weapon in the group - for the first time. I thought the scene with the Volturi would have turned more violent and found myself somewhat disappointed that it did not turn into a showdown, but I was happy with the end result.

9. The happily ever after - Yes, this story had a happy ending. Did anyone remember that Stephenie Meyer's favorite author is Jane Austen? Austen was also a firm believer in her characters getting whatever they desired. Meyer's ending was no different. The characters had conflict in all the books, but it was resolved. Any conflict, no matter how large it may seem can be resolved. Yes, everything worked out conveniently well and there is no longer discord. The overwhelming theme was not that you do not have to make choices in life because everything will work out for the best, but rather, love does conquer all. It is a universal theme - with love anything can be and is possible - isn't that a lesson we can all agree on? Instead of a bloody war torn ending, there was a peaceful resolution - we can only dream of this happening more in real life. Yes, everything worked out for our beloved characters. What else was to be expected? This was a fantasy, no, I'm wrong - this was a FAIRY TALE! How could a reader not expect all the pieces of the puzzle to fit together when all along it seemed like a fairy tale - the knight in shining armor, the damsel in distress, the evil Volturi...(Meyer makes several allusions to literary fairy tales). Readers need to remember that this is not a work of nonfiction. It is not a work of realistic fiction. It is a fairy tale and everyone got their happily ever after.

10. I am going to miss these books and these characters. May they live forever on library shelfs and in the minds of their truly devoted fans. Bring on Midnight Sun!