Loading ...Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer - Review by Lyda
Breaking Dawn
**SPOILER WARNING** If you have not read the book before and would not like certain things to be revealed please stop reading at this moment and skip the next paragraph altogether.
Now, if you have read the first three books in the The Twilight Saga
However, that is not really the main disappointing factor to me, the story seemed contrived. The entire book built upon the exact moment when the world’s greatest vampire coven would come crashing down on the Cullen family, with everyone sensing death close by only to suddenly have the conflict POOF and then disappear. Even the relationship between the werewolves (shapeshifters if you are picky) and the vampires seem forced. Granted in the story it really was forced but after all the aggression and all the fighting between the two families, it just seemed like it was a quick and easy way to say “Peace” for the resolution of the story.
I like the The Twilight Saga
Book Stats:
- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 768 pages
- Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (August 2, 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 031606792X
- ISBN-13: 978-0316067928
To purchase a print copy of Breaking Dawn click here
To purchase a Kindle copy of Breaking Dawn click here
To purchase the complete unabridged set of audio CD’s of Breaking Dawn click here
Books in the The Twilight Saga
The Twilight Saga Boxed Set
The Twilight Saga: The Official Guide
Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn
To visit the author’s website go here.
(15 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)
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I felt as if Stephenie Meyer didn’t grow as a writer from book to book. I will cut an author some slack on the first book, but I expect their craft to grow in each installment. It almost seemed as if she lost her craft–or at least her editor–as the series progressed.
I have to agree with you in that I was unsatisfied with the final book. I read the teen and youth books before I allow my 13 year old to read them ( just to make sure they are age appropiate), and while I had to keep reminding myself that it is intended for the angst youth of today I was just not satisfied with where this story took you.
The problem with the books is there’s basically no conflict. This book is a “happily ever after” with no fight for it and lazy writing. (Someone counted - Smeyer used perfect 113 times. Beautiful was used 79.)
I’m just glad other people were disappointed - I’m terribly afraid of getting jumped by fangirls.
I’ll admit that some parts of the book felt a bit forced, but I liked the book overall. I like how Mrs. Meyer describes why she wrote the final battle the way she did; if a battle had started, very few would have survived. I absolutely love the chapter when Bella is actually turned and seeing how she adapts to her new senses. The whole half-breed child was a bit of a stretch for me, I wish that the main conflict had been over something other than that, but in the end, it’s the author’s world and we’re just visitors passing through.
I haven’t read these but my daughter has read the first 2 books and is loving it, off to buy the last 2 for her 12th birthday !! Sounds like people have mixed reviews ot the books, I know if my daughter wasn’t thrilled with the first 2 as large as they are she wouldn’t want the last 2.
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A few of your points to touch on. If you look at the other books, they were so overshadowed that the story is predictable as well. It doesn’t seem like she ever wants to surprise the reader, more so show how fate really was pulling things into place.
I also think that the ending was a bit sudden. You’re worked up for this whole epic battle and it doesn’t happen. I’m sure that she was saving it for the would-be fifth book (plea to Ms. Meyer, please write it!) and maybe it was a call for peace, but it was a bit anti-climactic for me.
Overall, the book was good. I enjoyed reading it and I still wanted to read more, there were just some points I would change.
For me, Quil and Jacob’s stories skate a little close to pedophilia. So, ok, they’re not getting older and sure they just want to them to be happy for now, but I don’t think I’d want that for my daughter, even if she was half-vampire or had shapeshifter blood in her.
There was also a moment where I thought the book got a bit preachy, talking about how we trust in technology and no magic/religion so it’s easier for vampires to take us out. I don’t like feeling like I’m reading propaganda and that got a bit over the top for me.
Overall, I liked the book and wanted to read more, I just might change a few parts to make it more interesting and less scary (from a parent-worried-about-pedophile-point-of-view, not a suspense sort of thing)
Jen -I agree that Ms. Meyer did not show a vast improvement IMHO. She built up expectations and there was so much hype about Twilight and then you get an anticlimatic ending that just fizzles out.
Nicole -I love how this book keeps her innocent and shows true teen angst. But yes, it was disappointing.
Liviania -Never fear the fangirls lol.
Willow -I get that Ms. Meyer didn’t want anyone to die and it is her story. But how she made the final “battle” (if we can really call it that) was entirely forced. And the best authors don’t shy away from conflict but show how the hero or heroine best overcomes it.
Lori B. -Oh I even though i felt that each following book after Twilight wasn’t as good, I still wanted the books lol.
Lori Z. -Seriously, if someone didn’t happen to catch the foreshadowing elements (and there was a LOT of it) they can just look back and find them. There really was NO surprise in how the story takes place.
And yes, Jacob’s relationship with Bella’s daughter and even Quil with his own imprinted relationship (disaster?) is kind of creepy. I mean I get that they are supposed to be the end-all-be-all for their soulmate but still, creepy. LOL.
When I read these books, I took them as young adult books. I have to admit, I loved the last book. It pulled the series together for me. I was glad to have the happily ever after. I normally read murder mysteries, so this was a nice change of pace for me
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I think the reviewer is correct in the fact that the way the big finale worked out seemed almost too easy. The way the two feuding forces came together for the good of the whole was quite predictable, but that is what makes a satisfying story for many readers, so it was probably the best way to handle it. It would be hard to satisfy that many fans, probably impossible.
Sierra -I see your point that a happy ending where no one gets hurt satisfies readers, especially since the Twilight saga was geared towards young adults.
But if you are writing to please people, could it really be called a work of literary art?
Now I don’t want people to get me wrong. Authors work hard on their books and hope that what they write is well received.
I am simply saying that the authors I know and have come to love, write because its something they love and hope that what they have produced is also loved. Not simply because they know it would be the best way to satisfy as many people as possible.
Once again, I hope no one thinks that I assume Ms. Meyer is just trying to cater to people for a buck. Personally I just feel like she forced that ending because she did not want confrontation of any sort.
I was merely replying along that thought line.
I really liked the last book. I wanted a happy ending and I was satisfied.
My fab twilight books are “Twilight”, “Eclipse” and “Breaking Dawn”