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claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was alternately really interesting and completely insufferable. On the one hand, Edward absolutely hates himself, so reading from a first-person perspective made me kind of hate him as well. Plus, I first read the Twilight saga in middle school and didn't see how creepy and toxic the relationship between Bella and Edward is. As a 24-year-old, my taste in both books and romantic relationships has changed (thank God), so all the boundary crossing Edward does was just one red flag after another. On the other hand, Edward's ability to read minds means that we get glimpses of other points of view, plus a lot more detail that wasn't included in the original book. I particularly loved the extra details about the other vampires, because I hold the firm belief that every single character in Twilight is more interesting than Edward or Bella. The new information about Alice's and Jasper's abilities and the baseball and climax scenes were my favorites. Overall, this book made me super nostalgic for my middle school years of Twilight obsession but also very grateful for how much I've grown since then.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Car accident, Death, Gore, Medical content, Murder, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Minor: Animal death
caitlinsbooks's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
TL:DR;
Positives: some of the quotes were funny, the romance was still cute in its own weird way, and it was a throwback and a half to be in this story.
Negatives: Edward goes on a bit, doesn’t he? What’s all this crap about pomegranates? Also just get over it Edward, this girl loves you and would like to be a vampire, please. You could stop this from being a 4 book saga (still salty about the travesty that is New Moon...) if you just did what she wanted. Thanks.
Read the rest of my review here. I’m gonna go full Edward and say way too much! Spoilers ahead...
Ok, I finally did it. I finished this behemoth. I started off feeling quite excited about reading Edward’s POV, and there were definitely some interesting additions brought to the story thanks to his mind reading abilities. I guess I’m just disappointed that this book was literally just Twilight. What did I expect? I have no idea. I wish this book had been released a lot sooner, as it definitely would have benefited from the Twilight hype. I’m not much of a rereader, and I don’t remember what was going through Bella’s head anymore, so it was as if I was truly in Edward’s head when he was frustrated about not being able to hear her thoughts. I don’t think that was the point of the story? I think we were supposed to know what was going on? Maybe not...
Anyway, yes this book was fun at times, and full of the classic Twilight angst, but WOW IT WAS REALLY LONG AND BORING MOST OF THE TIME.
Positives: some of the quotes were funny, the romance was still cute in its own weird way, and it was a throwback and a half to be in this story.
Negatives: Edward goes on a bit, doesn’t he? What’s all this crap about pomegranates? Also just get over it Edward, this girl loves you and would like to be a vampire, please. You could stop this from being a 4 book saga (still salty about the travesty that is New Moon...) if you just did what she wanted. Thanks.
Read the rest of my review here. I’m gonna go full Edward and say way too much! Spoilers ahead...
Anyway, yes this book was fun at times, and full of the classic Twilight angst, but WOW IT WAS REALLY LONG AND BORING MOST OF THE TIME.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Torture
Moderate: Death, Gore, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Car accident, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Stalking, Cursing, and Confinement
jeanneerin's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I do not know why I masochistically feel the need to be a completist with this series. This book manages to be more frustrating and creepy than the original, with the incel attitude of Edward being front and center--he goes so far as to question Bella's right to exist in the beginning of the book. This is a fantasy version of Lolita more than an actual romance, and Edward's inability to let Bella choose for herself whether or not she should become a vampire feels like any male's inability to see a woman as more than a child or a pristine item to never be soiled in any way than as an equal. He puts thoughts in her head and words in her mouth, never really asking her what she is actually thinking. We are in his mind as he works out just how he will gaslight her as their relationship continues.
There is nothing new in this book since Edward and Bella both were never more than cardboard cutout characters and every scene seems to be from the original.
Still, I know I'm going to borrow the two books that managed to escape my notice before, so Meyer's must be doing something right. Or maybe it's just that I suddenly need potato-chip style books--I know I should put them down, but just can't seem to stop.
There is nothing new in this book since Edward and Bella both were never more than cardboard cutout characters and every scene seems to be from the original.
Still, I know I'm going to borrow the two books that managed to escape my notice before, so Meyer's must be doing something right. Or maybe it's just that I suddenly need potato-chip style books--I know I should put them down, but just can't seem to stop.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction and Torture
Minor: Ableism
pigeonsjones's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Body horror, Medical content, and Gore
Moderate: Death, Torture, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Pedophilia
selda's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If you liked the twilight series then give it a go. I can’t see many people who didn’t reading this. It was dark and lingered with melancholy everywhere. Her writing still shines through at times but I have to admit it wasn’t as good as I had been hoping for. Edward still has some deeply romantic lines/thoughts (I mean ‘Her existence alone was excuse enough to justify the creation of the entire world’ hello?!?!!!!).
I can’t help but wonder if she struggled with the latter half and felt she had to finish it. Still I would love it if she continued with alternating povs from the Cullens, at least for New Moon since I can just imagine Edward’s despair in that book would be too much. I know that’s just a dream though!
I can’t help but wonder if she struggled with the latter half and felt she had to finish it. Still I would love it if she continued with alternating povs from the Cullens, at least for New Moon since I can just imagine Edward’s despair in that book would be too much. I know that’s just a dream though!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Rape
Jasper is an ex confederate soldier and stephenie doesn’t think to really address this????? She has issues all over the place with racism although it’s mostly ‘subtle’.jessiedoyle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Death
aquakerwitch's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Violence
kelsea's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
harperhugodarling's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The first half of this book was all I could have wanted. It was slow, gothic, explored the true deep flaws of Edward as a character, and it made me understand not only him but why he fell in love with Bella. I also loved the exploration of how he was using his mind reading abilities to shut himself off from the world, and watching Bella challenge these assumptions was really interesting and I have to admit I wanted to stay in this slow quiet exploration forever.
Then the second half was mostly Twilight again. Not bad, but I wish the first half could have gone on forever.
Then the second half was mostly Twilight again. Not bad, but I wish the first half could have gone on forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Violence
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