REVIEW: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Synopsis

Edward’s soft voice came from behind me.

I turned to see him spring lightly up the porch steps, his hair windblown from running. He pulled me into his arms at once, just like he had in the parking lot, and kissed me again. This kiss frightened me. There was too much tension, too strong an edge to the way his lips crushed mine–like he was afraid we had only so much time left to us.

As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob–knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

About the Author

According to Stephenie Meyer, the idea for her sensational debut novel, Twilight, came to her in a vividly detailed dream in 2003. Over the course of three months, writing at night when her children were in bed, the young Mormon mother of three developed that dream into the spellbinding story of 17-year-old Bella Swan, who moves from Phoenix, Arizona, to the tiny town of Forks, Washington, and falls in love with a beautiful, mysterious vampire named Edward Cullen. After feverish writing, painstaking editing, and a brief but frustrating round of queries, submissions, and rejections, Meyer finally connected with an editor at Little, Brown who fell in love with the manuscript and signed her to a three-book deal.

Twilight debuted in October, 2005. An immediate sensation, it appeared on several year-end best books lists and earned its author a rabid cult following among teenage girls. Since then, Meyer has continued Bella and Edward's story in bestselling sequels that have proved equally successful. Young readers cannot get enough of these riveting novels -- a captivating blend of vampires, romance, and suspense -- and parents rest easy knowing the books do not contain the graphic language and sexually provocative material that pervades some YA series.

Whether or not the Twilight Saga proves to have "Harry Potter legs" remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Meyer continues writing. She forayed into adult fiction with 2008's The Host, a chilling science fiction tale about the end of humanity, told from the perspective of an alien invader. And she makes it clear the door is open for further installments in her vampire romance. Clearly, this talented author has many more stories to tell.

My Thoughts

As the Twilight saga continues, Edward and Bella revel in being together once again. Edward has committed to never leave Bella again, unless it is her choice. Bella is trying to find a balance that will allow her to share her life with both her beloved Edward and her best friend Jacob, when they become aware of a growing coven of vampires ravaging Seattle, all the while continuing to contend with the vengeful vampire Victoria who still seeks revenge against Bella for the death of her lover.

I think that this is probably my favorite book so far in the Twilight series. Bella isn't quite such a pitiful excuse for a human female. She displays a little more strength and humor than in the last book. Edward is a little more selfless, kind and patient. Jacob is still immature, but he is good-humored and selfless in his own right, and even Bella can't stay mad at him.

Eclipse really moved me in the end. I spent the last 30 pages or so boo-hooing non-stop! This book, the third in the series, has left me hungering for the final book Breaking Dawn. Bring it on!