patticom - , reviewed on 10/30/2011

Helpful Score: 2

This book was a huge disappointment. Granted, I was probably expecting too much... I thought the 4th and final book would tie together all the loose ends, and finally reveal some of the things the author had been talking about in the first three books ad nauseum. For example, there were constant references to how insatiable the hunger always is for a new Vampire, and how uncontrollable they always are. It was established that the only vampire who ever got through the first year or two without drinking human blood was Rosalie, and that was because 1) she was overcome by grief at what had happened to her (and the horror she had become), and 2) she was consumed with revenge! Bella had no such feelings, but in fact made it her ambition from almost the moment she determined what Edward was to become like him. It would have made a MUCH better story if she had become an actual vampire instead of some bizarre superhero caricature of one. They could have had her hunt down all the human boys who chased after her, that would have made an interesting twist....

The child twist was interesting, granted, and the fact that the Voltouri were coming to destroy her. It was the only thing that kept me reading after the hugely disappointing transformation of Bella. But they the author cheated us out of that resolution and excitement also, making the "battle" a joke of all the ancient vampires being afraid of superhero Bella. If you've read the series but not this one, skip it. If you do read it, keep an airsick bag handy. I like a good vampire story on occasion, but this is anything but.

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