Midnight Sun - Review

Midnight Sun (Twilight #5)

By: Stephenie Meyer

Published: August 4, 2020 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

675 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Vampires

Source: Personal Kindle Library

(Goodreads / Amazon)

Summary:

 #1 bestselling author Stephenie Meyer makes a triumphant return to the world of Twilight with this highly anticipated companion: the iconic love story of Bella and Edward told from the vampire's point of view.

When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella's side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward's version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.

This unforgettable tale as told through Edward's eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward's past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger?

In Midnight Sun, Stephenie Meyer transports us back to a world that has captivated millions of readers and brings us an epic novel about the profound pleasures and devastating consequences of immortal love.

MY REVIEW:

My goodness, how long I have waited for this release!!! 12 YEARS!!! I think Twilight fans should get the award for most patience in a book release EVER! Even though some details have faded and others merged in my mind because I have read the books a ton of times and then watched the movies probably even more, this was still a gripping story as if it was brand new. Even more so because of it being told from Edward's perspective. Edward was always the driving force behind my 5 star ratings in the earlier books. FINALLY to have Twilight be told from the beginning of the story from his perspective was very rewarding. It was exactly like I had imagined it would be. 

The depth of character the reader sees with Edward is vastly different than what we saw with Bella's perspective. With good reason. Edward has the ability to hear the thoughts of everyone around him. So even though we are reading Edward's thoughts, we also get to dive into numerous side characters as he listens to their thoughts and sees Bella from multiple angles, since she alone is the one person he can't hear the thoughts of. Add to that his 100 year existence and he has a whole lot of life experience of reading people and learning how humans think and behave. Bella constantly takes him by surprise though and does the opposite of what he assumes she will do. Edward is thoughtful, contemplative and deliberate in every single action he takes. Being a vampire, he sort of has to be. His physical and emotional responses to Bella brings out his human side and many of those deeply buried human characteristics are very new to him since he died to his human life at age 17.

Some things gripped me in a way that they didn't while reading from Edwards point of view. The scene when she cries and he grabs a tear with his finger to lick it in the efforts of having a physical piece of her within in his body forever, since in his mind she will eventually outgrow him, or he will leave when he deems it best for her. Seeing the workings of his own emotions play out were extremely satisfying. 

This book was well worth the wait! My best friend Amy, who originally introduced me to the Twilight series after she read book one, who I went to see EVERY Twilight Saga midnight movie release with (most of the movies multiple times in the theater), who wore matching shirts with me to go to a Twilight book release, she would have loved this book! She passed away 5 years ago from breast cancer. She would have major fan girl-ed over this with me. She would've beat me reading it by a long shot because she was a faster reader. I can't help but think of her every time I think of Twilight.

12+ years was a long time to wait for Edward's story. I loved every page. I read as fast as possible, which is slow for me. Every moment back in Forks and back among the Cullen family was enjoyable. Knowing the ending didn't deter from the scenes as they unfolded. Feeling the love between Edward and Bella all over again reminded me why I loved their story so much to begin with.

If you're new to the Twilight series, the books are one thousand percent better than the movies! I would get swept away in their love story again and again any day! It's a series I will re-read in the future as I have multiple times already. 

Top 10 Favorite Quotes:

If Carlisle was the soul of our family, then Esme was the heart. He gave us a leader who deserved following; she made that following into an act of love.

I could see how easy it would be to fall into loving Bella. It would be exactly like falling: effortless.

Could a dead, frozen heart beat again? It felt as though mine was about to.

My life was an unending, unchanging midnight. It must, by necessity, always be midnight for me. So how was it possible that the sun was rising now, in the middle of my midnight?

Love doesn't always come in convenient packages.

To cross my path, formed, as she was, in such a fashion that there was no way I could possibly overlook her? A ridiculously potent scent to demand my attention, a silent mind to enflame my curiosity, a quiet beauty to hold my eyes, a selfless soul to earn my awe.

Would it ever cease to thrill me that I was the one she was saying yes to?

"For almost ninety years I've walked among my kind, and yours...all the time thinking I was complete in myself, not realizing what I was seeking. And not finding anything...because you weren't alive yet."

"I may not be a human, but I am a man."

"You are my life. You're the only thing it would hurt me to lose."

Language: 1 (light)
Mature Content: 1 (light)
Final Rating: 5 stars!