With the end of book three, my heart was breaking for Jacob. I couldn’t wait to finish off the series with Breaking Dawn. I was disappointed in most of the book. While there was some conflict in the story and the potential for a battle scene with vamps and werewolves, everyone ended up with a perfect happily ever after. Bella and Edward live forever as vamps with their child in love. Jacob finds his sole mate. Charlie finds a love. Everyone is happy, happy, happy. Yuck!!!

The great “battle scene” was more about standing around talking. No battle at all. I’m all for romance, but not this neatly wrapped up; especially after everything the characters went through during the first three books.

There was such potential for the finally and it was a huge let down reading this book.

I gotta be honest, I liked Books 1 and 3 but Book 2 was a bit of a drag. Don’t get me wrong – I like Jacob Black. But I would have appreciated it more if was narrated from Edward’s perspective. I felt like some of the details were unnecessary (e.g. like Jake driving off to a park hoping to imprint on random strangers, his long conversations with Leah, etc.). Of course, it is Jake’s perspective after all but it just dragged on too much for my liking. I was getting annoyed and impatient, wanting to get to the part where Bella gave birth and turned into an immortal.

I didn’t find Jacob’s imprinting on Renesmee disgusting as many others seem to think. Stephanie Meyer was clear that it wasn’t anything inappropriate, merely a protective and deep affection on Jacob’s part. Perhaps it might turn out to be something romantic in the future when Renesmee reached maturity but for now, Jacob’s deep respect for her would prevent him from contemplating her in any other way.

Another little disappointment was how excruciatingly perfect Bella was as a vampire. I wish somehow that Meyer had tuned it down somewhat – I missed the imperfect human Bella. Maybe she should have had a harder time containing her bloodlust. But at least I was happy that she wasn’t smug about her newfound abilities.

Also, what was the whole “EJ” deal? “Edward Jacob”??? Seriously Ms. Meyer – if I named my first-born son after my husband and my ex-suitor/best-man/whatever-you-call-it, my husband would probably flip! Really, you don’t drag ex-suitors into baby-names unless you want a divorce! It’s an insult to Edward and salt to the wound for Jacob! Poor Edward, the epitome of a vampire-saint (that’s an oxymoron)! He’s so completely devoted to Bella, it’s unfair at times how she takes him for granted.

I was also unhappy about Jake’s character portrayal. For example, when he rushed off to phase in front of Charlie – it was a pretty immature thing to do. I wish Meyer had cast Jacob in a more mature light. He’s an Alpha after all so he deserves a little more respect. I even wondered how Bella could love him in a romantic way in Eclipse. Jake is an affectionate and loyal friend but as a former suitor to Bella, he is nothing compared to Edward who is such a gentleman in every way. Even Edward’s physical passion for Bella is so refined which makes him all the more attractive (yeah, yeah I am a die-hard member of “Team Edward”). I also wondered how Jake would keep up with Renesmee’s sophistication as she grows up. Stephanie Meyer – I wish you had put in a little more maturity to Jacob’s character! I would have imagined him differently – rugged, being the shape-shifter that he is, but mature and controlled. The leader, the Alpha. In BD, he seems like an immature puppy-dog not a fearsome werewolf!

But… other than these minor annoyances, BD was a very enjoyable and interesting read. I wonder if Ms. Meyer has anymore adventures for our beloved characters up her sleeve. I can already conjure up a few stories – adventures in the Amazon, the Volturi’s future plans, perhaps even an encounter with “real” werewolves. The possibilities are endless! I’m going to miss Bella and Edward, but I’m glad that the story ended in a happily-ever-after as I had hoped. Surely, our favorite lovers deserve that after all they’ve been through!