#27 - Novel 1/19: The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer
The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer is about a 17-year-old girl named Bella who arrives in a small town to live with her father Charlie (the local police sheriff). At school, she meets a group of adopted siblings who are the children of one Dr. Cullen - a well respected man in the community.
However, she discovers that the Cullen family are not what they seem. In fact; Edward, Alice, Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper - as well as their adoptive parents Dr. Carlisle Cullen, and Esme - are a coven of vampires. To top it off, Charlie's friends the Blacks are also not what they seem - a pack of werewolves sworn to protect themselves and humans against 'bloodsuckers'.
To make matters even more complicated, Edward is so attracted to the scent of Bella's blood that everytime he's near her his natural vampiric instincts fight to bleed her dry. Yet, despite all that, Bella befriends the Cullens and eventually falls in love with Edward - who is also romantically attracted to her.
So... awkward teenage romantic melodrama for everyone! The heroine (Bella) is not the typical human heroine from vampire/supernatural novels and films, and the hero (Edward) is not the typical bloodsucking and frightening vampire. The heroine attracts danger and trouble, whilst the hero wallows in a pit of self-denial. That's what makes this series seem real.
Also, the supporting characters of Jacob Black (werewolf, and family friend of Bella), Alice, Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper are given a look in just as much as the hero and heroine - given a backstory and a purpose within the plotlines.
Twilight gives a look into the beginning of Bella and Edward's unorthodox relationship, and also sets up the roles of Jacob, and the other Cullen siblings.
Full Moon deals with the relationship between Bella and Jacob - thus forming the basis for a love triangle - as well as the almost-fatalistic committment Edward has to Bella.
Eclipse gives insight into the relationship between vampires and werewolves - especially as they are working with a common goal in mind: protect Bella from a vengeful vampiress and her army of newborns.
Breaking Dawn wraps up the series, focusing more on the supporting characters and Jacob Black, over the 'full circle' story of Bella and Edward.
All-in-all, the Twilight series is a very interesting and addictive read. Vampires and Werewolves are portrayed very different from the historic norm.
Vampires: can go out into sunlight (although in the sun it is VERY easy to see that they are not human...); don't need to sleep; can't eat 'human' food; don't have fangs, rather their teeth emit a poison when having bitten their target which is the catalyst of turning a human into a vampire; have pale granite-like skin which is cold to the touch; have very differing abilities dependent on their human characteristics; live normally in solitary or in pairs; have eyes that are black when hungry, red when having fed on a human, and topaz when having fed on animals.
Werewolves: have the ability to become werewolf passed down through their genes although not every generation becomes werewolf unless the need arises; live in close-knit packs; are able to shift between human and wolf forms at will; can communicate telepathically with packmates; do not age whilst they embrace their wolfishness; initially change into werewolves when having gone though a strong emotional upheval.
Twilight will also be released as a film in December this year, with a few recognisable faces.
However, she discovers that the Cullen family are not what they seem. In fact; Edward, Alice, Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper - as well as their adoptive parents Dr. Carlisle Cullen, and Esme - are a coven of vampires. To top it off, Charlie's friends the Blacks are also not what they seem - a pack of werewolves sworn to protect themselves and humans against 'bloodsuckers'.
To make matters even more complicated, Edward is so attracted to the scent of Bella's blood that everytime he's near her his natural vampiric instincts fight to bleed her dry. Yet, despite all that, Bella befriends the Cullens and eventually falls in love with Edward - who is also romantically attracted to her.
So... awkward teenage romantic melodrama for everyone! The heroine (Bella) is not the typical human heroine from vampire/supernatural novels and films, and the hero (Edward) is not the typical bloodsucking and frightening vampire. The heroine attracts danger and trouble, whilst the hero wallows in a pit of self-denial. That's what makes this series seem real.
Also, the supporting characters of Jacob Black (werewolf, and family friend of Bella), Alice, Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper are given a look in just as much as the hero and heroine - given a backstory and a purpose within the plotlines.
Twilight gives a look into the beginning of Bella and Edward's unorthodox relationship, and also sets up the roles of Jacob, and the other Cullen siblings.
Full Moon deals with the relationship between Bella and Jacob - thus forming the basis for a love triangle - as well as the almost-fatalistic committment Edward has to Bella.
Eclipse gives insight into the relationship between vampires and werewolves - especially as they are working with a common goal in mind: protect Bella from a vengeful vampiress and her army of newborns.
Breaking Dawn wraps up the series, focusing more on the supporting characters and Jacob Black, over the 'full circle' story of Bella and Edward.
All-in-all, the Twilight series is a very interesting and addictive read. Vampires and Werewolves are portrayed very different from the historic norm.
Vampires: can go out into sunlight (although in the sun it is VERY easy to see that they are not human...); don't need to sleep; can't eat 'human' food; don't have fangs, rather their teeth emit a poison when having bitten their target which is the catalyst of turning a human into a vampire; have pale granite-like skin which is cold to the touch; have very differing abilities dependent on their human characteristics; live normally in solitary or in pairs; have eyes that are black when hungry, red when having fed on a human, and topaz when having fed on animals.
Werewolves: have the ability to become werewolf passed down through their genes although not every generation becomes werewolf unless the need arises; live in close-knit packs; are able to shift between human and wolf forms at will; can communicate telepathically with packmates; do not age whilst they embrace their wolfishness; initially change into werewolves when having gone though a strong emotional upheval.
Twilight will also be released as a film in December this year, with a few recognisable faces.