Eclipse (Book Review)

Eclipse, the third installment in the vampire series by Stephenie Meyer, is packed with a love triangle, action, tragedy and even comedy.


 I read Eclipse in one day and didn’t do my homework, which got me in trouble with my math teacher. I told him “The vampire ate my homework.” What could I say? I was addicted to each chapter, and couldn’t wait to find out who Bella would choose.
In the two previous books in the series, Twilight and New Moon, 18-year-old Bella Swan wants to become a vampire like her vampire love Edward Cullen. She tries to convince Edward to change her into a vampire, but Edward breaks up with Bella so she’ll change her mind about wanting to become a vampire. Bella, distraught and on the rebound, befriends Jacob Black, who just happens to be a werewolf. Later Edward returns and Jacob and Bella stop dating since vampires and werewolves don’t get along.

I like that Meyer writes vampire stories that leave out the sexual tension that other teenage romance books have. She also abandons the idea that vampires can’t be in sunlight and that they live in coffins and don’t have reflections. She adds twists and turns to the old vampire tale, by creating more hardship for Edward to be with Bella. 

Eclipse begins with Bella agreeing to marry Edward. However, Bella is uneasy about the wedding because she’s keeping it a secret from her best friend Jacob, who is Edward’s worst enemy. Bella’s downfall is that she doesn’t realize her true feelings for Jacob. Bella finds herself in a love triangle, and her inner battle begins. She has to choose between the one she loves (Edward) and the one who is completely in love with her (Jacob). If she chooses Edward, she has to give up everything—her family, her friends and her life since she would be a soulless vampire. If she chooses Jacob, her life will be normal and she won’t lose the people she loves to be with him.

 Just when I thought this book was just a love story, it gets more complicated. In the midst of Bella’s confusion, an evil vampire on a quest for revenge invades Seattle. Bella is in trouble and everyone she loves is in danger.

Eclipse is the best book in the series. It has more humorous dialogue. When Jacob takes Bella on a bad date, she asks to use Jacob’s phone to call Edward to pick her up. He responds, “Sorry, I don’t want any leeches on my speed dial.” There also are more dramatic themes. When Edward kills a major character in front of her, Bella becomes hysterical because she thinks that if she becomes a vampire, she’ll turn evil, and Edward will probably kill her.
If you love dark, bittersweet novels filled with excitement, danger and a romance so real you can’t believe it’s fiction, then I recommend this exciting page-turner.