I got this book at a local Goodwill thrift shop, for another release copy.

While I've enjoyed many vampire (and werewolf) novels over the years, I never got into this series. I looked through this book a bit just to see if it would be any better than the others, but I kept running into phrases and descriptions that made my teeth ache, from the very first line ("All our attempts at subterfuge had been in vain." - Not quite the grabber it was meant to be, I think) to Bella's first isn't-he-lovely description of Edward (in this volume - tallying the descriptions in the series would take some time). Oh, there were a few bits I found amusing, whether they were intended that way or not - the infamous "keeping warm in the tent" scene became hilarious when Bella, feigning sleep, overhears an entire (and increasingly unlikely) conversation between Jacob and Edward. (I admit that I did rather like the idea that, as vampires are cold - or at least "ambient temperature" - they can't help keep a living human warm; this gave an excuse for the cuddle-with-Jacob scene, though perhaps some other kind of basic outdoor-survival knowledge would have been more useful and less awkward. If Bella weren't planning on becoming a vampire too, this point alone should have cleared up her torn-between-two-lovers issues, but then she seems to get off on a guy who's icy-cold AND whose skin is "hard as granite". Ouch!) And then there's the bit where she compares her relationship with Edward to that of Cathy and Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights; I mean, seriously? I guess that's just like people mooning over how romantic Romeo & Juliet is, without thinking it through.

Honestly, the pages and pages of Bella moping, and moping, and moping... and all the talking-about-relationships with no particular progress being made... and the plotholes, and the writing, and the... OK, definitely not my taste.

Anyway. Some vampire-themed books that I have enjoyed:

Chelsea Quin Yarbro's "St. Germain" series, including Blood Games - good-guy vampire in many different places and times, more historical fiction than straight-up vampire novel

Bram Stoker's Dracula, the daddy of 'em all (well, the first vampire novel - there were some stories and quite a few myths that actually came first).

For vampires and werewolves, there's Tanya Huff's Blood Trail, with a modern-day setting and some nice interpretations of the traditional monsters.

And, for a slight change of pace, Brothers of the Night, an anthology of gay-themed vampire stories.

There's a film adaptation of this book (of course). I haven't seen the previous films and don't plan to watch this one, mainly because the lead actors don't appeal to me in the slightest (obviously, people's mileage varies here!), and none of the previews piqued my interest.

The most fun I've had from this series so far is via Dan Bergstein's blogs; you can see the "Eclipse" entries here, and there are links to the blogs on the other books as well. He went into the series with a relatively open mind, but it wasn't long before the poor guy was clearly starting to crack {grin}; I've been thoroughly enjoying his comments.

I also enjoyed the detailed and more-than-a-little-snarky TV Tropes page on this series.

I left this book in the Little Free Library at the Windham town beach, which was bustling on this lovely afternoon. Hope someone enjoys the book!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2019 One-Word Title release challenge. ***

*** Released for the 2019 Movie release challenge. ***