Midnight Sun, by Stephenie Meyer ★ ★ ★ ★ Loved it!

A review of Midnight Sun, fifteen years after reading Twilight

For just a second, I saw Persephone, pomegranate in hand. Dooming herself to the underworld. Is that who I was? Hades himself, coveting springtime, stealing it, condemning it to endless night.”

― Stephenie Meyer, Midnight Sun

Midnight Sun, by Stephenie Meyer
★ ★ ★ ★ Loved it!

This book was such a pleasant surprise for me! I wish I’d read it when it came out two years ago. 

Of course, I read Twilight as a teenager and loved it, but I wasn’t sure if the storyline and characters were going to hold my attention at this point in my life. Yet, almost immediately I could see that Stephenie Meyer has matured as a writer and a storyteller over the years. I didn’t feel like I was just rereading Twilight, there’s a lot more happening on this side of the story and I loved it! My favorite realization was that the perspective was unexpected. The two main characters were not in perfect sync like some might’ve expected. In fact, they almost comically misunderstand each other throughout the entire book, which made this whole fantasy world feel relatable and entertaining.

Midnight Sun follows the storyline of Meyer’s debut novel, Twilight, only from Edward’s perspective. You might think you already know the story, but the background details about the many characters, human and vampire, will keep you on your toes. The main character’s ability to read minds seems simple and straightforward in the first book, but the explanation and execution are intricate and well-thought-out by the author in round two. I was equally impressed with the way Meyer weaves the family’s abilities and histories into the storyline without a bunch of info dumping. 

SPOILERS:
Things that really surprised me. How truly inhuman Edward feels. I imagined him understanding humans more so because of his ability to read their minds, but he is tragically disconnected from them.

The dynamic between Rosalie and Edward is far more complicated than I ever imagined.

Alice’s ability to see the future is also Edward’s because he is SO in tune with her. 

The timeline. I don’t think I realized how quickly things moved in the first book. They essentially have one pleasant day together and then their lives are on the line. 

Finally, Edward was always planning to leave! I did not see that coming and it adds a lot of complexity to the second book.

Click here to purchase, Midnight Sun, by Stephenie Meyer. 
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Though I hated her, I was absolutely aware that my hatred was unjust. I knew that what I really hated was myself. And I would hate us both so much more when she was dead.”
― Stephenie Meyer, Midnight Sun

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