[Review] Midnight Sun Book: A Love Story From The Vampire’s Point Of View

Diksia.com - Are you a fan of Twilight saga? If you are, you might have heard of Midnight Sun, the long-awaited companion novel that retells the story of Twilight from Edward Cullen’s point of view. But is it worth reading? How does it compare to the original novel? And what new insights can we gain from Edward’s perspective? In this article, we will review Midnight Sun and give you our honest opinion.

Introduction

Midnight Sun was published in 2020, 15 years after Twilight, the first novel in the four-part series that follows the romance between a human girl, Bella Swan, and a vampire, Edward Cullen. The series became a global phenomenon, selling over 100 million copies and spawning a blockbuster film franchise.

However, Midnight Sun was not a new idea. Stephenie Meyer, the author of the series, had planned to write it since the beginning, and even shared some chapters with the film director and the actor who played Edward.

But in 2008, the manuscript was leaked online, and Meyer decided to put the project on hold indefinitely. She resumed writing in 2015, and finally announced the release date in 2020. Midnight Sun sold one million copies in its first week, and was translated into many languages, including Indonesian.

Novel Details

Title: Midnight Sun
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Genres: Young adult, romance, fantasy
Chapter: 29
Language: English
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Rating: 3.7/5 (Goodreads)

Synopsis

Midnight Sun is a retelling of Twilight from Edward’s point of view. It covers the same events as the original novel, but with more details and insights into Edward’s thoughts, feelings, and motivations. The novel begins with Edward’s first encounter with Bella at Forks High School, where he is instantly drawn to her by her scent and her mind, which he cannot read.

He struggles to resist his bloodlust and stay away from her, but soon finds himself fascinated by her personality and courage. He decides to befriend her, and eventually reveals his true nature to her. He also introduces her to his family, a coven of vegetarian vampires who have adopted him.

However, their relationship is not without dangers and challenges. They have to deal with the hostility of some of Edward’s classmates, the curiosity of Bella’s father, and the threat of a nomadic vampire tracker, James, who becomes obsessed with hunting Bella. Edward must protect Bella from James and his allies, while also coping with his own doubts and fears about their future.

Characters and Character Development

Edward Cullen: The protagonist and narrator of the novel. He is a 17-year-old vampire who was turned in 1918 by Carlisle, the leader of his coven. He has the ability to read minds, except for Bella’s. He is very intelligent, handsome, and charming, but also brooding, self-loathing, and pessimistic. He falls in love with Bella, but worries that he is endangering her life and soul by being with her. He also feels guilty for killing humans in his past, and tries to atone by following a vegetarian diet and helping people in need. He is very protective of Bella, and would do anything to keep her safe and happy.
Bella Swan: The deuteragonist and love interest of Edward. She is a 17-year-old human girl who moves to Forks, Washington, to live with her father, Charlie. She is very clumsy, shy, and selfless, but also brave, curious, and loyal. She is intrigued by Edward, and soon discovers his secret. She is not afraid of him, and accepts him for who he is. She also loves him deeply, and is willing to sacrifice her humanity and her family to be with him. She is immune to Edward’s mind reading, and also to other vampires’ powers, which makes her special and valuable.
Alice Cullen: Edward’s adoptive sister and closest friend. She is a cheerful, friendly, and optimistic vampire who has the power to see the future, based on people’s decisions. She is very fond of Bella, and considers her as a sister. She helps Edward and Bella in many ways, such as arranging their dates, saving Bella from James, and planning Bella’s birthday party. She also has a vision of Bella becoming a vampire, which she hopes will come true.
Jasper Hale: Alice’s mate and Edward’s adoptive brother. He is a quiet, reserved, and empathetic vampire who has the power to manipulate emotions. He is the newest member of the Cullen family, and the most struggling with their vegetarian lifestyle. He feels uncomfortable around Bella, and accidentally attacks her on her birthday, which triggers a series of events that lead to Edward’s departure in New Moon.
Emmett Cullen: Edward’s adoptive brother and Rosalie’s mate. He is a strong, muscular, and playful vampire who loves to tease and joke. He is very loyal to his family, and treats Bella as a sister. He enjoys hunting and fighting, and often challenges Edward to arm wrestling or video games.
Rosalie Hale: Edward’s adoptive sister and Emmett’s mate. She is a beautiful, vain, and arrogant vampire who dislikes Bella, and wishes that Edward would choose someone else. She is jealous of Bella’s humanity, and thinks that Edward is ruining her life by turning her into a vampire. She also resents Edward for rejecting her when they first met, and for choosing someone who is less attractive than her. She is the only one who votes against Bella’s transformation in New Moon.
Carlisle Cullen: Edward’s adoptive father and Esme’s mate. He is a compassionate, wise, and gentle vampire who works as a doctor. He is the one who turned Edward, Esme, Rosalie, and Emmett into vampires, and adopted Alice and Jasper. He is the leader of the Cullen family, and the one who taught them to live peacefully among humans and animals. He is very supportive of Edward and Bella’s relationship, and respects their choices.
Esme Cullen: Edward’s adoptive mother and Carlisle’s mate. She is a kind, loving, and nurturing vampire who cares deeply for her family. She is the one who welcomed Bella into the Cullen family, and treated her as a daughter. She is very happy for Edward and Bella, and hopes that they will stay together.
James: The main antagonist of the novel. He is a sadistic, cunning, and ruthless vampire who enjoys hunting and killing humans for sport. He is the leader of a nomadic coven that includes Victoria and Laurent. He becomes obsessed with Bella after encountering her in a baseball field, and decides to hunt her down. He lures her to a ballet studio, where he bites her and tries to kill her, but is stopped and killed by Edward and the Cullens.
Victoria: James’ mate and a secondary antagonist of the novel. She is a fierce, red-haired, and vengeful vampire who helps James in his hunt for Bella. She escapes from the Cullens, and later returns to Forks to avenge James’ death by creating an army of newborn vampires in Eclipse.
Laurent: A member of James’ coven and a minor antagonist of the novel. He is a dark-skinned, polite, and cultured vampire who acts as a mediator between James and the Cullens. He pretends to be friendly with the Cullens, but secretly betrays them and informs James of Bella’s whereabouts. He leaves James and Victoria, and joins the Denali coven, a group of vegetarian vampires who are allies of the Cullens. He later returns to Forks and tries to kill Bella, but is killed by a pack of werewolves in New Moon.

Theme and Message

The main theme of Midnight Sun is the power and danger of love. The novel explores how love can transform, inspire, and heal, but also how it can consume, destroy, and hurt. Edward and Bella’s love is portrayed as a force that transcends their differences and challenges, and gives them a reason to live.

However, their love is also shown as a source of conflict, pain, and risk, as they have to face the consequences of their choices and actions. The novel also examines the moral and ethical dilemmas of being a vampire, and the value of human life and free will.

Edward and his family are presented as examples of vampires who choose to live peacefully and compassionately, while James and his coven are examples of vampires who embrace their predatory and violent nature. Edward and Bella have to decide whether they want to preserve or change their identities, and what they are willing to sacrifice for their love.

The message of Midnight Sun is that love is worth fighting for, but also worth respecting. The novel encourages the readers to follow their hearts, but also to consider the impact of their decisions on themselves and others. It also urges the readers to accept and appreciate themselves and their partners for who they are, and not to judge or change them based on their appearance or abilities.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of Midnight Sun:

Pros:

It offers a new perspective on Twilight saga, and reveals more details and insights into Edward’s character and backstory.
It adds more depth and complexity to the story, and explores the themes and issues from a different angle.
It satisfies the curiosity and nostalgia of the fans, and gives them a chance to revisit their favorite characters and scenes.
It has a creative, informative, and humorous tone and style, and uses various literary devices and references to enhance the writing.

Cons:

It is too similar to Twilight, and does not offer much new or surprising information or events.
It is biased and unreliable, as it only shows Edward’s point of view, which is often distorted and negative.
It is problematic and controversial, as it portrays an unhealthy and abusive relationship, and glorifies stalking, manipulation, and obsession.

Where To Read Novel Midnight Sun

If you are interested in reading Midnight Sun, you can find it in various formats and platforms. You can buy the hardcover, paperback, or ebook version from online or offline bookstores, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Gramedia. You can also borrow it from your local library, or download it from online sources, such as Google Books, Apple Books, or Kobo. However, make sure that you are using legal and authorized sources, and avoid piracy and plagiarism.

Conclusion

Midnight Sun is a novel that will appeal to the fans of Twilight saga, who want to relive the story from Edward’s perspective. It is a novel that will provide more details and insights into Edward’s character and backstory, and add more depth and complexity to the story.

However, it is also a novel that will disappoint and frustrate some readers, who expect more originality and diversity from the novel. It is a novel that will raise some questions and criticisms about the quality and morality of the writing and the relationship.

Ultimately, it is a novel that will spark different reactions and opinions from different readers, and invite them to form their own judgments and interpretations.

We hope that you enjoyed this article, and that it helped you to learn more about Midnight Sun and Twilight saga.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please feel free to share them with us. We would love to hear from you. Thank you for reading, and have a great day!