With the recent film adaptation of Twilight, the first of Stephenie
Meyer’s tales of the romance between misfit Bella Swan and her vampire
heart-throb Edward Cullen, storming cinemas in recent months it is
easy to forget that Twilight is but the first chapter in a saga of
novels. If you are new to the series and haven’t read my previous
review on Twilight, I want to assure you that you will in no way be
disappointed with the later chapters. Ok, sure, you may look back
nostalgically at those first beautiful hours drenched in Bella Swans
internal monologue, imagining every swoon, every gasp, every scream
but just in case my last review didn’t get through: Twilight is a book
with many flaws.
New Moon goes some (though not) all of the distance to improve upon
Bella’s first outing. Wishing to spoil as little as possible for those
about to read New Moon, the story is something of a Twilight reset,
and a necessary one as opposed to a contrivance to lengthen the
series. We’ve met the vampires of Meyer’s universe, but the
Werewolves, though alluded to, have not yet had sufficient word count
for either the reader or the character of Bella to gain a proper
understanding. With Edward out of the picture (I’ll reveal no more)
for roughly two thirds of New Moon, the Werewolves are free to make an
impact on our heroine and the stage is set for some truly amazing
consequences.
It’s true to say that much of the book sets up for Eclipse, the third
novel in the series, to really knock us off our feet but everything
about New Moon seems improved. There are more “events” in New Moon,
more truly original ideas added to Meyer’s palette and used to convey
Bella’s emotions with greater subtlety than the non-stop exposition of
Twilight. Don’t misunderstand me, the monologue is still there and
rightly so, but a lot more actually Happens in New Moon, it will hold
you even more closely than the first.
One fact likely to put some readers off is the absence of Edward for a
large section of the novel. I did feel that Jacob Black, for all that
he helps Bella in New Moon, was somehow a pale comparison to his cold-
blooded Nemesis, perhaps because ultimately that is the protagonists
viewpoint as well. However, Jacob’s story is no less fascinating for
these flaws and it is nice to see Bella develop as a character in New
Moon. Even when she was confronting vampires in Twilight she seemed to
absolutely require her vampire saviour at all times. She is no more of
a match for her supernatural playmates on this occasion, but a great
many scenes show us Bella’s strength and bravery rather than just her
vulnerability.
But the real triumph of New Moon is in the conclusion. The action that
takes up the last 150 pages of this novel bring the whole story
together and are among the most entertaining and gripping plot
developments I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Edward Cullen returns
with a bang and Bella is once again forced to swallow her fears and
fight for that which she loves. Then, just when we think it’s all
over, the story lurches forward again. Not content to end New Moon
where she began, Meyer ups the anti and leaves Bella content but with
a whole host of additional concerns for her future well-being that we
could never have anticipated at the outset. It is an exceptional piece
of fiction, better than Twilight and a brilliant lead in for number
three. If you have read Twilight, don’t hesitate to pick up New Moon
and experience it for yourself.