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- The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Editor reviews
2 reviews
From Missy's Reads & Reviews
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
N/A
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
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If you've read Eclipse, which is Meyer's third installment in the Twilight Saga, then you already know who Bree Tanner is - and you also know what happens to her by the end of the story. What you don't know is how she was created, what happened when she first became a newborn vampire, and the events that led up to the big battle at the end of the book between the newborn vampires (led by Victoria) and the Cullens (aided by the Wolf Pack). Well, for anyone wondering ... this is the book for you.
The Short Second Life is written from Bree's perspective, much like Twilight is narrated by Bella Swan. These stories are similar in that the first-person narrative limits what you see outside of what they see - which can sometimes be a huge handicap. For the most part, Meyer typically wraps up any loose ends and unanswered questions you may have. Unfortunately for me, she missed the part that I truly wanted an inside look into - which was the actual battle itself. We don't see it in Eclipse because Bella is secluded away from the fight, and in this we miss it because Bree kind of lags behind. You see a glimpse, but not as much as I would have liked. You also see the typical humanity that sometimes shows through with most of the paranormal creatures in the story. Even though the newborns don't recall their former lives, they are somehow able to show some humanity, empathy, and huge amounts of curiosity.
On the other hand, Bree's story is quite darker than Bella's perspective. Bree is dealing with becoming a vampire and battling bloodlust, which is something hugely missing from the original novels where it's vampires with many decades (and sometimes centuries) of practice with control, as well as the refusal to give in to their primal instincts - substituting animal blood for human blood. You see more of the inhuman side, with some of the other newborns using their new-found powers to wreak havoc on the human race. And you're introduced to new characters that are never mentioned in Eclipse, as well as seeing behind-the-scenes to Victoria and Riley's plot to destroy the Cullens... and there's a nice little curve ball thrown in there with someone else that is helping her out by turning a blind eye to what she's doing.
The Short Second Life is written from Bree's perspective, much like Twilight is narrated by Bella Swan. These stories are similar in that the first-person narrative limits what you see outside of what they see - which can sometimes be a huge handicap. For the most part, Meyer typically wraps up any loose ends and unanswered questions you may have. Unfortunately for me, she missed the part that I truly wanted an inside look into - which was the actual battle itself. We don't see it in Eclipse because Bella is secluded away from the fight, and in this we miss it because Bree kind of lags behind. You see a glimpse, but not as much as I would have liked. You also see the typical humanity that sometimes shows through with most of the paranormal creatures in the story. Even though the newborns don't recall their former lives, they are somehow able to show some humanity, empathy, and huge amounts of curiosity.
On the other hand, Bree's story is quite darker than Bella's perspective. Bree is dealing with becoming a vampire and battling bloodlust, which is something hugely missing from the original novels where it's vampires with many decades (and sometimes centuries) of practice with control, as well as the refusal to give in to their primal instincts - substituting animal blood for human blood. You see more of the inhuman side, with some of the other newborns using their new-found powers to wreak havoc on the human race. And you're introduced to new characters that are never mentioned in Eclipse, as well as seeing behind-the-scenes to Victoria and Riley's plot to destroy the Cullens... and there's a nice little curve ball thrown in there with someone else that is helping her out by turning a blind eye to what she's doing.
User reviews
5 reviews
Overall rating
3.9
Plot
3.6(5)
Characters
4.0(1)
Writing Style
4.0(1)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A(0)
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Decent book
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
N/A
Characters
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Writing Style
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Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
I'm usually not a big fan of short stories, but I read it because it went with the series. With that said, it was a decent story. To be honest, I couldn't remember her from the series, so I did a Twilight re-read before reading this one. It was definitely interesting to see the Cullen's from an outsiders point of view.
Short review for a short life
Overall rating
3.0
Plot
N/A
Characters
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Writing Style
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Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
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Reader reviewed by Gabrielle Carolina
Bree Tanner was created for a purpose, but even she has been kept in the dark, both literally and figuratively, as to what evil spurrs on the creation of blood-sucking vampires. When Bree meets Diego she finally sees a purpose to her strange existence and is happy to be by his side, even while he surreptitiously watches those around him, waiting for a chance to get the answers some would kill for. We know what happens, how did she get there, who did she meet along the way?
For a novella where you are already aware of whats going on, and how things will end up, I was surprisingly pleased. I mean, its Twilight, right? Why wouldnt you be happy? ;) I thought the flushed out character of Bree Tanner remained true to the original sketches and the plot structure did not contradict that of Eclipse, instead enhancing the Volturis involvement and driving a clear-cut path to the control exercised over a large bunch of blood-thirsty Vamps. If you had questions when you finished Eclipse read Bree Tanner, youre eyes will be opened to this new world of Twilight and its sad characters.
Thoughts on the cover: It matched in with the Twilight covers, yet it had its own flair, something distinct from the Bella-centered world.
Thoughts on the names: I really love Bree, I think its fitting, as she is under twenty, this seems like a name that would have been given to a child that old. Overall I was not happy with the name selections, Riley and Bree were both such modern, trendy names, and I was really looking for that youth factor, something that set the aged Cullens, Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie ect. apart from the newly created, killer coven.
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G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
Fans Will Adore
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
N/A
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
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Reader reviewed by Alex (Tales of a Teenage Book Lover)
Fine! I admit it, I like Twilight. And when I first read them, IÂ loved Twilight. So naturally, when I learned that a new Eclipse novella was to be released, I jumped for joy. Going back into the world that I had once been completely in love with sounded so fun. And I wanted to completely fall in love again. Sadly, it didnt happen the way I had hoped.
Though Bree is an okay character, I didnt particularly like her or any of the other characters in the book. Well maybe I liked a few of them at the end *cough* the Cullens *cough* except Bella *cough*, but most of the characters Bree comes to know in her second life didnt stand out to me.
The story was one I didnt like much. I found much of the book boring and didnt really care about what I was reading. Until the end. That is what raised the rating of this book. The ending was killer, pun intended. Before the final battle, I just read along like a good little boy, knowing what the final outcome would be the whole time.
One thing this novella did do well was completely give me a new outlook on the world that Stephenie Meyer has created. I had never really considered what life, or should I say afterlife, was like for the newborns. But now I did, and it was really cool to get that experience. The book also changed how I felt for some characters. I felt so much sympathy for Riley while reading Eclipse, but now I am glad about what happened to him, he deserved it.
I will say that I enjoyed The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, but will never say that I liked it more than the original Twilight saga, a series that I now feel the urge to re-read. Thanks Bree. So if you are a Twilight fanatic, this would be awesome to have on your bookshelf. But if you are just a casual reader, check it out and see what you think.
Fine! I admit it, I like Twilight. And when I first read them, IÂ loved Twilight. So naturally, when I learned that a new Eclipse novella was to be released, I jumped for joy. Going back into the world that I had once been completely in love with sounded so fun. And I wanted to completely fall in love again. Sadly, it didnt happen the way I had hoped.
Though Bree is an okay character, I didnt particularly like her or any of the other characters in the book. Well maybe I liked a few of them at the end *cough* the Cullens *cough* except Bella *cough*, but most of the characters Bree comes to know in her second life didnt stand out to me.
The story was one I didnt like much. I found much of the book boring and didnt really care about what I was reading. Until the end. That is what raised the rating of this book. The ending was killer, pun intended. Before the final battle, I just read along like a good little boy, knowing what the final outcome would be the whole time.
One thing this novella did do well was completely give me a new outlook on the world that Stephenie Meyer has created. I had never really considered what life, or should I say afterlife, was like for the newborns. But now I did, and it was really cool to get that experience. The book also changed how I felt for some characters. I felt so much sympathy for Riley while reading Eclipse, but now I am glad about what happened to him, he deserved it.
I will say that I enjoyed The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, but will never say that I liked it more than the original Twilight saga, a series that I now feel the urge to re-read. Thanks Bree. So if you are a Twilight fanatic, this would be awesome to have on your bookshelf. But if you are just a casual reader, check it out and see what you think.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
A Reviewella
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
N/A
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by Reading Angel
To be completely honest with you, when I heard that a new Twilight book was coming out I had to ask Lori "Who's Bree Tanner". Even after she explained to me that she was a newborn we met very briefly in Eclipse, I still couldn't remember her. I did however, remember the newborn storyline, which is all that is really needed to be able to follow along with this novella. It was interesting to be inside the head of one of the "human-drinking" vampires. Bree really wasn't a very remarkable character, even once the story was over. I really like "Fred", he was a great add-on character that I wish I could know more about. Never-the-less, I enjoyed the glimpse of the Cullens from "the other side" and found the book to be a quick enjoyable hour of entertainment.
To be completely honest with you, when I heard that a new Twilight book was coming out I had to ask Lori "Who's Bree Tanner". Even after she explained to me that she was a newborn we met very briefly in Eclipse, I still couldn't remember her. I did however, remember the newborn storyline, which is all that is really needed to be able to follow along with this novella. It was interesting to be inside the head of one of the "human-drinking" vampires. Bree really wasn't a very remarkable character, even once the story was over. I really like "Fred", he was a great add-on character that I wish I could know more about. Never-the-less, I enjoyed the glimpse of the Cullens from "the other side" and found the book to be a quick enjoyable hour of entertainment.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: Good, but not great
Overall rating
3.0
Plot
N/A
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by Kelsey
First
of all, I don't think anything Stephenie Meyer writes can top the Twilight saga or The Host, and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is
one of them. It was nice to have a completely different narrative
outside of the Twilight characters.
It was more harsh and raw than Twilight, but it didn't have
the magic and enchantment that I experienced when I read the saga.
Another
thing I didn't like about this novella is that it had no chapters, so
there was no good place to stop!
However, I like books that show
something hidden from the reader that you didn't know was there before.
In Bree Tanner, we get to go
back and see a whole scene told from someone else who fits in the pieces
and reveals the complete story.
First
of all, I don't think anything Stephenie Meyer writes can top the Twilight saga or The Host, and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is
one of them. It was nice to have a completely different narrative
outside of the Twilight characters.
It was more harsh and raw than Twilight, but it didn't have
the magic and enchantment that I experienced when I read the saga.
Another
thing I didn't like about this novella is that it had no chapters, so
there was no good place to stop!
However, I like books that show
something hidden from the reader that you didn't know was there before.
In Bree Tanner, we get to go
back and see a whole scene told from someone else who fits in the pieces
and reveals the complete story.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
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