Review: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer

From Goodreads: Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion. Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood... life before she became a vampire. All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don't draw attention to yourself and, above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn't know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out. Then Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they know only as "her". As they come to realize that the newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could have imagined, Bree and Diego must choose sides and decide whom to trust. But when everything you know about vampires is based on a lie, how do you find the truth?

My review: I wasn't going to read this book off of principle. Stephenie Meyer needs to finish Midnight Sun before she writes any other Twilight related books. She needs to get off her high horse, get over the betrayal of having Midnight Sun leaked and finish it for the fans...those fans that have made her a huge stack of cash! That said, when I found out that this book could be read online for free until the first part of July, I caved. I am such a sucker for free books!

I admit, I had to first figure out who Bree was before starting this. She is one of those hardly mentioned characters so it wasn't as if her name would be fresh in my mind. I enjoyed an "inside" view into the making of the newborns for Victoria. She demonstrated her sheer wickedness in how she let lies fly from her lips without concern. She had one purpose and to her, that was all that mattered. Newborns were to serve one purpose, blood bath and destruction.

Seeing the Cullen's from Bree's eyes was interesting. Listening to her describe them, to try to figure out the relationship between the human, Bella, and the vampires was childlike but in essence she is a child, a newborn vampire. I loved Fred and his special gift. It was unique and clever.

Basically, this short novella just burned fuel into my fire to see Eclipse in July...which I am sure is what Stephenie Meyer hoped it would do!

Grade: C.

Finished: June 25, 2010. 2010 Count: 49.