Issue date: 8/25/08 Section: Entertainment

Fanatics of the "Twilight" saga are sure to be disappointed once they crack open the spine of this long awaited tale.

"Breaking Dawn," the fourth and final installment of the beloved "Twilight" series by Stephanie Meyer, flew into bookstores August 2 and has already sold 300,000 copies.

The story begins much like the previous three, delving into the almost unhealthy, as well as epic, love story between 18- year-old Bella Swan and her vampire fiancé Edward Cullen.

Thankfully, the patient fans receive a treat early on in the story, with the long awaited wedding scene between the love birds. 

Much like the first three installments, this scene flows naturally, giving the reader the ability to use their imagination, as well as giving a sense of good things to come.

Yet as the story continues past the very eventful reception and onto the honeymoon, the plot becomes more and more watered down and as unbelievable as a story with vampires and werewolves can be.

In a surprising twist, the story is split from Bella's usual point of view and adds a chapter with narration from her werewolf / best friend Jacob.

This adds an interesting perspective to the story, yet it is easy to see that this concept was formed only to spare Meyer from having to create a chapter that would have been far too difficult to put into writing if it were stolen from Bella's own thoughts.

Jacobs's interaction within his narrative paints a drastically different picture of the Bella that many readers have come to know and love.

While she is still overly dependant and self-indulgent, it is a sudden darker side that springs out of nowhere that does not seem within the realm of her character.

The first three books in the Twilight series were able to catch a sarcastic edge and humor within the characters that "Breaking Dawn" was not able to grasp.

Through one particular dilemma within the already thin plot, the once tightly bonded Cullen family seems torn into different directions, leaving the characters outside of their comfort zone; a seemingly recurring process in Meyers writing style throughout this story.

Many of the scenes read as bad fan fiction: leading the main characters into overly graphic, as well as overly sexualized situations, that seem to be the workings of a hormonal teenager, rather than the likes of an established author of a well-loved series.

Much of Meyer's writing in "Breaking Dawn" seems very contradictory to the three prior books in this saga, almost as if she was not thinking through her own rules and regulations. 

This leaves the reader only to question if the plot has been forced down their throats as a last ditch effort to give them what they thought they wanted - a darker side to a good character.

While there were moments throughout the story in which the reader may crack a smile, the feelings behind those emotions just are not the same as the reaction to the three prior stories.

The ending of "Breaking Dawn" seems much too cliché by trying to tie up the saga with a neat little bow; with just a hinting that they might be another story along at some point and with it new characters and adventures.

While many fans may still want another story to quench their undying thirst, if any future Twilight books are similar to "Breaking Dawn," devoted fans should put a stake in the idea and let this series rest in peace.

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