Title: Breaking Dawn Author: Stephenie Meyer Preceded By: Eclipse Release Date: August 2, 2008 Pages: 768 Pages Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Teen View Quotes of the Day View HQ version of Cover Art Buy it now from Amazon.com Read an excerpt from the 1st Chapter on EW.com

EPIGRAPH:

Childhood is not from birth to a certain age and at a certain age
The child is grown, and puts away childish things.
Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies.

Edna St. Vincent Millay


DETAILED SUMMARY: (spoilers included!)

Breaking Dawn is split into three separate "books", or parts. The first part details Bella's marriage and honeymoon with Edward, which they spend on a private island off the coast of Brazil. Edward grants Bella's wish and makes love to her. Soon after, Bella notices her period is late and realizes that she is pregnant. After contacting Carlisle, who confirms her belief, she and Edward plan to return home. Edward, concerned for her well being as the fetus develops with unnatural rapidity, urges her to get an abortion. However, Bella wants to keep the child and decides to contact Rosalie for support, knowing that Rosalie has always wanted children.

The second part of the novel is written from Jacob Black's point of view, and lasts throughout Bella's pregnancy and childbirth. The pack of werewolves, not knowing what danger the unborn child may pose, make plans to destroy it, even though they must kill Bella to do so. Jacob vehemently disagrees with this decision and revolts, leaving the pack to form his own with Seth and Leah Clearwater. Bella soon gives birth, approximately a month after becoming pregnant. The baby breaks many of her bones, and Bella loses massive amounts of blood. In order to save her life, Edward changes her into a vampire. Jacob, who was present for the birth, immediately "imprints" — an involuntary response in which a werewolf finds his soul mate — on Edward and Bella's newborn daughter, Renesmee.

The third section of Breaking Dawn shifts back to Bella's perspective, finding her changed into a vampire and enjoying her new life and abilities. However, the vampire Irina misidentifies Renesmee as an "immortal child", a child who has been turned into a vampire. The creation and protection of "immortal children" was previously outlawed by the Volturi. After Irina presents her allegation to the Volturi, they plan to destroy Renesmee and the Cullens. In an attempt to save her, the Cullens gather vampires from around the world to stand as witnesses and prove to the Volturi that Renesmee is not an immortal child. Upon confronting the gathered Cullen allies and witnesses, the Volturi discover that they have been misinformed and immediately execute Irina for her mistake. However, they remain undecided on whether Renesmee should be viewed as a threat to the secret existence of vampires. At that time, Alice and Jasper, who had left prior to the confrontation, return with Nahuel, a 150-year-old vampire-human crossbreed like Renesmee. He demonstrates that the crossbreeds pose no threat and the Volturi leave, knowing that they no longer have just reason to destroy Renesmee. Bella, Edward and Renesmee return to their home in peace.


EDWARD&BELLA QUOTES:

Edward: Bachelor parties are designed for those who are sad to see the passing of their single days. I couldn't be more eager to have mine behind me. So there's really no point.

Bella: Practice makes perfect.
Edward: Well, we should be fairly close to perfection by this point, then, shouldn't we? Have you slept at all in the last month?
Bella: But this is the dress rehearsal, and we've only practiced certain scenes. It's no time for playing safe.

Bella: I know it will be hard, but this is what I want. I want you, and I want you forever. One lifetime is simply not enough for me.

Edward: I don't want you to have to make sacrifices for me. I want to give you things, not take things away from you. I don't want to steal your future. If I were human-
Bella: You are my future.

Edward: I've been waiting a century to marry you, Miss Swan.

Edward: I'll meeet you at the alter.
Bella: I'll be the one in white.

Edward: Enjoying the party, Mrs. Cullen?
Bella: That will take a while to get used to.
Edward: We have a while.

Bella: I could get used to this.
Edward: Don't tell me you've gotten over your dancing issues?
Bella: Dancing isn't so bad—with you. But I was thinking more of this, of never having to let you go.
Edward: Never.

Bella: Beautiful.
Edward: It's alright. But I wouldn't use the word beautiful. Not with you standing here in comparison.

Bella: Don't be afraid. We belong together.
Edward: Forever.

Bella: Why am I covered in feathers?
Edward: I bit a pillow. Or two.

Edward: You look so guilty - like you've committed a crime.
Bella: I feel guilty.
Edward: So you seduced your all-too-willing husband. That's not a capital offense.

Bella: I love you.
Edward: As I love you.

Bella: You've been holding out on me.
Edward: It was sort of necessary at the time. Now it's your turn to not break me.

Bella: Oops. I didn't mean to tackle you like that. Are you okay?
Edward: Slightly better than okay.

Edward: Bella needs to see our daughter. Get out of her way.

Edward: Hurry back to me.
Bella: Always.

Edward: He looks at me and sees... what his father should have been.
Bella: You are fairly ideal in every way.

Bella: Now you know. No one's ever loved anyone as much as I love you.
Edward: You're almost right. I know of just one exception.
Bella: Liar.

Edward: Forever and forever and forever.
Bella: That sounds exactly right to me.