I was actually disappointed that there wasn't more gore. Were I to compare this book to a vampire, it'd be like... Riley. Capable of ripping off heads and limbs with abandon, but he doesn't do it in front of people. Its like... polite gore. Honestly, if people are going to be dying right and left, couldn't we get a little more description?December wrote: But you're quite right that Stephenie is still soft-pedalling the grisly side of this. But not entirely. Clearly, she's more comfortable keeping the blood and gore tactfully offstage...
For all of us who ever fretted about the way Stephenie kept the grisly realities of a vampire's life from striking the reader too vividly (just as Edward kept them from Bella), well, there's her answer. Yes, it's more of a moment than a prevailing mood -- most of the book's violence still has the muffled generality we're used to from the Saga -- but it's enough. At least, it certainly stopped me in dead in my tracks.
Now, I'm not saying the lack of serious bloodbaths is a bad thing- I understand the viewpoint Stephanie's coming from, seeing as I'm Mormon too. We're discouraged from watching/reading overly violent media, therefore, she wouldn't put that sort of thing in her books. That's good. However, I have serveral other favorite Mormon authors who are excellent at giving us a good battle scene without going over the line. Maybe she'll learn to do that someday- with her talent at descriptive writing (one of the few things I still like about the series. The way her characters put things to words (at least at first) is almost awe inspiring.) she might be able to do an awesome battle scene.
And if she ever does do an awesome battle scene, it should be from Emmett's perspective, because I just love Emmett. I'm sooooooooo happy we got to see him in here, ripping off someone's head. That was the best part of the book for me. GO EMMETT!
The only other piece of the book I liked was Fred. Reminds me of Marcus, mostly in the lack of talking area. Which is nice. I'm happier when her characters aren't talking.
As for the rest... I felt it was too BAMBAM fast, like BD. Just suddenly we were finding out new stuff and solving mysteries and making friends then suddenly falling in love with those friends and magically figuring out powers and using them even though we haven't ever before and making friends with powerful people and ninja stuff. At least Stephanie caught on to the popularity of ninjas, but I'm worried for her health- if the ninjas don't like this book too, will they take her out? O.o