Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined (Twilight #1.75) by Stephenie Meyer – Book Review

Blurb from Goodreads

There are two sides to every story…

Stephenie Meyer’s Life and Death is a compelling reimagining of the iconic Twilight love story that will surprise and enthrall readers.

When Beaufort Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edythe Cullen, his life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With her porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerising voice, and supernatural gifts, Edythe is both irresistible and enigmatic. What Beau doesn’t realise is the closer he gets to her, the more he is putting himself and those around him at risk. And, it might be too late to turn back…

With a foreword and afterword by Stephenie Meyer this reimagining is a must-read for Twilight fans everywhere.

My Review

Stephenie Meyer you legend.

Honestly.

The lady balls it took to publish this… I bow down at your feet.

Life and Death is a *reimagining* of the original Twilight that gender swaps the entire cast of Twilight (bar a few exceptions including Charlie)

And look… Everyone laugh all you want. Take the piss out of Twilight, lord knows I do. But god damn it I am trash for this book. I had the BEST time reading it. I laughed my butt off because… Well Twilight is simply genius. It’s the most intoxicating blend of hammy writing, ridiculous characters, melodrama and just general batshittery and if you don’t love it… What’s wrong with you??? THESE BOOKS ARE HILARIOUS!!!!

But this reimagining…. My friend Gabby bought me this for Christmas (to follow on from the sparkly vinyl pop thingy of Edward she got me for my birthday)…. What can I say, the woman knows my likes!!! BEST FREAKING CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER GABBY. THANK YOU!!!!!

If you haven’t heard this book is almost a scene by scene copy of Twilight but with a few twists and differences to appeal to us hardcore fans.

And yes… Lazy maybe…

Utterly cheeky sure…

But also incredibly interesting for how it challenges the reader to think about gender.

I’m so tired of people confusing gender with sex.

And where this book triumphs is through either Meyer’s genius or laziness…

it’s a toss up…

But here Bella Swan becomes Beau Swan and he has all of Bella’s idiotic traits. And what’s great is as you’re reading you’re kinda like oh is that a bit *girlie* for a guy to be saying/doing etc and it’s like NO! STOP RIGHT NOW WITH THAT TRAIN OF THOUGHT!!!!

Because gender is a societal construct and we need to stop associating personality traits with gender.

Is Beau an idiot?? Sure!!! He has a freaking death wish to make out with a vampire who craves his blood… Like lol if you don’t think he’s a moron! But don’t confuse his personality with being too effeminate.

And the same goes for Edythe Cullen (this book’s version of Edward). Is Edythe creepy and weird how she hangs out in Beau’s room staring at him while he sleeps… Yup. Of course!!! Is she domineering and controlling? Sure. Is she a she? HELL YES SHE IS!!!

So really this book makes for an interesting piece on gendering and how we associate certain traits with male versus female. Like come on… Male brain, female brain. THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS!!!! We are all just mosaics of traits and our sex does not always indicate our gender. It’s been proven people. Peer reviewed science backs this up.

The ending in this is what makes it for me… Oh it’s so badly written and basically craps a bunch of exposition on us but God damn it it’s hilarious.

Beau in a tree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *cackles with laughter*

That’s all I’m saying for now. If you’ve read it you’ll know!!!!

And yes. This book is supeeeeeemely dodgy.

• Hilariously obsessive insta love and generally unhealthy romantic relationship.
• Entirely inaccurate descriptions of OCD… i.e. If you like things tidy then that’s so OCD… *eye roll*
• Hugely insensitive jokes regarding mental health and firearms. I won’t repeat it but really Meyer!!!!
• And Meyer herself made a few choice decisions with the gender swapping that were irksome to me… the bit in Port Angeles when Beau was attacked would have had a lot more impact if it had kept to the sexual assault storyline to show that sexual assault isn’t gender specific.

And I could list a bunch of other things that from any other book would cause me to rate it low…

But I’m trash for Twilight!!!!

So four stars it is

#SorryNotSorry

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