The Twilight book series continues to a shine over a decade on.
The latest and fifth instalment of US author Stephenie Meyer's romantic vampire saga, Midnight Sun, has flown off physical and digital shelves since its release on Tuesday, August 4.
As well reaching number one on the New York Times Children's Series list, the novel topped charts in the UK, Germany, Netherlands and Brazil.
And the good news for "Twihards" is that Meyer has confirmed two more novels are on the way. This marks a sensational about-turn for the series, which seemed all but buried 12 years ago after chapters of the Midnight Sun manuscript were leaked online, forcing Meyer to shelve the project.
Back to her old haunting ground
Midnight Sun has Meyer going back to where it all began.
The new work is basically a retelling of the first novel, 2005's Twilight, only this time the perspective has shifted from that of human protagonist Bella to that of brooding vampire Edward.
With Twilight's three follow-up novels, New Moon (2006), Eclipse (2007) and Breaking Down (2008), going on to sell more than 100 million copies and spawn five successful movies and soundtracks, Meyer began working on Midnight Sun in 2008.
But she was so disturbed by the leak that she chose to work, instead, on minor books associated with the series, including the 2010 novella The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner and the Twilight series reference book, 2011's The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide.
Explaining her decision to initially walk away from Midnight Sun, Meyer said it was more down to fear than anger. "I don't know exactly what happened, which is one of the reasons it shook me. I don't think there was any bad intent. I think people made copies instead of returning it to me when they had been asked to read it," she told The New York Times in a recent interview.
“But that wasn’t as scary. It was when I thought that maybe someone was reading things on my computer that I was more frightened by it.”
Meyer on the Twilight books: ‘I’m not the same person I was then’
As for returning to the novel, Meyer said it was partly driven by a need to service her fans during the pandemic.
“I don’t know how everyone else is coping, but right now books are my main solace and happiest escape. Personally, I would be nothing but delighted if one of my favourite authors announced something new for me to read,” she said on her website. “I hope this announcement gave you some pleasure and something fun to look forward to.”
Meyer said writing Midnight Sun brought back memories of those early years of being an unknown author.
“I’m not the same person I was then. My children have all grown up. My back got weird. The world is a different place. I can only imagine all the things that have changed for you,” she said.
"But completing Midnight Sun has brought back to me those early days of Twilight when I first met many of you. We had a lot of fun, didn't we? Throwing proms and hanging out in hotel rooms and reading on the beach (while getting the most epic sunburns of our lives). We made hilarious T-shirts and fabulous websites. We found kindred spirits that are still in our lives now."
Critics still out for blood
While fans are excited about Midnight Sun, Meyer's absence from the scene hasn't made her many critics any fonder. They stuck their teeth into the new novel, decrying everything from its concept to its "meddling" plot.
The Independent described Meyer's prose as "laughably bad writing". The Guardian was equally withering in its review: "Midnight Sun is chronically overwritten, plodding along almost in real time."
