Back to the The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner summary

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner Characters

Stephenie Meyer

A newborn vampire gets three months of truth, one day of love, and a death sentence.

Who drives the story

Main characters

Bree Tanner

A book-loving runaway turned at nearly sixteen, now a three-month-old vampire who survives by watching and doubting. She finds the truth, finds love, and loses both—then surrenders to the Cullens only for the Volturi to destroy her.

Appears in:
Part 1: Two Thieves in the Dark
Part 2: The Meeting in the Clearing
Part 3: Three Nights of Training
Part 4: The Clearing and the Dark Cloaks
Themes:
Lies as leashes
Love in borrowed time
The cruelty of rules

Diego

An eighteen-year-old turned after avenging his brother's murder, honest enough to confront Riley about the sunlight lie. Bree's lover and implied mate; it's suggested Riley and Victoria brutally killed him for it.

Appears in:
Part 1: Two Thieves in the Dark
Part 2: The Meeting in the Clearing
Part 3: Three Nights of Training
Part 4: The Clearing and the Dark Cloaks
Themes:
Lies as leashes
Love in borrowed time

Riley Biers

The newborns' beautiful leader, recruiting troubled teens for Victoria to change while lying to keep them obedient. In love with a woman who only pretends to love him back.

Appears in:
Part 1: Two Thieves in the Dark
Part 2: The Meeting in the Clearing
Part 3: Three Nights of Training
Part 4: The Clearing and the Dark Cloaks
Themes:
Lies as leashes
Love in borrowed time
The cruelty of rules
Innocence weaponized

'Freaky' Fred

A blond, college-aged vampire whose repulsion power keeps everyone at arm's length—except Bree, who hides behind him. The only newborn smart enough to run, and he offers to wait a day for her.

Appears in:
Part 2: The Meeting in the Clearing
Part 3: Three Nights of Training
Themes:
Love in borrowed time

Victoria

The unseen creator building an army to avenge James, hiding from Alice's visions behind the excuse that her newborns' minds aren't safe. She pretends to love Riley; the newborns never meet her at all.

Appears in:
Part 2: The Meeting in the Clearing
Part 3: Three Nights of Training
Part 4: The Clearing and the Dark Cloaks
Themes:
Lies as leashes
Innocence weaponized

Also in the story

Supporting characters

Raoul

Leader of one newborn gang, gifted at attracting dimwitted followers and terrible at everything else. His feud with Kristie's gang keeps the army fractured until Riley forces unity.

Appears in:
Part 2: The Meeting in the Clearing
Themes:
Innocence weaponized

How they are connected

Key relationships

  • DiegoRiley Biers

    An eighteen-year-old turned after avenging his brother's murder, honest enough to confront Riley about the sunlight lie.

  • DiegoBree Tanner

    Bree's lover and implied mate; it's suggested Riley and Victoria brutally killed him for it.

  • DiegoVictoria

    Bree's lover and implied mate; it's suggested Riley and Victoria brutally killed him for it.

  • Riley BiersVictoria

    The newborns' beautiful leader, recruiting troubled teens for Victoria to change while lying to keep them obedient.

  • 'Freaky' FredBree Tanner

    A blond, college-aged vampire whose repulsion power keeps everyone at arm's length—except Bree, who hides behind him.

  • RaoulRiley Biers

    His feud with Kristie's gang keeps the army fractured until Riley forces unity.

Go deeper

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner themes & symbols

Lies as leashes · Love in borrowed time · The cruelty of rules · Innocence weaponized

Themes explained

Read the full The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner summary

The full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.

Open the summary