Utahns line up in wee hours for 'Twilight' finale

"Breaking Dawn" is here.

The long-, feverishly, breathlessly, yearningly, awaited final installment in Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" saga, hit the bookshelves at one minute past midnight Friday night.

Release parties were held — with much the same fervor that greeted the last "Harry Potter" book — at Borders, Barnes & Noble, some Deseret Book and other bookstores throughout the state.

Typical of those gatherings was the one held at The King's English in Salt Lake City, where several hundred die-hard "Twilight" fans gathered.

Leading up to the official release, these fans had a chance to participate in trivia contests, act out favorite scenes from the books, get henna tattoos that marked them in Jacob's or Edward's camp and to mix and mingle with other people who share a common interest in the book.

That interest verges on passion, even obsession for some. "I love these books," said Nicole Laird. "I resisted them at first. But once I read one, I was into it hook, line and sinker."

Judy Shields first read the books when her granddaughter, Kailey Shields, gave them to her. "I love them," she says. "My granddaughter is a voracious reader. We love it when she has one to pass on to me or one I pass on to her."

"These are excellent books," said Kailey, who is totally looking forward to finding out what happens to the story. "I hope Edward and Bella stay together."

That, of course, is the big question. Will Bella end up with Edward, the vampire, or Jacob, the werewolf?

A case can be made for either ending, and there were plenty there to make their case.

Emily Robinson and her friend Jessie Anderson fall into the Jacob camp. "He's totally the underdog, but he's her best friend. Edward is too controlling," said Robinson. "We talk about this all the time," added Anderson. "I liked what Bella said once that Edward was like a drug, but Jacob was like the sun."

Maddi Redford and Jessica Rodgers come down firmly on the Edward side. "Edward's very good looking. He's a knight in shining armor," said Maddi. "He's the Mr. Darcy (as in "Pride and Prejudice") of our time," added Rodgers.

But Keri Redford and Rindi Hawkins support Jacob. "He's a real guy. He's manly and rugged. The Edward people have a false idea of what men should do," said Keri.