THE HOST by Stephenie Meyer

Publisher Little Brown and Company
Date published May 2008
ISBN 978-0316068048
Science Fiction
Hardcover
Reviewed by Tammy



Stephenie Meyer, author of the extremely popular teen Twilight series, has recently released her first adult novel, THE HOST, and this time she has left the world of vampires behind and moved into the realm of aliens. It is a story of love and incredibly difficult choices in a future world where the fate of humankind is teetering on the brink of extinction.

This is the story of resistance fighter Melanie Stryder and the alien soul that attempts to take over her life. The storyline is set in a future where a species of peace loving alien parasites assume control of the minds and lives of humans to the point where humans free of alien control are on the brink of extinction. Both sides see the other as monsters, the humans for their violent ways and the aliens for taking over the lives of the humans.

When Melanie refuses to simply surrender her mind to the alien now housed in her body, both are forced to make adjustments for the other. Melanie is forced to accept that the life she once knew is over and the alien, Wanderer, must live with Melanie’s memories of her life and love before the alien infestation. Eventually, Wanderer gives in to Melanie’s desire to trek into the desert in search of her lost love and the brother she promised she would never leave. And that’s when things get interesting.

This reader really isn’t that big a fan of science fiction and/or aliens so had picked up this book only because I so thoroughly enjoyed the three young adult Twilight books that Stephenie Meyer penned and figured I would give THE HOST a try just in case it was something spectacular. Truly, this was money well spent! Meyer has surpassed any and all expectations. THE HOST is an incredibly imaginative thriller that is both surprisingly emotion packed and thought provoking.

Both the humans and the aliens are endearing. As the Wanderer is forced to accept her body’s emotions, the story becomes something of a love triangle with Melanie, the Wanderer and their love interest, Jared, all taking center stage. Because the alien species is peace loving, they believe they are bettering the human race by taking over the race. Since Melanie is forced to co-exist with the alien and their peace loving ways, she comes to feel genuine affection for the Wanderer. The results are at times frustrating, and at other times heart wrenching. THE HOST is not at all your typical science fiction story. This book will really have readers emotionally invested in the story in no time and desperately trying to find an answer that will make everyone both human and alien happy. Stephenie Meyers’ THE HOST is truly a thought-provoking novel that this reader believes fans of all genres of fiction are sure to enjoy. If you are looking for that one great read for the summer, Stephenie Meyers’ THE HOST is most definitely that book!