The Host by Stephenie Meyer

                      "Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. Earth has been invaded by a species that takes over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed.

Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves - Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.

Featuring what may be the first love triangle involving only two bodies, The Host is a riveting and unforgettable novel that will bring a vast new readership to one of the most compelling writers of our time."--Goodreads.com

I read The Host last year, and since the movie will be out soon I thought I would write a review about it.  Let us get it out in the open: Yes, I read The Host even after reading Twilight and losing faith in publishing.  I don't want to say that Twilight was awful, there were moments that I enjoyed, but boy was it tough to feign ignorance.  So, yes, I chose to read a Meyer book once more and let me tell you: it was a great choice! 

Forget vampires and werewolves and that convulsion thing that happens every time Bella wants to make out with Edward (you know the one where he wants to eat her, while she want to suck on his face).  This story is all about dystopian societies and aliens.  An alien species have invaded planet earth, robbing the bodies of unsuspecting humans.  They say it is because humans are too violent, they say we squandered our chance at having planet earth.  Now with only a few surviving humans (a.k.a hosts) the aliens (a.k.a. the souls) are in charge.

This brings us to our MC Melany Stryder.  She has been captured and is now inhabited by a Soul, Wanderer.  Seems pretty straight forward, Melany will be erased and will lead the souls back to her family, endangering them.  The only problem, Melany won't disappear, Wanderer is literally stuck with her Host in the same body. 

The Host was so complex I really did not believe this came from the person who wrote Twilight (a seemingly superficial story).  I would not say it is compelling, not really but it is intriguing and note worthy in the sense of the themes and issues brushed upon.  Tolerance, acceptance, guilt, understanding, love, compassion, hatred, fear, comfort and sacrifice are all in this novel.  A novel that dares to ask the question does not every creature deserve to be treated with respect?

P.S.  There is no love triangle this is a straight up square, normally I hate love triangles but this one works. It is necessary and fits the course of the story, same when it converts to a square.

5 stars... don't over analyze the writing, listen to the story.