Product Description

The author of the Twilight series of # 1 bestsellers delivers her brilliant first novel for adults: a gripping story of love and betrayal in a future with the fate of humanity at stake.

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-06
• Released on: 2008-05-06
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 624 pages

Amazon.com
Amazon Best of the Month, May 2008: Stephenie Meyer, creator of the phenomenal teen-vamp Twilight series, takes paranormal romance into alien territory in her first adult novel. Those wary of sci-fi or teen angst will be pleasantly surprised by this mature and imaginative thriller, propelled by equal parts action and emotion. A species of altruistic parasites has peacefully assumed control of the minds and bodies of most humans, but feisty Melanie Stryder won't surrender her mind to the alien soul called Wanderer. Overwhelmed by Melanie's memories of fellow resistor Jared, Wanderer yields to her body's longing and sets off into the desert to find him. Likely the first love triangle involving just two bodies, it's unabashedly romantic, and the characters (human and alien) genuinely endearing. Readers intrigued by this familiar-yet-alien world will gleefully note that the story's end leaves the door open for a sequel--or another series. --Mari Malcolm

About the Author
Stephenie Meyer graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in English literature. After the publication of her debut novel, Twilight, booksellers chose her as one of the "most promising new authors of 2005" (Publishers Weekly). She lives with her husband and three young sons in Arizona.

Customer Reviews

Touching Action Packed Romance
Stephanie Meyer's first adult novel operates on a very different concept from her Twilight series that's set in the rainy Forks populated with ancient teenage vampires. But her new novel The Host still has many of the elements that make her books so fun. There's plenty of action, adventure, vibrant characters, twisty plot developments, and of course unconventional passionate romance to keep any Twilight fan happy.

In The Host, alien beings called Souls have invaded and conquered Earth. They live as parasites by inserting themselves into their human host erasing the original personality and taking over the body. Humanity is now an endangered species. There are only a few pockets of resistance left. Melanie Stryder is one of them and a fierce fighter for survival. But then she's captured, and a Soul called Wanderer is inserted into her body. Melanie refuses to disappear and Wanderer is caught mentally between her own desires and Melanie's. They even share the same memories and soon both of them are in love with a man from Melanie's past named Jared. A man who even now could be in terrible danger....

Though The Host is a sci-fi novel, it's very accessible science fiction. Meyer explains her more fantastic elements simply and cleanly. She's really more interested in the human drama than with creating complex alien societies. Even the alien species and planet names are always translated into rough human concepts so that the non-alien characters in the story (and we) can grasp them easily. So instead of names like Xxkfasd from the planet Zkmaark we have "Bats" from the "Singing World".

And if anyone's curious though the book is marketed toward adults it's very similar in tone and style to the Twilight series. The characters are slightly older and there's a bit more mild language. But the romance, like the Twlight series so far, is non-explicit.

The novel is around six hundred pages long and the size of a tome, but trust me it goes fast. The Host is another excellent summer read from Meyer. Most of her novels are the book equivalents of great popcorn flicks. Her latest is no exception.

Once a Stephenie Meyer Fan...Always a Stephenie Meyer Fan.
An ABSOLUTE MUST READ IN MANY,MANY WAYS!!!
I was never a big fan of reading about aliens or extraterrestial beings invading our planet earth. I can say, with complete confidence, that this book will not let you down. No matter how much you hate, scientific facts or little silvery worms, you won't be disappointed with this novel and could never possibly hate it. It seems so cliche to say it but once again, Mrs. Meyer has done it! This is one of the best novels I have ever rea, of course putting aside her "Twilight Saga" series which I am a full fleged fan of. The intricate plot, the challenging and intriguing setting, and most importantly its beautiful characters are the complete package of what I call a good book. Appropriate for any age although there may be some of what I thought, "frightening moments" but you will absolutely fall in love with Wanda and Melanie. I give it Two thumbs up and een four if I could. I must warn that this novel will have you crying like a baby so a box of tissues should be supplied with it. Three last words (because I wasn't expecting this to be so long). JUST READ IT!

Kept my mind spinning!
I thought this book was fantastic. It was a plot line I never would have considered reading before (I'm not into science-fiction at all). If it wasn't for her other books (also great), I would've missed out and left it on the shelf.