Review: The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Wanderer, a being who's lived several lifetimes on many planets in many hosts, is given a new body on planet Earth: Melanie, one of the few remaining humans who don't have a "soul" implanted in them. Wanderer is determined to take control of Melanie's being and find out everything she can about the human resistance, but does she have what it takes to stay immune to humanity?

I really enjoyed this book, it was an interesting take on making our lives our own, regardless of the circumstances we're born into. In a way it was like Ms. Meyer's Twilight series - the main character finds that the one place where she truly belongs is among those who her kind believe to be the enemy, but it was also much more mature and wider-ranging in that it examined society as well as the individual, preconceived beliefs and that people can change drastically if only they'll open their minds to new ideas and allow themselves to see things for what they are.
I'm a big fan of the Twilight books but will readily admit that I prefer the writing and the voice of The Host. Not sure whether the reason for the difference is that the subject matter as well as the characters is adult or that the author has gotten more experienced and knew what she wanted to do with this story but the result is that the novel feels much more solid without sacrificing the page-turner quality I've become accustomed to in the Meyer books.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science fiction with strong characters who are not afraid of change. Don't let the name of the author prevent you from reading this book, it's very different and in a good way.