My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Well, it’s 2:15am and I pretty much just finished the last half of the book less than a day. As some people may have noted, it starts off kinda quite and confusing… but after about the first 100 or so pages, that’s when it actually starts getting interesting.
First off, I just want to say that I found this book to be so unique in as far as the whole “aliens vs. humans” premise. Really, the book is all very much human. It explores the nature of humanity in a way that’s so interesting that I know is part of human nature, but not liking it all the same, as well as loving who we are in our strengths.
The way Stephenie has us look through the eyes of a virtually utopian-like alien, where they don’t like, they follow the law always, and they are pretty much the most peaceful species to ever invade the planet, gives us a way to observe our own humanity in our weaknesses as well as our strengths. I have to say I was pretty sad and ashamed of what us humans are capable of, which she shows on many occasions throughout the book, and it just seemed very realistic to what we would do in our lack of understanding.
That’s not to say that Wanderer’s alien species is all that great, as Wanderer learns when she gets first hand experience of actually being with humans that do not have her soul-species in them.
And of course, there’s the love quadrangle involved which is also an interesting twist to the love triangle scenario. First off, 2 of the 4 in the quadrangle are in one body. Secondly, neither of the guys involved are perfect, and in many ways they are the same (in certain thoughts and ideals, not all,) yet different from each other (they don’t look like each other from the descriptions, neither in build or looks.) Thirdly, I found it interesting that I was able to imagine the host and the “soul” in the host as 2 different entities, despite being in the same body.
Being that it’s from Stephenie Meyer, the author of the Twilight books, people may avoid reading this book for that reason, but I have to say that they really need to give it a chance, because I felt it as being so different from the Twilight series, that it could’ve been written by a different author. Although, this book is labeled an adult book, compared to being in the YA genre. And I think it’s because it’s more drama-based than even sci-fi based than just teenage paranormal romance. Also, the main characters aren’t high school teenagers.
Of course, this book is not for everyone. I can only suggest you give it a try, I can’t guarantee you’ll like it. Before I started reading it, I already knew a few of my friends told me not to even bother. Sometimes that can actually encourage me even more, but still it took me several years to start reading it. I’m glad I did, though. I really enjoyed it and there were a few moments where tears were involved.
Knowing that Stephenie’s plan is to make this into a trilogy thrills me, and the fact that the movie is coming out next year certainly doesn’t hurt things for me, especially with cuties like Jake Abel playing Ian, Max Irons playing Jared, and the very talented Saoirse Ronan playing Wanderer/Wanda/Melanie.
I’m definitely looking forward to reading more about this new world of ours and what happens to all the main characters involved, including Jamie! He just sounds like the best younger brother!
The Fandom's GeekGirl 