leynes's Reviews > Seelen

If I told you this was the greatest book to ever book I would not tell you a lie. The girls that get it get it (aka the 90s babies who were Team Jacob) and the girls that don't DON'T. Argue with the wall.

• the world building is okay – nothing out of the ordinary, but the concept of the souls taking over planet Earth to save humanity from itself is kinda a vibe
• Jared kissing Melanie on their first encounter because he's so happy to finally see another human being
• "Glaubst du wirklich, ich lasse dich jetzt wieder weg?" => again, totally creepy in any other scenario but I reeally get it, Jared's been without human contact for years, whereas Melanie at least had Jamie to hold on to
• "I know I will wait for him. Even if it takes the whole night." - bestie babes, tell me, why this flashbacks also get to me; i don't wanna be that bitch but I love Mel & Jared
• Mel being able to keep Jamie's existence from Wanda for so long bc she loves her brother so much - too real, too relatable, don't talk to me while i sob in big sister
• Mel's & Wanda's relationship with each other is so fascinating and I love both of them individually and together, I think Wanda is a wonderful protagonist because she is so likeable and wants to do the right thing; in the beginning stages when Wanda becomes conscious of Mel and her desires and fears, and how they slowly become her own => goddamn, Stephenie Meyer really became famous for the wrong series, that woman put her whole heart into The Host
• adult hosts no longer being used for the body overtaking makes a lot of sense, there were too many cases like Wanda's where the former person was still present in their body
• another flashback: Jared being scared that Mel wouldn't like his hideout - I CANNOT - the both of them are too fucking pure
• their age gap is the only thing i cannot & will not get behind - mel is 17 and jared 26 when they meet - I assume that Meyer made her so young because teenage girl were her target demographic after the success of Twilight but why she made Jared so old I will never understand... tbh I just pretend the both of them are in their mid-twenties, Mel reads way older anyways! (but i do understand the people who can't look past this - it's super yucky!)
• Jared calling Melanie a "wonder" - I cry
• Wanda genuinely loving Jamie and Jared - this will never not be heartbreaking but when I tell you that I felt it and got it - I'm usually not a big fan of love triangles but this one makes so so much sense bc Wanda is flooded with Melanie's feeling; on top of that, she knows Jared will never love her and that they'll never be, so Wanda's love for Jared is just this heartbreaking futile thing and I love it so much – can you tell that I just love pain? :D when reading this book you're also never rooting for Wanda and Jared but at the same time you want Wanda to be fine because she's just the purest soul (quite literally)
• Melanie begging, asking Wanda to not hurt them (Jared & Jamie) - GIRLIE SHE WOULD NEVER, SHE WILL BE THE ONE TO REUNITE YOU THREE - like I shit you not, Wanda is THAT girl, she is DA ONE
• Jared being completely changed through Melanie's loss - I AM SOBBING
• Jared being immediately jealous after Ian touches Wanda's neck - LMAO MY GUY you literally just clocked her
• Jeb being Wanda's #1 defender - the man's a prepper but he is the moment
• Jamie and Jared fighting over Wanda's fate - I cannot - "This is HER face. HER neck. Don't the bruises there matter to you at all?" – JAMIE IS THE SWEETEST SOUL AND I WILL BE WRITING A MANIFESTO
• "He would be glad if I'd vanish." - "That's because he doesn't know you." - HOW IS MEL LITERALLY THE SWEETEST PERSON? When I tell you that Wanda's and Mel's relationship is the greatest thing in this book I am not telling you a lie; their friendship is so complicated and fascinating, and I love them both
• Ian: "Don't you think she feels like a girl that was beat up by us?" - EXACTLY, IAN GETS IT. Jared being so fucking violent towards Wanda makes a lot of sense for his character and the situation he's in but it's NOT a cute look. I love Ian as a character and that he's the one with the best morale (right next to Jamie!)
• Jeb being a comedian: "Behave well. It's been a long time since I shot someone and I kinda miss the kick."
• Jamie telling Wanda to not be afraid => the two of them bonding is everything! Jamie deserves the world!
• Jamie trying to give Wanda an "order" after she tried to keep Jeb from giving him a gun: "And now you better... better go to your room." LMAO
• Jamie sobbing into Wanda's shoulder - MY SWEET SUMMER CHILD <3
• another thing, apart from the age gap, that i don't like is the appropriation of indigenous names for the name's of Meyer's souls - it's not a cute look, especially if you no the history of her appropriation of Quileute culture for Twilight - white women need to be stopped! also there are some racist descriptions when it comes to her characters of colour (at least in the german translation: "eine dunkelhäutige frau mit dicken lippen" or "eine durchtrainierte, karamellhäutige frau" - fuck youuuu)
• the way Wanda breaks to Jamie that Mel is still there is so fucking ICONIC: "She promised you she'd come back, right? Would Melanie ever break a promise to you?" - SCREAMING, CRYING, THROWING UP - and then Jamie immediately hugging Wanda and whispering: "I love you, Mel." - WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME????????
• "He hates you." - Jamie on how Jared feels about Wanda - LMAO that's an understatement, my guyy
• "Even if he doesn't believe us, he will protect her. Just in case." - HELL TO THE YESSSS
• ´When Jamie asks Wanda if she thinks Mel will ever disappear: "I don't know. I hope not." <33
• Jamie being curious about Wanda's past lives and the other planets she inhabited; telling the other people that wanda is one of the few souls that was actually born on the source: "That's something very special." - WHY IS JAMIE THE BEST BOYYY?????
• Jared returning from his tour, appalled that Jamie has bonded with Wanda: "Jeb, give me the gun." AHHHHH - "He won't hurt you," Jamie said, almost crying. "I won't allow it." - JAMIEEEEEEE
• Lily and Heidi wanting to keep Wanda safe from Jared => QUEENS SUPPORTING QUEENS
• Jamie refusing to stay at Jared's during that time - that boy is loyall
• Jamie actually hitting Jared in the face to protect Wanda, then immediately starts crying, telling him that he isn't the man he thought he was => GURL, Jared you need to get it together, you've been putting this boy through too much
• the only good thing to come out of this mess is that jared promised jamie to leave wanda be - fucking finally! => wanda believing it bc Jared would never lie to Jamie - AWW
• "Her name's Wanda, not parasite." - IAN is a real one
• Melanie not being into Ian at all LMAOOOOO - but again, it's such an interesting thing to think about (two souls being trapped in one body) because the question of consent is a tough one when one part (wanda) is into someone and the other (mel) is not
• Another flashback: "Jared made everything safe, and happy. Even houses." -> such a cute quote because houses are actually the least safe spot for real humans after the soul's overtaking of the planet
• Jared kissing Wanda and Mel losing her shit, being able to overtake her body for the first time and hitting Jared in the face => this entire scene is so iconic, you need to read this book to fully get it, but it's one of my absolute faves!!
• "How could he? How could he?" - bahahha Mel, relax, he just wants you back
• Ian asking Jared: "Can I trust you?" (in regards to not hurting Wanda) and Jared being hella mad - IT'S WHAT HE DESERVES - and then Ian kissing Wanda's forehead in front of him - a little bit HILARIOUS and a little bit SLAY
• Jared bonding with Wanda after Kyle's murder attempt - "Don't be scared. I won't hurt you. You are safe." <3
• Mel being on Wanda's side when it comes to Jared's rude behaviour
• On Walter's deathbed, Wanda says to him: "We had no right to take your world from you, Walter. I hope your tales are true. I hope you'll find your Gladdie." - GIRL??? WANDA IS THE ONE!!!!
• Jeb during Kyle's trial: "Everyone who tries to hurt Wanda in the future won't get a trial but a funeral." YOU KNOW THAT'S RIGHT
• Jared asking Wanda about Ian... it is TENSE
• Jared taking Wanda into his arms after she confirmed that Mel can feel anything that she feels - MY HEART!!! - "You cannot imagine how sorry I am." - YOU BETTA BE
• everyone bringing Wanda chocolate bars - SHE IS THAT GIRL
• Ian fighting with Kyle... "Who's in love with a fucking worm and you're calling me stupid?" - KYLE, MY GUY, IT'S ON SIGHT
• Jared's and Ian's conversation about Wanda/Mel is so fucking perfect, one of my favorite scenes in the book... "The girl in there... her body... it's not hers." - "What are you talking about?" - "Leave her alone." - Ian laughs: "Jealous, Howe?" (AHHHHHHHH I LOVE I LIVE) - and then Jared expanding on how horrible Mel must feel being trapped inside her own body and having things done to you that you don't want (EXCELLENT POINT) - and Ian replying: "I'll keep it at the back of my mind." - "What's that supposed to mean ... you'll keep it at the back of your mind?" LMAOOO - and then Ian trying to appease Jared by telling him that Wanda doesn't react to bodily contact the way humans do, and then it's Jared's turn to laugh: "She definitely reacts to physical contact." and when Ian is quiet, he hits him with the: "Jealous, O'Shea?" AHHHHHHHHHH I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS ENTIRE SCENE, it is masterful!
• Ian and Wanda both being super shy during their first little kiss - my babies
• Jared telling Wanda that she should move back into his room with Jamie - LMAOOOO - can you tell I love a good jealousy subplot... I am living for this love square, literally rooting for everyone LMAO
• Ian letting Wanda win when playing ball and her teasing him: "If you win I'll let you sleep in my room." LMAO SHE IS THAT GIRL ... Ian being very enthusiastic and then after his win asking Wanda: "Tired?" LMAOOOOO I LOVE THIS GUY
• Melanie disappearing was the most stressful sub-plot but we literally got the juiciest scenes bc of it so I'm not complaining.... Jared having to kiss Wanda in order to bring Mel back (I LIVE), Melanie actually coming back and then immediately biting Jared after realising what's going on (LMAO), Jared wanting to talk to Mel but when Wanda doesn't find a way to let her through he just kisses her again and Mel immediately is able to yell "STOP THAT. DON'T TOUCH HER." (ICONIC), and Jared telling her: "You better stay with us. I can't guarantee for what I'll do to get you back." (AHHHHH)
• Jamie getting sick (infection) and Wanda breaking all the rules, getting out in the real world (with the help of Jared) to get his medication and Mel being so happy that Jamie could be saved but at the same time heartbroken bc she couldn't have done that for him
• Ian being appalled about the danger that Wanda put herself in and that Jared let her: "You know no limit when it comes to these two (Jared & Jamie)..." AND BESTIES HE IS RIGHT
• Jared telling Mel that he loves her but then also addressing Wanda telling her that she means a lot to him and that she deserves better than what he gave her <333
• Wanda asking Mel if she wants to be free (basically for Wanda to tell Doc how to kill souls and restore the human beings) and Mel's reply is excellent: "I would never ask you for it. And I wouldn't do it for you." - SO FUCKING REAL, but Wanda is the altruistic one
• Wanda telling Doc that she wants to be buried on Earth bc she finally feels like she found her planet - I AM TEARING UP - "I would like to be buried next to Walt and Wes." - FULL ON CRYING
• Wanda thinking that the hardest goodbye would be from Jared because he wouldn't feel any pain, he'd be glad (as opposed to Jamie or Ian who would miss her)
• the Kyle and Sunny subplot I loveeeee
• Ian losing his shit after realising what Wanda's plan is (to die and give Mel back her body) and Melanie agreeing with Ian, and Wanda telling her (internally): "Dich hat keiner gefragt." LMAOOO THIS WOMAN
• Wanda's death scene is too much: "Take good care of them (Jamie & Jared)." OH HOW THE TURN TABLES
• AHHHHHH Wanda's goodbye from Jared is everythingggg..... "What do you want? I would give you everything." "Give me a lie, Jared. Tell me I should stay." (HONESTLY QUOTE OF THE ENTIRE BOOK) - and let me tell you, our boy Jared deliverssssss kissing her and telling her "Stay, Wanda. With us. With me. I don't want you to leave. I can't imagine a life without you. I don't know how ... how" and here his voice fucking breakkssss - CONTACT THE ACADEMY AWARDS!! - and when Wanda tells him Thanks he's like "I am not done." - CALL THE OSCARS! - him actually ending with "I love you, Wanda." and I genuinely feel part of that is true, even if not romantically, he knows that he got damn lucky that Wanda was the soul that took over Mel's body, she is soooo GOOD
• Mel's and Wanda's goodbye is also too fucking much: "Thank you, Wanda. My sister. I will never forget you." "Be happy, Mel. Enjoy everything. Enjoy it for me." "I will." <333 OH MY GOD
• OF COURSE the boys and Mel did not let Wanda die, they found a new body for her that is not inhabited and when she wakes up she questions Doc reproachfully (who promised to bury her) and he's like: bestie two people held a knife to my throat LMAOOOOOOOO
• Mel immediately wanting to see Wanda - MY HEART
• Jamie being like: "Hey Wanda, look, now you're smaller than me" I love this boy!
• Ian being in over protec modus and not letting anyone touch the cooling container in which Wanda was stored, telling her she was beautiful - MY HEART
• Sunny vowing to keep looking for Jodi in her body/mind => she is a real one!
• the only thing that fell short about the ending is that we never got to see Mel's and Jamie's reunion... I was more excited for that than her reunion with Jared ... well and also that Wanda lied about her age (her body not being 17 but 18 in order for ian not to feel weird about her age... WHY NOT MAKE HER 20 TO BEGIN WITH, STEPHENIE????? YOUR TEEN AUDIENCE REALLY WOULDN'T CARE, IT'S THE END OF THE BOOK ANYWAYS.... UGH)
• Kyle no longer going on tours because Sunny becomes hysterical when he leaves her side - his character arc truly is delicious
• the ending ending with the gang meeting another set of humans that also has a soul with them is so fucking perfect, right mixture between the unknown and hope... overall, this book is just a masterpiece, always such a fun ride, totally character-driven but the plot's exciting as well! I AM IN LOVE!