Alien finds conquering planet not so easy

Wanderer has spent centuries among the stars, living in many different bodies on many different worlds. Now she is newly come to Earth, installed in the body of a young woman, expecting to enjoy a typically peaceful sojourn in her new home. But for the first time, there are voices in her head that confuse and unsettle her.

This body’s original consciousness did not vanish as it should have. In fact, it is astonishingly present and vocal, with a furious will that refuses to be subdued — an experience altogether new to the gentle alien soul.

Melanie was one of the few humans to escape the initial invasion, living in hiding and on the run for many years. Now, trapped inside her own head, all she can do for her fellow refugees is desperately guard the secret of their existence. But Melanie cannot hide for long the searing memories of the two people she cares for most in the world — her young brother, Jamie, and Jared, the man she loves.

As Melanie’s feelings seep into her possessor, Wanderer is astonished to find herself sharing the new and unexpected emotions, also longing to be with Jared and Jamie and to reassure herself as well as Melanie that they are safe. The combination of their twin desires is an unstoppable force, propelling Wandererer onto a dangerous quest with an unimaginable outcome.

Stephenie Meyer has crafted an exceptional novel that will enthrall lovers of romance and drama as well as science-fiction fans. Devotees of her bestselling “Twilight” novels will enjoy the maturing of familiar philosophical and emotional themes — identity, morality, sacrifice, love — while new readers will be captivated by the life and beauty that Meyer’s lush, lyrical style brings to the traditional world of sci-fi.