Earth has been invaded by aliens. They are parasites (much like ones in Star Trek). They are small silver creatures that are inserted in the base of a human hosts spine. From their the creature inserts its feelers into the humans spinal column and brain. The end result, is that the person whose body was used is pretty much contained within their own head without consciousness. That only applies to some humans. Then there are humans like Melanie who refuse to go away, and actually influence the parasite that shares their body. These creatures do all this in the name of charity. They feel humans are too violent and deserve their beneficence. And crime does go down and diseases are eliminated. But everything is bland, because the parasites don’t have the same passion.

Melanie belongs to a group of rogue humans who have eluded the aliens. But she gets caught. Her parasite is called the Wanderer. For the first time in her existence the Wandered has a host who is aware of the fact that she is there and is determined to excise her from her mind. Melanie is able to control Wandered enough that the alien comes to be concerned for Melanie’s brother Jaime and lover Jared and actually goes to find them. She does succeed. Of course the group of humans know here for what she is based on the fact that her eyes shine silver when exposed to light. Oddly enough the group, led by Melanie’s uncle Jeb, don’t kill her. Wanderer or Wanda starts working and living with the humans side by side. Soon she begins to realize that they are not what she thought. She also begins to realize the heinous nature of what her species is doing by taking over other’s bodies. She goes as far as to teach them how to steal supplies they need- like medicine, an actually helps them carry out the raid. Her final act is to teach their doctor how to remove the parasites from the host with the promise that they will send the parasites off in cryotanks to their next destination. At the end, despite the fact that she and Melanie have attained a symbiotic relationship, she willing gives up her host body so that Melanie may enjoy the life she was meant to have.

This was a book of personal growth. I thought it was told from an unusual perspective. In the Star Trek books, when the parasites take over, the story is told from the perspective of the non-parasites. You don’t get to understand the creatures motivations. Her you do. In addition you see a species come to terms with their arrogance and realize that they’ve made a mistake, and actually take steps to correct what her species has done. Although the book gives no indication as to where Wanda will go. I do believe that Wanda would most likely choose Motherhood. Her species reproduces by the mother splitting every cell in her body. The end result is that the mother dies, but the children have all of their mother’s memories. I believe that her offspring, which would number in the thousands, would take it upon themselves to see to it that their species remove themselves from Earth. I think they would also try to help their species see that they should value other lives just as much as they value their own.