Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that takes over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed. Wanderer, the invading `soul` who has been given Melanie`s body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn`t expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind. Melanie fills Wanderer`s thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves - Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body`s desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she`s never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.