What a great discussion everyone! I do think Wanda still has some feelings for Jared and Mel for Ian because of the time and feelings Wanda and Mel shared. I think this could play a role in the future of the story as well as they continue to find out how the humans and aliens interact. Remember the alien family with the human child? I think there is more to discover and these shared interactions teach the humans and aliens more and more about each other....

I have to do the same thing. When I was trying to finish the book, my husband just kept laughing at me because I wasn't paying attention to anything but the book when I was home. He doesn't like to read (he is more of a guitar/music man) so he doesn't really understand how it is.

Maybe I will just go and re-read the whole Pet part to try and clarify things a little better when it comes to her and Wanda.

This is true, but she may have sounded disoriented and the lie just slipped in there and noone noticed. Hmm...alot to think about!

You´re right. How can age matters when they not even worry about the different species. So Wanda, take your time and then let´s get physical


So you are happy too, that here are people who can totally understand you! So am I.

My husband and I have 12 years between us, so I don't think age matters. I guess it really just depends on the people.
But after what happend with Mel and Jared when they first met, I guess Wanda wanted to make sure age wouldn't come between her and Ian.
But it does make you wonder if any of them knew she was really lying since she can't lie well. [/quote]

I remember that everybody was a bit suprised when Wanda claims that her age is almost 18. So they maybe didn´t believe her, but like you´ve said: age doesn´t matter in this case. When Wes and Lily came together Lily said the same. It´s just exeptional circumstances and all that matters is love *sigh*

I guess to me tiny and frail and the beautiful fingernails meant that Pet had spent most of her time not exercisiing and filing her nails. Plus being only 17 she still has some maturing to do. If Wanda decides to work out those muscles a little more etc.. I think she could be a strong woman. She just didn't have to do much work on Melanie's body because Mel did all the work previous. Actually she let Mel's body get a little wimpy. Now I don't think Pets body will ever be as strong as Mels but I don't think it has to be frail if Wanda doesn't want it to be.
I love that Ian doesn't care though. He loves her no matter what.



Yeah it seemd like Mel thought there would be less of a chance of the old Human mind still being there if the body had had less time as a human and more time as a host. Plus they all want Ian to be able to be with Wanda and what if the body they picked was in love with someone else? It would be like being in Mel all over again. They had a better chance of a 17 year old not having a previous love than a 22 year old. I think they make a smart decision.

I think we're all overthinking this. I don't think Jared, Jamie and Mel would pick a body that was so frail it COULDN'T handle what their lifestyle required. And I think the idea on picking out Pet was A, she is so different from Mel, more Waspy whereas Melanie has the olvie skin and brunette, B, Wanderer is more child like (technically she's only been human for a year) and she is like an angel. She's so sweet. Like someone said, it's like having an internet or phone friend for a while and having an image in their head cause you've heard their voice/talked to them so much.

Also guys just cause someone is sometimes seen as "delicate" does NOT mean they're a weakling who can't do anything. TRUST me on this one, I'm 100 pounds, but I trekked all over Europe with a heavy backpack on my back for 5 weeks last year, and I helped move some really really heavy boxes into my new place. So just cause Pet is not as athletic/more delicate than Mel does not mean she's gonna die soon. Think about it, the souls have figured out how to cure all diseases, she wouldn't be sick anyway, plus like I said Jared, Jamie and Mel aren't gonna pick a sick or even sickly girl for Wanda.

I don't think they would pick out a sickly girl for Wanda either. But, Wanda was used to a strong body. And it even said in the book that Pet's body couldn't work for very long before she had to stop. I know that Wanda has to grow as a "human" and Pet's body has to mature, but I'm hoping that in the next book, she'll be stronger both mentally and physically.

True. But like I said, 100 pounds, I can't do some of the stuff they do in the book for reallly long hours either, yet I still went all over Europe with a huge backpack for 5 weeks. I think if Wanda just makes Pet beef up a little she'll be fine. And on everyone taking care of her, that's just what happens sometimes - I get treated like I can't do anything either sometimes, despite the whole Europe thing. Just what happens when you're tiny. But I agree, I hope she's a ittle stronger

I have felt torn about how I feel in regards to putting Wanda in Pet's body. Part of me can understand why they choose her like how she looks more innocent and angle like. On the other hand, I never pictured Wanda being in a younger body since she as a soul has lived many lives and probably should have been in a body that was in it's 20's at least.
I am hoping in the next book it all works out in the end with her being in Pet's body, but for now it just doesn't feel right to me.

I have spent some time thinking about Wanda in Pet's body and I have read what everyone else thinks and this is my conclusion...A delicate body is perfect for Wanda because she is a delicate soul, she cannot survive without a host. The soul's are delicate creatures that need help in order to survive. A body does not control the mind, Wanda is still strong. My grandfather's body was crippled with arthritis and age before he passed away, but his mind was always so strong that the whole family depended on him. When that old, crippled man left this world all us had to find our own strength. It is the mind and the heart and the soul that make you strong! The body is just a vessel!

I'm sure Wanda just needs time to acclimate to her new host. Of course it would seem a little strange to go from a physically strong, emotionally strong body, to a small, fragile looking, petite body. I know for me it seemed a little weird, Wanda in the new host, just because we didn't have a lot of time to get used to her in that body. I hope we will get the next book to see her grow into this new host.

As far as Wanda's feelings for Jared, I think they are her own feelings, and not just residual. I think there is more there, and that's why Stephenie touched on it a little. I think that she developed true feelings for Jared, not in the same way that she feels for Ian, but I can definitely see the makings of future love triangles.....or squares.

I just wanted to agree with this, and to second what Twilightgator said, too. I am also quite a small person; I'm not as, um, angelic-looking as Pet, so I don't have people touching my hair or face. But I work for a construction supplies company, and people are always surprised at what I can lift and carry. Also, if I wear casual clothes, people still think I'm 14. Sadly, I've noticed a trend in myself toward Pet's level of physical fitness--I can't walk up so many stairs as I used to, or carry things I used to, without breathing harder. Grrr, blasted exercise that I don't get around to! I used to work on a huge college campus, and my job wasn't just a desk job like I have now; I walked miles every day as part of normal life, and my body was much more lean and hardy (rather than soft and easily tired). I'm sure that will happen to Wanderer's body, too.

I agree that it was strange to see Wanderer in a very different body than her old one, but I figure that if Ian can handle it, I can handle it too.

I thought Wanda's body was a perfect physical manisfestation of her soul -soft, pure, innocent, angelic. A face everyone could trust - the humans that she lived with in the caves and the souls that she encountered when she went on raids.
I definitely never pictured her as sickly. "Dainty" was a great word to describe her. I pictured the silver skin as fair and freckled with a healthy glow, not alien like.
I understood the choice for a younger human as a way to ensure that the "host" human would be less likely to be present since there would be fewer memories.
Also, I think it is important to point out that there are other ways to be tough or mature, other than physically. I would describe Wanda as wise which for me is the physical manisfestation of an old man, which I wouldn't want to see Ian end up with.
I thought Jamie picked perfectly! (he could never be wrong)