Brief

When she begins receiving mysterious warnings about staying safe from harm, a young woman discovers that her late parents were Data Collectors sent from other planets to collect information about Earth, which makes her a natural-born Data Collector with valuable powers. With help from friends from different intergalactic walks of life, the woman must try to survive and protect her powers from the groups that want to harness it for evil and in doing so, destroy Earth.

What We Liked

There is so much to love about this project. The world building is vast, impressive, and dazzling. The premise is intriguing, with enough mystery and lore to keep readers flying through the pages. The story is anchored by strong, nuanced characters that have clear and distinct voices and motivations. There are deep themes of empathy, love, and friendship, and it's refreshing to read a brand new take on aliens. The writing shines from start to finish, and because the writing is so visual, this really is the perfect project for a screen adaptation. Strong, detailed imagery paints vivid pictures of every moment on screen.

Film: This book is already perfectly primed to be a movie, with a clear and straightforward beginning, middle, and end. There are big-budget action scenes that would absolutely leap off the big screen. This project also has strong franchise potential, as the ending leaves the story open for future films.

TV: Because the world introduced in this story is so vast, the possibilities would be endless for a TV adaptation. Of course the first book provides plenty of material for at least one season of television, and maybe more, but there are also so many places and characters introduced that writers would never run out of intriguing storyline for the show. Much like "Doctor Who," this is the kind of show that could run for a very long time as well, since many of the characters featured live longer lives than normal humans.

Key points:
1. Incredible world building.
2. Intriguing premise.
3. The blending of different genres, such as fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and mystery.
4. Highly visual writing.
5. Likable and nuanced characters.

Synopsis

We meet Drake and Bryce in the prologue, 25 years ago, 20 years before the assembly. The boys are in a boat during a terrible storm. Drake falls out of the boat and nearly drowns, but a creature with a blue face and black button eyes saves him. The creature is Morphinae, a Virtuvian.

Seven-year-old Lucene Jones is riding in a car during the storm. She pleads for Cepheus to help her from lightyears away, and though he says he’ll try, the car wrecks and Cepheus’ connection with Lucene is lost.

In a hospital room, Lucene watches as Fatima Fortunata, another patient, is told that she’s going home today. Lucene wants her parents to come get her. She tells Fatima about how she was struck by lightning and has supernatural powers now. Fatima leaves the hospital but leaves her calling card with Lucene.

Five years ago, Lucene, now 27, sits in the assembly room where representatives from Earth are gathered for the Intergalactic Peace Project’s annual conference. As speakers rise, one of them is Cepheus, speaking for Erde. Lucene can’t remember how or why, but she knows she knows him. It’s like seeing an old friend.

Cepheus explains that Data Collectors, beings acting as humans and living among them, are being mysteriously killed off. These Data Collectors were sent to Earth to gather information about how to save it from environmental collapse. Whoever is killing Data Collectors doesn’t want to see the Earth survive. As she listens, Lucene hears Cepheus speak to her in her mind. He tells her to protect herself.

After an argument breaks out regarding Erde harboring humans without permission, Lucene leaves. She returns to see an explosion rock the Commonwealth building. She flees.

Four years after the assembly, students study at the Terrestrial Academy of Research and Awareness (TARA). Some study Earth, others study other alien cultures, and some take the track of the Data Collectors. A professor tells Cepheus, who also teaches at TARS, that Lucene has been found alive in Florida. Cepheus decides he will go to find Lucene, but before he can, Tanager, the professor injects him with an antipsychotic serum. He falls to the ground.

Five years after the assembly, Lucene, encounters Tanager in a grocery story parking lot. When her car doesn’t start, she takes Tanager up on his offer to drive her home. Once there, she introduces him to Fatima, now her roommate, who invite him to come back for dinner the next night. He agrees.

That very evening, Roman, a charming and incredibly perceptive man, has dinner in a restaurant. While there, he strikes up conversation and reveals that he can tell a lot about a person just by speaking with them. He’s been studying love and reproduction habits of humans at TARA, and he’s well versed in Earth culture. Fatima happens to be the cook in the restaurant, and when Roman meets her, he’s instantly smitten. He leaves his number with Fatima and is delighted when she calls and invites him to dinner the next night.

The next chapter introduces readers to Ivan the Tinkerer, Fatima and Lucene’s neighbor. He’s not human, so he sometimes has a difficult time socializing. Though he’s quite friendly when Tanager and Cepheus, who had asked to stay with him, arrive.

Meanwhile, Sabrina and Hamish discuss having another children. They are Royals, beings that evolve quickly, age slowly, and can regrow organs and limbs. Sabrina believes that the help of a Data Collector will help them have another child. They head to the Royal casino.

That night, Tanager and Cepheus enter Lucene’s room. They start to explain what’s happening, but she wants them to leave before Fatima’s home. Outside, Ivan helps calm down the situation.

Lucene’s boss, Drake, tells her about the time he almost drowned as a boy. He also asks her to take on a special, secretive task. He asks her to break some rules, but insists it’s worth it. She wants to impress him.

Fatima prepares for the big dinner with Roman, Ivan, Tanager and Lucene. The dinner is a lovely time during which the couples connect on deeper levels. When Roman gets home, he considers the fact that he can’t let Fatima distract from his true mission: keeping Lucene safe.

The next morning, Fatima tells Lucene that Roman confessed to her that he’s an alien. Fatima finds this fact amusing. Roman also says he’s a Data Collector, and that there’s another named Jim Sparks. Lucene makes a mental note to investigate Jim further.

Twenty five years before the assembly, readers get more information about what Cepheus has been through. When Tanager was at dinner with him, the Royals attacked, kidnapped Cepheus, and killed his family. They told Cepheus and Tanager to pull the Data Collectors from Earth.

Back with Lucene, she is surprised when Tanager appears and knocks on her window. He takes her to Ivan’s workshop, where Cepheus is also waiting. During a walk, Tanager tells Lucene the truth. Her parents were born on Erde, they were training to become Data Collectors, and Lucene herself is a Data Collector with natural-born abilities. She is the only natural born Data Collector, in fact. Alongside all the info about her, Lucene learns that Ivan has invented a way to get them home within six months. She will have to decide if she’s going to go. After their talk, Lucene and Tanager arrange to meet that evening.

During a conversation with Royals, Drake reveals that he isn’t as trustworthy as he seems. He made a deal with the Royals, and he has promised to find and turn over Lucene. Hamish and Sabrina blow up a casino in order to kill members of the IPP. They don’t seem to feel any remorse.

Meanwhile, five years after the assembly, Tanager and Lucene meet as planned. They have a lovely time until they run into Roman. He tells Lucene to be careful of Tanager. He doesn’t think he’s who he seems, and he believes Tanager is working with the Royals.

Soon after, Lucene tracks down Jim Sparks. He tells her about the Royals and their plan to repopulate the Earth. Now that it’s gone astray, they want to kill everyone. After Lucene leaves, Jim doesn’t hear someone else secretly board the boat. It’s Drake Cushing, who’s gotten Jim’s location by using his own trusted confidant against him.

Drake comes to Lucene. He tries to convince her that the Royals are actually on the good side, but Lucene doesn’t believe his lies. He shoots Reverend Isabella, the woman Lucene works for, and then he leaves.

In a quest to find help, Tanager speaks with Odessa and Morphinae, two aliens who might want to stay out of the fight, but who also love humans and Earth enough to speak up. During their meeting, they overhear Hamish and Sabrina.

While cuddled on the couch, Roman and Fatima see the news about Isabella being shot. They also see that Jim has been killed. This death causes Fatima to doubt Roman, but he convinces her that he means her no ill will and he didn’t hurt Jim. Fatima and Roman talk to Ivan. They plan to meet. Ivan calms Cepheus down, and as soon as they leave, the cottage explodes in flames. They all got out just in time.

The group finally meets up. Roman has an emotional moment when he remembers Far, his son. He’s lived another life before this one. The group tries desperately to find Lucene. It’s Cepheus who finally tracks her down.

Lucene has been kidnapped and restrained by Hamish and Sabrina. She’s able to communicate nonverbally with Cepheus and let him know where she is. Lucene finally remembers her past connection with Cepheus. She also realizes that Cepheus is Sabrina and Hamish’s son, and that even if they discover the recipe for Lucene’s powers, they won’t work without empathy and love.

Ivan and Roman stay behind and make sure the vessel is ready to take them home as soon as they’ve rescued Lucene. Fatima stands guard. Cepheus and Tanager get ready to face the Royals.

During the confrontation with Hamish and Sabrina, Tanager is gravely injured and poisoned. Cepheus is nearly killed, but Hamish turns on Sabrina and helps him save Lucene. Morphinae, who once saved the boys, is able to save Tanager’s life.

Tanager, Roman, Cepheus, and Lucene leave on the vessel. Fatima and Ivan stay on Earth.

In an effort to restore balance, Morphinae arrives to kill Drake. But Drake suggests they work together to ensure that Lucene uses her powers fairly.

Reverend Isabella wakes up after an injury and sees a beetle resting on her arm. It is Odessa, and she knows that the world needs Isabella.

About The Author

Danielle Palli is a writer, business owner, podcast producer and co-host, and mindfulness coach. She lives in Florida with her husband and her beloved pets. She finds joy in singing and dancing, nature, and travel.