A novel featuring "aliens of real depth and conviction . . . and an absorbing narrative" from the Hugo Award–winning author of Beyond the Veil of Stars ( Kirkus Reviews, starred review).

Porsche and Cornell fell in love as they infiltrated an alien world for the sake of humanity. But Porsche it turns out, is not human . . .

Now the two return to Earth only to discover a conspiracy so deep that it casts doubt on those to whom they've entrusted their lives, in this follow-up to the New York Times Notable Book Beyond the Veil of Stars—about which Publishers Weekly stated, "This may be one of the best science-fiction novels of the year."

"A visionary writer." —David Brin, New York Times–bestselling author of Insistence of Vision