Book Review: Alienated by Melissa Landers
Alienated by Melissa Landers
Category: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
Publication: February 4, 2014; Disney Hyperion
Purchase: Amazon
Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.
Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.
Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.
But when Cara’s classmates get swept up by anti-L’eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn’t safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara’s locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.
Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she’s fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.
Review
[book rating=4/5]If you keep up with this blog than you know that we’ve featured Alienated quite a few times, once as our Cover Crush, once as a featured New Release, and finally as one of my Most Anticipated Releases of 2014. So I think it’s safe to say I was pumped to finally get my grubby little hands on it, and let me tell you it did not disappoint.
I’m gonna make a confession, I’m a sucker for alien romances. I don’t know what it is about otherworldly dudes that gets me so excited, maybe it’s their forbidden nature or the element of the unknown but whatever it is, it’s my favorite genre. When Cara Sweeney (by the way bonus point this is my mother’s maiden name) and alien Aelyx meet it’s not all love at first sight. Actually, it was more like mooning at first sight, but I won’t spoil the fun. The best part of Alienated was watching these two polar opposites slowly attract. Cara as a protagonist is spunky, intelligent, far from a push-over, and has a backbone made of steel. I mean how many other girls do you know would willingly take in an alien foreign exchange student, show him the earthly ropes even after her friends turn their back on her? Aelyx on the other hand, did not start off as the most sympathetic character. He was cold, unwilling to embrace Earth’s customs or even foods (I mean who hates chocolate) but the more he was around Cara and her loving family the more he came out of his literal alien shell. And that is where the real fun began as these two polar opposites got to know each other a deep passionate love bloomed. I’m going on record that one of the kisses in this book (and this is not a spoiler cuz duh it’s YA), will make you leave the stratosphere.
What I loved about Alienated (besides, all the smoking hot chemistry) was Melissa’s unique descriptions of the L’eihrs. Everything from their technology, taste preferences and even medical advances was explained in such a unique and fascinating way. You almost believe these things and beings could actually exist (sidebar if an alien as hot as Aelyx exists he can invade my planet any day).
Finally, I can’t wrap up all my gushing without mentioning all the other issues this book touches on such as discrimination and the power of hysteria. Without spoiling, I think it depicts an accurate portrayal of human nature and how the unknown can paralyze and how fear can breed hate.
I was a bit miffed with the ending, because cliffhangers! But suffice to say, this blog will be heavily featuring the sequel, Invaded when it’s released in what feels like a galaxy away (aka 2015).
