ARC Review: Alienated (Alienated #1) by Melissa Landers

Alienated

Author: Melissa Landers

Series: Alienated

Pages: 304

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Release date: 4^th February 2014

Amazon – TBD

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Interplanetary relations have never been more exciting! The first in a funny, romantic YA sci-fi series.

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: 4 out of 5 stars

I have been eager to read Alienated by Melissa Landers since I first read that amazing synopsis and I’m really pleased to say it didn’t fail to disappoint but has left me more than anxious for the sequel.

Cara Sweeney has been chosen to host one of the first ever L’eihr exchange students, it’s a rare opportunity and her chance to get into her preferred college and also to find out first-hand details about these aliens who more or less share near identical DNA as humans.

Cara would have to be one of my favourite female characters; she is kind, has a strong spirit, is resilient and really knew what she wanted and went for it which I came to really appreciate. She never faltered under pressure or fear.

Mysterious Aelyx couldn’t have been more obvious in his distaste for humans, he is gorgeous, arrogant, emotionless and seems to have no self-preservation, he also has his own secret agenda for joining the exchange program but things begin to change when he starts to ‘feel’ and adapt to the humans and their ways. I really liked him as a character and enjoyed the progression we see throughout the book which was quite obvious.

With the arrival of the exchange students also came paranoia and fear – always the case with the unknown but when Cara starts to receive threats and requires police protection, things become a lot more serious, there are protests, violence, threats and political mayhem that I thought was done quite well although at times was a bit too much and became repetitive.

Alienated’s world-building is creative – I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Léihr’s and their beliefs and background history, the characters are likeable and the plot is evenly paced and captivating but there were moments where I found myself skimming to get to the Aelyx/Cara interactions which I found laugh out loud funny at times, the banter between them was always engaging and written extremely well; these teens came across as sounding quite mature which I liked.

The romance was slow to build, I loved Aelyx and Cara’s very first meeting and the way in which their romance developed; the chemistry between them was off the charts! That kissing session had me swooning and the way they came to care for one another was sweet.

All in all, I enjoyed the overall premise of Alienated, it is a wonderfully written, engrossing book that held me mesmerised with its details and imagery. The ending leaves us with enough intrigue for us to anxiously anticipate the sequel and what will happen with this newly loved up couple but I’m also really nervous about a few possibilities that could arise, including a love-triangle but I am really eager to read Invaded.

Thank-you kindly to Disney Hyperion for the opportunity to read and review Alienated.

 

About the author: Melissa Landers writes light, witty sci-fi for teens and the young at heart. Look for her ALIENATED series coming in early 2014 from Disney Hyperion.

Additionally, she writes contemporary romance for adults under the name Macy Beckett.

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