Series: Alienated, Book 1
Author: Melissa Landers
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Science Fiction Romance
Told: Third Person Multiple (Cara & Aelyx), Past Tense
Rating: Older Teen (heavy sensuality, some language and alien swearing, violence)
Format Read: Paperback (purchased used)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:
Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.
Handpicked to host one of the first-ever L’eihr exchange students, 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.
* * *
I originally read an ARC of Alienated in 2013, but as can sometimes happen I never finished my review. While getting said ARC signed some time later, the author informed me a big change had been made to the final published version and insisted I re-read a finished copy before the second book. I therefore put off continuing the series until I got my hands on a paperback, and eventually acquiring one finally picked it up for a re-read. Because of all the innuendo I almost gave up only a few chapters in (I'd forgotten how bad it was for asexual me), but with the second book now waiting on my shelf I decided to persevere.
Despite the colorful dreamlike cover, Alienated is at its heart a tense story of dangerous prejudice - on both sides. Human racism against visiting aliens is a common scenario, so it was interesting to have the feelings mutual for a change as both humans and aliens assume the worst and badly react accordingly. It isn't a plot I generally enjoy, but Melissa's writing style brought a fun voice to the serious situation and kept me reading even as the tension grew past the boiling point.
Cara was too crass and flippant for me to buy her being a brainy valedictorian, but she was a girl of conviction - once she decided to join the exchange program she never wavered from her commitment, even when it lost her everything - and I admired her for it. Aelyx was arrogant and conceited and negative but fiercely loyal to family, even over his own personal desires - until he fell for Cara of course, but by then she'd become family too so the sentiment still holds. Despite his many faults he grew on me, and although his relationship with Cara was heavily physical I shipped them the second read around.
Conclusion: While the content was a little too steamy for my asexual tastes, it was a tense and relatively engaging contemporary sci-fi. Since the romantic pair should be separated most of the next book, which would keep the physical romance to a minimum (I hope), I might be interested in seeing where the story goes.
Remember: If you're going to give Alienated a try, don't read the ARC, read a finished copy.
Scribble Rating:
3 of 5 Scribbles
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