Author: Melissa Landers
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release: February 4, 2014
Series: Alienated
Pages: 344
Rating: 5 Stars
Synopsis:
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.
You Can Find it At:
Book Depository
First Impressions
I bought this as a binge buy when I was at Flyleaf Bookstore. I saw it on the shelf and knew that I must have it. And boy, did it not disappoint! I loved every minute of the books, and can't wait for my copy of Invaded to get here!
Characters
This was duel POV between the two main characters, Cara and Aelyx. I definitely like Cara. She is brave, smart, and will do anything for a friend. She's relatable to say the least. Plus, she's not afraid to speak her mind. She's more fearless than her classmates, which makes her the perfect main character. I wanted to strangle Aelyx every once in a while, but he makes up for it. Aelyx isn't exactly a willing participant in their alien exchange, and tries to sabotage peace treaties and negotiations. That said, I majorly ship Aelyx and Cara! They're super sweet together and could change the world if they so desired.
Writing
The writing was exactly my kind of writing. Fast paced and fun. The story was able to pick up immediately and just keep going. I was constantly waiting for the next thing to happen, and it always did. The plot also wasn't fully predictable. I saw some things coming, but not all of them.
World-Building
Let me tell you, this world is cool. In case you skipped the synopsis, aliens made contact wait Earth two years before the start of the novel. They're almost exactly identical to human, save for a few traits. They're also more developed then humans, as they've been around longer. The book takes place on Earth, meaning I don't get to see much of their culture, but from what I see, it seems interesting, but also a bit crazy. It's almost like they're one ginormous cult. I'm really exited to read book two, which takes place on the aliens home planet, and learn more about them!
Author Bio:
Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives just outside Cincinnati and writes adult contemporary romance as Macy Beckett.
You Can Find Her At:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
First Impressions
I bought this as a binge buy when I was at Flyleaf Bookstore. I saw it on the shelf and knew that I must have it. And boy, did it not disappoint! I loved every minute of the books, and can't wait for my copy of Invaded to get here!
Characters
This was duel POV between the two main characters, Cara and Aelyx. I definitely like Cara. She is brave, smart, and will do anything for a friend. She's relatable to say the least. Plus, she's not afraid to speak her mind. She's more fearless than her classmates, which makes her the perfect main character. I wanted to strangle Aelyx every once in a while, but he makes up for it. Aelyx isn't exactly a willing participant in their alien exchange, and tries to sabotage peace treaties and negotiations. That said, I majorly ship Aelyx and Cara! They're super sweet together and could change the world if they so desired.
Writing
The writing was exactly my kind of writing. Fast paced and fun. The story was able to pick up immediately and just keep going. I was constantly waiting for the next thing to happen, and it always did. The plot also wasn't fully predictable. I saw some things coming, but not all of them.
World-Building
Let me tell you, this world is cool. In case you skipped the synopsis, aliens made contact wait Earth two years before the start of the novel. They're almost exactly identical to human, save for a few traits. They're also more developed then humans, as they've been around longer. The book takes place on Earth, meaning I don't get to see much of their culture, but from what I see, it seems interesting, but also a bit crazy. It's almost like they're one ginormous cult. I'm really exited to read book two, which takes place on the aliens home planet, and learn more about them!
Author Bio:
You Can Find Her At:
Website
What a great review! First contact stories seem dominated by tails of military and science organizations, I like the idea of distilling it down to what it would eventually mean on a social/cultural level for some ordinary girl like Cara and the high school peer group she's surrounded by. I wonder if Melissa Landers gives us a reason for why the two species have practically the same DNA. There's a lot of room for conflict between the aliens and humans at large, not just the more personal conflicts that Cara and Aelyx are going to face. I love that he has a "humanized" name like Aelyx, but it couldn't look more alien! I think it is great when authors find names that fit their characters conceptually. Knowing that it is dual perspective piques my interest too. I think that can be such a valuable tool for an author to give insight too more than one side of the story. Thanks for reviewing this book and giving me such a feel for it!
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