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Alienated (Alienated, #1)

Melissa Landers

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Apr 05, 2013 Pili rated it really liked it

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I had wanted to read this since I found out about the book on Twitter and read the blurb here, and when I got a chance to read the ARC I was so stoked! You know that feeling of not knowing if that long awaited book will disappoint you? Well, this one didn't!

On Alienated we meet Cara, a high school valedictorian, overachiever extraordinaire that is given the chance of a lifetime to be part of a student exchange, the first student exchange with aliens! The L'eirh made contact with humankind a pai I had wanted to read this since I found out about the book on Twitter and read the blurb here, and when I got a chance to read the ARC I was so stoked! You know that feeling of not knowing if that long awaited book will disappoint you? Well, this one didn't!

On Alienated we meet Cara, a high school valedictorian, overachiever extraordinaire that is given the chance of a lifetime to be part of a student exchange, the first student exchange with aliens! The L'eirh made contact with humankind a pair of years back and now they want to stablish better human-L'eirh relationships. Cara will get the responsability of being a human ambassador, but it can also be her ticket to the college of her dreams!

Aelyx is not happy about the exchange, nor are other two fellow students going to France and China, and they have a plan that won't make neither humans nor L'eirhs happy.

At first Cara's attitude and outlook didn't endear her to me too much, and neither did Aelyx attitude, even if he got more of a dispensation being an alien with hidden motives.

But the story and the way the relationship between the characters started developing really got me hooked. I really didn't expect the focus of the book to be so much on showing big issues through the story, issues like unhealthy relationships, xenophobia, bullying, and modern witch hunting! Cara and her family have to face so much hate because of hosting Aelyx, and they never cave in and keep on trying to do the right thing. Cara proves that she is trying to make it easier for Aelyx not just out of a sense of obligation and to get her rewards, but cause it's the right thing (and of course, cause she seems to be building a massive crush on him!).

Aelyx starts with a horrible attitude towards the inferior race of humans, even if he tries to remain civil, but little by little he decides to stop focusing only on the bad and gives a chance to what's good in humankind, in Cara and her family.

The way the romance progresses worked really well for me, and since I have no issues with interspecies/alien romances, I was rooting for it as soon as Aelyx started questioning his attitude towards Cara and his actions following his original plan. There was some very swooning moments in there, and I loved them!

All in all, this is a book about two teens that fall in love despite and probably because of their differences, and a book about how humans (and aliens) can be capable of the best and worst. Some big issues are addressed in this book, but there's still enough lightness to it to make sure it doesn't come along as preachy.

The ending doesn't have a huge cliffhanger, but it sure leaves you waiting eagerly for the sequel!

Very well deserved 4 stars! ...more

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Aug 06, 2013 Danielle rated it really liked it

Read mroe reviews at What Danielle Did Next

3.5 stars

I tend to prefer to watch my sci-fi than read it and while I did enjoy Alienated it was slightly too fluffy for me to get truly invested in as I felt confused at times as to whether I was reading a cute and fun contemporary or a solid science fiction novel. I think the fact that I’m thoroughly enjoying Star-crossed, the TV show with the almost identical plot meant Alienated did stay firmly in my favour throughout despite any lukewarm feelings Read mroe reviews at What Danielle Did Next

3.5 stars

I tend to prefer to watch my sci-fi than read it and while I did enjoy Alienated it was slightly too fluffy for me to get truly invested in as I felt confused at times as to whether I was reading a cute and fun contemporary or a solid science fiction novel. I think the fact that I’m thoroughly enjoying Star-crossed, the TV show with the almost identical plot meant Alienated did stay firmly in my favour throughout despite any lukewarm feelings I held as I read.

When aliens called the L’eihr’s make contact with Earth the reaction to their presence is mixed. While their advanced technology and disease curing abilities are thoroughly welcomed in particular by the family of our heroine Cara Sweeney, there is also a definite feeling of unease which is amplified with the announcement of a student exchange programme. When Cara is chosen as student ambassador for the US and must host an alien called Aelyx she is unsure if it’s worth the risk to her family and friends when anti-alien protestors make their presence felt not to mention the fact that Aelyx isn’t exactly the friendliest “little green man” to boot. As time goes on Cara finds that for every difference she and Aelyx share, the most startling discovery is just how alike they are.

I really enjoyed Cara as an MC. I found her to be intelligent, sensible, sweet and funny and both aware of her imperfections and willing to find strength in them. She is really put through the ringer in this novel when she agrees to take part in the exchange programme. She is unceremoniously dumped by both her boyfriend and her best friend, threatened constantly with physical violence and verbal insults and has to watch her family go through the pain of being ostracised by the community. Despite all the hardship she never once wavers in her belief that what she is doing will be beneficial to her race in the long term and is determined to stay strong no matter the cost.

It took me a little longer to really have any feelings of positivity towards Aelyx as at first it was arrogant and dismissive to both Cara and the human race and was willing to put them in danger to achieve his own goals. However as the book went on and he and Cara connected I loved how he grew to be a caring and compassionate person and I loved the relationship he forged with Cara.

Cara and Aelyx’s friendship was definitely the highlight of the book for me and it was refreshing to read a book without insta-love; there is nothing better for me than the slow burn as a couple truly get to know each other first and connect on a much deeper level than simply looks and lust. Aelyx and Cara really worked at finding a common ground first to build the foundation of their friendship and I was interested to see how it would develop.

The darker side of the novel and its exploration of racism and prejudice was another highlight for me although at times the overall feeling of “fluffiness” I mentioned before I believe hampered the book from truly exploring this more insidious side of both the humans and aliens however it still managed to hit home and created serious discomfort for me at times as I read some of the acts perpetrated against Cara, Aelyx and those they cared about.

Overall, Alienated is a fun, cute and interesting novel and while I would deem it more to be on the forgettable side and not one to put on the reread shelf I am still definitely interested in finding out what is in store for Cara and Aelyx in the next instalment!
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Feb 11, 2014 Emma marked it as to-read

Shelves: e-galley

Dec 26, 2015 Rawan rated it liked it

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