Review: Alienated by Melissa Landers

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on March 20, 2015 | 7 Comments


Review: Alienated by Melissa LandersAlienated by Melissa Landers
Series: Alienated #1
Published by Disney Hyperion (2.4.2014)
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Hardcover, 344 pages
Source: I own it


4.5 Stars

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.

My thoughts

I’ve had this book on my list forever, and last year I was able to meet Melissa and get a copy signed. It’s been sitting on my shelf for months, and I’ve been eyeballing it – because that cover! – but honestly I’ve been putting it off. I wasn’t sure it would be a “me” book, so I was hesitant. Turns out I had nothing to worry about! I can’t believe I waited so long to read this!

I was not only pleasantly surprised, but amazed by how much I enjoyed reading this. It wasn’t just enjoyable, but fun to read! Cara was awesome – she was strong, stubborn, fiesty, and witty. She had me laughing out loud!

Then Aelyx came into play and that enjoyment doubled. I freaking loved Aelyx and Cara! SO MUCH. There haven’t been many romances that I could get 100% on board with, but this was one of them! I loved the banter between the two of them – they had me cracking up! Also, I adore the fact that he called her Elire (aka “beautiful warrior”). *swoons* I loooove the portrayal of romances where the couple is forced together against their will and end up falling for one another unintentionally! It was amazing that Aelyx wanted nothing to do with Cara at first, and then slowly but surely she ended up being the main focus of everything he did. They were both willing to defy the world to be together…GAH I love them so much, I think these guys are one of my favorite fictional couples! *hugs book to chest*
Oh, and HOLY CRAP was it sexy, too! A lot of times, the ‘sexy’ scenes make me cringe. But the scene where they had that bet? I thought I was going to spontaneously combust! *hums Pardon Me by Incubus*

Something that blew me away about this book is how convincing the L’eihr’s alien nature was. She really captured their ignorance of human ways! There were a lot of times where it was almost funny because they took things so literally. Sarcasm and figures of speech were lost on them! Also, the world was spot on. I could tell that Melissa Landers put a lot of thought into her world building! (Loved the L’eihr language!)

Something else she captured very well was the bigotry. Just like anything strange and new (and different), the presence of the L’eihr incited fear and hatred. The way Cara and Aelyx were treated was appalling, but very realistic. (Which makes me kind of sad for humanity, really.)

View Spoiler »

Favorite quotes

“Look what I made for you. A bowl of diabetes.”
(Fudge ice cream with chocolate syrup, chocolate chips, sprinkles, & brownie lol!)

“It’s chocolate. You’ll love it.”
“That’s what you said about Skittles. I vomited a rainbow afterward.”

It was both terrifying and glorious in its intensity. It was love.

She couldn’t identify any given moment that it had happened. It reminded her of a blizzard from years before, when a surprise cold front had dumped four feet of snow on the town. She’d gone to bed completely unaware of the storm and awoken the next morning to an impenetrable wall of snow surrounding the house.
Or maybe a blanket was a better comparison – the way it gathers warmth so gradually that you don’t feel the chill until removing the cover.

Overall Assessment

Plot: 4.5/5
Premise: 5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Originality: 4.5/5
Characters: 4/5
World-building: 4.5/5
Pace: 5/5
Feels: 4.5/5
Cover: 4.5/5
Overall rating: 4.5/5

Jessi (Geo)

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7 responses to “Review: Alienated by Melissa Landers

  1. OOOooh nice!! I have to admit that I was debating about this one too! Haven’t met the author, but I kept thinking about reading the book. Then I would read a review where I felt like I didn’t want to read it, but now after reading your review, I feel like I might definitely like this one! Quite a few of your reviews usually convince me to buy a book! So onto the wishlist this one goes! Great review!!

  2. I read this awhile ago, so my memories of the book are very fuzzy. I did enjoy this, but I also wasn’t in love. I liked the lighthearted parts the best, especially when Aelyx was learning things about humans.

  3. Great review. I loved this book. I definitely agree that their “intimate” moments were not only different with the L’eihrs ways but a lil fan worthy at the same time. Who knew that feeling someones pulse could be such a sensual thing. I cannot wait for more of their story.
    Kristin @ Book Sniffers Anonymous

  4. Ooooh I read the first line of that synopsis and I was thinking, “wtf?” Sharing a bathroom?? But then I finished reading your review and I was like, “I gotta read this!” LOL it does sound intriguing. Definitely getting into the alien reads these days :)

  5. I loved this book as well, Jessi, and I really want to read the second in the series, I just haven’t gotten around to it yet… sometimes, my expectations are just so high after a first book it seems impossible for the second to live up to them.
    Great review, and I love the puking rainbow / skittles quote ;)

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