Alienated by Melissa Landers

Alienated (Alienated, #1)

by Melissa Landers

High school senior Cara Sweeney gets more than she bargained for when she agrees to participate in Earth's first intergalactic high school exchange program.

High-school senior Cara Sweeney gets more than she bargained for when she agrees to participate in Earth's first intergalactic high-school exchange program. The plot contains profanity, sexual situations, and violence. Book #1

Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on

3 of 5 stars

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3.5
Lander’s presented us with an array of characters and contradictions that kept me amused. Cara was funny with a touch of snark I found amusing. Aelyx is interesting and at first appears almost cardboard but as he allows Cara in we begin to see a change in him. We are privy to conversations he has with the other exchange students, and it gave us a look into their social interaction and personalities. Cara and Aelyx’s relationship developed slowly and was turbulent at times. Eric, Cara’s boyfriend and Torie her best friend gave us a glance at some of the fears, and hostility humans felt over this alliance. I felt their story was underdeveloped regarding the conflicts and storyline itself. Thankfully there was no insta-love or triangle, but a possible one crept up closer to the end, and I so hope we don’t go there. Parents, teachers and the like were present in this tale, but I didn’t think there potential was reached.

Alienated was a light, entertaining and fast paced read, but it lacked the depth I so often crave making it enjoyable but sadly forgettable. The world-building that was present was unique, but I would have enjoyed more detail, some scientific jargon and a little more than one line regarding information revealed about the alliance. Lander’s added conflict, raised questions, and added moments of danger to keep us flipping the pages. Cara and Aelyx’s relationship had passion, humor and I loved how they explored the differences in showing affection between worlds. Most definitely swoon worthy my friends. Information regarding the L’eihr race and its evolution was fascinating from their technologies to their speech and I hope we learn more in the second book. I saw contradictions to their way of life in the exchange students and again I want more. Things really heated up both in action and the romance during the last portion of the novel and I saw the potential for this series, and it excited me.

Alienated was an enjoyable read, and I am looking forward to continuing the journey with Invaded in 2015.

Copy received from publisher in exchange for unbiased review that originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 15 January, 2014: Finished reading
  • 15 January, 2014: Reviewed