Review: Invaded (Alienated #2)

Invaded (Alienated #2)
By Melissa Landers

Published By: Disney Hyperion
Publication Date: February 3, 2015
Date Read: April 14, 2022
Genre: YA – Sci-fi
Source: Bought
Format: Hardback
Pages: 356

From Goodreads:
The romantic sequel to Alienated takes long-distance relationships to a new level as Cara and Aelyx long for each other from opposite ends of the universe…until a threat to both their worlds reunites them.

Cara always knew life on planet L’eihr would be an adjustment. With Aelyx, her L’eihr boyfriend, back on Earth, working to mend the broken alliance between their two planets, Cara is left to fend for herself at a new school, surrounded by hostile alien clones. Even the weird dorm pet hates her.

Things look up when Cara is appointed as human representative to a panel preparing for a human colony on L’eihr. A society melding their two cultures is a place where Cara and Aelyx could one day make a life together. But with L’eihr leaders balking at granting even the most basic freedoms, Cara begins to wonder if she could ever be happy on this planet, even with Aelyx by her side.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Aelyx, finds himself thrown into a full-scale PR campaign to improve human-L’eihr relations. Humans don’t know that their very survival depends on this alliance: only Aelyx’s people have the technology to fix the deadly contamination in the global water supply that human governments are hiding. Yet despite their upper hand, the leaders of his world suddenly seem desperate to get humans on their side, and hardly bat an eye at extremists’ multiple attempts on Aelyx’s life.

The Way clearly needs humans’ help . . . but with what? And what will they ask for in return?

“It’s like out whole culture is based on frivolity, and I never noticed before.”

I originally started reading this series, way back when it was first releasing in 2013/2014. I really enjoyed Alienated. I had just read the first few Lux books and was on a total YA Aliens kick. I can’t really explain why I didn’t continue this series back then, when Invaded first came out, but I think I just forgot about it. I bought it and put it on my bookshelf and then got distracted by other books. Story of my life! As part of a my ‘Series Catch Up’ challenge in 2022, I finally picked this one up. And I am so, so glad that I did. This book is just such a fun story. I couldn’t put it down.

Melissa Landers is such a delightful author. Her writing style is so fun and easy to read. She completely sucked me in right from the start of this book and I couldn’t put it down, until I was finished. When I actually picked Invaded up, I’d just DNF’d a book and was feeling a bit of a slump coming on. This completely pulled me out of it. I went from taking 4 days to read 70 pages, to finishing over half of this book in one sitting. It completely saved me from the slump.

Invaded picks up where Alienated left off, with our favourite couple separated from each other and on different planets. This time with Cara as ‘the alien’ on another planet and trying hard to fit in and adapt. I really liked this plot as in the first book we sat Aelyx trying to fit in to Earth but as the series is from Cara’s perspective we didn’t really feel the emotional impact of feeling like you don’t belong. This time we see it first hand and we get all of that emotional turmoil first hand and I actually really loved being able to experience that.

Invaded was fast paced and action packed. I absolutely flew through this book as I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen. There is a mystery element to it, in terms of not knowing where these interplanetary messages are coming from… who is trying to kill Aelyx? And I couldn’t wait to find out. Honestly, it was a little predictable. I guessed most of the twists but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment too much. I was happy to see that I had got things right.

I really enjoyed Invaded. Did it completely blow me away? No, but it was so fun to read and experience. I’ve already ordered the third and final book of the series so I can see how it all ends. I can’t wait to read it and I will definitely be diving into some more of Melissa’s books in the future. If you enjoy some fun YA sci-fi books then I recommend this series. It’s such a fun read and it will take you on the ride of your life.

“I know how humans love. Their passion burns like a lump of sugar – quick and hot. And when the fire dies, they seek a new flame. They chase sparks instead of collecting the warmth of old embers.”

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