3.5 out of 5 ratingI enjoyed this second installment of the Alienated series. I think my favorite part was reading about what life was like for Cara on L'eihr (I want to run the obstacle courses!) The idea of this whole other planet intrigued me.There were some big twists and turns, although I saw one of them coming. I do wish that there were a few more scenes with Aelyx and Cara together but I totally get why there wasn't. I know the whole anti-L'eihr thing turned me off in the last book, but I didn't really see that as a problem this time. And I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in the series! I wanted to read Invaded because I loved Alienated and couldn't wait to find out more about Cara and Aelyx. I remember loving their romance and while I knew it would be hard to see them apart, the plot of trying to save the human race and form colonies of humans on L'heir, the home of Aelyx, This focuses on the political aspects and the attempts on Aelyx's life and threats from a human extremist group that does not want the alliance between the species. Cara doesn't have the easiest time making friends and fitting in at first. The clones don't accept her as easy as she'd hoped. Though she does have her brother for a while and Aelyx's sister Elle. The plot started right away with threats to Aelyx, and Cara's difficulties. She feels inferior because they are more physically fit, genetically more evolved, and more brain capacity. But her strong and fiery personality is just what they are looking for. With all of the cloning, they feel less and they are hoping for an alliance to introduce variety in their gene pools. We did get some of Aelyx's point of view, and my favorite there was his new friend David. They learned a lot from each other, and David is another one who is a good example of what the L'heirs should be looking for in humans for the colony. Also with him, we get to see the depths of his feelings for Cara again, even though they face challenges related to getting used to another planet, society and way of living, as well as something that may be enough to end their relationship. I also learned even more about his character in the way that he treats Syrine, and how their rocky friendship and trying to patch things that have went sideways. Cara shows her strength in this one as well, she learns more about the society, their advanced physics, and even begins to catch up in the physical department with the help of a PT teacher she dubs Satan. But she is surrounded by challenges as well as secrets. She uncovers a theory that begins to shape itself more and more about the heritage of both planets as well as another challenge that totally took me by surprise. There was plenty going on, but I loved the deepening of the family ties, especially her and Troy, and when they are back on Earth, how they begin to see some of the human frivolities and both question if they really belong in either place, and where they fit with each possible decision. I loved seeing her work with the babies and toddlers. It started out that she wanted to learn more about the foundations of their society, their cultural norms and beginnings of the math and science that was so different from what she learned. But she is also placed in a situation that showed more of the huge differences between the cultures, what they see as a family unit, how breeding/cloning has changed or differs from the human family unit. The book ended at a great place. Some very hard things happened as well as life changing decisions made. But I was satisfied and while I would love a 3rd book, I can understand if this is the end. It would be a bit open ended but not bad, just leaving some of their future to my imagination. Although a couple of the characters almost got what was coming to them but not quite and there was another secondary character that had a lot of hurt piled on her. Bottom Line: Great second book learning about how both Cara and Aelyx try to fit in and form the planetary alliance.
What do You think about Invaded (2000)?
This cover is so pretty, but it kind of spoils the ending of Alienated....
—brian
