What do you think?
Rate this book
Alienated #1.5
Until Midnight
Don't miss the *free* romantic holiday story that connects ALIENATED and INVADED!
Cara and Aelyx only have one day to spend together before he returns to earth and she travels to Aelyx's home planet, L'eihr. Homesick and worried about the upcoming year apart, Cara is desperate to make these final hours count. Worst of all, Cara is missing Christmas, stuck on board an alien spaceship. When Aelyx learns that Cara is forgoing her favorite holiday, he tries to recreate Christmas in space by researching traditional earth customs…but a few things get lost in translation.
Coming December 23rd, this FREE short story will include multi-chapter excerpts of both ALIENATED and the sequel, INVADED.
Cara and Aelyx only have one day to spend together before he returns to earth and she travels to Aelyx's home planet, L'eihr. Homesick and worried about the upcoming year apart, Cara is desperate to make these final hours count. Worst of all, Cara is missing Christmas, stuck on board an alien spaceship. When Aelyx learns that Cara is forgoing her favorite holiday, he tries to recreate Christmas in space by researching traditional earth customs…but a few things get lost in translation.
Coming December 23rd, this FREE short story will include multi-chapter excerpts of both ALIENATED and the sequel, INVADED.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 23, 2014
55 people are currently reading
3533 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Landers
15 books3,507 followers**Receive news, updates, and exclusive excerpts from Melissa by subscribing to her e-newsletter!**
Melissa Landers writes science fiction for teens and the young at heart. The Alienated trilogy (ALIENATED, INVADED, UNITED) and the Starflight duology (STARFLIGHT, STARFALL) are complete! Look for Melissa's middle grade debut BLASTAWAY, now available from Disney-Hyperion.
**IMPORTANT** Please do not request an ARC through Goodreads. All review copies are distributed by the publisher.
Melissa Landers writes science fiction for teens and the young at heart. The Alienated trilogy (ALIENATED, INVADED, UNITED) and the Starflight duology (STARFLIGHT, STARFALL) are complete! Look for Melissa's middle grade debut BLASTAWAY, now available from Disney-Hyperion.
**IMPORTANT** Please do not request an ARC through Goodreads. All review copies are distributed by the publisher.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
Read
January 6, 2015Last update (for real): Some of you have told me Scribd is banned in your country, so I added the story to Wattpad for you. But please use Wattpad as a last resort, because the formatting/spacing is jacked up, and that sort of thing drives me crazy.
Update: it's here! You can now download UNTIL MIDNIGHT for free from your favorite e-tailer. If you're outside the US/Canada, I've uploaded the story to Scribd for you. The only downside is it won't include the bonus chapters from INVADED. (Technical reasons from the publisher.) Hope you enjoy!
This story takes place after the first book (Alienated) ends and before the second book (Invaded) begins, so I highly recommend you wait to read it until you've finished Alienated. Otherwise you're in for some serious spoilers.
Update: it's here! You can now download UNTIL MIDNIGHT for free from your favorite e-tailer. If you're outside the US/Canada, I've uploaded the story to Scribd for you. The only downside is it won't include the bonus chapters from INVADED. (Technical reasons from the publisher.) Hope you enjoy!
This story takes place after the first book (Alienated) ends and before the second book (Invaded) begins, so I highly recommend you wait to read it until you've finished Alienated. Otherwise you're in for some serious spoilers.
January 11, 2015
A quick 40 page short story linking Alienated by Melissa Landers to her upcoming release Invaded .
It is almost Christmas and Cara will be sent to the planet of L'eihr for a year while her new alien boyfriend Aelyx is going to Earth. Aelyx has less than 24 hours to research what Christmas is and try and create it for Cara - of course even though his heart is in the right place you know it is going to not quite there.
Loved it - can't wait for February :)
It is almost Christmas and Cara will be sent to the planet of L'eihr for a year while her new alien boyfriend Aelyx is going to Earth. Aelyx has less than 24 hours to research what Christmas is and try and create it for Cara - of course even though his heart is in the right place you know it is going to not quite there.
Loved it - can't wait for February :)
July 4, 2015
Cute.
January 1, 2015
TAKE ME TO YOUR PLANET ;-;
This little novella was short and sweet. I really love Aelyx and Caahhhhhh-raaaaa (hehe), his whole effort at recreating Christmas was so adorable. I can't wait for Invaded (the second book in the Alienated series) to come out in February
And ah! Eager to see some more Jaxen
This little novella was short and sweet. I really love Aelyx and Caahhhhhh-raaaaa (hehe), his whole effort at recreating Christmas was so adorable. I can't wait for Invaded (the second book in the Alienated series) to come out in February
And ah! Eager to see some more Jaxen
September 3, 2016
In this very short story, Aelyx proves to Cara just how much she means to him. Despite being from a different planet and not knowing anything about our customs here on earth, Aelyx puts together a mini Christmas celebration for Cara--and making a mess of it all. In an adorable way, of course.
While for some reason I wasn't able to connect with the characters in this one (since it's just under a hundred pages), I really liked the cuteness and sweetness of this one. You could clearly see Aelyx's efforts and how much Cara was touched by everything he did for her.
While for some reason I wasn't able to connect with the characters in this one (since it's just under a hundred pages), I really liked the cuteness and sweetness of this one. You could clearly see Aelyx's efforts and how much Cara was touched by everything he did for her.
January 6, 2015
Very cute story! Since the 2nd book lacks romance with them separated it was nice to get this extra story. Loved how Aelyx tried to give her Christmas.
January 30, 2015
Oh, I missed that series! Sweet and funny, now I can't wait to read the sequel!
January 13, 2015
So short man, SO short.
I am officially ready for the sequel!
I am officially ready for the sequel!
October 10, 2015
3.5
I read this a little while ago as a free ebook but I am just now writing a brief review of my overall thoughts on it. I gave this novella a 3.5 star rating out of 5 stars and I believe I gave Alienated (book one in the this series) a 3 star rating. I enjoyed alienated but I didn't find it to be spectacular or extraordinary and I realized I had quite a few problems with the book.
This novella was similar in the fact that the story was simple and a bit predictable but still very enjoyable. While the writing style in Alienated didn't impress me and sometimes annoyed me a bit, I feel that the author's writing was a lot better in this novella than it was in the first book.
One of my biggest problems with Alienated was that I felt the relationship between the two main characters happened very fast and was on the verge of insta-love. And something I really liked about Until Midnight, was that I felt the relationship between Cara and Aelyx really developed and blossomed. In fact my favorite part about this novella was how their relationship developed.
All in all I liked Alienated, I also enjoyed Until Midnight, but I do not think I will be continuing in this series anymore- or at least I don't plan on anytime soon. I am however interested in any other books Melissa Landers writes.
I would also recommend that you check out the synopsis and reviews for Alienated (book one in the alienated series), if you are interested in reading this book/series. This may not be my favorite series but I know that this is right up a lot of different readers' alleys so I would still suggest to look into it more if you would like.
Happy reading!
I read this a little while ago as a free ebook but I am just now writing a brief review of my overall thoughts on it. I gave this novella a 3.5 star rating out of 5 stars and I believe I gave Alienated (book one in the this series) a 3 star rating. I enjoyed alienated but I didn't find it to be spectacular or extraordinary and I realized I had quite a few problems with the book.
This novella was similar in the fact that the story was simple and a bit predictable but still very enjoyable. While the writing style in Alienated didn't impress me and sometimes annoyed me a bit, I feel that the author's writing was a lot better in this novella than it was in the first book.
One of my biggest problems with Alienated was that I felt the relationship between the two main characters happened very fast and was on the verge of insta-love. And something I really liked about Until Midnight, was that I felt the relationship between Cara and Aelyx really developed and blossomed. In fact my favorite part about this novella was how their relationship developed.
All in all I liked Alienated, I also enjoyed Until Midnight, but I do not think I will be continuing in this series anymore- or at least I don't plan on anytime soon. I am however interested in any other books Melissa Landers writes.
I would also recommend that you check out the synopsis and reviews for Alienated (book one in the alienated series), if you are interested in reading this book/series. This may not be my favorite series but I know that this is right up a lot of different readers' alleys so I would still suggest to look into it more if you would like.
Happy reading!
January 3, 2015
Merry Christmas to us! A free Alienated short to hold us fans over until Invaded.
This is a super sweet short story that takes place between Alienated and Invaded. Aelyx is trying to plan a surprise Christmas celebration for the homesick Cara, but with the limited supplies on board it proves difficult. As with most short stories, it’s not long enough for me, but it reminded me just how much I love Cara and her humor. And who wouldn’t love Aelyx? It’s definitely a nice tease of the things to come in book two! Is it February yet??
January 2, 2015
I actually think I might have liked this more than the first book. It was such a sweet show of how much Cara and Aleyx mean to each other and how much they are going to struggle being apart in book two. Makes me excited to read it and a little sad that they are going to be so far apart from on another.
June 9, 2018
A very cute Christmassy novella!
May 23, 2020
Loved this short. Actually, it was too short.
I really missed Cara and Aelyx. I'm worried about them parting, though. I hope that things work out so that we get more of them together in Invaded rather than not.
Overall I really loved how Landers gave us a quick view of Aelyx and Cara's relationship through the last hours they spend together before he is transported back to Earth.
I can't wait for Invaded!
I really missed Cara and Aelyx. I'm worried about them parting, though. I hope that things work out so that we get more of them together in Invaded rather than not.
Overall I really loved how Landers gave us a quick view of Aelyx and Cara's relationship through the last hours they spend together before he is transported back to Earth.
I can't wait for Invaded!
December 28, 2014
One of my Christmas presents this year! It was a really adorable/cute short story! It had funny parts (who knew Aelyx would think Satan is Santa?) and it definitely got me more excited for the sequel. I can't wait to read Invaded next year!
December 18, 2015
“I know something must be very wrong, or just possibly very right?”
Shortest novella ever, it says that it's 112 pages long...most of that is taken up with previews of Alienated and Invaded.
Oh well, I'm starting Invaded on Audio next.
Shortest novella ever, it says that it's 112 pages long...most of that is taken up with previews of Alienated and Invaded.
Oh well, I'm starting Invaded on Audio next.
January 23, 2015
Advertised as a cute romantic novella. Wasn't.
January 23, 2015
More reviews on my blog, Exploring Pages.
Warning: slight spoilers for Alienated.
In the anticipation of Invaded, the sequel to Melissa Landers's Alienated, I quickly decided to pick up this short and lovely novella. Until Midnight takes place between the two novels during the Christmas holidays. I had come to a point where the need of reading something Christmas-related was too high, and was therefore the main reason as to why I read it. I just felt like reading something which would bring along a warm and cosy feeling, and I wasn't let down.
Until Midnight was exactly the kind of story I pictured it to be, and the one I needed. It contained the adorable scenes, filled with the romance between Cara and Aelyx I loved in Alienated, and thus something I always appreciate. Aelyx's lovely gesture made me grin and swoon for a boyfriend like him. Even though he failed miserably at first sight, I do believe this is the case when instead of saying "You tried", along with a pat on the back, this guy deserves something much more than that. His attempts at making Cara happy made me happy and laugh through the whole book.
This is the kind of novella everyone must crave for during the winter, but Landers also never fails to keep us with our feet on the ground. There was a constant tension between the human race and the L'eihrs in Alienated, however now more than ever. In my opinion, it was nicely placed between all the cuteness and the romance. It does set the tone for Invaded, where the stakes will be higher than ever and not a single fault will be left unseen, but for now it felt not that necessary. For now I'm just going to leave it here. If you're up for a bunch of romance, this is the type of book you'll need to read in this chilly winter.
Faith.
That was her Christmas gift to him--to both of them, really.
-- Melissa Landers, Until Midnight
Warning: slight spoilers for Alienated.
In the anticipation of Invaded, the sequel to Melissa Landers's Alienated, I quickly decided to pick up this short and lovely novella. Until Midnight takes place between the two novels during the Christmas holidays. I had come to a point where the need of reading something Christmas-related was too high, and was therefore the main reason as to why I read it. I just felt like reading something which would bring along a warm and cosy feeling, and I wasn't let down.
Until Midnight was exactly the kind of story I pictured it to be, and the one I needed. It contained the adorable scenes, filled with the romance between Cara and Aelyx I loved in Alienated, and thus something I always appreciate. Aelyx's lovely gesture made me grin and swoon for a boyfriend like him. Even though he failed miserably at first sight, I do believe this is the case when instead of saying "You tried", along with a pat on the back, this guy deserves something much more than that. His attempts at making Cara happy made me happy and laugh through the whole book.
This is the kind of novella everyone must crave for during the winter, but Landers also never fails to keep us with our feet on the ground. There was a constant tension between the human race and the L'eihrs in Alienated, however now more than ever. In my opinion, it was nicely placed between all the cuteness and the romance. It does set the tone for Invaded, where the stakes will be higher than ever and not a single fault will be left unseen, but for now it felt not that necessary. For now I'm just going to leave it here. If you're up for a bunch of romance, this is the type of book you'll need to read in this chilly winter.
April 14, 2015
Christmas is my most favorite, so whenever I heard that there was a Christmas-y novella starring Cara and Aelyx, I was like why, I do believe I will! I just cannot get over how amazing Melissa Landers' writing is. This is the first time we get a really good look at life on L'eihr. It really made me excited to read Invaded, which is mostly set on L'eihr instead of Earth.
I loved how Cara and Aelyx interacted in this book. It was so warm and fuzzy. I was so sad whenever it was over, but luckily I had Invaded on hand to keep reading after I finished this one. Fans of Alienated HAVE to read this! It's the perfect addition to this series. It made me love Cara and Aelyx even more!
I loved how Cara and Aelyx interacted in this book. It was so warm and fuzzy. I was so sad whenever it was over, but luckily I had Invaded on hand to keep reading after I finished this one. Fans of Alienated HAVE to read this! It's the perfect addition to this series. It made me love Cara and Aelyx even more!
February 6, 2015
I actually remember really little of the plot and personalities of Alienated.
Aelyx is still quite funny with his cultural differences and awkward vocab.
He backed away and told her to dream of speculums.
Aelyx had allowed Cara to assume he was an excellent kisser by nature, but in truth, he’d googled it.
Extensively.
It's a little weird reading about a couple who are both all googly eyes on each other and I can't remember their story. They seem a little young and puppy love obsessed.
I do like how Cara came to be at peace with her final hours with Aelyx.
Aelyx is still quite funny with his cultural differences and awkward vocab.
He backed away and told her to dream of speculums.
Aelyx had allowed Cara to assume he was an excellent kisser by nature, but in truth, he’d googled it.
Extensively.
It's a little weird reading about a couple who are both all googly eyes on each other and I can't remember their story. They seem a little young and puppy love obsessed.
I do like how Cara came to be at peace with her final hours with Aelyx.
February 6, 2015
That was cute! So excited for Invaded!
January 3, 2016
3.5
Such a sweet little story which shows how much they love each other! ♡
Such a sweet little story which shows how much they love each other! ♡
January 2, 2015
I absolutely loved Alienated this year, so I've been looking forward to reading more about Cara and Aelyx's adventures. While Invaded is only months away, Melissa Landers has also written a free (!) lovely short story that's now available, which takes place between the two books and during the Christmas season.
At the end of Alienated, Cara made the decision to go forth with her stay on L'eihr, while Aelyx agreed to return to Earth to help the alliance. Now, as Until Midnight begins, the couple have only one day to spend together, before they're separated. So when Cara confesses to missing Christmas, Aelyx - in true Aelyx fashion! - decides to bring Christmas to Cara onboard the ship. However, in his eagerness to bring the holiday to life, he over looks some fundamental questions. The results are both hilarious and romantic, in true Cara/Aelyx fashion…
While Until Midnight is a relatively short novella at one hundred and twelve pages, Landers packs a lovely story that's alternately romantic and thought-provoking in those brief chapters. We quickly catch up with Cara and Aelyx and their ever-evolving relationship, and readers will undoubtedly love seeing how they've become even more of a solidified pair since Alienated.
They're continuing to learn about one another, while also working to learn about (and bridge) traditions on both Earth and L'eihr, even if some of them aren't always familiar to one another. Landers has always been good at showing the slow burn between Cara and Aelyx, and it's not hard to see how their thoughtful relationship choices in Until Midnight, are continuing to help them develop longevity as a couple, and furthered trust in each other.
Outside of Cara and Aelyx, Landers also deftly incorporates subtle hints of what is (likely) to come in Invaded. We learn about the challenges that lie ahead for those who are interested in the alliance, and the stance of those who are opposed. Landers continues to do a good job of showing both sides of the argument, and I can't wait to see how it all plays out.
Last but not least, Landers makes it a point to include some nice development of the relationship between Cara and her brother. It's a nice reminder of what (and who) really constitutes a "home", even when you're light-years away from home, and I'm really looking forward to further development of their relationship.
At the end of Alienated, Cara made the decision to go forth with her stay on L'eihr, while Aelyx agreed to return to Earth to help the alliance. Now, as Until Midnight begins, the couple have only one day to spend together, before they're separated. So when Cara confesses to missing Christmas, Aelyx - in true Aelyx fashion! - decides to bring Christmas to Cara onboard the ship. However, in his eagerness to bring the holiday to life, he over looks some fundamental questions. The results are both hilarious and romantic, in true Cara/Aelyx fashion…
While Until Midnight is a relatively short novella at one hundred and twelve pages, Landers packs a lovely story that's alternately romantic and thought-provoking in those brief chapters. We quickly catch up with Cara and Aelyx and their ever-evolving relationship, and readers will undoubtedly love seeing how they've become even more of a solidified pair since Alienated.
They're continuing to learn about one another, while also working to learn about (and bridge) traditions on both Earth and L'eihr, even if some of them aren't always familiar to one another. Landers has always been good at showing the slow burn between Cara and Aelyx, and it's not hard to see how their thoughtful relationship choices in Until Midnight, are continuing to help them develop longevity as a couple, and furthered trust in each other.
Outside of Cara and Aelyx, Landers also deftly incorporates subtle hints of what is (likely) to come in Invaded. We learn about the challenges that lie ahead for those who are interested in the alliance, and the stance of those who are opposed. Landers continues to do a good job of showing both sides of the argument, and I can't wait to see how it all plays out.
Last but not least, Landers makes it a point to include some nice development of the relationship between Cara and her brother. It's a nice reminder of what (and who) really constitutes a "home", even when you're light-years away from home, and I'm really looking forward to further development of their relationship.
March 7, 2016
Rating: 3.5/5
***Spoilers for book one***
After being told of the exchange program having Cara going to L'eihr and Aelyx going to Earth, the couple are spending their last day on the space ship together before they are separated. Aelyx tries to recreate Christmas on the ship for Cara with some things lost in translation, and they do their best to make the most of the time they have left, but they soon learn it's the little things that matter.
This was a cute little between-books romance that is an extremely quick read that you could easily finish in one sitting. It was quite sweet, and I enjoyed reading about Aelyx attempting to recreate Christmas for Cara while having only limited resources. The information he found and tried to replicate made me laugh a few times!
Overall, there isn't much to say about this (since it's so short) besides that I thought it was cute and sweet. It's nice to read if you're looking for a quick little Cara x Aelyx romance while you're waiting for book three in the series, or just before you go at book two. It's certainly not necessary to read, but you won't regret it. The best news is, if you're interested in reading it, it's free on Kindle, so you have no excuse not to!
***Spoilers for book one***
After being told of the exchange program having Cara going to L'eihr and Aelyx going to Earth, the couple are spending their last day on the space ship together before they are separated. Aelyx tries to recreate Christmas on the ship for Cara with some things lost in translation, and they do their best to make the most of the time they have left, but they soon learn it's the little things that matter.
This was a cute little between-books romance that is an extremely quick read that you could easily finish in one sitting. It was quite sweet, and I enjoyed reading about Aelyx attempting to recreate Christmas for Cara while having only limited resources. The information he found and tried to replicate made me laugh a few times!
Overall, there isn't much to say about this (since it's so short) besides that I thought it was cute and sweet. It's nice to read if you're looking for a quick little Cara x Aelyx romance while you're waiting for book three in the series, or just before you go at book two. It's certainly not necessary to read, but you won't regret it. The best news is, if you're interested in reading it, it's free on Kindle, so you have no excuse not to!
February 17, 2015
Alienated was one of my favorite reads of 2014, so I was super excited to hear that Melissa Landers published a free short story about Aelyx and Cara! I downloaded it the day it came out and read it asap. Trust me when I say it doesn't disappoint. Okay, maybe it does a little just because it ends before you know it, and you're left anxiously waiting for Invaded again. Thankfully, Landers was kind enough to leave an excerpt of Invaded at the end which will hopefully hold me over until February. Wait, February?! That's like two months away! *Flails*
I need more of Aelyx. He's one of the swooniest aliens I've ever read about. Okay, I admit I don't read many alien books, but he's up there with Daemon for me so that should say a lot. I mean, the guy stayed up all night to recreate Christmas for Cara! Talk about cute! Why didn't I get an Aelyx for Christmas? So yeah, everyone should read Alienated because it's amazing and you'll love it. Then you should read Until Midnight because it's free (who turns down free books?!) and you get more of Cara and Aelyx! Then after that, you can fangirl over Aelyx and wish for it to be February already ;).
I need more of Aelyx. He's one of the swooniest aliens I've ever read about. Okay, I admit I don't read many alien books, but he's up there with Daemon for me so that should say a lot. I mean, the guy stayed up all night to recreate Christmas for Cara! Talk about cute! Why didn't I get an Aelyx for Christmas? So yeah, everyone should read Alienated because it's amazing and you'll love it. Then you should read Until Midnight because it's free (who turns down free books?!) and you get more of Cara and Aelyx! Then after that, you can fangirl over Aelyx and wish for it to be February already ;).
February 7, 2016
http://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/u...
I loved Alienated, so I grabbed this short story. Even though it's a Christmas story, I didn't even care. I had to read it. It was fabulous, and hilarious. Aelyx definitely learned you can't just google something and then understand what it is, but it is the thought that counts! I fell for Aelyx and Cara's romance more than I already did. And I cannot wait for the library to inform me that Invaded is ready for me.
I loved Alienated, so I grabbed this short story. Even though it's a Christmas story, I didn't even care. I had to read it. It was fabulous, and hilarious. Aelyx definitely learned you can't just google something and then understand what it is, but it is the thought that counts! I fell for Aelyx and Cara's romance more than I already did. And I cannot wait for the library to inform me that Invaded is ready for me.
December 23, 2014
4,5
I LOVED IT.
OMG, Aleyx is the sweetest.
Can't wait for February, the preview chapters for Invaded
got me hooked already.
I LOVED IT.
OMG, Aleyx is the sweetest.
Can't wait for February, the preview chapters for Invaded
got me hooked already.
January 6, 2015
so cute but it was a bit too short ,i wanted more !!
February 19, 2018
4.5 stars
A really cute and sweet short story. I loved it. It was just so fluffy. I really need to start the series so badly. I cannot wait. I love the two main characters together. PERFECTION
A really cute and sweet short story. I loved it. It was just so fluffy. I really need to start the series so badly. I cannot wait. I love the two main characters together. PERFECTION
November 26, 2015
Finally got around to read it and it reminded me how great the characters in this world are and how badly I want to live on a new foreign planet.
Can't wait for the 3. book in the Alienated trilogy.
Can't wait for the 3. book in the Alienated trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews