Review: Inheritance (Adaptation series) by Malinda Lo

Title: Inheratence
Author: Malinda Lo
Series: Adaptation
Book #: 2
Pages: 480
Reading Level: YA
Book Rating: 
Goodreads Rating: 3.77
Published: Sept. 24th, 2013

The triangular spaceship hovered motionless in the sky above Reese Holloway’s house, as inscrutable as a black hole. It had seemed like a good idea when they were inside: to tell the truth about what happened to them at Area 51. It didn’t seem like such a good idea now.

Reese and David are not normal teens—not since they were adapted with alien DNA by the Imria, an extraterrestrial race that has been secretly visiting Earth for decades. Now everyone is trying to get to them: the government, the Imria, and a mysterious corporation that would do anything for the upper hand against the aliens.

Beyond the web of conspiracies, Reese can’t reconcile her love for David with her feelings for her ex-girlfriend Amber, an Imrian. But her choice between two worlds will play a critical role in determining the future of humanity, the Imria’s place in it, and the inheritance she and David will bring to the universe.

In this gripping sequel to Adaptation, Malinda Lo brings a thoughtful exploration of adolescence, sexuality, and “the other” to a science fiction thriller that is impossible to put down.

Taschima's POV:

An improvement from Adaptation, Inheritance played with, and made, some very bold choices that not all readers will feel comfortable with, but by pushing the envelope it managed to catch me off guard and carve a permanent spot in my mental library. Not one to miss, most definitely.

This is what should have happened:

Imrians: FUCK YOU U.S., screw your government! Ain't nobody got time for THIS! Let's take over fellas!

Instead they turned out to be peace loving evil geniuses that wanted to give humans psychic abilities and faster healing. Oh no, shoo Imrians, we don't want your kind around these parts. Please don't give me super awesome powers. (take me with you). Kidding aside, I liked the Imrians, this is a different kind of sci fi story, one that may rock your belief system to the core (if you really do believe in aliens and such).

Inheritance picks up right where Adaptation left off. Reese and David are ready to tell the world their story, but it seems they require some hard evidence before the world is ready to believe them. Meanwhile the Imrians are parked right on top of Reese's house, and it doesn't seem like they are planning to go anywhere any time soon. Confused regarding their new abilities Reese and David decide to seek Imrian help in order to learn how to control their "psychic" powers. On one hand the Imrians are welcoming them with open arms, on the other hand secret operatives of the U.S. government are asking for their help in obtaining information on the alien species. Who are David and Reese to trust? Who should they back? And who should Reese choose to be with? Amber or David? Then again, does she have to choose?

Inheritance was a lot of fun. I enjoyed reading about the Imrians and their secret plans for humanity and the secret operations of the U.S. government. The Imrians may not be the saviors they proclaim to be, but I would still let them adapt me in a second. Reese in this book was a hot mess when it came to her relationships, but when it came to managing difficult situations that didn't involve romantic emotions she was spot on and ready to kick both mental and physical butt. David and Amber... Well, I love them both, specially after reading Natural Selection (an Amber novella), and they are both good for Reese. At the end the decision she makes will surprise a lot of people, but it will be a good surprise as in it is an actual surprise. I didn't see it coming, and I doubt many others will. Malinda Lo seems to like keeping us on our toes.

I was actually a little sad that this seems to be the end of the series. I would have enjoyed learning more about the Imrian and their world. How their relationship with the citizens of Earth is going to go, and how everybody adopts to each other. But the ending was befitting of this bizarre, yet interesting, story. I will be okay maybe reading a novella to follow up, but it is not necessary. It is as much of a happily ever after as we are going to get, and these days I really needed some characters to just win.