Inheritance by Malinda Lo (review)

Picking up right where Adaptation (BCCB 9/12) left off, Inheritance finds David and Reese on the front porch, ready to announce to the world that they’ve been genetically modified after a near-fatal car accident to become hybrid with the Imria, a species of aliens who look remarkably like people from Earth and who have secretly been in contact with the United States government since 1947. Reese and David must deal with the repercussions of this perspective-shattering announcement and learn how to control their new abilities to share and read consciousness with other people, all while trying to figure out whom they can actually trust. Meanwhile, Reese, reeling from a betrayal of trust from Amber, her Imrian ex-girlfriend, and reconciling that with her feelings for David, tries to come to terms with the possibility that she may be able to love—and openly date—them both. Lo’s layers of conspiracy that were so effective in Adaptation continue to surface here, and the development and revelations of what’s lurking under the surface of this alien encounter will continue to set readers on edge; Reese’s internal struggles with her newfound fame, her love life, and her parents possible reunion provide additional compelling aspects of the story. The gritty climax and final reveal of who’s really not to be trusted bring this chapter of David’s and Reese’s transformations to a close that answers all of the necessary questions but leaves open a possibility for following their exploits in a new world.