Title: Landry
Park
Series: Landry
Park, #1
Author: Bethany
Hagen
Publisher: Dial
Publication Date: February
4, 2014
Genres: YA,
Dystopia, Sci-fi
Reviewed by: Ellen
Fritz
Ellen’s rating: 4/5
SUMMARY
In a fragmented future United States ruled by
the lavish gentry, seventeen-year-old Madeline Landry dreams of going to the
university. Unfortunately, gentry decorum and her domineering father won't
allow that. Madeline must marry, like a good Landry woman, and run the family
estate. But her world is turned upside down when she discovers the devastating
consequences her lifestyle is having on those less fortunate. As Madeline
begins to question everything she has ever learned, she finds herself
increasingly drawn to handsome, beguiling David Dana. Soon, rumors of war and
rebellion start to spread, and Madeline finds herself and David at the center
of it all. Ultimately, she must make a choice between duty - her family and the
estate she loves dearly - and desire.
REVIEW
Refreshingly unique, Landry Park combines the historical and the futuristic into a
beguiling tale of romance, changing values, and rebellion. All Madeline ever
wanted was to go to university rather than getting married and running the
Landry estate. David Dana, bringing with him a realization of the oppression of
the rootless, is about to change Madeline's life as well as her future
ambitions. Enter Jude MacAvery to complicate matters even more and bring about
a carefully crafted love triangle.
The author skillfully places a typical Victorian
romance in a dystopian futuristic setting. Think ball gowns, lady's maids and
debutants in a world that is mainly run by nuclear power; a world which is divided
into classes with the lowest class, the rootless, getting a very raw and
dangerous deal.
The characters in Landry Park are well crafted and
complex enough to make the book really interesting. Madeline, the main
character, has a balanced variety of weaknesses and strengths to make her a truly
realistic female lead. She struggles with her values and ambitions and must
make choices despite her prejudiced gentry upbringing.
David Dana, on the other hand, is a total enigma.
Right up to the end I couldn't really decide whether he was a hero, a rebel, or
simply a weakling. As for handsome, gallant Captain Jude MacAvery completely
astonished me in the end.
Starting with an attack on Cara, one of the gentry’s
girls, Landry Park is full of scenes
of action, violence, tragedy and nail-biting suspense. Towards the end of the
book several mysteries are cleared up while new mysteries are created which,
hopefully, will be cleared up in the sequel. Suitable for readers of all ages,
I highly recommend Landry Park as a
beautiful tale of romance, human values, and a great deal to keep the reader's
adrenalin flowing.
PURCHASE LINKS
ABOUT the AUTHOR
I'm a born and bred
Kansas Citian, meaning I can tolerate jazz for brief amounts of time and I'm
offended by dry rub barbecue. I grew up reading Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen,
and all things King Arthur. When I’m not working at the library or running
around with the kids and the husband, I’m writing or thinking about writing.
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