Landry Park

Landry Park #1

by Bethany Hagen

Alternate cover edition for this ASIN located here.

Downton Abbey meets The Selection in this dystopian tale of love and betrayal

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.

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Retellings

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 4, 2014

About the author

Bethany Hagen was born and raised in Kansas City. She grew up reading Charlotte Brontë, Jane Austen, and all things King Arthur, and went on to become a librarian. Landry Park is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Rose]

I keep reading the title as Laundry Park.

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 2 out of 5]

“How long do you think you can live like this? How long can you dance and twirl in pretty dresses knowing that people are starving and dying?”
“I guess I try not to think about it,” I said in a small voice.

This book was not terrible, but the main character is frilly, the plot itself is fluffy, and the overall attitude of the book feels contrived and insincere.

It's like...Ivanka Trump. Daughter of millionaire/billionaire (depending on how the market is performing) Donald Trump. A nice enough woman, for sure, but it doesn't feel completely sincere when she talks about caring about the underprivileged, poor classes who can barely put food on their plate. This book is inoffensive, but the underlying plot of a wealthy debutante caring about the destitute lower class feels extremely artificial and completely secondary to the emotional flutterings of Madeleine's heart.

The romance...I don't even know how to describe it. It's not a love triangle so much as it is a love...um. Square? Dodecahedron?

I don't know if there is a geometric shape adequate for describing the mess of a romance within this book. Let's just say B likes A, E likes A, F likes A, but B is dating C. C is dating B, but might be involved with X. I can probably draw a shape out of that entire mess of a relationship, but it's close to midnight, and I can't be fucked to think mathematically.

Fucking achy breaky heart, man.

The Summary: In a nutshell, it is the story of a poor-little-rich-girl in the dystopian United States, circa 2300 A.D., who just wants to have her cake and eat it, too.

Madeline Landry is the 1%.

She is the heir to her family, one of the gentry, one of the wealthiest in what's left of the United States after the war. Others lead a life of abject poverty, Madeleine spends her days reading, learning, attending balls, tea parties, and preparing for her debut in society, after which she will find a rich husband and take over the Landry family business. It will be a life of gentle luxury.

She doesn't want it. Madeleine wants to go to university, a pathway that's not open to her because she is the sole heir to her family. Her is a life of duty and privilege, as her father points out to her.

“Do you not see that you will be the mistress of this house and of your marriage? That whoever you marry will be eternally grateful to you for your condescension in letting him live in your house? You will join the ranks of the Uprisen, Madeline, and your children will bear the Landry look, not that of your husband’s. I am not condemning you to a life of vassalage, but a life of leadership."

Madeleine doesn't see it that way, but she doesn't have much of a choice.

At a ball, Madeleine's friend Cara is attacked in a garden, she accuses a Rootless man, the lowest caste in society, of attacking her. The Rootless have always been persecuted in the new United States, and this has increased further scrunity upon them.

At the same ball, Madeleine meets David Dana. A wealthy young heir from a prestigious family, he is seen as a prized catch for Madeleine. David and Madeleine instantly connect. Despite her best intentions, Madeleine finds herself falling for him.

Whatever wall I had been holding against him fell away, but I steeled myself against that smile, against that warm hand, against the flight of fancy on the velvet grass. I refused to be the kind of star-crossed girl who falls in love with the eager knight.
But then I found myself smiling back.

David, however, is not quite so pure with his intentions towards her.

One day, Madeleine finds herself stalking following David as he slinks off somewhere in disguise. It turns out that David is not the privileged, uncaring boy he originally seemed.

The Rootless are tired of being powerless, they want a rebellion. Amidst her balls and tea parties, Madeleine finds herself involved with their cause.



The Plot: Completely underwhelming. The main story got lost between all the society gossip

“I have heard they are combining his going-away ball with Cara’s debut.” The bitterness in her voice was unmistakable.
“Maybe he’s just taken pity on her because her prospects are slimmer since her attack,” Father suggested.
“Oh, I do not think her prospects are dimmed at all,” my great-aunt Lacey said in a chirping voice as she used silver tongs to load more toast on her plate.

Not to mention all the afternoon teas. The dinner parties. The balls. All the extravagances of the upper crust.

The dessert table was crowned with a giant spun sugar swan, sitting serenely in a lake of taro ice cream, kept cold and solid by a hidden nuclear-powered freezer underneath the tablecloth. Waiters circled the room with aperitifs and hors d’oeuvres. A few hours from now, their trays would be loaded with cigars, cigarettes, and sake.

Madeleine's involvement in this "resistance," seems forced, and the resistance plot seems completely secondary to the twists within Madeleine's heart.

The Setting: Piss poor. Incredibly indredulous.

1. The War With China - WHAT? This book feeds on our currentfear that Big Bad China is going to invade us, and it did so in a manner that's just vague as all fuck. China attacked the US. The end. That's pretty much it. There are no details. War with China, war among ourselves, some vague-ass shit about shortage of resources and some recycled old tripe about OH FLOODING IN THE COASTAL REGIONS and OH SHIT CLIMATE CHANGE THE ICE AGE IS ALMOST HERE OH MOTHER OF GOD JESUS CHRIST IN HEAVEN SAVE US ALL.

That's it. Nothing resembling verisimilitude.

2. DEBUTANTES AND DRESSES, OH MY! I can't really say I understand this dystopian world. It is around the year 2300, 200 years ago, there was a big war in which China and its allies attacked the United States. Supposedly, the boundaries between the rich and the poor were erased

The rich and the poor temporarily forgot their fight with each other and united to defend themselves.

...Leaving...an even bigger delineation between classes? WHAT?

The boundaries of race and gender and religion fell away as class became the most important delineator in society.

I can't say I completely understand how the fuck this works, mainly because it's the United States. One of the American ideal is the rejection of a rigid class structure, that of nobility, that of lords and ladies and kinds, that's one of the reason why we rejected England's class structure. SO WHY THE FUCK DID WE GO BACK TO IT?!

It's the fucking future, we have a shortage in resource, and all of a sudden, we have the Gentry. A group of more or less, ultra-rich nobility who have the time and resources to devote to having debutante balls for their sons and daughters. They do absolutely nothing to maintain that wealth, none of the people in the book have actual jobs. They rely solely on the labor of the lower classes, specifically The Rootless.

3. Nuclear WHAT?: This world of the future rely on nuclear technology. I can't understand it, and it is fucking dumb. Madeleine's family got rich through the invention of a box of nuclear technology that requires extensive maintenance. Electricity and solar power is hardly used.

Strange to think that two or three hundred years ago, people still burned coal and gas for electricity, and that it took something as cataclysmic as the Eastern invasion and the ensuing treaty barring carbon emissions and oil trading to spark the new technology.

The hallmark of the upper class is the use of nuclear technology. I don't fucking get it.

Power generation quickly became the delineator of class. Wind power, with its industrial nature, took root among the poor, with homemade turbines decorating every tiny house, factory, and small farm. The middle class favored solar power because it was easy to maintain, reliable, and more discreet than the noisy turbines. The nuclear charge—portable and immensely powerful—became the favorite of the rich, but the raw materials needed to produce it was rare, and by ten or fifteen years after the Last War, the gentry alone could afford to purchase the charges.

Forgive me if I'm nitpicky, but what the FUCK is wrong with electricty? It is more or less clean, a hell of a lot cleaner than nuclear energy. It can be generated through STEAM, it can be generated through water turbines. SO WHY THE FUCK DO WE NEED FUCKING NUCLEAR ENERGY.

4. A CASTE SYSTEM!: Especially when said nuclear technology comes at the cost of an entire group of people. The Rootless. You know how in India they have a caste called the Untouchables, for people who are so low in society, society ignores them, shuns then and pretend they don't exist, they're lower than dirty? That is the Rootless.

They are responsible for taking care of these nuclear boxes. They suffer for it. They have no power, they suffer tremendous amount of injustice. They lack food, they lack water. They are the lowest of the low in terms of castes. And they are responsible for the most powerful technology upon which the rich are dependent.

As the caste in charge of handling the nuclear material that powered our lives, they were both vital to the gentry way of life and an ever-present liability.

As the caste in charge of handling the nuclear material that powered our lives, they were both vital to the gentry way of life and an ever-present liability.

The point in the book is that the Rootless are trying to rebel. I know how they can successfully rebel. They maintain all the nuclear boxes. By simply striking and refusing to work on these nuclear boxes, they will be immediately successful because nobody else will do the fucking job.

The end.

Jesus fucking Christ. The entire book is devoted to this when the rebellion could have been THAT simple.

The Romance: My fucking head. So Madeleine likes David.

Our eyes met across the room, and I shivered, because suddenly not caring about David Dana seemed unimportant---impossible. I wanted to go talk to him. I wanted to touch him. I wanted to dance with him in the cloud of smoke and music.

Only David has feelings for Cara.

My stomach churned every time he pulled her closer, his hand so low on her waist that his fingertips brushed her bustle. Once, a slender lock of hair fell into her face and he reached to tuck it behind her ear.

David flaunts his relationship with Cara in front of Madeleine's face.

David reached up to touch Cara’s face, his hand moving her hair back. His fingers brushed her cheek in a gesture so tender and comforting that everything in me boiled in a furious black vacuum.
He pulled her into his lap, one armed snaked firmly around her waist, and deepened the kiss, closing his eyes completely.

Only Madeleine can't stop caring about him. She talks big, really big. It's like she almost means it.

“You’ve treated me like I don’t matter, like I’m perfectly willing to have my feelings trampled on a ballroom floor while you pursue whomever you please. Let me tell you one thing, David Dana, it won’t happen again. I won’t watch you kiss Cara and then saunter back to me with more flirting and more lies. I’m done hoping for something you are clearly too selfish to give.”

Only she doesn't.

I want him to go.
I want him to stay.
I don’t care about him.
I can’t stop thinking about him.

Meanwhile, there's a handsome stranger. A jovial young man with hair like fire. One who thinks Madeleine deserves more than the life of a pampered princess.

The man turned and looked at me. “In my part of town, women are equals. We don’t put them on pedestals, and we don’t make them do our laundry or wash our dishes. We think of them as partners. Not princesses.”

And still another, a handsome young officer with eyes only for Madeleine.

I could feel him looking at me. Was he thinking about marriage? With me? I examined my cards to avoid looking at him. That was impossible. We had only just met.

Whomever will Madeleine fucking choose? The asshat who spurns her? The wonderful young man who adores her?

You know who she picks.

[Emily May · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise! I didn't realise I'd added Landry Park to my mental list entitled "just another dystopia" until it managed to completely prove me wrong. My first thought after finishing this book is that it's probably more suited to fans of historical fiction than the typical dystopia. The style of writing, the plot, the characters and the setting all feel like something straight out of an historical novel. If you ask me, it worked very well.

The story starts as I might have expected. There's a female protagonist, it's set in a future United States (no longer so united), something has happened to change the social order, there's a hot guy, there's a bitchy girl... you know how this one goes, right? Because you've seen all this a million times, yes? Well, apparently not. As the story unravels, more questions arise and characters receive greater development. The world-building is spread over the novel but is refreshingly intricate and fascinating. The story is full of surprises, both in the main plot line and in the cast of characters. And sometimes who can resist a bit of the backstabbing, rivalry and family scandals found beneath the riches and pretty ballgowns of the upper classes?

This "dystopia" (or perhaps "utopia", depending on your point of view) is all about class. It's about wealth, knowledge, power and the relationship between the three. The setting is the beautiful Landry estate in a future United States which is ruled by the gentry. The main character - Madeline Landry - has lived in luxury her whole life and has long known her destiny to be the next ruler of the Landry estate. But Madeline has always been a bit feisty and rebellious. She isn't sure she's ready to walk down the path her family has laid out for her. As she begins to discover the truth behind the society in which she lives, she finds herself obligated to challenge the poor treatment of the Rootless (the lowest class in society). But her good intentions prove to be more dangerous than she could have imagined and she starts to unearth secrets that have been hidden for generations.

What I really liked most of all was the way each character was handled. Hagen introduces us to individuals who we think we know at first, we think we can slot them into neat categories of heroine, love interest and mean girl. But each one is more than that. I love it when YA authors don't neglect complex character development and remember that people are multilayered. Each character surprised me in Landry Park and I especially loved the friendship that grew between Madeline and Cara when it had first seemed as if they were typical teen girl rivals.

Beautifully written, occasionally dark and surprisingly addictive... I hate the term "an author to watch" but I know I'll be keeping an eye out for more books by Ms Hagen.

[Wendy Darling]

DNF Somewhere there was an early blurb that made this sound like Jane Eyre crossed with Scarlett O'Hara in the 23rd century, but 100 pages in, I don't really see it.
The Neo-Victorian thing isn't portrayed in an especially interesting manner either.

My enjoyment of this book is also severely hampered by the fact that this story has remarkably similar plot points and themes to the upcoming THE WINNER'S CURSE, which is the better book by far in terms of story, writing, complexity, world-building, and emotion. Oh, well.

An advance copy was provided by the publisher for this review.

P.S. I'm seeing some very thoughtful 1 and 2 star reviews that get into some other issues raised later in the book, which makes me glad I stopped when I did.

[booknuts_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review found at: www.awesomebooknuts.blogspot.com

Downton Abbey meets The Selection? that's a bit of a stretch since there is no prince a bunch of girls are trying to get. There is a dysopian Downton Abbey feel since they have brought back all the pomp and circumstance that the time of the 18th, 19th, 20th centuries had with balls, debutantes, money, a place of higher society, manners, dancing, which is always fun and I LOVE the idea of bringing most of all that back.

I like Avery most of the time, however lets be real Avery is a very realistic person, she struggles, she feels and eventually has to make some hard decisions that as us we probably would have just as  much of a hard time making.

Enter David Dana the most eligible bachelor and he knows it. David loves his place in society, loves the pomp loves the nice clothes, flirting, the wine and dancing. But David holds a secret that could be deadly. I liked David a lot, I loved his character and he made me chuckle a few times.
However with the upper class of society there is also the poor and squaller. These people are getting restless and do all the dirty work for the rich. As Avery becomes more aware of her surroundings and the unrest she starts paying more attention to the poor and what their lives cost.

Overall I think this was a great story, I had a lot of fun reading it, it was however typical and there were no real surprised, plus I felt it dragged on a bit towards the end.

Sexual Content: moderate (some kissing, talk of rape-mild)
Language: mild
Violence: moderate
Drugs/Alcohol: mild (social drinking)

[☆ ĄňŊǡƂėƮĦ ☆ ŞŧŎŋė · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

I read this book expecting it to be better. The first half of the book was definitely more boring boring than the latter half. I'm glad that I persevered through it and finished it.

Plot

This book is set in the futuristic and chaotic United States where there are two classes of people, the gentry and the Rootless. Madeline Laundry, the main character, is 17 years old and hopeful that she will go to the university unlike what her family expects from her. They expect her to get married, produce heirs, and run the Landry Estate. These arguments seem small to the outside world when Madeline sees how the Rootless live as a result of her and others like her's lifestyle. She is greatly disturbed by this and she starts to doubt how she is living and how she has lived. In the meantime, her relationship with David Dana increase and she can't help but be drawn to him. As time goes on, she has to choose between her family and her beautiful home or helping the poor around her.

What I liked

Hagen is a pretty good writer. I was interested in the book right away before it started to get a little more boring. I believed in her writing so I kept reading it. The last half of the book had more action and I definitely liked the addition of another character which leads me to the...

The love triangle. Though it was brief, it did add more action and dare I say drama to the book.

There were many varied characters. I understood the higher up society, which includes Madeline, and their beliefs. I also liked the contrasts between the Rootless society and hers. It showed Hagen's skill in writing and imagination as well as some of Madeline's and her friends personalities.

There were many plots going on and twists. This added some suspense, drama, and some romance which is good. It, I hope, also led into the second book which I think might be better.

What I didn't like or could have been better

The characters. I know that I said some were good but most of them seemed pretty basic. Madeline didn't have any background it seemed and she just went on momentary decisions. She didn't exactly seem that deep and I think she could have been more developed.

There was a lack of action. I know that there is a rebellion going on but she seemed to be on the outskirts the whole time and it was barely talked about. I would have liked to see more action or description about it.

There seemed to be some contradictions. I remember saying to myself when I was reading this book that Madeline thought that David was good looking and then she would pick out his faults and say he wasn't that attractive. Later in the book, she'd say he was handsome. I'm not sure if that was on purpose and that it was to show Madeline's mixed feelings for him or not.

Overall

This book was okay and I'm not really sure how to describe it. There were parts that I liked more than others but that's like most books. I will read the second book since the ending of this one hinted at some more action at the beginning and not at the latter part.

[Gennifer Albin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah, this book rocks

[Steph Sinclair · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this one when I first heard of it, but it was mostly very boring. The narrator was terrible or monotone, though, she did read very fast, but the story itself wasn’t all that interesting. Madeline spends most of her time thinking about university or how much she loves her house or how much she’s trying to pretend she doesn’t like David Dana. I was intrigued at first, but it got old very fast. The world building was also very confusing and felt quickly assembled just so the author could get back to telling us about how bad Madeline felt for the dying, poor people while she remained more concerned about losing her house. The vanity and materialism of some of the characters was a real turnoff. I know that was the point, but it was annoying to read. The ending was lackluster and I couldn’t seem to manage to care about the characters by then. I’m proud that I even found it in me to finish.

[Louisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

My reaction to almost everything about Landry Park as depicted by the Dowager Countess/Dame fucking Maggie Smith from Downton Abbey (which this book is sadly aligned with):

[Rachel (APCB Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The East has taken over the US west of the Rockies, and the rest of America needed quick order after their loss in the war. Nuclear power becomes the source of energy, and class divides ensue. The gentry control all the resources and rule through connections and influence. The Rootless, the lowest class, are oppressed and given the worst jobs which subject them to radiation poisoning. As talks of a revolution brew as well as attacks from the East, Madeline Landry must decide where her loyalties lie, with her family and duty or with her heart.

This book gives off some serious Pride & Prejudice and Downton Abbey vibes. Order, prosperity, and elegance is the slogan of the gentry, and I loved all the scenes at the social events along with the costumes and the decorum. This book has so many twists and intricate parts to it that made it so enjoyable. I loved the writing, but I felt the plot slowed down a bit near the middle.

All the characters are strong and weak in their own ways. I love how none of them are inherently good. They all have good and bad in them, and they must decide which parts of themselves they side with. The warring within themselves perfectly matches the one on the outside among society. I loved the complexity of all the characters. They all had hidden agendas and secret desires. The romance is just as heart-wrenching as that of Elizabeth Bennet's, and I really liked how it progressed. It was the searing looks and the thoughtful notions that sent this one ablaze.

Overall I really enjoyed this one! It's a bit slow in places, so I warn you.... There's not much on the action front, but if you're in the mood for a story with the likes of Pride & Prejudice, I urge you to check this one out.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent enough ideas, but there's not much to sink your teeth into here. Everything is kind of middle-of-the-road. Madeline and the supporting characters pass that test of "describe them without describing their appearance", but we never really get attached to them on a deeper level. Nothing Hagen writes is particularly compelling.

Angel says it better in her review (direct link), so I'm not going to rehash her words. I do want to add that with regard to race, I'm bothered that while we're told that the beauty norm is mixed-race, with dark-skin and hair, of COURSE Madeline is still uniquely pale, with red hair no less. I realize I can't foist all the blame onto this one book, but this cliche has been happening for a while in YA and there's no excuse for a writer not knowing better by now. It's not progressive, it's tired and offensive.

And another quibble about Hagen's poor worldbuilding: why are they fighting a land war with Asia? It's the 23rd century (or whatever), and yet we're expected to believe this war is being fought in trenches in Colorado and not by advanced unmanned drones dropping bombs on Kansas City and cleaning up later?

Not to mention...why Victorians? Why the heck would rich people in the Midwest of the United States in the the 21st century decide to emulate 1800s England?? Sure, neo-Victorians are a great concept, but it feels like Hagen never sat down and worked out any of the underpinning logic. Good ideas alone do not a good book make.

[Kinsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gone with the Wind, Downton Abbey, Jane Austen, it's all in this book! Madeline Landry is a character you can immediately relate to and feel what she is feeling through the entire book. I wanted to attend the debutante balls, walk the landscaped gardens and fall in love with David Dana. Her life of luxury does not completely satisfy Madeline and her curious nature leads to uncovering secrets that have been hidden for years. The nuclear power, Cherenkov Lanterns, tablets and wall screens keep reminding you that this is the future. Being set in Kansas City, my mind kept wandering and imagining the places Bethany is describing, trying to see the city where I live so far from 2013. Landy Park #2 please!

[Bookaholic (reads every mortal thing) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dont know why, but I felt this world from Madeline's POV wasn't...bad enough.
Madeline is a gentry lady. She is respected and is in a high position in society. She has a beautiful estate and food to eat. She has free will and is self-independant. But, lets come back to the point that she is a gentry lady.

Why am I highlighting this point? In a world where the Rootless are beaten and killed, just for stealing a small loaf of bread, Madeline lives in total comfort and luxury. Although yes, Madeline was fighting for the Rootless and often sneaked in food and water for them, she did not have to face the everyday struggle the Rootless face. She was not the one who was working midst the radioactive substances. So basically what I'm trying to say here is; I did not understand how bad this world can get. Because as far as I understood, its quite terrifying. For the Rootless. I would have better understood the situation if this book was in dual POV; Madeline and some Rootless girl. So we can see the life of a gentry lady and a Rootless one.

The romance fell flat for me. I still dont understand why Madeline fell for David. David Dana is one of the most boring male characters and his over-all character presence fell flat. I cant remember any one memorable thing about David except that his mom and Madeline's dad were getting it on. Thats it.

When Madeline first saw Jude's picture, she mused about how familiar Jude looked. When he first touches her, she wonders about how familiar and welcoming his touch is. I expected some huge discovery that Jude might someones long lost cousin or Madeline secret crush from school or something but you know what I got: Nothing. We dont know how Jude is familiar with Madeline or why and apparently it ain't all that important. Look authors: If you are going to mention someone or something, please, PLEASE justify and don't leave it hanging.

David and Madeline made me irritated a lot. David with his stupid hang-ups and Madeline with hers.
Every one of their conversation always ended with a fight. Madeline would get jealous of David and Cara and David would keep reminding her that she is a Landry and Landrys are untrustworthy.

The saving grace is probably the whole post Victorian setting, the caste divisions, Cara and Jude. Cara seemed like a very complex character, not confusing like David. She is caring and kind. I dont understand why Madeline chose David instead of Jude. Jude is understanding, caring and doesn't have any of David's weird hang-ups.

The setting reminded me of Pride and Prejudice . Mothers who try to find rich and suitable husbands for their daughters and large estates.

But despite everything, Landry Park is definitely enjoyable and keeps you hooked throughout.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why did I subject myself to this torture?

WHY?!?

One star for the effort.

[Dana Al-Basha | دانة الباشا]

In a futuristic, fractured United States where the oppressed Rootless handle the raw nuclear material that powers the Gentry's lavish lifestyle, seventeen year old Madeline Landry must choose between taking over her father's vast estate or rebelling against everything she has ever known, in the name of justice.

[Danielle. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

"Downton Abbey meets The Selection in this dystopian tale of love and betrayal."

What a misleading caption. I really hate the fact they're making this out to be like any other dystopian novels -- full of love. Landry Park was so much more than that. Many dystopian novels are not done well, and I'm very cautious to pick these up; however, in here we receive an ubiquitous amount of history about the Landry's and their importance to the new United States. I could not put this down. Apart from the history there are balls, gorgeous descriptions of dresses, romance (not predominately so, mind you), rebellions, amazing world building, and a very dark secret.

This book became a little intense and I clawed through the pages until the late hours of the morning reading this. For a time, Madeline Landry -- the protagonist -- was a nuisance. I really wanted to put this book down because of her; then again, what's a novel without stirring up some kind of frustration from the readers? Madeline wasn't always a pain, she can be quirky and strong-willed. For the most part I liked her; the characters in here are very believable.

I have so much more to say, but I know I'm going to spoil it and I don't want to. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment. I recommend this.

I'm a little nervous about the ending of Landry Park. I wonder what's going to happen with the explanation of Madeline's father's DNA repairing impossibly fast after the radiation injury. I hope it isn't going to be paranormal. :/

[Tara Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

November 2016
The second time through was so much better!!!!I enjoyed it so much! I read before bed and did not want to put the book down, I stayed up until 3:30 am! The characters and plot were so much better.
July 2015
3.5, sometimes boring, but a good plot and characters.

[Lindsay Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg...another amazing SCIFI. I WANT TO READ THIS NOWSSSSS

[Sara Raasch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even form words for how original and enticing this book sounds. MUST. HAVE. IMMEDIATELY.

[Christina (Ensconced in Lit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from Penguin Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I award this book four stars.

Landry Park by Bethany Hagen is touted as a combination of Downton Abbey and The Selection, which is pretty accurate. We meet Madeline in the first few pages of the book, and she is part of the gentry in the dystopian United States who rule over the Rootless, who live a horrible existence and have a short life span due to working with radiation all the time. She's different from the others in her class, she's bookish and wants to go to University, instead of staying behind, marrying, and providing the estate with an heir. Her parents want her to marry David Dana, and she surprisingly is drawn to him. One day, when she sees something she shouldn't, and her life and perspective change forever.

There are many positives about this book. I love the lush description, and Hagen's turn of phrase is beautiful. I really enjoyed many of the characters-- when I started to get disappointed they were two dimensional, Hagen reveals little aspects about them, which I loved and helped me understand them better. The plot starts out very Jane Austenesque, but then right around the halfway point, turns on its head and becomes a fast paced dystopian. You can probably guess which half I enjoyed the most.

That said, I had several problems with this novel. One, what's with the prologue? It's dry and pedantic, and doesn't sound like Bethany's prose at all; I wonder if she was required to write this. She does a great job describing the world without it, so I think the book would have been better off without it. Second, just a personal preference. A lot of the tension is from people not communicating with each other. I get why it furthered the plot, and in some sense had to play out that way, but it's not my favorite way to create conflict. Also, I wasn't into the love interest (another personal preference). Even though his reasons for acting like such a douche become clear, I couldn't forgive him. And lastly, I'm not sure I believe the world building that we get at the end. The next book will be key in seeing if this plot twist works out.

Overall, an intriguing debut with lots of great characters, interesting plot twists, and beautifully written prose. Hagen is undoubtedly a talented writer, and I'll be definitely picking up the next book in the series to see what she has up her sleeve next.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Re-read 7.6.14
Read 9.28.13
This sci-fi dystopian approaches some creative and fascinating ideas, that did not come completely together. When limits are set on carbon emissions because of global warming coupled with another WW, Jacob Landry invents the Cherenkov lantern, a "safe" use of the electromagnetic radiation. Generations later this science and its ethical repercussions fuel the class wars, where issues of longevity contrast with decisions of humanity.

As it turns out, this energy is based on a very real concept and creates a rich environment for the characters. By far this is the best part of the book. Since this clean energy generated many unanswered questions, I wish there had been more description about the science to make it more believable or a bibliography would have been nice.

I found it odd that this story occurs in the future yet the fashions and attitudes resemble the late 19th/early 20th century of corsets, debuts, and propriety. Yes, the descriptions heightened the parallels to outdated beliefs, but it never explained why this style was back. I guess I'm asking "why this particular time period for the future?"

There is no love triangle...at least not on Madeline's part...not really. I didn't like any of the characters. Thankfully they aren't portrayed as pure good or evil, but the character motivations weren't believable and although some explanations were offered later, it was often too little too late.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Source: I own a copy of this book.)

This was a different kind of dystopian story, with some interesting science thrown in.

Madeline was an interesting character, and I did feel for her with her insistence that she wanted to go to university rather than to get married. It was an awful situation for her to be in, and her father’s insistence that he would force her to do as she was told and produce an heir was pretty bad.

The storyline in this was quite interesting, with issues about nuclear power and caste systems. I felt sorry for the rootless, but I also felt like the world-building wasn’t very well explained, so I wasn’t sure what the heck these castes were about or why they were formed until the end of the book!

There was some romance, but I wasn’t overly interested. We ended up with a love triangle, and one of the boys just seemed to be a bit of a flirt, and not really invested in having a relationship. It did get to the point where it seemed a bit silly that Madeline didn’t just tell him to make a choice or leave her alone, because he seemed to be with someone else, whilst Madeline still seemed to be holding out for him, which annoyed me a bit.

The ending to this was quite interesting, and there were a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming. Things didn’t end quite how I expected them to, but I was satisfied with the way things ended.
Overall; interesting dystopian story, with some science thrown in,
6.75 out of 10.

[usagi ☆ミ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear readers, it's no secret that I'm a huge "Downton Abbey" fan. So when I heard "Downton". dystopia, and post-American future? I got very excited. I started dreaming up expectations. And I can happily say that these expectations were mostly met with this debut novel. However, I can also say that "The Selection" comparison? Not really relevant here. I think that Penguin was kind of trying to find something to make a pitch to the audience with (X meets Y in this Z tale!, etc). Hagen's tale has me hankering for more, and I was so happy when I found out that there was going to be a sequel. If you're looking for something futuristic yet with a strong period drama flavor, I highly, highly recommend "Landry Park" to wet your whistle.

Read the rest of this review on the blog!

[Laurelin Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the unusual quality of feeling both futuristic and historical. It surprised me and enthralled me from page one. Especially beautiful is Bethany's lyrical writing style. It is a true pleasure to have been an early reviewer of this book.

[Megan Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this whole book in one day... so I obviously liked it haha. It was interesting and fun. I do see how it's relatable to the selection series even tho others dont. Excited to start the next one.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Landry Park by Bethany Hagen
Book One of the Landry Park series
Publisher: Dial
Publication Date: February 4, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC provided for the blog tour

Official 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.

What I Liked:

Oh, what a novel! I read this book in one shot, and I simply loved it. It's a mix of several genres, and I think the blend really works. I don't really know what I was expecting from this novel, but I was blown away with what I got!

Madeline is the sole heir of Landry Park - which means that she has to marry rich, she can't go to the university, and she doesn't get a say in, well, anything. Several eligible bachelors arrive, including one very handsome and charismatic David Dana. But everything seems to unravel after one fateful event - the attack of a gentry lady. The gentry believe that the Rootless are behind the attack - the Rootless being basically the poor class of people who deal with the nuclear radiation to power the lamps that saved the environment (designed by one Jacob Landry, Madeline really great grandfather).

So, it seems like your typical dystopia novel - in which there are the "rulers" (the gentry, who are rich and powerful), and the "enslaved" (the Rootless, who are powerless and poor, but numerous and angry). There is an incident (the attack), and soon Madeline much choose.

The thing about Madeline was that she already had preconceived notions about the Rootless. She felt sorry for them, and wasn't all that suckered to the gentry (even though she is one). The incident with the gentry lady (who happened to be a peer of Madeline's) piqued Madeline's curiosity, because Madeline didn't think it was the Rootless.

Nevertheless, the Rootless were blamed, and sides had to be taken. Madeline learns key things about several people, including the Rootless themselves. I really liked watching Madeline grow as a character. She didn't become a full-out revolutionary, which I thought was authentic. She helped as best she could, while still being gentry. Hagen emphasized that Madeline (and other characters) are still human, still gentry, and still enjoy their rich, opulent lives.

The plot of this book sounds straightforward, but it wasn't. I loved how Hagen kept twisting the story - both stories. The love story wasn't simple, and the revolution story wasn't that simple. Things weren't as predictable as they might seem on the surface.

The romance. It makes me sad, but the romance isn't clear-cut. YES, this is a GOOD thing, but I was rooting for David and Madeline, and things just didn't go their way ALL THE TIME. The romance seems really doomed at first, but read until the end - things start to look up. I just *knew* Hagen couldn't do that to the characters or the readers. Or could she...

Well, no matter, I hope that the series continues to be amazing! And the romance builds beautifully. I have a feeling that David and Madeline could be quite the couple, given the chance! I hope to see more of them in book two. And more of everything good I saw in this book! What a lovely start to a new series.

What I Did Not Like:

There wasn't much I didn't like - maybe just the romance. I could have sworn a love triangle was going to break out (in which I would have been extremely upset), but once I got to the end, I saw that that was not going to happen. Just read the entire book, don't jump to conclusions.

I would have liked to see more interactions between David and Madeline. It seemed like they were always arguing to fighting or not speaking to each other. Maybe start the next book with their relationship taking a softer turn? But I can't complain too much.


Would I Recommend It:

I most certainly would! This is a really fantastic novel with blends of many different genres - futuristic, dystopian (sort of), romance. I love the world that Hagen has created, the characters, the story, and I cannot wait for more! This one doesn't have the most straightforward romance, so don't expect too much, but it has a wonderful story and creative worldbuilding. I recommend it to any YA lover!

Rating:

4 stars. You really do NOT want to miss this debut novel! I will definitely be looking out for the sequel.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Downton Abbey meets The Selection in this dystopian tale of love and betrayal. Um, no. Just no. Let's clear this up real quick. There is next to nothing that these two have in common with Landry Park. Maybe for fans of Downton Abbey and The Selection. However, even that may be stretching it a bit. Moving on.

Landry Park begins as you may expect a typical dystopian to.

America is divided. Famine and uprisings have led to social turmoil. The Eastern Empire has invaded the West Coast and taken over. The future seems bleak. A man, Jacob Landry (in this case), invents a new power source to save the day, and brings everything back together. Things change, but overall, life is good... for some. The gentry who have it all. While the Rootless, people who are viewed as the losers of the war, have next to nothing. They are the workers of the society. They are the back bone. The people the gentry look down on, but also the same people the gentry would not be able to survive their lifestyles without. But as secrets get uncovered, everything is about to change.

Sadly, if you have read one dystopian, Landry Park's back story is nothing to cheer about. While nicely done, it is just the same formula with different elements plugged in. Making this dystopian story line just a little different than everything else out there.

Landry Park introduces Madeline Landry. A girl who has always had every need met. She is a gentry after all, and descendant of Jacob Landry. This girl hit the gentry jackpot. Madeline, lucky for us, doesn't really care about all the perks that come with being a gentry. Nope, this girl wants knowledge. To go to university, and be a scholar, not sit around all day trying on dresses and looking to bag a husband. For me, those were definitely points in her favor and I will say I liked her character. However, something about her never fully clicked with me. Even once she begins to "rebel" and discover the truth about her society and the Rootless, I never truly felt like I knew her. How she really felt or how she thought. The same can be said for most of the characters. I liked them, but always something felt missing. Not completely fleshed out all the way. While it didn't hurt my enjoyment of Landry Park, it was a nagging thought I had throughout most of the read.

Come for the dystopian... Stay for the romance.

While the dystopian element may have brought me to Landry Park. It was the romance that kept my interest. Shocker!

The romance of Landry Park is the simmering kind. The kind that keeps you on your toes. The kind when you think you have everything figured out, there is another twist thrown in. The kind that leaves your thoughts in turmoil:

Kate vs. the Landry Park Romance

Is David the one? He has to be. They are so cute together.

Pages later

Oh drat, David is now with Cara. Really!?! Mean girl, Cara!?! No, it can't be. Can it?

Pages later

Yup, Madeline and David. It has to be. I won't take no for answer. Dang it, Cara... go away! You are messing up my fantasy couple here...

Pages later

Madeline and David... I may have to give up.

Pages later

Hmm... Jude, you say? Are you the one? Aww... he is kinda cute. Maybe David isn't as special as I thought. Fine. David, you can have the mean girl. Maybe you deserve each other. I never really liked you anyway. *Sticks tongue out at book* (But really secretly hoping David is the one and he and Madeline will end up together.)

I loved every second of this guessing game, which was made only better by the characters. And what you see isn't always what you get. Brilliant.

Final Verdict:

Read it!

Landry Park was completely, unexpectedly amazing. Brilliantly written. Slightly addicting (was up till 4am finishing). I haven't been as thrilled with a book (or its romance) since For Darkness Shows the Stars, which I say is a much better comparison than Downton Abbey or The Selection.

Find me at:

[Giselle · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Electronic Advanced Reader Copy was provided by the publisher for review. Quotes have been pulled from an ARC and may be subject to change.

Madeline is your beautiful, wealthy gentry girl poised to inherit Landry Park. But when she stumbles upon a plot that will unravel all the secrets that her family has hidden from her, she realizes she must find the strength within to go against them or to be by their side. Landry Park is an intricate and beautifully written novel set in the far future where the Rootless perish and the Gentry flourish.

I liked Madeline’s character. She’s not perfect, she knows she’s weak, and in time she grows out of it. I like that she stands up for what she wants even though her family imprisons her. I didn’t understand her attraction to David though. It felt too much like a crush..Even though there were two boys vying for her affection, I didn’t understand Jude’s place and that bothered me. The twists and turns in the far end did make this book better, but I just wish all the world building was placed in the beginning. I did enjoy the fluid writing style and reminded me of Darkness Shows the Stars too.

I had some issues with this one. Where was the history of all the energy uses? It was only a sprinkling of how it happened. A better timeline of how the world would have helped me so much. I was scrambling to find out what year it was set in. One main point I missed was the plot. Was trying to find who hurt Cara the entire story? Or was it Madeline trying to get out of her family’s legacy? Because I felt lost as to what the main story was. Why were the Rootless taken to be the lowest caste? What did the Rootless do to deserve such treatment? What did they do that was so badly? I needed answers about this war. Why did the Eastern Empire want to take over? I also don’t understand why there was so much emphasis on the balls and her society life. So I’m guessing this is why it’s being compared to The Selection? Also just a warning, that things start to get interesting at around the first hundred pages.

Overall, a good enough dystopian read if you like love triangles, ball gowns, and a family conspiracy are your thing, then this one is for you!

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I originally posted this review at The League of Extraordinary Writers)

I jumped at the chance to read an advance copy of Landry Park, and let's just say that I was not only hooked from the very beginning, but BLOWN AWAY. Bethany Hagen has created a world and characters that are so real, with descriptions that make you feel like she must've been there while she was writing. It's a rare thing to read a world that is so complete that it transports you there so fully. But that's just the tip of the brilliance iceberg. Here are three reasons why Landry Park is both brilliant and unique:

1. It's a FUTURISTIC REGENCY. Yep-- you read that right. Downright fascinating, no? Landry Park takes place a little over 200 years in the future, but with a caste system with strong roots in the early 1900s. It was so fascinating to read so many regency elements mixed with both technology we know now and futuristic technology. It was a delightful mix, and I would've loved it just for those elements alone.

2. You know how it is-- one man's utopia is another man's dystopia. We've all read plenty of dystopias where the main character is oppressed by the government, and they fight against it. One of the unique things about Landry Park is that the main character, Madeline, is on the utopian side of the fence. She lives at Landry Park-- the most elegant estate in the nation. And she is the daughter of the most powerful man in the country, and the sole heir to Landry Park and all the power that comes with it. And no, it doesn't make Madeline's character any less likeable at all. In fact, her character arc is incredible.

3. Nuclear power, along with radiation and its effects are a big factor in this world. This is a smart book with lots of science that is explained exactly enough to let you truly enjoy the story. The intricacies of this power source introduces some great conflict in the story, and does it in a way that feels like it could actually happen.

This was a well plotted, well executed book that grabs you from the start and pulls you along every step of the way.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Landry Park takes place in a future society that relies heavily on nuclear energy and have separated into a rigid class system. The lower classes, or Rootless, are required to maintain the energy sources and are constantly exposed to radiation which keeps them sick and weak. The MC Madeline is of the highest class, her family being one of the most prominent and her ancestors actually responsible for creating this system in the last war. Madeline wants nothing more than to go off to University but unfortunately her father is adamant that, as his heir, her first duty is to the estate, and that means marriage and babies. But the only boy she can even think about seems to be out of her reach.

So there were a lot of things going on in Landry Park, regrettably not much of it held my interest. The audio narration was mediocre at best. I think that perhaps with a different narrator, I may have connected more with the main character. I could tell that the writing was actually very nice but when read with very little inflection, it all became a bit stale.

I didn't completely understand how this class system came to be or how this society decided it was a good idea to expose large portions of the populace to radiation. There were times when this book almost felt like a historical fiction in the way that the classes were separated and the way each class viewed and interacted with the other. That was particularly well done and was one of the better aspects of this book. The "romance" did not feel the least bit authentic, the love interest was inconsistent and hardly likable at all. Also, I thought that the plot twist near the end was over the top and really took the story in a strange direction.

Overall, I would consider Landry Park to be an okay read but if you're planning to read it, I would probably wait to grab it from the library. However, it's getting pretty good reviews from other readers so maybe it just wasn't for me.