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Land
A tense and passionate novel about choices, obsession, destiny and power
The sea rose. Civilisation was wiped out, countries drowned. Out of the ashes of a desperate refugee camp, a new society was born, with a new place to call home: Land. Trapped by an aggressive sea, its citizens were bound to rules that saw the weak removed, marriage and children by approval only, and designated work for all. All for the greater good ...
Decades later, and seventeen-year-old Christy's life is on the cusp of irrevocable change. She has become eligible for The Pairing, a carefully selected marriage of political and social convenience where romance is out of the question. Her grandmother, Cons, has also reached a significant age - sixty-six: soon the Selection Truck will arrive to take her away forever.
Christy's only hope for protection lies with her errant rebel father ... but nothing goes as it's supposed to. As Christy finds a Pairing that might offer a new opportunity for love and security, she also uncovers a destiny that has been hidden from her; truths that have been disguised as childhood lies. With Cons' life under threat, Christy is forced to face a whole new world, one where she must choose between those she cares about and the greater good. A new life where she must play the reluctant rebel, revolutionary, lover ... and assassin.
The sea rose. Civilisation was wiped out, countries drowned. Out of the ashes of a desperate refugee camp, a new society was born, with a new place to call home: Land. Trapped by an aggressive sea, its citizens were bound to rules that saw the weak removed, marriage and children by approval only, and designated work for all. All for the greater good ...
Decades later, and seventeen-year-old Christy's life is on the cusp of irrevocable change. She has become eligible for The Pairing, a carefully selected marriage of political and social convenience where romance is out of the question. Her grandmother, Cons, has also reached a significant age - sixty-six: soon the Selection Truck will arrive to take her away forever.
Christy's only hope for protection lies with her errant rebel father ... but nothing goes as it's supposed to. As Christy finds a Pairing that might offer a new opportunity for love and security, she also uncovers a destiny that has been hidden from her; truths that have been disguised as childhood lies. With Cons' life under threat, Christy is forced to face a whole new world, one where she must choose between those she cares about and the greater good. A new life where she must play the reluctant rebel, revolutionary, lover ... and assassin.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 4, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 22, 2014
What initially drew me to Alex Campbell’s debut Land was its setting. Land is set in the closed community of Land, a walled-off island somewhere in Europe, surrounded by water after the majority of earth has been submerged by a major flood. Living in a country where much of the land was hard-won from the water and where dikes and dams are what keep our feet dry in the western part of the country, this is a catastrophe that is very much a real probability, even if most likely on a smaller scale. As such, Land’s setting intrigued me and I was curious to see how Campbell would use it to create her dystopian society.
Land’s is a dystopian future that has some eerie echoes of the past. Campbell utilises some of the most dreadful atrocities of the past to illustrate the malignant nature of Land’s regime. While I found her construction of Land fascinating, there were some elements that really made me uncomfortable. Mostly these were elements reminiscent of the Holocaust and while they certainly worked to drive the point home, I found the clear allusion to what is still one of the greatest atrocities in history in a work that doesn’t actually discuss it discomfiting. This is probably very much a personal reaction though and might not be as disturbing for most people.
Campbell creates a classic dystopia with Land’s police state, where people are strictly sorted into one of three classes based on ability and descent. The have-nots may rise to the governing classes through intellectual capabilities, but the haves will always remain in the upper echelons, unless they rebel against the state’s edicts and ideologies. Campbell has thought through the consequences of a limited amount of space and resources well and uses them to create some scary rules for the people of Land, which in a twisted way also make sense. For example, the government-selected pairings and the ban on any non-state-approved or out-of-wedlock procreation. On the one hand, it is a sound ecological, biological and economical strategy to limit population growth, yet it also smacks of eugenics and feels wrong and oppressive.
All of this serves as a backdrop for Christy’s tale. The daughter of a known dissident and somewhat of an outsider, at seventeen Christy doesn’t actually expect to be selected for a Pairing. So when she’s not only Paired, but to the son of one of the more powerful families of Land, no one is more surprised than Christy. I really liked Christy as a main character. She’s capable, stubborn and brave, with a strong sense of loyalty to those she cares about. First and foremost, this means her grandmother Cons and her best friend Kara. And later comes to encompass her mentor One, his assistant Salinger, and her Pair Tobin. Christy will risk everything for them, even her own life and the future of Land. While I liked the characters a lot, many of the secondary characters such as Cons, Kara, and Tobin remain a little flat. They have their hopes and dreams, but there doesn’t really seem to be a progression to these, or if there is it's a very minor one. This in contrast to Christy, One, and Salinger, who are all three well-developed and three-dimensional. Through Cons, One, and Salinger Christy is drawn into an underground movement who struggles against Land’s regime and the story focusses on Christy’s gradual conviction that this is something she has to fight for, she needs to fight for because it’s the right thing to do.
Land was a fascinating read, with a lot of meat on its bones to talk over after reading, but it was also a pulse-pounding adventure and at times heart-breaking. With the caveats described above, I really enjoyed it and the book has stuck with me long after turning the last page. With Land Campbell has delivered a strong debut novel and I look forward to reading more by her in the future.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
Land’s is a dystopian future that has some eerie echoes of the past. Campbell utilises some of the most dreadful atrocities of the past to illustrate the malignant nature of Land’s regime. While I found her construction of Land fascinating, there were some elements that really made me uncomfortable. Mostly these were elements reminiscent of the Holocaust and while they certainly worked to drive the point home, I found the clear allusion to what is still one of the greatest atrocities in history in a work that doesn’t actually discuss it discomfiting. This is probably very much a personal reaction though and might not be as disturbing for most people.
Campbell creates a classic dystopia with Land’s police state, where people are strictly sorted into one of three classes based on ability and descent. The have-nots may rise to the governing classes through intellectual capabilities, but the haves will always remain in the upper echelons, unless they rebel against the state’s edicts and ideologies. Campbell has thought through the consequences of a limited amount of space and resources well and uses them to create some scary rules for the people of Land, which in a twisted way also make sense. For example, the government-selected pairings and the ban on any non-state-approved or out-of-wedlock procreation. On the one hand, it is a sound ecological, biological and economical strategy to limit population growth, yet it also smacks of eugenics and feels wrong and oppressive.
All of this serves as a backdrop for Christy’s tale. The daughter of a known dissident and somewhat of an outsider, at seventeen Christy doesn’t actually expect to be selected for a Pairing. So when she’s not only Paired, but to the son of one of the more powerful families of Land, no one is more surprised than Christy. I really liked Christy as a main character. She’s capable, stubborn and brave, with a strong sense of loyalty to those she cares about. First and foremost, this means her grandmother Cons and her best friend Kara. And later comes to encompass her mentor One, his assistant Salinger, and her Pair Tobin. Christy will risk everything for them, even her own life and the future of Land. While I liked the characters a lot, many of the secondary characters such as Cons, Kara, and Tobin remain a little flat. They have their hopes and dreams, but there doesn’t really seem to be a progression to these, or if there is it's a very minor one. This in contrast to Christy, One, and Salinger, who are all three well-developed and three-dimensional. Through Cons, One, and Salinger Christy is drawn into an underground movement who struggles against Land’s regime and the story focusses on Christy’s gradual conviction that this is something she has to fight for, she needs to fight for because it’s the right thing to do.
Land was a fascinating read, with a lot of meat on its bones to talk over after reading, but it was also a pulse-pounding adventure and at times heart-breaking. With the caveats described above, I really enjoyed it and the book has stuck with me long after turning the last page. With Land Campbell has delivered a strong debut novel and I look forward to reading more by her in the future.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
October 2, 2025
NOTE: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS.
Wow!!! This was one of my first dystopian reads and it was actually REALLY good! I loved following Christy's story and finding out all the twisted, crazy family history etcetera.
The subplots were so sweet and interesting as well. I really liked Tobin, but Salinger was my favourite (I was rooting for him and Christy all along). Plus, Ella was wonderful, such a quietly powerful addition to the storyline. I loved her too!!
I liked seeing the blooming relationships between One, Christy and Salinger, as they slowly became closer and better friends. That was lovely.
I also adored Kara. She was such a key part of the story and her friendship with Christy was golden. I also (spoiler) loved seeing her motherly nature come out when beautiful Sunil was born. So fantastic!!
I could also really see Christy's character developing throughout the book as she learned to be tough, to be a fighter - amazing! Amazing!!!
The description was quite graphic in parts, especially when Kara gave birth and when Christy's grandfather forced her to watch Selection happening. It made me understand the pain a lot more though, so I think it was quite helpful for me.
I think what made this book interesting for me is that there was always something happening - I was never bored. I thought it would take me forever to read this book since it's quite long, but actually once I got into the story I was desperate to keep reading!
For me, the bottom line is, if you are thinking about trying dystopian fiction reads, this could be the book for you. I would give it a go!! I think you're gonna love it.
Make sure to come back and let me know what you think about it!!
Thanks for reading my review - see you in the next one. 💕
Wow!!! This was one of my first dystopian reads and it was actually REALLY good! I loved following Christy's story and finding out all the twisted, crazy family history etcetera.
The subplots were so sweet and interesting as well. I really liked Tobin, but Salinger was my favourite (I was rooting for him and Christy all along). Plus, Ella was wonderful, such a quietly powerful addition to the storyline. I loved her too!!
I liked seeing the blooming relationships between One, Christy and Salinger, as they slowly became closer and better friends. That was lovely.
I also adored Kara. She was such a key part of the story and her friendship with Christy was golden. I also (spoiler) loved seeing her motherly nature come out when beautiful Sunil was born. So fantastic!!
I could also really see Christy's character developing throughout the book as she learned to be tough, to be a fighter - amazing! Amazing!!!
The description was quite graphic in parts, especially when Kara gave birth and when Christy's grandfather forced her to watch Selection happening. It made me understand the pain a lot more though, so I think it was quite helpful for me.
I think what made this book interesting for me is that there was always something happening - I was never bored. I thought it would take me forever to read this book since it's quite long, but actually once I got into the story I was desperate to keep reading!
For me, the bottom line is, if you are thinking about trying dystopian fiction reads, this could be the book for you. I would give it a go!! I think you're gonna love it.
Make sure to come back and let me know what you think about it!!
Thanks for reading my review - see you in the next one. 💕
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2015
Hmm, I guess all I have to say is, 'it's been done'. It neatly followed the recipe for a dystopia that we've been fed before time and time again. The protagonist, Christy is kind of sharp, a touch arrogant or at least cynical (which, who can blame her, she lives in hell), she despises the society she lives in, is for some impractical and unconvincing reason solely relied on to crush that society despite undeniable lack of skills on her part and she cannot chose between her two physically-flawless, Christy-obsessed boy toys. If you're feeling like you already know this girl it may be because you already met her in The Hunger Games or somewhere else in the dystopic section of the library.
I mean it was hard not to feel like Christy wasn't just Katniss in a red wig? Anyone else get this? I know I'm not the only one.
I feel like dystopic authors have a really hard time separating their own dystopic novels from others, borrowing so many elements that evoke that déjà vu feeling. It's been a long time since I sourced something and genuinely thought-this is a new idea.
I gave 'Land' 2 stars. Not to be really harsh but I feel like it didn't make me consider many new ideas. That's what dystopia's are supposed to do, hold a mirror up to your own world and really make you feel a certain way toward something.
I liked the concept of 'the pairing' and how the society hand-picks your other-half in the mass marriage ceremony devoid of emotion. Yet something about it I was ready for, like I'd already encountered the same thing within another cover.
There were twists and turns, characters deaths and characters survivals I didn't predict but overall the plot moved in a very slow, predictable kind of shuffle toward an end I was very prepared and willing to reach.
I mean it was hard not to feel like Christy wasn't just Katniss in a red wig? Anyone else get this? I know I'm not the only one.
I feel like dystopic authors have a really hard time separating their own dystopic novels from others, borrowing so many elements that evoke that déjà vu feeling. It's been a long time since I sourced something and genuinely thought-this is a new idea.
I gave 'Land' 2 stars. Not to be really harsh but I feel like it didn't make me consider many new ideas. That's what dystopia's are supposed to do, hold a mirror up to your own world and really make you feel a certain way toward something.
I liked the concept of 'the pairing' and how the society hand-picks your other-half in the mass marriage ceremony devoid of emotion. Yet something about it I was ready for, like I'd already encountered the same thing within another cover.
There were twists and turns, characters deaths and characters survivals I didn't predict but overall the plot moved in a very slow, predictable kind of shuffle toward an end I was very prepared and willing to reach.
October 5, 2014
A YA Dystopian novel where the action starts on page one and doesn’t let up until the end. Set in a world that has been decimated by the oceans rising, the residents of land live under the dictatorship of the Leader. Everyone knows their place, does the jobs they are assigned to, pairs with who they are told to pair with (if they are lucky) and have children when they are given permission. Land is short on resources, so when people reach the age of 66 they are picked for Selection, as are the sick and anyone who transgresses the rules of the state.
When Christy reaches the age of 17 she is to attend a pairing ceremony to see if she was one of the ones fortunate enough to be chosen for pairing. Little does she know that her whole world is about to be turned upside down, and everything she has always believed about herself is going to be turned completely on its head.
It is a good read with a storyline that twists and turns and is stuffed full of drama, intrigue, betrayals and danger. Christy is a good strong main character, determined and feisty, she is loyal to those she loves, but is this loyalty about to be her undoing? It is a book that was very hard to put down and the author has left for the way clear for a sequel, which I hope he does because he did leave some of the characters “hanging around” at the end.
When Christy reaches the age of 17 she is to attend a pairing ceremony to see if she was one of the ones fortunate enough to be chosen for pairing. Little does she know that her whole world is about to be turned upside down, and everything she has always believed about herself is going to be turned completely on its head.
It is a good read with a storyline that twists and turns and is stuffed full of drama, intrigue, betrayals and danger. Christy is a good strong main character, determined and feisty, she is loyal to those she loves, but is this loyalty about to be her undoing? It is a book that was very hard to put down and the author has left for the way clear for a sequel, which I hope he does because he did leave some of the characters “hanging around” at the end.
March 25, 2016
It was an interesting book. I'm always a fan of a good dystopia, where people are divided into classes of useful and useless. And using color to identify those classes is very efficient. And what others have said about it being similar to the Holocaust is very true. People keeping their heads down, pretending to be happy with the government, ignoring those being mistreated just to stay safe themselves. And don't forget about the eugenics.
I haven't checked yet if there's a sequel out or not, but I'll definitely want to read it. The book was well written, although I have to admit that having 'One' as a name threw me off a couple of times when it was at the beginning of a sentence. And although the end was pretty cliché and expected, I do want to find out what happens to them.
I haven't checked yet if there's a sequel out or not, but I'll definitely want to read it. The book was well written, although I have to admit that having 'One' as a name threw me off a couple of times when it was at the beginning of a sentence. And although the end was pretty cliché and expected, I do want to find out what happens to them.
October 19, 2014
I received this book free via First Reads...
This is a unique dystopian story. I enjoyed it very much, I loved the characters and the ending was amazing!
Overall, this novel is an enjoyable read!
This is a unique dystopian story. I enjoyed it very much, I loved the characters and the ending was amazing!
Overall, this novel is an enjoyable read!
April 5, 2024
I can understand Land not being the most original story, but it's truly difficult to write unique dystopia when the very concept is to reflect the problems in society that tend to remain the same globally and through time. If I've understood the notes enough, it seems Alex Campbell drafted this at age 8, which I can imagine to be true and is truly remarkable.
I found it to be hugely interesting and gripping and I badly wanted everyone to be alright (although pleased it didn't end too perfectly).
Although dystopia should make us think and reflect on society, I found the 'selection' process to be unnecessary and insensitive. It just didn't sit right with me that this was reflecting the worst of human behaviour in history in a piece of YA fiction - dystopia or not. This is solely opinion and maybe it's my privileged fault that I found it uncomfortable, but I just don't think it was needed.
And on that note, that's the other reason i knocked a star off; Christy says to Tobin far too many times that he's privileged. However this was the only action or dialogue I found to be clunky and distracting.
I found it to be hugely interesting and gripping and I badly wanted everyone to be alright (although pleased it didn't end too perfectly).
Although dystopia should make us think and reflect on society, I found the 'selection' process to be unnecessary and insensitive. It just didn't sit right with me that this was reflecting the worst of human behaviour in history in a piece of YA fiction - dystopia or not. This is solely opinion and maybe it's my privileged fault that I found it uncomfortable, but I just don't think it was needed.
And on that note, that's the other reason i knocked a star off; Christy says to Tobin far too many times that he's privileged. However this was the only action or dialogue I found to be clunky and distracting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2017
Our middle boy (11) read this and loved it, so I read it together with our eldest son (13), who is a reluctant reader at the best of times. It worked really well because the story gets going in no time and doesn't let up, so he never got bored or drifted off, which happens. Personally, I loved the 'world' of Land and could easily read more about it (prequal?), he went for the action but the main characters are really good and you care enough about them to get caught up in it all. We'll read Cloud 9 next.
November 3, 2019
Really confusing at the start, lots of characters introduced. Christy or Christabel was an enjoyable main character. However, her friend Kara is a bum head and I personally don’t see why Christy kept on helping her. The character Kara is the reason I didn’t rate this book a 5. I fell in love with Tobin, he’s a really cool character. Really feel like this whole idea of ‘Land’ could be stretched out in to a trilogy or duology. Overall a pretty decent book. :)
July 1, 2020
I have had this book on my TBR pile for quite a while. I thought that it was OK as a stand alone book but was a little bit the same as every other dystopian book I have read. Interesting concept but a little dull.
June 15, 2018
Land is all 😜.
August 26, 2018
Action-PACKED! Could not put it down.
March 23, 2021
I absolutely adore this book- it was so thrilling I simply could not put this down. I can't wait to see more of Alex Campbell's books!
July 26, 2024
very much YA. too much angst about love life when the world is falling apart.
July 21, 2017
This felt a bit like "Divergent" and "Matched" had a baby and then the "The Hunger Games" adopted it. It was all too easy to draw parallels with all of these books; a main character who can't decided between two boys besotted with her, a world divided up into factions, or colours or districts or whatever, a young girl who suddenly ends up being a fighter. I don't know, I should have liked it but I didn't. I liked that it was a natural disaster that turned the world to hell (rather than war or humans destroying the planet) and I liked the sinister undercurrent and to be fair the ending surprised me but I couldn't get past the feeling that I read it all before. If you haven't read the other books I've mentioned then this could be the one for you, it just wasn't for me.
May 6, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
This review was originally published on my blog; Little Miss Reader
I really enjoyed this! It feels like a mash-up of a bunch of my favorite dystopias!
Let's start with talking about the world. The place where they live is called Land - hence the title - and it's only a small part of the world - not the entire world. They can't leave since there's water all around. I think Land is, hands down, horrible and this is why;
Land decides everything, whom you get to marry, who get's to have children - and when, which job you get, when you die and so on. Something that really scared me was probably that women who got pregnant without being allowed to either dies or gets sent to the brothels
There is a lot of rules and not that much freedom - if any. I hate Land because it is too controlled I mean, you even have to wear certain colors so people know which part of the hierarchy you belong to.
I think the world is leaning towards our more typical dystopian world since it has all the rules, but I also think it stands out because it's sitting in the midst of water without any options for leaving - I don't think I've read a dystopian novel with the world surrounded entirely by water.
I also loved how this book starts out - naturally - explaining the world, how it is as it is and why. I loved that the world building comes in the form of a story about Cons life. We are therefore naturally plunged in and we get to know all the important things about Land before we actually start reading Christy's story.
In the beginning I really liked Cons, Christy's grandmother, then that totally changed when all the plot twists came along. Now I'm left not knowing whether I like her or not since I understand a bit why she did as she did, but I also hate her for doing it.
Chrisy I like - except for her inability to make choices, she just let others pull her along and letting them choose for her. She missed a bit of back-bone but it came through in the end! I loved the fact that she is an assassin - I've actually never read a book with assassins, so it was totally new for me and I liked it! I think it makes you sit on the edge of your seat or "makes you hold your breath without knowing". Nonetheless I think it was quite intriguing and I liked that she wasn't this stone cold assassin. Christy had feelings, she was nervous when killing a human being.
I really enjoyed reading about Christy and Land - and I enjoyed having this big of a story in a standalone instead of a trilogy, it made it much more fast-paced and enjoyable.
This review was originally published on my blog; Little Miss Reader
I really enjoyed this! It feels like a mash-up of a bunch of my favorite dystopias!
Let's start with talking about the world. The place where they live is called Land - hence the title - and it's only a small part of the world - not the entire world. They can't leave since there's water all around. I think Land is, hands down, horrible and this is why;
Land decides everything, whom you get to marry, who get's to have children - and when, which job you get, when you die and so on. Something that really scared me was probably that women who got pregnant without being allowed to either dies or gets sent to the brothels
There is a lot of rules and not that much freedom - if any. I hate Land because it is too controlled I mean, you even have to wear certain colors so people know which part of the hierarchy you belong to.
I think the world is leaning towards our more typical dystopian world since it has all the rules, but I also think it stands out because it's sitting in the midst of water without any options for leaving - I don't think I've read a dystopian novel with the world surrounded entirely by water.
I also loved how this book starts out - naturally - explaining the world, how it is as it is and why. I loved that the world building comes in the form of a story about Cons life. We are therefore naturally plunged in and we get to know all the important things about Land before we actually start reading Christy's story.
In the beginning I really liked Cons, Christy's grandmother, then that totally changed when all the plot twists came along. Now I'm left not knowing whether I like her or not since I understand a bit why she did as she did, but I also hate her for doing it.
Chrisy I like - except for her inability to make choices, she just let others pull her along and letting them choose for her. She missed a bit of back-bone but it came through in the end! I loved the fact that she is an assassin - I've actually never read a book with assassins, so it was totally new for me and I liked it! I think it makes you sit on the edge of your seat or "makes you hold your breath without knowing". Nonetheless I think it was quite intriguing and I liked that she wasn't this stone cold assassin. Christy had feelings, she was nervous when killing a human being.
I really enjoyed reading about Christy and Land - and I enjoyed having this big of a story in a standalone instead of a trilogy, it made it much more fast-paced and enjoyable.
October 5, 2014
The sea rose. Civilisation was wiped out, countries drowned. Out of the ashes of a desperate refugee camp, a new society was born, with a new place to call home: Land. Trapped by an aggressive sea, its citizens were bound to rules that saw the weak removed, marriage and children by approval only, and designated work for all. All for the greater good......
Decades later, and seventeen year-old Christy's life is on the cusp of irrevocable change. She has become eligible for the Pairing, a carefully selected marriage of political and social convenience where romance is out of the question. Her grandmother, Cons, has also reached a significant age - sixty-six: soon the Selection Truck will arrive to take her away forever.
Christy’s only hope for protection lies with her missing rebel father…..but nothing goes as it's supposed to. As Christy finds a Pair who might offer a new opportunity for love and security she also uncovers a destiny that has been hidden from her; truths that have been disguised as childhood lies. With Cons’ life under threat, Christy is forced to face a whole new world, one where she must choose between those she cares about and the greater good….a new life where she must play the reluctant rebel, the revolutionary, the lover.....the assassin.
this was a Goodreads giveaway book, and for a debut it's pretty good - i liked Christy (although she was a bit passive - waiting for other people to make decisions for her. this is discussed in the book, people tell Christy to make decisions/choose for herself but...then give her orders. also in a society which considers obedience the highest virtue, decision making and choice aren't high on the agenda).
i wasn't entirely sure about One, Salinger or Cons, although i did like the slow unraveling of the past and how it intersected with the present. however, if there's ever a book 2, i hope it looks at One and how he thought he was fighting for a noble cause but dismantling systems is never easy and the temptations of power are always present (road to hell/good intentions etc).
i found the ending a bit wrapped-up-with-a-nice-bow, and i wasnt sure if Christy & her new 'family' could actually survive.
all in all, it was a fairly solid book, with a world and heroine that i was interested in.
Decades later, and seventeen year-old Christy's life is on the cusp of irrevocable change. She has become eligible for the Pairing, a carefully selected marriage of political and social convenience where romance is out of the question. Her grandmother, Cons, has also reached a significant age - sixty-six: soon the Selection Truck will arrive to take her away forever.
Christy’s only hope for protection lies with her missing rebel father…..but nothing goes as it's supposed to. As Christy finds a Pair who might offer a new opportunity for love and security she also uncovers a destiny that has been hidden from her; truths that have been disguised as childhood lies. With Cons’ life under threat, Christy is forced to face a whole new world, one where she must choose between those she cares about and the greater good….a new life where she must play the reluctant rebel, the revolutionary, the lover.....the assassin.
this was a Goodreads giveaway book, and for a debut it's pretty good - i liked Christy (although she was a bit passive - waiting for other people to make decisions for her. this is discussed in the book, people tell Christy to make decisions/choose for herself but...then give her orders. also in a society which considers obedience the highest virtue, decision making and choice aren't high on the agenda).
i wasn't entirely sure about One, Salinger or Cons, although i did like the slow unraveling of the past and how it intersected with the present. however, if there's ever a book 2, i hope it looks at One and how he thought he was fighting for a noble cause but dismantling systems is never easy and the temptations of power are always present (road to hell/good intentions etc).
i found the ending a bit wrapped-up-with-a-nice-bow, and i wasnt sure if Christy & her new 'family' could actually survive.
all in all, it was a fairly solid book, with a world and heroine that i was interested in.
October 26, 2014
This debut novel written by Alex Campbell revolves around Christy who lives in a city called The Land, which is surrounded by seas with only the great white walls protecting them from the ever increasing sea. Land is a dystopia, so we have the the government and a class systems leeching off the poor working class, the different classes are made to wear different colour to further distinguish between the classes. Christy is the daughter of a rebel who was executed by the government but there are rumours that he is alive. With rebellion brewing, her life partner being chosen by the government, Christy is soon embroiled in the politics, rebellion and soon finds herself torn between love, and loyalties.
The premise is quite interesting and the concept of the pairing is fascinating. I went into the book with an open mind, and was rewarded for it. I liked reading from Christy's Point of view and the people she cared and loved. I felt for Christy as everyone and everything that she loved was taken away from her and soon she had absolutely nothing. Her life unravelled and she had no control over it.
The various other character were interesting with a special mention to Salinger, added another layer to the drama. Though I liked the writing and the plot I wish a few plot lines were given more importance. I am still not sure what purpose Tobin's character had, and it's unclear what Christy thought of him. I wish there was more emphasis on the romantic plotlines.
I would also have to commend the author for not taking shortcuts and describing scenes which usually YA authors shy away from like death and childbirth. I liked that Alex Campbell unabatedly showed the atrocities of unplanned pregnancy and the horrors of childbirth. In fact some fighting scenes were quite graphic, which made the blood thirsty in my giggle with glee.
Overall, Land, was a interesting, though invoking dystopia, with a sweet romantic plotline and gory action and a ray of hope.
Read more of my reviews on my blog Escapism from Reality
The premise is quite interesting and the concept of the pairing is fascinating. I went into the book with an open mind, and was rewarded for it. I liked reading from Christy's Point of view and the people she cared and loved. I felt for Christy as everyone and everything that she loved was taken away from her and soon she had absolutely nothing. Her life unravelled and she had no control over it.
The various other character were interesting with a special mention to Salinger, added another layer to the drama. Though I liked the writing and the plot I wish a few plot lines were given more importance. I am still not sure what purpose Tobin's character had, and it's unclear what Christy thought of him. I wish there was more emphasis on the romantic plotlines.
I would also have to commend the author for not taking shortcuts and describing scenes which usually YA authors shy away from like death and childbirth. I liked that Alex Campbell unabatedly showed the atrocities of unplanned pregnancy and the horrors of childbirth. In fact some fighting scenes were quite graphic, which made the blood thirsty in my giggle with glee.
Overall, Land, was a interesting, though invoking dystopia, with a sweet romantic plotline and gory action and a ray of hope.
Read more of my reviews on my blog Escapism from Reality
March 14, 2016
This book has some cruel parts in it as the story is mainly about protesting against the controlling, freedom-oppressing government. So I would recommend this book to about 15 years old, as I, as 14 years old, could not fully enjoy the book because of its cruelness and partly-inappropriate plots for young teenagers.
The story has lots of twists, and thus the main character, Christabel, feels abandoned and betrayed quite often.
While you proceed with the book, you will often find that Christabel is getting more mature and stronger. As she is forced to betray her own feelings and follow the rules although it may mean killing innocent people, she suffers a lot and even feel some self-hatred. However, as time goes by, she finds out that the most important thing in her life is the people that she lives for and loves genuinely, not the orders from the government, and she finally recovers from all the self-hatred.
This book strongly reminded me that eventually, the most important value in one's life is loving, helping, and caring each other.
What is more important than that? Studying to get a good job? Earning money?
None of these will do anything for us and the whole humanity after we die unless the purpose of doing these things are 'others', not 'me'.
Yes, Nobel earned a lot of money and his contribute is still significant among us although he died. However, the reason for him being so famous until now is not because of his money but his care for others. He used his money for 'others', not 'himself' and thus created a Nobel Prize to promote academics and development of humanity.
This book strongly reminded me that caring and devoting to others is invaluable and that all other goals that I pursue in my life should have purpose of 'others', not 'me'.
Then it will continue to be meaningful and helpful to human beings in the future.
The story has lots of twists, and thus the main character, Christabel, feels abandoned and betrayed quite often.
While you proceed with the book, you will often find that Christabel is getting more mature and stronger. As she is forced to betray her own feelings and follow the rules although it may mean killing innocent people, she suffers a lot and even feel some self-hatred. However, as time goes by, she finds out that the most important thing in her life is the people that she lives for and loves genuinely, not the orders from the government, and she finally recovers from all the self-hatred.
This book strongly reminded me that eventually, the most important value in one's life is loving, helping, and caring each other.
What is more important than that? Studying to get a good job? Earning money?
None of these will do anything for us and the whole humanity after we die unless the purpose of doing these things are 'others', not 'me'.
Yes, Nobel earned a lot of money and his contribute is still significant among us although he died. However, the reason for him being so famous until now is not because of his money but his care for others. He used his money for 'others', not 'himself' and thus created a Nobel Prize to promote academics and development of humanity.
This book strongly reminded me that caring and devoting to others is invaluable and that all other goals that I pursue in my life should have purpose of 'others', not 'me'.
Then it will continue to be meaningful and helpful to human beings in the future.
February 15, 2015
I gave this book a good clean 3 stars. It was okay. It wasn't bad or horrible or Nasty or Boring or any of those things but neither was it different, unputtdownable, brillant. Near the end, the book was heaartwrenching. Thats it. Im numb.
I picked up the book because on the back it said she would choose to be a spy, a lover, an assasin and I guess I got that. Barely.
At first Christy is really bad at the spywork then she excels out of nowhere, over night. I found this really annoying as well, as a another reviewer said, her argumentative character.
Another thing I didn't like was the world. Hmm. Im not usually one to not like a book because it has similar aspects to another book but let's see
Goverment that is powerhungry - check (and yes, I get this and i Understand this. )
Caste system where main character starts off in one of the lowest - check (why can't we have a book where the main character is in a high social position to begin with and then realises her mistakes?)
Everything laid out for you, you pair, your job ( Again, I see why this is a common dystopian element but still, this didnt really come through in Land)
A method of mass killing check (this was horrible because it was called the selection and all I could think about is Kiera Cass. Either way, this 'selection' I found was an easy way to get rid of characters to hurt Christy, CONS!!!!)
So yeah , this book was nice but I found it repetive and I didnt really get into it until the end.
I picked up the book because on the back it said she would choose to be a spy, a lover, an assasin and I guess I got that. Barely.
At first Christy is really bad at the spywork then she excels out of nowhere, over night. I found this really annoying as well, as a another reviewer said, her argumentative character.
Another thing I didn't like was the world. Hmm. Im not usually one to not like a book because it has similar aspects to another book but let's see
Goverment that is powerhungry - check (and yes, I get this and i Understand this. )
Caste system where main character starts off in one of the lowest - check (why can't we have a book where the main character is in a high social position to begin with and then realises her mistakes?)
Everything laid out for you, you pair, your job ( Again, I see why this is a common dystopian element but still, this didnt really come through in Land)
A method of mass killing check (this was horrible because it was called the selection and all I could think about is Kiera Cass. Either way, this 'selection' I found was an easy way to get rid of characters to hurt Christy, CONS!!!!)
So yeah , this book was nice but I found it repetive and I didnt really get into it until the end.
March 16, 2015
I received Land through a Goodreads competition, so thank you to the author for sending me a copy! :)
I really enjoyed the book; the pace was good, the characters interesting and the plot itself became intense at points. I found myself most interested in the very beginning and at the end, which maybe suggests I found the middle a little slow to read, however it was necessary to the development of the story. The idea of Pairing really grabbed me, giving a really good starting point for the novel.
If I were to be more critical, I would like to have seen a little more depth in the story, maybe a few side stories or more characters being directly involved as it was very centralised around the main character and about 2 others, which varied depending on which part of the book you're in; for this reason at some points certain characters felt somewhat forgotten, however I still understand that the need to focus on the main story has influenced this.
That being said, I will absolutely read a sequel and look forward to seeing where Land can expand to!
Overall a great read I would recommend to anyone with an interest in the genre!
Lauren :)
I really enjoyed the book; the pace was good, the characters interesting and the plot itself became intense at points. I found myself most interested in the very beginning and at the end, which maybe suggests I found the middle a little slow to read, however it was necessary to the development of the story. The idea of Pairing really grabbed me, giving a really good starting point for the novel.
If I were to be more critical, I would like to have seen a little more depth in the story, maybe a few side stories or more characters being directly involved as it was very centralised around the main character and about 2 others, which varied depending on which part of the book you're in; for this reason at some points certain characters felt somewhat forgotten, however I still understand that the need to focus on the main story has influenced this.
That being said, I will absolutely read a sequel and look forward to seeing where Land can expand to!
Overall a great read I would recommend to anyone with an interest in the genre!
Lauren :)
October 24, 2015
Where do I start? Land completely surpassed all expectations. Those ‘blown-away’ books I hear about, Land was that for me.
Much of Land sounds familiar in this genre; there is a class system based of the work you do. One class rules the others, Christy lives with her grandmother in the poor sector and her grandmother is about to be sent for selection. Trust me I was thinking ‘here’s another one’ but Land is SO MUCH MORE and SO GOOD. (Yep the CAPS are out – I’m making a point here.)
Alex Campbell’s debut is amazing. The characters, the intrigue, the world-building, the story, the way nothing really does go the way you think it will and the emotions you go through with Christy.
Land is my unexpected gem of the year. Read it, you won’t be disappointed.
Much of Land sounds familiar in this genre; there is a class system based of the work you do. One class rules the others, Christy lives with her grandmother in the poor sector and her grandmother is about to be sent for selection. Trust me I was thinking ‘here’s another one’ but Land is SO MUCH MORE and SO GOOD. (Yep the CAPS are out – I’m making a point here.)
Alex Campbell’s debut is amazing. The characters, the intrigue, the world-building, the story, the way nothing really does go the way you think it will and the emotions you go through with Christy.
Land is my unexpected gem of the year. Read it, you won’t be disappointed.
December 1, 2015
Ticks all the boxes for YA dystopian fiction, but this shouldn't put you off!
Christy might be a character that annoys some, but I found her engaging and realistically portrayed. My personal gripe was Tobin, her pair, who infuriated me as his presence just stopped Christy from realising what was right in front of her! The various threads of the plot had me second-guessing what would happen constantly, and I felt this would offer young adult readers an interesting view on a number of pertinent issues.
Don't want to give anything of the story away, but the ending left me open-mouthed. Loved it!
Christy might be a character that annoys some, but I found her engaging and realistically portrayed. My personal gripe was Tobin, her pair, who infuriated me as his presence just stopped Christy from realising what was right in front of her! The various threads of the plot had me second-guessing what would happen constantly, and I felt this would offer young adult readers an interesting view on a number of pertinent issues.
Don't want to give anything of the story away, but the ending left me open-mouthed. Loved it!
September 29, 2016
Woah, this book blew my mind! At first, it started off like any other dystopia read and I felt myself comparing it to Matched by Ally Condie.
However it was 10x more addictive and turned out to be AMAZING! I would highly recommend this book because Alex has managed to fit so much into a short book. You have multiple characters (btw, how can Christy be so unlucky?!) who all seem to contribute in some element and you have an unbelievable family tree and plot. My mind is blown.
I would kinda like a sequel from One's point of view or just give me more of this amazingness please!!
However it was 10x more addictive and turned out to be AMAZING! I would highly recommend this book because Alex has managed to fit so much into a short book. You have multiple characters (btw, how can Christy be so unlucky?!) who all seem to contribute in some element and you have an unbelievable family tree and plot. My mind is blown.
I would kinda like a sequel from One's point of view or just give me more of this amazingness please!!
October 31, 2014
I'm already imaging what would be in a sequel and that's always a good sign !
Full of action right from the start. I would describe it as a cross between The Hunger Games, Divergent and Frozen (did anyone else get that?lol)
Highly recommend if your a fan of YA Dystopian stories or if your yet to discover them.
PLEASE WRITE A SEQUEL !!!
I received a copy free through GoodReads First Read giveaways!
Full of action right from the start. I would describe it as a cross between The Hunger Games, Divergent and Frozen (did anyone else get that?lol)
Highly recommend if your a fan of YA Dystopian stories or if your yet to discover them.
PLEASE WRITE A SEQUEL !!!
I received a copy free through GoodReads First Read giveaways!
February 6, 2015
A high-octane dystopian adventure with sinister shades of Orwell and the Third Reich, and a ballsy, believable heroine. Campbell writes beautifully, and her adept world-building brings this brutal society surrounded by sea convincingly to life. Packed with twists and dilemmas, the pace never slackens, pulling you towards to its enthralling conclusion. Highly recommended.
September 12, 2015
This has a brilliantly clever premise, is action packed and it held me from start to finish. However, I found the protagonist very difficult to like and thought that the romance storyline was really underplayed. I would read other books from this author and would recommend this but it was lacking emotion for me.
June 18, 2015
I loved this book.
It has a fantastic plot, with never a dull moment. Some likeable, strong characters and some not so likeable ones.
It was really hard to put down.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
It has a fantastic plot, with never a dull moment. Some likeable, strong characters and some not so likeable ones.
It was really hard to put down.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
October 7, 2014
this book was amazing, a truly good read! there where turns at every page, the story was believable and the pace was perfect, the ending has been left so it can be continued at another time if the author so wishes! (i hope so!) its a really brilliant book and kept me entertained for a few days.
August 12, 2015
Received a free copy through Goodreads First Reads.
Bit predictable at times. Not a fan of the end, unless there will be a second book. I want to know what happens to One and Tobin! Also the whole Christy, Tobin and Salinger situation seemed forced and a bit of a cop out.
Bit predictable at times. Not a fan of the end, unless there will be a second book. I want to know what happens to One and Tobin! Also the whole Christy, Tobin and Salinger situation seemed forced and a bit of a cop out.
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