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Landry #5
Tarnished Gold
Tarnished Gold is the captivating prequel to the bestselling V. C. Andrews Landry series that began with Ruby and continued with Pearl in the Mist, All That Glitters, and Hidden Jewel. This thrilling new novel takes us back to the Louisiana bayou in the time before Ruby. In a world of wondrous natural beauty—a world of tantalizing dreams and inescapable sorrow—we meet Gabriel Landry, daughter of Catherine and Jack.
Growing up in her beloved swamp, Gabriel is supremely happy, despite the ever-widening rift between her Mama and her conniving, whiskey-drinking Daddy. Her classmates tease her, calling her "La Femme Au Naturel," the Nature Girl, because she seems more interested in poling her pirogue through the canals than in romance. But Gabriel nurtures her own secret dreams. Then, days before her high school graduation, rich cannery owner Octavious Tate surprises her in a secluded pond and shatters her innocence.
Pregnant and desolate, wishing to spare her dear Mama the scandal, Gabriel agrees to a shocking plan that will allow Octavious's frigid wife, Gladys, to claim the baby as her own and will net Gabriel's furious Daddy a huge payoff. Hiding in a tiny abandoned playroom in the Tate mansion, Gabriel is miserable. Her only visitor is Mama, whose mission as a Traiteur—a Cajun healer—gives her an excuse to treat Gladys Tate's "pregnancy." But nothing is more wrenching than the moment Gladys takes baby Paul away forever.
Returning home to the swamp, Gabriel drifts in a world of twilight gloom, brightened only by chance glimpses of her son. But as Jack Landry's reputation as a swamp guide grows, a hunting party brings handsome, gentle Creole millionaire Pierre Dumas to the bayou. Falling desperately in love, Gabriel will not heed the voice warning that their joy may bring her more grief than she can bear....
Growing up in her beloved swamp, Gabriel is supremely happy, despite the ever-widening rift between her Mama and her conniving, whiskey-drinking Daddy. Her classmates tease her, calling her "La Femme Au Naturel," the Nature Girl, because she seems more interested in poling her pirogue through the canals than in romance. But Gabriel nurtures her own secret dreams. Then, days before her high school graduation, rich cannery owner Octavious Tate surprises her in a secluded pond and shatters her innocence.
Pregnant and desolate, wishing to spare her dear Mama the scandal, Gabriel agrees to a shocking plan that will allow Octavious's frigid wife, Gladys, to claim the baby as her own and will net Gabriel's furious Daddy a huge payoff. Hiding in a tiny abandoned playroom in the Tate mansion, Gabriel is miserable. Her only visitor is Mama, whose mission as a Traiteur—a Cajun healer—gives her an excuse to treat Gladys Tate's "pregnancy." But nothing is more wrenching than the moment Gladys takes baby Paul away forever.
Returning home to the swamp, Gabriel drifts in a world of twilight gloom, brightened only by chance glimpses of her son. But as Jack Landry's reputation as a swamp guide grows, a hunting party brings handsome, gentle Creole millionaire Pierre Dumas to the bayou. Falling desperately in love, Gabriel will not heed the voice warning that their joy may bring her more grief than she can bear....
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1996
93 people are currently reading
3629 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
370 books9,113 followersBooks published under the following names - Virginia Andrews, V. Andrews, Virginia C. Andrews & V.C. Endrius. Books since her death ghost written by Andrew Neiderman, but still attributed to the V.C. Andrews name
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
May 28, 2013
Well I have finally finished reading the "Landry Series" by V.C. Andrews. I do have to say that I kind of feel a little cheated. I was disappointed to learn that the fifth book in the series was actually a prequel to the first book. I feel as though the fourth book left too many underlying questions for the fifth book to have been a prequel rather than a continuation of the story. The fifth book deals with Gabriel, Ruby's mother, so once again you have to get used to reading as another character although the story was the same.
Although I didn't entirely hate the book, I didn't feel as though Gabriel had enough of a story for there to have been an entire book about her. I feel that the mention of her story was sufficient enough and didn't leave anything lacking later on. It was hard to read "Tarnished Gold" knowing what the outcome was and ultimately what the story was as well. The story of events leading up to what we know happens and the spaces in between were nothing more than filler pages in my opinion.
The story overall was a good one and you do sympathize a little more for Gabriel, but it was longer than it needed to be in my opinion and was a letdown as far as how the series ended. I really wished I could have learned more as to what would have happened to Ruby and Pearl as I grew to love them as characters. Theirs was a good story; one that summarized up in the fourth book, but left underlying questions that will never be answered. That is why I feel cheated. We knew, although not in intimate details, Gabriel's story. Ruby's story was becoming complete; but Pearl's was only just beginning.
All in all I am impressed with V.C. Andrews and I will not let this disappointment discourage me from reading any of her other books or series.
Although I didn't entirely hate the book, I didn't feel as though Gabriel had enough of a story for there to have been an entire book about her. I feel that the mention of her story was sufficient enough and didn't leave anything lacking later on. It was hard to read "Tarnished Gold" knowing what the outcome was and ultimately what the story was as well. The story of events leading up to what we know happens and the spaces in between were nothing more than filler pages in my opinion.
The story overall was a good one and you do sympathize a little more for Gabriel, but it was longer than it needed to be in my opinion and was a letdown as far as how the series ended. I really wished I could have learned more as to what would have happened to Ruby and Pearl as I grew to love them as characters. Theirs was a good story; one that summarized up in the fourth book, but left underlying questions that will never be answered. That is why I feel cheated. We knew, although not in intimate details, Gabriel's story. Ruby's story was becoming complete; but Pearl's was only just beginning.
All in all I am impressed with V.C. Andrews and I will not let this disappointment discourage me from reading any of her other books or series.
July 22, 2019
I read this series when I was in my early twenties. That was well over twenty years ago. With that said, I can still vividly remember details and characters from Tarnished Gold. Oftentimes, I’ll forget plots or characters from books I read even a month ago. Not the case here, and I think that’s pretty telling. This was actually my favorite book in the Landry series. It was so sad and made me cry a few times!
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January 24, 2024Ce 5e et dernier tome, préquel de La famille Landry, n’était malheureusement pas nécessaire.
Si j’ai aimé retrouver l’ambiance et les personnes au départ, ce tome est un flop parce qu’on connaît tous les revirements de situation et toutes les intrigues. Découvrir en détails la vie de Gabrielle c’est simplement se remémorer les 4 tomes qu’on a lu précédemment. Quel dommage.
Si j’ai aimé retrouver l’ambiance et les personnes au départ, ce tome est un flop parce qu’on connaît tous les revirements de situation et toutes les intrigues. Découvrir en détails la vie de Gabrielle c’est simplement se remémorer les 4 tomes qu’on a lu précédemment. Quel dommage.
December 4, 2013
If I had realized that Virginia Andrews was in fact V.C, Andrews truthfully I would of never have read the book. To no offence to her she is an excellent writer. For me the problem is, if you do not have a strong inner core and have possible problems with depression you just absolutely cannot read her books. However if your strong and confident with yourself I would see no problem with reading her books. Like before I found myself crying throughout most of the book or flinging it across the room because I couldn't handle what was going on. To loose your innocent and then your child, and then foolish enough to repeat it all over again, just because of the greediness of one parent is absolutely appalling and then to loose yourself entirely. Thankfully peace is found in the end, not the way I would of liked it but a somewhat happy ending.
June 16, 2018
Este quinto e último livro da série deixou-me com a certeza de ter feito uma boa aposta e foi com muita pena que me despedi de Ruby, a protagonista que me conquistou.
Adorei do primeiro ao último livro.
Adorei do primeiro ao último livro.
November 10, 2016
Último livro da saga Landry que não é mais do que um voltar a trás no tempo (tal como todos os últimos livros da autora quando se trata de uma saga) e retornar até às origens onde toda a história teve o seu início.
Vamos conhecer a verdadeira infância de Gabrielle e a realidade do que realmente aconteceu com as pessoas com quem se foi envolvendo durante a sua juventude.
Um remate final em beleza!
Vamos conhecer a verdadeira infância de Gabrielle e a realidade do que realmente aconteceu com as pessoas com quem se foi envolvendo durante a sua juventude.
Um remate final em beleza!
September 2, 2011
An enjoyable read but was starting to feel like deja vu the book has become like many previous in VC Andrews earlier collection.
March 29, 2016
It's your standard formulaic V.C Andrew's family sagas. >:D
April 7, 2022
This was the most perfect of Prequels in any of the 'Andrews' books......! I just listened to it and do not know why I never read it when it came out originally! LOVED it! If you have read the Landry series, then you really NEED to read this in the original order with this being number 5 in the series. Don't read this one first! It will ruin so much for you.
Check out my video review here:
https://youtu.be/Q3XMLiGaabA
Though I have never really liked Andrew Neiderman as an author on his own, except his book "Pin" and the early series he wrote with V.C. Andrews original editor, this is one of the best Prequels he wrote for the Landry Series. If you thought you knew everything about Ruby and her bayou family.....get ready for a twist in this demented tale of darkness. Loved it.....made me tear up more than once. Lifetime should have made this movie too, wonder why they didn't?. Hmmm?
4.5 💔💔💔💔
Check out my video review here:
https://youtu.be/Q3XMLiGaabA
Though I have never really liked Andrew Neiderman as an author on his own, except his book "Pin" and the early series he wrote with V.C. Andrews original editor, this is one of the best Prequels he wrote for the Landry Series. If you thought you knew everything about Ruby and her bayou family.....get ready for a twist in this demented tale of darkness. Loved it.....made me tear up more than once. Lifetime should have made this movie too, wonder why they didn't?. Hmmm?
4.5 💔💔💔💔
July 18, 2022
I've always been an avid reader, reading whatever I could get my hands on. After picture books came Beverly Cleary, Roald Dahl, Judy Blume, and the Babysitters Club books (how I loved the BSC books!). However, around the age of 11, I outgrew those books (except Roald Dahl -- I will never be too old for Roald Dahl!) and had read them all multiple times, and I found myself at a loss as to what to read -- there wasn't a good selection of YA books back then (I found Christopher Pike too juvenile, and Lois Duncan just didn't cut it for me). So I picked up my mom's copy of Flowers in the Attic that was lying around, as was hooked. I went straight from The Babysitters Club to VC Andrews.
I devoured the Flowers, Heaven, and Dawn series as well as My Sweet Audrina, and by the time I had read all of them (some of them multiple times), I was now reading the Landry series as they were being released. I was a little disappointed with Ruby, even tough I still found it alright, and a little more disappointed with Pearl in the Mist; the books just weren't as good as the other ones. By the time All That Glitters came out, my love affair with VC Andrews was ending, but I just had to finish the series; I couldn't give up now.
It's been over twenty years since I've read the Landry series, so I don't remember much about the series, and I don't remember what happened in All That Glitters, Hidden Jewel, or Tarnished Gold (but there must have been some incest in there, right? ~Surprise! The love of your life is really your half/full brother/uncle/cousin/nephew because my parents lied/I was raped~), but I remember not liking them, and only reading them so that I could finish the series. I don't know if I didn't enjoy them because the books really weren't as good as the others, or if it's because I had outgrown them, but I made the decision to stop reading VC Andrews once I was done with the series (with the exception of re-reading the previous books, which I have done over the years). My English teacher then introduced me to the world of Dean Koontz...
I devoured the Flowers, Heaven, and Dawn series as well as My Sweet Audrina, and by the time I had read all of them (some of them multiple times), I was now reading the Landry series as they were being released. I was a little disappointed with Ruby, even tough I still found it alright, and a little more disappointed with Pearl in the Mist; the books just weren't as good as the other ones. By the time All That Glitters came out, my love affair with VC Andrews was ending, but I just had to finish the series; I couldn't give up now.
It's been over twenty years since I've read the Landry series, so I don't remember much about the series, and I don't remember what happened in All That Glitters, Hidden Jewel, or Tarnished Gold (but there must have been some incest in there, right? ~Surprise! The love of your life is really your half/full brother/uncle/cousin/nephew because my parents lied/I was raped~), but I remember not liking them, and only reading them so that I could finish the series. I don't know if I didn't enjoy them because the books really weren't as good as the others, or if it's because I had outgrown them, but I made the decision to stop reading VC Andrews once I was done with the series (with the exception of re-reading the previous books, which I have done over the years). My English teacher then introduced me to the world of Dean Koontz...
July 27, 2007
The 5th book was actually a prequel to the whole Landry series. It focused on Gabriel, Ruby's mom, and how she brought babies Paul, Giselle, and Ruby into the world. It also brought us a closer look into the lives of Gabriel's parents as well. I am sad to have finished this mesmerizing series, but I know I will carry Ruby, Gabriel, and Grandmere Catherine close to my heart, for they were really strong women, of whom I admired.
Some parts in the book were really veeishy, and kinda sick - especially the parts with Gladys Tate and her pretending to be pregnant and how cold and cruel she was. After all Gabriel had sacrificed, I felt bad as I don't think she deserved the ending she got. I cannot elaborate more without spoiling anything.
Good bye, the Landrys. Good bye, Ruby. Good bye, Gabriel. Good bye, Catherine...
**********edited************
I forgot to add that in this book, there is a Deaf character. I was impressed as the character wasn't viewed as weak or disabled at all. This was not the first V.C. Andrews book that a Deaf character appeared in. It got me thinking - what kind of fascination did the author have with Deaf people? Although I can not complain, as the character was not portrayed as helpless or anything.
Some parts in the book were really veeishy, and kinda sick - especially the parts with Gladys Tate and her pretending to be pregnant and how cold and cruel she was. After all Gabriel had sacrificed, I felt bad as I don't think she deserved the ending she got. I cannot elaborate more without spoiling anything.
Good bye, the Landrys. Good bye, Ruby. Good bye, Gabriel. Good bye, Catherine...
**********edited************
I forgot to add that in this book, there is a Deaf character. I was impressed as the character wasn't viewed as weak or disabled at all. This was not the first V.C. Andrews book that a Deaf character appeared in. It got me thinking - what kind of fascination did the author have with Deaf people? Although I can not complain, as the character was not portrayed as helpless or anything.
October 14, 2013
This has the strongest start out of all the Landry books. With Gabriel becomes pregnant after being raped by a rich man, it all goes a bit 'Flowers In The Attic' after she agree's to have the child and give it to his wife to bring up. With Gladys copying Gabriel's behaviour and acting slightly insanse, the first half of the book is gripping.
The story starts to slide after Gabriel meets Pierre. I just don't buy Gabriel wanting to go into the swamp with a rich man after having been raped. They kiss and instantly fall in love. For me their love story never felt real enough. It got sad near the end, as I knew what was coming.
You could read this as a stand alone but I think it's best enjoyed after you've read the whole Landry series.
The story starts to slide after Gabriel meets Pierre. I just don't buy Gabriel wanting to go into the swamp with a rich man after having been raped. They kiss and instantly fall in love. For me their love story never felt real enough. It got sad near the end, as I knew what was coming.
You could read this as a stand alone but I think it's best enjoyed after you've read the whole Landry series.
June 11, 2009
This book was good, but others in the series were better. I usually don't like it when the last book in a series is a prequel.
Tarnished Gold was a little slow to start and I was very bored reading about Gabriel locked in a little room at the Tate mansion for months before she gave birth. The book seemed to pick up after that.
Gabriel was truly a soul that suffered with little happiness in her short life. I was comforted at the end of the book when she was finally allowed to keep one baby, even if she never had the chance to see her more than once before her own demise.
Tarnished Gold was a little slow to start and I was very bored reading about Gabriel locked in a little room at the Tate mansion for months before she gave birth. The book seemed to pick up after that.
Gabriel was truly a soul that suffered with little happiness in her short life. I was comforted at the end of the book when she was finally allowed to keep one baby, even if she never had the chance to see her more than once before her own demise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2011
i almost cried reading this book. it was so good but sad at the same time. a lot of things that happened to Gabrielle was totally out of her control and that just made it worse. overall i loved this landry series. it was not as good as the Casteel series but it had its own style to it.
August 13, 2024
Despite knowing the basic plot of this story from reading the previous books, I still enjoyed this novel.
I wasn't happy with how the ghostwriter forgot the name of his own character! In book one, her name was given as "Gabrielle", not "Gabriel". Gabriel is a boy's name.
Gabrielle is about to graduate high school when she is raped (I didn't know that from the previous books) and falls pregnant. Her rapist's wife desperately wants the baby, so Gabrielle secretly holes up in the top floor of the mansion until the baby is born. What gives the aspect of Gothic horror is the playroom Gabrielle stays in and how creepily the wife takes to pretending to be pregnant. Her father sexually abused her as a child, so she would hide away in her playroom. The wife has a psychological block to falling pregnant, as a way of protecting herself from her father's abuse.
Despite Paul being conceived of rape, Gabrielle loves him and searches for glimpses of him everywhere. When she gets in trouble, she's finally able to move on. She then meets the man who's probably her soulmate, handsome but troubled, Pierre Dumas.
Man, I wished that Pierre hadn't been married to Daphne! Oh, imagine if Pierre and Gabrielle could have married and raised the twins together, Gisselle might have been a sweet girl. Luckily, Daphne didn't seem as bad in this novel as she became in the others.
The ending brought tears to my eyes as Gabrielle dies shortly after giving birth to the twins. I wasn't sure if it would end with her death or right before. Death to her was reuniting with Pierre in the swamp, which was so beautiful but sad as I knew she was dying and crossing to that elusive other side.
I hate to say this, but maybe Gabrielle's friends were right. Because she had no career of marriage aspirations, she just ended up being a broodmare & lived a very short life. She died at age twenty, which is really quite sad. I wish Gabrielle had a better life story, like marrying Pierre and living happily ever after in New Orleans.
100% recommend the Landry series! So glad I finally picked them up and checked them out.
I wasn't happy with how the ghostwriter forgot the name of his own character! In book one, her name was given as "Gabrielle", not "Gabriel". Gabriel is a boy's name.
Gabrielle is about to graduate high school when she is raped (I didn't know that from the previous books) and falls pregnant. Her rapist's wife desperately wants the baby, so Gabrielle secretly holes up in the top floor of the mansion until the baby is born. What gives the aspect of Gothic horror is the playroom Gabrielle stays in and how creepily the wife takes to pretending to be pregnant. Her father sexually abused her as a child, so she would hide away in her playroom. The wife has a psychological block to falling pregnant, as a way of protecting herself from her father's abuse.
Despite Paul being conceived of rape, Gabrielle loves him and searches for glimpses of him everywhere. When she gets in trouble, she's finally able to move on. She then meets the man who's probably her soulmate, handsome but troubled, Pierre Dumas.
Man, I wished that Pierre hadn't been married to Daphne! Oh, imagine if Pierre and Gabrielle could have married and raised the twins together, Gisselle might have been a sweet girl. Luckily, Daphne didn't seem as bad in this novel as she became in the others.
The ending brought tears to my eyes as Gabrielle dies shortly after giving birth to the twins. I wasn't sure if it would end with her death or right before. Death to her was reuniting with Pierre in the swamp, which was so beautiful but sad as I knew she was dying and crossing to that elusive other side.
I hate to say this, but maybe Gabrielle's friends were right. Because she had no career of marriage aspirations, she just ended up being a broodmare & lived a very short life. She died at age twenty, which is really quite sad. I wish Gabrielle had a better life story, like marrying Pierre and living happily ever after in New Orleans.
100% recommend the Landry series! So glad I finally picked them up and checked them out.
October 7, 2025
3.75 - 4 stars (I'm undecided between the two)
The fifth and final book in the Landry series, and my 10th V.C. Andrews book in total, and I have to say these books continue to find ways to surprise me. This is technically a prequel to the main Landry series, so there are very few events between its pages that I didn't know were on the horizon. And yet, there were so many small nuances that kept me eager to read more and get to the end of the story.
I think the most fascinating thing to me about this book was just how MUCH is packed into its pages. This book is only about 350 pages, but I feel like we almost had two distinct story arcs in their entirety, and neither felt rushed or skimped on. Everything felt like it was covered and treated with the time and respect it deserves. I love V.C. Andrews books and think the dark, twisted subject matter of them is always going to be interesting to me, and I have to say that reading about Ruby's mother, Gabriel, was quite possibly the most interesting to me so far. Everything I didn't love about Ruby as a character was fixed with Gabriel. The two women are similar, but Gabriel has so much more depth than her daughter does, at least in my opinion. I almost wish the whole series would've revolved around Gabriel, and then we could've had one or two books about Ruby rather than the 4 that we did get. Not to say there wasn't plenty to cover in Ruby's story, because oh by was there ever!? But Gabriel held some special quality I really enjoyed reading about.
Overall, I think I've talked my way into a 4 stars for this book, and a solid 3.5 stars for the entire Landry series as a whole. I really enjoyed books 2, 3, and 5, but the first and fourth books were not up to the same standard I got from the others, and so for that the series falls at a 3.5 overall.
The fifth and final book in the Landry series, and my 10th V.C. Andrews book in total, and I have to say these books continue to find ways to surprise me. This is technically a prequel to the main Landry series, so there are very few events between its pages that I didn't know were on the horizon. And yet, there were so many small nuances that kept me eager to read more and get to the end of the story.
I think the most fascinating thing to me about this book was just how MUCH is packed into its pages. This book is only about 350 pages, but I feel like we almost had two distinct story arcs in their entirety, and neither felt rushed or skimped on. Everything felt like it was covered and treated with the time and respect it deserves. I love V.C. Andrews books and think the dark, twisted subject matter of them is always going to be interesting to me, and I have to say that reading about Ruby's mother, Gabriel, was quite possibly the most interesting to me so far. Everything I didn't love about Ruby as a character was fixed with Gabriel. The two women are similar, but Gabriel has so much more depth than her daughter does, at least in my opinion. I almost wish the whole series would've revolved around Gabriel, and then we could've had one or two books about Ruby rather than the 4 that we did get. Not to say there wasn't plenty to cover in Ruby's story, because oh by was there ever!? But Gabriel held some special quality I really enjoyed reading about.
Overall, I think I've talked my way into a 4 stars for this book, and a solid 3.5 stars for the entire Landry series as a whole. I really enjoyed books 2, 3, and 5, but the first and fourth books were not up to the same standard I got from the others, and so for that the series falls at a 3.5 overall.
March 7, 2024
I was kind of reluctant to start this at first. with all vc andrews prequels, I feel they're unnecessary because you already know too much. it just feels like reading a very long section in the first book when they explain gabriels life lol. I was really pushing myself to finish it though and I'm glad I did, because I feel like the first book made gabriel just a vague enough character for this prequel to work. like it makes you understand the events more and how she feels. really fleshes out the characters . I really enjoyed seeing catherine and jack living together and honestly? I don't know why she didn't kick him out sooner, or why she married him in the first place. this also made me really love pierre. his and gabriels story felt like an actual love story where as I didn't really get that vibe in the first book (granted I'm sure they wanted to keep the details of gabriels life pretty short).
I was going to rate this a three because I enjoyed seeing the characters from another perspective and understanding their dynamics more, but it still felt unnecessary to me. however the last two chapters made this book a solid 4 stars for me. it really struck my heart strings when gabriel and pierre meet for the last time, especially knowing he still loves her and waited for a letter from her for 16 years not knowing she died.... that really stings man. and how she suffered all her life and died right before her baby was born. I mean that's cruel. I could feel my heart ache like seriously.
overall I think this book tied this series into a nice little bow. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. definitely recommend reading if you liked the rest of the series!
I was going to rate this a three because I enjoyed seeing the characters from another perspective and understanding their dynamics more, but it still felt unnecessary to me. however the last two chapters made this book a solid 4 stars for me. it really struck my heart strings when gabriel and pierre meet for the last time, especially knowing he still loves her and waited for a letter from her for 16 years not knowing she died.... that really stings man. and how she suffered all her life and died right before her baby was born. I mean that's cruel. I could feel my heart ache like seriously.
overall I think this book tied this series into a nice little bow. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. definitely recommend reading if you liked the rest of the series!
June 8, 2019
I have read all of vc Andrews older series soo many times, I don't think I'll ever get sick of them. The twisted family plots, family secrets, etc...never gets boring for me. Reading tarnished gold again has made me want to go and haul all the ones I haven't read and to re-read the ones I have. This book saddened me, and angered me. With a father like Gabriel's, it made me cringe many times! I was hooked on this book just as I was the first time I read this whole series.
November 7, 2020
This is not the book I wanted, but I'm glad it exists. I actually enjoyed this books as a prequel to the main story. Especially with the way the story ended. It was nice to go back to the beginning and watch events unfold, even though we knew what was coming. It breaks your heart just a little bit. Gabriel is such a naive young woman, yet you can't help but feel a little bad for her.
February 12, 2022
While I liked it a lot more than the last, some parts felt rushed. Especially the romance between Pierre and Gabriel. I also wished Gladys’ trauma was more elaborated since it was such a big part of the book. But it was a good book to redeem the series, all in all.
#badass grandmere Catherine. Reminds me of my own
#badass grandmere Catherine. Reminds me of my own
March 13, 2024
This prequel was absolutely unnecessary. We didn’t learn anything the ghost writer hadn’t already written in the previous books. I seriously believe he just enjoys torturing his characters, especially the women, which is disturbing. The only good thing about this book is knowing that the disgusting father dies a painful death later on.
August 27, 2019
Vc Andrews Gabriel
Great book to read will keep you on your feet to read all of the chapters in the book. 😊
Great book to read will keep you on your feet to read all of the chapters in the book. 😊
September 27, 2017
Well the first part was alright but the latter was boring, cheesy and hard for me to finish but I made it. The longest I've taken to read a book in a while.
I think I would have enjoyed a book about the grandmother Katherine more than Ruby's mother.
Your father was a wonderful lover??? 😳 Does not sound like a good thing to say to your child. Lol I know she didn't mean sexually but it sounds that way. Lol
Rapes her and then tells her she's fine?!?!?! Ugh! It was nothing. So mad! I had thought they were romantic. Not rape!
He said Bonjour leaving. I thought it was only Hello.
I'm surprised and impressed by her father's anger. After the other books I didn't expect that.
It's really quite sad. All she's enduring all because she was raped?!?! Poor girl.
Well Gladys is crazy! Lol It was official for me, when she wet the bed.
Crazy that the placenta came out with the baby. I've never heard of that.
How cruel?! Won't even let her see her child.
Oh thank goodness. I was soooo scared she wouldn't get to see him.
I hate how so many of these books poo poos away how a relationship is wrong by the guy saying how could a love this pure be wrong? 😒
I also feel annoyed with her naivety but it's common. See it many times. People blinded to the truth.
I'm really struggling to get through this book. I'm so bored. I'm sick of hearing "how in love" they are. Repeat of other books. Even one in the series. I find this the sappy unbelievable love. I prefer romance when they don't have to repeat and say they are in love. I prefer when it's obvious by actions. Not in words. It's really driving me nuts. Ugh they annoy the heck out of me.
If you are like me skip chapter 12. Her mom knows. She writes a letter ending it with him for her mom threatened to go tell his wife. She meets up with him after he mildly stalked her. Lol They go on and on about how much he loves her. They go to their love nest. Burn the letter. Get it on. She sneaks home. He shows her a scarf/kerchief. Told her if it's tied to the dock he's around. Then she knows they can meet up. Giggity!
Pick up at page 251.
Boy do I dislike Pierre. Such a coward.
I'm very annoyed that she remained so in love with Pierre. Who had multiple affairs. Her heaven was being with him more or less. I choose no. Lol
I was pretty sad she passed though.
I think I would have enjoyed a book about the grandmother Katherine more than Ruby's mother.
Your father was a wonderful lover??? 😳 Does not sound like a good thing to say to your child. Lol I know she didn't mean sexually but it sounds that way. Lol
Rapes her and then tells her she's fine?!?!?! Ugh! It was nothing. So mad! I had thought they were romantic. Not rape!
He said Bonjour leaving. I thought it was only Hello.
I'm surprised and impressed by her father's anger. After the other books I didn't expect that.
It's really quite sad. All she's enduring all because she was raped?!?! Poor girl.
Well Gladys is crazy! Lol It was official for me, when she wet the bed.
Crazy that the placenta came out with the baby. I've never heard of that.
How cruel?! Won't even let her see her child.
Oh thank goodness. I was soooo scared she wouldn't get to see him.
I hate how so many of these books poo poos away how a relationship is wrong by the guy saying how could a love this pure be wrong? 😒
I also feel annoyed with her naivety but it's common. See it many times. People blinded to the truth.
I'm really struggling to get through this book. I'm so bored. I'm sick of hearing "how in love" they are. Repeat of other books. Even one in the series. I find this the sappy unbelievable love. I prefer romance when they don't have to repeat and say they are in love. I prefer when it's obvious by actions. Not in words. It's really driving me nuts. Ugh they annoy the heck out of me.
If you are like me skip chapter 12. Her mom knows. She writes a letter ending it with him for her mom threatened to go tell his wife. She meets up with him after he mildly stalked her. Lol They go on and on about how much he loves her. They go to their love nest. Burn the letter. Get it on. She sneaks home. He shows her a scarf/kerchief. Told her if it's tied to the dock he's around. Then she knows they can meet up. Giggity!
Pick up at page 251.
Boy do I dislike Pierre. Such a coward.
I'm very annoyed that she remained so in love with Pierre. Who had multiple affairs. Her heaven was being with him more or less. I choose no. Lol
I was pretty sad she passed though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2012
Pretty stereotypical for an Andrews novel:
1.) Hot, poor girl (generally blonde) who doesn't think highly of herself and who constantly thinks of other people and their happiness before her own gets raped (suprisingly, in this novel the girl wasn't raped by a family member).
2.) Hot girl gets pregnant, something happens to it/it dies/it gets taken away.
3.) Life sucks.
4.) Girl finds prince charming (who she may be related to, although not so in this book, surprisingly). Something happens to him/he dies/he leaves.
5.) Life continues to suck. There's no real happy ending.
6.) Meanwhile, throughout book, there's some crazy, mean, old b*tch that is contstantly going out of their way to make Hot Girl's life terrible. But, being self-depreciating and emotionally/mentally restrained, doesn't retaliate.
7.) All men in the story take advantage of/are mean to Hot Girl in some way, shape, or form. But, still being self-depreciating and emotionally/mentally restrained, still doesn't retaliate.
Honestly, though? Even though Andrew's novels (okay--not really Andrew's novels, since they're actually written by her estate-holders and signed in her name, or some sh*t) are basically the same, exact story over and over again (only with different names), the writing is easy and quick to read. It's good for when you need something to read but need to give your brain a rest, or if you need something to read while doing something else that requires a little more attention than the book itself, but there are moments of downtime where you need something to do/need something to keep yourself awake until the next thing happens.
1.) Hot, poor girl (generally blonde) who doesn't think highly of herself and who constantly thinks of other people and their happiness before her own gets raped (suprisingly, in this novel the girl wasn't raped by a family member).
2.) Hot girl gets pregnant, something happens to it/it dies/it gets taken away.
3.) Life sucks.
4.) Girl finds prince charming (who she may be related to, although not so in this book, surprisingly). Something happens to him/he dies/he leaves.
5.) Life continues to suck. There's no real happy ending.
6.) Meanwhile, throughout book, there's some crazy, mean, old b*tch that is contstantly going out of their way to make Hot Girl's life terrible. But, being self-depreciating and emotionally/mentally restrained, doesn't retaliate.
7.) All men in the story take advantage of/are mean to Hot Girl in some way, shape, or form. But, still being self-depreciating and emotionally/mentally restrained, still doesn't retaliate.
Honestly, though? Even though Andrew's novels (okay--not really Andrew's novels, since they're actually written by her estate-holders and signed in her name, or some sh*t) are basically the same, exact story over and over again (only with different names), the writing is easy and quick to read. It's good for when you need something to read but need to give your brain a rest, or if you need something to read while doing something else that requires a little more attention than the book itself, but there are moments of downtime where you need something to do/need something to keep yourself awake until the next thing happens.
September 9, 2016
I guess we won't know if Pearl marries Jack and becomes a doctor since this last book in the series is in the perspective of Gabriel, Ruby's mother. We already know what happens to Gabriel from the previous books, but it gives us a more in depth story of her life, her mother, and her father, Jack. I have to admit even with her father Jack always seeming to be drunk and getting into trouble, deep down he just wants what's best for his family. Jack and Gabriel's mother even have a funny sarcastic way about them that makes you smile.
This book tells us about Gabriel's life in the bayou after her high school graduation. Once the girls graduate, it seems like they should either have a boyfriend or be promised to someone. Unfortunately for Gabriel, doing what she loves to do, being alone in the swamp, gets her raped by Octavious Tate, a well to do married man. Jack straightens everything out by confronting Octavious, then his wife, Gladys. The Tates agree to pay Jack in return for Gabriel's baby (Paul). So the family wouldn't be shamed, and so Gladys could pretend to be pregnant, Gabriel is locked up in an attic room in the Tate's mansion, very similar to Flowers in the Attic.
Gabriel finds her true love with Pierre Dumas, and the same type of fate occurs when Gabriel gets pregnant and Pierre's wife Daphne makes the deal with Gabriel to give her baby to them. The book ends with the twins being born and Gabriel going to a better place.
This book tells us about Gabriel's life in the bayou after her high school graduation. Once the girls graduate, it seems like they should either have a boyfriend or be promised to someone. Unfortunately for Gabriel, doing what she loves to do, being alone in the swamp, gets her raped by Octavious Tate, a well to do married man. Jack straightens everything out by confronting Octavious, then his wife, Gladys. The Tates agree to pay Jack in return for Gabriel's baby (Paul). So the family wouldn't be shamed, and so Gladys could pretend to be pregnant, Gabriel is locked up in an attic room in the Tate's mansion, very similar to Flowers in the Attic.
Gabriel finds her true love with Pierre Dumas, and the same type of fate occurs when Gabriel gets pregnant and Pierre's wife Daphne makes the deal with Gabriel to give her baby to them. The book ends with the twins being born and Gabriel going to a better place.
Read
March 14, 2015 Growing up in a beautiful swamp area, Gabriel was a very joyful girl despite having an alcoholic as a father and a mother who didn't have a good relationship with her daughter. Her class mates would tease her because she loved to row her flat bottom boat down a canoe made of a hallowed tree trunk. She was nicknamed "La Femme Au Naturel," the Nature Girl. She was nicknamed this because she loved nature more than she loved romance.
Then, days before her High school graduation a rich cannery owner named Octavious Tate surprised her in a secluded pond and shatters her innocence.Nine months later pregnant and deserted of people, Gabriel agrees to a shocking plan that allows Octavious's wife to have full custody of Gabriel's child.Secluded in a play room in Tates mansion she was miserable and only had one visitor which was her mother despite there relationship.
Returning home to a place she loved, she fell into a state of denial of the loss of her child. Only being able to be brightened with glimpses of her son. As Jack Landry's reputation as a swamp guide grows, there is this hunting party which brings along a handsome guy named Creole millionaire Pierre Dumas to the bayou. Falling in love she is scared she will be hit with more grief than they can handle.
Then, days before her High school graduation a rich cannery owner named Octavious Tate surprised her in a secluded pond and shatters her innocence.Nine months later pregnant and deserted of people, Gabriel agrees to a shocking plan that allows Octavious's wife to have full custody of Gabriel's child.Secluded in a play room in Tates mansion she was miserable and only had one visitor which was her mother despite there relationship.
Returning home to a place she loved, she fell into a state of denial of the loss of her child. Only being able to be brightened with glimpses of her son. As Jack Landry's reputation as a swamp guide grows, there is this hunting party which brings along a handsome guy named Creole millionaire Pierre Dumas to the bayou. Falling in love she is scared she will be hit with more grief than they can handle.
September 25, 2016
And so concludes the Landry series. Gabriel had a very sad story and I would have enjoyed it if I had not already heard it through Ruby's narration. I don't understand the choice of a prequel at the end of the series...especially after the history has been so beaten into readers through the course of the first 4 books.
Anyway, Gabriel lives on the bayou with an alcoholic father and traiteur Mother. Catherine knows the ways of voodoo and is a respected member of the Louisiana community where Jack is the town joke. Gabriel is smart, pretty, and shy. One day while out on the swamp she crosses the richest man in town and he can't resist Gabriel's innocent blushes and rapes her on the shore. She, of course, becomes pregnant. The man who raped her has a reputation and a psychotic wife and Gladys sees the opportunity to "hide the shame" of the Landry's and take the baby as her own. So begins Gabriel's tale of woe as she finds true love only to have it ripped from her due to circumstances out of her control.
It's a VC Andrews book so it got really silly at times and had lots of loose ends that were...well, interesting but quite pointless to the overall story. The Landry series was really heavy and depressing...kind of like a trudge through the swamps.
Anyway, Gabriel lives on the bayou with an alcoholic father and traiteur Mother. Catherine knows the ways of voodoo and is a respected member of the Louisiana community where Jack is the town joke. Gabriel is smart, pretty, and shy. One day while out on the swamp she crosses the richest man in town and he can't resist Gabriel's innocent blushes and rapes her on the shore. She, of course, becomes pregnant. The man who raped her has a reputation and a psychotic wife and Gladys sees the opportunity to "hide the shame" of the Landry's and take the baby as her own. So begins Gabriel's tale of woe as she finds true love only to have it ripped from her due to circumstances out of her control.
It's a VC Andrews book so it got really silly at times and had lots of loose ends that were...well, interesting but quite pointless to the overall story. The Landry series was really heavy and depressing...kind of like a trudge through the swamps.
April 23, 2016
This was my first VC Andrews book. I remember I got it for free at the library I worked at in high school when they were discarding a bunch of paperbacks. And thus, my love of VC Andrews began. (later, I realized some were written by ghostwriters, but I still enjoyed them)
I didn't know this was part of a series when I read it, but it was perfect since it's the prequel before the series, so it's really book 1. I went on to read the rest of the series after. I think this book, however, stuck with me the most since it was the first I read.
Innocent girl raped, locked in an attic, gives the baby to the crazy wife of the man who raped her, etc. All very dark, twisty, and creepy. But it was so unlike anything I'd ever read before that I couldn't stop reading it.
I still have this book. One day, I'm going to pull it out and reread it all over again. It's one of my favorite VC Andrews books.
I didn't know this was part of a series when I read it, but it was perfect since it's the prequel before the series, so it's really book 1. I went on to read the rest of the series after. I think this book, however, stuck with me the most since it was the first I read.
Innocent girl raped, locked in an attic, gives the baby to the crazy wife of the man who raped her, etc. All very dark, twisty, and creepy. But it was so unlike anything I'd ever read before that I couldn't stop reading it.
I still have this book. One day, I'm going to pull it out and reread it all over again. It's one of my favorite VC Andrews books.
January 8, 2020
Ok so I'm reading slightly out of order again, but the last two books in the Landry series don't follow Ruby's storyline. This one follows Gabriel, her mother, the other one follows Pearl, her daughter.
Actually, I'm quite glad that the author chose to do a prequel book later, rather than sooner, because it gives the story more interest. Gabriel's story really isn't that interesting, but it is a bit more so because we already know about her daughter's story. Hints about Gabriel's upbringing are in the first three books so it's nice to have things come full circle.
However, it's not a need to read book. You can still enjoy Ruby's journey without this one. However it does fill in the gaps about Gabriel's life and the life Grandmere Catherine and Grandpere Jack had before Ruby came along.
All in all it's a nice addition to the series.
Actually, I'm quite glad that the author chose to do a prequel book later, rather than sooner, because it gives the story more interest. Gabriel's story really isn't that interesting, but it is a bit more so because we already know about her daughter's story. Hints about Gabriel's upbringing are in the first three books so it's nice to have things come full circle.
However, it's not a need to read book. You can still enjoy Ruby's journey without this one. However it does fill in the gaps about Gabriel's life and the life Grandmere Catherine and Grandpere Jack had before Ruby came along.
All in all it's a nice addition to the series.
May 18, 2017
There were some things that were actually a bit of an improvement from the previous four. And that would be an actual semblance of a somewhat developed relationship??? Not between Pierre and Gabriel, but Gabriel and Gladys. As bizarre as that whole thing was between them, there was unusually more focus on those two. Of coruse, Gladys was cray-cray, but we all knew that from the previous books.
Really don't know how to feel about Gabriel allowing for history to repeat itself when it came to her children... I find it hard to believe she'd so willingly give up the twins after what she went through after having to give up Paul. I'm just sayin.
Anyway, finally free of this series, can I get a hallelujah??!
Really don't know how to feel about Gabriel allowing for history to repeat itself when it came to her children... I find it hard to believe she'd so willingly give up the twins after what she went through after having to give up Paul. I'm just sayin.
Anyway, finally free of this series, can I get a hallelujah??!
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