Landry Park & Jubilee Manor

September 11, 2015 Heidi ARC, Book Review, Giveaway 6

I received this ARC from Publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I recently read and enjoyed Bethany Hagen’s two book set Landry Park and Jubilee Manor. Since I read both books so close together I thought I’d talk about them both in this post. Here’s a bit about each one:

Landry Park:

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

In a fragmented future United States ruled by the lavish gentry, seventeen-year-old Madeline Landry dreams of going to the university. Unfortunately, gentry decorum and her domineering father won’t allow that. Madeline must marry, like a good Landry woman, and run the family estate. But her world is turned upside down when she discovers the devastating consequences her lifestyle is having on those less fortunate. As Madeline begins to question everything she has ever learned, she finds herself increasingly drawn to handsome, beguiling David Dana. Soon, rumors of war and rebellion start to spread, and Madeline finds herself and David at the center of it all. Ultimately, she must make a choice between duty – her family and the estate she loves dearly – and desire.

Jubilee Manor:

The thrilling conclusion to Landry Park is full of love, betrayal, and murder–perfect for fans of Divergent, The Selection, and Pride and Prejudice

In Landry Park, Madeline turned her back on her elite family, friends, and estate to help the Rootless. Now, in Jubilee Manor, she struggles to bring the Gentry and the Rootless together. But when Gentry heirs—Madeline’s old friends—are murdered, even she begins to think a Rootless is behind it, putting her at odds with the boy she loves and the very people she is trying to lead. If she can’t figure out who is killing her friends and bring them to justice, a violent war will erupt and even more will die—and Madeline’s name, her estate, and all the bonds she’s forged won’t make any difference.

This conclusion to Landry Park, which VOYA dubbed “Gone with the Wind meets The Hunger Games,” is a richly satisfying, addictive read.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this series. It was the second or third I read this year that took place in a future that has a social structure much like the past. I found this really interesting. I loved learning more about what the society looked like and how it was formed. This one was by far my favorite of the ones I read. There was a lot more focus on some of the political aspects that affected the society. This was a strong point of the series for me. It was super interesting and not at all dry (and I normally am not someone who focuses on the political side of things!)

The world in these books really was my favorite part. I loved the mix of old and new. As someone who is a fan of Regency romance novels, I felt familiar with the upper class/working class dichotomy. The balls, the dresses, the drama… these are things I love. Even better is a privileged main character challenging the status quo.

Madeline Landry does that to the max. I loved her! Her eyes are opened to the world at large, not just the pretty parts she’s used to seeing. Once this happens she knows her life cannot go on without drastic change. This is the kind of fierce girl I love to see. She’s someone who goes after what she thinks is right simply because it’s important… not because of anything she’s going to get in return.

Landry Park and Jubilee Manor were books right up my alley. I loved that they had the historical feel blended with aspects of a dystopian future. Highly recommend.

Giveaway:

Thanks to Penguin Teen I have FIVE paperback copies of Landry Park to giveaway. To enter us the rafflecopter below. US only. Must be 13 or older to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway