#Friday Review - Jubilee Manor (Landry Park #2) by Bethany Hagen (Young Adult, Dystopian)

Series: Landry Park 2
Format: Hardcover, 387 pages
Release Date: August 11, 2015
Publisher: Dial Books
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

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.

Jubilee Manor is the second part of a two-part duology called Landry Park. This story picks up right where Landry Park left off. Madeline Landry, along with her Uncle Jack (aka Stephen Landry), have come together in hopes that they can bring an end to the centuries old resentment between the Gentry and Rootless. I beg your patience as I summarize without spoiling anything that happened in the previous novel. Hagen has created a world where 200 years ago, the Eastern Empire lead by the the Chinese, invaded the US and took a large part of the Western US as their own.

As in the previous novel, they have since hinted at striking back again if the leaders don't do exactly as they say. They have even supported the Rootless in their revolution. The Eastern Empire has pretty much turned the US into a third world country that isn't allowed to have access to certain things like Oil. There are two factions in this new United States. The Gentry and the Rootless. The Gentry (Madeline Landry's family) controls all of the resources and rule through connections and influence. The Rootless, the lowest class, are oppressed and given the worst jobs which subject them to radiation poisoning from handling Cherenkov Lanterns and its waste. The Rootless have a life expectancy of only 30 years because of the exposure.  

The obvious message in this series is that if you destroy the Gentry class, then everything will be equal all around. Everyone will experience the same pains and suffering. Everyone will share equal burdens of ensuring the success of a nation. It's called the Robin Hood economic effect. Steal from the Rich, give to the poor so that the poor won't have to do anything to help themselves. But, there are those among both groups that would rather see the so called peace talks that have been brokered by Jack disrupted in a major way. When Madeline's friends, heirs to their families fortunes, are murdered, it appears as though the Rootless are responsible.

One of the best ways to describe Madeline in this book is to say that she goes into crusade mode and doesn't back down from any challenges. She's watched her father dethroned by his brother. She's watched as he somehow survived being exposed to radiation. She's damn sure not going to allow murderers to destroy everything that she's tried to work for. She knows that in the end, if everything works out, her prosperity, and lifestyle will be removed forever. Then again, she would also have the opportunity to finally do what she's always wanted; go to college, and marry who she wants. The best thing about Madeline is that she actually becomes the leader that she was expected to be, and her relationship with her father is more enjoyable than before.

There are more than a few twists in this book. As we left Landry Park behind, there were questions about the Landry bloodline, and whether or not Madeline would actually marry Captain David Dana, or find happiness with Jude. I dare say that the shock/surprise about Jude was in no way what I had expected or hoped for. I am happy to announce that the triangle of doom was definitely wrapped up in a brilliant way because of THAT revelation about Jude. My only angst about loving David and Madeline together is that they if they would just take 5 minutes to sit down and discuss what was happening, a whole lot of hurt and pain would have been avoided. 

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#Wednesday Review - Landry Park by Bethany Hagen (Young Adult, Dystopian)

Series: Landry Park # 1
Format: Hardcover, 374 pages
Release Date: February 4, 2015
Publisher: Dial
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Dystopian

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.

Bethany Hagen's Landry Park has left me with so many emotions, that it is hard for me to explain why I am rating this book with 3 stars or why I decided to pick up the sequel from the library. 17-year old Madeline Landry is the story's primary protagonist. She lives in what is apparently 24th century America where there is a pretty apparent caste system with the Gentry ruling over what are known as the Rootless. She is a direct descendant of the man, Jacob Landry, who created nuclear powered lighting called Cherenkov lantern.

The problem with the lantern is that it needs to be regularly changed and replaced by the lowest caste system in this society. That leads to short life spans, and immense hostility. So, while the Rootless are struggling to survive, Madeleine spends her days reading, learning, attending balls, tea parties, and preparing for her debut in society. What she really wants, is to attend university but her father has no intentions of allowing her to go. The problem with this particular society is that as the oldest and only daughter of the Landry's, she is expected to marry and take over the Landry empire before she turns 21.

I'll say this about Madeline, she mostly held her ground on this issue until it wasn't a choice. She was left with absolutely no choice of going through with her so called debut, and was left choosing between who will become her husband. Madeline's outlook on the caste system changes when her nemesis and fellow Gentry Cara Westoff is found apparently assaulted. This leads to Madeline's father and others blaming the Rootless. This leads Madeline to helping a so called resistance group within the Rootless that want to tear up the caste system, and give everyone a fair shot at getting what they want out of life. Equal and level playing field for everyone. Sounds like Social Justice, right?

Anyway, let's talk about the world building for a moment. ::crickets:: No really, there is none. There is talk about China and an Eastern Alliance attacking the US and taking a major chunk out of the US right up until Colorado. There is talk about China preventing the US from having access to trading partners, oil, and other necessities. Consider that the US has a gluttony of oil resources available, I don't see that happening. I for one am tired of hearing about rising oceans that will destroy the largest cities in this country like NYC, and Miami. We've been hearing this same theory ever since men first walked on the moon.    

Madeline finds herself drawn to the everyone wants him, David Dana. But, that isn't good enough for Hagen. Nope. She later adds Jude MacAvery to the triangle mix and then punts him in the nuts when it becomes apparent that Madeline has fallen hard for David and she can't get up again. I personally can't remember the last time I used so many expletives towards a certain character. I can't remember the last time I loathed almost every single character in ONE book, especially Madeline's father and the way he treats both his wife and his daughter and of course, the Rootless. I can't remember the last time I've read a book where there was a FORCED triangle shoved into our faces.

This is why I choose to continue this series. After the events of this book, there will be changes to everyone from the gentry to the Rootless. There is also a certain secret that I will not share about why the Landry's have all gone through a major sickness over the course of their lifetimes. Hagen hasn't touched on the reason yet, but with Madeline's cousin on the case, it is only a matter of time before that is exposed and revealed as well. As for the romance, I dare say that I don't care for the way Jude was handled, or treated. I think writers have got to get over themselves when it comes to triangles of any kind. Someone always loses. Someone always gets their hearts broken. 

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