The Pledge
By Kimberly Derting
Goodreads
In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.
Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.
In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.
Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.
Review - No Spoilers
I just finished this book and wow am I greatly surprised. I read the summary on Goodreads and I thought it would be an interesting dystopian. To be honest I hadn't heard much about it and the low reviews on it left me with low expectations. Thankfully my school library had it so I was able to read it for the holidays.
Now I'm going to start off with the cover. It's really interesting and it was one of the things that drew me towards it. It's all dark and mysterious and the title - The Pledge - also created more curiosity within me.
The layout of this book was separated into two parts which I liked for some reason. It also changes perspectives which I thought would annoy me but it didn't because it only changed between 1st person and 3rd person which I love. I think an author has to be really skilled to change point of views between characters and Kimberly Derting did a wonderful job of it. I can get extremely picky with a book when it changes POV's.
Now if the summary hasn't already interested you then I hope my review convinces you to go read it. Trust me when I say this novel is a brilliant dystopian. Kimberly Derting has done an excellent job with setting up the whole world. It has it's own history and back-story and it is described well which is needed for any good story. Sometimes I find that dystopians can lack in that area therefore making it more unrealistic.
Some key factors that sort of annoyed me while reading is the almost insta-lovey thing going on. I don't want to spoil anything but I don't really like insta-love as I find it unrealistic. Also Charlie annoyed me at times because she was worrying about the romance when she should be worrying about the life or death situation. But these were only minor issues so it doesn't really change my opinion on the book. We do need some good romance to lighten the mood.
The interesting plot twists left my mind reeling. I didn't see some of the things coming from a mile away and it left me wondering whether I just wasn't paying attention to detail but yeah...I didn't suspect a thing. I guess that's what the author wanted so congratulations to her as that is a major achievement. But I did sort of predict the ending but that didn't make it any less spectacular. I can't wait to read the next book The Essence as I am sure there is going to be more action as there are going to be new and more struggles for Charlaina!
I haven't done this in my reviews before but there is a first for everything. My favourite quote:
"I loved voices, I always had. Words held meaning, but voices held emotion"I RATE THIS:
4 comments
Great review!
ReplyDeleteI really don't like it when two characters fall in love at first sight so I'm a bit hesitant with this book.
Marian ^_^ x
Yes I really don't like insta-love but it was still a good book.
DeleteI love great world building but I'm not a fan of insta-love. Nice review!
ReplyDeleteThe insta-love annoyed me, but I was a fan of Max so I kind of just went along with it, haha. I love the quote you included at the end. Fab review!
ReplyDelete