Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Genre: Dystopian, Romance, Fantasy
Rating: YA 14+
Pages: 323
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.
Kimberly Derting did it with the fabulous Body Finder series, and now she has done it again! I thoroughly enjoyed The Pledge just as much as her other books, if not more. What I really love is how The Pledge is so different from all the other Dystopian novels out there right now, and has such a strong and clever premise (which is very hard to accomplish!). Fast-paced, with surprises at every corner, and a thrilling romance to die for, I finished it in one go... it left me yearning for so much more. In The Pledge, I see a very promising beginning for a great Dystopian trilogy that quite possibly, only Derting could pull off.
As I said before, the idea behind this Dystopian novel really is just so brilliant. Derting portrays a futuristic world that is completely segregated by language. It is, in a way, just a more dramatic image of our world today, which is what made this book so effective and scary.
I also noticed that Charlie, the main character in The Pledge, is a much stronger character and has more of a definite personality than Violet, the main character in The Body Finder series. But, they both had their similarities too. Head-strong, with a stubborn, winner's attitude, Charlie is a totally rockin' rebel!
It could be possible (and I'm certainly hoping so!), that Kimberly Derting is getting better and better in each book. I mean, each Body Finder book was better than the last, and I also think that I enjoyed The Pledge just a teensy bit more than The Body Finder series. So I think I might be on to something... and if I'm right, we are all going to be in for such a treat!
I loved all of the other characters as well. Especially Max, who I think deserves the award for BEST BOYFRIEND EVER (alongside Jay from TBF). *sigh* I love everything about him. I love the way he would risk his life for Charlie... the selfless way he pledged to protect her. I also love the fact that there is a darkish and more dangerous side to him. Me want more!
I would highly recommend this book to everyone, and anyone. If you haven't read The Body Finder series, or The Pledge, it is quite possible that you have not yet experienced the true meaning of awesome.
5 Muffins - Positively Enticing!
If you like this, try:
Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie
Delirium (Delirium #1) by Lauren Oliver
Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth
The Goose Girl (The Books of Bayern #1) by Shannon Hale
Uglies (Uglies #1) by Scott Westerfield
Related Media: Kimberly Derting talks about The Pledge
I have got to read this book asap. It sounds like an awesome read.
ReplyDeleteBook Enslaved
I have this one on hold at the library and now after your review, I don't know of I can wait. I loved The Body Finder and if this is as good as that like you say, I will have another on my fave list! Thanks so much for your review!
ReplyDeleteJaime
So glad you liked the book! Thanks for the review (:
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this book yet, but I'm excited to! Definitely on my wish-list.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Followed (:
Just reading your review for this makes me smile! I'm glad that you loved it so much more than I did -- it always takes a positive review of a book that I wasn't as in love with to make me go, "Oh, yeah! That part WAS pretty great!" So thank you for that, TBG! :) And hahahaaa Max WAS a total sweetheart, wasn't he? x)
ReplyDeleteAwesome review, TBG! <3
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I had a couple of issues with this one but I love seeing what other people think and disagree with my opinions. That's the beauty of books after all :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't really like the characters for this book but I found the plot absolutely absorbing, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I sped through desperate to know what happened next. I definitely want to check out the sequel.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't get into Body Finders but loved the Pledge. Thanks for review.
ReplyDeleteBrandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog