Monday, March 12, 2012

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting


Genre:  YA Dystopian Fantasy

Description (taken from Kimberly Derting's website):
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.

So, I was surprised with this book.  When I first heard about it, I was definitely intrigued.  But I'm not a big fan of The Body Finder books, so I waited to read this one.  However, I don't think classifying this novel as pure dystopian is accurate.  The setting isn't this world set in the future (unless you add some paranormal influence to it).  Hence I added fantasy to the genre.

I can't really describe any bit of the book without ruining the plot for you.  It is an intricate book that gives you piece after piece to help you build the puzzle.  Granted, I wasn't completely hooked until halfway through the book.

The only drawback I have is everything seemed to fit in a little too well.  Like it was a match made in heaven.  As long as you don't question the story as it unfolds, then you'll be fine reading the book.  It also seemed like this book could be a standalone novel, but it's not.  So I'll most likely be reading the next one next year...


Challenges:  Young Adult Reading Challenge

1 comment:

  1. Ive had this on my reading list for so long, everyone seems to love it so much so I hope to read it soon!
    Janiera @This is From my Heart

    ReplyDelete

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