Title: The Pledge
Series: Book 1 in A Pledge Series
Author: Kimberly Derting
Pub Date: November 2011
Pages: 338
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (Imprint of Simon & Schuster)
Source: I purchased this book when it came out in 2011.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In the violent country of Ludania, the language you speak determines your class, and there are harsh punishments if you forget your place—looking a member of a higher class in the eye can result in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina (Charlie for short) can understand all languages, a dangerous ability she’s been hiding her whole life. The only reprieve from oppression is within the drug-filled underground club scene. There, she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy who speaks a language she’s never heard, and her secret is almost exposed. As the violent clashes between the totalitarian monarchy and the rebel forces escalate, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible grip of a deadly regime.
This was my first read of 2014 and the book I wanted to start the year off with. I have had this book since it first came out and now that I have the complete trilogy I thought now would be the time to finally take it off my shelf to read and to read the series.
Kimberly Derting is also the author of The Body Finder series which is another series I own but haven’t read yet. Just a heads up, Kimberly has another new series starting and the first book in that series is called The Taking and it will be released April 2014. This one sounds really interesting and I can’t wait to read it.
I am making this the year to get caught up on the books I currently own in my collection.
I have to start off by saying that I really like the cover of this and the other books in this series.
The Pledge takes place in the country of Ludania. Its a post apocalyptic world. In this world the language that you speak determines where you fall into the society. Doing that wrong thing and getting caught could cost you your life.
The people of Ludania know exactly what to do. They know they are to pledge allegiance to the Queen, they know they are to support the public executions and they knew to keep their heads down when higher classes are in their presence. The Queen has instilled fear into her people and they know it.
The main character Charlie (Charlaina is her real name) knows she is different and she has to be careful because doing the wrong thing could get her into trouble. Charlie has a secret that only her parents know about and that is she can understand certain languages. Since Charlie is born (or so she things) in the vendor class she is only allowed to speak Englasise and she is suppose to let the other classes thing that is all she understands but at times she finds it hard to control it.
No book would be complete without a little teen romance and that comes in the form of a young soldier named Max that she meets at a club. She is intrigued by him because not only is he good looking but he also speaks another language she has never heard of before. She is surprised that Max knows so much about her. She soon begins to wonder if he knows her secret and if he does will it cost her her life?
Towards the end of the book things come to a head when violent clashes start to happen and it forces people to hid underground where secrets are revealed. How will Charlie handle things when she realizes things aren’t what they seem and that they people that she knew were actually leading a double life? How will Charlie react when she discovers that she holds the key to something much better then she every imaged?
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started to read the book but I knew I wanted to take my time in reading it so that I could enjoy it more even though at times I just wanted to fly through the book. I am happy that I did take the time to read it because I enjoyed it. I am excited to start the second book The Essence.
I really like all the characters in the book with the exception to Brooke because she comes off as self centered and its all about her and her being happy. I have to say my favorite was Max. There was something about him that I wanted to read and find out more about. I was surprised to find out where he really placed in the social scheme of the country. Totally not what I was expecting.
I thought that Kimberly did a fantastic job and there was alot of twist and turns in the book that I didn’t find to be predictable. You never knew what was going to happen.
Have you read this? What did you think of it?
copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.