Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Pledge

Series: The Pledge #1

Author: Kimberly Derting

Genre: YA, dystopian

Publication date: November 2011

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry

Source: Borrowed

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Synopsis:

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.

My rating: ★★★★☆
I love Kimberly Derting and her Body Finder series, so I was very excited to start this one! And just like The Body Finder, The Pledge was another original story you cant help but get sucked into!

The concept of the story was very unique, and is what captivated my attention in the first place. The idea that society is split up into a class system, each with their own language? It was brilliant and amazing! Well, not so amazing for the characters in the book, otherwise it wouldn't be called a dystopian... but you know what I mean ;)

Charlie's ability to understand any language is VERY cool, and the reason behind it very interesting, although it didn't surprise. There was a lot of obvious foreshadowing that made me figure out ahead of time, and I don't know if that was intended. Anyway, I like being surprised, and when Charlie found out this huge secret on her own, I didn't have that "surprise!" factor, unfortunately.

However, there were plenty of other plot twists I did NOT see coming! Max... charming, swoon-worthy Max... his Deep Dark Secret surprised the pants off of me!! Not literally, mind you. That would've been awkward, lol. And if I thought that was shocking, imagine me when we found out about Xander's Deep Dark Secret... My head was reeling! Amazing plot twists I tell ya! I SO did not see those coming! And I'm not telling you what they are because, HELLO, spoilers!! ;) And oh my gods I almost forgot about Brook! *shakes head in amazement* So many surprises...

As much as I loved Max and Charlie, I think another of my favorite characters was the little sis Angelina. She was just SO adorable! And she also surprised me there at the end, helping out her big sis with her amazing ability, which can I just say, I loved! For being so young, Angelina is a very deep character and so mature for her age. I really liked her.

Overall, I thought it was a rather fantastic dystopian! After that crazy ending with the Evil Queen that leaves you, "What?! Did that just really happen? Oh my gods!" I seriously cannot wait to see what happens next!

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a comment! :)