Review & Giveaway: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

The Pledge

By: Kimberly Derting

Pub. Date: November 15, 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 320

Source: GalleyGrab

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.

 At first, I didn't have much interest in The Pledge, but I decided to read it because I am a huge fan of Kimberly Derting's The Body Finder series. Now that I read it, I am so glad that I did! I loved it. It was very original, I thought the plot was interesting and I really enjoyed the characters.

In the world of The Pledge, the Queen rules. Her word is final and her subjects are frightened of her. In the Queen's land of Ludania, there is a class system. No one is allowed to look into the eye of someone in a higher class then them. Every class has their own language, and no one under that class should know that language. But Charlaina (also known as Charlie) can understand every single language she hears, and she has no idea why. This is very dangerous and if anyone ever found out, she would be executed.

I really enjoyed Charlie's character. There wasn't much growth between the beginning and end of the book, but I don't think Charlie needed it. She was very mature and it has been extremely hard for her to hide her powers.  She would do anything to protect her family and friends but she is still a teenage girl at heart.

Charlie's best friends are Brooklynn and Aron. I thought both of them were really interesting, but I would have liked to know more about them. With Brooklynn we definitely see another side of her, but I still didn't think it was enough.

Charlie's love interest was Max. He is a very complicated character with secrets of his own, but he was a really good guy. I didn't think the connection between Charlie and Max was very realistic, but I still loved them together.

I also loved Xander!! I hope we learn a lot more about him in the second book. Now he was one complex guy!

The Queen is merciless and terrifying. She will kill whoever stands in her way.  She is definitely an evil character, but also very interesting!

Overall, I really enjoyed The Pledge. I can't wait to read the second book, because the ending of this one was absolutely insane!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

For two lucky winners, I have a passport (every single subject of the Queen's have to carry their passport around) signed by Kimberly Derting herself! I will also send The Pledge bookmark and stickers. The below picture shows the back and front of the passport with the other goodies you can win!

Please fill out the form to enter. Giveaway ends November 28, 2011.

Giveaway ended. Thanks to all who entered!