Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Series: The Pledge #1

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.

Yes, another YA/Dystopian book from me. I'm on a roll. I really enjoy them (dystopians) because of the grittiness of the world and the maturity level of the characters in the book. There's no running into immature teen angst here. The story ensures that the character is not a weak character; even if they started out that way, there's a good chance for growth.

I prefer the strong, independent, responsible characters who are will to put themselves into dangerous situations to survive or to provide for others. They don't wallow, mope, or give-up just because there's a huge obstacle (that may extend to life or death situations) in their way. I admire that so I like reading about it. I don't know, I think it just puts things into perspective for me when it's that kind of misery in a totally pathetic atmosphere - a dystopian world.

If you haven't picked this up yet, do it. There were some twists in here and there that I didn't quite get until I got towards the end of the book. Sometimes, it's just so easy to see the way the author is going with a book, but this was entertaining, riveting, and it kept me on my toes guessing what was going to happen next. I loved the story and it didn't have a cliff-hanger at all, which I really appreciate. It just left us off... well, wanting more, which is understandable, but it left us off at a good ending point of book one in the series.

I honestly don't know where it can go from here. I mean, there must be more twists and turns to make this good book into a great series. But so much has been unfolded from this first book already. Where to now? I can take a guess it will be about the war in the book and the current leaders... but yeah, we'll see.

I would recommend this book. It's a good, enjoyable read :0)