yabooktwins: Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

In the violent country of Ludania, the language you speak determines what class you are, 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. Her only place of release is the drug-filled underground club scene, where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. There, she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy who speaks a language she’s never heard, and her secret is almost exposed. Through a series of violent upheavals, it becomes clear that Charlie herself is the key to forcing out the oppressive power structure of her kingdom…. (Summary as found on Amazon)

Review by @marymunar

For some reason, I forgot all about The Pledge. I even remember before it’s release how excited I was to read it. Months later, the book lay untouched. Until recently, and thank goodness my bookTwin reminded me about it too, because I loved it! I loved the story, the characters, the writing, the world-building. Everything was amazing. Kimberly Derting wrote a beautiful story set in a post-revolutionary world of different caste systems governed by powerful queens. In this new world, Charlie lives with her young sister and parents, hiding a dangerous secret. I loved this plot. It had so many great elements in it- romance, war, magic, mystery. I was also very pleased with the pacing of the book. I was enchanted with the storyline and easily became invested in the lives of the characters.

5 out of 5 Stars

Read the first chapter for free

Author: Kimberly Derting

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (An imprint of Simon & Schuster)

Release Date: November 15, 2011

Series: Trilogy

Pages: 336

Genre: dystopian, fantasy

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Purchase: Indiebound or Amazon