Author: Kimberly Derting
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Publication Date: November 15, 2011
Genre: YA, Dystopian
How I Got It: From the publisher for review
Goodreads Summary:
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.
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.
The book starts a bit slowly, but it gives us time to orient ourselves in Charlie's world. Derting doesn't overload us with information and we still learn more about Ludania as the story progress, but we get just enough to get comfortable with our characters and learn the basic rules of their world. There are quite a few rules but only one punishment: Death.
Ludania's entire society as been separated into castes and each caste given its own language, school, professions, and district to live in. When a person of a higher cast speaks in their language, those of a lower caste must not look at them. If they are caught looking or are even suspected of understanding what is being said, then that person can be put to death. It's an interesting type of class warfare, you have nothing to fear from those below you but everything to fear from those above. The lives of those lower in caste mean nothing, it's almost a game to have people, including children, executed. This system prevents people from different walks of life from banding together and overthrowing the government. Their whole society is based on separation and undying loyalty to the queen. Charlie's problem is obvious, nobody can know that she understands the other languages being spoken around her. She's had years of practice, but occasionally she slips up, she can't help it as she cannot "turn off" her ability. She and her family live in fear that Charlie's gift for languages will be discovered and she'll be sent to the gallows.
Despite the actions taken over the centuries to prevent revolution, Ludania is caught up in one. The current queen is cruel and the rebellion hopes a new queen will help the country thrive once more. The rebels are slowly advancing on the capital and the aging Queen Sabara is not as strong as she once was. She needs a female heir to take the throne. She and the rebels desperately follow rumors of surviving heirs to a former royal family. If a female heir can be found, her powers would be strong, no matter how distant her connection to royalty. The rebels would use her to overthrow the tyrannical Sabara and install their own queen. Sabara would use her to ensure the status quo. Charlie slips up at the wrong time and all eyes fall on her as a potential heir. Charlie just wants to fly under the radar and stay with her family. Unfortunately she has to deal with government mandated curfews, friends with a tendency for trouble, rebel bombings, and an unexpected infatuation with the handsome and dangerously observant Max.
The very first chapter was great and I was immediately caught up in the story. It slowed down a bit after that, but it gives the reader time to learn the rules of Charlie's world and get a feel for the supporting characters. Her parents will do anything to protect their daughters and they all live under the specter of being discovered and executed. Charlie has two best friends, the wonderful Aron and the dangerous party girl Brooklyn. We learn very little about Aron but can tell he's a good friend. I didn't like Brook, her few good points never outweighed the selfishness of her actions. But Charlie is loyal to her and lets Brook pout and get her way. When she meets Max they are instantly attracted to each other. Charlie isn't used to these new emotions and obsessions and they make her uncomfortable. She can tell that he has dangerous secrets and shouldn't be trusted, but Charlie can't keep her mind off of him. While I thought this aspect of the story made sense I did get tired of the constant reminders that Max's touch made her feels shocks, tingles, sparkles, electricity, etc. While we only see the beginnings of their relationship, the romance didn't seem to have the importance that the last few lines of the story gave it.
The Pledge moves quickly and before you know it the story has ended, and rather abruptly too. Events seem to push Charlie, and the reader, along to an inevitable confrontation. While I liked this book, there seems to be something missing from it but I can't put my finger on it. I think maybe the story will work better as part of a series than all by itself (as it currently is).
Ludania's entire society as been separated into castes and each caste given its own language, school, professions, and district to live in. When a person of a higher cast speaks in their language, those of a lower caste must not look at them. If they are caught looking or are even suspected of understanding what is being said, then that person can be put to death. It's an interesting type of class warfare, you have nothing to fear from those below you but everything to fear from those above. The lives of those lower in caste mean nothing, it's almost a game to have people, including children, executed. This system prevents people from different walks of life from banding together and overthrowing the government. Their whole society is based on separation and undying loyalty to the queen. Charlie's problem is obvious, nobody can know that she understands the other languages being spoken around her. She's had years of practice, but occasionally she slips up, she can't help it as she cannot "turn off" her ability. She and her family live in fear that Charlie's gift for languages will be discovered and she'll be sent to the gallows.
Despite the actions taken over the centuries to prevent revolution, Ludania is caught up in one. The current queen is cruel and the rebellion hopes a new queen will help the country thrive once more. The rebels are slowly advancing on the capital and the aging Queen Sabara is not as strong as she once was. She needs a female heir to take the throne. She and the rebels desperately follow rumors of surviving heirs to a former royal family. If a female heir can be found, her powers would be strong, no matter how distant her connection to royalty. The rebels would use her to overthrow the tyrannical Sabara and install their own queen. Sabara would use her to ensure the status quo. Charlie slips up at the wrong time and all eyes fall on her as a potential heir. Charlie just wants to fly under the radar and stay with her family. Unfortunately she has to deal with government mandated curfews, friends with a tendency for trouble, rebel bombings, and an unexpected infatuation with the handsome and dangerously observant Max.
While I really wanted to read this book I just wasn't in the mood for it. But, even though it wasn't what I wanted at that exact moment, I knew that Derting's stories always pull me right in and don't let go until the end. The Pledge was no exception.
The very first chapter was great and I was immediately caught up in the story. It slowed down a bit after that, but it gives the reader time to learn the rules of Charlie's world and get a feel for the supporting characters. Her parents will do anything to protect their daughters and they all live under the specter of being discovered and executed. Charlie has two best friends, the wonderful Aron and the dangerous party girl Brooklyn. We learn very little about Aron but can tell he's a good friend. I didn't like Brook, her few good points never outweighed the selfishness of her actions. But Charlie is loyal to her and lets Brook pout and get her way. When she meets Max they are instantly attracted to each other. Charlie isn't used to these new emotions and obsessions and they make her uncomfortable. She can tell that he has dangerous secrets and shouldn't be trusted, but Charlie can't keep her mind off of him. While I thought this aspect of the story made sense I did get tired of the constant reminders that Max's touch made her feels shocks, tingles, sparkles, electricity, etc. While we only see the beginnings of their relationship, the romance didn't seem to have the importance that the last few lines of the story gave it.
The Pledge moves quickly and before you know it the story has ended, and rather abruptly too. Events seem to push Charlie, and the reader, along to an inevitable confrontation. While I liked this book, there seems to be something missing from it but I can't put my finger on it. I think maybe the story will work better as part of a series than all by itself (as it currently is).
Verdict:
The Pledge has a gripping first chapter, slows down a bit, but then action ratchets back up and hurtles along to the ending. The story is a tad predictable, but I enjoyed the world Derting created and look forward to more books in the series. It's a fun read and a solid 4 stars.
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5 comments:
I definitely understand not being in the mood for certain books, but it's good to know that despite that, the story and characters still pulled you in for the most part:) I don't care for abrupt endings, especially when I have to wait a whole year for the next book, but I still really want to read this one. Awesome review!
November 13, 2011 at 11:20 AM@ Jenny - It was an enjoyable read. So far I prefer her Body Finder books and I was a bit disapointed that I didn't immediately fall in love with Max like I did with Jay (sigh, Jay…) but I think things will improve in later books.
November 13, 2011 at 12:34 PMHmm... Your review is possibly the first "positive" one I read for this book. I had already written the book off as not for me, but you've made me reconsider. I like when the story gives readers time to adjust to the world that's introduced. So many times, little details are left out and that bugs me. Glad to know that wasn't the case here.
November 13, 2011 at 7:03 PMThanks for the objective review, Jennifer.
What I liked most about this book was the world she had created (even if it annoyed me that I did not get to know more.) So I could look past a few things ;)
November 19, 2011 at 9:35 AM@ Missie - Try it from the library, it was an entertaining read. I do wish that the book had a bit more "meat" to it as it were, but I think we'll get more as the series progresses.
November 19, 2011 at 10:20 AM@ Blodeuedd - I was willing to overlook the lack of some details because I'm hoping we'll get more with future books.
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