The Pledge by Kimberly Derting {Book Review}

Happy Monday, and happy new month!

I know we’re already more than halfway into the month, but I just needed to take a break from the online world to focus on life.

I’m sharing my review on the book The Pledge, the first book of The Pledge trilogy by Kimberly Derting.

I love the cover of the book, especially of this edition of it, and it made me wonder what the story behind it could be. Clearly, it’s the main character from the book and since she’s pretty important, she’s highlighted right on the front.

At first I thought this could be a dystopian novel, but the more I got into it, the more I decided against it because of its magical aspects as well as an evil queen involved.

The idea of how language dictates your class is also very unique and that’s one of the hooks that got me on this book.

The book is pretty hard to review without giving away too much of the plot so I’m going to tread carefully here.

DISCLAIMER: This review could contain possible spoilers based on my opinions. All opinions and views are my own.

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Plot:

In the country of Ludania, ruled by the evil and ancient queen Sabara, the classes are divided by the spoken language.

Even the smallest offence results in immediate execution.

Charlaina, or Charlie, is able to understand all the languages, and as it’s forbidden, she has spent her whole life hiding this secret.

The only place people can feel free is in the drug-fuelled underground clubs, where everyone is the same and no ones cares about the rules.

That’s where she meets Max, the mysterious boy who speaks a language she has never heard before, but understands and her secret is almost discovered. Charlie can’t figure Max out, nor where his loyalties lie.

When emergency drills signal a crisis and violence erupts in her town, Charlie is met with a secret that has been hidden from her for her own protection. That she might be the key to freedom against the terrible regime the evil queen has placed on them.

Thoughts:

Charlie at first comes across as nothing really special. Sure, she can understand languages that she’s not supposed to, but if you take that away, she’s a pretty average teenager. She’s devoted to her family and friends, especially to her little sister, Angelina. They share an amazing bond which is something out of this world, and not entirely understandable until later in the book.

Aron, one of Charlie’s best friends, is just the boy next door with a heart of gold and a loyalty to last for years. Actually, you feel sorry for how under appreciated he is, even though he doesn’t realise this, and no one else seems to bat an eye about it.

The other friend, Brooklyn – you’re on the fence with her. You want to like her for all her energy and spontaneousness but at the same time she’s pretty selfish and I wondered many times why Charlie remained friends with her. What comes to her rescue is her secret – it’s mind-blowing. One of the best twists in the book, so to say.

I was worried about a love triangle kicking off, especially with Aron around, and with Max in the picture, but I mistook his loyalty for puppy affection. Thank goodness, no love triangles to sit through in this book.

However, there is some strong insta-love going on and some pretty hard eye-rolling moments

The book had a slow beginning and didn’t feel like it was going in any specific direction, even when the mystery boy, Max, is thrown into the mix, you’re still left wondering where is this plot going.

Max was kind of a predictable character to figure out, even with the few details disclosed about him in the first few chapters, and didn’t make him out to be anyone real special, despite who he is.

Overview:

I enjoyed Derting’s writing and the way she build the world for the story. The book has good language and has different paces throughout the story, ranging from slow to fast.

The middle of the book left me questioning the Young Adult status of the book a little.

The book doesn’t end on a cliffhanger but leaves you with the idea that something sinister is coming in the next book.