The Pledge by Kimberly Derting EARLY REVIEW

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting (The Pledge #1)

Egalley thanks to Simon & Schuster


Synopsis from Goodreads
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.
Buy from The Book Depository

* * *

I can tell you straight away that the language is the strongest point of this book. It's easy, hugely entertaining, vivid, simple, and you just fly through the pages.

Like in any fairy tale, and this is a classic fairy tale, make no mistake, - the characters are simple and straightforward, there is no depth in them. You have your Cinderella and Prince Charming, your Evil Queen and various loyal friends, servants and henchmen.

The big downside of this lovely story is the world building. It's weak and hugely underdeveloped. It starts like dystopia, but there are just too many things that don't add up, so it slips into fantasy mash-up.


If you're just able to ignore it, you'll enjoy the story like I did. Yeah, yeah, this is the world of some obscure future with no trace of technology... Oh, wait there are bombs and guns! But no sign of PCs and the rest of the personal gadgets apart from vague royal database. I see that there are trains, but no mention of planes. A strict class system, but too many illegal clubs where 16-year-old girls can slip away and get their drug/alcohol of choice... hm-m...


LOL. I'm stopping my rant right now. Despite the discrepancies, the plot didn't irritate me like it did in Eve by Anna Carey. Perhaps because it went straight into fantasy realm. Charlaina and Max were adorable with an addition of her cute little sister and her irritating BFF Brooklyn. I wanted to know more about Xander and Max's bodyguards, but their characters didn't develop.


Overall, if you love fairy tales, this is for you. If you wanted a nitty-gritty dystopia, better skip this one.

* * *

Сразу говорю, что книга мне понравилась только потому, что у меня получилось закрыть глаза на её недостатки и насладиться самим великолепным слогом.


Он у Кимберли Дёртинг лёгкий, простой и живописный. 


Проблема в том, что мир в Клятве совершенно неразвит. Если книга начинается как дистопия, из-за огромных дыр в повествовании и нежелания автора что-либо доработать, она быстренько превращается в некое подобие фэнтэзи и останавливается на классическом шаблоне сказки.


Чарлэна - это наша Золушка, Макс - Прекрасный принц (он даже носит мундир, дамы и господа!), добавьте злодейку-королеву с её слугами, верных друзей и прочую херню.... точно, сказка! Несмотря на то, что характеры просты и глубин скрытых в них не найти, как ни копайся, Чарли и Макс очаровательны, также как и младшая сестричка Чарли. 


Я была заинтригована Ксандером и телохранителями Макса, но увы, они так и ни во что не развились.


Итог, если надеетесь на жёсткую антиутопию типа Голодных Игр, то проходите мимо, а если вы неравнодушны к сказкам как я, то читайте, - получите удовольствие.

8.5/10