Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

The Pledge (The Pledge #1)

by Kimberly Derting

Hardcover, 323 pages

Published November 15th 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry

Glasses: 4.2

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.

In a distopian world where United States has turned into a monarchy ruled by a totalitarianian queen, people are split up in classes by the language that they speak. Communication between languages is punishable by death and people are almost nearly expendable. However, Charlie is in the vendor class and has the ability to understand everything anyone's ever said.

After randomly picking this book up I'm really happy it was so good. I had no idea what it was about and just really wanted to see if Derting could write something as good as her Body Finders series. And I'm glad to say she did.

I love the world they live in, I mean, not that I'd want to live in it, being oppressed by the man (or in this case the woman). It sorta reminds me to Divergent with awesome underground clubs and rebels that know what their doing. It's not long in the story until Charlie meets Max, a mysterious guy who hangs out at the clubs and takes a liking to him. Who Max turns out to be isn't really a huge sercret, I figured it out almost instantly, but adds to the awesome angst none the less. Their relationships drives the story. Their chemistry  is undeniable. *swoon* Why can't you be real Max? Huh?

With the Royal Crown at her heels wanting her for who-knows-what and mysterious bombing attacking the city, Charlie has to rely on her best friends Aron and Brooklyn to help keep her and her sister safe. The only thing that got me was the lack of appearance of Aron who I thought was going to be a bigger part of the story. I mean, if I can't have Max, I'll have him. Sophie, the ex-bully, seemed sort of pointless, she's there at the beginning, and when they don't need her anymore she's gone. Xander on the other hand was amazing. After she meets him at an underground club her life gets even more complicated. He helps save her life and wonderfully adds to the story. I really wish we got to see more of him.

I really, really liked this book. It's a weird romantic distopian version of Princess Diaries, minus the idealism of Disney and the happy-feel-y stuff. Read it!

Sneak Peak Sunday (6)

The Last Echo (The Body Finder #3)

by Kimberly Derting 

Hardcover, 358 pages

Expected publication: April 17th 2012 by HarperCollins

In the end, all that's left is an echo...Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet's talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it's Violet's job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by "the girlfriend collector" she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new "relationship" and Violet may have caught his eye....

I can't wait for this book to come out! I still remember reading the first book and blogging about the second one coming out. Violet and Jay are such a cute couple and the summary sounds really exciting. The murder mysteries laced with romance and paranormalacy are what keeps me coming back. >.<

Review: Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Hardcover, 355 pages

Published February 15th 2011 by HarperTeen

Rating: 4.1 Glasses

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life. 

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

I remember reading the first book last year during english class. We were playing bingo and I won some skittles as well as the honor of being the first person to win that semester, needless to say, Body Finders was amazing. So when I picked up Desires of the Dead I was expecting some awesome stuff, and awesome stuff I did find.

Before I begin, let me say that I love Jay. I could tell there was some potential with Rafe going on, but I love Jay to much to even consider it. When I first started reading it, I thought it was going to turn out like Blue Moon, by Alyson Noel, a book that I hated to the core. Some guys becomes friends with her boyfriends and messes up her life, blah, blah, blah... thankfully, it was nothing like that, well, it sorta was, but it wasn't bad.

The book is filled with just the right amount of romance and mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat. I seriously had a hard time putting the book down when I got into the thick of it. However, there were some major parts of the book that I didn't like. Even though I feel like I know Violet really well, and Jay and Chelsea almost just as well, there's very little space in this novel to expand on other characters. Sure there's Mike and Megan, and their dad and everyone else in their group, but I felt like they were just there, their characters weren't as strong as I would have liked them to be. Also, I had a hard time believing her parents would be that chill. I mean, I know this is fiction, but really? I think out of all the new characters introduced in the book, Sara Priest is the most interesting and seems to have the most potential in the forth coming books.

Overall, even though I really liked the new mystery and romance between Jay and Violet, it didn't exceed my expectations nor it didn't disappoint them either. Despite its flaws, it's a great read and worthy sequel of The Body Finder.

Trailer: Desires of the Dead (The Body Finder #2)

I'm so excited for this book! I absolutely adored the first one in the series, Kimberly Derting's The Body Finder and can't wait to get my hands on this next one. Desires of the Dead is a definite must read.


Summary

When Violet Ambrose's morbid ability to sense the echoes of those who've been murdered leads her to the body of a young boy, she draws the attention of the FBI. She is reluctantly pulled into an investigation that will endanger more than just her secret...but her relationship and possibly her life as well.