The Pledge

By Kimberly Derting

A “gripping dystopian fantasy” (Kirkus Reviews) that brims with romance and suspense, from the author of The Body Finder.

In the violent country of Ludania, the language you speak determines your class, 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. The only reprieve from oppression is within the drug-filled underground club scene. There, she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy who speaks a language she’s never heard, and her secret is almost exposed. As the violent clashes between the totalitarian monarchy and the rebel forces escalate, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible grip of a deadly regime.
     Kimberly Derting, author of The Body Finder series, writes powerfully and movingly of a girl with dangerous powers in an unusual and expertly crafted setting.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
• Release date: Nov 15, 2011
• ISBN: 9781442422032

Kimberly Derting

Kimberly Derting is the author of the Cece Loves Science series, the Body Finder series, the Pledge trilogy, and the Taking series. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where the gloomy weather is ideal for writing anything dark and creepy. Her three beautiful (and often mouthy) children serve as an endless source of inspiration and frequently find things they say buried in the pages of their mother’s books. You can visit her online at www.kimberlyderting.com.

Book preview

PART I

prologue

142 years after the revolution of sovereigns

The air crackled like a gathering thunderstorm the moment the girl entered the chamber. She was just a child, but her presence changed everything.

With effort, the queen turned her head on her pillow as she watched the little girl pad into the chamber on slippered feet. The child kept her chin tucked tightly against her chest as her fingers clutched the sides of her nightgown, clenching and unclenching nervously.

Maybe the queen’s guards weren’t even aware of the charge in the air, but she was suddenly conscious of the blood coursing through her veins, the quickening of her pulse, and the sound of each breath that she took—no longer ragged and wheezing.

She turned her attention to the men who’d escorted the child. Leave us, she declared in a voice that had once been filled with authority but now came out hoarse and papery.

They had no reason to question the command; certainly the girl would be safe with her own mother.

The child jumped at the sound of the door closing behind her, her eyes widening, but she still refused to meet her mother’s stare.

Princess Sabara, the queen said softly, in her quietest voice, trying to gain the young girl’s trust. In her daughter’s six short years, the queen had spent little time with her, leaving her in the care of governesses, nurses, and tutors. Come closer, my darling.

The girl’s feet shuffled forward, but her eyes remained fastened on the floor—a trait reserved for the lower classes, her mother noted bitterly. Six was young, maybe too young, but she’d delayed for as long as she could. The queen was young too; her body should have had many good years remaining, but now she lay sick and dying, and she could no longer afford to wait. Besides, she’d been grooming the girl for this day.

When the girl reached her bedside, the queen held out her hand, tipping the child’s small chin upward and forcing the young princess to meet her eyes. You’re the eldest girl child born to me, she explained—a story she’d told the child dozens of times already, reminding her of just how special she was. How important. But we’ve talked about this, haven’t we? You’re not afraid, are you?

The little girl shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears as they darted nervously one way and then the other.

I need you to be brave, Sabara. Can you be brave for me? Are you ready?

And then the girl’s shoulders stiffened as she steadied herself, finding her queen’s eyes at last. Yes, Mamma, I’m ready.

The queen smiled. The girl was ready; young but ready.

She will be a beauty in her time, the queen thought, studying the girl’s smooth porcelain skin and her soft, shining eyes. She will be strong and powerful and feared, a force to be reckoned with. Men will fall at her feet . . .

. . . and she will crush them.

She will be a great queen.

She took a shaky breath. It was time.

She reached for the girl, clutching the child’s tiny fingers in hers, the smile evaporating from her lips as she concentrated on the task at hand.

She ushered forth her soul, that part deep inside of her that made her who she was. Her Essence. She could feel it coiling tightly inside of her, still full of life in ways that her body no longer was.

I need you to say the words, Sabara. It was nearly a plea, and she hoped the girl didn’t realize how badly she needed her, how desperate she was for this to work.

The little girl’s gaze remained fastened to the queen, and her chin inched up a notch as she spoke the words they’d rehearsed. Take me, Mamma. Take me instead.

The queen inhaled sharply, the muscles of her hand seizing around the girl’s as she closed her eyes. It wasn’t pain she felt. In fact, it was closer to pleasure as her Essence unfurled, misting and swirling like a dense fog as it spread through her, breaking free from its constraints at last.

She heard the child gasp, and then felt her struggle, trying to free her fingers from her mother’s grip. But it didn’t matter now; it was too late. She’d already said the words.

The overwhelming sense of ecstasy nearly shattered her, and then dulled, fading again as her Essence settled into a new space, curling into itself once more. Finding peace at long last.

She kept her eyes squeezed tight, not ready yet to open them, not ready to know whether the transfer had worked or not. And then she heard the faintest of sounds, a soft gurgling. Followed by nothing.

A deafening silence.

Slowly—so very slowly—she opened her eyes to see what it was . . .

. . . and found herself standing at the side of the bed, staring into the empty eyes of the dead queen. Eyes that had once belonged to her.

i

81 years later

223 years after the revolution of sovereigns

I gritted my teeth as Mr. Grayson’s voice grew louder and louder, until there was no mistaking that he meant for the people in the congested street to hear him, despite the fact that he knew full well they couldn’t understand a single word he spoke.

It was the same thing every day. I was forced to listen to his shameless bigotry simply because his shop stood across the crowded marketplace from my parents’ restaurant. He didn’t bother disguising his contempt for the refugees that flooded our city, bringing with them their poverty and disease.

And he did it right in front of them, smiling falsely to their faces while they filed past his shop, displaying wares he hoped to sell them. Of course, they had no real way of knowing—other than his scornful tone—that the shopkeeper mocked and ridiculed them since he spoke in Parshon, and they were obviously not vendors. They were the impoverished, sharing the downcast gazes of the Serving class. Yet even as the merchant called them names they couldn’t understand, they never glanced up. It wasn’t permitted.

Only when he finally addressed them in the universal language of Englaise did their eyes lift to meet his. I have many fine fabrics, he boasted in an effort to draw their attention, and hopefully their wallets. Silks and wools of the finest quality. And beneath his breath, but still loud enough to be heard, And remnants and dirty scrap pieces as well.

I glanced across the swell of tired faces crowding the market at this hour and saw Aron looking back at me. I narrowed my eyes to a glare, a wicked smile touching the corners of my lips. Your father’s an ass, I mouthed.

Even though he couldn’t hear what I said, he understood my meaning and grinned back at me, shocks of sand-colored hair standing up all over his head. I know, he mouthed back, a deep dimple digging its way through his left cheek. His warm golden eyes sparkled.

My mother poked her elbow into my ribs. I saw that, young lady. Watch your language.

I sighed, turning away from Aron. "Don’t worry, I always watch my language."

You know what I mean. I don’t want to hear that kind of talk from you, especially in front of your sister. You’re better than that.

I stalked inside, taking shelter from the glare of the morning sun. My little sister sat at one of the empty tables, her legs swinging back and forth as she bobbed her head and pretended to feed the threadbare doll perched on the table in front of her.

First of all, she didn’t hear it, I protested. No one did. And, apparently, I’m not better than that. I raised my eyebrows as my mom went back to wiping down the tables. "Besides, he is an ass."

Charlaina Hart! My mom’s voice—and her words—shifted to the throaty mutterings of Parshon, just as they always did when she lost her patience with me. She reached out and snapped me on the leg with her towel. She’s four; she’s not hard of hearing! She threw a glance toward my sister, whose silver-blond hair gleamed in the sunlight pouring in through the windows.

My little sister never even looked up; she was accustomed to my mouth.

Maybe when Angelina’s old enough for school, she’ll learn better manners than you have.

I bristled against my mother’s words. I hated when she said things like that; we both knew Angelina wouldn’t be going to school. Unless she found her voice soon, she wouldn’t be permitted to attend.

But instead of arguing, I shrugged stiffly. Like you said, she’s only four, I answered in Englaise.

Just get out of here before you’re late. And don’t forget: we need you to work after school, so don’t go home. She said this as if it were unusual. I worked every day after school. Oh, and make sure Aron walks with you; there are a lot of new people in the city, and I’d feel better if the two of you stayed together.

I stuffed my schoolbooks into my worn satchel before dropping down in front of Angelina as she silently played with her dolly. I kissed her on her cheek, secretly slipping a piece of candy into her already sticky palm. Don’t tell Mommy, I whispered close to her ear, wisps of her hair tickling my nose, or I won’t be able to sneak you any more. Okay?

My sister nodded at me, her blue eyes clear and wide and trusting, but she didn’t say anything. She never said anything.

My mother stopped me before I could go. Charlaina, you have your Passport, don’t you? It was an unnecessary question, but one she asked daily, every time I left her sight.

I tugged at the leather strap around my neck, revealing the ID card tucked within my shirt. The plastic coating was as warm and familiar to me as my own skin.

Then I winked at Angelina, reminding her one last time that we had a secret to keep, before I hurried out the door and into the congested streets.

I raised my hand above my head, waving to Aron as I passed his father’s shop, signaling that he should meet me in our usual spot: the plaza on the other side of the marketplace.

I pressed my way through the bodies, remembering a time—before the threat of a new revolution—when the streets were not so crowded, when the marketplace was simply a place for commerce, filled with the smells of smoked meats and leather and soaps and oils. Those smells were still here, but now they were mingled with the scent of unwashed bodies and desperation, as the market became a refuge for the country’s unwanted, those poor souls of the Serving class who’d been forced from their homes when trade lines had been cut off by the rebel forces. When those they served could no longer afford to keep them.

They flocked to our city for the promise of food and water and medical care.

Yet we could scarcely house them.

The monotone voice coming from the loudspeakers above our heads was so familiar I might not have noticed it if the timing weren’t so uncanny: ALL UNREGISTERED IMMIGRANTS MUST REPORT TO CAPITOL HALL.

I clutched the strap of my bag and kept my head low as I pushed ahead.

When I finally emerged from the stream of bodies, I saw Aron already standing in front of the fountain in the plaza, waiting for me. For him it was always a race.

Whatever, I muttered, unable to keep the grin from my lips as I handed him my book bag. I refuse to say it.

He took my heavy load without complaint, beaming back at me. Fine, Charlie, I’ll say it: I win. Then he reached into his own bag, which was slung across his shoulder. Behind us, the water from the fountain trickled musically. Here, he said, handing me a fold of soft black fabric. I brought you something. It’s silk.

As my fingers closed around the smooth material, I gasped. It was like nothing I’d ever felt before. Silk, I repeated in my head. I knew the word but had never actually touched the fabric before. I squeezed it in my hand, rubbing it with my fingertips, admiring the way it was almost sheer and the way the sun reflected back from it. Then I turned to Aron, my voice barely a whisper. It’s too much. I tried to give it back to him.

He shoved my hand away, scoffing, Please. My dad was going to throw it in the scrap bin. You’re small enough; you can use the pieces to make a new dress or something.

I glanced down at my scuffed black boots and the dull gray cotton dress I wore, plain and loose-fitting like a sack. I tried to imagine what this fabric would feel like pressed against my skin: like water, I thought, cool and slippery.

When Brooklynn arrived, she dropped her bag at Aron’s feet. As usual, she didn’t say Good morning or Would you please? but Aron reached for her bag anyway.

Unlike his father, there wasn’t an unkind bone in Aron’s body. Or maybe stupid was the word I sought to describe the elder Grayson. Or rude. Or lazy. It didn’t matter; any of those unflattering traits that his father possessed had apparently bypassed his son.

What? You didn’t bring me anything? She jutted her full lower lip in a pout, and her dark eyes flashed enviously as she eyed the silk in my hands.

Sorry, Brook, my dad would notice if I snagged too much at once. Maybe next time.

Yeah, right, Midget. You say that now, but next time it’ll be for Charlie too.

I smiled at Brook’s nickname for Aron. He was taller than Brooklynn now, taller than both of us, yet she still insisted on calling him Midget.

I slipped the delicate fabric into my bag with great care, wondering what, exactly, I would make from it, already anxious to put needle and thread to it.

Brook led the way as we moved around the perimeter of the plaza, where the crowds were already gathering. As always, we took the long way, avoiding the central square. I’d like to think that it was Brook’s or even Aron’s idea—or that either of them was as disturbed by the things that happened in the square as I was—but I doubted that was true. I knew it bothered me more.

From somewhere overhead, another message crackled: ALL SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY MUST BE REPORTED TO YOUR NEAREST PATROL STATION.

Passports, Aron announced solemnly as we approached a new checkpoint at the base of the giant archway that led to the city streets. He reached beneath his shirt, just as Brook and I did, pulling out our IDs.

There were more and more of the checkpoints lately, with new ones appearing overnight. This one was no different from most: four armed soldiers, two for each line—one for the men and one for the women and children. After the photo on each Passport was visually matched to the person wearing it, the identification card was scanned through a portable electronic device.

The checkpoints didn’t matter, really; they weren’t meant for us. We weren’t the revolutionaries they sought to keep from moving freely about the city. To Brook and Aron and me, they were simply another security measure, one of the consequences of the war brewing within the borders of our own country.

And if you asked Brooklynn, the checkpoints were a bonus, new opportunities to practice her flirting techniques.

Brook and I stood in our line, remaining silent as we awaited our turn. While our Passports were being scanned into the system and we waited to be cleared, I stood back and watched as Brook batted her thick black lashes at the young soldier holding her card.

He glanced down at the scanner, and then back to her again, and the corner of his mouth rose subtly, almost unnoticeably. Brook stepped closer than she needed to when the light on the portable computer flashed green, clearing her.

Thank you, she purred as she held his gaze, her voice low and husky. She slipped the Passport down the front of her shirt, making sure he watched it fall.

The IDs weren’t anything new to us. They’d been issued for as far back as anyone could remember. But it was only in the last few years that we’d been forced to start wearing them in order to be tracked, so that the queen and her officials knew where we were at all times. Just another reminder that the revolutionaries were tightening their stranglehold on the crown.

I’d once seen someone taken into custody at one of the checkpoints, a woman who had tried to slip through using another person’s Passport. She’d passed the visual inspection, but when the card was scanned, the little light on the machine flashed red instead of green. The Passport had been reported stolen.

The queen had no tolerance for crime. Theft was treated just as severely as treason or murder would be: All were punishable by death.

Charlie! Aron’s voice dragged me out of my own thoughts. I hurried after them, not wanting to be late for school, as I tucked my Passport back inside the front of my dress and ran to catch up. As I reached them, a loud cheer went up behind us—coming from the crowded square we’d just left behind.

None of us flinched or even faltered in our steps. Not one of us so much as blinked to acknowledge that we’d even heard the sound, not when we were so near the guards at the checkpoint who were always watching.

I thought briefly of the woman I’d seen that day, the one with the stolen Passport, and I wondered what it had been like for her, standing on the gallows in the square surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. People who jeered at her for the crime she’d committed. I wondered if her family had come to watch, if they’d seen the trapdoor drop open beneath her feet. If they’d closed their eyes when the rope had snapped her neck, if they’d wept while her feet swayed lifelessly beneath her.

Then the voice from the loudspeaker reminded us: A DILIGENT CITIZEN IS A HAPPY CITIZEN.

Inside, my heart ached.

Did you hear that the villages along the southern borders are all under siege? Brooklynn asked once we were past the soldiers at the checkpoint and on the less-crowded city streets, away from the marketplace.

I rolled my eyes at Aron. We already knew that towns along the border were under attack; they’d been under attack for months. Everyone knew. That was part of the reason our city was suddenly so overpopulated by refugees. Almost everyone had taken in stray family members and their servants.

As far as I knew, mine was one of the few families unaffected by the migration, but only because we didn’t have any relatives in the outlying areas of the country.

I wonder how long until the violence reaches the Capitol, Brook continued dramatically.

Queen Sabara will never let them reach us. She’ll send her own army before they get too close, I argued.

It was laughable calling our city the Capitol, since its concrete walls housed no one who held any real sway. The term implied authority and influence, when in reality we were simply the closest city to the palace. The queen was still the only person who held any true power.

But at least our city had a name.

Most of the cities of Ludania had long ago been stripped of that privilege, having been renamed simply by the quadrant of the country in which they were located and then ranked by size. 1West, 4South, 2East.

Children were often named in remembrance of the old cities. Once, it had been a form of rebellion to name a new baby Carlton or Lewis or Lincoln, a way of expressing dissatisfaction with the crown’s decision to reclassify cities into statistics. But now it was merely tradition, and babies were named after cities from countries across the globe.

People often assumed that my real name was Charlotte, after a faraway, long-ago city. But my parents claimed that they refused to partake in anything that would be considered rebellious, even a long-accepted custom like naming.

They preferred not to draw attention.

Brooklynn, on the other hand, liked to brag about her name’s roots. A great borough, in an even greater city that no longer existed.

She leaned in, her eyes feverishly bright. "Well, I heard . . . She let those three words hang in the air, assuring us that she had information we didn’t. . . . that the queen’s army is gathering in the east. Rumor has it that Queen Elena plans to join forces with the rebels."

Who told you that? One of your soldiers? I whispered, so close now that my forehead practically touched hers as I searched her eyes probingly. I didn’t actually doubt her. Brook’s intelligence was rarely wrong. How do you know they’re telling you the truth?

Brook grinned, a slow, shameless grin. Look at me, Charlie. Why would they lie to me? And then she added, more seriously, They say the queen’s getting tired. That she’ll be too old to fight back much longer.

That’s a bunch of crap, Brook. Old or not, Queen Sabara will never give up her country. It was one thing to share real news from the front; it was another entirely to spread lies about our queen.

What choice does she have? Brook shrugged, continuing. There’s no princess to take her place, and she certainly won’t allow a male heir to inherit the throne. It hasn’t been done in almost four hundred years; she’s not about to let it happen now. She’ll renounce the royal line before she allows the country to have a reigning king again.

As we approached the Academy, I could feel my stomach tightening into angry knots. That’s true, I suppose, I said distractedly, no longer interested in a political debate. She probably won’t allow herself to die until she finds a suitable female heir.

I wished I could remain calm in the presence of the imposing school, impervious and unaffected. Above all, I desperately didn’t want the Counsel kids to see my discomfort.

Everything about the upscale school, including the students’ immaculately matched uniforms, screamed, We’re better than you. Even the white marble steps that led to the grand entrance of the Academy were polished to a high shine, making them look as if they’d be treacherous to maneuver.

I hated myself for wishing I knew the sound my shoes would make walking up them.

I tried not to look in the direction of the Academy students who loitered near the top of those steps. For some reason these particular girls bothered me most of all; these two who watched us more closely than the others, who enjoyed taunting us when we walked by.

Today was no different. The skirts of their identical uniforms were creased, and their snowy white shirts were starched and pristine. These girls most definitely knew the feeling of silk.

I tried not to notice as one of the girls moved purposefully down the last steps, her eyes targeting us. She flipped her golden-blond hair over her shoulder; her cheeks were flushed and rosy; her eyes glittered

Reviews for The Pledge

[Carr Mern Ooi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

At first, I was hyped up about this book when I first saw it in my school's library. I started reading it and thought, 'Okay, this ain't half bad.' But by the time I was 3/4 of the way through, I found it hard to keep on going as I felt the connection between the main character and I wasn't that strong. I couldnt bring myself to feel emotions for that character. The overall plot was good but I guess the writing style isn't really what I liked or am used to. I'm giving this book 4 stars because the storyline and plot twist were good but the way the story was told and the way I interacted with the main character didn't feel real.

[Fatima Sarah Khalid · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Captivating, I read it in a single go. The main character does have a very weak personality, but I imagine it's purposeful so the reader can fill her shoes. The setup about languages and classes- I really found interesting!

[ascimori · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

INTRO: I give it a 2.5.

Groundbreaking plot, disappointingly average execution. I was so hyped for this book when I read the description and bragged to my friends that I may have found the new Hunger Games or Divergent. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed many aspects of the book, but the book itself lacked substance. It's like eating a whole bag of jolly ranchers for dinner. It tastes so good and the sugar buzz tells you that it was all worth it, but the dull ache of hunger (and indigestion) afterwards leaves you questioning your decisions and...

I tried to keep spoilers at a minimum.

THE GOOD:
+ Modern day fantasy with a twist. Magic! (sort of.) Monarchies! Danger! Death threats! Women in power! Viva les femmes!
+ Post-dystopian class system.
+ The power of friendship and family.
+ Despite everything that I'm going to say below, the artist has a very enjoyable writing voice and a good handle on what narrative needs to be told when to move the story along. The dialogue was interesting and never dry. The scenes were easy to imagine, if a little under-described. The book was very character-centered and I appreciated it.
+ Multi-layered story. Plot twist after plot twist after plot twist.
+ Reluctant hero.
+ The bully becomes an ally.
+ The languages. Languages! This was the only thing that held my interest for so long. Language creates questions about allegiance, creates intrigue, creates division. Words have power!

THE BAD:
* Main character is Plain Jane Everygirl, who has Nothing Special about her, until it's discovered that literally everything is special about her.
* Character typing. There's never a chance to see characters bust out of their archetypes in a believable way. The "promiscuous" character is secretly the "seductive spy". The Prince Charming is the brother of a key figure in the resistance. There's not a lot of depth to it. There's no gradual development, no teasing to the reader of what's to come. By the end of the book you could have told me that the main character had an evil twin sister with the power to control the weather so she can defeat the chosen one with a band of elven swordslingers and I would have just accepted it as fact.
* Servant class. There's so much that could have been done here besides "oh they just clean people's houses".
* This book teases at the idea of gritty and dark but never actually goes into it. I understand that this is young adult fiction. But this had elements that could have been done better. The world is portrayed as one of those 'pristine on the outside, rotting on the inside' situations. But it seems to go back and forth. We see the main character working at her family restaurant. We see the main character sneaking into an underground club full of underage drinking and drugs. We see the main character going through all this taboo stuff, but it's so... fluffed. It's not edgy or dangerous, not for real.

At her core, I don't believe the main character actually believes that there's anything 'bad' about the world she lives in. She just goes where the plot calls for because she has no choice in the matter.
* Words have power... but only in people's minds?. For some reason the Pledge itself and the altercation between the politician's daughter and the main character at the beginning had me thinking that the words of everyone held power, as in, magical physical binding power. That's the suspension that I used to hold my disbelief back throughout the book, and reveal after reveal snipped at it. I... I don't know. I think I hoped for too much.

THE UGLY:
- Color coded. Blond hair and blue eyes is a marker of the royal family. (And of the rich.) As a POC reader I am used to this. But for a story that is this painstakingly politically correct and this multidimensional in terms of the conflict I expected more.
- Every character is a plot device. It feels like they come and go when the plot calls for it, and so a lot of the plot twists were either forseen miles ahead by me or came completely out of nowhere. Going to the club? Now you're under the influence of drugs. Now you're rubbing shoulders with all the right (and wrong) people. Trying to save the world? Here's everyone you've ever cared about, conveniently in the hands of your enemy even though you just spend all that effort trying to keep them safe. Their worlds are very limited to only the track that they must stay on to tell the story. I found myself wishing that I could see them in different situations. More witty banter between friends. More build up to the reveals. More description of the opulence the wealthy lived in, more description of the squalor the poor lived in.
- I really don't like the main character. She seems complacent in the system. All this inner grumbling about how bad it is, but she's just avoidant. She just looks away. She's not a revolutionary. She's not even an ally for the underdog. She's thrown into the revolution, she doesn't choose it. Even when it's in front of her face she doesn't want it. Why should her way of life change? It's hard, but at least she's not at the bottom rung.
- Why are the ethnic characters portrayed as so unattractive? Eden the only one who's "dark eyes" are mentioned so often, making me assume that she was East Asian. I'm so convinced that Brooklynn was latina that I can't even remember her original character description. But Eden had an ugly disposition and Brooklynn was hypersexualized. It was very offputting.
- The pacing of the book itself. The beginning was great, if a little rushed. The ending was a trainwreck. Who proofread/edited this? Didn't you have a team of people? Was it a team of all yesmen? Who dropped the ball here? Did no one tell you no?

CONCLUSION: I feel like I'm left wanting more. I'm so disappointed. This story was more bare bones than it should have been. It introduced a new world, a new way of living, a new perspective to draw me in and then used my attention to drone on about things that weren't important in the grand scheme of things. Like those sales signs we all hate that go "NEW! 50% OFF!" and in the very fine print "...only for item X after you jump through hoops Y and Z".

This had all the elements of success. THIS HAD ALL THE ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS! Maybe I'm disappointed because I know this author can do better. I'm an avid reader of nonfiction, YA fiction, adult fiction, and fanfiction. I can almost feel it when someone doesn't have a solid grasp on writing in general, or fleshing out characters, or running with a plot, or juggling multiple plot lines. This was not the case. This author has chops! She's not a novice! Perhaps this was the test canvas that the author needed to test out her writing chops or to get her name out there. This story was so transparent it was all I could to do not turn this review into a psychoanalysis on the author and her apparent white privilege.

Author rating gets a tentative 4. I wish her well and don't want one sucky review to tarnish her reputation. I'm sure there was more going on in her head that she didn't let out. I'll read the sequel to give her another chance. Maybe she took a loss and then found her stride. I recommend that she make some ethnic friends (WHITE EUROPEANS DON'T COUNT), drink some tea, and keep writing. Broaden your horizons. Something great is in there somewhere, this just wasn't it.

I'm gonna read the sequel and hope for the best...

[whispered.aria · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In between Abhornsen, Two princesses of Bamarre, And Crewel

Fans of all of these books will love this one! Parts had a little too much romantic description for my taste, but it didn't feel like a romance novel. Ends in a good way that doesn't PUSH me to the next book, but leaves my wondering if there is another and wanting to read it,

[therustyviolin · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Overall, a good story. But it was too fast. This was easily a story that could have been told over multiple books. Not drawn out exactly, but given more substance. More history that would connect readers to all the characters. Even the villain. The plot was sound but it and the characters needed more time to discover themselves. The readers needed more time to discover them. Even though I read the ending, it feels empty, hollow and incomplete. But some people are into that you know? I'm picky anyway.
Read it yourself and figure out if you like it.

[Bianca Welsh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

such a great book. I couldn't put it down

[vanessa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting!! Love it!!

[Jess Kidding · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was pretty excited about this book, it's presented as a dystopian world where the classes are divided by language, think Tower of Babel 2.0. And it is. But none of that matters.

I say none of it matters because the main character, Charlie, can understand all of the languages--any language actually, old forgotten symbols, etc. All of the classes also speak Englaise. Which renders the entire idea of classes divided by language to prevent revolution useless.

The massive holes in the language story aside, the story severely lacks any action or plot at all. It's is ridiculously predictable, topped with off the wall characters, a strange coupling, and the fact that the only person in the world that magically seems to matter to anyone is the main character...it's a dull read, and I was happy to done with it.

[Logan Mcmillin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's a great book can't take my eyes off and I am not a reader

[laphenix · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved the plot and the characters, though small bits don't yet make sense. The one-dimensional queen and little sister (who would totally be using visual communication) were rather grating.

[•PrincessOfBooks• · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful Story ?

[Esmaily · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The story is quite entertaining, it can be read in a couple of days perfectly because it is very pleasant, and the only downside is that it seems that in Spanish there is only this book, the next two are not available. (Translated from Spanish)

[wagner5sarah35 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In this dystopian novel, society is divided by language - the difference social classes each speak their own language, using a common language only when they need to interact with each other. This makes Charlaina, who can understand all languages, a dangerous young woman. The last half of this novel really flew by, although the first half was a little hard to get through. I'd recommend this to fans of YA dystopian literature, but I don't know that it has much cross-over appeal.

[emma · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It has a great premise, a breath of fresh air for a story idea. However I felt that the pacing was off, it was too short and left much to be desired.

[pdbkwm-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When I first heard about this book, I thought it sounded interesting. I love reading about different social classes in books, especially when said books have nice covers. However, this wasn't enough to make me want to read this. It wasn't until I heard about Essence, the second book in the Pledge series, that I decided to check it out.

I guess you could say that I’m impressionable easy when I see a gorgeous covers.

The Good:

A world where Queens rule and social statuses are divided by the languages you speak is a fantastic idea for a story. And for the most part, I felt like Derting did a really great job execution this. That being said, if you’re expecting a lot of details surrounding the social classes, then stop expecting it...because it doesn't happen. The book is mostly about finding the next Queen. The present Queen wants to find the potential heir so she can bring the girl to her side, while the rebels want the potential heir to take over and bring hope to the people.

In terms of the characters, I think my favourite ones would be Brook, Angelina, and the Queen. Brook was smart, but also had some vulnerability to her and I think Derting only touched the surface of what this character could do to the story. I feel kind of the same way with Angelina, only because what we know about her powers. She seems a lot more powerful than Charlie. And smarter too. A lot smarter. So I liked her.

The Queen, however, was my standout favourite. I know, I know, it doesn’t make much sense considering the fact that she was a typical villain without much depth to her. But I liked her. She’s ruthless and petty and doesn’t care who knows it. The fact that she has a rule in place that you’ll be sent to the gallows if you look in the eye of someone of a higher rank while they are speaking their language is messed up. It was also enough for me to want to see more from her. You have to be pretty senile to push that kind of law. And by golly, senile is what she is. I loved it. The way the Queen maintains her power reminded me of the manhwa Witch Hunter, so I enjoyed that aspect of her as well.

The story, for the most part, is told in Charlie’s viewpoint, but sometimes we’ll get snippets here and there of what is happening with other characters like the Queen. I liked this, only because there were times when I’d start to get bored with Charlie and then bam, another character would start to talk about what’s happening with them. I do wish we got to have a chapter or two dedicated to Brook and Aron, but maybe they’ll be showcased more in the next book.

Another thing I liked was how the romance wasn’t as over done as I originally thought it would be. This is a YA novel in a dystopian world, so you know going into it that there will be romance with a hot guy. It’s expected. So I was afraid that the story might shift into lovey dovey territory instead of the main story about the Queen. Instead, the romance was enough to establish a connection between Max and Charlie, but not too much that it overpowered everything else. The fact that she still refused the Queen’s advancements, despite seeing what happened to Max spoke volumes. She loves the guy, but he wasn’t enough to make her listen to the Queen. I’ve read books where this would have been enough, so I was glad that this wasn’t the case here.

The Okay:

Sydney becoming an ally did make sense, but I wish there was more to this. She went from being a bully to being someone Charlie could trust. Like I said before, it does make sense considering her circumstance, but I kind of wanted to see more dialogue between the two girls.

The friendship of Charlie, Brook, and Aron wasn’t as fleshed out as I would have liked. Aron was pushed to the back-burner, even though it seemed like he was going to be the ‘I love my best friend’ type of character. He promises to always be there for Charlie, only he’s hardly in the book and you kind of forget about him. It’s kind of sad. Poor Aron. I really hope you don’t end up in a love triangle.

With Charlie and Brook, it kind of felt like there was a lot more brewing there and nothing happened with it. There was a scene when Charlie said that she felt sorry for Brook, because Max wasn’t paying attention. It kind of seemed like even though Charlie loves Brook like a sister, she does kind of look down on her. Brook was the hotter friend and one that gets all the attention from the guys, so you’d imagine that Charlie would feel some sort of complex over this, especially since Brook relishes in the attention while Charlie doesn’t. On the other hand, Brook seemed to have a lot of secrets of her own and was dealing with some other issues as well. I mentioned earlier that there is a vulnerability there that kind of goes over Charlie's head.

I dunno, it just felt like there could have been a lot more ‘drama’, for lack of a better word, when it came to their friendship.

The Bad

I liked a lot of things in the book. The writing is good, the romance doesn’t take over the story, and the characters, for the most part, are enjoyable. The only downside is everything is very predictable. As a reader, you’ll easily figure out who Charlie really is and why everyone wants her so badly. You’ll figure out who Max and Xander are and you’ll also realize why Brook does the stuff that she does.

It’s predictable. It’s also cliché in the sense that Charlie is the chosen one. Of course she is. And of course the hero, Max, only has eyes for her even though Brook is the better looking one. Of course. Of course. Of course.

Normally, this would bother me a lot. And I mean a lot. Yet, I didn’t really mind it here. I wanted to go for the ride and not care because I did enjoy the story. Plus, the ending made me want to read Essence, so I didn’t mind it too much. That being said, I have a feeling that Essence will be a lot better than the Pledge. This book seemed like a stepping stone for what’s to come.

Overall:

I’m glad I read this. Even though it was predictable and did feel like everything that happened was a stepping stone for what’s to come, the writing, the characters, the story was enough to keep me interested. I liked the book. It could be mixture of my desire to read Essence and my love of pretty covers, but even still I liked the book. Now I just have to wait a month to see what happens next.

Please no love triangle, please no love triangle, please no love triangle.

4 stars

[lauras4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A phenomenal story about the power of language, and the strength of the weak, "The Pledge" takes the reader through a caste system that has every likeness to those class systems we see around us every day. The extreme nature of this story's class system will keep the reader at the edge of their seat, rooting for the underdog, and looking to join the fight.

[a_reader_of_fictions · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Needless to say, I was really stoked about this book, especially since I got a free ARC from a giveaway through Presenting Lenore. You know me and my undying love for dystopias. Unfortunately, The Pledge did not fulfill my hopes. It had some good parts and some rather obnoxious parts, which I will attempt to enumerate somewhat in this review.

The Good:
A society based on discrepancies in language is a very interesting idea, especially since, in some senses, this has been done in real cultures, such as how Russian royals used to speak in French. Intriguing, too, were the seemingly magical powers possessed by Charlie and the Queen of the realm. Why do only women have the capability to have such powers? I don't know, but, heck yeah, strong women! Actually, one of the few things I really liked about Charlie is that she spoke almost entirely in Englaise, because she didn't see the point of making things hard on people. Why not speak so everyone could understand?

The Bad:
While I liked the language differences, I had trouble accepting that people were incapable of ever learning a language they were not born with. This just isn't how language works so far as I know. Not being allowed to speak an upper crust language, I get, but being incapable of ever learning or speaking it?

Another thing I really didn't like was what transpired in one particular scene. Charlie and her best friend Brooklynn go to an illegal nightclub, despite being underage (woo, doubly illegal!). When let in, they receive hand stamps, much like clubs now have for those below the drinking age, only these are laced with drugs to loosen people up. Charlie feels some ill effects from hers, so she decides to wander around the building and finds a secret hallway. Discovered by a mysterious, vaguely creepy, secretive guy, she lets him put something else on her hand (supposedly to help, but what does she know?!?) and falls asleep trustingly. To be fair, nothing untoward occurred, but I just want to say that no one should ever do this. Charlie is a bad role model!

The Obnoxious:
While the overarching plot had some interesting things going on, the romance running through it was just completely stereotypical YA and barftastic. The words describing any encounter between Charlie and Max are reminiscent of such works as Twilight, Personal Demons, or Hereafter. Here's a sample scene of the two of them, just after their first makeout session: "I was still shaking when I finally turned my head away, ending the kiss. It was the hardest thing I'd ever done. My lips felt swollen and raw, and achingly cold in the absence of his" (265). The hardest thing she ever had to do? Really? Come on.

At this juncture, I do not know if I will be trying the sequel; I may have to just to figure out why a sequel needs to exist, as this seems to have wrapped up the existing plot threads. For those of you who enjoy melodramatic teenage romances complete with instalove and some dystopian business, The Pledge will satisfy your every desire.

[manuela rios · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

en ingles aburrido ni siquiera conn traduccion

[shotsofbrandy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Read it in one night. So addictive!

[readingdate · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Pledge is the first book in a new dystopian trilogy. The concept is interesting and fast paced enough that I read it in one sitting, and the story’s fantasy elements set it apart from other YA dystopian books. The imaginative story is entertaining and full of adventure, which made for a pleasant fast read even though some of the character insight and dystopian world building details were sometimes lacking. I did enjoy it as much as The Body Finder series though, and especially the royalty / fantasy parts of the story.

The series opener introduces a cool concept in which the citizens of Ludania are separated by a language barrier according to class. Learning another class’s language or even looking another class member in the eye in acknowledgement of their language is a crime punishable by death. The ruler, Evil Queen Sabara, uses some fancy magic that keeps her around forever to continue to torment the citizens of Ludania. The heroine Charlaina (Charlie) is born with the talent to understand all languages. Her parents have asked to keep her talent under wraps to keep her safe and to keep a watchful eye over her gifted younger sis Angelina. Her secret is exposed when she meets Max and he recognizes she can understand his unusual language. This starts a sequence of events that cause Charlie’s world to turn upside down.

There are multiple character POV’s in the book, with Max and another character Xander sharing the spotlight with Charlie. Several other side characters are introduced, including a couple other potential love interests for Charlie, which made it hard to buy into the Max and Charlie romance completely. The side characters are somewhat lost in the shuffle of the fast moving plot. With so much action in the book, I hoped for a breather that would allow more focus on the magical origins and Queen Sabara.

The series has a lot of potential, and I’ll be interested to see where it goes, though it seems a bit twisted considering the epilogue. I would recommend this book to fans of the author’s writing, and those looking for something different in the dystopian category.

[ceilidhann · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The more YA books I see being released amidst the continuing dystopia trend (a fad that seems to have a lot more mileage than I originally anticipated, although the sales figures are a more mixed bag), the more I find myself questioning what makes a book dystopian. With “The Body Finder” author Kimberly Derting's latest, the first in a planned trilogy, I hesitate to call it, for lack of a better term, pure dystopian since it mixes more fantastical elements into the story. This discussion aside, what elements that the book uses that are clearly in a dystopian vein are unsuccessful.

The setting, the country of Ludania, is frequently described in terms of its oppressiveness and constant threat of danger but neither of these things were shown on the page. For a supposedly highly guarded society, there was a lot of freedom allotted to its residents. There seemed to be no real adult supervision of the secret club visiting teenagers, except for a few guards now and then, but when one of the characters is described as using heavily guarded security check-points as an opportunity to practice her flirting techniques, it sort of detracts from the sense of fear and urgency. This is an issue I've had with a few dystopian YA novels in recent times. We're frequently told of the dangers and need for constant vigilance but what we are presented with is a series of plot convenient instances and loopholes that detract from the atmosphere needed to create a truly tense story. A strong sense of urgency and fear is a must for dystopian set stories, in my opinion. On top of all this, Derting includes a more fantasy oriented element that is the driving force behind the central premise of the story. Charlie can understand every language, a dangerous skill in a world where social groups are broken up by which language they speak. As a student of semi-dead languages, this premise was a potential gold-mine for me, and I think there is a genuinely interesting world to be built from the idea of using language as a device of socio-political matters. Unfortunately, this book isn't it. The strong idea is never fully built upon, a matter made all the more frustrating thanks to the complete lack of detail given when it is used. The book was a step away from saying “It's magic, we don't have to explain it”, which is never a good answer.

The characters are as shallow as the plot, in particular the heroine Charlie and the first designated love interest Max (there are at least 3 men in the story who I thought could be potential love interests because they are constantly described by way of their handsome looks and enticing aura by Charlie. She may have claimed that her friend Brooklynn was the boy crazy one but she seemed just as single-minded). Neither rises beyond the stock YA romance traits, with Charlie's passiveness being extremely grating but not as much as Max's frequently rude, condescending and smug behaviour being written off as okay because he's so enamoured with a girl he's known for barely a few weeks – the book has a very short time-line – and makes her so weak at the knees I'm surprised she could perform basic human functions. It's yet another YA where the breeding pair fall into the typical gender roles. Maybe it's because I'm jaded and I've been reviewing these sorts of books for what feels like an era, but when the romantic hero, who has only personally known the heroine for a couple of weeks (there are references that he's had his 'protective' eye on her for longer), and he says “All I want is to keep you safe... it's all I've ever wanted”, alarm bells go off in my head. His case isn't helped by his frequent grabbing of Charlie as if he's allowed to do this because we all know they're going to end up together.

“The Pledge” is a slow, mediocre book that shows a glimmer of promise for the rest of the series in the final few pages, but it's not enough for me to feign further interest. To see such potential wasted is a disappointment, made all the worse by the continuing trend for the sort of romances that make me want to pull my hair out. While the prose itself is serviceable, the constant switching of narratives from Charlie's 1st person to several characters's 3rd person points-of-view felt unnecessary given the lack of distinguishing features given to them. My biggest issue with the book is that it's so shallow. Nothing is given the depth required to make the story fully engaging – the world building is slack, the characters are stock, the romance is tired and predictable and the much needed tension is nowhere to be seen.

2/5.

[akreese · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Pledge is a compelling and fast-paced futuristic young adult story. Charlaina, the main character of the story, has special language skills that no one else around her seems to possess. Society has split apart along economic lines, with people of different trades and social statuses speaking different languages, and the people aren’t even supposed to acknowledge that others are speaking different languages, much less understand them. Even looking at someone from a higher status while they are speaking in their language can result in a death sentence, so it is imperative that Charlaina not reveal her skill.

The style of writing and type of story reminded me in part of Shannon Hale’s Princess Academy. There were some similar elements, like special powers and an underlying social structure based on fantasy. On the other hand, The Pledge differs in that it has a slightly dystopian ambiance with a world history that resembles our own. I also think that it will appeal more to older teens because of its harsher moral environment.

What do I mean by harsh moral environment? Well not only does Charlaina make some very poor choices when it comes to who she hangs out with, she also puts herself into dangerous situations in order to be with cute boys (accepting a drugged tattoo as the price to get into a party, for example). She’s flippant about the dangers of being alone with strange men while under the influence of the drug tattoo, and then manages to fall in lust with two hunky guys who are both mysterious and dangerous, and that appeals greatly to her.

So, I guess in some ways it is really typical naive teenager behavior, even if it isn’t the best example of what to do. But what really surprised me was that she was willing to let herself become even a little out of control (via the drugged tattoo) when she knew her life was at stake if she showed the slightest sign of being able to understand other languages.

It has a different twist on the whole dystopian genre because it is a post-apocalyptic tale based in our world, but with the addition of a bit of magic and fantasy. That magic seems to be part of the reason for why the masses can’t understand each other’s languages, but not a whole lot of background is given as to how the society came to be the way it is or how the queen gained the power she has (don’t get me wrong, there is a small explanation, just not a whole lot of detail – a lot is left to the imagination).

There is an interesting twist at the end, leaving an opening for a sequel, but not making a sequel a necessity. Really there was a nice balance between wrapping up the various plot lines and leaving the reader with thoughts to ponder about Charlaina’s future.

The Pledge is a very fun read if you suspend disbelief and just take it for what it is. Those who enjoy young adult fantasy should love it.

[cantinera · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book, even more than I thought I would. I've read the Body Finders books and thought this was going to be another book in the growing list of teen-dystopia series coming out, so I had vague ideas of what to expect, but the book did not match them... in a good way.

To be honest, while it has the science-fiction/authoritarian/political-upheaval vibe so popular in the teen fantasy genre now, I felt it transcended being lumped in with most of the books coming out lately due to the feel of the story feeling more like a futuristic fairy tale, its style borrowing more from a classic fairy tale than the post-Hunger Games trend. And it really, really works. It didn't feel like a rehash or a bandwagon of any of the genres, but felt fresh while recalling those literary traditions and genres.

I don't want to say too much about the actual story since I fear I will give too much away, but the heroine, the love interest and the storyline were all rather well developed and engrossing. And, as I see this was a series, it was nice to not see it relying on a cliffhanger, but being rather tidy about the current storyline, yet drawing you in enough to want the next book. That's pretty rare nowadays, so massive props to that.

Overall, probably in my Top 10 teen books out this year. And I've read a lot.

[mrsmich02 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Many types of "pledges" in this new novel by the author of "The Body Finder".

[fledgist · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In a future in which the world is broken up into kingdoms ruled by queens with magical powers or a sort, a young woman finds herself with a strange ability she cannot comprehend. This is a fascinating novel about growing up and confronting your demons in the midst of crisis.

[bkwormblogger · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Synopsis: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 regimeReview:So after reading the last two of her books I decided to give Dertings new dystopian adventure a try. The problem when switching from present day to fantasy is that it highlights writing flaws and there were a few here.The story is told from 1st and 3rd point of views. The 1st is always Charlie's. But then, randomly, we have other 3rds that don't really gel or really help with the story except to fill in a story gap that the author couldn't tell from another direction. I didn't like this aspect and think its particularly lazy on the authors part. Creative writing could have helped here.And then there's the premise of the story. We're told that there's a big war on, that refugees are entering the city for food and shelter because Queen Elena's armies are getting nearer but then its almost fogotten when we find out the truth between the attacks on the city and who's behind them. Also this 'essence' that the queen is holding in, this creep factor doesn't really come into the story either except at the end when Charlie understands the history of the Queen. But thats it! I was hoping for some backstory here but nothing came of it.In the end its really about two sides of war trying to use Charlie for their own means and too much of that overshadows what could have been a great war epic. Characterwise, Aron gets almost forgotten around a third of the way in. Brook is horrid as a friend and if she was mine then I'd dump her so quickly. Max is a little one dimensional and has little personality, plus his insistence on following Charlie and just saying lines that call her beautiful get a bit old fairly quickly, although I admit that he is swoonworthy, he actually had me disliking him in the beginning. I'm hoping that the second book opens up a little more because this could have been a great book but sadly gets lost in the filler of the story midway. So this is more of a 3.5 because I did like it aside from the gripes and I liked Dertings writing immensly.

[coranne_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book I have read by Kimberly Derting. She is also the author of the very popular Body Finder series. I love the cover of this book! It is so mysterious and creepy and I love the very faint letters across the entire cover. It is a very enticing cover and is incredibly well done. That being said, I wouldn't say that the cover is directly related the book. I think it just might be me (because I didn't read the summary first), but when I read this and the title "The Pledge" I immediately thought of secret societies, maybe even witches. I was absolutely wrong. This is not a paranormal book- this is much more of a fantasy book. I think it is important to know that because I can see how the cover is misleading.The story starts slow. I will admit that. The author does a very good job introducing characters and setting up the plot- however, it doesn't move quickly. I almost stopped reading this book early, and I am so glad I didn't. The second half of this book was excellent. The story had more action and was better paced. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I feel like I didn't get to know the characters as much as I wanted to- but I have a feeling I will get to know them more in the next book. The "final battle" in the book was excellent and I wish I could see it on TV or in a movie- I am sure it would be beautiful!If you enjoy fantasy or Kimberly Derting- you will enjoy this book! I did!

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It has been a long time since a book grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go until the final page was turned. I loved this story about a girl with secrets - dangerous secrets. In a society that killed those who got out of their place, Charlie is walking a fine line. She can understand all the languages even though it as against the law to know any language but that of her own class. The Queen of the country is getting old and doesn't have an heir. She needs to find the remnants of the former royal family in the hope that they have a girl who is suitable. Meanwhile, she is becoming even more paranoid and capricious. Daily hangings are the norm and family members are turning on family members to keep the queen's favor. But then Charlie meets a boy who is obviously from another class and obviously fascinated with her. She tries to stay away knowing that she can't take the chance of betraying her family by getting close to anyone. But Max is persistent - and the grandson of the Queen. Charlie also meets the head of the Resistance movement and is torn between the two. Xander has a vision for the world and needs Charlie to be the new Queen for the vision to come true.Charlie has be given the task of protecting her beloved little sister by her parents. And the little girl has secrets of her own that must be guarded. She is four but doesn't talk - and her touch can heal. When Rebels attack the city, Charlie and her sister Angelina are taken to the Resistance Underground to wait out the attack. But her parents stay behind. When Charlie goes to check on them, they are missing - captured by the Queen as a lure for Charlie.Charlie doesn't want to be queen. But she does want to keep her family safe. The story is filled with tension and excitement. There is also a really nice romance between Charlie and Max. I loved the language in the story and the tension and the suspense. There were so many secrets.If you are looking for a compelling, page-turner of a book, you need look no further than this one. I was on the edge of my seat and resented any task that took me away from reading before I got to the last page. I have already ordered my "keeper" copy and look forward to reading it again soon.