The Pledge (The Pledge #1) by Kimberly Derting

Book Summery (Via 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.

Book Review:
Wow. Well first of all, I can't believe how many low reviews I've read of this book. I was pleasantly surprised at the complexity of the world building. For some reason, I was expecting this novel to take place in the Czech Republic or Austria or Bulgaria or some such place. I loved the fictional setting that Derting created. She did a fabulous job of creating the setting of the story. I noticed that several people complained that they couldn't connect with the characters. I didn't seem to have this problem. I connected easily to Charlie. It was nice to see a strong female protagonist who knew her limits...she wasn't an unstoppable, martial arts expert, but she had a strong moral sense of right and wrong and did the best she could, as her circumstances allowed. Charlie's unwavering love and compassion for her sister is what really made me fall in love with her. I really, really enjoyed Max's character. I want to learn more about him and Xander in the following books. Sure, there were some predictable areas in the plot, and Charlie's resistance to Max was a bit odd at times, but those were such minor issues. Overall, I enjoyed this book from page one and can not wait for the next two books to be released!

Favorite Quote:

“I loved voices, I always had. Words held meaning, but voices held emotion.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I really love this cover. It's dark and mysterious. I love the word "pledge" is displayed two different ways. Not your everyday YA cover (which is a good thing)! :)

Rating:

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Book Summery:
Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself. -goodreads.com

Book Trailer:



Book Review:
From the minute I started this book, I had great difficulty setting it down. I basically read this is 2 days, taking time off between for work and quality time with the boyfriend. We are first introduced to Violet's gift at the very beginning of the story. A very powerful way to begin the book. Fast forward to several years later, when Violet is in high school and determining her new found feelings for her long-time best friend Jay. While Violet is sorting things out, so to speak, a string of murders take place. What I like most are the small sections placed strategically throughout the book in which we are inside the killer's head. When Violet starts finding the missing girls bodies, things really heat up. I loved the relationship between Violet and Jay. He is a great source of strength for her without being overpowering or over-dominant. She definitely has no qualms talking back to him, or sticking up for herself. I also loved Violet's strong sense of family, which again weren't too overpowering. There are a few plot twists that took me by surprise. All in all, this was a fantastic, quick and suspenseful read. I am very much looking forward to the upcoming sequel, Desires of the Dead.

Favorite Quote:

"...It was Chelsea that broke the stunned silence. 'I swear Claire-bear, I am going to call your mom and tell her that you need to start riding the short bus. You really need to start practiving your bitchy comments. What are you gonna do when we're not here to get your back?'

Claire rolled her eyes, too oblivious to be insulted, which was why she was the perfect friend for Chelsea, who was too insulting to be oblivious, 'Geez, Chels, I don't even ride the bus.' " (p. 303)

Cover Art Commentary:
I love the colors of this cover. The bright blue flower against the black backdrop is as powerful as one of Violet's echos.

Overall Rating: