The Pledge

Title: The Pledge
Author: Kimberly Derting
Copyright: November 2011
Series#: The Pledge #1
Genre Elements: Fantasy, Dystopian, Romance

Blurb: 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.

Review: I have read a few dystopian series and I must admit The Pledge's premise is pretty unique. Imagine being seperated into a class system because of the language you speak. And because of that language you couldn't aspire to be anything other than what you are born to do. Plus, you're only allowed to know and/or understand the language you speak. But what if you're our heroine "Charlie" who can speak, read and understand ANY language. Imagine if anyone found out about your secret you'd be executed! Awesome right?

Charlie is your average teenager: she has a couple of good friends (one male, one female), she's still trying to find herself but satisifed with her lot in life as a member of the Vendor Class. She works in her families restuarant and on occasion gets to hang out in undergound clubs with her friends. In one of these underground clubs she meets Max who speaks a language she's never heard before. Of course Max is beautiful and mysterious which intrigues her even more but she knows that she's not supposed to understand Max and runs scared.

So begins the forbidden romance of Max and Charlie. But Max has even bigger secrets than Charlie. Secrets that will effect and change both of their lives forever. In The Pledge you get a little of everything, romance, suspense, an evilish queen, and an underground revolution movement. If you're a fan of dystopian fantasy you'll enjoy this one. The second and third book are out in the series.

Rating: 4 Wildcats

Read more about The Pledge series here.

Scarlet

Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Copyright: February 2013
Series #: Lunar Chronicles #2
Genre Elements: SciFi, Futuristic Fairytale Retelling, Romance, Action, Suspense

Blurb: Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Review:  After I finished reading Cinder NOTHING and I mean NOTHING could stop me from starting the second book in this series. Marissa Meyer did not disappoint with Scarlet the second book in the Lunar Chronicles quartet. Even though this book is about a completely different heroine, the stories still connect. Again, this is a fairytale retelling of you guessed it...Little Red Riding Hood, complete with the heroine always wearing her favorite "red" hoodie, a guy she meets named Wolf - who you're not sure in the beginning should be trusted. When you find out "why" he's called Wolf - you're going to be like "whoa!" Trust me.

So in this book, Scarlet's grandmother disappears and this book is all about her finding her grandmother and finding out about her grandmother's secret past. That secret past connects with Cinder and how she came to be who she is. You get more heart stopping suspense, a little romance, and of course the evil queen is still rearing her beautiful ugly head (you understand that if you've read the first book).

What I love about this book is Scarlet is tough! She's a survivor. Even though she's scared, out of her element, and she doesn't know if she can really trust Wolf, she is determined to find out what happened to her grandmother. And she's a pilot to boot!

If you haven't read Cinder yet, please read it first before you start Scarlet. You'll need the background information to understand what's going on in Scarlet. You won't be disppointed!

Rating: 5 Wildcats!

 

 

Still not sure? You can go here to the author's website to watch a book trailer and read an excerpt from the book!

Cinder

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Copyright: January 2012
Series # - Lunar Chronicles #1
Genre Elements - Sci-Fi, Futuristic, Fairytale Retelling, Romance, Action, Suspense

Blurb: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future

Review: I must admit I waited a while before I read this book. My daughter had it and recommended it to me, but I still procrastinated! I also had it on the shelf in my Library Media Center. By the time I decided to read it, two sequels were already out. Yeah...it took me that long. WHY DID I WAIT?!?!

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

Sure...it's a retelling of Cinderella (hey - look at the title) - so of course you know there's going to be an evil step-mother, two step-sisters, a prince, a ball...well, you get my point. But that's where the similarity ends! Cinder is a Cyborg! Yep...you read that right. Look at the cover again. There's an evil Queen from another planet, the story's setting is in New Beijing, China, there's a plague ravinging the humans on Earth, and guess who has the cure for the disease? That's right - the evil Queen who wants an alliance with Earth by marrying Prince Kai who just happens to have a little thing for Cinder.

Like I mentioned, this is a retelling of Cinderella, but this story takes unexpected twists and turns that will keep you reading to find out what happens.

What's going to happen when Prince Kai finds out Cinder is a cyborg? Will Prince Kai forgo love and marry Queen Levana to save the planet?

You'll have to read it to find out. I promise you won't be disppointed. And guess what...the next two books in the 4-book series are already out so you won't have to wait to read the next one.

Rating: 5 Wildcats!

 

 

Still not sure? Go here to the author's website, read the first chapter and watch a book trailer!