Gwynneth White

NOTE: I was given this book to review by the author, Gwynneth White.

I never thought that this review would be so difficult to write. I don't even know where to begin, or how to rate the novel. I hope I get some insight as the words appear on the screen. At any rate, just please don't think I'm being hateful or anything. I'm just being honest.

Firstly, let me say that I had great expectations about Pledged. So great in fact, that when I started reading it, they came crushing down on me. Not cool, I know, but that's what usually happens when a book doesn't turn out to be what you've thought it would be.

Secondly, the world building and story telling sort of disappointed me. I was expecting a masterpiece, where I'd be enveloped in the book world as if it were my own reality. That I'd feel the wind, the heat of the desert, the pain of the characters. Sadly, It didn't turn out to be that way. The descriptions felt distant to me, and I couldn't get submerged no matter how hard I tried.

Thirdly, the story plot revolved around prophesies and curses that hardly made sense to me. I tried to understand what it was all about, but it just didn't make sense. And no, it wasn't some complicated mystery or something. It just logically didn't make sense.

In fourth place, I thought that the soul mate concept that we were introduced to in the summary, would be developed as a part of a grander scheme. But it wasn't. IT was the grand scheme. And it felt a bit silly to me that generation upon generation of fictional characters would depend on a concept that none of them actually considered important. Trust me, I do believe in love at first sight, but what I read here wasn't it. It was pushed to appear so, but it actually wasn't.

Fifth, the characters did not really impress me. Not even one of them grabbed my attention. They were all sort of the same, as if moulded in the same mould. Their dialogues felt unrealistic, their fears and stubbornness were completely unnecessary, and they never seemed to follow through with their decisions (unless those decisions were very stupid - then they'd stick to them).

And still, with all that said, after the 50-60% of the novel, I sort of liked it. I was even disappointed that it ended where it did. Stupid, stupid trilogies! Anyway, that's all I've got to say.

I'd recommend this book to all those who love a slow read, where there's more telling than showing and more thinking than doing.… (más)

I received the book free for the purposes of a review.

Pledged, a paranormal-romance for young adults, makes a good first impression. The cover is well designed, the book trailer impressive and the blurb intriguing, however the story, while good, wasn’t great.

Immediately engaging, with excellent descriptions of place, I felt that the story moved too quickly and that too much happened. Seth and Erin, the protagonists, seemed to spend all of their time jumping from one event to another with little or no time for the reader to take a breath and really get to know them. Perhaps, if the plot hadn’t had so many twists and turns, and so many characters, White could have spent more time involving us in Erin and Seth’s plight. As it is, White has us following three romances (one of which is love/lust triangle, making it doubly complicated) and two father–son relationships, which is too much for a single book.

I think, that in a story like this, with soul-mates and destined love, the plot should be something simple and the focus on the characters rather than the events. Perhaps if White had used her ability to describe the environment to really involve us in what the characters were feeling, and limited the story to two relationships (with maybe another only hinted at), then I would have been more invested in the story. It would have slowed the pace somewhat, but that, I think, would have made Pledged great instead of just good.… (más)

This was originally posted at my blog at Concise Book Reviews By Michelle http://concisebookreviewsbymichelle.blogspot.com/ You will find many experts there and teasers, and a giveaway until Sept 6

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, though it is quite long, its worth it. I really enjoyed the characters, got to really get to know them. I like when an author gives us the time to get to know them, and care, it makes the story that much better.

Seth did get on my nerves to me, seemed somewhat selfish, but as i got into the book more, past the halfway point, then I was able to understand that there was a reason, a very good reason he acted the way he did toward his soul mate Erin. I wont say, I will leave that for your to discover, this will be a spoiler free review. I will have a few teasers, but nothing to give anything away.

I really like the other main charachter Erin, she was strong, and easy to like. I felt really bad for her on how she was at times treated by Seth. But then there were sweet times too.

I liked the time travel that happened in this story, it was very interesting to see how this same curse that has started back in the early 800's AD or so. They get to see first hand, how this Pledged curse had started. This is where they meet Caleb and Talithia, and Jared and Sophia. As well as meet with Gidian, Kate and Stephanie in the Mist of Time, who are Gaurdians, and help them on this journey. They are not able to change anything in the past, but are there to hope to learn something from the friends their souls are friends with (hard to explain that part, so I wont, its explained well in the book) so basically they get to see the mistakes made by their longtime friends. There is action, some violence (not too bad) and it takes you on an emotional rollarcoaster.

It does get off to a slow start, not boring or anything, but much needs explained to understand it all, and its best to read when able to absorb it, its very intriguing, but one of those books you need to pay attention. Its a great story, that is very different than anything I have ever read. But what I didn't like, and this is more me being impaitient, is where it left us hanging at. Major cliffhanger, and I mean Major!! I was like freaking, as it left me wondering about what was to happen! It has a start of the next book, called Sacrificed Book 2 in the Soul Wars Saga., and its due out January 2013 with the next June 2013 (Saved may be title, seems its not concrete in that) I did not read that sneak peak of Sacrificed yet, as I wanted to write this review first, so that would not sway my review at all, or slip something in by mistake.

Here is a sweet teaser for you between Seth and Erin:

Erin closed her mouth over his. She knew exactly how important this first kiss was in her fight for Seth against Kyle. For a split second he hesitated; then, no longer willing to resist, he opened his mouth to hers. As their tongues met, a fountain of fiery sparks surged through Erin’s body, reminding her of the sensation in the prism when her spirit had accepted Custodianship of the diamond. Just like that decision had been right, kissing Seth was right too. More than right. It was the most natural thing in the world to do. Erin slid her hands under his shirt, caressing his back, praying that he felt as at home in her arms as she felt in his. They were both breathless when Seth burst into joyful laughter and pulled away from her.

There were a few sweet moments like that. Not as many as there should have been, but enough considering the story that took place.
This is another cute scene too:

“I’ve been wanting to kiss you ever since Maun. Forget Maun . . . almost since the moment I met you at the airport in Gaborone.”“All that time wasted.” Erin lay back on the bed and pulled him down with her. With her face close to his, she asked, “So why didn’t you?”He sighed. “Sparkles, I thought that was obvious.”“Not to me, it wasn’t.”He traced the outline of her mouth with his finger. “Well, I had just met you in Gaborone. Imagine how you’d have reacted if I’d done the whole Conan the Barbarian thing by throwing you over my shoulder and dragging you off to my cave?”She giggled. “And later?”“You know what happened later. I was so freaked out about it all that I was ready to get on the next plane home. Then we hit the Mists of Time–”“Yes. Where you rejected me.”

I really love how Gweynneth weaves complex characters, Guardians, protectors and soul mates from the beginning of time. Its all mixed up with some murder, intrigue and major plays for power in a fantastical setting of early Botswanna which at that time was called Shenaya. We have prophecies, curses and destined fates, all in Pledged. Its a complex story that spans across time.

The world building in this book is amazing, getting to feel your really in ancient times, in as foreign country.
Everything is centered around this Seer-Stone. Its the one of the most important parts of the story.

If you like adventure with some fantasy, and a little romance, then you will like this bool. I recommend you pick it up.

I received this book for a book tour, and my honest review.… (más)