foreverbeautifulbooks's review against another edition
2.0
This book disappointed me. A super gay scream-- I was so excited.
But I didn't connect with any of the characters, they were all kinda terrible and or they were two dimensional stereotypes of college men, and specifically gay college men. The killer was meh. I didn't feel any stakes even as people were dying.
I think the author wanted really bad to write a gay scream, and it fell short for me.
The writing style was also very dry and disjointed.
Example: He walked in the room. He looked around. He turned left. Then went to the kitchen.
The kill scenes were the same. They lacked that heart pounding rush. I wanted to like it and just didn't.
I want to take this moment to discuss my ratings. It's based on enjoyment for me-- what I enjoy others might not and Vice versa. People out here might like this style it was a quick read and that's based on the style of writing. Do with that what you will, but I enjoyed a lot of horror this month, and this one was not it.
But I didn't connect with any of the characters, they were all kinda terrible and or they were two dimensional stereotypes of college men, and specifically gay college men. The killer was meh. I didn't feel any stakes even as people were dying.
I think the author wanted really bad to write a gay scream, and it fell short for me.
The writing style was also very dry and disjointed.
Example: He walked in the room. He looked around. He turned left. Then went to the kitchen.
The kill scenes were the same. They lacked that heart pounding rush. I wanted to like it and just didn't.
I want to take this moment to discuss my ratings. It's based on enjoyment for me-- what I enjoy others might not and Vice versa. People out here might like this style it was a quick read and that's based on the style of writing. Do with that what you will, but I enjoyed a lot of horror this month, and this one was not it.
lforkeutis's review
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
harveyjoy53's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Blood, Violence, and Gore
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Child death, Cancer, and Grief
sergeom's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
corvinrunda's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
From the gripping first chapter to its exciting climax, The Pledge by Cale Dietrich isn't just a page-turner – it's a whirlwind of emotions, tension, and jaw-dropping surprises. Embarking on the harrowing journey of Sam, a resilient teenager forever scarred by a sinister tragedy, Dietrich masterfully captures the desire to have a normal life juxtaposed with Sam's battle with PTSD.
Drawing inspiration from the atmospheric chill reminiscent of the Scream movies, Dietrich weaves a narrative that is both familiar yet strikingly original. The college setting, the bonds of brotherhood within the fraternity, and the ever-present shadow of a relentless killer come together to create a backdrop that is as unsettling as it is immersive.
One of the standout features of the book is the sheer number of red herrings. Just when you think you've got a grip on the story, Dietrich pulls the rug out from under you, challenging your detective instincts at every turn. It's a testament to his storytelling prowess that even seasoned thriller aficionados will find themselves second-guessing their predictions.
Beyond the suspense and while staying within the YA genre, Dietrich doesn't shy away from exploring profound themes: the weight of trauma, the power of resilience, and the bonds that tie us – whether they're of family or fraternity. The characters are fleshed out, each with their own nuances, making them feel all the more real in the face of the looming threat.
As the story drew to its thrilling close, I was left on the edge of my seat, both satisfied with the resolution and eagerly anticipating the potential continuation of Sam's saga. Like all great thriller/horror tales, The Pledge leaves the door ajar, hinting at more to come, and I, for one, am here for it.
lemonlohan's review against another edition
3.0
Not a bad read at all and mostly read like a scream fanfiction (my favorite horror series) but just didn't wow me
tbm1999's review
4.0
This book is a 5/5 except I bumped it down to 4 starts because of that last line. Like wtf?!?! “Good luck?!?” I also kinda wish there was more of an elaborate backstory than “you killed my murderous brother and now I must kill everyone you love”
johneepixels7's review
2.0
Oof.
I really tried to enjoy this book. I couldn’t. And typically, a queer horror slasher is right up my alley.
I really enjoyed If This Gets Out, which was co-written by this author and Sophie Gonzales. However, for this, I could not connect with the writing style at all.
Eg: “Even with everything going on, it’s impossible to miss how cute it is. How cute he is, really. As he has been every time that I have seen him, he’s wearing a great outfit, and his skin is almost flawless.”
I don’t know why, but this stood out enough for me to highlight it but because I just didn’t like the way it was written. And this is just one of many examples like this that bothered me when reading.
Every detail felt like it was laid out in front of you (and sometimes too repetitive) without leaving readers to think for themselves (some may like this!).
I also felt that the story had some really good baselines, but I just couldn’t enjoy the way it was executed. And the storyline itself fell incredibly flat for me.
For it to be compared to Clown in A Cornfield, which I absolutely loved… feels like it’s too high of a comparison that it couldn’t live up to.
I really tried to enjoy this book. I couldn’t. And typically, a queer horror slasher is right up my alley.
I really enjoyed If This Gets Out, which was co-written by this author and Sophie Gonzales. However, for this, I could not connect with the writing style at all.
Eg: “Even with everything going on, it’s impossible to miss how cute it is. How cute he is, really. As he has been every time that I have seen him, he’s wearing a great outfit, and his skin is almost flawless.”
I don’t know why, but this stood out enough for me to highlight it but because I just didn’t like the way it was written. And this is just one of many examples like this that bothered me when reading.
Every detail felt like it was laid out in front of you (and sometimes too repetitive) without leaving readers to think for themselves (some may like this!).
I also felt that the story had some really good baselines, but I just couldn’t enjoy the way it was executed. And the storyline itself fell incredibly flat for me.
For it to be compared to Clown in A Cornfield, which I absolutely loved… feels like it’s too high of a comparison that it couldn’t live up to.
silenthillda's review
2.0
Rating: 2.5
Sam got through a horrendous incident at a cabin. He took things into his own hands and survived. Two years later and the murderous assailant dead, he’s ready to start college and put the past behind him. Of course, like all horror movie tropes, The murders start up again just as he was joining a fraternity and getting his life to resemble some ample sense of normalcy. Can he figure out who the killer is this time, will he be able to survive again? Is a normal life in the cards for Sam?
The Pledge by Cal Dietrich was a slog to get through. I chipped at it because it’s hard for me to DNF something. While the writing is not bad or anything to write home about, I found it to be very run-of-the-mill. The pacing a bit off yet leaves wanting more and not in a positive sense. The story felt like a low budget version of a slasher you would find if a group of queer teens made as a fan film for fun on YouTube. Nothing special, but in book format it just wants you to pull your hair out.
*Slight spoilers ahead*
Sam survives by killing his stalker ex at the beginning of the story (first few pages). So your then thrown in what feels like part two of a story. There’s no nuance or flashbacks to anything. And Sam sometimes just feels hollow as a character, at times, only talking about how rich someone is or how hot they look. It would be OK if the story was somewhat satire or comedic, but it’s played (no pun intended) straight.
When the killer is finally revealed, there’s no epic payoff. When the red herrings are better choices, there’s something wrong with the story. I don’t like to be harsh with books but I can say that I don’t recommend The Pledge. It’s too mediocre.
Sam got through a horrendous incident at a cabin. He took things into his own hands and survived. Two years later and the murderous assailant dead, he’s ready to start college and put the past behind him. Of course, like all horror movie tropes, The murders start up again just as he was joining a fraternity and getting his life to resemble some ample sense of normalcy. Can he figure out who the killer is this time, will he be able to survive again? Is a normal life in the cards for Sam?
The Pledge by Cal Dietrich was a slog to get through. I chipped at it because it’s hard for me to DNF something. While the writing is not bad or anything to write home about, I found it to be very run-of-the-mill. The pacing a bit off yet leaves wanting more and not in a positive sense. The story felt like a low budget version of a slasher you would find if a group of queer teens made as a fan film for fun on YouTube. Nothing special, but in book format it just wants you to pull your hair out.
*Slight spoilers ahead*
Sam survives by killing his stalker ex at the beginning of the story (first few pages). So your then thrown in what feels like part two of a story. There’s no nuance or flashbacks to anything. And Sam sometimes just feels hollow as a character, at times, only talking about how rich someone is or how hot they look. It would be OK if the story was somewhat satire or comedic, but it’s played (no pun intended) straight.
When the killer is finally revealed, there’s no epic payoff. When the red herrings are better choices, there’s something wrong with the story. I don’t like to be harsh with books but I can say that I don’t recommend The Pledge. It’s too mediocre.