{
    "id": 366507,
    "slug": "the-essence-kimberly-derting",
    "nstc": null,
    "title": "The Essence",
    "subtitle": null,
    "collection_title": "The Pledge",
    "collection_part_number": "2",
    "annotation": null,
    "description": "\u201cDanger, dread, mystery, and romance\u201d (Booklist) continue in the second book of The Pledge trilogy, as Charlie\u2019s reign is under siege from the most unusual of enemies.\n\nAt the luminous conclusion of The Pledge, Charlaina defeated the tyrant Sabara and took her place as Queen of Ludania. But Charlie knows that Sabara has not disappeared: The evil queen\u2019s Essence is fused to Charlie\u2019s psyche, ready to arise at the first sign of weakness.\n\nCharlie is not weak, but she\u2019s being pushed to the brink. In addition to suppressing the ever-present influence of Sabara, she\u2019s busy being queen\u2014and battling a growing resistance determined to return Ludania to its discriminatory caste system. Charlie wants to be the same girl Max loves, who Brook trusts, but she\u2019s Your Majesty now, and she feels torn in two.\n\nAs Charlie journeys to an annual summit to meet with leaders of nearby Queendoms\u2014an event where her ability to understand all languages will be the utmost asset\u2014she is faced with the ultimate betrayal. And the only person she can turn to for help is the evil soul residing within.",
    "imprint": null,
    "language_code": "eng",
    "original_language_code": null,
    "page_count": null,
    "duration_seconds": null,
    "publication_date_first": null,
    "publication_date_latest": "2013-01-01",
    "cover_url": null,
    "editions": [],
    "ratings_count": 0,
    "read_count": 0,
    "review_count": 0,
    "favorite_count": 0,
    "reading_status_read_count": 0,
    "reading_status_reading_count": 0,
    "reading_status_want_to_read_count": 0,
    "rating_average": null,
    "ratings_distribution": {
        "1": 0,
        "2": 0,
        "3": 0,
        "4": 0,
        "5": 0
    },
    "created_at": "2025-09-19T13:30:29+00:00",
    "updated_at": "2025-11-04T00:30:00+00:00",
    "publisher": {
        "id": 5723,
        "slug": "margaret-k-mcelderry",
        "name": "Margaret K. McElderry",
        "created_at": "2025-09-19T13:25:01+00:00",
        "updated_at": "2025-09-19T15:05:06+00:00"
    },
    "contributors": [],
    "genres": [],
    "subjects": [],
    "campaigns": []
}