Venture Untamed (The Venture Books #1) by R.H. Russell

Title: Venture Untamed
Author: R.H. Russell
Publish Date: September 23, 2011
Publisher: Morning Gate Press
Pages: 186
Other Books in the Series: Venture Unleashed (The Venture Books #2), Venture Unbroken (The Venture Books #3)
Buy the Book: Amazon 
Rating: ★★★★★

Venture Delving is a bonded servant, a member of the lowest class in the world. Already fatherless, when he loses his mother, he veers from energetic to out of control. But when Venture's rage saves the life of Jade, his best friend and his master's daughter, Venture finds himself in the last place he ever expected—a center renowned for training young boys to be professional fighters.

When Venture realizes he's fallen in love with Jade, he knows that the only way he'll ever have her, the only way he'll ever be free to live the life he's meant to live, is to defy convention, common sense, the trust of those he cares about most—and sometimes the law—and become the best fighter in the world, the Champion of All Richland. Venture must battle not only rival fighters, but the ghosts of his past and the members of a privileged warrior class who stand between him and his dream.

I absolutely loved this novel! It surprised me because when I first read the synopsis, I wasn't sure I would enjoy it. Boy, did I change my mind. It was a wonderful story about a boy determined to rise from his situation and become what he always dreamed of.

Although it started slow for me, I can't deny that I was drawn in by the story and it's characters. The world was incredibly well built, I honestly believed that I was there even though I don't know everything about it, the author brought it to life. The characters, even the lesser ones, are so relate able and you can't help but fall in love their stories and their struggles.

The fighting was epic! I can't even tell you how captivated I was by each move and how the author described it. Honestly, I have never been one to read books about fighting but this has completely changed my mind and my opinion.

If you think that the fighting isn't something you're into, trust me, the story is bigger than that. The love story between Jade and Venture is wonderful, the relationship between Venture and his elder brother is sadly captivating, and his relationship with fighting is different than I would've thought.

I recommend that everyone read this wonderful book! It's captivating and I loved it!