Book Review: Venture Untamed by R.H. Russell

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 PM in 2-star, fantasy, R.H. Russell, review, YA,

Author: R.H. Russell

Release date: January 5th 2014

Publisher: Morning Gate Press

Series: The Venture Books # 1

Age Group: Young Adult

Genre: Fantasy

Purchase: Amazon 

Add to your library: Goodreads

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. (via Goodreads)

I received an e-copy of this from Shane of Itching For Books and the author in exchange for an honest review. 

I am definitely in the minority since most of the readers loved this one. What went wrong for me? Is it the writing? Definitely not. Despite it being in the 3rd person POV, I was able to read it without stopping even once. Is it the story? Nah. I was deeply immersed into the story. The idea of such society was both interesting and quite intriguing. Being at the low class, would Venture be able to go at the top through his own efforts? I was astounded as to how their society worked. Yes, it was absolutely cruel if I must say. Is it the characters? Still no. I actually liked Venture. His determination was typical among them but what set him apart was his patience. He knew he cannot just go straight at the top. He was willing to start from the bottom. The other characters did their parts as much as they should. It was all supposed to happen. So what then gave it? PACING.

Can you even imagine how excited I was that after 50% of the book, something big was happening and then I was shocked to see that it had already ended. Turns out, the remaining last few pages in my Kindle was a preview for the sequel. I was very disappointed by then. I didn't know how to feel. The whole book for me was like world-building, introducing the characters, some mishaps happening. Nothing THAT BIG happened. To think that I was excited because there was supposed to be fighting. Or there maybe some. But not the kind I expected. For the most part, I felt that it was all about the preparations for the big thing.

Despite me not liking the pacing that much, I might or might not give the sequel a try. I'm still curious as to how Venture would work his way up and if he would be with Jane in the end. Since a lot of readers liked this one, I'm still encouraging everyone to go try this. Maybe it's just me not liking the pacing. You'll never know.

About the Author

         R.H. Russell has been on the mat with talented young fighters since 1993. Their ambitions, struggles, and triumphs inspired her to write the Venture books. She hopes to share the fascinating world of fighters with readers in a unique way—a way anyone can identify with, because she truly believes there’s a fighter in all of us.      She's having a great time letting Venture and his friends loose to play on the page, writing about brawls and big dreams, betrayal and camaraderie, and of course, Venture and Jade’s forbidden love.        The author also writes the Unicorns of the Mist series as R.R. Russell. Wonder Light (Sourcebooks 2013), the first of these novels for young readers, is out now. Look for The Unicorn Thief in 2014 Illuminating Gracie is her debut novel.

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