Review: Of Noble Chains: A Ventori Fable by D.L. Miles

Book Blurb:

Kehzia Noble had gone her whole life wanting to become a Ventori, a kind of bounty hunter that tracks down STRAY Specters, the supernatural creatures that have gone back to their base nature. But to be one you must be descended from one of the five clans; good thing her father is Medean, making her a half-blooded clan member. And now that she’s graduated a year early from the prestigious Academy of Light, she planned on entering college to get a degree in Tracking. But her life plan didn’t go off as easily as she had hoped when the review board decides she needs to spend the summer being mentored by an experienced Ventori.

Enter Aeryn Rinehart. He’s older, one of the best Ventori in the business, and Kehzia thinks he’s an absolute hottie! Not only that, he volunteers to be her mentor for the summer, and she thinks she’s officially beaten her childhood competition Hayden Rider. All he did was get into college, he doesn’t get to actually Track down STRAYs, and get an official Ventori rank!

But as Kehzia goes through cases with Aeryn, Ventori seem to be committing suicide; and the latest deaths are connected to her own brother’s murder from two years ago. Not only that, Aeryn seems to have his own agenda, with strange connections all over the city, and a powerful Specter has taken an interest in Kehzia and begun to follow her around. Working with people she doesn’t like, and finding that her own feelings are starting to affect her work, Kehzia tries to solve the supposed suicides in hopes of finding her brother’s killer. More secrets are revealed along the way, and Kehzia is forced to face her own buried feelings she had tried so hard to avoid, feelings that she wasn’t even aware of.

My Review:

5 Stars

I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.

***Some minor spoilers.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this book. I have already been sucked into the story and have become attached to the characters.

Kehzia (Zia) Nobles wants to become a Ventori, clan members that track STRAY Specters, she has one problem though...since her brother was murdered by a Specter she believes that all Specters are monsters. I actually really liked Zia, she's very 'passionate' about the things she puts her mind to, some may say she's also reckless, stubborn, and hot-headed. That is true but she is also very caring and loyal (which you see very clearly as things start to unfold).

Aeryn Rinehart agrees to mentor Zia so that see can become a Ventori and takes her as his student. He seems to truly care for Zia but he has some secrets that he is keeping from her. Aeryn is still somewhat of a mystery to me and I am ready to find out more about him through out the series.

Iscah (Issy) is Zia's best friend who has a secret of her own that very few know about...and Zia is not one of those few. Iscah (in my perspective) really does love and care for Zia and her family, which she ends up proving in the book. I really loved Iscah, she makes me think of the girl whom everyone underestimates but when it all goes down you want her on your side.

Malachi (Mal) Fel is a strong Caster who is trying to convince Zia that not all Specters are bad. He tries to protect her multiple times through out the book and constantly ask if she is okay. You start to wonder as you read further into the book if the only reason he is sticking around is to convince her to change her view of Specters. Maybe I'm just a sucker but I really like Mal :) Team Zia+Mal all the way!!

Hayden has always (as he says) loved Zia but she is oblivious to it and thinks that he hates her. I have mixed emotions about Hayden but that could be because I am for Team Zia+Mal. I'll just have to wait and see how things go in the next book.

Would I read this book again?

Yes I would

Will I read the next book?

Definitely!

Would I recommend it to others?

Of course!