In the words of the great songstress, Adele: WE COULD HAVE HAD IT ALL-LLL-LLL

Truly. Everything was there for this to be such an incredible book, but alas, it went in a direction I did not anticipate.

I shall start with good—and there was quite a bit. Theodora—or Theo as we know her—was a great main female character. She shone across the first few chapters and I fell in love with her almost immediately. Named for a long-dead empress, Theo is a fierce, clever girl who is sick and tired of constantly being left behind. And rightfully so! Her father is a treasure hunter, who travels the world in search of magical and cursed objects, researched and tracing back across Dynasties and Empires of old. He brings Theo along, only to dump her at a luxurious hotel while he goes off into the rugged unknown. As annoyed as she is with it, she uses it as fuel to learn and prove her father wrong. I thought she handled herself remarkably throughout the book, and it is utterly refreshing—and I mean this in the best way possible—to see a girl get roughed up and not magically be okay the next hour. This trooper has a black eye for a large portion of the last half, and it felt so good to see that kind of realism.

I'm sure you've sussed it out from the summary, but there is a romance between Theo and Huck. He is an Irish lad who was taken in by the Fox family years before when his parents died. I have to say that while enemies-to-lovers is my favourite romance trope, in a close second is the one where the characters already have history, and not a happy one. I <I>love</I> those relationships where they meet up for the first time after a year or so has passed since they ended, good or bad. Nine times out of ten there's enmity between them similar to being enemies, but you know they're still hung up on each other while you try to figure out what happened in the past. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Theo and Huck. They bounced off each other quite pleasantly and were amusing to follow along with. And again, in Theo's favour, she didn't do things for Huck, but for herself.

I fully expected this to be a proper treasure hunt book though. Like, ala <I>The Gilded Wolves</I> at the very least. I was hoping for that element of magic and ragtag teamwork. The premise surrounds Dracula, so you'd think there'd be some measure of paranormal at least. And to some extent there was, but to me it felt weak. I expected there to be an epic adventure, especially with the <I>incredible</I> young Indiana Jones vibes that drew me in at the start in Istanbul. However, it felt too much like them having no money and bussing and taking the train from this Eastern European country to that one. The writing kept me riveted, but the journey grew tiresome after the third time they lament not having enough money to do this, or stay here.

What really wrecked it for me was the ending. Hokey is the best word I can use to describe it. I just ... sigh ... <I>really?</I> That was the best you could come up with? It felt like such a typical and tired sort of ending that it tasted a little sour. Especially since up until that point the book was pretty good.

If you're looking for a quick and entertaining standalone, look no further!

A book!! About!! Romania!! Jenn Bennett, I could kiss you. For several years now I've had a slight obsession with Romania, and as of late I've been enamoured with trying to find books that take place there. They are so few and far between, so when I do find one, I am ecstatic. And this one is so good. Who wouldn't want to read it, honestly? All you had to say was Vlad Dracula and I am on board. This is the perfect book to read come October, or even just autumn in general. I adore books about journeys, and this one fits that bill. ESPECIALLY when the journeys involve following instructions and hopping from place to place chasing a mystery. I really liked Theo, and I thought she was a great character. She is tired of being left behind and 'protected', so she takes matters into her own hands to solve the trail of clues in search of her father, who may or may not be hiding secrets regarding her of his own. I did like Huck as well, although he was a bit more one-dimensional. It's not instalove, since Theo and Huck have a history, but its very clear from the beginning that they will eventually clear things up and get together. Even though they start off as 'enemies' (if you could even say that), it's pretty obvious that someone will come clean about something eventually. The rest of the characters are more like quirky carnival-like kind of characters, each a clue to the overall mystery, clues that Theo and Huck must solve before they advance to the next step. The plotline and search for Vlad Dracula's ring is by far the most interesting part of the book. I loved how Theo found out more about her mother as the story progressed, and how her mother was a clue to solve the final mystery. I'm a bit surprised that I didn't call the twist about Theo being related to Vlad Dracula, as now that I know it, it makes a lot of sense for the story to go in that direction and seems almost natural. I loved the mystery of the rings and how instead of one real and two replicas, they form into the shape of puzzle ring. I find it a bit weird that Theo could figure that out but her father couldn't, though. Or maybe he did, and she just didn't know it. I loved all the Romanian bits so much, and how much the culture/country was tied into the story. I realise that should be obvious, considering the subject, but I am very grateful. There are a few things that struck me as odd, though. The book takes place in 1938, on the brink of the Second World War, and yet no mention of the events leading up to it at all. Having done a bit of research, I know now that at first, Romania remained neutral, but I feel a bit of acknowledgement would have been nice. You almost forget about the characters’ impending doom entirely (especially at the end when they are spending the forseeable future in Paris). I also found it a bit odd that nearly every single person they ran into could speak English, and I'm just not sure how likely that would have been during this time period. I did like that Theo spoke Romanian, however, and used it often.

I really really liked this book. It is so much fun, and while it might resemble other popular YA books, especially in the style of writing and characters, the story certainly isn’t one that I’ve come across before. If there are other Romanian-themed YA books out there, I’d love to hear about them (or even Vlad Dracula-themed books, to be honest). It’s not hard-hitting literature, but it’s a fun book about traipsing through foreign countries. And a cursed ring. What’s not to love?

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love Jenn Bennett: she has such a huge imagination, and I love her quirky writing style. (She tends to have a little gimmick for each story: in this one, her use of word clues in various crossword puzzles was such fun!) This is a young adult, verging on the new adult, novel delves into the Occult and is set in 1938. I tend not to do paranormal, but for a chance to read a new Jenn Bennett, fresh off the presses, I will definitely go there!

Theodora and Huxley (aka Theo and Huck) are star-crossed lovers, who meet again - quite unexpectedly - in Istanbul. Richard Fox was an amateur "Gentleman Adventurer" and he and young Huxley would go off on wild, hair-raising adventures, always leaving Theodora safely behind in one hotel or another - much to her aggrieved chagrin. This time Theodora was left kicking her heels with her hired female companion in Istanbul while Fox went off chasing a ring that may have belonged to the Dracula family, and which may possess supernatural powers.

The sudden arrival of Huck at her hotel bodes ill: just the previous year, Huck had been sent back to Ireland when Theo and Huck were caught in flagrante delicto in her bedroom, doing what teenagers often will do! (No spoiler alerts here!) Richard Fox had taken Huxley in and raised him along with Theo when Huxley's Irish immigrant parents were killed in a streetcar accident. But when friendship blossomed into attraction between the young teens, Theo's father accused Huxley of betraying his trust and packed him off to Huxley's aunt in Ireland, separating the young lovers.

Huxley and Theo are still secretly pining for one another.. Theo is upset with Huck because he never responded to any of her letters (unsolved mystery there!) and Huxley was told by Richard that Theo has moved on and is dating other eligible young men. Well, the story heats up with non-stop action: the young lovers hardly have time to sort out their personal affairs, they are so busy running away from the deadly band of men who are also looking for the enchanted ring.

I loved the descriptions of all the countries Theo and Huck traveled through: Istanbul, Bulgaria, Romania, and finally, Transylvania! And yes, we do get to go inside an ancient haunted castle and experience magic at its deadliest!

I sensed a sequel in the making: there are a few unresolved matters, and Jenn Bennett does tend to serialize her paranormal adventure novels. I really enjoyed this fast-paced read: the story is action-packed and the rekindled romance between Theo and Huck was too sweet for words! I look forward to more stories involving Theo, Huxley and Richard! Highly recommended!

Magnificent.
Honestly, and this is like near impossible to say, this is Jenn at her best.
All the banter-filled romances that you get from her spectacular contemps but with the perfect setting of 1930's Europe. It's like Indiana Jones-esq.
Also, can I haz more? Full solid wrap-up. But also this could be the best series.

Do yourself a favour and listen to the audio. The narrator is perfection.

Book Description
“The Last Magician meets A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue in this thrilling tale filled with magic and set in the mysterious Carpathian Mountains where a girl must hunt down Vlad the Impaler’s cursed ring in order to save her father.

Some legends never die…

Traveling with her treasure-hunting father has always been a dream for Theodora. She’s read every book in his library, has an impressive knowledge of the world’s most sought-after relics, and has all the ambition in the world. What she doesn’t have is her father’s permission. That honor goes to her father’s nineteen-year-old protégé—and once-upon-a-time love of Theodora’s life—Huck Gallagher, while Theodora is left to sit alone in her hotel in Istanbul.
Until Huck arrives from an expedition without her father and enlists Theodora’s help in rescuing him. Armed with her father’s travel journal, the reluctant duo learns that her father had been digging up information on a legendary and magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler—more widely known as Dracula—and that it just might be the key to finding him.
Journeying into Romania, Theodora and Huck embark on a captivating adventure through Gothic villages and dark castles in the misty Carpathian Mountains to recover the notorious ring. But they aren’t the only ones who are searching for it. A secretive and dangerous occult society with a powerful link to Vlad the Impaler himself is hunting for it, too. And they will go to any lengths—including murder—to possess it.
Review and Thoughts
So, we do I start? The title, the color scheme, and the design of this book drew to my attention. This story is set in Romania in the 1930’s. There is mystery, adventure, treasure hunting, lore, a bit of romance in this must-read historical fiction novel.
This was my first book by Jenn Bennett and I really enjoyed reading this book it. Lady Rogue is a historical fiction novel that centers around the infamous Vlad the Impaler’s ring. I really liked how the history of the period was mixed in with a modern feel. I love the writing style and at end of each chapter there is a journal entry that intertwines with the story.
As we follow three main characters in this novel, they are Theodora Fox, Huck Gallagher and Richard Fox. The novel is told in Theodora’s point of view, she is 17, stubborn and loves to get in to trouble. Then there is Huck, Theodora’s one-time love interest and in my opinion best friend. He was taken in by Theodora’s dad when his family was killed in a car accident. And then there is Richard Fox, Theodora’s dad in which he is the treasure hunter. This book is a must read, hands down.
I would like to thank NetGalley and publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

"I received this copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

1.5/5 stars

I DNFd this book at 50%, so take that into account when reading this review. I will not be posting any spoilers for the book in this review. I do feel like a 2 stars is more than fair for what I read, and the reasons I didn't personally enjoy the story.

I enjoyed the story well enough at the very beginning, definitely enough that I wanted to continue. However, the more of it that i read the more I disliked the story, the characters, the plot, the romance, and the overall writing in general.

Starting with the story, it was pretty intriguing at first, but kept getting pushed aside to further the romance angst. There were parts where you went so long without furthering the plot that I completely forgot what the plot was supposed to be, and why they were trying to find Theodora's father to begin with.

The main character Theodora was almost insufferable. This book is told in first person POV (and not well, in my opinion. More on that later) and she was incredibly selfish, self-centred, and boring. I honestly can't think of a single thing about her that I liked. The love interest, Huck, is much the same. Although I feel like in 50% of the book i still didn't have a good grasp on his character, just that he was annoying.

As I said before, the plot got lost a lot, and so I went periods of reading when i didn't even remember why they were doing what they were doing, and a lot of what they were doing seemed completely pointless to the story, and incredibly repetitive. So many things were just so incredibly convenient (meeting someone who just so happens to know the story of the artifact they are looking for right at the moment they need to know, getting locked out and conveniently having lock picks in their pocket... just two of several instances of things just randomly happening to further the plot and instead of having the characters have to figure out a way to deal with it, they just so happen to have the perfect solution handed to them over and over again.

The romance was too in your face the whole time. Like, I get it, you want to be together, but society or whatever doesn't want you to be. But they both treat each other pretty crappy, and the internal monologue of Theodora wanting to be with Huck but not knowing if he wants her too (despite the fact that he straight up said he did but whatever. Theodora wanted to hear it again, just to make sure. How many times does he have to say it? Jeez) got on my nerves really fast, and I honestly didn't feel any chemistry between them and could care less if they got together, which obviously you know they will eventually.

All of this may have been easier to get through if it weren't' for the writing itself. I have read from Jenn Bennet before and I liked her writing, but this time it was just not good. The first person narrative made me despise Theordora more than I think I would have if we hadn't been in her head the whole time. Her father is legitimately missing, she has someone chasing after her, and all she can think of constantly is "Does Huck want me, too?" Also, the extreme number of times Theodora's inner monologue began with the words "Why oh why" is alarming.

The action scenes that I did read were long paragraph after paragraph of the same thing over and over. Mostly them rushing places and ducking things. Over and over. For pages. Honestly those scenes seemed mostly pointless and really just should have been written or edited better, in my opinion.

And my last qualm with this book is also to do with writing and that is that you could not tell what time period it's supposed to be. They tell you its in the 1800's or early 1900s I believe, but this was so inconsistently written. While the main character mentioned a couple times about society and rules, the dialogue read like today's teenagers, with every once in a while a random old word being thrown in for effect.

Ultimately, by the time I got to 50% I was just incredibly frustrated, because I had enjoyed the beginning despite the awkward first person writing. But the more I read the more apparent the writing issues were, and the more issues I had with the plot and characters in general. In the end I decided to DNF because with all the books I have that I really want to read, I felt like I was wasting my time on a mediocre book that I cared nothing about.

This an adorable story of a girl and an old flame on an adventure to find her father. It has comedy, adventure, travel, and some romance aspects. "Fox", Theodora's father deals with sought after artifacts and relics. His latest quest involves authenticating the real ring of Vlad the impaler (Dracula). Failing to meet up with his daughter, Theo and Huck begin an adventure of their own to find Fox as they navigate foreign landscapes, deciphering clues and come across some shady people. I enjoyed the adventure from one page to the next.

I absolutely loved The Lady Rogue. It’s been way too long since I read a fun adventure book, and add in the mild fantasy aspects and a Vlad the Impaler-related theme, and The Lady Rogue was a total winner for me. I loved Theodora and Huck; their banter was highly entertaining, and I enjoyed learning about their history and watching them grow closer as they overcame obstacles and dangerous situations together. I felt like I was right there with them on their adventure across Eastern Europe, and I loved reading about the scrapes they got themselves into and the people they met. This book made me laugh, kept me guessing, and had some lovely emotional parts too. I was completely captivated through the whole story, and would love to see this made into a movie or mini-series.

My only *thing* with this book - not a complaint, just a general picky thing, I guess - is that it was set in the 1930s but the way the characters spoke and acted felt very modern. If Fox’s journal entries hadn’t been dated in 1938, I would have thought it was set in modern day.

Although I loved the bulk of this book, the first and last few chapters ruined my overall opinion.

The introductory pages are so unlike the rest of the novel, I almost forgot what I was reading! Theo’s transition from spoiled rich kid to adventurer happened so fast, it felt like reading about two different characters. I wish the story started mid-journey with backstory revealed gradually instead of spending the opening chapters catching up on what the reader “missed”.

Unfortunately, the conclusion was also a let down. After spending most of the book unraveling mysteries and running from bad guys, the climactic problem was solved in two short chapters. There were so many interesting questions to answer, it could have easily warranted a sequel. Instead, it felt like everything was crammed in to accommodate a predetermined word count.

This book was difficult for me to score, because I genuinely enjoyed the characters and the premise of the story; I just wish it was executed differently! If you’re looking for a quick read, I’d still recommend picking it up- just don’t get too excited for a grand conclusion!

This ok. Not something I couldn’t put down and I found Huck annoying.
The story was ok but this one isn’t one I would be reading again though.

I requested this book for one reason, really, and one reason only : the name next to “author”. I’m a big fan of Bennett’s contemporaries and I’ve dabbled in her adult PNR series (which I still have to finish!) so seeing her switch from YA contemporary to YA historical/fantasy didn’t concern me. I was excited. I might not have loved SERIOUS MOONLIGHT but I love her writing, her previous books, and had every reason to expect the same of this one.

But nope.

This book was a chore to read. I pushed through it quickly because the last thing I needed was another slump, and it wasn’t too long, and I just kept waiting for the spark. Or any spark, really. I felt nothing for the characters who were, respectfully, spoiled and or sulky as well as overdoing the charm to the point of not being charming. I felt nothing for the angst over the romance which we were beat over the head with to a ridiculous degree. And honestly the Vlad the Impaler plot/mystery that sent these two gallivanting all over Eastern Europe just.. didn’t really hook me and, like, did it ultimately even matter? I’m so confused.

I also want to say the pitch comparison to THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE definitely had me thinking this was queer. And it is not.

I didn’t love the characters, the angst, the romance, the plot. Even Bennett’s writing, which I normally love, felt different and failed to entice. If this hadn’t been an ARC, I would’ve DNF’d. If this was any other author, I would probably one star. But I just can’t bear to. And I do think maybe this is a me problem? Despite everything?

Anyway, I don’t think this is a series, so I’m relieved about that, but even if it was.. I wouldn’t be reading on.

** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **

I was aching for as fierce female lead, which is what drew me to this book initially. Theo sounded like a no-nonsense character ready for some huge adventures and I was there for it.

A story about Vlad the Impaler that ventures into Romania had me expecting a much darker book, but this adventure was actually pretty light and didn't have a ton of gothic-ness to it, which was kind of disappointing. It held its own for what it was, but it felt like the perfect ingredients for something a bit spookier, a bit more haunting, but it really only touched on the surface with short glimpses at the dark side of this magic.

Character wise, Theo was pretty much what I was expecting and hoping for. She was smart and determined, a little reckless in her think-later actions, but overall the typical kind of female lead I'd like to accompany on an adventure. Her chemistry with Huck was fire. I enjoyed the dynamic, though it did sometimes border on being too focused on their history and feelings as opposed to the story at hand. It's a thin line, but when idle gaps in the plot are full of lustful longing, I tend to skip over that part and I did my share of skipping.

I appreciated the expanded cast of characters to include some mysterious twins and a crow witch. These were very interesting characters, though we didn’t get to know them or their story all that much, which seems like a wasted opportunity. They could have been very enriching, though it likely would have slowed down the actual adventure part of the book.

This was my first book by Jenn Bennet, which from reading other reviews, should be a little embarrassing. It was a fun adventure story, but it was pretty much what you would expect. I didn’t feel like anything surprising or unique happened to make this stand out for me, and honestly, I probably won’t think much of this again now that I’m done with it, but I did enjoy it in the moment.

3.5/5 stars

This historical fiction novel takes place in the late 1930s across Eastern Europe and will surely have you turning the pages! We follow Theodora Fox and her longtime childhood friend/family Huxley "Huck" Gallagher with her absentee treasure hunting father Richard Fox. Following the pair throughout their adventure of trying to find a mysterious ring that supposedly belonged to Vlad Dracula, they run into occult magic users, cultists, and wild animals chasing them.

The Lady Rogue was different and unique for me - with interspersed journal entries from Theodora's father. It added a mystery aspect of what the heck is going on! Theodora is a headstrong character that I could get behind and follow. I liked reading from her perspective and learning about her past with Huck.

The journey through the book started off on a high note and the pacing was great. However, in the latter portion, the pacing slowed a bit and it was difficult to get through. I did thoroughly enjoy the history of Dracula and the descriptions of the cities and landscapes. The ongoing unknowns of why Theodora was in Europe with hunting for a mysterious ring added a great thriller aspect. I was satisfied with the conclusion!

Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Theodora Fox’s father is a famous treasure hunter, and she has always wanted to travel the world with him, searching for these priceless artifacts, but is always left behind. But when Huck Gallagher, her father’s protégé, arrives at her Istanbul hotel with the grave news that her father is missing, Theo and Huck set out on a journey across Romania, tracing his path to uncover the secret behind a magical ring that once belonged to the infamous Vlad the Impaler.

I had much higher hopes for this book, to be honest, and it just didn’t measure up for me – mainly because of the characters. The plot itself is fantastic, and the historical aspects to it were something I particularly liked. Theo and Huck’s travels – the Orient Express, the Romanian countryside, castles in the Carpathian Mountains and more, were all so interesting! Eastern Europe is a setting I’ve only come across a few times in YA, and there is so much to be explored. Also, can we take a moment to admire that gorgeous cover?

It was also nice that there wasn’t too much time wasted on background and world-building, and the action started right from page one. Though admittedly a little heavier on the fantasy aspect than I expected, I thoroughly enjoyed the pieces of the puzzle coming together and the scene where Theo solves the ciphers in her father’s journal was really intriguing. It was also nice to learn more about Vlad the Impaler along the way, a figure I have not seen in YA since The Conqueror’s Saga trilogy (a series I absolutely loved). I do have to mention though, that the time period of the book itself seemed to have little effect on the plot and the usual feel that a historical novel possesses was somewhat missing in this one.

The characters on the other hand…well, I never really got attached to either of them, and by the halfway point, I was reading more for the plot and historical background. Theo in particular was a very hard character to like. I felt she was extremely self-centred and entitled at times and ridiculously naive at others. Her misadventures go from hilarious to annoying very quickly. The history between Huck and Theo was easy to guess and obvious very early on, and there was really no reason to have dragged out that particular plot point as long as it did.

Despite the serious nature of the adventure however, The Lady Rogue maintains a light and humorous tone throughout, evident in the many amusing exchanges between Huck and Theo, and the perfect pacing makes it an easy read. Overall, while there were several things about this book that did not work for me, the adventure at the heart of it was a fun and exciting read.

I received a netgalley copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the banter between Theo and Huck. They are too cute and I wanted more of them. I loved their slow burn but I wish for more burn!

Overall I enjoyed this book. I felt the pacing was good for the majority of the story. There were small parts that dragged or went too quickly but they were few and far between.

If you only read one book this year, make it this one!

This is officially being marked as my favourite book read this year! I'm always cautious when starting historical fiction, as it either ends up being absolutely incredible or just downright depressing and confusing. Thank Goodness I decided to read this book.

I'll admit when I heard treasure hunters, Vlad the Impaler, and the scorned love story that was sure to develop between Theo and Huck, and I swooned. This book had everything I ever could have wanted: A strong badass female, magic mixed in with myth and reality, a setting not so overdone and yet felt incredibly familiar, chosen family, and a wolf-dog with one eye.

With every word I read, I found myself wanting to read more. I was absolutely enamoured with Theo and Huck, thoroughly engrossed with Richard Fox's journal entries. An even the three leads, The Widow The Hermit The twins, were all such interesting plot developments and overall characters, that I loved them fully. Well-developed characters all over.

Now all that's left to ask is if Jenn Bennett will release a sequel book of more adventures and catastrophes that Theo, Huck, and Richard Damn Fox will get into with all their treasure hunting and research trips. I for one would scramble to buy a book with more adventures of theirs.

This is the YA action/adventure book of my dreams.

The world of YA books is seriously lacking in big dumb fun adventure novels. Most often, when there is an adventure, it’s a giant overly serious quest. Don’t get me wrong. I love a big and serious quest. But sometimes I just want fun. And that’s what The Lady Rogue is.

This may be an action adventure story with mild fantasy aspects set in the late 1930s in Eastern Europe, but it’s still a classic Jenn Bennett YA novel. Fantastic dialogue, teen angst galore and an inner monologue that leaves you giggling.

I was initially interested in this because
A. Jenn Bennett
B. It's a Jenn Bennett FANTASY
C. Its blurbed for fans of A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue.
I was so happy to receive an E-ARC via Netgalley!

Setting: late 1930's Europe (mainly Romania which was such a fun setting and one I haven't read enough about!)
The descriptions of the quaint charming Romanian towns was so enjoyable and the dark history of Vlad the Impalor and vampires and lore that hang over this country was spooky and atmospheric. I enjoyed it and as someone who has very limited knowledge on Romania I'm super intrigued and I kinda wanna devour everything on the history.

Plot: Theodora Fox is the daughter of a famed American treasure hunter. We meet her in Turkey where she is waiting for her father to get back from an expedition so they can continue on their travels. Only shit hits the fan and he doesn't return for her. But Huck Gallagher does. He is THE GUY. The one she loved, the one that got away, the one that broke her heart...all that jazz. Cue the heart eyes. Anyways together they go on an epic journey searching for Theos father and the relic he was looking for. They get involved in a little bit of magic, family drama, witches, sorcerers, Vlad the Impalers missing bone ring... You know the usual.

Thoughts: I really did enjoy this. I think it is a perfect read for someone who is new to fantasy. The plot is 100% fantasy but it almost reads contemporary. One example near the end of the book Huck says hes 'hangry'. I kept forgetting what year we were in. The characters have amazing banter that had me laughing. Look out for Hucks proverbs they were one of my favorite things. If you enjoyed the travel and angsty romance of AGGTV&V I think you will enjoy this.

This story snagged me by the cover and the title. Then it absolutely snagged me by the description. YA mystery/fantasy that revolves around travel and Dracula in Transylvania? Yes please. This book was pure escapism at its finest. A book you pick up and just enjoy the ride. I loved Theodora and Huck and all of the supporting characters. This book was filled with humor, sadness, and even though it did get a bit dark at times, hope. Also just the right amount of romance. I really enjoyed this book and I’m hoping it’s going to become a series. I will definitely read more from this author.

arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I really really enjoyed this one!

"Steel spine, chin high."

We're introduced to our main character, Theodora Fox when she's being thrown in a sort of jail in Instanbul for apparently stealing a ring. Her father, a well known artifact collector and hunter had left her at a hotel in the city, like he usually did when he went out on a dangerous hunt for whatever artifact he happened to be searching for, this time he was out looking for the real ring of Vlad the Impaler. Theo is upset by being left behind again and even more upset when her tutor saves her from being jailed and then promptly quits along with stealing most of the money her father had left her with. When she makes it back to her hotel, she's told her 'brother' is upstairs waiting for her, only she doesn't have a brother. She thinks it could be her father, maybe mistaken by the hotel staff but she's surprised when her 'brother' turns out to be her childhood best friend turned lover turned into a ghost who left her a year ago with no explanation why. Their magical adventure with high stakes and dangerous missions immediately starts from there.

I really enjoyed this book. It was action packed, full of witty banter and interesting facts and beautiful locations and scenery. This was my first introduction to Jenn Bennet's books and writing and I loved it, I will definitely be looking into their other novels. My favorite part of this book was definitely the travel aspect. I loved seeing the different locations and culture, from the haunted forests to train rides through the countryside, it was all beautiful and very atmospheric. I felt like I was there with the characters the entire time. I was completely hooked and devoured this book in less than a day.

The one thing I didn't like was the lack of proper communcation between Huck and Theo. I loved their characters together and apart but I just wished they would have talked about their feelings way sooner than they did. But other than that, I enjoyed their banter and history and how they worked together to figure out clues and dangerous situations.

"But I will tell you a secret. I am not special. Magic is in every natural thing. It waits in the grass, and it blossoms in flowers. It's concentrated inside metals, deep within the earth, and it's carried on the wind. Magic will speak to anyone who takes the time to listen."

I didn't anticipate to love the magic as much as I did. The book wasn't full of it but the glimpses of it that we see were spectacular and super interesting to see and read. It added a whole new tension to the story and plot that I adored.

Overall, I adored this book, from the plot to each character that was introduced. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for historical fantasy with a dark side and a splash of magic and mayhem.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars