Theo Fox is a brilliant young woman longing for adventure. Because her mother died after finding an allegedly cursed treasure, her father has become overprotective and stifling. Over a year ago, Huck, his foster son, was sent away after her father caught them together. In that time, Theo wrote Huck in Northern Ireland at his aunt's house but he never replied. She is shocked when her tutor abandons her in Istanbul and her father doesn't show up but she finds Huck post shower in her hotel room.

Her father has disappeared and sent Huck to take Theo to safety. She didn't know Huck was with him when her father ditched her in Istanbul. He sent Huck with his journal that contains encryptions. Theo loves cryptology and crossword puzzles, but needs to find the key. She also needs to find out how she and Huck feel for each other, as they didn't exactly rush into each other's arms and he's not responding to any of her questions about their history or his feelings.

Theo and Huck wind up fleeing from mysterious men in pursuit - men that Huck last saw chasing him and her father- and hit the road with the limited money and rail passes they have available to them. What follows is adventures through Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania as they search for her father and follow the trail of the three rings he's searching for - one real and two forgeries - that allegedly belonged to Vlad the Impaler.

The mix of superstitions, legends, and history creates a unique and engaging storyline. Theo is curious, impetuous and a bit of the empress she is nicknamed. Huck is more world-weary, cautious and his adventure runs to being a pilot. They are a great team and frankly, sound like they're much better together at this type of research and tracking than her father is.

One thing I did find strange is that the book mentions nothing about what else is brewing in Europe in 1938. World War II is very much on the horizon at this point, and nothing is mentioned of the political turmoil. Given that Huck is a pilot, I think we can all suspect where is he going to wind up within a few years.

I wouldn't really describe this as a second chance romance - they are teenagers - but more of a reunited couple given a chance at a future. It takes them a bit but though being together is somewhat out of their control thanks to her (awful) father, there is more hope for them going forward.

Perfect for readers looking for a bit of fantasy, history, and romance in their YA. The Lady Rogue is an engaging, thrilling adventure through Eastern Europe and Turkey during a unique time period.

4.5/5*

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Net Galley for sending me this advanced reader copy of The Lady Rogue in exchange for an honest review.
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Alex, Approximately continues to be one of my favourite YA contemporary novels to reread - it's just so sweet and easy that it's always fun to jump back into it. I've enjoyed Jenn Bennett's other novels, but when I found out she had written a YA historical novel I wasn't sure how it would work...and shame on me for not having more confidence in her! The Lady Rogue ended up being so much fun to read!

Wonderful Historical Romance
Theo and Huck are wonderful together! It was fun to see what being a teenager in the 1930s might have been like (Theo needs to travel with a governess to be considered "proper"!) and I really enjoyed their dynamic. Obviously Theo's father had something to do with their separation, but it was fun to slowly unravel what caused it and why he forced it to happen. I was a Huck fan from the start and loved watched their relationship develop!

Solid Relationships and Characters
Theo has a lot to get through in this book; her relationship with her father is questionable, she's stuck with someone who broke her heart, and she's slowly piecing together aspects of her mother's history. With all this going on, it would be easy for Bennett to gloss over some of these relationships, but she does a great job of juggling the different familial and romantic relationships in this book. We also get some solid character development from Theo and Huck. I would have liked to understand Theo's father a bit more than just his journals, but Theo and Huck really stole the story for me, so I'm ok with having most of the attention on them.

Quick Ending
The ending to The Lady Rogue was sadly a bit too quick for my liking, especially because there had been so much build up leading up to it! The journey to find Richard Fox is detailed and brings Theo and Huck into so many crazy situations, so it was a bit of a let down that the climax of the story was reached and overcome within a few pages. It would have been interesting to have a bit more time with Theo wearing the ring and the repercussions of it. HOWEVER, this is a small detail and didn't take away from the story as a whole (for me).

I was a huge fan of this book and I can't wait for it to be published so I can add it to my bookshelf! I'm also really hoping that this becomes a series so that we can travel with Theo and Huck on other adventures...and see where their story ends up! I'd recommend The Lady Rogue to anyone who enjoyed A Gentleman's Guide to Vice & Virtue, to those who enjoy YA historical fiction, or are simply looking for a fun autumn read. The Lady Rogue comes out September 3, 2019 and I can't wait to hear what you think of it!

I was so very excited to read this book (my teddy bear I use as a neck pillow is named Vlad the Impaler).

The story of this was so fun and filled with magic and wonder and -- more rare-- a deep respect for other cultures. I was worried the G* slur would be used or that there would be some derision and there just wasn't. Instead it was Theo learning about her heritage and herself as she traipses through Romania. Theo was a really interesting character and how she viewed the world -- and herself-- reminds me a bit of Eloise & Pippi Longstocking (which is a high compliment!).

The one thing that detracted from how much I loved this book was how toxic Theo's dad is. While part of it is definitely addressed, I feel like the ending where Theo reverts to her dad's sexist, demanding rules (that were a huge issue to begin with) was unfortunate. The dad is definitely not someone who should be allowed to wander the world with two minors as he *never* apologises and only tells the truth when convenient. If the end had addressed that a bit better with Theo and Huck travelling on their own terms (but with the Dad) I would have felt much more comfortable. As it is I feel like the ending was a bit off.

That being said, I truly enjoyed this novel. Theo constantly getting into scrapes was endearing and reminded me of myself, and the climax of the book was incredibly fascinating.

I’m always in search of novels with strong, independent female protagonists to put on the shelf of my little classroom library. “The Lady Rogue” written by Jenn Bennett presents us with Theodora or “Theo”, a seventeen year old young lady with a penchant for crossword puzzles, cipher codes, and the occult. When Theo’s “adventurer” father goes missing while attempting to possess the lost ring of Vlad the Impaler (yes Dracula himself) Theo embarks upon an adventure of her own in an effort to piece together her father’s last movements and ultimately save him from murderous treasure hunters.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Bennett has written novel that is a combination of just the right amounts of adventure, gothic elements, history and romance to engage any young adult. I especially enjoyed the voice of Theo. Although the story is set in 1938, Theo speaks and thinks like a REAL seventeen year old girl. She has a wonderfully sarcastic inner dialogue that had me chuckling regularly. I hope Jenn Bennett writes share more of Theodora’s adventures with us in the future!