2.5 stars

Summary
This takes place in 1937 and follows Theordora Fox whose father is a treasure hunter and world traveller. Once again she is left behind in a hotel while her father tracks down some ancient relic. But then the boy who suddenly disappeared from her life a year ago, shows up at her hotel and tells her, her father is missing and may be in trouble.
The two them travel across Eastern Europe to find her father and in the process find a web of dangerous men and occult magic.

Overview
I think this is a case of it's me, not you. This book just didn't click with me. I'm terrible with history and all the historical references went so far over my head I had trouble keeping everything straight - where they were, what year it was, what historical things happened when.

➸ POV - This is told in 1st person from Theo's POV and in between each chapter we get a journal entry from her father, Richard's, journal.

➸ Theodora Fox - 17, Trouble-maker, Believes in magic and curses

➸ Huck Gallagher - 18, Irish, Lost family to a car accident, Taken in by the Fox's

➸ Richard Fox - Father, Widower, Treasure hunter, MIA

Content Warnings: Death of a parent, Violence

What I Liked
➸ I loved the Romanian setting and mysterious vibes of this story. I'm not a huge fantasy or historical fiction reader, so this book was definitely out of my comfort zone. But I love a good mystery and atmospheric setting so this definitely helped me connect with the story more.

What I Didn't Like
➸ There was just so much time walking... and walking... and then riding a train... and walking some more. I was 71% into the ebook and I was ready to chuck my kindle across the room if I had to read one more scene about them walking and fighting.
➸ In general things just felt very drawn out. Their travel, their fights, their discussion of their relationship. By the end I was honestly just sick of hearing about all of it.
➸ I hate the miscommunication trope and this had it in spades. Both the main plot and the love plot were built around miscommunication. Not a fan.
➸ The relationship in general I just never got on board with. I didn't feel anything about or connect with their love story in any way.
➸ And that ending... so much of this book was spent wandering that I was hoping for a big payoff in the end. But this climax lasted for all of a chapter and ended so dang conveniently. I was really disappointed.

Overall this story wasn't for me. I didn't connect to any characters, I didn't enjoy the meandering pace, and I found the climactic action scene underwhelming.

Review posted to Goodreads on 9/8/19
Review posted to blog on 9/9/19

I loved Alex, Approximately so I absolutely could not wait to pick this up.

Theodora is left in Istanbul, while her dad leaves for a mystery in Turkey. She is left with a tutor who ends up quitting and leaving with all their money. In comes Huck, informing her that he came from her fathers Expedition.

I really feel for Theodora. As children, she was always overshadowed by Huck, whom her father took in and raised after Huck was orphaned and Theodoras mother died. Her father sees her as a troublemaker, where I feel she is hugely misunderstood and is just an adventurer with a bit of bad luck.

I loved all the action, adventure, and descriptions of the different places Huck and Theo travelled. It was such a fun read!

We all know how much I adore Jenn Bennett, yeah? I have raved a time or two . So when I found out that she was writing a historical fantasy? Oh sign me up! I figured this was going to completely win me over and it did, friends. It really did. It's full of adventure and romance and legends of Vlad the Impaler, honestly what's not to like? Let's talk about all the awesomeness.

• Theo is kind of the best. She just won my heart from the very beginning. She's a fighter, this one, and she isn't willing to sit back and wait while her father is missing, especially when some shady folks get in the action. She has no intention of acting like society wants her to, like a damsel waiting for someone to save her father, and ultimately her. And her voice in general just appealed to me, frankly.

• Speaking of characters I love, I beyond adore Huck. Oh Huck, he and Theo had a rocky past, and the last time they saw each other was painful at best. You can tell that Huck is one of the good guys, and his banter with Theo is A+, I loved every minute.

• All the adventure! These two wacky kids ended up basically taking a road trip- nay, a train trip- around Eastern Europe and wow was I here for it. It's like all of the best parts of a road trip, but on a train which is infinitely cooler. I loved seeing all these European locales too! The settings were cities that I have not read many, if any, books set in, so that was extra great.

• Juuuust the right amount of magic. So you guys know I am a little weird about magic, which was the one thing that had me nervous about the book. But it ended up being a great addition to the story without being confusing or consuming.

• So, so much historical charm! I already mentioned Dear Old Vlad, but he's not the only bit of history we dabble in! First, the 1937 Eastern Europe/Turkey story? Oh I am in love. Not enough books set in both the time period or the part of the world. And I thought the author did a phenomenal job of making it feel authentic.

Bottom Line: Honestly, this is just the tip of the iceberg. It's definitely one of my favorite books of the year, and perhaps of ever. So read the thing.

I loved this one! It’s been awhile since I read a historical fiction YA novel. I’m very picky about my historical fiction, but this one had everything I needed to be engaged and rapidly turning pages. I loved Theo’s take-no-prisoners attitude. In my opinion, she’s completely out of Huck’s league. Huck was a know-it-all that, while useful at times, made me roll my eyes far too much to ever get over my annoyance with him even when he displayed humanity to Theo. I enjoyed Bennett’s writing style, which painted pictures of each scene and never left me guessing.
*small spoiler below*

My complaints:
• If felt like the plot of the book stalled in the middle. I kept waiting for The Order of the Dragon to be revealed, but it took until almost the end of the book for that to happen. When it was revealed, I was hoping for a shock factor after waiting so long. I was disappointed.
• The love story irritated me. Given the premise of the book, I would have preferred to see Theo ditch the romantic entanglement. The book took so much time to detail their strained relationship that it took away some of the detail that could have been used to delve deeper into the action.

The Lady Rogue is very much an adventure story. Kind of like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft, but with a young woman racing across Eastern Europe searching for her father and a mysterious ring accompanied by her cute, but slightly self-absorbed ex-boyfriend.

The heroine of The Lady Rogue is Theodora Fox. Theo finds herself alone and penniless in Turkey after her chaperone abandons her and takes what is left of the traveler’s checks. Then suddenly her ex, Huck Gallagher, shows up a with a story about the search for a ring once owned by Vlad the Impaler and how her father sent him ahead to get her before disappearing.

What follows is quite an adventure with the smart, resourceful Theo armed with her father’s journal and a determination to find him. Huck is her sidekick and there is added tension as their previous relationship ended quite suddenly and with no resolution. But they are interesting together and they had some fun banter between them. They make a pretty good team.

This was an easy read. Interesting main protagonists, fiendish villains, murder, magic, mystery, and adventure. Theo and Huck are great together and I would love to see them solving more mysteries together in the future.

Final Grade- B

Darkly glorious!!!
A bit Stalking Jack the Ripper, mixed with A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, I loved this fast-paced, historical romp with every fiber of my being.
Theo and Huck make a great team and following them on their mystery-filled, rescue mission through the rustic Carpathian Mountains was hella entertaining!
Theodora's father is a treasure hunter, hired by a mysterious aristocrat to track down the legendary war ring of Vlad the Impaler. Along with his assistant, Huck Gallagher, also Theo's former beau, he begins his search discovering new clues and following-up on leads.
Poor Theo gets left behind in a hotel, as she usually does, and is more than frustrated with that turn of events. She wants adventure too and is very good at solving puzzles. She just cannot understand why her father wouldn't want to utilize her talents.
When Huck arrives back at the hotel, without her father, he has no clue as to where he went but he does have his cryptic travel journal. Theo's mind is put to the test as she tries to decode his writings and figure out where he could be. Did he go willingly or was foul play involved?
I loved so much about this. The mystery, the intrigue, the dark historical connections, the partnership between Theo and Huck, the setting, it was all very up my alley.
I have never read a Jenn Bennett book before but I know this is a new genre for her. I thought she did a fantastic job. Although some of the paranormal things were a little wonky, I was having so much fun with the story, I didn't even care.
Further, I am not sure if this is slated to be a standalone or a series, but I really, really hope this is not the last we see of this courageous duo!!!
The characters mention at the end of this book a location they may be traveling to next...I'm looking at you, Scotland...and I really NEED that to happen.
Who do I contact about that? Let's do this, Bennett! I know you have it in you!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Simon Pulse, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. I always appreciate the opportunity but extra love when I discover a new favorite!

I really hope this turns into a series! I want to go on more adventures with Theo, Huck, and Richard Damn Fox! Daddy Fox wasn't physically present throughout most of the story, but I really enjoyed his journal entries. They showed a side of him that we likely wouldn't have seen had he been interacting with Theo and Huck in person. We get a glimpse into his mind and how it works, and see the why behind some of his actions (though they were still pretty frustrating).

Theo is a fierce female that knows multiple languages and can crack secret codes. She loves her best friend and her father, though both relationships are strained throughout most of the book. It wasn't a simple misunderstanding, but the lie of a parent to "protect" their child. It caused a lot of heartache, and I was happy with the resolutions that were made. Maybe Theo and Huck needed the time apart to appreciate each other and their feelings a little more... maybe not. I did like their relationship, and how the two of them interacted with each other. It's obvious they have a strong foundation -- been friends for years -- and the resulting romance was subtle and sweet. They weren't consumed by a fiery passion, but felt like two pieces finally clicking together.

Speaking of Huxley, he's adorable and I want to be his friend. I also love the name Huxley! He can pick locks, fly planes, and is extremely terrified of anything even remotely paranormal (something that fascinates Theo). He lost one family only to find another, and I really enjoyed learning more about him. Seriously, we need more books with these characters. The ending of this book left the potential for more, and I want it!

It's obvious Bennett did her research, because the world she created was vibrant and wholly believable. I know she said she took some liberties with the history, but everything felt real. I've enjoyed her books in the past, but I particularly love it when she adds magic to her stories (see my review for Bitter Spirits). They just have an added oomph that keeps me turning the pages. Vlad the Impaler has always fascinated me (seriously, look him up), and I thought this story was the perfect mix of fact and fiction.

The Lady Rogue was a quick read that left me wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and will keep my fingers crossed for future books with Theo and Huck!

Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on September 1, 2019.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book. It sounded interesting enough, but for some reason, I was apprehensive going in. Boy, was I ever wrong? Theo’s monologues had me laughing out loud by the second page, and by the end of the first chapter, I was completely pulled in. The Lady Rogue was a non-stop adventure, and I loved every second of it.

Taking place in Eastern Europe in the 1930s, The Lady Rogue follows Theodora “Theo” Fox on an unforgettable adventure. Although the story is mostly told from Theo’s POV, although there are brief entries from her father’s travel journal. Theo’s father is a world-famous traveler, and Theo wants to be just like him. Unfortunately for her, he always leaves her behind in hotel rooms. When Theo is stuck in Istanbul by herself, she discovers Huck waiting for her in her hotel room. Huck has been like a member of Theo’s family ever since her mom died. Theo’s father took Huck in after his parents died, and it’s been the three of them ever since. At least, it was until a year ago, when Theo’s father found her and Huck acting closer than siblings should. Huck left in the middle of the night without saying goodbye, and Theo hasn’t heard from him since. Huck tells her that her father is in trouble, and that he is to escort Theo back to America. But when Theo finds out that her father has been searching for an ancient and powerful ring worn by Vlad the Impaler, AKA the original Dracula, and that he is being hunted, Theo knows that she and Huck must work together to save her father.

The Lady Rogue was an unexpected surprise for me. I loved reading about all about the historical settings from different parts of Europe (I feel like we have more than enough historical fiction taking place in America and England), and I loved the little bits of mythology thrown in. There were a few minor plot twists along the way that I had a feeling were building up to a big one, and I was right! The plot twists would have been cool on their own, but I love it when they’re all connected like these ones were. It makes me feel like the author really took their time planning things out. Also, I wasn’t expecting to like Huck too much, but he ended up becoming my favorite character in the book. I love it when that happens. I absolutely loved this book, and everyone needs to go read it right now!

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

This is the first Jenn Bennett book I’ve read. I know she’s written a few popular YA contemporary romances, but of course I had to request this one when it’s historical fiction, LOL.

Thanks to Simon Pulse for giving me a free digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My main question when I finished this book was, “Why is it set in 1937?” Other than that, this book was enjoyable. I didn’t fall in love with it like I thought I would. The plot became a bit repetitive in that Theodora and Huck were running, finding clues, or resting, perhaps not in that particular order all the time. One of my favorite things was the banter between Theo and Huck. They have a romantic past, and I thought it was done well though I also feel like Theo responded too…openly to Huck in terms of glossing over some of those details. In terms of the whole Vlad the Impaler storyline and traipsing through Eastern Europe, I found that quite enjoyable. And as the story continues, you get these really good historical tidbits which lead up to the final discovery and it’s quite… Well, I was completely surprised, that’s for sure. I definitely think the ending was a bit open-ended and seems ready for a sequel.

One of my big problems with the book is Theo’s father, Richard. We get the general impression that he’s not very likable. Huck and Theodora say this quite often, and I struggled to feel connected to their journey to find Richard. We can infer that he’s very much a “man’s man” and “macho” in that he doesn’t talk about his feelings, display a lot of emotion, and didn’t seem to connect well with his daughter. I mean, I could be wrong but as a reader I wasn’t even rooting for Theo and Huck to save Richard at all–he came off as that careless of a character. Of course, it’s obvious Theo does care for him despite all of this. It still left a weird taste in my mouth.

The banter between Huck and Theo was lovely though. You can tell they are genuinely good friends and maybe being romantic partners was just a natural flow for them. I loved the quirks each had and their backstories. Theo was really versatile and Huck really proved himself in a pinch, lol. Despite my initial feelings for these two, the romantic scenes between them were really great.

This really captured me. Since I have no other Bennett books to gauge her overall writing style, I thought this book was well-written despite some of the repetitive scenes. I was interested to read Bennett’s contemporaries, but of course I’m even more interested now. But again, my main question still persists, “Why set this book in 1937?”

It's been a pretty hectic month, I just finished band camp at college, and I start classes this week. But I am here with a new book review. I found time to read this book this month and *spoiler alert* I liked it a lot!

First things first, I was sent this arc from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review just as an fyi! Secondly, let’s get into the book details.

Author: Jenn Bennett

Pages: 384

Publish date: September 3rd, 2019 (aka soon)

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Okay so, I just want to start off by saying that this cover is so beautiful!!! The color scheme, the design, I just love everything about it. This book caught my attention because it has lore, treasure hunting, and it’s set in such an interesting time period. I will leave the official Goodreads synopsis below:

“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.”

So everything about this sounded super interesting to me when I read the synopsis. But like every review, I want to talk about the pros and cons.

Pros:

The story was really interesting and fast paced, it kept me interested for the entire novel.Treasure hunting for a super evil magical ring (basically like an old time road trip book lol).I really liked the interesting side characters.Interesting writing style because it intertwined with journal entries and the actual plot.The world building was so fun and nothing like I’ve read before!!Dark castles, mountains, and fun train rides.Even though they aren’t my favorite characters ever, Theo and Huck’s conversations were kinda cute some times.

Cons:

The plot got kind of predictable throughout the novel and I guessed all the plot twists pretty quickly.I really had no attachment to the main characters at all, I just thought of them as existing and that’s about it. They were a little too bland for me.Towards the ending it seemed like everything was rushed and that lead me to getting confused at some parts.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this. I thought the plot was fast paced but also written well so it kept me hooked the entire time. Even though I figured out all the plot twists pretty quickly, I was still devouring this book wanting to see how it would end. Like I said, I wish there was more about some of the side characters in this because I found them so fun and unique. The whole trip on trains and wagons through the mountains was super fun to read about because it was essentially like an old timey road trip book.

So my thoughts are that it wasn’t my favorite book on the planet, but it was fun, lighthearted (for the most part) and it had fun dialogue and adventures. I read through this book in a day so I guess that says how much fun I had reading it!

Thank you so much for reading!

I found this a little bit boring in parts, but I liked the concept and unique setting. It might have been because of the first-person pov. Definitely not my favorite of hers.

I received a free e-arc of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first book by Bennett and I loved it. Lady Rogue is a historical fiction novel that centers around the infamous Vlad the Impaler’s ring. I loved how the history of the period was mixed in with such a modern feel. The history didn’t weigh down the story but added to the richness of the thrill. I LOVE, LOVE the heroine who is witty, intelligent but also so relatable. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves a good mystery, storytelling and a goth life romance. I really hope there’s going to be more!

I really enjoyed this, but I kind of knew I would when I first requested it from Netgalley. It's called "The Lady Rogue," after all. Rogues are some of my favorite things (in books and in life) and this time its a lady? Hell yeah! This YA fantasy adventure was fast-paced, character driven, and highly enjoyable. I loved the world, the characters, and the writing style flowed so easily for me. I am definitely a fan of this book.

When the publisher approached us with this book I read the description and jumped at the chance to read it. When I saw that the book took place in Romania I got excited. My family adopted two of my sisters from Romania. While they are my sisters and that is their home country I know very little about the country aside from what you hear in popular culture like Vlad the Impaler AKA Dracula. So needless to say I was pretty excited to read it.

Theodora is stuck in Turkey waiting for her father to come and pick her back up. Later in the day, she returns up to her room and finds her old friends and crush Huck in her room. He is there to get her out of Turkey. Her father is missing. Together they decide to go and look for him and rescue him. From that point on the book was one adventure after another. It was so exciting. I didn’t want to put it down. I could feel the cold water as they plunged into a river to cross. I could feel the wolves breathing down my neck as they were chased through the haunted woods by Cluj. I rejoiced when she finally found her father. I was sick to my stomach when she put the artifact that they had been searching for so long and became the dragon. I was so proud of her when she chopped her own finger off to destroy the ring so that it can never cause issues again.

I learned a fair amount of folklore that the Romanians have. I will certainly be looking into that more. I will probably be purchasing this book for both of my sisters for a Christmas present. I have one sister that came from Cluj and a sister from Arad. While it may not be historically accurate it does give them a taste of their homeland. I actually traveled with my parents when they adopted one of my sisters and hearing the descriptions of the landscape and they traveled to Transylvania took me back to that time. I don’t know what else to say about this book other than go read it for yourself. It has got to be hands down the best YA book that I have read in a while. I am desperately hoping that with the way the author left the book that there will be a sequel.

I went into this book thinking I was going to love it but I really didn't. I made myself stop reading it because I just wasn't enjoying it.

A historical romp across Eastern Europe with a dash of magic and a cute romance! It's pretty easy on the fantasy - there's not so much a magic system as just a cursed object and hints of the occult. Fans of Bennett's contemporary will find her trademark style alive and well here; the writing is easy to fall into and I was hooked from the first chapter. While it's often predictable - not necessarily a bad thing here - it's fun, easy reading with likable characters and some wonderfully charming Romanian, Bulgarian, and Turkish settings.

Regardless of whether or not I think I'll be interested in the premise, I always pick up a Jenn Bennett book because she is such a great storyteller and creates the best relationships in YA, romantic and family relationships both. Historical Fiction is not generally my genre, but of course she managed to suck me in. I actually really enjoyed the rich history (some true, some made up) that was the background for this story. I did want to see a little bit more development in Theo and Hucks relationship, but I adored them none the less. I also love the fact that her relationship with her dad is far from perfect, but you can still see the love there. While this title was not my absolute favorite, Jenn Bennett continues to solidify herself as an auto-buy author for me!

The Lady Rogue is hands-down one of the best books I’ve read this year! It’s one of only three books in 2019 that I’ve given 5 stars.
I was immediately sucked into the story because of the witty and bold Theodora Fox, who captivated me the minute I met her. She’s smart and resourceful, and always finding herself in precarious, and often, hilarious situations. I loved her take-charge personality, and how she stood tall in the face of danger.

The Lady Rogue was a great mix of humor, adventure, mystery, historical fantasy, and sizzling romance. The romantic tension between Theo and her long-time friend, Huck was hot-hot-hot! When they meet up in The Lady Rogue, it’s been about a year since what Theo refers to as “Black Sunday”, the day that Huck spontaneously left her (and the country) after a passionate night together. Theo’s heart is still broken, and she’s covering it up with anger and insults. Huck acts cocky and undeterred by Theo’s coldness in the beginning, but he slowly starts to crack and show his true feelings. All is definitely not what it seems.

There’s secrets between Theo and Huck, and a lot of sexual tension, and it makes the adventure of searching for Vlad’s ring, while dodging thugs and murderous occultists, even more high-stakes and exciting.

Long story short: This book was a thrilling ride that I was sorry to see end.

I went into this not knowing what it was about. I will absolutely read anything Jenn Bennett puts out.

I loved Theo and Huck. She’s smart and tired of being left behind. He’s charming and maybe a little uncertain. Together they have a lifetime of history and a bit of a rocky future. I loved reading them figure things out. There are a few side characters who are delightful, but I won’t get into detail on that.

Plot wise, it was a bit of a slow start for me. Even though I was intrigued, I didn’t get captivated until they were really on the run. I was loving all of the history and city descriptions and I don’t know how much of the Vlad stuff was true, but it was interesting.

I will say that I wanted a bit more from the ending. The entire story was a build up to this one event and in a couple of pages, it was resolved and the story was over. It felt rushed and that was sort of disappointing.

Overall, it was a unique to me story with characters who were easy to root for. I can’t wait to see what Jenn comes up with next.

**Huge thanks to Simon Pulse for providing the arc free of charge**

The Lady Rogue was such a fun read! I first heard about this book from and friend and since I've enjoyed other books by this author I requested it. I started reading it while waiting before an appointment and found myself sucked into the story.

The world-building is really well done, I feel like I stepped back through time and was right there with Theodora.

Theodora herself is a bit of a wild one. She's an aspiring adventurer who always gets left behind when her father goes on an expedition and she's so spunky and entertaining. Then there is Huck, the boy Theodora grew up with and fell for who was sent away after they shared a kiss on Theo's last birthday. She hasn't heard from him since and suddenly he's back in her life and his charm is frustrating yet those old feelings have a way of coming back.

With a missing father, an annoyingly hot sidekick, and only her father's coded journal to show her the way Theo will finally get the adventure she's always dreamed of - but with people chasing her who will do anything to find Vlad the Impaler's lost ring, adventure is about to come with a heavy dose of danger.

Overall, if you love sassy adventurers, cute boys with tons of charisma, secret societies, and a historical adventure through dark castles and misty mountainside villages you're going to love The Lady Rogue!