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.

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

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!