What an adventure!

Jenn Bennett is one of my new favorite authors because of her young adult contemporary romance novels. But a historical fantasy adventure with two teens romping through Turkey and Romania by train, legs, plane and raft in the 1930’s on the search for Vlad the Impaler’s magical ring? She did good, so good!

Seriously, what a life for Theodora Fox, growing up abroad because of her treasure hunter dad. I envied her freedom to explore. Alas, there are issues that come a long with it like a dad that goes missing and leaves her behind. But Theo is a headstrong and smart girl, who is obsessed with crossword puzzles and putting together clues. She pretty much seemed to be able to take care of herself. Did she resent her dad? Sure, and after her mom’s passing, she really did need her only other parent to be with her.

Then there is Huck who has charisma and is easy on the eyes. They have a past, of course. Jenn Bennett’s characters always fly off the page. They seem solid and real. I felt like I was watching a movie while reading this. I love the banter between Theo and Huck, there is a lot of passion between them and bickering. They like to argue and yell at each other but they make a great team. Huck charms the anger out of her and she keeps him on his toes. All the secondary characters are fun too and add more to the Vlad theories as Theo and Huck search for her dad.

Now the romance part is evenly thrown in there, it doesn’t take over the story, but it is present throughout. But the rest of the story? Good thing I read the author’s note where she explained how the magical ring is fiction, because I was about to google Vlad the Impaler’s (Dracula) magical ring. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Because it’s believable like that, at least the lore could be believable, right? Or, at least I want to believe it because it’s fun!

A secret society, a journal with clues, treasure hunting, magical rings, scary Romanian woods with wolf dogs and the the occult! This story had about everything. There was love, travel, action, history, fantasy and danger. And even with all the dangerous situations thrown at Theo and Huck, the story stayed light and funny because of their interaction with each other. I enjoyed that very much.

This book took me on a fun, amazing adventure with Theo and Huck. I hope there will be more of their adventures in the future. 😉

This was a fun romp. It wasn’t anything earth-shattering, it was predictable, but it was good fun. I especially loved the banter and the characters. It definitely sounds like it’ll be the beginning of a series of adventures. And in that case, I will gladly pick up the next one.

The author delivers a rapid-paced, suspenseful, gripping, well-written and perfectly executed historical fantasy/ thrilling mystery that I couldn’t put down! Definitely recommended for fans of the And I Darken series.

Fun, fascinated, and a fan of adventure: all words to describe the Lady Rogue of this book, Theodora.

She’s the daughter of the first woman archaeologist to graduate from a university in Romania, as well as the grand, larger-than-life explorer, Richard Fox. Told between alternating journal entries from Fox’s travel journal and Theodora’s first person POV, The Lady Rogue guides reader to a fun-fueled adventure through Europe that lands us in the depths of fairy-tale like Romania, where some secrets are better kept hidden. The comparison to The Last Magician and A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is pretty accurate, as The Lady Rogue manages to tie in the epic-scale heist of TLM and grand tour feel of AGGVV together in an action-packed, plot-driven, whirlwind of an adventure in the story. We begin with a missing father.

Theodora’s had a horrible day in Istanbul in the beginning of the book (flawed character, much?), and the day only gets worse when, instead of her father returning, she sees the ex-love of her life, Huck, in her hotel room, ready to pick her up. These plans quickly turn moot when two travelers ransack her room and give chase to her and Huck. Immediately, readers are thrown into action: who are these men, and what do they want? Where in the world is Theodora’s father, and why did he send Huck, after she hasn’t seen Huck in a year? Questions rise very rapidly, and the rest of the book is a large adventure that collects answers as it proceeds.

The book is basically TONS of action/adventure within a historical setting, with a spice of family relationships, and a sprinkle of romance. That’s pretty much it. The time period is quite interesting (beginning of 20th century), and yet there is an exceptionally modern feel to the story due to the dialogue and gadgets used (like the retro camera Theodora uses). I’ve actually read both Bennett’s Urban Fantasy series Arcadia Bell and her contemporaries (which are SO. DANG. GOOD), so seeing how she executes a fast-paced YA historical story was really interesting. I must say, the emphasis on action and the fast pace made for less character introspection than I would have liked, but I honestly didn’t mind.

So Theodora, our Lady Rogue. She loves her father very much, but he’s a man that’s very hard to like. She is sheltered by him, left in hotel rooms while he hunts for mysterious treasure, and she’s frustrated that he would disappear on her. When Theodora and Huck go search for him, they encounter MANY obstacles that heighten that frustration. Fox is a man who holds his secrets and emotions quite close to his heart, which makes things complicated. But I really adore how their relationship progressed in the story, and how Theodora comes to terms with that relationship. In general, she’s an “action first, think later” kind of character that frequently puts herself in dangerous situations. But then again, the fun needs to come from somewhere right? She always does it with good intentions, however, and her capricious personality was a blast to read about.

"‘See this? I was named after a great empress. I’m royalty – nay, I’m an independent young lady! You may call me Lady Rogue.’"

Huck, on the other hand, was less developed, but still managed to hold his ground as a character. All readers know is that he left Theodora super suddenly with no word, and just as suddenly, he comes back to her life. But was it all his fault? Hmm… Either way, he’s a tall, Irish boy who lost his parents as a child and came to live with Theodora and her father at a young age. Basically one of the fam. Except… Theodora has less than family-like feelings for him. They used to have a little heated relationship going on, but neither knows where they stand with the other after the reunion. Can romance blossom on the run from chasing travelers towards Theodora’s mother’s home country, Romania? Or will the burdens of their past bog down that development? (Here’s a point in the favor of ‘yes’: the excellent banter and sizzling chemistry).

"‘You’re supposed to be impressed by this. Me big man, make big fire.’
I laid sheets of the newspaper over the cot. ‘Me little woman, cover up skeleton so big man doesn’t get scared.’"

So there we have it: excellent character dialogue, a steady stream of action that carries the plot, and neverending secrets being uncovered on an adventure through Europe, and into a magical history. I think this foray into a more fantastical realm was a plus for Bennett, and cannot wait to see where else her writing takes us. (As you can see, I am a BIG fan of hers.) Despite the pretty modern dialogue, Bennett still manages to transport readers throughout magical places in Romania and along the Orient Express. I would recommend this book to readers looking for a super fun (and perhaps on the lighter side) adventure that is non-stop, full of family secrets, and a dash of romance.

Content/Trigger Warnings: mild violence, blood/gore

Rating: 4 out of 5

Thank you Simon and Netgalley for the review copy!

Thanks to NetGalley for an Advanced Copy for review! I enjoyed the setting for The Lady Rogue and the writing was quite engaging. I was expecting a YA version of Indiana Jones and it delivered on that count. I enjoyed it overall, it was just a bit predictable and I was not as involved with the characters. It might have just been me but while Theo was great, I didn't really fall in love with her. The romance also fell a bit flat for me.

What a fun adventure! Covering a unique history (both in geography and in timing), I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Ms. Bennett. While not perfect (pacing is sometimes a bit tricky, as is the suspension of disbelief), there was still plenty to keep me turning the pages. If anything, I wanted a bit more romance, but perhaps that will be in future books...? I would love to see more of Theo and Huck. Based on The Lady Rogue, I would definitely pick up another title by the author.

This was a fun romp, though I was thrown quite a bit by the modern speech patterns for what’s a historical fiction. Still, given the fantasy elements that were weaved throughout, I could over look it a bit.

I know it’s a little cliche to call something a fun romp, but: this book was a fun romp! I really enjoyed reading along with Theo and Huck’s adventures as they solved all the mysteries. That said, the pace did sometimes make it hard for emotional beats to land. I wonder if the background of the main characters’ shared childhood had been examined in a more in depth way rather than being briefly summed up and mentioned in a couple of other moments, that would have done more of the lifting for presuming the emotions of them in present day and more time spent on that wouldn’t have been needed? I also wished that the period details would have been a bit more evocative - sometimes the tone felt a little modern day except without cell phones.

Lady Rogue has all the charm of Jenn Bennett's YA contemporaries mixed with an Indiana Jones-esque adventure plot and a little magic, set in 1937. It's a really fun book. Our heroine Theodora Fox, daughter of famed archaelogist/treasure hunter Richard Fox, is stranded in Instanbul with no money. Then who should show up by Huck Gallagher, the boy who broke her heart a year earlier. She hasn't heard from him since his abrupt departure the year before, but now he claims he's here to take her to meet her father in Romania. Theo is skeptical, but when two men in black robes try to break into her hotel room, and she and Huck flee, barely making it on to the Orient Express.

It turns out that Theo's father has been searching for a ring that may have belonged to Vlad the Impaler (or Vlad Dracula), the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Count Dracula. Theo and Huck end up on an adventurous journey across the wilds of Romania, searching for her father and being chased by some sinister characters.

This book is really entertaining. Theo is a great heroine. She's smart and she chafes at the restrictions place on her by society and her father. The "I can't stand you but I also kind of love you romance" is well done, and Theo and Huck have great chemistry. The plot is fast moving, and it integrates history, adventure, and a little bit of magic. It's also a fun travelogue of Romania (one of my bucket list vacation spots). It's a perfect book for anyone who ever wanted to be Indiana Jones.

Jenn Bennett is one of my favorite authors ever, so when I saw she was doing a YA fantasy I was so excited! I love seeing authors write different genres even though her YA contemporaries are a-amazing!

Theo was awesome! She was strong, emotional, challenging, and admitted when she was right or wrong. Huck was the perfect sidekick—swoony, sweet, protective, funny. Their bickering was the best!

The world building was great and we get to explore such places as Turkey and Romania. And there is quite the chase that Theo and Huck have to take part in to escape people after them. I will say that one of my favorite action scenes was the airplane one!

And the magic! There was just so much awesomeness tangled up in this book, whether you are looking for contemporary, adventure, fantasy, romance—it's all there! I really loved this one and can't wait to see what happens next with Theo in book 2

The Lady Rogue is the story of the headstrong daughter (Theo) of a treasure hunter in 1930's Eastern Europe who sets off to rescue her father from a mysterious and menacing cult. Theo is accompanied by her estranged adopted brother-slash-ex-boyfriend (Huck) as they make their way across Romania to recover Vlad the Impaler's cursed ring and free Theo's father.
The writing is clear and the premise of the book kept me reading. There is an Indian Jones-esque feel to the book, but Theo lacks Jones's charisma and competence -- I had a hard time believing that she was capable of the journey that she made. Some characterizations felt like red herrings (her love of crosswords) and the relationship with Huck fell flat as a romance for me. I kept wanting to yell, "Focus on the mystery!!" whenever she starting feeling heartbroken about the last time she saw Huck. There were also plenty of "helpful mentors" along the way that made the mystery/adventure too easy. It seemed like the biggest hurdles they had to face were finding transportation from Point A to Point B with limited funds.
My biggest struggle with the book (without giving away any major spoilers) is that is it seemed like the rules of the world changed 60% in with the introduction of a different kind of threat.
Overall, The Lady Rogue is a competent adventure story, but not one I'll be recommending to patrons.

Yay for adventure stories, brave sassy girls, and creepy vampire mysteries! Huzzah!

So, this book is so much fun. I wish more authors would write books in this vein. It's kinda Indiana Jones-y with a dash of The Mummy and a pinch of Carmen Sandiego, and I'm here for it.

I absolutely love Theo, She is clever and headstrong and fearless, and does not have time for anyone's nonsense. At all. She is a problem-solver, and is going to get what she wants by any means necessary. She's incensed that her globe-trotting father leaves her behind and takes someone else along with him on his adventures, and so decides she's going to have adventures of her own. It's spectacular.

I absolutely did NOT love Huck. I mean (twirls hand vaguely in the air), he was *ok*? But there were a couple of things that really bothered me about him. First of all, his speech patterns were, well, <i>weird</i> is the only word that I think really fits. And there were times when he was very timid, or doesn't want to do something dangerous, and makes a big deal about Theo attempting something he thinks she shouldn't. I get it - the author is trying to make Theo look like the brave one WHICH IS FINE, but I think there were some spots where Huck's character suffered because of it.

I did, however, really like Theo and Huck's relationship. There is hurt, there is forgiveness, there is reconciliation, and it's all very real and all the emotions, so I was down with that. There is no "quick fix" here, and I appreciated that Bennett didn't take shortcuts when it came to their relationship.

Bennett does a really nice job with the world building. The mystery takes Theo and Huck all over Eastern Europe, so we get to see the cities and countryside of some beautiful, ancient lands. There is culture and color, and it's beautiful. There are scenes on planes, trains, and automobiles (haha), creepy houses and caves and castles. And also a bit of magic here and there. It's everything I love in a book.

One thing I want to note: this book relies on the Dracula legend for part of its plot, and so loops in a lot of history about the "myth of Dracula". I have done a lot of research and read a lot of books on the subject, and I want to say that Bennett did a really nice job with the history of that story.

I would definitely recommend this to people who like adventure stories with strong female characters, and an interest in Romania and the Dracula legends.

Unfortunately had to DNF, wasnt feeling the story at all, no matter how much I wanted. Hope other enjoy it!

A great take on Vlad Dracula and his descendants! I loved the story of Theodora and Huck. Fun. Adventure. Mystery. Humor. A great plot. A strong female lead. The characters were so fun to get to know and I loved the different places they traveled to. A definite must read!

I was so excited for this book when i discovered it online. I loved treasure hunting type books and this one did not disappoint me. The plot is fast moving and i was never bored. Great book!

An epic, fun, and historical adventure. Think The Mummy but with Vlad the Impaler. A wonderful read!

Overall this was a pretty entertaining, fun story. I liked most of the dark mysterious elements involving artifacts, and curses. And I think Vlad the Impaler is a pretty fascinating character all his own. Unfortunately a lot of things about this book seemed a bit uneven, and the last quarter or so lost my interest a bit.

The first thing I noticed about this book was that romance seemed like it would be more fun and less stilted than I was expecting for the time period and setting. However, although I enjoyed Theo and Huck's banter, I was left wanting much much more on that front. Their romance ended up seeming like an afterthought to me.

The main thing that bothered me about this book was that it does not in any way, shape, or form read like a novel set in the 1930s. The whole time I was reading I just pretended it was modern day, and except for one or two references to specific dates, it really made no difference to the story.

I liked the adventurer/archeologist aspect of it. But it began to seem more and more far fetched as the book went on. The supernatural elements remained at a spooky mysterious level for a lot of the book, but ended up going just a bit over the top for me at the end. Especially with no real explanation why or how everything was that way. It just was.

I did enjoy the book for the most part. The reason I lost interest at the end was because I just never felt a real connection to Theo and Huck. I thought I would as the book went on, but then I found myself almost done and I still felt like we'd only scratched the surface. I also got VERY tired of looking for Theo's dad. Mostly because we never meet him until the very end, and all we're told about him is that he's kind of awful. So by about 75% through I was like why are we still looking for this dude? I don't care anymore. Just fly back to New York together and be happy. I also super didn't care about the rings. If they're cursed why do you want to find them? And if they can't be destroyed how can you ever stop someone else from finding them? Why should I care? I got very bored of the constant walking in the woods. SO much walking. I know they were traveling, but it was a lot. I knew I was basically checked out of this book when I was reading what was supposed to be a very harrowing, suspenseful scene, and I was just bored. I don't know why exactly I couldn't connect with this one, but I just never got there.

I had several issues with this one, which was disappointing, because I was hoping to love it. But it was still a decent enough book over all, and I think a lot of people will really love it.

*I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A very powerful page-turner that I couldn't put down. I fell for the characters and could relate to them. I highly recommend this to everyone and this book definitely deserves some hype.

**4.5 stars**
Thank you to the wonderful publicist who reached out to me for this book! I have been fascinated with Vlad the Imapler and all things Dracula since I was young, so I when I saw the synopsis and cover earlier this year, I KNEW I needed it! This has adventure, dark occultists, an array of Eastern European countries, references to Vlad with a cursed ring...this was pretty much perfect! I loved seeing how smart Theo was and how she cared but also stood her ground when needed to. Her chemistry with Huck was PERFECT! The only small thing was that I wished the action climax scene was a little bit longer but other than that, PLEASE check this book out! This is a historical adventure with fantasy elements to not miss. One of the best books this year so far.

I honestly didn't know what to expect since I've never read a book by this author before and now I am severely regretting it! This book was... everything. I loved it and I want to read it again and again. The first thing I liked was the setting. Eastern European and Middle East wrapped into one astounding place for a book like this to take place. I felt transported to Istanbul and Bucharest and I really want to visit them now! The folklore was just amazing. I am a sucker for any kind of folklore or mythology and this was super awesome to see detailed in this novel. I learned a lot about the historical and folklore aspects from reading this book and that's something I really enjoy. Theo was a fantastic main character! Between her and Huck, I was feeling some Audrey Rose and Thomas vibes (yes, I am eagerly awaiting that last book so let me be) and I loved that! Theo was analytical and smart and also pretty damn badass as we find out over the course of the book. I've always been fascinated with Vlad the Impaler (in a not weird way, ok) and to learn more of his tale and have his lineage brought into this book was so so cool. There was also a murder on the orient express vibe with a mystery that I really needed to have solved and was resolved well.

Honestly, the only dislike is that I think this is a standalone novel!? I really need more fantasy from this author and I can see this being one of my top books of 2019.