This reminded me a lot of Hunting Prince Dracula, in a good way! I really loved all the adventuring and the second chance romance trope. The story was fast paced and the plot moved along nicely. The book almost reads like a historical fiction with a bit of paranormal thrown in? I don’t know, it’s hard to explain but it was very enjoyable!

This cross-country YA mystery novel pulled me in with the promise of searching for Prince Dracula’s ring and romance. And though the mystery was pretty predictable, I still enjoyed it. There wasn’t much romance to be seen, and was only really touched on two or three times. In my opinion, it didn’t really progress naturally or have any kind of arc.

That being said, both of the main characters have their adorable quirks and are really entertaining to read, I just...didn’t feel them sizzle when they were together.

With this book, the mystery organically gives you a history lesson on Prince Dracula and the rumors surrounding him and his family. This was definitely my favorite part of the book. I love how the characters unwound the mystery of the rings and her missing father throughout the story. They mystery led to a satisfying conclusion for me, and the book didn’t leave me with any concerns or questions.

Overall, “The Lady Rogue” is an easy read that is captivating and fun. I will definitely be recommending it to fans of “Gentleman’s Guide” and “Hunting Prince Dracula.”

Everything I love in a book! Smart female lead, some history, lots of adventure and a fantastic plot. Love the descriptions of the places she visits. I felt like I was there! Well done. Just a touch of romance was good - not over the top like a lot of others. Crossword puzzle thoughts were amusing as was her mantra Chin High... Her knowing multiple languages was cool. This is one I will keep handy to reread. More books about Theo, her dad and her “brother” please!!!

Theodora is the daughter of a treasure hunter. When her father goes missing, Theodora sets off with Huck to follow her father’s trail. She learns that her daughter is searching for a magic ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler’s!
This story started out to be very slow. However, it quickly picks and becomes a thriller and an adventure! I found the setting of Romania to be very intriguing and I loved learning about its history with Vlad the Impaler’s.
Still, I found Theodora to be a Mary Sue. She did not have any traits that made her appealing and is often overshadowed by her love interest Huck, whose sass made it more fun to read. Still, I recommend this for fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper! Full review to come!

I was told that Jenn Bennett was an amazing writer, and now i know it to be absolutely true!! The Lady Rogue had so much!! It took us unto Turkey and Romania, my favorite is Romania...I would love to go there someday!! The characters rode on the Orient Express!! People are after Vlad the Impaler’s, otherwise know as Dracula, ring!! Theodora (Theo) and Huck set off to find her father, while they’re being chased by dangerous men who want Theo’s fathers diary They travel from Turkey to Romania, following her father’s diary to find where he would go. They end up in a Gothic Village, travel to a scary castle in the Carpathian Mountains, and it is extremely exciting!!

I love Theodora and Huck!! Theo was a smart, fearless, amazing girl!! And Huck was so yummy, and he was pretty fearless and amazing himself!! There were lots of romantic scenes, plus they did a lot of arguing, and mostly being sarcastic!! They are a fun couple to follow. They meet all kinds of unique characters, see that magic is real and we get to experience all of this with them!!

This is one of my favorite reads so far this year!! I can’t recommend it enough!! I want to tell everyone about this wonderful book!! The cover is amazing too!! Read this and you won’t be sorry!!

The Lady Rogue was an awesome book! I loved how the author used a figure in history that most students are interested in. Not too many people know the true Vlad the Impaler. The events occurring in the book appear to be time appropriate and (thankfully) the reader has to use their imagination because there is no technology to speak of. There are a very limited amount of curse words—most of them are only used in the name of Theo’s father’s name. I am anxious to see if Theo and Huck head off into another adventure!

I am a huge fan of Jenn Bennett's contemporary novels, so I was really excited to see that she was doing something very different from the others books I've read.  She did not disappoint me.



The Lady Rogue was a fast paced book full of magic and folklore that I didn't want to put down.  I was honestly sad that I had to skip a day of reading to go to a concert, even though I really wanted to go.  I had to wait to finish the last 70 pages and it drove me crazy.



The book starts with Theo is Istanbul with her tutor/babysitter.  Her father is off finding another artifact.  Usually Theo helps him with research, but he kept this one secret.  Her father was working for a collector, Rothwild, that is obsessed with Dracula.  He had a bone ring that was thought to be Vlad's ring, but he hired Theo's father to find two other rings.  He believed that one was real and the other two were replicas.  The legend behind the ring is that it wields power to whoever owns it.  It also makes them pretty evil.  The power is like a drug.  But it's also said that it was made from blood and bone which is what makes it special and almost a curse to whoever owns it.  Because once it's on, it can't be removed.



Theo's dad didn't tell her, but he called up Huck to help him.  Huck lived with Theo and her father in New York for years until her father caught them together after a party.  It's implied that they had sex, but I don't think the book really said it.  No matter what, they were caught in a compromising position.  Huck left and moved in with his aunt overseas.  Theo is devastated by this.  Huck was her first love and she missed him terribly, while also be extremely angry at him for leaving.  Huck shows up to Theo's hotel room with a story about her father missing.  There are also a couple men after him and Huck is sure it has to do with the search for Vlad's ring.



Theo and Huck leave with little money and follow the trail where her father might have gone.  He left his most recent journal with instructions for Huck to get it to Theo.  There is a code written in it and she works on cracking it while they seem to be one step behind her father.  They realize they are being followed and try to run.  This makes them have to be more creative in their travel and they meet different people.  Many with stories about Romania and Vlad.  Even a witch.  Theo believes her mother was killed by a cursed item, but her father and Huck don't believe in magic the way Theo does.  But many things happen that Huck can't explain any other way.  



The book was full of descriptions of different places on the trip from Istanbul to Romania.  Theo and Huck have this incredible banter that I love in books.  Traveling together makes them talk about what happened and revisit the feelings they've had for each other.  My favorite part of the book besides, Theo and Huck, was the magic.  I loved the stories, magical protection, curses, and spells.  Theo was also strong and made sure Huck was reminded that women can be strong and handle things on their own.  Which she continues to prove over and over.  I don't want to go too far into the story because I feel like this is best read without knowing much from the plot ahead of time.



I gave this book 5 stars.  Thank you to Simon Pulse for sending me a physical copy for review and netgalley for the digital copy.

Theodora Fox is a true adventurer's daughter - smart, curious, independent, and feisty. Unfortunately her father Richard only ever leaves her behind in hotel rooms when they are out traveling the world. Then, while in Istanbul, Theodora's childhood love Huck turns up at her hotel out of the blue a year after he left without even saying goodbye, and informs Theo that her father is missing and sent Huck to find her. Looking at her father's travel journal, which Huck brought with him, Theo suspects the disappearance is related to the artifact her father was hunting - a powerful ring that had belonged to Vlad III, better known as Vlad Dracula or Vlad the Impaler. She and Huck have to try and find Richard before it's too late.

The Lady Rogue is a delightful romp through early 20th-century Europe and its folklore, particularly that of the Transylvania region in Romania. Theo is a fun protagonist that will resonate with anyone longing for a little adventure in their lives (but be sure to bring a Huck with you to keep you grounded). I love a good Dracula-related story, and this one does not disappoint. I hope there will be more Theo and Huck adventures to come!

The Lady Rogue
By Jenn Bennett
4/5⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis:

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.

My Thoughts:

The storyline and plot were amazing!! The world building was spot on for the story also!! I love Theo and Huck! They are bantering, romantic greatness!! Theo is adventurous and brave, so when Huck tells her about her father and they go to meet him but he doesnt show up, Theo must find him. She must also crack his cipher to track where he may be. However she doesn't think she's alone in searching for him. Even with danger always on their tale she continues to search for him learning more about what he is searching for, her mother, and herself.
"You may call me Lady Rogue."

This is my first book by this author and I found it to be a fun adventure, despite some annoyances with the characters. It took me a little while to warm up to Huck and Theo, partly because as cute as he was, he was also somewhat self-absorbed and annoying. Also, I was expecting more of an adventure/fantasy with a little bit of romance, but for the first half it seemed like their relationship took a greater role than the adventuring. But as the mystery/adventure developed, and they started to grow on me, I started becoming more invested in the story and in fact, read the second half of the book in one sitting. I liked the "history" that the author created about Vlad and his family and I also really enjoyed the incorporation of Romania into the story. The ending was quite satisfying and I'm curious if there will be further stories in the future. In terms of side characters, I really liked Lovena and the Lissu brothers were also pretty interesting. Lupu was very cool and I like to think that she will be okay. Overall, I enjoyed this book enough that I will likely check out other books by this author.

As an aside, I like this cover but I don't love this cover.

She has done it again! Another phenomenal book by Jenn Bennett. I was a bit worried about this one being historical because she does so well with contemporary, but it turned out to be great. The story focuses around an exciting adventure and has some humor and romance too. I loved it!

Lady Rogue evokes the adventurous nature of Indiana Jones and the Mummy! Bennett balances a fast-paced narrative with a second chance romance full of banter. I enjoyed the immersive nature of this book--who doesn't want to travel on the Orient Express, crash in a Romanian mail plan or sneak into creepy castle? I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure mysteries!

The Lady Rogue is a fun, adventurous romp through Eastern Europe as we follow our main character, Theo, as she attempts to piece together the whereabouts of her dashing yet irresponsible treasure hunter father before its too late.

I absolutely adored the voice of this novel. It was very witty and breezy without trying too hard and veering into cringe territory. Theo was whip smart and independent, and the story itself held a great mystery plot with just the right amount of twists and unpredictability. The book focuses mostly on the relationship between Theo and Huck and Theo and her father, with a few other quite interesting side players along the way. The relationship between Theo and Huck captivated me from the very start.

The Lady Rogue creates the perfect balance between adventure, mystery, romance, and history. I will absolutely be recommending this one to lovers of Eastern European history and strong female protagonists.

This book was received as an ARC from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing - Simon Pulse in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Fantasy books are very popular amongst our patrons and this one did not disappoint. A fellow staff member actually inquired about this book and was wondering what this book entailed so I had to preview it and I know she will love it. I was very intrigued by the backstory of Theodora and her love for Huck and sharing the passion her father had for treasure hunting little did she know she was already on a treasure hunt for her future. Every page uncovered a secret that was a twist that was completely out of left field and definitely left me shocked and breathless and our readers love those types of books.

We will consider adding this title to our YFantasy collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I just cannot get into this book. I really enjoyed the beginning of it and now I feel like I am just reading words in a page but not enjoying the story. I feel like I might enjoy Jenn Bennett’s contemporaries more than this even though this sounded like The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue which I loved! I was really enjoying this one and the plot in the beginning, I just can’t seem to get into it which makes me sad.

This book is a great read alike for fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper or Jackaby series. I have really been into YA historical fiction with crime, paranormal, and romance themes, and this absolutely fit the bill! I appreciated the 1930s time period that isn't often depicted and eastern Europe setting that made this stand out. I hope there is a sequel!

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!