Name: Nicole Dykeman's review of The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett
Item: The Lady Rogue
Rating: 3
Author: Nicole Dykeman

Jenn Bennett

“A swashbuckling adventure.” —Booklist “A rollicking Indiana Jones flick with a female lead.” —BCCB The Last Magician meets A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue in this thrilling, “breathless” (Kirkus Reviews) 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 returns 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.

The Lady Rogue

Julia Cerrato

Nicole Dykeman

A very average YA book. I think I’m reaching the end of my historical setting kick. I cared far more about the romantic relationship between the two protagonists than the actual plot, and the end was a bit of a mess.

jess

BLOG | TWITTER

I've always enjoyed Jenn Bennett's romance, something that surrpises me every time. So when I heard she was writing a historical fantasy, I was intrigued. I love history, I love secret societies and magical artifacts, so I was excited to get my hands on this book. A lot of The Lady Rogue felt like a rehash of her contemporary romance in a historical fantasy setting, but it was still on the whole enjoyable. 

I feel like Bennett has a fairly good formula going when it comes to her main characters and romances, and The Lady Rogue is no exception. There's Theo, an adventurous daughter of a treasure hunter, and Huck, an Irish boy that her father took in years ago. They have History. They rekindle their history on a wacky adventure together. So, fairly typical Jenn Bennett, and I think people who are primarily romance readers -- and not so much fantasy readers -- will really enjoy this. However, as someone who's not usually a fan of romance, I felt like the romance between Theo and Huck took precedence over a lot of the actual treasure hunting and adventuring plot, which was mildly disappointing because I was really excited for the treasure hunting. They do have a great dynamic, though, with lots of fun between them--it was the Drama that I wasn't too fond of. 

One thing that I couldn't help but notice throughout the book was that it still entirely felt like I was reading a contemporary novel--Theo's voice didn't feel historical, and neither did her father's in the journal snippets we were offered. For me, it's always a bit jarring whenever I'm reading historical fiction and the characters sound too modern, and I feel like The Lady Rogue encountered that particular pitfall. Of course, this is something that gets better with practice, and Bennett has three good contemporary romance novels under her belt, and only one historical fantasy -- so I'm sure if she continues to write along this manner it'll improve. 

As for the plot: I'm always up for a nice, good romp spouting historical facts, but I felt as if a lot of the plot points relating to the actual hunt for Vlad's ring was set aside to focus on the romance. I did find all the lore and history behind Vlad the Impaler really interesting, because he's a very vivid character in history where most people know the folklore and not the truth. The Lady Rogue gives a lot of the truth, despite Vlad's ring being entirely made-up. There's a lot of very well-researched history in this book, which I appreciated. (Most of which I recognized from And I Darken by Kiersten White, in fact. We love YA historical fiction in this house.) 

I do feel like Jenn Bennett fans or romance fans would enjoy The Lady Rogue, because a lot of the plot has such an atmosphere of classic romance. But if you're going in for historical fiction or a good history based fantasy that draws on lore and artefacts, it may be best to go with something like The Gilded Wolves or City of Brass.

TOTALLY WORTH THE READ!!!! Vibes are 1930’s Romania, hate to love, dark magic/witches/Vlad the Impaler treasure hunt!! Ugh SO GOOD

Vienna Cragin

Milo Jean

This was a wonderful adventure! For me the setting and time period were just perfect! I love a good 1930s archeological adventure story. This had a great balance of magic and realism and I know I’ll definitely be rereading this at some point in time.

Sahi K

I have always wanted to read Jenn Bennett’s contemporaries because many of my fellow bloggers seem to love them but it just never happened. So, when I realized that she is writing a historical fantasy, I found it way more interesting and immediately requested for this advance copy. And that turned out to be a great decision because this was a very fun reading experience.

I’m a huge fan of adventure novels, especially where the protagonists are searching for historical relics or artifacts while being chased by unsavory villains. That’s one reason I religiously read every new Steve Berry release each year and I was so glad that the author gave me a similar experience with this book, albeit with a younger heroine and a good amount of focus on the romance. The story is very fast paced and we are thrown smack dab in the middle of it all right on the first page and I loved that. The author also does a wonderful job making us clearly picture every single scenery and location that the characters travel, making us feel like we ourselves are on a journey through the Romania of the 1930s. Amidst all the mayhem, we get some very interesting history (both real and fictional) about Vlad the Impaler and also general history about Wallachia and Transylvania and the Ottoman Empire, alongwith a good dose of supernatural folklore of the Romani people. All of this made for a very fascinating and riveting read. There are also secret societies and cursed rings which are some of my favorite tropes and I had so much fun getting to read about it all. Events also keep happening in very quick succession and we as a reader are kept our toes, worrying about what would happen next. I thought the overall writing was very good and it’s surprising that this is the author’s first fantasy novel.

We only get to read Theo’s POV in the book but she is a fun protagonist to follow. Born to two historian/adventurer parents, she has the same curious heart but is frustrated because her father is very protective. But she is strong, determined, resourceful, has a great knowledge of all things occult and mysterious, and will never stop once she makes up her mind. But she is also a privileged teenager and we get to see her petulant, sulky side. The author lets us see all the quirks of her personality which felt nice. Huck on the other hand didn’t feel very developed, because we only see him through her heartbroken eyes. He makes for a good companion, each of them trying to control the other’s impulsive decisions and trying to decide a more reasonable course for their adventure. They also meet some delightful characters on their journey, who mostly turn up just when they need them and provide them some relevant information, but I still loved all the tales they told. 

This is almost like a second chance romance, so there is a lot of angst. Theo especially struggles a lot to come to terms with her feelings and what she sees as a betrayal, but she also can’t forget that she fell in love. There is a lot of banter too, the familiarity between the two of them really reflecting off the page, making for some very entertaining conversations. While their relationship is one of the main focus of the book, it’s almost a given right from the beginning that they love each other and we just wait till they are finally able to tell each other the same. That’s what I found a bit ironical about the story here - it focuses on the relationship but it’s not exactly a romance that develops on page - but it was still very enjoyable to read.

To conclude, this was a romp of a novel which I felt thoroughly entertained while reading, and felt that I was on an adventure myself traveling through Romania. If you enjoy reading books by Dan Brown or Steve Berry and wouldn’t mind a similar themed book but with younger characters, you should definitely check this out. Just keep in mind that you will also be getting a romance alongside the adventure.

Sheila Goicea

I received an ARC via Simon Pulse in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.



All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.

  Vlad Dracula’s war ring. Made from human bone and blood. Cursed. Powerful. Mine.

When I read the synopsis to this story, I’m pretty certain my face resembled that of someone who was either incredibly excited, or of someone who had just stubbed their toe. I was very excited, to say the least.



Three things immediately stood out to me about The Lady Rogue: Vlad Dracula (Tepes), Carpathian Mountains (Transylvania), and Magic. I absolutely HAD to read this book. 

Jumping in, The Lady Rogue immediately spoke with reminiscence of The Historian, the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, with a definite Sherlock Holmes”y” vibe only with more YA angst and a heavy dash of sarcasm. Sarcasm definitely holds my affection. Yet, even sarcasm cannot cover up that this book is more about the romance between Theodora and Huck than the rest of the plot itself. For this reason, I found it difficult to invest myself fully in what was taking place. 

Characters definitely need to undergo relatable situations for readers to connect. It’s why we love to read, no? Those characters also need a context, which I think was definitely there, but just not enough. When I found myself in the middle of a novel that I thought would be about more historically-based Vlad Tepes, and got only a glimpse into Transylvanian history, I was disappointed. Don’t misunderstand me--this is a good book. Much of it was enjoyable, and the banter is real. It just wasn’t at all what I was hoping for, and it didn’t really do the historical aspect of the story justice for me. 

Magic does present itself throughout this story, but it is minute and localized. When it was present, it was very enveloping and really highlighted the idea of Vlad III having a magical ring with rather horrific abilities. It’s entirely fabricated, but a creative way to unite Vlad to his nickname “Dracula” (dragon). 

Overall, this was a good read. Maybe I became too excited and set my expectations for something that just wasn’t the focus or point. This book ended in a way that does set up for either a sequel, or a companion read to follow.

Vulgarity: Moderate
Sexual content: Some discussion of previous sexual relations, kissing, 
Violence: Moderate

My Rating: ★★★

My Blog ¦ Bookstagram ¦ Twitter ¦ Pinterest ¦ Facebook

Lindsay Hanz

** spoiler alert **
           Read this book, I repeat read this book! 

Okay wow, this was the first book I’ve read from Jenn Bennett and I was blown away. From page one, I was enthralled and was so invested in the story, I couldn’t put it down. It reminded me so much of Stalking Jack the Ripper, another series I adore, and it just made me love it that much more! 

I enjoyed the main character so much! Theodora was just amazing, strong, independent, clever, and quick witted! She was outstanding and the perfect example of my favorite type of MC. I adore her character so much and love when I can find a book that has such a strong and capable MC to root for. 

Huck was just as enjoyable and lovable. He reminded me a bit of Thomas, as Theo reminded me of Audrey Rose, but Huck’s a bit less research inclined. He’s so charming, funny, sweet, and sarcastic and makes a perfect match for our banshee, Theo. I love them together so much!

Not to mention their romance is a bit of second chance/ lovers to enemies to lovers again... and throw in some forbidden romance to top it all of, and let me tell you, I was here for it! I just adore them so much and the whole plot line.

The antagonist was built up well and there was the twist of the two “bad guys” being one and the same, which I enjoyed. I would have like to have seen more of him in action, especially towards the end, but I was happy with how Theo saves the day and her father!

Speaking of the ending, I would have loved to see a bit more exploration of Theo wearing the ring and maybe the whole scene with her ancestors, and her mother of course, to be expanded on because that would have been really great to see! And I would have loved to see the ring tempt Theo a bit more, with more of a struggle to be rid of it, but I still appreciate the ending as is! 


Theo’s father was also another great character addition, even though you don’t see him much at all in person, but he was complicated and flawed and it added a depth to the relationship between him and Theo that just made the book that much better and the romance between Huck and Theo that much sweeter (forbidden romance, sign me up).

 Overall this book was a fantastic read and you can be sure I will definitely reread this again! It’s made it onto my all time favorites list! There was romance, mystery, action, twists and turns, and a hint of magic that made for a wonderful story I won’t forget soon! READ THIS BOOK 😁

laura

* I got this book for review from the publisher*

I simply adored this book. I flew through this read. I thought this was firstly a solid standalone but am dying for more books following these characters. I simply loved Theodora characters so much and found her to be unique heroine and loved it. I also loved how this was structure with the narrative and also the letters. I loved both the setting of this book and found it to such a refreshing read. I loved the mystery elements and how this book played with fantasy elements. I loved how even thought this book focused on two characters we did meet so many others characters that easily expanded the world. I thought the romance in this book was so awesome and loved the hate to love mix with a blast from the past romance. I loved the plot of this book and found it to both unique and different if you enjoy books like hunting prince dracula. I also found the writing and pacing to be easy to read and hard to put down. Such a solid read.

Alexis 

3.5/5 stars 

This was one of my most anticipated books for 2020. This was for sure different than what I'm used to from Jenn Bennett. I do have a few mixed feelings about it but overall I did enjoy myself and will definitely continue to pick up Jenn Bennett books 

While this book did have fantastical elements it still read like one of her contemporary books. I will admit I did want more from the fantastical elements. I can't even put it into actual words excepted that I just wanted to be a little more. I wanted to know more about the magical elements and how the main character can do certain things because that's really never exactly explained. I also like the relationship I didn't love it but did enjoy it. I do recommend this book, it was fun, and a fast read. I did enjoy the traveling aspect and the historical setting. 

I will admit that the ending wrapped up a little too nicely and did feel a little rushed. I wish maybe it had been just a little bit longer and given a little more explanation at the end for everything that happened.

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley! Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: September 3, 2019

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 15+ (some language, some violence, some gore, history, and lore)

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Synopsis: 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: holy cow this book was a worldwind! I absolutely loved this book and it's definitely on my reread list! It has an Indiana Jones vibe and the characters are fun and infuriating but in a likeable way. The worldbuilding was great and the writing was amazing. The pacing was also very well done, it was not too fast or too slow for me.

My only issue with the novel is that the ending fight scene was a bit chaotic and hard to follow and I expected a loose end to come back and it didn't.

Verdict: Indiana Jones for the young!

Leelynn Brady

Find this review and more on my blog Sometimes Leelynn Reads

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Simon Pulse for this free copy.

Okay, first of all, thank you for reminding me to read this one because for some reason I spaced on this. Second of all, I absolutely loved this book and I honestly can’t wait to read more of Bennett’s fantasy and historical fiction novels.

-The Characters-

Theodora Fox is our main character, and she does refer to herself as a Lady Rogue at one point in the novel. Totally liked that. She is the daughter of an American “treasure hunter” – Richard Damn Fox – and her Romanian mother Elena who was killed by a cursed artifact years ago. Before Elena died, the Foxes would travel together all over the world to find ancient artifacts and gather history, but once Elena was killed, Richard refused to bring Theo on any more of his journeys. He would keep her in a hotel room until he found was he was looking for.

Theo is a feminist character that has no problem speaking up for herself and protecting those that she cares about. I was actually very proud of her for being headstrong, smarter than her father by realizing what was really going on with the Vlad Dracula ring and was able to save her and Hux during some troubling times. She was fluent in five languages and could swear in two more, and she came from old Romanian blood, and she was a strong character that wasn’t afraid to show weakness when she needed time to get her wits together again. But despite the obstacles that they faced, she never allowed them to hold her down for long. She may be one of my new favorite characters to date.

Huxley “Hux” Gallagher is an orphan who lost his parents in a terrible car accident when he was around 10 years old. Theo’s father took him in and they became family, until he was banished from Foxwood when Richard found Hux and Theo in a compromising position. He loves to butcher famous proverbs just to piss Theo off, and has been trying to gain the good graces of Richard again. He has seen Richard as his father since he took him in, and being exiled to Ireland with his remaining blood family has broken him to an extent. He does not like the supernatural like Theo does, and he tries to be the rational one of the duo. He and Theo work well together despite their banter, and he’s an excellent lock picker.

Throughout their journey, they have had various Romanian characters that have helped them learn more about what’s going on with Richard’s journey, and why Theo is involved. People like Mama Lovena, The Zuiss Brothers, and Valentin have proven to be friends of Theo and Hux, and teach her more about her Romanian heritage that her mother didn’t always have the chance to teach her. They were worthy allies, but allowed Theo to save the day on her own, only helping save Hux when he needed it.

Also, Richard Damn Fox is an asshole that has some serious issues. He and Theo will need to work these out if they plan on saving their already strained relationship. We don’t meet him until towards the end, but we get to read his thoughts through some journal entries of the last time he was in Romania.

-The Plot-

This story combines some magical realism into the historical fiction world as Theo finds out that her father is not able to make it back to her and her tutor in Istanbul as planned. Instead, she finds Hux – who tricked the hotel staff into thinking that they were siblings – who tells her that Fox sent him to fetch her and bring her back to New York. Although not only does he not know where Fox is, but he was tasked with protecting her, and giving her one of Fox’s travel journals. That should help them find some sort of clues as to what’s going on, right?

It revolves around the legend of Vlad Dracula – Vlad the Impaler – he goes by many names. The point is that apparently there was some sort of supernatural power surrounding Vlad and his bloodlust, and that source of power was in the hands of some infamous people of power after him. Why were these people so prone to violence, doing some unspeakable actions like butchering babies and impaling tens of thousands of people?

Theo and Hux have to find her father on a journey across Europe into Transylvania, while trying to stay one step ahead of those that have been following them since Hux and Fox split up. During this journey, Theo finds out more about her heritage, her lineage from her mother’s side of the family, and finds that there are so much more supernatural things in the world than she could have ever imagined.

-My Likes-

Theo was a strong woman. She didn’t want to stay behind while her father went on his many adventures, so she would make her own – to the dismay of her many tutors. Despite being left alone by her latest tutor, who leaves her alone in a foreign country without any funds at all, she does what she needs to in order to survive. There are times where she has an even cooler head than Hux, who likes to pretend that he’s a “big strong man” to allow Theo to stand up for herself. I liked that she remembered everything that her father taught her about ciphers, history, languages. She uses her intelligence, knowledge, and skill to get her out of these situations. I loved the history that we learn about Romania and some of the supernatural myths – like the Strigoi (Vampire Academy, anyone?) – and the white wolves that used to help the Darcians.

-My Dislikes-

This was another one that had step-sibling romance, although I understand looking back why I was so turned off by the one in the Night Tiger. Thanks to Sammie for spelling out my thoughts when I couldn’t articulate it myself. While in the Night Tiger, Shin was forceful on Ji Lin about his feelings for her, scaring away her suitors (and she had no idea until he revealed that to her) and was possessive her and claimed her as his before she even made that decision herself.

In this one, it was mutual. They grew up together as adolescents, and were the best of friends growing up. They had a connection, and they ended up having sex. At the time, yeah it was pretty much taboo because they were technically step-siblings. And they both knew that it was wrong but they couldn’t deny their feelings. I only put this in the dislike section because taboo relationships like this aren’t my cup of tea, but the execution of this one was done way better than in The Night Tiger.

I also hated Richard Damn Fox for hiding so much from Theo, but that’s part of the story.

There were some grammatical errors in here, but I think that will be fixed before the actual publication.

-Final Thoughts-

Wow, I just really liked this one. Sure, I think the romance didn’t have to be in there, but it really didn’t take away from the story. Sure, I wish that there could have been another book, but it ended very nicely as a standalone, and worked well. I absolutely loved the magical realism in this novel, and how taking an old legend and putting a new spin on it was executed. There were no vampires in this novel, despite what everyone associates with “Dracula” and I absolutely loved that. I think Theo was a great character, and Hux was a great male supportive character. He may have pretended to be a macho man, but he respected all of Theo’s wishes, and understood her even when she didn’t want to voice her thoughts out loud. He believed in her when she was doubting herself. He was a good friend to her, and I liked that.

This was my first time reading a book from Bennett, and I was blown away. I hope that there are more historical fiction/fantasy novels from her.

Additional Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Becca Futrell

Thank you to Simon Pulse for providing me with a copy of The Lady Rogue in exchange for an honest review!

The Lady Rogue tosses together some of my favorite things — The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice & Virtue, supernatural elements, a bickering ship, a developing relationship between father & daughter, and adventure. It was as if this book was made just for me. Granted, it’s not exactly like Gentleman’s Guide to Vice & Virtue, but it does have the ~protags constantly finding trouble on their adventure~ aspect.

Anytime I read an adventurous book, I get in a huge mood to play a video game such as Tomb Raider or Uncharted & I’m totally okay with that. I’m 100% here for characters charting unfamiliar territory in order to get to the treasure. Our main characters, Theodora & Huck are even throw into multiple chase scenes; all in attempts to deter them from their victory.

Speaking of Theodora & Huck, I absolutely adore them. Although their constant bickering can get stale, I still found myself rooting for them throughout this entire read. I even caught myself with a cheesy grin due to their ridiculousness & absolute adorableness.

When life gives you ghosts, make ghost lemonade?

There’s a lot of issues with Theodora & her father; one being that he lays restrictions on her out of protection, and appears to favor Huck more. Anything that deals with a father/daughter relationship, especially anything drenched in angst, really pulls on my heartstrings.

I found myself very content with the ending. This was my first Jenn Bennett read & I’m so pleased with her style, that I can’t wait to see the cute that lies within her contemporary work! The Lady Rogue isn’t getting talked about enough; if you’re into adventure, family dynamics & ships that won’t stop bickering, this book is for you.

Alicia Haws

This was okay? 

I requested this book for one reason, and that is the author. I'm a big fan of Bennett's contemporaries, so when I saw a YA Historical Fiction from her, I was excited.

But nope.

This book was a literal chore for me to read. I pushed through it, but it was a pain and just went so so slow. I kept waiting for something in the story to spark something, or to connect with, but it just never came. I think the best thing I can give for this review is a bullet point list of what I like and don't like. I just don't have much to say about this one, unfortunately. 

What I liked:

• The setting. It was unique and I never see Romania as a setting.
• The dialogue and banter. Theo and Huck were fun together and I loved how they bantered together. It was fun to read because I love humor with my action in any case.
• Action started right away. Basically, you're tossed into the story. I didn't feel like we got info dumped either.

What I didn't like:

• Although I loved their dialogue/banter, I didn't really like the romance. I didn't love Huck and Theo's story and all the sex-shaming that her dad did. The drama felt unnecessary and pointless in that regard. I just didn't love the romance which is a shame.
• The plot. It started off quite interesting, but after a while, it dulled and I wasn't able to get into it. The Vlad the Impaler plot/mystery ended up being kind of pointless? I'm not really sure what happened there.
• The pacing. It moved SO SO SLOWLY!
• The ending didn't work for me. It felt like it was too much at once and wrapped up too quickly.
• The characters. Like I said, I was never much for Huck and Theo. I was not at all invested in them or what might happen to them.
• The writing. I usually love Bennett's writing style, but this story just felt like a very different author, fell flat, and didn't resonate with me.

Anyway, overall I thought the book was just an okay read. Didn't hate it, didn't love it. It may be some other people's cup of tea, but it just didn't work for me. I don't think this is a series...? But even if it was... I wouldn't be reading on.

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the in exchange for an honest review. **

Chantale

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.

Erin 

4.5 stars

A book!! About!! Romania!! Jenn Bennett, I could kiss you. For several years now I've had a slight obsession with Romania, and as of late I've been enamoured with trying to find books that take place there. They are so few and far between, so when I do find one, I am ecstatic. And this one is so good. Who wouldn't want to read it, honestly? All you had to say was Vlad Dracula and I am on board. This is the perfect book to read come October, or even just autumn in general. I adore books about journeys, and this one fits that bill. ESPECIALLY when the journeys involve following instructions and hopping from place to place chasing a mystery. I really liked Theo, and I thought she was a great character. She is tired of being left behind and 'protected', so she takes matters into her own hands to solve the trail of clues in search of her father, who may or may not be hiding secrets regarding her of his own. I did like Huck as well, although he was a bit more one-dimensional. It's not instalove, since Theo and Huck have a history, but its very clear from the beginning that they will eventually clear things up and get together. Even though they start off as 'enemies' (if you could even say that), it's pretty obvious that someone will come clean about something eventually. The rest of the characters are more like quirky carnival-like kind of characters, each a clue to the overall mystery, clues that Theo and Huck must solve before they advance to the next step. The plotline and search for Vlad Dracula's ring is by far the most interesting part of the book. I loved how Theo found out more about her mother as the story progressed, and how her mother (view spoiler)[ was a clue to solve the final mystery. I'm a bit surprised that I didn't call the twist about Theo being related to Vlad Dracula, as now that I know it, it makes a lot of sense for the story to go in that direction and seems almost natural. I loved the mystery of the rings and how instead of one real and two replicas, they form into the shape of puzzle ring.  (hide spoiler)] I find it a bit weird that Theo could figure that out but her father couldn't, though. Or maybe he did, and she just didn't know it? I loved all the Romanian bits so much, and how much the culture/country was tied into the story. I realise that should be obvious, considering the subject, but I am very grateful. 

There are a few things that struck me as odd, though. The book takes place in 1938, on the brink of the Second World War, and yet no mention of the events leading up to it at all. Having done a bit of research, I know now that at first, Romania remained neutral, but I feel a bit of acknowledgement would have been nice. You almost forget about the characters’ impending doom entirely (especially at the end when they are spending the forseeable future in Paris). I also found it a bit odd that nearly every single person they ran into could speak English, and I'm just not sure how likely that would have been during this time period. I did like that Theo spoke Romanian, however, and used it often.

I really really liked this book. It is so much fun, and while it might resemble other popular YA books, especially in the style of writing and characters, the story certainly isn’t one that I’ve come across before. If there are other Romanian-themed YA books out there, I’d love to hear about them (or even Vlad Dracula-themed books, to be honest). It’s not hard-hitting literature, but it’s a fun book about traipsing through foreign countries. And a cursed ring. What’s not to love?

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ashlee

This book was so incredibly fun. It’s a bit like The Historian combined with Stalking Jack the Ripper, and I could not be more pleased.

The story quite literally jumps right into the action and maintains that sort of pace throughout, as we travel along with Theodora and Huck through southeastern Europe in search of her missing father and a mysterious ring linked to Vlad the Impaler.

I have to say that there is a lot to love about this, but what truly jumped off the page for me was Huck as a character overall and Theodora’s inquisitive mind. I loved the humor, banter and camaraderie between these two, and especially loved seeing them happy together, after they’ve had the courage to clear the air and lower their boundaries.

If you’re looking for a story with an enticing mystery and witty characters, look no further! Enjoy the ride!

Kaylee Z

I am a sucker for an adventure book. Add in a feisty female lead in a semi-historical setting with a dash of angst and rekindling romance plus a pinch of Indiana Jones? Yes please.

The Lady Rogue is my first Jenn Bennett book which I don’t think is much of a surprise as I do not read as much Young Adult anymore, nor am I a fan of contemporary YA specifically so they were never ‘must buys’ for me. The idea behind this particular story though really intrigued me. First off, the cover is so detailed that it is hard to pass by and, secondly, the plot sounds like something teenage me would have wanted to be a part of.

We start off with Theodora causing a bit of mischief in a market and this alone is a great introduction to our main character. She is smart, curious and always up for an adventure. There are times throughout the book where she was a tad annoying but she has been given the short end of the stick for the last few years so I don’t fully blame her. The introduction to Huck was also fun and you knew right off the bat that these two characters are well matched. 

The main plot of hunting down the ring of Vlad the Impaler was an interesting choice for a relic and ended up taking our characters to places that we don’t really see much of in literature. I liked how this story was unique and builds nicely towards it’s final showdown. The synopsis points out that the ring is magical but, for the majority of the book, that is hardly relevant however I did like how it eventually played out. It started subtly but then magical element really kicked in.

It was an interesting choice for Bennett to have Theodora and Huck be old friends/loves. It made for great banter and lend itself to adding more layers to their individual characters. I tend to do this thing when I read YA where I age up the characters in my mind to be in their early 20s and a lot of what is between Theodora and Huck works very well with that age in mind. This YA read could pass for New Adult.

The Lady Rogue is also not without its flaws in terms of convenience of events and smaller details but it was an overall enjoyable read. I would be interested if this ended up being a series to follow these characters on other adventures but it looks as though it will be a standalone… for now.

Lauren James

Full review on my blog, Storied Adventures

3.5 stars!

This was so fun! I loved the creative way the author went with Vlad the Impaler! It was very interesting to learn some of the real history of the region and some more of Vlad's family. Some of it was for the sake of the book but some was real. I liked Theo, she was a fun character to read about. I liked her clever humor. And Huck was ever so charming! They made a good pair! I would have liked more fantasy and magic. It really only showed up the last 50 or so pages.

It was a fun read!

Julia Cerrato &
The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett

Reviews

Join the club

Julia Cerrato &The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett

Reviews

Join the club

Julia Cerrato &
The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett