Written by Teralyn Mitchell
The Lady Rogue is a story about adventure, redemption, and forgiveness. Theodora “Theo” Fox is a seventeen-year-old girl recovering from a broken heart and harboring resentment towards her father who stashes her in fancy hotel rooms while he goes off on wild adventures. Ever since her mother passed away, her father will not let her tag along on his adventures to find anything and everything someone may pay him to find. Theo is upset about this when the book starts and is out doing something she shouldn’t when things seem to fall apart. When she gets back to her hotel the last person she expects is there, Huxley “Huck” Gallagher. The boy who broke her heart when he left without a word and there is more to that story that Theo learns a little later. Huck showing up throws Theo’s life into chaos and she finally gets to go on an adventure across Romania to find her father. She learns about her heritage, secrets that she was never privy to, and that all the things she thought were true—witches, magic, curses, etc.—were all real. And it’s up to her to come to terms with all she’s learn to save the ones she love most.
I enjoyed this book as it jumped right into the action with Theo being accused of stealing a ring she was photographing and her tutor leaving her stranded in Istanbul, stealing all of her money. I thought the action kept up from there and I found it hard to put the book down but after that, it seemed to slow and I had a hard time reading the rest of the book. It was slow going in the middle until Theo and Huck met the hermit, but I still thought it was a well-written story that perfectly interspersed history, magic, and adventure. I was so happy to learn more about Vlad Dracula, Romania’s—and surrounding countries—history, and some of the other myths that are floating around, plus the twist on the history and how Bennett interpreted it was quite enjoyable. The ending of this book was kind of a surprise for me as I did not put it together ahead of time and did not see Theo being the key to everything even though I probably should have. I loved the ending and how even though things worked out, Theo, Huck, and Richard did not come out unscathed.
I liked Theo as she is stubborn, fierce, loyal, brave, and intelligent. Sometimes that stubbornness had me wanting to throw my book but I could get behind her decisions. She was determined to save her father and no matter how scared she was or how difficult and hopeless the situation seemed she never gave up. She chased her father’s trail across Europe and she was willing to do whatever it took and I admired that. I liked Huck a lot too. He never shied away from saying he was scared or uneasy or unsure of their plans. He was loyal, sweet, and caring. It was clear that he cared for Theo and took his responsibilities to keep her safe seriously. He followed along with her plans even when he wasn’t sure about them and even when he was beyond frightened of what could happen. I also enjoyed the people Theo and Huck met along the way to finding Richard—Theo’s father. They met some characters who were instrumental in helping them figure out the mystery of the Vlad’s bone ring. I liked the twins and the hermit the most.
The Lady Rouge was fun read full of action and a touch of romance that did not overshadow the overall plot of the story. This book showcased female empowerment at its finest and Theo did not need anyone to save her. She was strong enough to find her father and rescue and him and herself when they got into a bind. Theo was a heroine I rooted for throughout the book even though she frustrated me at times. The Lady Rogue explores grief, familial histories, friendships, first loves, and father/daughter bonds all wrapped in adventure and a race against the clock to find answers. This was an engaging read that kept me engrossed everything I picked it up.
The Lady Rogue is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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.
