A review by yourbookishbff
Isabel and the Rogue by Liana De la Rosa

emotional funny informative lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I loved this follow-up to Ana Maria and the Fox, and I'm not going to be chill about it. I struggled with the pacing in Ana Maria's story, and the late entry of the marriage-of-convenience set-up, along with a lot of telling vs. showing. I had none of these issues in this installment. I felt the romance was perfectly paced, and I could see at every step how our two main characters' reactions to each other began to shift. The physical chemistry and emotional connection were beautifully balanced, with hints of jealousy and uncertainty and longing and self-denial that always made sense for these characters. Liana De la Rosa has given our middle Luna sister a love story deserving of her independent spirit and tireless desire to prove herself (to herself, more than anyone else). Where Isabel feels unknown because she's often unnoticed, Sirius feels unknown because he's unseen despite being widely noticed. Through introversion (Isabel) and a front of extroversion (Sirius), these two hide in plain sight, until they find each other. 

Once again, the sisters and their relationships shine, bringing humor and levity alongside difficult reflections on family, cultural loss and belonging. And the political subplot felt more nuanced (and ultimately more compelling) in this installment, as we're searching out potential French intelligence, shifting international allegiances, approaching armies and political-leaders-in-hiding. It leads to a happily-ever-after that feels perfectly suited to this couple (and bucks a lot of histrom norms in the best way!). 

If you read Ana Maria and the Fox, you absolutely have to read this follow-up. If you didn't read Ana Maria, you can also jump right into this, as they are loosely connected but most of your backstory will be filled in for you throughout. If it's not clear, I think everyone should read Isabel and the Rogue. So excited for Gabby's story in book three!
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