love love love love LOVED the power exchanges in this one, wesley and sebastian's banter is really top-tier and they're written in a way that makes me care about them so much. that said, i was really bothered by the dual pov only because it lets the audience in on the fact that they're both dumbasses thinking that the other person doesn't want to be with them. maybe it's realistic, but its also annoying. they got there eventually, but it took way too much of their inner monologue time for my taste.

the plot was fun, besides the fact that it feels like the audience is more aware of something shady going on with their missing friends than they are. plus, there are not that many characters in this book; almost as soon as the bad guys were introduced, i was just waiting for it to be revealed to the MCs because it wasn't that hard to see coming. we do love two clueless idiots in love though, so 3.75 stars.

loved the way consent was woven into the spicy scenes, that was definitely one of the highlights for me

I'm so upset that the next book doesn't come out until Spring 2025. But if it's the same quality as this and Allie Therin's other books, the wait will be worth it. And it may even give me an excuse to reread these books closer to that time.

Sebastian and Wesley are so sweet together. One thing I love about this series and Magic in Manhattan is that the first book in both shows the main couple coming to terms with their romantic and sexual feelings for each other. Then the next books are about their relationship developing beyond the initial getting together. I've seen so many series draw out a romance for 3+ books before they finally have their first kiss/sex scene and admit their attraction to each other at the very end. But you often don't get to see them actually being happy together and working through the emotions that come with that. I love how Allie Therin gives us that exploration after they realize their feelings.

Sebastian is the best and must be protected at all costs. He's way too sweet and I hope he continues in the next book to give Wesley all the feelings.

Spoiler: Something I've noticed as a pattern in this series and the Magic in Manhattan books:

I have noticed that every one of Allie Therin's books that I've read involves at least one of the love interests being kidnapped. Sometimes one is kidnapped and the other has to save them. Sometimes they both get kidnapped. Either way, there's always a kidnapping in the second half of the book and I'm here for it. I'm a sucker for this trope of one character being in trouble and the other coming to save them. And Allie does it really well, in my opinion./spoiler>

Content Warning that isn't listed:

Poisoning without death

Continuing adventures of Lord Fine and Sebastian… Fine’s still a bit of an oblivious man. His sense of himself allows him to ignore things going on around him. This is consistent between the first in this series and the second. You’d hope a person might learn that the world doesn’t just bend to you but apparently not. So I felt like these two were stumbling along quite cluelessly for most of the book. Makes for a bit of a weird plot but allows time for their relationship to grow. I did have to out the book down for a bit, though, and came back later to see how Therin was going to get them out of trouble this time. Still all’s well that ends… well, it is still a bit of a mess, isn’t it? Guess there’s a book three!

Also, did I read that wrong or was Wesley’s brother really names Collin Collins?

Rarely do I leave an actual written review, but Allie Therin's writing is something else, and there's no way I could finish this book without leaving praise. 

Somehow Allie was able to combine romance, fantasy and mystery in the most delicious way. The characters are complex and layered in their own right, but the interactions and relationships they share only lend to the already existent nuance of both Lord Fine and Sebastian. The plot was thrilling enough to keep me on my toes and constantly trying to guess what would happen next. The story makes sense, the motives are understandable, and the spice... well, let's just say chapter 5 is something else entirely. I'm still recovering. The intimacy between the characters feels intentional and important; there's reason for it. It's easy for sex scenes to feel thrown in for the sake of being there, but that's never the case with Allie Therin's work. The intimacy matters and speaks volumes about the characters.

Overall, I fell in love with Wesley and Sebastian all over again. Their banter was top-notch and had me smiling the whole time. Needless to say, I'm already looking forward to a reread.

"Once a Rogue" was freaking marvellous.
I enjoyed the hell out of every single second I got to spend with Sebastian and Wesley on their second, even more epic and magical, adventure together.

"Proper Scondrels" was one of my favourite reads when it came out, quite possibly one of my favourite Allie Therin books at the time, but I think this second book takes that top position: Wesley and Sebastian managed to absolutely steal my heart and obliterate my soul for a second, glorious time, and I seriously cannot explain how much they meant to me.

Misunderstood ex-villains finding love was already one of my reading catnips, and two ex-villains finding love and understanding with one another, despite each of them being convinced that they're undeserving of any sort of affection whatsoever? Now, brand that on my soul please.


< Wesley so rarely found himself at a loss for words. But for all he claimed to think with cold rationality, he’d forgotten that kind didn’t mean gullible, that soft wasn’t sheltered and sweet wasn’t naïve. >

I LOVE Sebastian and Wesley so damn much.
Wesley has been my absolute favourite since the very first time he appeared: he's cranky and standoffish and commanding, darkly funny and deliciously competent, but he can also be unbelievably, delightfully understanding, vulnerable and open-minded and so damn ready to move the world for Sebastian, come hell and high water.
And Sebastian? Gah, he's the sweetest. The most precious marshmallow to ever exist, and he deserves every single good thing in the world.

And together, oh god. They're so perfect for one another: both of them are incapable of asking for help, but either one of them would sacrifice themselves for the other, no questions asked. They show up for each other, they care for each other, and they listen and fight and joke around with one another; they won't accept any sort of self-loathing nonsense from the other, and they even talk about consent and boundaries; and I'm freaking obsessed with them.
Their dynamic gave me life and it was so damn perfect, fueled by love and respect and chemistry. I'd seriously read a dozen novels about them, and I know I would never get tired.

< “I mean, really,” Wesley said, picking up his empty glass. “A man could almost get the impression you only want him for his lectures.”
“They’re such good lectures,” Sebastian mumbled, which put a bigger smile on Wesley’s face. >

And the plot? Absolutely epic. It's fun and mysterious and clever, filled with twists, discoveries and magical curses and relics, and I couldn't keep away.
And it also features some very welcome faces from Allie Therin's previous trilogy: Jade and Zhang, of course, and even our favourite sourly brat Rory and his overprotective, mother hen lover. I ADORED seeing them all again, and I loved their group interactions even more: I desperately need book three so I can see more of Rory and Wes bonding over their respective crankiness and their big softy boyfriends.
The found family vibes were impeccable, and Wes and Sebastian DESERVE to have lots of overprotective friends fussing over their well-being and happiness.
The only thing better than scondrels finding love with each other, is them finding a big family of friends who fuss over them as well: I don't make the rules, but found family is THE superior trope.

Allie Therin has gifted us with another gem of a book, and I seriously cannot wait to read book three. I feel like I'll spend the next few months in an enormous book hangover because of "Once a Rogue" and the only way to get over it will be re-reading it, and all of Allie's entire backlist as well.

Please, do yourself a favour and read this series! It's magical, pun intended.


I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.