New Release!

In my non official opinion, this is Sarah's mic drop of a series finale. Yeah if you have read this series, you know what I am talking about.

I am attempting something different and it's reviewing this book by song lyrics.

1. A Beautiful Game by Ed Sheeran

"Out of the embers we'll rise from the ashes."

This song just aligns with Moirin and the Dread Penny Society members.

2. All I Know So Far- Pink

"But I can show you how to live like your life is on the line."

The whole song makes me believe that Moirin would be this type of role model. The chorus is just perfect for a powerful punch of courage she shares with others.

3. Long Live- Taylor Swift

"'Cause for a moment, a band of theives in ripped up jeans got to rule the world."

Honestly, the Dread Penny Society are a band of writers in ripped up London attire, but you get my point. Ugh this song just reflects the family that has been created to fight figurative London "dragons."

4. Wonder- Shawn Mendes

"To live in a world that isn't black and white"

Fitzgerald Parkington is just so beautifully written. He does not shy away from his feelings about Moirin. I don't know what it is about this song that just makes me think of him. I just do. It's a feeling thing on this one.

"I wonder what it's like to be loved by you!"

#thequeenandtheknave #sarahmeden #bookreview #arc #netgalley #songlyrics #seriesfinale #dreadpennysociety #rufflethepages

First, you need to know that this is not a stand-alone book. You’ll need to read the first four books in the series if you want to have any hope of following and truly enjoying this one.

The Queen and the Knave is a fast paced and fascinating conclusion to the efforts of the Dread Penny Society and their attempts to make London a better and safer place for “the least of these.” As is typical of this series, the author intersperses two different Penny Dreadfuls into the mix of the story that is unfolding. I really enjoyed that juxtaposition along with the story of the society itself. I was happy with the conclusion and recommend the series to those who like a little mystery mixed in with a bit of comedy and romance.

I received a free digital copy of this novel in exchange for sharing my honest opinion.

This was a fantastic conclusion to the series! Having all of the loose threads come together in a super climatic ending and a happy resolution was everything I was waiting for. The relationship between Fitz and Moirin was so sweet and real and funny. Her love for the DPS members and their families and everything she was willing to sacrifice for them made Moirin the true queen. I absolutely loved it!

This was a wonderful conclusion the the Dread Penny Society series. As sad as I am to see it end, this book makes it all worthy it. I loved how the characters all came together to conquer evil. I loved how we were never sure until the end how everything would work out. I loved that I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and that I couldn’t put it down. Make sure to read the other books first but this series is AMAZING!

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

✧:･𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬･:✧
•victorian england
•series finale
•penny dreadfuls
•dual pov
•sewer dates
•forbidden romance
•opposites attract
•the tempest vs. the dread master
•strong sibling bonds
•”parky”
•mysterious twists and turns
•who can you trust?!
•satisfying ending

“𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴. 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘔ó𝘪𝘳í𝘯 𝘋𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴.”

it should be noted that this is the fifth and final book in the dread penny society series and needs to be read in order, but i promise this series is worth it for this satisfying conclusion!!

it’s truly hard to review this book without spoiling anything. i gasped at the end of the last book and i couldn’t wait for all of the answers that we would finally get in the queen and the knave. it didn’t disappoint. this story was filled twists and turns and the sweetest romance. i loved seeing móirín (maureen) and fitz finally get together after it being hinted at for so long. it was also super satisfying to have the dread master and the tempest go head to head. i can’t recommend this series enough!

“𝙒𝙚 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝙒𝙚 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩. 𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙋𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙮 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮.”

thank you to shadow mountain for an arc. my thoughts are my own.

I couldn’t put it down! This is the fifth and final book in the Dread Penny Society series. The books in this series need to be read in order because each book builds on the previous book. This book focuses on Moirin Donnelly trying to protect the Dreadfuls - especially her brother Brogan and defeat The Tempest with the help of Constable Fitzgerald Parkington. She risks her own safety many times in the process.

Like the rest of the series, installments of two Penny Dreadful stories are interspersed with the chapters of this book.

The first is The Queen and the Knave by Mr. King. Eleanor’s father recently died making her the new queen. All the barons are gathering for a unification ceremony that is held every 10 years. Reynard Atteberry is her guard and was a childhood friend. She is turned into a pine marten during the day to prevent her from fulfilling her duties by evil Dezmerina who wants to be queen.

The other is Posie and Pru Detectives for Hire by Chauncey Finnegan. This is probably my favorite of all the penny dreadful stories throughout the series. It was really cute and funny. Two women in their 70s decide to be detectives and work to discover who killed Mr Flanagan and why. I would love to read another book about them.

This book was very well done and is the perfect end to the series. There was a lot of suspense, so many surprises, loveable characters, fun banter, and even romance. I couldn’t put it down. Content warning: there is violence on and off the page. Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing for an advanced copy to use for my review.

This book contains all the action you expect from a high stakes mystery. The tension grows as people are kidnapped, plans are made, and criminals show themselves.

Moirin is a strong, intelligent woman whose secrets from the past are coming to light. As she tries to keep her secrets hidden and battle a criminal mastermind, she finds herself falling in love with a constable. Fitz and Moirin make a great team and they are easy to root for.

As with the previous books in this series, this one is light on romance. Although, it is satisfying. The mystery is the main focus and it’s conclusion is heart pounding and kept me turning the pages.

This contains two penny dreadfuls interwoven throughout the story. They are both enjoyable, but break up the pacing of the main story.

Be sure to read this series in order since every book builds on the last.

This is a clean read.

The Queen and the Knave by the incomparable Sarah M. Eden is the fifth and final in the series. And what a series it is! Nail biting, alluring, beguiling, mysterious, witty and original are just some words to describe my reading experience. Though it is unfortunate it is over, it ended with a bang instead of meekly drifting off into oblivion. It is also one of the few series I would re-read and believe I could get more richness out of it each time.

What enchants me the most is the writing itself which is pure genius. It is beyond me how Eden intricately knits together and unravels plots and storylines while simultaneously entertaining with the interspersed Penny Dreadful stories. The books feature different characters and storylines yet all have a purpose are seamlessly brought together with pizazz and panache in the grand finale.

In Victorian England the Dread Penny Society changes. Alarmed Móirín is concerned with goings on and investigates with Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington. They run into pickles and jams of all sorts while they learn more about each other. Bantering abounds yet in a respectful way where equality is important. They are bright, innovative and really care about the future of the DPS. Enter The Tempest, secrets galore and snippets of clean romance. Adventure upon adventure gives me the Robin Hood vibe and though a few darker topics are explored, it is done with care and thoughtfulness. I like that the romance is lowkey and that the characters nearly pulsate with personality. The vernacular and historical bits are fabulously done. My kind of book!

If you hanker after the epitome of the perfect immersive series, do get entangled in this one.

My sincere thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this highly-addictive and unforgettable novel.

This was an exciting conclusion to the much anticipated Dread Penny Society story as Móirín Donnelly and the members of this covert crime fighting organization must outwit their biggest foe, The Tempest. Ms. Eden has brilliantly woven several stories into this book to keep you totally engrossed.

Móirín Donnelly was my favorite character as she not only must pit her wits to stop The Tempest, but she must also protect all of those who rely on her to keep them safe. There were several scenes where I was holding my breath, not sure how things were going to work out. Having Constable Fitzgerald Parkington and other members of the Dread Penny Society help was so fun! Fitz and Móirín have this tension between them that is almost palpable. The password that he must use to be granted access to safe houses had me laughing.

If you enjoy mystery, suspense, a bit of humor, and romance, you will love this series. Since the characters have been introduced in previous books I recommend you read the others before reading this particular story. The good news is that this is the final book and you can binge read aaall of them!

Things I loved:
Victorian era
Valiant men and women
Fighting injustice
Foiling The Tempest
The Queen and the Knave short story
The Dread Master
Plot twists

I'd love to see this series made into a TV mini series. It's that amazing!

Favorite Quote: "For the poor and the infirm, the voiceless and the hopeless, we do not relent. We do not forget. We are The Dread Penny Society."

I was given a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required.

This is a wonderful conclusion to a great series! Loved the characters and the group all fighting the fight!!

Cute love story, too!

Wow, what a conclusion to a great series. As others have said this is a series that you have to read from the beginning, but it is worth it. This has been such a great suspenseful series. The ending keeps you guessing through the entire book. Moirin and Fitz's relationship was great. I loved their banter and wit even in really rough spots. Yet they had some tender moments that I hadn't been expecting.

The Penny Dreadfuls in this book were interesting. I always enjoy Mr. King's stories and this one was no different. I'm really amazed how Ms. Eden is able to write these with different writing techniques. That's true talent. I've enjoyed these throughout the series as well.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest review.

I love this series a lot and this was no exception, the author has built a great world and kept it throughout. I have never been into the actual penny dreadful exercerpts throughout the stories but I know they are thoughtrfully written and connected to the stories.

Holy Moly!!! What an ending to this series!! I've loved all of the books in this series and wondered how it would end but never did I imagine what Sarah M. Eden came up with! Heads up, this is a series you HAVE to read in order because the story builds in each book and this is the fantastic end we've all been waiting for.

The Dread Penny Society is in danger from the Tempest, and despite their best efforts and various secret hiding places they start to disappear. This forces Móirín Donnelly to team up with Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington, a friend she kids around with and seems to be sweet on but because of what led her to come to London she's kept him at arm's length. Now, because of the Tempest's actions Móirín must trust Parkington (aka Parky or Fitz) with some of her secrets--secrets even her brother doesn't know.

This one hooked me from the beginning and didn't let go. I was with Móirín and Parky as they went all over and under London trying to find the missing DPS members. The penny dreadfuls included in the book were a welcome relief from the anxiety the Tempest was giving me over the beloved DPS characters. I don't want to give anything away so I'll list what I liked about the book.

The dual pov of Móirín and Parky, getting to see all the DPS members from the previous books, the penny dreadful stories, the slow-burn romance between Móirín and Parky, the kisses, and of course the climatic ending where the Tempest gets what she deserves!! I loved seeing everyone find someone to love--they all deserve it. I'd love to go back and binge read/listen to this series so I see all the little things I missed the first time I read them.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

London, 1866. Móirín Donnelly has spent the last five years working in the shadows for the Dread Penny Society, a secret fraternity of penny dreadful authors who use their profits, influence, and street smarts to protect the poor and vulnerable of Victorian London. When members of the Dread Penny Society begin disappearing, Móirín turns to her friend Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington for help. The two have developed a friendly rapport, and Móirín feels like she can trust him, though perhaps not with all of her secrets. Fitz has a sixth sense when it comes to tracking down criminals, which is why he's recently been transferred to the Detective Department at Scotland Yard. But when roadblocks and red tape keep him from tracking down the criminal mastermind known as "The Tempest," he must rely on the one woman who has unexpectedly captured his heart--the brash, bold, and fiery Irish lass, Móirín Donnelly. As the Tempest's deadly reach threatens to overwhelm all of London, Móirín and Fitz are caught in an elaborate game of cat and mouse.
The finale to this wonderful series & finally we have Móirín’s story. Another fast paced story & the pages flew by. The characters have depth & love them or hate them they jump out of the page to you. Whilst not a short book I devoured it in two sittings & found it very hard to put down. I really liked both Móirín & Fitz & have enjoyed seeing their relationship change & deepen throughout the series. Is justice served & the threat of The Tempest quashed? Well you' just have to read to find out
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

“For the poor and infirm, the voiceless and hopeless, we do not relent. We do not forget. We are the Dread Penny Society.” “Long live the queen.”

What an amazing ending to a fantastic series! Sarah M. Eden delivers a powerful, action packed finale with all the beloved characters, a sweet romance, and a suspenseful showdown between The Tempest and The Dread Master. This is one book that you have to have read the previous books in the series to really appreciate and is not meant to be read as a standalone.

One of Moirin Donnelly’s carefully kept secrets is out and makes her the number one target for The Tempest’s revenge. When members of the Dread Penny Society start disappearing, she enlists the help of the handsome Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington. Their friendly banter and great working relationship leads Moirin to trust him with some of her secrets and perhaps even her heart. It’s a race against time as Moirin, Fitz, and the remaining Dread Penny members work to foil the Tempest’s plans and rescue their fellow members before it’s too late.

Along with the exciting conclusion are two delightful Penny Dreadfuls. Poise and Pru Detectives for Hire is about two endearing older ladies who decide to take up detective work. It’s a fun, cute story involving solving a murder and dogs. The Queen and the Knave is a magical story of a young Queen on the eve of her coronation who’s under a curse. It’s up to her and her friend and brave guardsman to thwart the witch’s evil plans and save her kingdom from chaos and war. I enjoyed the romance between Eleanor and Reynard and the clever solution Eleanor figures out to defeat the witch.

I thoroughly enjoyed Moirin’s story! After I finished, I wanted to immediately go back and reread all the books to catch all the clues throughout the series. The story kept me on edge as Moirin & Parky/Fitz visit the creepiest of places searching for the missing Dread Penny members. The romance between Moirin and Fitz was a slow burn delight. I especially enjoyed their witty banter. The Tempest is the perfect villainess and foil to Moirin. She’s deliciously evil and I kept hoping she would finally get her comeuppance. While the story starts off a little slow as all the pieces are put in place, it quickly builds to an exciting conclusion where everything comes full circle and ends with quite a bang!.

This is one series you don’t want to miss! Highly recommend to Miss Scarlet and the Duke or Sherlock Holmes fans. I received an advanced complimentary comply from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

What a conclusion to this clever series! I had been disappointed with the 4th book but looking forward to this 5th and final one because of the big, twisty cliffhanger at the end of the 4th, and this book somewhat redeemed its predecessor and delivered on the promises made. It's difficult to say more than that without spoilers, but suffice it to say that the characters I admired in prior books persevered, sometimes in unexpected ways and not without peril, and I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful and at times unputdownable tale. Even with the sinister tone throughout, it occasionally made me laugh and smile fondly, which is quite a writing feat. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the penny dreadful stories that were, as always, woven throughout the book and that carried similar themes as the main story. My absolute favorite penny dreadful, possibly of the entire 5-book series, was Posie and Pru, Detectives for Hire, which could easily convert to a BBC production in a quaint British village. I would gladly watch every episode. A favorite quote:
"Posie had not, to her knowledge, been acquainted with any murderers. She had, though, read a great many novels. And the murderers in those novels were very sneaky and very selfish and very ... murdery." (Kindle location 1305)
What a delight! I would love to revisit those characters.
For anyone who has read any of the prior Dread Penny Society novels, this final story is not to be missed. For anyone who hasn't ready any yet, start with the first book and work your way through the series, suspend some disbelief at times, and you will enjoy your journey!

Do not read The Queen and the Knave unless you have read the preceding four books in the series. There is no way to feel the full impact of this amazing book unless you have come to know and love the members of the Dread Penny Society.
This book is dreadful and amazing all in one. It opens immediately after the events of the Bachelor and the Bride, and the building suspense don’t really let up until the conclusion.
I love Moirin Donnelly and Fitz Parkington together. The way they grew close in the midst of danger was beautifully done.
I love the Queen and the Knave. It is a beautiful story. Now go out and get ahold of all the books so you will have the Dread Penny Society enlivening your days.
Thanks to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain for the opportunity to review this book.

Picking up where the previous book ended, Moirin Donnelly, the Dread Master, is frantic to save her members from the Tempest and to stop the woman’s reign of terror. But unfortunately for Moirin, it seems like the Tempest is always one step of her and when her members begin to disappear, is clear that she is going to need help. She trusts Constable Fitz Parkington, to an extent, but Moirin has secrets that could destroy her and by association Fitz, so despite the attraction she feels for him, the risk to both of them is too great. But before she can even worry about that, she needs to stop the Tempest before she kills any of her “dreads.

Fitzgerald “Fitz” Parkington, has finally been promoted to the Detective Division of Scotland Yard and hopes that the promotion will enable him to finally find out what happened to his grandfather twenty years ago, who disappeared without a trace and left nine-year-old Fitz all alone and homeless. But before he can even start looking into that matter, he finds himself pulled into the troubles of the DPS and the Tempest. For years he has been helping the members, but recently Moirin has been holding his attention, he knows she is keeping secrets, but he isn’t sure he cares. And if they survive the coming storm, he plans to prove it to her.

This installment of The Dread Penny Society is the climax of the story that has been building since the first book. Personally, I wouldn’t classify this book as a Historical Romance, it is more mystery and historical fiction, with just a hint of a romantic connection between Moirin and Fitz, but that hint is potent, and while the book has a happy ending, I wouldn’t call it a “happily ever after” at least not for Moirin and Fitz as a couple. As with the previous books, there are two Penny Dreadful novellas interwoven into the book and as with the previous books, I skipped over them while reading the story and read them after I finished the book. For me, reading them as they are placed is distracting and breaks the flow of the actual story – but they are delightful additions and are not to be missed! This is the fifth book in the series and I strongly suggest reading the books in order, because they are definitely not standalone titles.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Has there ever been a book that you've been so excited to read that you don't want to read it because then it will be over? That's how I felt about The Queen and the Knave by Sarah M. Eden.

This is the fifth and final book in the Dread Penny Society series. Now that it is complete, if you haven't read them, binge them (on audio!). This series is about a band of people that write Penny Dreadful stories and help fight for the poor and unfortunate in London during the Victorian Era. To be properly understood they need to be read in order.

Once you read the fourth, you will be so glad this one is available immediately. In the Queen and the Knave, we have the culmination of all the previous villains' attempts at crime and learn their end game.

From page one, the reader is immersed in the story and is taken along the wild and crazy ride through all parts of London. While it is suspense-filled, it isn't anything to make one afraid or keep them awake at night. I don't want to say much more in fears of spoiling something. Just know that you'll see everyone and get a well-rounded answer to the questions raised throughout the series.

As I alluded to earlier, if I can recommend something, it would be to listen to these on audio. This is the first book I haven't listened to and I can't wait for the audio to be released, especially since Justine Eyre returns as the narrator. I will definitely be listening to this one!

Full disclosure... The Dread Penny books have the main story of our heroes, but they also contain 2 Penny Dreadful stories mixed in. These usually parallel or foreshadow parts of the main story. I have stopped reading those, so I cannot fully comment on them in this book. In previous books I found their content to be things I didn't wish to read, usually magic or paranormal events. Skipping those chapters didn't decrease my enjoyment of the book.

I thank Shadow Moutain Publishing, Netgalley and Sarah M. Eden for the advanced digital copy of this book. I am happily and voluntarily leaving my honest review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing. All opinions are my own, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Thriller
Heat Level: Sweet
Gore Level: Low
Fun Level: HIGH

One of the things I love the most about this series is that we get to read installments of the penny dreadfuls in addition to the primary mystery/love story.

*THE QUEEN AND THE KNAVE* goes through twists and turns—much the vibe of a Sherlock vs Moriarty story, but instead, it's Móirín vs the Tempest.

Secrets are revealed.
Secrets haunt Móirín and Fitz. I kept wondering if things would work out with them as the love interests when they have so much to keep them apart—including secrets.
The enemy has discovered so many secrets too! And holds some tight.

I've adored this series and will read it again! (That's high praise when there are so many books available.)

Móirín is sassy and fun. Fitz is ready to dish the sass right back at her in delightful banter. The Dread Penny Society is loyal and brave to protect those who have no one. Even if they're not entirely lawful at times. So, in addition to a Sherlock Holmes vibe, this series has a Robin Hood vibe going on too.

It's absolutely delightful from beginning to end.
I highly recommend it!

Happy reading!