This was a delightful tale to read. I enjoyed the banter between characters Brogan and Vera and hope for more of an attraction. I learned much about the penny dreadfuls and think this is a very unique series.
Many thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Merchant and the Rouge is Sarah M. Eden’s newest installment in her Dread Penny Society series! It’s a Victorian Era romance and mystery story following a dashing Irish writer and rogue and a thoughtful, driven Printmaker’s daughter. It’s a story of suspense and mystery and love and secrets, all tied together with Sarah M. Eden's stunning writing and storytelling style!

This book is a lot of fun! Sarah makes you instantly fall in love with the characters and root for them the whole way through! The way she weaves together elements of history from the language to the fashion to the general setting is absolutely masterful, and makes for a truly immersive writing experience!

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, mystery, romance, or any combination of the three, I HIGHLY recommend you check out this book! And even if you’re not, this book is an excellent option to dip your toes in and see if this genre is for you!

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and this is my freely given review.

I was a bit slow starting to read this, not because of the book itself, but because I have not read the two preceding books in the series. On saying that, it was not because I did not want to read them; they just got pushed down my to-read list as other things took up my interest.

I have always enjoyed previous Sarah M. Eden's books as she does write with lovely thoughtful prose, and really develops wonderful, realistic characters with depth, and sweetness, as well as beautiful relationships.

I felt that was the case here. Both Brogan and Vera were two people living in London, of the working class and from immigrant background who felt alone and did not quite fit, but also from difficult backgrounds. Right there, I felt connected to them. I loved their connections with their family - loving, but awkward for various reasons. I loved their relationships with their friends and community, and I loved their developing relationship with each other. I also connected strongly with their sense of self; what they see of themselves is so much less than the strength and ability that others saw in them, and it was lovely to read about how they brought out the strengths of each other.

I felt this was a mystery and adventure, but was really caught by the connections between the people and the warmth of regard, such as Vera's feelings for the urchins and care for them, such a contrast to her feelings of loneliness.

Initially I found it a bit hard going, when I realized that Ms. Eden also added in chapters of the penny dreadful serials in the novel. Rather than one story, you really were reading three stories woven into each other. But as I went along, I was caught in those other stories as well, especially the one written by Mr. King, and how it mirrored the main novel. This was quite an interesting and ultimately a device that I was utterly charmed by.

While I did not (yet) read the previous two novels, I felt that I followed along the story here quite well. While there were obviously references to characters and events in the past, and a story line that spans the past and implies more in the future, it still felt that this story could be read independent of the others.

So ultimately, as I have found in the past with her other novels, I am utterly charmed by the story (stories) Ms. Eden presented, and her lovely character and relationship development. At some point I will make sure that I read the first two books in the series, and look forward to the future works too, as there must be a reckoning at some point with the villains of the piece.

Also, I am very curious as to the futures of Stone and Moirin; two very strong and intriguing characters, and how things turn out for Serena. I certainly would not object to seeing more of the various urchins too.

Another lovely addition to this series. I appreciated that the characters went from feeling ho-hum ordinary on their own to discovering their inner strengths/abilities when they worked together. Tension ramps up with this series' villains, and hints at things to come are scattered throughout. You'll definitely want to read the previous books before reading this one or you'll be lost. As in previous books, chapters are split with bits of the Penny Dreadful stories, two bonus stories I also enjoyed.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

“Heroes come in a lot of forms, Brogan. Be the one you are best suited to being.”

This was such a fun read from beginning to end. Danger. Adventure. Intrigue. Mystery. Romance. The Merchant and the Rogue by Sarah M. Eden delivers each of these elements, along with dashes of grin-inducing humor, snippets of penny dreadfuls (interspersed with the ‘real’ story, though the parallels between them were not lost on this reader), snappy dialogue, and fantastic characters.

Brogan and Vera have neither one had the easiest lives, making them a bit more rough around the edges than your typical romance protagonists. A stylistic choice, I might add, that I loved. Both characters intrigued me right away, and I quickly fell in love with each of them. Between Brogan’s Irish brogue and Vera’s South London vernacular (not to mention some American & Russian accents also in play), there is lots of great dialogue to sink into and smile at. In fact, from the first line – “If laughter truly were the best medicine, Brogan Donnelly would have been the healthiest Irishman in all of England.” – I was hooked on the author’s writing voice and remained fully captivated by the story that unfolded from there. I’ve read other books by this author and enjoyed them readily enough, but this one stands out above the rest. And while I haven’t read the first two books in this series, the author catches readers up in such a way as to keep us from feeling lost & without an info dump in sight. (I will be reading these first two novels post haste, I can assure you.)

Brogan Donnelly might be the one who is a part of a secret group of ‘vigilante, do-good authors’ of penny dreadfuls, but Vera Sorokina is not someone to overlook. Neither is Brogan’s sister Moirin, whom I suspect is part of some intrigue of her own. Both ladies exhibited both great compassion and great courage, and I loved the balance of strength and vulnerability that Eden gave not only them but Brogan as well.

Bottom Line: Smart writing, witty conversation, and several people who are more than what they seem add layers and heart to this engrossing tale, tying up just enough loose ends to satisfy readers but also insuring they will be eagerly waiting word of book 4. A great way to spend your weekend!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

Brogan Donnelly, a successful writer of penny dreadfuls and a member of the secretive Dread Penny Society, an organisation that fights crime and helps those in need, is asked to resign from the society to undertake a solo mission. The Russian ambassador has recently requested more security and it is Brogan's assignment to discover if the Russian owner of the Sorokin Print Shop, seen hanging around the embassy, is the cause. Brogan agrees, but believes he doesn't have the ability to go it alone, preferring to work within a group where someone else leads.

Fortuitously, the same printing shop he has been asked to investigate is hiring. Brogan gets the job, although he must do so under an assumed name when he learns that Vera Sorokina and her father distrust writers and also sell penny dreadfuls in the shop, including his current one.

Brogan enjoys working in the shop and the company of Vera. They are like minded and begin to form a close friendship, although he feels guilty at his deception.

Nothing untoward happens in the shop until notes are served on Vera and other shopkeepers from 'The Protector'. These initial notes are the precursor to a protection racket that brings violence and fear to their street. Vera is determined to put a stop to it and rallies the other shopkeepers to fight back.

Events take a down hill turn when Vera discovers who Brogan really is, which leads to her also discovering what her father has been hiding.

The Merchant and the Rogue is a delightful mystery romance, with a very lovable hero who has a not too rosy past, and a heroine with a life built around a lie. The romance between Vera and Brogan is sweet and heartwarming as expected.

There are street urchins with charming names (Licorice, Burning Ricky and Bob's Your Knuckle), villains: the Mastiff, and his henchman, Four-Fingers Mike, and a host of other minor characters that add colour to this captivating story.

There is an added bonus for readers as contained within Brogan and Vera's story are installments of two penny dreadfuls, The Dead Zoo written by Brogan, and The Merchant and the Rogue by Mr. King, another writer who first appears in the first novel of the series The Lady and the Highwayman. The Dead Zoo is spine chillingly good.

I've not read any of the other novels in this series, but I'd like to after the enjoyable and entertaining experience had with The Merchant and the Rogue.

Sarah Eden was one of the first regency romance authors I picked up, so I’m always interested in what she’s putting out into the world.

This is the third installment of The Penny Dreadful series and while technically you can read these as stand-alones they are more cohesive read in order...especially when it comes to the underlying mystery in the plot.

This book is a bit of romance, found family, and mystery. These books are 75% main plot and 25% Penny Dreadful stories written by the characters themselves which make these books multiple stories in one!

They are always fun and Sarah is the queen of historical research so they always feel well rounded and immersive! Thank you to the publisher for my advanced copy! The opinions are all my own

This book was another delightful addition to The Dread Penny Society series. Brogan is a wonderful hero who doesn't believe himself to be a hero, which makes him all the more sweet. And Vera was introduced as a new character and quickly stole the show. Their desire to help people brings them together as they fight off "the Protector" and his supposed assistance. I enjoyed being back with the Dread Penny Society and also liked the two Penny Dreadful stories that were a part of this book. However, I will say I did think the ending was really rushed. So much led up to the ending and I would have taken less build up and more about the final scenes. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story and can't wait for the next one!

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the eARC!

This is the third book in the Dread Penny Society series. I thought it was fun to briefly revisit characters from previous books, but this can also be read on its own. There is clearly another book to follow this one because a lot of loose ends are left hanging.

Brogan Donnelly, an author of Penny Dreadfuls, gets a job working for Vera under the name Ganor O’Donnell in order to secretly investigate a potential criminal situation. He is kind toward street urchins and helps them find work and avoid harm. Moirin his sister is tough and smart. Vera Sorokina’s family runs a print shop that sells Penny Dreadfuls. Her papa doesn’t trust writers and says it is because he had to flee Russia due to a group of revolutionary writers that betrayed him. “The Protector” claims to protect businesses for a price, but in reality they’re being extorted. If they don’t pay, their shop could go up in flames, or worse.

Like the previous books in the series, two short stories meant to resemble Penny Dreadfuls are interspersed throughout the book:

The Dead Zoo by Brogan Donnelly – Amos Cavey has a reputation for intelligence and is hired to solve a string of thefts from a museum full of preserved animals.

The Merchant and the Rogue (same title) by Mr. King – Tallulah O’Doyle is new to town and runs a confectionery shop. Mr. Clancy Carman, the local squire, gets away with regularly cheating businesses because everyone is afraid of him until Tallulah arrives and can see him for what he is. Royston Prescott, a successful haberdasher and a rogue, befriends and helps Tallulah.

Both of the short stories are more macabre than those earlier in the series, but that is true of the real Penny Dreadfuls. Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC to use for my review.

The Merchant and the Rogue is a delightful novel full of intrigue and excitement. Sarah Eden penned an incredible book here. Each character has special qualities that make them loveable yet dangerous.

Brogan Donnelly is a member of the secret Penny Dreadful Society. This society requires members to lie to loved ones about the work they do there. Brogan doesn’t want to lie anymore, so he calls for a change. However, the Dread Master has other plans for Brogan. These plans put him in the path of Vera Sorokina. Vera is a lovely shopgirl who loves reading the penny dreadful stories. Unfortunately, Brogan needs to take on a false name and lie to Vera, even though he falls for her more each day. But, Brogan has to maintain his anonymity due to a crime ring threatening the citizens of London. Not even the aristocracy is safe. Will Brogan and Vera find their happy ending, or will Brogan have gone too far and pushed Vera away forever?

I adore Brogan Donnelly. He brings life to the page, and even though he is in a pretty deep hole, he still maintains his charm. The love he feels for Vera made me smile so hard that my jaws ached. Vera is as charming as Brogan. Her enjoyment of the illicit penny dreadfuls made me fall for her like Brogan did. Vera is witty, bright, and altogether tough as nails. These two made my heart pitter-patter. And, I want you all to know I didn’t shed one single tear.

This book is very lighthearted, even with the dangerous happenings around the city. Brogan and Vera live to make the other smile, and that, my friends, was what I needed. I knew early on that Vera’s father had his fingers in some treacherous pies. But finding out what they were, made the reveal so much fun. Eden turns those adorable street urchins into full-fledged characters in their own right. Olly and Licorice bantering back and forth like siblings made me laugh so hard. I couldn’t get enough of every character in this novel.

Now that I know this is a series, I will be reading the other two novels before this one. Though, while reading, I had no idea that others existed. So, The Merchant and the Rogue works as a stand-alone mystery. But, now that I’ve read this one, I have a hunch who the main characters in the second book are, but the first book stumps me. I have a slight hunch, so I will have to read it to find out.

It pleases me to no end to award The Merchant and the Rogue a full 5 out of 5 stars. I can’t recommend this book enough. Also, this book contains a couple of the penny dreadful stories, so you get three tales in one. However, I admit to my ignorance of the phenomenon. I thought that these stories were true crime tales. So, when I read the penny dreadful stories included here, the content flabbergasted me. Give this one a read. I think you will love it.

"I have enjoyed these stories in the Dread Penny Society series very much!

Just as in the other stories of the series, The Merchant and the Rogue is three stories in one. Two of them penny dreadfuls in their entirety. The author of one of them, Brogan Donnelly, is the hero. And what a hero he is!

Brogan is so kind and loves fiercely. He and his sister, Móirín, promised their parents before their death to always take care of each other which made him protective of her, knitting them together tightly. Living on the streets of Dublin with her as his only family made him tough. Fleeing to London to escape the police made them fugitives.

I loved the way Brogan was so comfortable in his role as a foot soldier (as he described himself.) He had no desire to be a leader and, in fact, didn't feel he was capable of it. This exceptional talent of serving opened the door and uniquely fitted for the role selected for him by the Dread Master.

Shrouded in mystery, this delightful story also had a touch of the supernatural due to the dreadful shared in its pages. Brogan's story was a bit creepy - but not so much as to make me uncomfortable or give me nightmares - at least it hasn't so far...

Readers who enjoy romance and adventure shrouded in mystery will not want to miss The Merchant and the Rogue or any of the stories in the Dread Penny Society series. Be sure to read them in order, to get the entire thread of the story. I'm hoping that Móirín's story will be next...


I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own."

I am so happy that I was able to read this and not feet totally confused, since it is the third and last book in the series. I definitely want to go back and read the first ones, because it was surprisingly good.

I enojyed the setting of this novel, it felt very gritty and realistic. And the characters were easy to love. It's very easy to get into the book and get caught up in the mysteries of the story. But I also have to admit that I was really annoyed and bored with all of the interludes of the penny dreadful stories. I did notice parallels, but it annoyed me so much as I was reading the book. I definitely preferred the actual plot of Vera and Brogan to all of those interludes, I'm not sure they added much to my experience and that's why I'm giving the book 3 stars, despite the fact that I really enojyed the main plot and liked the characters and their relationships and secrets.

3 1/2 rounded up.

I don't know what it is about these books that make them so endearing, but that's the word that always comes to mind whenever I think about them. I always look forward to the next installment and this one was very enjoyable.

Vera works in a little book/print shop in town with her father. They are from Russia, but she does not remember much from their time there. Vera loves to share her love of reading with her customers, especially the Penny Dreadfuls.

Brogan is a member of the DPS, but feels guilty for always lying to his sister about that connection to the society. When given a special, undercover mission, he jumps at the chance. When that mission sends him to Vera's family shop, he never could have expected to come to appreciate her and those she served.

The Penny Dreadful stories were fun- with fun twists at the end. Especially the Dead Zoo. That was very clever. Overall not as good as the first, but I still enjoyed the ride.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Merchant and the Rogue is the third installment of the Dread Penny Society Series by Sarah M. Eden. The series is unique in the formatting, there are Penny Dreadful novels interspersed throughout the books. These adds to the fun of this cozy mystery series. I do suggest reading the series in order, although each book centers on different characters from The Dread Penny Society, the series is building each character and their history.

This installment has us learning more about Brogan Donnelly and his sister. Brogan is tasked with finding out what has the Russian ambassador on edge. He finds himself working in a print shop that sells Penny Dreadfuls. He also finds that this runs much deeper than just the ambassador. Once again the nemesis Four Finger Mike and The Mastiff are involved. Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me to give my honest and voluntary opinion of #TheMerchantAndTheRogue.

Brogan prizes his membership of the Dread Penny Society, but is convinced that he's only a 'foot soldier', not a leader. When the secret leader of the society asks him to pretend to resign so that he can take up a special case untrammelled, he agrees reluctantly, uncertain of his abilities and knowing that he will lose his friends. But when the case brings him to work for Vera in a print shop, a bright side appears. Then incidents begin to occur in the neighbourhood, threatening all shop owners. Are the threats related to the case Brogan is meant to be investigating? And if they all band together, can they beat the threat, or will 'The Protector' be too strong for them?

This is the first Dread Penny Society story I've read, but I definitely hope to read more. The story itself was amazing in so many ways, but I also loved the way that two 'penny dreadfuls' were woven in. The mystery is well managed - it's clear that there have been previous stories but I didn't feel lost from not having read them (though I'd love to go back and do so now) - and has some good suspense. I particularly liked the way that everyone banded together to meet the menace, as well as Brogan's loyalty to those he cared for. In fact, the way that Brogan developed over the course of the story was great to watch (okay, I liked Vera too). All in all, a great story, clean and very well written. I look forward to reading more by the author in future and highly recommend this book.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Excellent book! Sarah has penned a delightful third installment of this most entertaining series. Vera and Brogan create such a fun chemistry as they work together. The Penny Dreadfuls and the reappearance of other characters provided so much enjoyment. This is a lighthearted romance with a touch of mystery and intrigue. It was just fun to read and lose myself in London while the villain was sought after.

I received a complimentary copy, with thanks, from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own and freely given.

The Merchant and the Rogue is well written, and I especially liked the way the romance was set up. I was not aware, before reading this that it was the third book in the series, so I will definitely have to go back and read the first 2. I also liked the "Penny Dreadful" stories that were interspersed through the text, as well, but they did slow down the main plot.

First sentence: If laughter truly were the best medicine, Brogan Donnelly would have been the healthiest Irishman in all of England. Jests came as easy to him as breathing, and that was more-or-less all anyone knew of him. He preferred it that way.

Premise/plot: The Merchant and The Rogue is the third in Sarah M. Eden's Dread Penny Society historical romance series. Each title focuses on a particular member of the Dread Penny Society. (Characters from other books do make appearances.) This third title focuses on Brogan Donnelly. He's hard at work UNDERCOVER investigating a case surrounding Russian immigrants--it's a political case. His undercover work brings him into close contact with Vera Sorokina and her father--who owns and operates a print/book shop. Vera loves, loves, loves to sell penny dreadfuls. She has no idea she has just hired someone who writes penny dreadfuls.

There are at least two (maybe up to three) sub-stories that add mystery, suspense, and danger to the novel. Some of these stories--or rather their villains--have carried over from previous books.

In addition to the main story--a romance between Vera and Brogan--there are two penny dreadfuls shared throughout. One being The Merchant and the Rogue and the other being The Dead Zoo.

My thoughts: The Merchant and the Rogue was a BUSY novel. I would almost recommend reading all three books in the series close together so that they stay fresh in your mind. I would also recommend reading this one is as few sittings as possible. I think if I could have found the time to read it in one to two sittings, I would have enjoyed it more. As a romance it worked for me. I just think I lost some of the mystery/suspense elements by taking two weeks to read it! It was especially hard--and this is all on me--to keep up with the penny dreadful sections. But the last third of the book I read all at once, and I did find myself swept up in the story. That's why I think it's mostly my fault.

I do recommend the series. This wasn't my favorite and best from the series. But again I think that might have been a timing issue. My advice is to read this one when you're in the just right mood for it. Perhaps one day--maybe before the fourth installment releases--I'll treat myself to a reread of all three books!

I was immediately drawn to this novel because of it's Victorian London setting and the intriguing Dread Penny Society. I loved both these elements in this story!

The ways that Eden mixes stories and settings are unique and captivating. I loved the format of the book with the excerpts from "real" Penny Dreadfuls by some of the characters in the book. We get invested in not just one story but three. And I found myself looking for similarities between them all. I have read a lot of books set in historical London. But this one felt different. It focuses so much on the difficulties of the poor people in London and the evil people that take advantage of that poverty. I know that Charles Dickens was a champion of the poor and often wrote about their difficulties and the unfairness of their situations. Somehow this felt different to me. To actually read about criminals blackmailing honest shop keepers and the plights of the people Brogan and his sister help was very intense and interesting. I appreciated the depth of the story and the serious issues woven into this love story. Yet at the end of the novel, I didn't feel like things were all sorted out. In fact, it felt the opposite with criminals on the loose and physical recoveries just beginning. People hiding and thieving and sorting out a bigger threat. It very much feels like part of a larger story in the series.

Vera and Brogan were surprising protagonists, and I enjoyed their strengths and determination. Vera is immediately likable for his bookish tastes and kindness to street urchins. I appreciated her loyalty to her father and her understanding of how to fight for what you believe in. Brogan was also an endearing character. He is always thinking of himself as a follower rather than a leader. But his genuine kindness to those less fortunate and his fierce loyalty to his sister show his true character. I love when his sister tells him to be the kind of leader he was meant to be. He spends a lot of time thinking he should be like others when his strengths come in his own unique traits. That was frustrating sometimes. But I enjoyed how Vera and Brogan bond over their shared refugee state and their longings for homes lost to them. They complement each other so beautifully.

Their love story is a slow burning and comforting romance. It begins with a genuine friendship that turns into something more. It takes some time to develop but once they start to fall in love, they fall fast. I loved how protective Brogan is of her and how she is the only person he will leave his sister to help. I loved their shared smiles across the store. And the intimate moments at his flat. I loved how they are often arm in arm as they walk from place to place. And how they tell each other memories, fears, and hopes that they tell no one else. I think my favorite moment is when Brogan finally understands what Vera means to him. And he leaves everything to save her. Despite everything that would keep them apart, Brogan and Vera find a way to be together. A beautiful love story!

I enjoyed this Victorian Era novel about the Dread Penny Society. While the details were interesting, it did take me over half the book to really get invested in the story. Perhaps it was the slow story line or the jumping from story to story. But I just couldn't get into it for a while. That said, once I was invested in the story, I devoured the last part of the book. What an action packed and intense ending!

Overall, I liked this book enough to read the others in the series. It would be fun to learn more about some characters only briefly playing a role in this one. I love the premise of this series and especially the Victorian setting.

This new Victorian romance is a sweet love story full of mystery, suspense, and, yes, rogues!

The Merchant and the Rogue is a charming, light-hearted read harkening back to the days of 19th-century sensation fiction and penny dreadfuls. It’s full of heroes who may or may not be rogues, damsels who may be in distress but can help themselves, mystery, swoony romances, and adventure. It’s for all these reasons I absolutely loved the book.

You also get three stories in one: The main story plus two bonus penny dreadfuls written by characters from the novel.

The historical romance is the latest from best-selling author Sarah M. Eden and is book three in the Dread Penny Society series (Books one and two are The Lady and the Highwayman and The Gentleman and the Thief). It can be read as a standalone, though – especially if you’re reading it from a romance angle.

However, the overarching mystery arc (aka the Big Bad) may require you to read the rest of the series to give it a complete feel. So, you can read this novel without reading any of the others, but if it hooks you, there is much more of the series to enjoy with new characters and love stories.

OVERALL THOUGHTS ON THE MERCHANT AND THE ROGUE:

Overall, if you’re in the mood for a fun escapist read, you can’t go wrong with The Merchant and the Rogue. Eden weaves an engaging, enjoyable tale that will keep you hooked from start to finish with fabulous characters (especially the heroic Brogan!), a memorable romance, a good mystery, and more.

Ultimately, it’s the perfect book to round out the summer with just the right amount of comfort. And I look forward to the next chapter in the Dread Penny Society series.

ADAPTATION RECOMMENDATION:

More than The Merchant and the Rogue, the Dread Penny Society book series would make for a fabulous television series full of adventure, romance, mystery, and action. Think Bridgerton with a new main story and couple each season but much more chaste.

Content Note: The Merchant and the Rogue is a wholesome read.