Brogan, Brogan. There’s so much to say for this handsome Irish gentleman. I have to say, I’ve read almost every one of Sarah Eden’s books and every time she writes an Irish character, they quickly become one of my favorites. I can feel the love that she invests into these characters and they’re incredibly endearing.
If you’ve read the other books in the Dread Penny Society series, you know how these stories work with little mini stories written throughout. It’s part of a series, but definitely can be read as a standalone novel.
This one is my favorite out of the three we’ve been given. It has the adventure that the other three have, the mini stories, the romance, and a little mystery. But there’s something about these characters and their story that really stand out amongst the others.
Brogan is incredibly generous and selfless to his friends and community, but he also lacks a certain confidence in some ways. He struggles once he leaves the DPS and I can really feel his struggle. When you see all your other friends together and you don’t feel like you belong, oh Brogan, I understand.
Just knowing that this was written by Sarah M Eden should draw a person into this story. She’s a master at her craft and one I’ll be sure to come back and buy every release she has.

I was given an ARC in exchange for a review, these are all my feelings towards this lovely story.

Brogan, under orders from the Dread Master, leaves the dread penny society and goes undercover as a shop clerk in a russian print shop. After a string of mysterious mishaps, including a peculiar protection tax, Brogan and the shop's owner's daughter Vera, must work together to find out why.

I really liked Vera. She was a plunky character. I also really liked the glimpse into Victorian London and the vast varieties of immigrants. I tend to forget that it wasn't just white British, but Africans, Russians, Turks, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, all manners of people in London during the 19th century. Eden does a great job reminding me of that.

Brogan's background is more explained, as well as Moirin's, his very sassy sister, who I adore and hope we get to see more of/get her own book.

Their romance is slow steady and organic. Sweet and supportive.

The plot was intricate but not very memorable.

I enjoyed it, so it's 4.5 stars.

What I Loved:

Brogan and Moirin. I am a sucker for a good Irish character, especially a famine-era one. Brogan and Moirin faced incomparable odds, survived, and now are struggling to build a life for themselves in England. They always have each other’s back, even when Moirin knows Brogan is hiding something (*cough* the Dread Penny Society) and when Brogan wants for both of them to fulfill their own happiness. This is the kind of sibling bond we all aspire to. I also love that Moirin is as much of a badass, if not more, than her brother.

The Immigrant History. One of the best parts of reading historical fiction is the actual history. While some historical fiction books don’t really delve too deep, what I love about Sarah Eden is her ability to bring in the best and worst of Victorian London, especially the seedier underbelly. What was new about Merchant from the other books in the series is that it delves into the immigrant history of London. Vera, our kind and brave protagonist, is a Russian immigrant with a unique background: her family fled from Russia, and now her and her father run a print shop and struggle to make ends meet. Brogan fled Ireland under similarly unsavory circumstances after surviving the Famine as a child, and is now a writer of middling success. Both Brogan and Vera are immigrants and outsiders to a certain extent, and it is fascinating seeing London through their eyes.

What Didn’t Work as Well:

The Penny Dreadfuls. This is a common complaint of mine, but the Penny Dreadfuls, while delightful, are awkwardly placed and distract from the main plotline. I actually really enjoyed both of the Dreadfuls in Merchant (Brogan’s “Dead Zoo,” and King’s “Merchant and the Rogue”) and thought they added value. However, the books and the series overall would have benefitted having the stories at the end as bonus content, instead of jumping in at tense moments in the main plot.

The (Lack of) Plot Development. On the one hand, Merchant did have a great move inside the Dread Penny Society. On the other hand, the main villain in the series is still not caught despite a near-grab, and the overarching villainy is no closer to being discovered. The evil mastermind seems to have his hand in all criminal pies: child slavery/exploitation, racketeering, gambling, mob protection, etc. But Merchant felt like a continuation of the same thread, without making the reader feel like we are any closer to a satisfying end. I don’t want the series to end, but a little more advancement in the general plotline would help.

The Merchant and the Rogue is the third book in Sarah M. Eden's delightful series The Dread Penny Society. You don't have to read these in order to understand the series, but I highly recommend reading them in order anyway. You will not want to miss one moment of storyline, the Penny Dreadful stories intertwined with the current story, and characters from previous novels who make their appearances here, too. It's all "dread"ful good fun!

Brogan Donnelly and his sister escaped from life in Dublin and now live in London, though it doesn't feel like home. He has a career as a writer of penny dreadfuls; he is also a loyal footsoldier in the secretive and philanthropic Dread Penny Society. But suddenly Brogan is given a special mission, one his fellow Society members can know nothing about. It involves danger to the Russian ambassador, and Brogan finds the perfect "in" to the Russian community - he applies for work at the book and print shop Vera Sorokina runs with her father. Vera loves reading penny dreadfuls when she's not working or helping the young street urchins in her neighborhood. Brogan (or " Ganor", the name he gives to Vera), and Vera quickly feel the pull between them, but there are some worrying issues: Is Vera or her father involved with the danger to the ambassador? What's going on and who's behind the protection racket that's burgeoning in Vera's close little neighborhood? And perhaps most importantly, what's going to happen when Vera, who greatly distrusts writers, finds out the man with whom she is falling in love is actually a writer of her beloved penny dreadfuls?

This series has quickly become one of my all-time favorites! The heroes and heroines in this series are quite a diverse bunch. I love romances with lords and ladies as much as the next person; however, here we have a woman who runs a book and print shop and has to work for a living, and a man who writes penny dreadfuls. Vera and Brogan are such caring people who do their best to help the needy in the neighborhood. Brogan is a particular favorite of mine. He doesn't feel the need to be in charge and is happy being a "footsoldier"; it appears here, though, that he should place more value on himself. Vera was popular in the neighborhood and a natural born leader. When she began to organize the neighbors to fight the protection racket, Brogan stepped back and didn't try to take over; instead, he let her shine. The love and affection between the two was evidenced by hand-holding, kisses and gentle touches. This author doesn't find it necessary to throw graphic sex at you. I enjoy it in some of my stories, but here it's not missed; it's more about emotions. As in previous novels, penny dreadful stories are woven throughout the main story. My favorite here was Brogan's The Dead Zoo; it was creepy and oh-so-fun! We were reunited with characters from previous novels, which was a joy. I hope Ms. Eden has plans for a book for Brogan's intriguing sister Moirin. Please?!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A Russian heroine and an Irish hero. It’s like I created this myself from a dream I had about Cillian Murphy lol. The fact that the book is also by a Sarah…it’s too much! I love it!


But let’s get to the story!

It all starts with Vera Sorokina who, along with her father, work at their book and print shop in London. She loves reading Penny Dreadfuls and purposely has them in the shop despite her father’s disapproval. She sells them to make money, because she loves them, and because they bring in the poor and homeless children of London into the store. She loves to talk to and sometimes help them if she can. It’s through the store that she meets Brogan Donnelly.

Although, to her, thats not his name. Brogan gets a job at the store as a cover for his undercover work for the Dread Penny Society. But being undercover isn’t the only reason he needs a fake name. Vera and her father are extremely mistrustful of writers (ok, valid lol) and if they identify him as the writer of Penny Dreadfuls, he won’t get very far in his investigation.

As for what he’s investigating…well, apparently, Vera’s father might have something to do with criminal activities and a possible conspiracy. The leader of the Society has tasked Brogan to do find out what’s going on. Brogan cannot for the life of him figure out why he got the job and hot one of his friends.

But he soon finds his footing at the print shop in no small part because of Vera’s fierceness and they become quite close.

Unfortunately, trouble comes to the neighborhood and not the kind Brogan was expecting. A gang is offering “protection” to the businesses in the neighborhood for a small fee. But when they come looking for more money and some stores can’t pay, they destroy those businesses. Stores are ransacked and lit on fire. The whole neighborhood soon becomes nervous and afraid of losing their livelihoods.

That’s when Vera and Brogan team up to do something about it.

Through these struggles (or maybe because of them), they get even closer, but Brogan is still keeping a secret and it’s only a matter of time before it comes out. Vera…is less than pleased.

I really enjoyed this story. Vera and Brogan are such good characters and I loved them separately as well as together. They’re both fighters with pasts they rather not speak about and damn, they just work together so well! Whether they’re in the shop, trying to find the perpetrator of the violence, or as partners in love, they have each other’s backs.

I also REALLY enjoyed the supporting characters. I read the second book in the series, The Gentleman and the Thief last year, so I knew some of Brogan’s friends and Ana from Book 2. It was wonderful to see them back, but I was most excited to see Brogan’s sister, Moirin. She is an absolute snark queen and an ultimate badass. Learning her and Brogan’s history was THE BEST. I’m hoping Moirin gets her own book soon. I think I know who her romantic interest would be based on hints in this book but….you never know.

I also loved all the kids that came into the shop. They were hilarious and stubborn and I really liked that neither Brogan or Vera talked down to them. They were respected as their own people and it was good to see.

OH, I almost forgot about the other story! Something Sarah M. Eden has done in each book in this series is mix in an actual Penny Dreadful in between the chapters about the characters. The story she weaved into this one is SO GOOD. It’s like a zoo/museum story and let’s just say, the animals aren’t what they seem.

The Merchant and the Rogue is such a fun, romantic, and thrilling story. If you love romances with a bit of suspense and mystery, you will LOVE this book. Definitely recommend!

The Merchant and the Rogue by Sarah M. Eden is available now!

The Merchant and the Rogue (The Dread Penny Society Book 3), by Sarah M. Eden -- A Review

From the desk of Katie Patchell

Thanks to Charles Dickens’ vivid imagination and keen eye for the overlooked, Victorian England’s readers met paupers and rag-sellers, prostitutes and orphans. Many other authors followed his example in showing the light, the darkness, and everything in between, that are a very real part of our world. John Thornton, Dorothea Brooks, Helen Huntingdon, and more came to life alongside Oliver Twist; each fighting for truth, justice, and hope in a hard world. Sarah M. Eden’s latest in “The Dread Penny Society” series, The Merchant and the Rogue, is set in the city of Dickens: the mad, bustling, glittering, foul, terrible, great streets of 19th century London. Like the Victorian classics, it shines a light on the individuals who are not wealthy or aristocratic, and like the dread-penny novels of the time, it does this with plenty of flair, humor, and mystery.

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 about him. He preferred it that way. - Chapter 1, Location 59

Brogan Donnelly and his sister share a dark history from their past in Ireland, one that--hopefully--no one knows in their new city of London. This isn’t the only secret he keeps. Brogan is both an author of penny dreadfuls and a member of an altruistic secret society of fellow authors. When tasked to pretend to leave the society that he loves to take the lead on a dangerous mission, Brogan has no choice but to add this to his bounty of secrets. Alongside the constant risks of an undercover operative, Brogan is surprised to find himself finally feeling at home in his new life as never before. The only problem? He has become drawn to a woman he most definitely shouldn’t: Vera Sorokina, the daughter of the man he suspects of treason.

Vera Sorokina loves books, especially penny dreadfuls. Unfortunately, her father despises them and all authors. For her entire life, Vera has listened to his mutters about a mysterious group of Russian dissidents; because of them and their writings, her family had to flee to England. On meeting the charming Brogan Donnelly (although not under that name), Vera is surprised by the realization that in him, she may have met a true friend…and maybe something more.

Threats to their lives and the lives of their friends arrive in the form of the mysterious Protector; an unknown villain intent on destroying businesses and livelihoods. As Vera and Brogan band together to protect those they love, they must navigate layer upon layer of the secrets they have built their new identities on. With lies all around them, the truths of their past and present are the key to survival; that is, if they reveal everything before the Protector makes his final move.

“There’s strength in numbers,” he added. Strength, yes. But also chaos. Sooner or later the gale force winds would whip into the tempest they’d been warned of. What if they weren’t ready for it? - Chapter 24, Location 3464

I read and reviewed each of the earlier titles in “The Dread Penny Society” series for Austenprose.com in 2020. The premise of a justice-oriented secret society formed by penny dreadful authors was always intriguing, but never wholly captured my attention...until this latest addition to the series. The Merchant and the Rogue’s intrigue is satisfyingly complicated in all the right ways and the romance is realistic yet soul-stirringly beautiful. This book is easily in my top five reads of the year.

As for the characters, Brogan and Vera were ones I want to meet with again and again. Not only do they represent countries not often seen in Victorian fiction (Ireland and Russia), but the topic of the immigrant experience in Victorian England, London, was fascinating to read. The details Eden shared about their experiences show that she’s spent time researching this period and what it was like to be an immigrant in that era. Vera--our heroine--is no shrinking violet. Her bravery, passion for those around her, and strength of purpose is inspiring. Brogan’s past in Dublin, relationship with his sister, Moirin, and happiness to play the role of the sidekick in The Dread Penny Society all combine to give him a page-turning arc and the status of a hero in my books (even if he would disagree). Vera and Brogan’s connection cracked and sparked until I could feel it through my Kindle app. What began as shared goals and a mutual understanding of being called “the outsider” grew into a deep respect and love.

The only thing that detracted from my read of The Merchant and the Rogue is one I also experienced in the previous books. For a reason I still cannot fathom, Eden has made the choice in each book to include entire chapters of multiple characters’ penny-dreadful stories. Maybe they exist to foreshadow a future scene or maybe they exist as Eden’s short story-writing outlet. Frankly, I couldn’t care less about these characters’ own works of fiction--I was here to read about their lives, not the lives of their especially fictional characters. As these chapters appeared frequently and distracted me from the plot, I would have taken a star off of my rating for this. However, The Merchant and the Rogue was a phenomenal read otherwise; its plot, writing, and characters deserve every star in this five-star rating.

As a tale of suspense and mystery, The Merchant and the Rogue captured this reader’s attention with every new clue and revelation. As a story of love and hope, this novel is the book equivalent of a warm hug. As a fictional window into the world of Victorian London, Sarah M. Eden’s latest publication is unparalleled. With shadowy villains and a diverse cast of equally shadowy heroes, The Merchant and the Rogue is the perfect tale to make each reader look at the world with more bravery, compassion, and determination to make a difference.

5 Stars

The Merchant and the Rogue was a unique tale. It is book three in the Dread Penny Society series and I had not read the first two books. It took me awhile to understand and follow who this group was and what they did.

I liked the feel of the story and the way the author interspersed two Penny Dreadful stories all the way through the book. I found the stories spooky and clever and they added to the feel of the time period.

I liked Brogan and Vera, although I did not really connect to them emotionally or notice much chemistry between them until very late in the book. I was definitely wanting them to find a way to work things out together for a happy ending, yet, I just wasn’t extremely invested in them.

(3.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Merchant and the Rogue by Sarah M. Eden wins my award for book with the most highlights. When I say there is so much to love about this story, I mean it! I’ve heartily enjoyed each novel in this series, but book #3 is my favorite. I found the plot wonderful and totally engaging. The characters are excellently crafted. It was fun getting to see many of the characters I grew to love in previous installments in The Merchant and the Rogue, and I really fell for the new characters, especially the children, Olly and Licorice. The relationship and romance that grows between Vera and Brogan are very realistic and relatable, and I felt it grew at a good pace. I also REALLY loved the many, many timely themes discussed in this story. As I said above, I highlighted this book like crazy. As much as I feel this book can be read and loved by anyone, I think it would really make a great book-club choice. It would lend to some good conversations.

Of the many, many wonderful topics discussed in this book my favorite is the idea of taking a stand against evil. Of the three stories told in this book, two of them deal with a very, very “bad” guy. In the main story, it’s actually a cabal — a group so heinous they are able to manipulate and threaten community members, friends, and family against fellow community members, friends, and family. In the penny dreadful, the main character, Tallulah, must battle a fear dearg — a demon — or lose her very life. In both stories, the solution to the heroes' and heroines’ conflicts is clear — stand and fight no matter how scary the situation appears. In both stories, the main characters begin their quests against evil by bringing the community together, by showing one another that they have each other’s back. Once the community realizes they are not in the fight alone they are more than willing to do what is necessary to take back their communities and their lives. I LOVE so much this illustration of good, regular people coming together to fight against an evil that initially seems too big to be defeated. I feel like today we good, regular people are in the fight for our very lives too, but unlike the characters in this excellent story, we are forced to fight this battle alone. It makes me sad, but reading this book has given me some hope. I just need to find my fighting community.

The Merchant and the Rogue is an excellent story. One I highly recommend. If a well-written Historical Romance filled with suspense and intrigue sounds like the read you need then I highly recommend this excellent story.

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I have just finished reading the third book in the Dread Penny Society series called The Merchant and the Rogue. His could be read as a stand-alone but if you are anything like me, you will want more of this series! I love the characters and can’t wait to learn more about them! I think the series keeps improving as each new book is released!

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

cute and silly and romantic! i liked the gentleman and the thief a lot and thought the lady and the highwayman was charming too. it's just warm and straightforward, what you need if not what you necessarily want. interesting bend w the immigrant stuff too honestly

Sarah M. Eden’s The Merchant and the Rogue is the third book in the Dread Penny Society series. It is, however, the first title that I have read from this author. I normally don’t jump into a series like this; my preference is to begin with the first volume and go from there. Prospective readers can be assured, though, that The Merchant and the Rogue easily stands on its own. That said, this novel will assuredly be just the beginning for me. I hope to go back and read The Lady and the Highwayman as well as The Gentleman and the Thief.

I’m sure there is some generations-old literary tradition that caused Eden to title the books of this series in the way that she did. Referencing Merchant, the title is drawn not from the main narrative, but from one of two “penny dreadfuls” that are included in installments between chapters of the entire book. If you aren’t familiar with the history of penny dreadfuls, they were small, cheaply-printed tales sold at a price that almost anyone could afford. Dreadfuls were often serialized, leaving the reader wanting more and looking forward to purchasing the next chapter. “Binge reading” wasn’t really done with these publications. They were lower-brow, cheaper versions of the serializations as seen with Charles Dickens’ writing, for example. The Merchant and the Rogue tells the brief tale of a female merchant, a rogue with whom she crosses paths, and a dastardly villain bent on terrorizing their local town. This story takes on some fairy-tale elements, which took me by surprise at first. The seven short chapters had a different tone and flourish that worked well with the material, and I enjoyed returning to the short story as it popped up throughout the book. The second “penny dreadful” featured is called The Dead Zoo. In it we find a Sherlockian investigator attempting to deduce the disappearance of specimens from the local Museum of Natural History. I don’t want to give anything away, but this story took a turn that I did not see coming, one that harkened back to a Twilight Zone feel. Its five short chapters were a delightful surprise. I also enjoyed the meta-referential way in which The Dead Zoo and The Merchant and the Rogue were mentioned in the main text.

The primary narrative doesn’t feature a gentleman rogue or a dead zoo, but presents characters who are thrust into quite an adventure, with nothing but mostly realistic elements. Some individuals are members of the secretive Dread Penny Society, a group of writers who have come together to right wrongs in their community, almost akin to a private superhero club, without the superpowers. Others in the novel include the residents of London, some of whom have immigrated from lands such as Russia and Ireland. They have checkered pasts which could come back to haunt them as they encounter new enemies who are threatening the peace and freedom of their neighborhoods and businesses. There is also a delightful storyline between one of the “Dreadfuls”, author Brogan Donnelly and the Russian immigrant Vera Sorokina.

While I didn’t find Eden’s writing to be cutting-edge, The Merchant and the Rogue (the entire work) was an enjoyable read for me as I close out these last days of summer, before school work begins again. The content was extremely family-friendly, with no colorful language, and the romance factor was very sweet, not steamy. The story does not shy away from difficult worldly elements, though, as the plight of street children, the struggles of immigrants and systemic mafia-like bullying are addressed.

The work as a whole was very entertaining, though. The protagonists were very likeable, and the villains (particularly in the titular short story) provided interesting conflict to the narratives. If you enjoy authors such as Julie Klassen, Erica Vetsch or Melanie Dickerson, The Merchant and the Rogue (and the entire series I’m sure) would be a good match for you. I’m a newcomer to Sarah M. Eden’s work, but I intend to continue enjoying her writing for years to come.

THE PLOT GOT LOST

This was my second read in this series. The first one I found interesting and entertaining. This one... not so much. Especially the plot was a sore point for me. And I need a strong plot to really love a book.

👎 What I Disliked 👎

Plot holes: I really felt like the plot was not fully developed. I detected several plot holes, which just lowered my opinion and made the story feel incomplete.

Overall plot: The overall plot with Vera and Brogan was very weak and got drowned out by the 'extra' stories featured in this book. It didn't feel strong enough to stand on its own.

This was a charming story, the third in The Dread Penny Society Series. 

This story is about Vera, a print shop owner's daughter who helps run the shop. And Brogan a penny dreadful writer. Though Vera mistrusts writers and he does not let her know who he is at first. They are drawn to eachother. 

It seemed a bit gothic and mysterious. It sets up for the next in the series as the society is after a villain called the Mastiff who keeps doing all sorts of dastardly deeds.

I enjoyed the Penny Dreadful that was mixed into this story. It was a story within a story about Tallulah and Royston with their Haberdashery and Confectionery shops. I do enjoy going to both those types of shoppes. Theres had a bit of magical realism and it paralleled what was happening in the other story in a way.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you shadowmountainpub and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

I know from watching Sarah over the years how much work she puts into her novels and I am such a fan. The modern tone in her clearly well-researched books is vastly appealing and beyond appreciated.
There is something so charming about this series. I love the unique and conceptual way Sarah has built this universe in a Victorian England setting. It's genius how she weaves the plots of the penny dreadfuls - with their own unique voices - within the main storyline, in this case, of Brogan and Vera. They have the odds stacked against them. In a very proper - with an unproper underbelly - London, an Irishman and Russian woman just might have the perfect commonalities that bond them together. As with the first two in the series, the romance is secondary to an over-arcing and intricate mystery. The penny dreadfuls on their own are well-written. and plain fun.
While I think the book can be read as a standalone, I think there is more enjoyment by reading the series in order. There are several continuously building elements and moments as an overall plot throughout that might be missed otherwise.
I've already purchased the audiobook because I adore Justine Eyre and her flair for accents, intonation and pacing.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain for the gifted copy and NetGalley for the e-arc. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I'm always up for a good 19th century romance and The Merchant and the Rogue did not disappoint. This story was a bit unusual for me as most of the historical romances I've read before focus on the upper class while this one focused on the working class. I found this approach more refreshing and I enjoyed that it allowed Vera to go out and take charge of situations more often than not. I was also intrigued by the idea of a 19th century philanthropic secret society of writers. Secret societies were all the rage back then and while this particular society stretches credibility a bit I still thought it added some excitement to the story.

In terms of the romance between Brogan and Vera, "aw" seems to be a good way to describe them as a couple. These two grow so quickly comfortable with one another and just fit so well with one another. Their interactions are more sweet than steamy, but I was so happy when they got their HEA.

My one criticism was that though I thought it was an interesting touch to intersperse a few of the so called penny dreadful stories between chapters, I just couldn't get into those subplots.

Overall, I thought this was a great historical romance with a bit of a refreshing take on the genre. I would definitely recommend it. This was a 4 out of 5 star read for me.

This whole series is great! I love how the H and h are so very human and not the typical rich, nobility. It is interesting to get insight into the lives of the working class.
I do enjoy how the Penny Dreadful stories mirror the main plots. The sense of community as the merchants banned together against the thugs was timeless.

#BookReview: THE MERCHANT AND THE ROGUE by Sarah M. Eden

I have seen The Dread Penny Society series around bookstagram but it’s only now that I’ve picked up one. It’s probably best to read them in order. It would be nice to know how the society started and be familiar with many of the characters in the book. But I think that the third book, The Merchant and the Rogue, can be read as a stand alone.

The book has three stories. The main story is about Brogan and Vera. I have enjoyed their chemistry. They are both passionate about helping others. They are well suited and make each other happy. I like what Brogan said about Vera: “She has faith in me. That helps me have faith in myself.” It’s nice to have someone in our lives who brings out the best in us. It was nice to know that the society is there to be of service to others even in a discrete way.

In between their story are two stories from the penny dreadfuls. Dead Zoo by Brogan Donelly and The Merchant and the Rogue by Mr. King. The stories are good but I liked the latter one better. The tale about the fear dearg was spellbinding. But it takes getting used to reading these stories in between chapters of the main one. It was fun overall.

I look forward to the next book as they continue to solve this mystery behind the powerful criminal, the Mastiff. 4 stars

Thank you #netgalley and #shadowmountain for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I hadn't read the first book and I think it was a mistake. We are offered passages written by Brogan for the Penny Dreadful Society and I was a little confused at first. Even though his writings are interesting, they totally break the rhythm of the story and make me lose the interest I had in the characters, I started to skip those passages.
I liked the story of the street urchins who work to win a few coins, I liked the generosity and courage of Vera who is an exceptional woman especially for her time, I liked the big heart of Brogan and his relationship with his sister. I liked the love story between our two heroes. In short, the story in itself is interesting, but the rhythm cut by the texts of Brogan made my reading complicated and laborious.
Thank you Netgalley !

I really enjoyed this book. Vera and Brogan are great characters and I really enjoyed their interactions. Since this story focuses around Penny Dreadfuls, I loved that it included some Penny Dreadful stories in it, very clever. I haven't read the first two books in this series, but that didn't pose a problem with reading this one. Fun story, loved the mystery, also loved the over-arching plot that the series has. Great addition to my historical romance reads.

This story deserves all the praise! A lot of books are easily categorized. This book does all the things, romance, family, mystery, suspense, history. And does every one of them well.
I loved Vera and Brogan brilliant banter. Sarah’s wit is often more subtle. Which is harder to pull off, but more rewarding on the reader. I loved that their characters both complimented and pushed each other. Her character's vulnerabilities and growth is always an impressive emotional journey for them and us.
Moirin and Brogan's relationship was no less fulfilling. Their sibling love and teasing was genuine and deep. Sarah's characters resonate and stick with you.
The mystery was so well done, I was decidedly creeped out on more than one occasion. The Dead Zoo people! I was captivated that she could not only write three stories in a story, but those stories could also reflect the story line in such a way that all three stories pull you through the plot and set the stage for what is to come. It's a way of writing that creates something unbelievably delightful.
I loved the little historic details she inserted, tidbits that deepened not only the story line, but my appreciation for what the characters were experiencing and the world they inhabit. Add to that her fascinating descriptions and this series is no less than genius. The independent voices, the push and pull of tension. It really is an extraordinary read.