4 1/2 out of 5 stars

These two siblings have had my interest since book one in the series, so I was so excited to finally get a chance to know them better throughout this story! I loved the development of Brogan and Vera, each with their own unique histories and cultures, they find common ground as they stand up for injustice in Vera’s neighborhood. I loved seeing more of the Dread Penny Society gang and appreciated the opportunity to get caught up on what bad guys like Four Fingered Mike and the Mastiff are up to. The diverse characters and unique story telling style makes for an interesting and enjoyable plot. While I really enjoyed the scenes with the familiar faces from the DPS, I loved reading the scene with Vera and Moirin in the print shop! I loved this read and am definitely looking forward to seeing what adventures the future has in store for this cast of characters!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publshing for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

I received a free e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

This was better than the last, but nowhere near the first.

I don't know where this series went wrong, but with the first amazing book, the less than enjoyable second, and this marginally better Third, I don't know whether this series is worth keeping up with any more. I will most likely read the next instalments too, but I don't know where the potential that the first one had went.

This book actually had conflict, and angst, and actual character differences, so compared to the second one, this one was amazing. But compared to what drew me to this series, the first book, it still wasn't that good.

The plot is alright, but I honestly thought this was just going to be a trilogy, so it was a bit disappointing to see that nothing much ended up happening except that the most notorious and previously thought most dangerous criminal got caught. But now there's an even worse one, so we're more or less back to square one?

I like that this explored the way the members of the Dread Penny society were facing numerous problems with being able to tell their family members, but I would have liked the resolution in this book? I would have loved to see the ending actually including the decision and it's consequences at the end.

Vera and Brogan's romance was so many levels above Ana and Hollis, just because there was angst. I'm telling you, after The Gentleman and The Thief, I'll enjoy nearly everything if there's actual conflict; the book was just so boring. But this is not the review for that book, so you can go and read my grievances there.

The penny dreadfuls have gotten boring though? the first book ones were amazing, though I didn't i>love the vampire one; in the second book they were alright, but the gentleman and thief one seemed out of place because in the first Elizabeth was drawing inspiration form her life, but here she seems to be drawing inspiration from two other people's lives that she is not actually privy to, so it seems weird?; and in the third, the same problem was there, and in both the second and third book I didn't completely love the ones not by Mr. King.

The Dead Zoo one was okay, but the ending was like those creepy ones where you're left like WHAT OH NO like those Ruskin Bond ones where you realise 5 minutes after reading the ending the creepy meaning of what was actually happening. Or even Roald Dahl level ones. Or even those Enid Blyton short story endings, if you've read Anytime Tales or ones like that.

Honestly, my favourite parts of this book were when we had cameos of Elizabeth and Fletcher, so that should tell you a lot about how this ended up being.

The ending was not to my liking because it seemed really incomplete. We just left the story when we could have done with a couple more chapters to explain what happens next with Vera. And the other thing I didn't like about it was the permanency.

In both this book and the last, we end with a typical historical romance ending where the characters end up marrying but I loved the open ending of the first book a lot more. Fletcher and Elizabeth don't end up marrying and are still courting, and honestly that is the best ending because it subverts insta-love so well. And in both this and the last, the proposal seems too early and jarring compared to the voice of the first book.

I laughed so loud when he reason behind Vera's father's' hate were revealed, which was not the correct emotion to display but it was so funny somehow? Like of course this would be the reason, how else could this have possibly ended. In like a sarcastic way. But my BR partner agreed with me, so I think I'm not completely mad. Yet.

One the main likes for me about this series is that the characters are all middle class or middle class adjacent, which allows for a lot of other stories to be told than the typical historical romance involving earls, dukes, and marquesses.

On the whole, an alright book by itself, but not a very good sequel. I would recommend it to readers of this series, but to take this recommendation with a grain of salt because you might not find the magic of the first one in this. And also to anyone who likes the secret hidden identity trope, friends to lovers trope, historical romances that do focus on plot and do it somewhat well, and ones involving the middle class.

(5/9/2021) 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an e-ARC of this wonderful novel!

The Merchant and the Rogue is an action-packed historical mystery with charming and lovable characters. It's my introduction into the Dread Penny Society (DPS) series (I am excited to dive into the other two books!), a Victorian mystery series with a dash of romance.

For a long while, I lost my passion for reading. In 2019, I took a Mysteries and Detective Fiction course at my local community college and despite not ever reading anything from that genre before, it revived my love of delving into written stories. I'm mostly a fantasy reader but now there is a special place in my heart for mysteries. I loved the formatting of this book; there is the main story but in between sections, there are stories from different members of the DPS which were a lot of fun to read.

The strongest point of the story is the cast Eden has created. The main characters and the side characters are delightful. I'm sure I would've been more excited if I read the previous books before I read this one as I'm sure certain appearances are like easter eggs. Nonetheless, I want to know more about these other DPS members! This little band of writer/crime fighters are great.

Lastly, the romance is sooooo sweet and slow burn. There's even a little bit of angst thrown in there to tug at our heartstrings. Vera and Brogan are adorable and I can't wait to see what lies in store for them.

Far too often I will request to read a book that ends up being part of a series so I have to do a bit of backtracking, even with standalone books I like to know what came before. All that said it was a well written engaging story and addition to the series. With a little romance and suspense and a few twists and turns and a happily ever after. I’ll be checking out other series by the author in the future.

Another great read from Sarah M. Eden in the same style as the previous two novels and a continuation of the ongoing story arch. I liked the characters of Brogan and Vera, they felt fresh and relatable and it was easy to see why they would form an attachment. Being the third book in a series the other side characters such as members of the Dread Penny Society are well developed even as side characters for the majority of this story. I wasn't entirely convinced with the "big reveal" regarding what Vera's father was up to with the print shop but I didn't feel that invested in it anyway. I was much more interested in the relationships between the characters and finding out more about the mysterious Dread Penny Society and their ongoing quest to stop the Mastiff. Like the previous two books this is technically three stories with two "Penny Dreadfulls" interspersed between chapters of the main story. I liked this idea because it is something different, but personally I was not that interested in those stories, I honestly just wanted to find out what was happening with the main characters.

Many thanks to Netgallery for the e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

These Penny Dreadful books were the first thing I read from Sarah Eden last year and since I have been steadily working my way through her entire backlog. This series though has a special place as my first from her so I was anxiously awaiting the chance to read this next installment!
I really enjoyed Brogan’s character in the previous books (and his sister) and I was quite excited to get in his head and have his story. He is one of those guys that is just quintessentially good. He doesn’t have a lot in life but he uses what he does have to help others at every corner. But his kind and generous heart doesn’t mean that he doesn’t also know how to fight to protect those under his care.
Vera was a great addition to the group, I loved her wit and spunk her secret love of stories.
Vera and Brogan were well-matched in pretty much every way. They gave as good as they took with banter yet also knew when to be serious. And I loved the way they truly worked as partners, letting each other be who they were and do what they needed to do without stepping on toes yet always being right there to back them up when the time came!
It was of course intriguing as they puzzled out more of the schemes of the big bad they’ve been trying to nab throughout the series. Every turn seems to uncover more questions and danger but I’m loving it!
The Penny Dreadful serials woven amongst the chapters again added a fun level to the book and we’re enjoyable in their own right!
All in all a smashing addition to the series and I’m already counting down till we get another!

I liked this book way more than the last one in the series! It had its problems, but as a whole, it was a super entertaining read.

The one thing that set this one apart from the others had to be the romance. In the last one, both me and my buddy read partner were disappointed by the lack of angst. There were problems, but they were resolved almost immediately. Yes, I dislike unnecessary angst, but some is required to keep things dynamic. Anyway, this book did a much better job of promising conflict, and then delivering on it!

Also, I absolutely loved the dynamic between Brogan and Vera. They started out as friends, and slowly grew to something more. It did grow a bit fast near the end, but I enjoyed the development of their relationship.

I had originally thought this series was going to be a trilogy, so I am slightly disappointed by the lack of resolution in it. It definitely set up for the next book, but it also felt unfinished. Unlike the others, the main mystery is barely solved, and we're left with more questions than answers. It's not a bad thing, it's just something I wasn't expecting.

The reason this isn't 5 stars is the penny dreadfuls it contains. I absolutely loved them in the first book, they were fresh and unique. They've gotten continually worse though. In this book, they just threw off the pacing, and interrupted the pacing. They also felt hastily finished, and I wasn't a fan of either one.

Although I was disappointed by several elements of this one, I still really enjoyed it! I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series, as I can't wait to see what it brings.

Thanks to Sarah M Eden and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review

I am always astounded by Sarah's books, but this one is truly something special. I have been intrigued by this series since The Lady and the Highwayman and this third book is just stunning. Brogan is an incredible hero. He is so relatable that it's a bit unnerving. Feeling like you can't be a leader because you are surrounded by leaders is a pretty common experience and seeing how Brogan handles this challenge is amazing especially because he isn't confident he can be a leader. Vera is a delightful heroine. I loved her from the very first mention of her. She and Brogan go so well together that it just makes me happy!
This story is unique because it furthers the overall story in the dread penny series while also helping the readers to better understand the world of Victorian era. It also throws some Irish folklore into it which is just fun! This series just keeps getting better and better which is a very impressive accomplishment!

The Merchant and the Rogue is another satisfying entry in the Dread Penny Society series. It contains another happily-ever-after ending for a new couple but also plenty of unresolved intrigue for future stories. There are many characters left to find their own HEAs (mostly likely all straight m/f couples though). This is a light series heavy on flirtation and easily resolved misunderstandings. Although societal issues are addressed the sordid realities are not detailed. This is escapist reading - a clean and breezy read. The pages from the Penny Dreadfuls are a fun touch.

I read an advance reader copy of The Merchant and the Rogue from Netgalley.

Once again, Sarah Eden has given us a masterful plot with twists and turns aplenty. Not only do we get one story but since the main character is also an author we get, three stories in one book. All are well written with well rounded characters. I can't wait to read about the rest of the PDS members.

I've always enjoyed Sarah Eden's writing. I think this might be my favorite series of hers. I love the bit of mystery and intrigue mixed within the romance. A perfect balance and mix of the three in this book. As the mystery unfolds I was grateful it wasn't overly complicated to make this reader unable to follow. Yet, not simplistic at all and held my attention very well in reading the romance bloom and layers of the mystery unfold. The penny dreadfuls are a great addition. I had fun reading it just as much as the rest of the story. This was easy to get caught up in and swept away by the mysery, following the dreadfuls and cathing glimpses into actual Victorian life. I think the bits of history worked into the book helped bring the story to life and feel authentic. As well, as the dialogue and slang used. This really helped me feel like I was right there in London. Of course, there were some moments that had me say "awww". I'm excited to read more in the series & find out who The Mastiff is!
Thank you very much to Netgalley for an ARC. All opinions are 100% my own.

What a great sequel! This book stays true to Sarah M. Eden's style and submerses the reader back into the world of the Penny Dreadfuls. Great storytelling, wonderful chemistry between characters. This is a very enjoyable read.

Each of the Penny Dreadful books Sarah Eden writes is better than the previous-and I've enjoyed all of them! I love when a romance also has a mystery to solve. Weaving through this story are two other stories that mirror the events of the main story. It is very entertaining to read. If you haven't read the other stories you may want to before reading this one because reference is made to them and events that happen in them. That said, this is standalone. so you could read it without reading the others.

4.5 stars

Such a fun addition to this series!! Please note, these books are best read in order, in my opinion, as there are references to characters and situations from the previous books, as well as the main villain in those two is still at large in this book. I love Eden's attention to detail, the humor she adds to her stories, and how well she crafts her books, to draw me in and make things believable and make me see everything! This book also includes two different penny dreadful serials that are mixed in between the chapters of the regular action of the story line, one written by Brogan (the male lead in this book), though the other is from Mr. King who rarely makes an appearance in this book (maybe one time??). As before, these stories parallel somewhat of the story line as well. Brogan's penny dreadful story (<i>The Dead Zoo</i>) was interesting but the shortest and least developed (in my opinion) of the two penny dreadfuls and very open-ended, leaving a lot up to the reader's imagination. The series apparently will go on, as the ending is left with lots of questions and not many answers as to who the Dread Master is, as well as how the Dreadfuls will deal with The Mastiff. There's a hint of a future romance and possible future book for two of the characters, so it'll be interesting to see if Eden does indeed take the series in that direction. Such a varied cast at play in this series! What a unique idea, and I am loving how Eden is executing every aspect of this! A clean read with plenty of entertainment value, not to be missed if you like historical fiction!!

I was struck with this book how darn impressive it is that Sarah can write stories from other authors with a completely different voice than her own. And multiple distinct voices and styles of writing at that. I mean, holy cow! Not only can she write perfectly for her own novels but she can literally create novels by other writers with their own distinct voices and have them be so good. Is there anything Sarah M. Eden can't do?!?

This book was lighter than the second in the series so I liked it better. Both of the Penny Dreadfuls were entirely captivating. I am getting a bit tired of the ultimate plot not being fully resolved in every book. I know we are making progress, and that it is actually very realistic. But also I'm ready for the Dreadfuls to fully win.

I'm still so impressed at the creative idea and execution of this series. The first will always be my favorite but this is definitely a close second (due in large part to those incredible Penny Dreadfuls).

I’m hooked on books from regency. Those are my Nitch. They have some flare and things that makes me want to read these kind of books.

This book is the 3rd in the series. It continues to follow the stories of the Penny Dreadful authors as well as the mission of the Dread Penny Society. This book follows the similar pattern of the others. Children and people in need, misunderstandings, strong female roles, brewing romance and the good of humanity coming together. Also like the other books there are two Penny Dreadful novels intwined within the story. It’s like getting 3 tales in one which is part of why I enjoy these books. This book was entertaining, intense, romantic, and full of mystery and adventure. I can tell there will be more to come and I have my suspicions on who’s story comes next. We shall see!!

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC.

This continuation of the Dread Penny Society series doesn't disappoint! There is wonderful character development and it keeps you wanting for more resolution to the evils that continue multiplying. I really enjoyed getting to know Brogan. There are also multiple value conundrums that make you think. Every book leaves you hungry for the next one!

Thank you netgalley for the book!

I cannot get enough of how the penny dreadfuls are so artfully woven into the main story.

I fell in love with Brogan in The Gentleman and the Thief and was excited to learn more about his story. It did not disappoint. The looming storm on the horizon in this book is gaining speed. One can only sit on pins and needles as secrets and lies abound and are revealed to throw hurt. Trust has to be rebuilt in many facets and as it does the story comes alive.

The real question is, after a meeting of the Mastiff in the last book, how will that effect this one? You gotta read to find out.

Thanks to Net Galley for the book!

I truly enjoy this series. This is book 3 in Sarah M. Eden's The Dread Penny Society Series and I enjoy how each character is getting their own story. The mystery and intrigue is what I liked about this one. I also enjoy how the characters come alive. Looking forward to book 4. I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain.