Sarah Eden has become one of my favorite authors, especially with her Dread Penny Society series. Her use of intriguing plots and fabulous characters are seamless as you read first one book and then another. Each member of the secret Dread Penny Society (DPS) helps in combating evil and helping others who need them.

Brogan Donnelly is a likable Irish penny dreadful author who feels like he isn’t a fully contributing member of the DPS like his colleagues. Imagine his surprise when the mysterious unseen head of the organization asks him to go undercover and unmask a diabolical plan that would rock British society.

With mysterious comings and goings at a print shop, Brogan begins to suspect that Mr. Sorokin and his lovely daughter, Vera, may be a part of this criminal plot. Both seem secretive and cautious to trust anyone. As both Brogan and Vera become attracted to each other, Brogan is going to have to make a decision about what he has done to learn about this plot.

The brilliant use of two penny dreadfuls that are interspersed throughout the book add details and some symbolism to the main story. These stories are filled with superstition, suspense, and Gothic elements. The three intriguing stories all wrapped up into one book made me clear my calendar so I could finish without being interrupted. I like how Ms. Eden uses these historical pieces from literature to create her own versions in order to write her own unique books.

I am always disappointed when each book end because there are questions of, “What happens next?”. This particular story because I see all kinds of possibilities with what is presented at the end of the story. (no spoilers here!) This is the third book in the Dread Penny Society and I would begin with The Lady and the Highwayman for a better understanding of the characters, although this can be read independently. I highly recommend this series if you enjoy mysteries, romance, or Gothic novels. This has all of these elements.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an advanced reader’s copy of this book. I was not required to write a review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thoroughly enjoyable clean historical romance with an intriguing mystery. I quite enjoyed the format of having the penny dreadful story move along with the main story.

I have read the two previous books in The Dread Penny Society series by Eden and was delighted to get an ARC of her latest. This adventure keeps the same format with two Penny serial stories interspersed with the main storyline. Brogan Donnelly is Irish, a Penny serial writer, and member of the Dread Penny Society. The Society is a group of writers who unite to help the poor in London, especially women and children. He receives a secret assignment that requires him to quit the society and gather information about a Russian ambassador on his own. He takes a job with Vera Sorokina, a Russian immigrant, who with her father runs a book and print shop. The father has been seen at the home of the ambassador. It is all very vague but he takes up the challenge willingly.

Vera is a wonderfully strong character. She is mindful of the her neighborhood, the children in poverty and especially caring of her father. When neighborhood shops are threatened she organizes and leads. Friendship develops with Donnelly as they work days together. There are many small plots that I don't want to spoil but clearly 1865 London can be a rough place to live. Eden delivers in bringing different accents and unusual slang and words to life. (I assume they are time period correct and not made up.) The main story focuses on Vera and Brogan which keeps things simpler to follow.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction with a slice of romance. The two leads are wonderful together. The other society members get some storyline especially near the end. I was also happy to see the two love interests from the other books make appearances and wish there was more of them. This book can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading them in order. There is an overall menacing plot flowing thru the books that isn't resolved yet.

This book is clean for language and steaminess with some fighting and drinking. I can't wait for the next adventure. Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this installment of the Dread Penny Society Series. I think that the penny dreadfuls contained in this novel are my favorite of the series thus far. Brogan is such a great character. I just love him and Moirin (his sister). Hopefully she will get her own story in the future. I loved learning more of Brogan's background in Ireland. Vera is a great female lead. I love that she isn't afraid to hold her own and that her friendship with Moirin gives her even more confidence to stand up for herself and others. Vera and Brogan are a great pair. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow and survive trials. I look forward to the next installment of this series! Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced ebook.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3803770575

Another offering from one of my very favorite authors, yeah! This was a good story with lots of character development, which I love, and some good surprising twists and turns. The Dread Penny stories didn't have as much to do with the original story going on as some of the other ones have, but it was still interesting, probably because it allowed us to see into what the characters including the children were reading. I appreciated the principles the main characters held to, the fears they experienced and even the disappointments they fully expected. Fortunately, some of those disappointing expectations were replaced with lovely outcomes. This was a very nice next Dread Penny Society offering! (Although it did leave one hanging for the next one...)

I gratefully received a prerelease version for my honest review. #TheMerchantandtheRogue #NetGalley

3 stars

A fun read about a penny dreadful writer & his charitable work that leads to confronting some dangerous criminals—& to love. This is a lighthearted story with a clean romance. I liked the characters, but there are many plot inconsistencies & contrived conflicts.

[What I liked:]

•Brogan is a very likable person. He’s warm hearted, & his fierce bond with his older sister is very touching.

•The cast of side characters on Vera’s street are all very charming & give a homey feel to the neighborhood. Seeing them all come together to help each other was heart warming.

•There are two short stories written in a supposedly “penny dreadful” serial style with chapters interspersed between the main story’s chapters. Those stories didn’t seem related to the novel other than they’re written by characters in the book, so I’m not really sure why they were included. That said, they were both cute & entertaining.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•I don’t like the prose. There are awkward word choices, the dialogue often doesn’t feel natural, & sometimes descriptions leave me confused rather than enlightened. It’s not bad writing, but it leaves some to be desired. Plus, in the third person narration, why use “‘twas” & other nonstandard/archaic forms? It feels like it’s trying to hard.

•Why, if the members of the PDS have to keep their membership super top secret, would they publish their penny dreadful writings under their real names? Why do they need a super secret society to do charitable work? Why does Brogan have to go undercover, & why does he have to pretend he left even after the other members get involved in his supposedly “solitary” mission? Why, even after they find out he never left the society, do they still treat him suspiciously? There’s a lot that doesn’t add up.

•The main conflict between Vera & Brogan is petty & contrived. She, a grown woman & book lover, thinks all writers are evil & deceitful just because her paranoid father does? Either she’s a hypocrite, or very short on critical thinking abilities.

CW: physical violence (fist fighting)

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

Brogan Donnelly has always worked best with others. Whether he’s with his sister assisting people in poor neighborhoods or joining his fellow Dread Penny Society members in their latest scheme, Brogan prefers a supporting role rather than the lead. So when the Dread Master gives him a secret mission separate from the rest of the DPS, Brogan finds himself a little lost. Then he meets Vera Sorokina. Vera and her father run a small printing shop that sells books, including Penny Dreadfuls by one Brogan Donnelly. Using the name Ganor O’Donnell, Brogan begins working at Vera’s shop. When shopkeepers in the neighborhood begin receiving mysterious notes, Vera and Brogan must team up to defend their little community from a shadowy threat.

This is the third installment in the Dread Penny Society series. Although it is possible to enjoy this story without reading the previous books, I would recommend reading them first. Characters and plot points from the earlier books come into play here.

Just like the two earlier books in the series, this novel contains two Penny Dreadfuls that are woven into the main storyline. This time around they are The Merchant and the Rogue by Mr. King and The Dead Zoo by Brogan Donnelly.

I’ve noticed that as the series progresses, the Dread Penny Society finds itself digging deeper and deeper into a conspiracy and the stakes are getting higher and higher. Judging by what happens at the end of this novel, I can only imagine what’s in store next.

***I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. My words and opinions here are my own, as always.***

Of course there is going to be romance.
Of course there is going to be suspense and mystery.
Of course, in this series, there are going to be three stories plaited together to develop the plot.
And of course it was a book I was up late racing to the end to read.

These are all good things, as was the story line. I do not usually like suspense but after book two I was eager to get to know more of the Dread Penny Society, a group of authors who band together making their single efforts to help the poor, outcast, and forgotten members of London more influential and powerful.

Usually I can pick out hints the authors use to foreshadow what’s ahead, but here there were several surprises. Those made it more enjoyable.

If you’ve read the first two books, this has a different tone to it, but the culmination proves it worth all the twists.

But now I need book four!

5 stars

You get 3 stories in this book. It's the third book in the Dread Penny series...horrors I missed book 2! So there's the main story of the society's fight for social justice for the poor and dispossessed and then two penny dreadfuls.

In this one Brogan is asked to go on a secret mission and leave his fellow story writers in the lurch. Vera's father is his assignment and he reluctantly spies on him whilst a relationship with Vera is evolving. It's a clean read, only kisses with some characters from before but all is explained so it could be read as a standalone. The story is based in the poorest of areas and with the working and non working poor.

There's the continuing fight against the main villain Mastiff and I'm intrigued by the leader of the socity as well. Hopefully we will learn more as the series develops. Let's hope Stone's story is soon. I enjoyed it and hope you will too.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another triumph! You can't help but love Brogan and Vera, and of course Móirín! Brogan is a sweetheart, full of kindness and fun. Vera is perfect for him, just as loving and kind (though a bit more distrustful). Móirín is a strong woman, full of passion, wisdom, and guts; I wouldn't be surprised if she ended up being the Dread Master herself (still trying to figure out that mystery....).

What makes this third book in the series special is all the street children it features; they add so much fun, laughter, and winsomeness to the story. The story focuses more on grassroots, community-built relationships and "regular people" working together to combat the havoc stirred up by the Mastiff. The stakes climb higher and the Dread Penny Society face tougher odds, keeping my interest. And of course the Penny Dreadful stories interspersed throughout the book make this series truly unique and entertaining. I am never bored with these!

Rated PG
--mild violence
--no swearing
--clean romance

I was provided a free ebook copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story was a compiling of 3 stories. Since the author did a good job of distinguishing between the stories, it was easy to read the main story, then go back and read the other 2 serial stories. This book us part of a series about a group of writers who double as spies. They work with the working and lower classes. The book gives great details of every day life if the working class in London. The historical details are great.
The main story, about the hero and heroine seemed to be a step back to the ongoing plot about the gang leaders that the group has been trying to put down. The heroine is a Russian transplant whose father is a printer. He has been brought to the attention of the writers because of a problem with the Russian Ambassador to Great Britian. There is a conspiracy there. The hero has been working with the group and wants to stop the lying. But he is picked for a super secret assignment where he has to leave the group. And since he us the first to resign, the group is very upset and he makes some disgruntled friends.
Even though I enjoyed this story because it is so well written and the author is very talented and one of my favorite authors, I did not feel the romance. The story was well paced, there was growth in the characters, but it needed a little more romance. It is considered a historical fiction, but couldn't they have held hands earlier or something. I am still giving it 5 stars and definitely recommend reading because it is an excellent book. Remember, 5 stars.

The Penny Dreadfuls and the Dread Society are back!

Brogan is tasked with finding out secrets connected to the print shop. Vera has long been taught to detest writers, so when he arrives at her shop he conceals his identity as a Penny Dreadful author from her.

Brogan is an eminently likeable character, though clearly not as talented a Penny Dreadful writer as the famous Mr King (who we met in the first of this series). I love that Sarah Eden is able to adopt the different writing styles of her characters as she sprinkles their Penny Dreadfuls throughout these books.

I loved this book! Sarah M. Eden spins a wonderful tale. I love how she incorporates the Penny Dreadfuls into the story and how they foreshadow the story. It weaves a wonderful spell while you're reading. I love all the characters in this series. This is primarily about Brogan Donnelly and a new character Vera Sorokina. They are both characters of depth and complexity. I am already looking forward to the next book. I would highly recommend.

I am hooked on Sarah Eden's Dread Penny Society series. Her unique 'story within a story' is always engaging and her characters are delightful. There is a Dickens-esque feel to 'The Merchant and the Rogue' as it deals with social issues of the times. I will admit I was a little confused about Brogan's undercover assignment and how harsh he was treated by his former companions. I, for one, can't wait for Moirin's story to be told. This keeps me in happy anticipation for more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The Merchant and the Rogue is the third installment in Eden's Dread Penny Society series. I've read the first two books, and enjoyed this just as much. This was a lovely story to read! I like how Sarah Eden's novels are atypical, compared to other historical romance books.

Installment III *Where our avid reader gets sucked deeper into the story of the Dread Penney Society!*

Sarah M. Eden does not disappoint! I have fallen more in love with this series as it has continued and cannot wait to see its continued growth. This third installment set the bar higher for this story and these characters in the best way possible. I’ve loved learning they’re personal stories and the depth that has been created with these characters and their world. I didn’t realize I needed Brogan’s story until I started reading this and I’m so glad it has been so kindly given to us.
Historical romance can tend to be one dimensional and fall flat by just focusing on the ‘romance’ aspects, that is by no means this series. Our author provides excellent balance of character’s personalities and quirks, great world building, getting to read the penny dreadfuls that our characters themselves write, and of course yes a little romance to make a beautiful bouquet of a story!

Endless thanks to Sarah M. Eden for creating the DPS which has become one of my all time favorite series and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy for an honest review (all thought and opinions are completely my own)

A wonderful, mysterious and romantic story! I absolutely adored the fact that they included a secret society and it's passed in a beautiful place! I loved Vera's character so much, she's incredible and fierce!
Highly recommend everyone to read this!

So, I liked the story between Vera and Brogan and the whole Dread Penny Society concept. I haven't read the two previous instalments in this series but they can be read as standalones. This story was filled with mystery.

My issue with it was that every time it got going, we hopped back into the next instalment of not one but TWO penny dreadfuls. And one of the penny dreadfuls wasn't terribly far off from the main plot, so it got a little confusing. I'm assuming that's the author's gig with this series, let us feel like we're reading the penny dreadfuls in instalments, but it kept detracting from the main story. It also filled up enough pages that she didn't have to invest as much time into fleshing out the main plot.

I don't think I'll read any others in the series and if we had just focused on telling one story, it could have eeked out another star from me.

"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."

A first line to rival even Pride and Prejudice.

Vera and her father are russian immigrants with a small shop and a decided prejudice against writers; her father insists they are all a roguish untrustworthy bunch.

In some unfortunate turn of events, Brogan Donnelly one of the writers for the well known "Penny Dreadfuls" not only finds himself working for Vera, but also, slowly falling for her.
To make matters even worse, he lied about who he was. If she finds out the truth under his alias, she will find not only a writer, but a lying one, at that.

When "The Protector," a mysterious person who promised to *protect* the people in their community and surrounding businesses starts extorting money from them instead, their disagreements seem to fade from the spotlight as the entire city becomes inextricably entwined in the dark plot.

"The Merchant and the Rogue," is the third book in Sarah M Eden's "Dread Penny Society" series, the rest of which I haven't gotten my hands on, yet. Even so, I found it easy to follow along and enjoy it as it's own story.

This is one of the few books I've read lately, (being, as you are aware, a great lover of love stories,) that I could recommend to my brother as something I think he'd enjoy as well. (Aka more action, less romance😉)

The book features excerpts of short stories by the DPS, a stylistic choice I usually don't prefer, since it breaks up the flow of the story and often weighs down the momentum. I rather enjoyed these installments however, despite (or perhaps because of,) their dabbling in very different genres.

Sarah M Eden rarely if ever disappoints and again, she has delivered a vividly painted, suspense-filled story.

And if ever there was a comfort character, it's Brogan. I just want to give him a hug😂❤

As an added bonus, the book is fairly brimming with quotable lines (as well as some rather...unique, names. Looking at you, "Bob’s Your Knuckle"😂).

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (obviously) and obligatory: I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own. (Though perhaps slightly biased because, Sarah M Eden😍😍)

I have really enjoyed this series by Sarah M. Eden. This is the third story and we get to learn more about Brogan the Irishman. Brogan is sent on an investigation on his own and meets Vera. They have mysteries to solve and rebellions again extortion to lead. My small complaints are that the romance is pretty minimal and I have way to many questions unanswered. I again, as with the other two books in the series, loved the two side stories written into the thread of the main story. I can't wait to find out who will star in the next installment.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this eARC for an honest review.