The Dread Penny Society series is light fun with interesting characters. I like the concept, but it must be hard-going to keep it fresh.

The Merchant and the Rogue is the third book in the series and contains the sweet little romance of the main characters. There's a hint of which secondary characters will take the stage in the next book.

Each book contains a Penny Dreadful story by one or two of the characters. Brogan's Penny Dreadful, "The Dead Zoo" had an interesting concept, but I found it ...not terribly interesting. King's story was better. Then, of course, there is the main plot in which Brogan goes undercover and falls for the bookseller and confronts corruption.

I loved the first book The Lady and the Highwayman because if its originality. The second and third books are OK, but all of them have terrific covers. :)

Read in February; blog review scheduled for Aug. 1.

NetGalley/Shadow Mountain Publishing
Historical/Mystery/Romance. Aug. 17, 2021. print length: 368 pages.

This book was not at all what I expected. While it does have romantic aspects to it, I don't know that I'd call it a romance. Brogan, the hero, is a penny dreadful writer. He belongs to a secret organization, The Penny Dreadfuls, that are apparently organized to fight wrongdoing. I didn't quite get the connection between the writing and the mission. The head of the organization has given Brogan the assignment of keeping an eye on the bookshop Vera's father owns because he thinks something nefarious is going on. Brogan gets a job at the shop under an assumed name and gets to know Vera. Their relationship grows from there. There is a parallel (penny dreadful) story that is also told in between chapters of the main one. While I found the writing good and the style an interesting concept, I also thought it someone distracting. I had a hard time getting into this. The story built rather slowly and it took a while to see where the plot was going. It's possible it's just a matter of personal taste as to this style of writing but I thought there was just more going on than I wanted to keep track of. Things do pick up and the story gets more exciting. There is more of a penny dreadful atmosphere here than a Victorian romance.

I love what Sarah M. Eden has done with this book. The Merchant and the Rogue tells one main story from the point of view of Vera, who works in her father's small print shop, and Brogan, an author of Penny Dreadful stories. These stories are published serially, a chapter at a time. Their story centers around a mystery or two (or three!). Between her father's former Russian life, the blackmailing of the entire neighborhood by an unknown person, and his own assignments to investigate trouble with a Russian diplomat, there is a lot going on.

At the same time, interspersed between chapters of the main story, Sarah M. Eden gives us not one, but two, penny dreadful tales, spooled out a chapter at a time. One of the penny dreadfuls is the current story Brogan is publishing, the other is by one of his friends. Both are fascinating, with mystery and mayhem, and unexpected endings.

This is the third book in a series. I had not read the prior two books, and was able to follow this storyline perfectly well. Of course, now I plan to go back and read the earlier books. There is an overarching plot that seems to have come from the previous books and will continue into a fourth book. Many of the plot lines in this book are completed, so the ending feels solid, but there is enough left to make me want to read the next book, once Sarah finishes writing it. Maybe she would consider releasing a new chapter weekly, just like the penny dreadfuls? Then I wouldn't have to wait so long to have the next book!

I have received a e-ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest opinion. Thanks so much!

Book 3 from the “Dread Penny Society” starts in London in the 1860s.

This is a great historical fiction/romance! You can read it as a stand-alone, but it would be better for you to read the entire series. The series is phenomenal, and I love how it portrays the time period.

I also loved how each character had their own little spark! Each individual was different and realistic. Although some parts were quite predictable, it still kept me hooked! All in all, it was a great book!

Ah, the Dread Penny Society, I just don't know what to do with you. Your stories are always solidly three star books until the last third, when the romance and action pick up and I end the book liking you enough to pick up the next.
I requested The Merchant and the Rogue after I read the first book in this series, which started slow but picked up at the end, assuming that the rest of the series would continue the delightfulness of the end of the first. Unfortunately, the Merchant and the Rogue was even rougher at the beginning than the others. I would read a couple of pages, put it down, and not pick it up again for a couple of days. Brogan was the thing that kept me reading. He was a wonderful hero, and my favorite so far in the series. I felt pretty neutral about Vera; I didn't dislike her, but she didn't charm me.

What I really didn't like about this book was that there was no resolution in the mystery (just in the romance) and the penny dreadful stories. I just did not enjoy the penny dreadful stories in this one and they significantly slowed down the reader's progress in the plot. I regret that the author takes up so much of the space in the book with them. I get that it's cool to actually SHOW us the style of literature the story is talking about, but they're boring and I don't understand why we need two of them besides the main story.

I maintain that these books have great potential. Will I continue reading the series? Probably, because I just finished one and always end up liking the books at the end. They're stories about good people doing good things with lovely little romances, so I don't have a problem recommending them.

I love that new characters are introduced and The Dread Penny Society voted to start a sister organization.... that will allow more activity of the ladies in previous books. As each character gets their story told it makes the "society" even more interesting. I love the urchins of the street and that they are being looked after. The installments of the dread penny chapters in the book take away from the main story for me although I understand why they are included since the characters of the book are writers. I prefer to read through the main story and then go back and read the short penny books. These books are entertaining and well thought out and the research and details outstanding. This is not my favorite series of Ms Eden's but she does wonderful research and great detailing regardless of the story.

Once again, the talented Sarah Eden delivers a three-in-one tale, employing three distinct writing styles. The third novel in The Dread Penny Society series, penny dreadful author Brogan Donnelly undertakes a secret mission to discover people behind a plot to undermine the Russian Ambassador and a Peer of the Realm. Using an assumed name, he is hired on at Sorokin Print Shop, where he meets the lovely Vera Sorokina.

Filled with mystery, secrets, danger, romance, and especially in "The Dead Zoo", humor, Eden tackles these three stories with finesse. As in the previous installments, King's penny dreadful bears the title of the actual book and serves as a rough parallel to the main story. Characters from the two earlier novels make an appearance. This is not a stand-alone book.

Eden's attention to details show, from her knowledge of Victorian London and the Irish fear dearg to the particulars of the Petrashevsky Circle. My Russian vocabulary has now expanded beyond "babushka" "da" and "nyet", so there's that as well. Sarah Eden is one of my favorite authors, and I look forward to the next installment of this wonderful series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC of this marvelous novel.

Fighting for justice, entangling threats and falling in love made a compelling storyline for this exquisite London victorian romance by Sarah M. Eden.

This is the third book in the Dread Penny Society but my first read of Eden’s romances. I was straight away attracted to the victorian London crime setting – such a strong favorite – and the two heroes. It’s not often that we get the chance to have a gentle outlaw irish man falling for a strong and generous russian lady. Their romance was slow-paced (as they do have to solve crimes and misfits) but extremely exciting. Every time they share a touch, when she puts her hand in the crook of his elbow, when he puts his hand on her back, when they hold each other hand tightly was beautifully written. It’s a very sweet romance (as opposed to a sexy bodice ripping one) but it’s not without passion or sparkles. Goran Donnelly will leave you exquisitely undone without taking off your petticoat and chemise… one kiss of his in the palm of your hand will be enough. And did i mention that he has an irish accent?!

This very man makes gentleness and generosity so hot and sexy. His care for Vera, his willingness to give her everything and to be there for her with trust and support made me fall for him. Often, gentle heroes tend to be “too gentle”, they lack that delicious spark of life, of danger but somehow Goran was written perfectly as his own character and as a romantic lead.

Vera also held her own. She is a daughter, a strong compassionate neighbour, a woman with a kind heart and a sweet romantic heroine. I really enjoyed how her struggles were shown and how they helped her grow instead of burdening her. I have such love to give to inspirational ladies and Vera truly deserves all the love. I liked that she was russian, that her and her father russian backstory was part of the storyline and not merely just a way to include diversity in the story. The little russian words also seemed well thought and chosen with care.

Vera and Goran share secrets and a kind heart and they seduce each other as much as got seduced by each other. They truly were written as equals, both in resolving the crimes (with a strong echo to another couple but more on that in a few lines) and in the romance… Some of the lines of their romance or about them simply were perfect to me.

Side characters were also lovely and lively. Moirin, Brogan’s sister really stole some scenes by being so intriguing and fierce and i am guessing she will have her own romance stroy at some point. I also really enjoyed the penny dreadfuls stories in the story, especially “the merchant and the rogue”, which echoed the adventure of our main heroes (i do have to admit that “the dead zoo” was maybe a bit too good as it scared me quite a bit).

The crime and mystery story was well paced and compelling with street crimes, political blackmail and the threat of a tempest rumbling. All the pieces of the puzzle were well put into place and the knowledge missing from not having read the previous books did not prevent me from understanding what was at stake and what was happening. However, the ending does leave you to wait for the next installment and the next romance… my bet is that Moirin might fall for a certain american (yes, the romance excitement is high)!

Despite the lack of passionate sexy times, this romance delivered glorious sparkles of love and the thrill of a good crime and mystery storyline! I cannot wait to read the first and second book in this serie while waiting for the fourth one! The merchant and the rogue will be out on August, 17th.

This book is a great addition to the Penny Dreadful series! It had a great balance of mystery, suspense, and romance. I couldn't put it down! I also love the fun and unique cast of characters. Can't wait for the next one!

I was really looking forward to reading Brogan's story. From the bits we get of him in the first 2 books I was excited for this one. Brogan was just as I thought he'd be, sweet, honorable and charming in his quiet way. Vera on the other hand, it's not that she isn't a good character, I just felt she was a little bland. However, I felt the romance was spot on, not too quick or frustrating, just very real and natural. The story revolves around trying to solve a couple of smaller mysteries in Vera's neighborhood while still continuing the other storyline from the previous books. This book definitely sets up some plot for future books.

Overall it was a good story, yet it is not my favorite of the series. You just can't beat Fletcher! I feel like some things were teased at we are left hanging with multiple plot points, so I am looking forward to the next in this series. It better answer some questions I have. I also hope that Moirin gets her own book, I would LOVE more background on her.

I find the other stories a little distracting throughout the book as I did in the others, but I feel like they do add to the story in their own way. And kudos to Sarah for coming up with 3 tales at once. The funny thing is I was so intrigued by The Dead Zoo, that I felt the ending was a bit of let down, it just kind of ended without a clear resolution, or maybe I missed it. I found myself more interested in Mr. King's story, no wonder "he" is the more popular author ;)

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion

I do not know how to adequately express how much I loved this book! It is everything I needed and wanted in this series! I absolutely love how this series in multiple stories in one. I throughly enjoy reading the penny dreadfuls and I love that at least one of the penny dreadfuls follows the main storyline. I cannot wait to read more in this series!

Vera is the daughter of a Russian immigrant who owns a print shop in Southern London. While her father despises writers, Vera is drawn to the Penny Dreadfuls. Borgan hates to lie. He feels like he has lied to everyone and it is getting especially hard to lie to his sister. However, Borgan is given a secret mission from the Dread Master and is therefore, required to leave the dreadfuls, lie even more to his family and those he is close to, and leave the only family he had besides is sister. At the request of the Dread Master, Borgan goes the South London to investigate Vera's father and finds himself employed at their print shop. Forced to use an alias and pretend he is not a writer, Borgan quickly becomes involved with the problems that are occurring in that area of London.

The Merchant and the Rouge is a very interesting book. I haven't read the first two, but I had no problem understanding this one. I also had no familiarity with the penny dreadful before this book and Sarah writes in a way that makes it fascinating. I loved that she shows the penny dreadful stories parallel with the book story,. So well written! I will certainly read the other books.

Thank you Sarah for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Merchant and the Rogue by Sarah M. Eden
The Penny Dreadful Society #3
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery
Publication Date: August 17, 2021

Kind and empathetic Vera spends her day working with her father in his print shop in London. Much to her father’s dismay, the shop has started to sell Penny Dreadfuls (cheap serial literature). Brogan is the writer of a Penny Dreadful series sold in Vera’s shop and a transplant from Ireland. His author friends have banded together and formed a Penny Dreadful Society. The leader of the society has sent Brogan on a top-secret mission where his path crosses with Vera’s.

I have never read the first two books in the series and the beginning of the book did not provide a recap of previous events. How did a group of authors become vigilantes? Why did they care about a Russian Ambassador? Luckily, the plot points that I never really grasped weren’t entirely necessary in order for me to enjoy the story but I definitely think it would have helped.

I also felt like sometimes there were elements of the story that didn’t feel like they were taking place in 1865. For instance, Vera fears for her life and Brogan offers both her and her father to spend the night at his residence. Vera’s father declines but allows her to go by herself. Would a woman in 1865 be allowed to spend a night at a male’s residence unaccompanied by family?

I like the overall mystery element of the plot but could have done without the inclusion of the penny dreadful stories after most chapters. Whenever I felt I was connecting with characters or excited about a plot unraveling I was pulled into a completely different story that had nothing to do with Vera or Brogan.

The romance was quite sweet and wholesome. I’m usually a fan of spicier romances however this did make for a nice change. The two main characters were just two really good people at their core and you couldn’t help but root for them.

I think I’m intrigued enough to add the previous books in the series to my TBR.

My thanks to #Netgalley, #ShadowMountainPublishing and #SarahMEden for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great continuation of this series. More players come into this. We learn about Brogan and his sister. And we meet Vera. These are some compassionate, do good characters. Eden excels at characters you want to love. This series is different in that there are 3 stories going. This is not my favorite thing. There is a penny dreadful story in each of these books written by King, the main member of the story and the story about the main players in this book. It pulls me out of the main story every time these other two stories pop up. I ended up skipping them and going back and reading them after I read the main story. This was much better for my brain. I hate starting a story until I am finished with the last. I enjoyed this story and am waiting for the next!

This is book 3 in the Dread Penny Society and I really like how each character is getting their own story.

The social and political atmosphere of London in the 1860s was really prominent in this one. Of course, the Penny Dreadful authors are always involved and invested in doing what they can for those less fortunate, especially children.

Vera and Brogan begin with a friendship when he's hired to work at her father's print store, but because of his secret, the reader knows there will be a blow out sometime.

I liked seeing characters from the other books and how they all help each other.

As per usual of the series, the main story was flanked by penny dreadful stories that supplement the narrative.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Vera and Brogan in The Merchant and the Rogue by Sarah Eden
I’m sure my patrons will enjoy this book- the latest in the Dread Penny Society series. However the book could easily be read as a standalone: if so I bet patrons will be searching for the first of the series. Brogan is asked to investigate in Vera’s area but to do so he must pretend to leave the DPS and find a job under an assumed name at Vera’s shop. As the action heats up he feel more and more despondent about keeping Vera in the dark. There are two dread penny books going on throughout the book that sensationalize much of the heart of the action for Vera and Brogan and they are scary and delightful. And delightful is the word that best describes The Merchant and the Rogue. I would be happy to recommend this book to my patrons.

The Merchant and the Rogue by Sarah M. Eden is an excellent historical fiction novel that is the third book in the amazing series: The Dread Penny Society.

This book has it all: historical context, wonderful cast of complex characters, mystery, suspense, romance, and an excellent overarching storyline.

I have to admit that I am a personal fan of Ms. Eden as well as of this series. I have enjoyed the previous two books and really feel that each builds onto the next quite nicely. The overarching mystery of evil vs good, right vs wrong and getting to meet a new focal member (or two) of the secret society with each book makes for excellent reading.

This book focusses on the Dublin, Ireland siblings: Brogan and Moirin Donnelly (mainly Brogran of course) in London 1865. We get to learn more about their difficult circumstances that brought them to London, and why they are as they are. I loved learning about why Brogan places himself last, why Moirin is constantly on the defensive, and the character development was just beyond impressive.

I loved his investigation involving Vera Sorokina and her father, Mr. Sorokin. Vera is an intelligent, fiery, loyal, selfless, and beautiful person inside and out. The relationship that naturally developed between the two was a wonderful and perfect addition to the series. I loved the mystery, high-stakes problems, and the resolutions. I really look forward to seeing more of Vera and Moirin maybe in the sister organization???? It would be great to add in Ana Newport (soon to be Mrs. Darby) and Elizabeth could be part of both groups? So many options!!!!

I also loved the inclusion of two perfectly-fitted Penny Dreadfuls. At first they seem random, but I have found they often parallel or add a similar conundrum to the main story at hand with each book. They are crafted specifically for each narrative (I feel), and they only add a wonderful extra layer to the books.

I look forward to the next book in this series (crossing fingers it is Doc next...and his issues with bachelorhood).

Perfect in every way! 5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this excellent arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately (as of 2/22/21 no BB listing has been created) and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/17/21.

This was another fun tale involving the Penny Society. I really like seeing Brogan's character grow, and develop. He had a lot to sacrifice in the beginning, and wasn't sure that it would be worth it. He took a leap of faith! And I admire that bravery.
I like how the story had different tangents: Brogan's unique mission, to the Penny Stories. They all tie in together at the end, but it kept me on my toes! I wish we currently had penny stories in our day!

The one where our hero must realize he’s a hero! (Trying my hand at writing a penny dreadful there.)

Sarah M. Eden is one of my favorite authors; I’m always so excited when she has a new book out, so when I was given an advance reader’s copy of The Merchant and the Rogue, I was beyond excited! For those that aren’t aware, this is the third in a series and I highly recommend reading the first two before picking up this one. The style of these books is unique- some chapters are Brogan/Vera, and other chapters are stories from penny dreadfuls the authors are writing.

I loved both Brogan and Vera’s characters. Brogan views himself as a follower and when he is asked to strike out on his own by the Dread Master, he is pretty sure he’s not the man for the job. But, like a good “foot soldier,” he follows orders. This leads him to Vera’s family shop, and he gets a job there under an assumed name. There is a web of danger and mystery there, and the two have to work together to save the neighborhood and the whole of London from a criminal mastermind called the “Mastiff.”

I particularly liked Brogan as a character. I identified with his feelings of being the “supporting character” and not the leader of any operation; I enjoyed watching him realize that heroes come in all forms and that his particular brand of heroism is exactly what was needed in Vera’s life. Because he had difficulty viewing himself as a hero, he didn’t trample on Vera when she was rallying her neighbors, but rather supported her through the steps and allowed her to take the lead. We need more feminist main men in love stories!

I’ll be honest, the Penny Dreadful series is not my favorite of Sarah M. Eden’s. I love the characters and the storylines, I just often find myself skimming the penny dreadful sections that are the written stories by the characters. I think what she’s set up is a great idea, it’s just not my favorite style. But do I grab one as soon as a new one’s out? You bet! Skimming over the penny dreadfuls doesn’t take away from the rest of the story, in my opinion.

Also, I recently re-read one of Eden’s earliest works and was blown away by how much more complex and developed her storylines and characters have become over the years. I loved her early work, and I’m impressed with how she’s developed and grown as an author in her particular style of literature. You can tell she loves her characters, stories, and history!

I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first book by this author, and for the most part I really enjoyed the main story. While this isn't a stand-alone read, I caught up pretty quickly to the overall plot and as the story progressed I was drawn deeper into the mystery. However, I will say this story started very slowly for me, partly because of the Dread Penny stories (Brogan's "The Dead Zoo: and Mr. King's "The Merchant and the Rogue") that were interspersed throughout the novel. While the stories on their own would have been very interesting and fun to read, I REALLY did not like having to read them in the middle of the main story when all I wanted to do was find out what happened next with Vera and Brogan. I would have preferred if the Penny Dreadfuls were at the end as an extra additive to read rather than in spread out, especially since I found myself skimming through them and didn't think they really added anything to the main plot other than something else for the characters to discuss in general.

For me, the best part of this story was the personalities of all the characters, from Vera and her dad, Brogan and his sister, and the orphan kids. All of them have uniqueness and quirks that I loved seeing come out in the dialog between them. I also really liked how the mystery was built up and how complex it got over time - I was able to figure some things out, but other things surprised me and kept me guessing.

I may check out another book or two in the series to see what happens with the main plot, but I know I'm going to have a hard time again if the additional Penny Dreadfuls stories and mixed in.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review this advanced reading copy!