This is an intriguing collection of weird and wonderful short stories, from the romantic to the magical to the macabre, most with some element of the paranormal. Readers of the Dread Penny series will recognise most, but some are new. It's a while since I read most of them, and it was interesting to re-read, but I also enjoyed the new ones. Some are more my cup of tea than others, and I probably overall prefer them as part of the original series (interspersed with story), but it's still an interesting collection, possibly even a good introduction to the Dread Penny series - though I can imagine some who prefer fantasy enjoying these even if they might not want to read the main series. All in all, a good read, with stories both familiar and new for readers of the Dread Penny books, but also completely independent of those books for readers who just want to enjoy some 'Penny Dreadfuls'.

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

Each short story is written in the style of the Victorian fiction that became so popular during that time period. From ghost stories to adventures to mysteries, The author weaves these gothic tales among her romantic storylines, making it the perfect way to celebrate the Dread Penny Society series
I loved reading these penny dreadfuls in the author’s Dread Penny Society series & whilst reading each book I savoured them & read them after I’d finished each book. I love that they’ve been combined in one book of their own
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Oh man! I have been a fan of Sarah Eden for YEARS! Like nearly since the beginning. Seeing a series come to an end is always a bit melancholy, but to see all of these beauties all together is SWOONY! I just loved all of these. I don’t know how she takes something and puts it in every book, yet makes each book so unique. So different and lovely. Your will be sucked in from book one and sad to see the end!

What a fun collection of penny dreadful stories. It was nice to read the whole story straight thru instead of in segments. I loved the extra stories as well.

A compilation of the Penny Dreadfuls from Sarah M. Eden’s Dread Penny Society series, as well as three new stories from Mr. King, Brogan Donnelly and Stone. One of the things I love about these stories is how Eden wore them all in different writing styles for each author! That can be tricky and she did such a fabulous job with it!

This was my first time reading any of these short stories, and I loved having them all in one place! I haven't read a lot of gothic fiction, but the more I read the genre, the more I love it. Thanks NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for this lovely ARC.

The complete collection of Penny Dreadfuls, now in one book, is a twisted knot of old fashioned, hair-raising stories, some more than others.

But by far my favorite tale to return to is: "HIGGLEBOTTOM’S SCHOOL FOR THE DEAD A GHOST OF A CHANCE by Lafayette Jones"

QUOTABLE: They were going to sneak a Perishable into the Spirit Trials, and they were going to get away with it. Ace, Snout, Bathwater, and Pudding were about to become Higglebottom legends!

I laughed aloud again & thoroughly enjoyed the cleverness of it all. That story is a 5☆ in my opinion.

Overall 4⭐= Very Good

I was sent this eBook by NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher.
All opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation.

Review has been or will be posted on GoodReads, Amzn, BAM, B&N, and my blog.

Oh my this book is fun! A compilation of different tales from the Dread Penny Society series this is a fun, sometimes frightening, read for anyone who enjoys well-written short stories. Written in episodic parts like they were designed for magazine and newspaper circulation justs adds to the charm. The tales are dramatic, over the top and just fun! I know I will be rereading these tales again and again!

The idea of making a volume with all the Penny Dreadful stories in the series — plus some extras — was so clever, and it was delightful to read. The design was really nice and made the book feel special, it was well-organized, and the content of the stories themselves was really fun to read without interruptions. This is a lovely way to end a really fun series, and it’s the kind of special edition book that I would love to buy.

I was so excited when I saw that they were combining all the Penny Serials into one book!! They are so much fun, and I enjoyed them in the DPS books, but having them all together like this is GENIUS!! I love each and every one of these, and look forward to getting a hard copy (because if you have seen them, you will know how GORGEOUS they are!!!). Sarah is a fantastic writer, and this book is no exception!!

These short stories are such a fun read. This book is beautiful and the 3 extra stories are great reads. Definitely recommend this book especially if you are fans of the Dread Penny society books or just like penny dreadfuls.

Until now, the only way you've been able to read Sarah M Eden's Penny Dreadfuls is to read them chapter by chapter in each of the Dread Penny Society books. I love that they have made a book of them, even including 3 brand new Penny Dreadfuls!

One thing that was really interesting to me as I read this collection was the way the author included the history of the Penny Dreadful. I find things like that fascinating.

I love that the styles of these are all different. They almost seem as though they are written by different authors, not just one single author.

I am so excited for you to all read this collection!

I was sent an e-copy of The Dread Penny Society as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This collector's anthology is an absolute treasure for fans of Victorian romance and gothic tales. The cloth-covered hardcover and compilation of penny dreadful short stories from Sarah M. Eden's series is a delightful journey into a bygone era. With the addition of three new, exclusive stories, the book captures the essence of Victorian fiction, blending romance, mystery, and adventure seamlessly. Sarah's skillful weaving of gothic elements into her romantic narratives creates a captivating reading experience that pays homage to the Victorian era's literary charm. An enchanting celebration of the Dread Penny Society series indeed! My favorite tho is the Lady and the Highwayman, really enjoyed that one <3

I love anything that Sarah M. Eden puts out. Ever since she started her Dread Penny Series, I’ve been wanting a book with all the dread Pennies in them. I’m not a huge fan of being interrupted with the main story by them. 😂 Well it looks like I’m not the only who wants it because come September, we are getting the Dread Penny Collection.


It has all the Dread Penny books from the series, with three brand new, never been featured Dread Penny books. We got a Dread Penny by Stone and I loved it!!! Seas monster and possible pirates? Sign me up! All these stories are fun and different. I’m always so impressed when I think that Sarah not only wrote one big story but in addition she also wrote two other stories to go along with each Dread Penny book. That takes skills.

These thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a compilation of the penny dreadful stories that are included in Sarah M. Eden’s Victorian romance/mystery series called The Dread Penny Society. Penny dreadful stories were a popular serial type story that could be could be purchased by common people. For pennies you could purchase the next chapter. The style of writing would have a chapter end with you clamoring to find out what happens next. Eden includes gothic tales of ghosts, vampires, fantasy, mystery, action and of course romance. If you have already read or own the series as I have, you have read most of this book. But as an added bonus three new stories are included. All are written as if the writers in her novels were the authors. This is a unique treat is you are a fan of the series. The penny dreadful stories are stand alone short stories whose characters don’t connect with the novel series. Sometimes themes of the story were related to the novel storyline. Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

This is a fantastic collection of stories! Most of them have a bit of a paranormal element to them or some kind of mystery. They are very interesting and well-written.
I enjoyed rereading the first 10 stories that appear in the dread penny society novels and it was nice to read them all continuously. I also really enjoyed the 3 new penny dreadfuls (one by Mr. King, Stone, and Brogan Donnelly).
I highly recommend this collection for fans of the dread penny society books, but also for fans of fantasy/ghost stories.

I was looking to read the last installment of the Dread Penny series but to my surprise it compiles all the penny dreadful short stories from Sarah M. Eden’s five-book Victorian romance series, which I have relished! And also are three new, never-before-released stories, including The Queen and the Knave; each story is written in the voice of one of the Dread Penny Writer; which was authentic to their personality and story telling! In my opinion each short story could go on to being an independent full length book on its own and I would happily read them all! My favorite being Posie & Pru, two septuagenarian detectives who solve a murder mysteries, in such a heartwarming and human way! This is why Sarah M. Eden is such a powerful storyteller. I cannot wait to own this collectors edition 💖
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in return of an honest review

This is a wonderful collection of penny dreadfuls. Each story is full of mystery and intrigue. They also have a side of romance. Each story is quick to read. I loved trying to figure out the endings. I highly recommend this collection.

I think it's so cool that these stories are gathered together--and I was especially excited that one of the three new stories is by Stone--he's one of my favorite characters. I'd love to have seen him get his own book, but since that didn't happen, this is the next best thing. The penny dreadfuls are so fun to read, both for the parallels to the main books and for the insights into the "author's" of each's personality. I think the fact that Sarah Eden could give each author a distinctive style and voice in an excellent illustration of her amazing writing skills! I thoroughly enjoyed each story and each character. So well done!

I read an e-ARC provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A companion compilation of some classic and wonderful stories from the Dread Penny Society novels!

The Dread Penny Society books are all so creative and well-written. I highly recommend all of them! This anthology contains all five of the “penny dreadful” short stories contained alongside the stories of the original novels, as well as two new short stories! It is a fast and fun read that really transports you to Victorian times.
However, I would recommend reading the series of novels first. Although these could be read as standalone short stories, the different “author’s” voices and the parallels between the novels’ plots and the penny dreadful’s plots add so much detail. If you have read the Dread Penny Society series, please pick this up! Like I said there are two new short stories and they are so amazing!
This is definitly something I want on my shelf alongside the Dread Penny Society series! What a fun idea!

Star Rating: 4/5