The Queen and the Knave

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Pub Date Sep 05 2023 | Archive Date Sep 19 2023

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Description

Romance and mystery come full circle in the fifth and final book of Sarah M. Eden’s best-selling Victorian Proper Romance series.

London, 1866

Móirín Donnelly has spent the last five years working in the shadows for the Dread Penny Society, a secret fraternity of penny dreadful authors who use their profits, influence, and street smarts to protect the poor and vulnerable of Victorian London. But spending so much of her life in secret is taking its toll on her soul—and her heart.

When members of the Dread Penny Society begin disappearing, Móirín turns to her friend Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington for help. The two have developed a friendly rapport, and Móirín feels like she can trust him, though perhaps not with all of her secrets.

Fitzgerald Parkington has a sixth sense when it comes to tracking down criminals, which is why he’s recently been transferred to the Detective Department at Scotland Yard. But when roadblocks and red tape keep him from tracking down the criminal mastermind known as “The Tempest,” he must rely on the one woman who has unexpectedly captured his heart—the brash, bold, and fiery Irish lass, Móirín Donnelly.   

As the Tempest’s deadly reach threatens to overwhelm all of London, Móirín and Fitz are caught in an elaborate game of cat and mouse that leads down back alleys, through dark London buildings, and right to the gates of Kensington Palace. Móirín has one chance to save Fitz and the Dread Penny Society from the Tempest, and she might have to sacrifice her one chance at love to do so.
Romance and mystery come full circle in the fifth and final book of Sarah M. Eden’s best-selling Victorian Proper Romance series.

London, 1866

Móirín Donnelly has spent the last five years working in...

Advance Praise

"Thrills. Highly recommended."

Library Journal, starred review

"Thrills. Highly recommended."

Library Journal, starred review


Available Editions

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ISBN 9781639931521
PRICE $16.99 (USD)
PAGES 368

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Average rating from 201 members


Featured Reviews

What a conclusion!! Wow it wasn’t what I expected but it was what I wanted and needed. I’m sad to see the end of the DPS series but can’t wait for what happens next.

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As I said in my reviews of the previous instalments of the Dread Penny Society series, I usually love Sarah M. Eden books but I am a bit less fond of this series. It's my personal taste, as I'm not too keen on mysteries and books taking place in dark alleys. I've even thought about not finishing the series, but it has grown on me, and so I couldn't resist reading the final instalment in the series, "The Queen and the Knave".

I have to say, it was a good conclusion to the series. Fair warning — one really needs to have read the other books to understand "The Queen and the Knave" as it cannot be read as a stand-alone. I hadn't re-read the previous books very recently so struggled a bit to make sense of all the secondary characters, though this didn't spoil my enjoyment of this novel.

Here, we finally have our dear Móirín Donnelly's story. She is a really great character — strong, determined and selfless, she is an admirable heroine and a great role-model. This novel might officially be shelved as a "romance", but as sweet as the romance was between Móirín and Fitz, it was definitely in the background compared to the rest of the story, which was really more of a mystery. Fitz was an equally good character, and I appreciated how he quietly supported Móirín while completely letting her have the lead.
It was good to see the protagonists from previous books making multiple appearances, even though their fates at the end of the book are mostly up to us to imagine — what will they do next in life, where will they go ? It kinda makes sense not to have to much focus on them though, as the novel is mostly plot-driven.

I find that the author did a good job of writing the mystery overall, especially considering it's not her main genre. The mystery developed in interesting and surprising ways over the 5 books of the series, and especially in this last book, all elements came together for the big finale. I was kinda let hungry for a bigger, flashier final resolution, while at the same time I appreciated that the final "battle" didn't last overly long.

As before, I wasn't the biggest fan of the dread penny stories inserted throughout the books. Although they run parallel to the main story and have similarities, I didn't like that it interrupted the main novel. The dread pennies were good, but I didn't find that it added much to the novel, I would have preferred to have them separately. (P.S. I read Posie and Pru's voices with Philomena Cunk's voice in my head and it was kinda hilarious!)

Sarah M.Eden has a way with words — we forget *how* the book is written because the writing is so fluid, we only concentrate on *what* it says. That I can only applaud! And she used cockney and London slang and old, funny phrases so well that you really hear the characters talk with their accents in your head.

Each instalment in the series has its own particularly flavour because it focuses on a specific theme and place (forgery & print shop, resurectionist & cemeteries, etc.) and this worked really well all along, with this book taking place in gloomy safe houses.
I found the title of the book worked great with this particular story and the colour red matches perfectly! Absolutely gorgeous cover!

*I received a free eARC and this is my honest opinion*

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I loved this installment of the DPS. It was an amazing conclusion and I didn't know what to expect. I couldn't put it down. I'm excited to go back and reread the others!

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What a fantastic book!
Sarah Eden’s work is always wonderful but this book is one of her very best, if not the best. It is part of a series and could be read as a standalone but would be much better after reading the other books for a fuller background and setting. Moirin is the mysterious head of the Dread Penny Society unknown even to most the members. As such she works, along with the other members, to protect and help those in London’s society that are in need. Now the Tempest, the head of a crime organization, has set their sights on the Dread Penny Society and especially Moirin. Soon Detective Parkington, a friend of the society, is pulled into the conflict. As members begin to vanish and lives are hanging in the balance will Moirin and Parkington be able to rescue even themselves from the clutches of the Tempest? Since this is a Dread Penny novel, the reader will also be treated to two short stories written and released as a Dread Penny meaning a chapter at a time. These short stories only add to the fun. I highly recommend this book and the series. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

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tl;dr
An exciting conclusion to the series with lots more action than the previous installments, and a delightful central couple.

Thoughts
I discovered this series sometime last year, and tore through every available book with reckless abandon. By the time the fourth book started dropping hints about the final romance, I was already entirely on board with the proposed couple. And I am very pleased to report that it is everything that was promised. Móirín was already one of my favorites, so it's great to finally see her get the focus. Fitz hadn't gotten quite as much attention in previous volumes, so there was a bit of a rush to fill us in on his backstory in this volume, but nothing too egregious. Their banter was very cute, with enough gentle ribbing to be playful without getting mean. That being said, the romance definitely takes a back seat to the plot here, with threads from all of the previous books in the series finally coming together. There's a good chunk of action, some mystery, some blood, and a lot of little twisty plot things to keep readers guessing. As always, two extra stories of varying genres are included. They're both a fun read, although the comedy one can feel very jarring sitting between tense chapters of main story plot. Overall, this feels like a great conclusion to the series. Mysteries from the previous books are wrapped up nicely, and the central couple are exceptionally cute. I will miss reading DPS, but I am happy how it ended.

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I have really loved the penny dreadful series. This book is the best of the bunch and ends in a very satisfying way. I loved getting three stories in one book. The little stories from Mrs King and whoever the book is telling the story from this person point of view are fun to read. Sometimes I was so into the main story that I didn’t want to stop and read the other stories. Overall a great book and a great series.

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In true Eden fashion this story (among stories) of Fitz and Moirin was perfect and captured my undivided interest. As always I read from start to finish in a single day, can't put down a Sarah M Eden book if I wanted to, which I don't.
The same beloved characters from previous DPS novels are here and intertwined within the pages are the Penny Dreadful serials we all have come to know and love.
If there is one thing I could have hoped for was a story about Stone but perhaps the future will come with an anthology or similar book with stories of all the dreadful so we can learn more of these amazing characters.

Either way this one receives 5 stars as it ranks up there with the best of the best, or can I say it IS the BEST of the best.

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I discovered this series when the second came out and I just really enjoy them. They always make me happy to read

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I love the structure of this series and enjoy being immersed in the Dread Penny Society with the quirky use of language in this series. This final installment has Moirin Donnelly, the Dread Master, as the main character along with her newly-promoted detective friend, Fitz Parkington. They confront The Tempest that has been terrorizing London. There's a secondary plot about Fitz's grandfather that fizzles at the end of the book.

This book in the series does not stand alone, as many elements that are critical to the story that appear in earlier books aren't revisited. For example, the Radlett murder is mentioned, but there is no reminder of what that was. I've read all the books in the series and couldn't recall the details.

Where this book suffered for me was in pacing and unclear action sequences. The middle 50% of the book moves more slowly than the start and end. The ending action sequences mostly happen inside the Dread Penny clubhouse, but there are points when descriptions of where people are positioned are vague. The chains and gibbet cage that are pivotal in one of the final scenes aren't clearly described. At first, the cage is just said to be a gibbet. It caused some frustration because those scenes are full of emotion and characters readers have grown to love. To not have a clear description of what is happening could be frustrating.

Elizabeth's stories (written as Mr. King) are as strong as always. Moirin's story isn't quite as interesting, but we'll give her a pass as a writer since she has a lot going on in this book!

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Spoiler Free

“The Tempest is here.”

The finale book in The Dread Penny Society is here and it did not disappoint! I’m always a little nervous when a book series ends, but Sarah Eden did such a good job at wrapping up the series. You really should read the first four books before you read this one.

This book picks up where the last book ended. We found out that Móirín Donnelly is the Dread Master and the Dread Penny Society members are in danger. I loved that we get to know Móirín more! She is such a strong character and there’s a reason why she is the Dread Master. She is hiding from the law in Scotland which makes things a little tricky with Fitz Parkington.

Fitz is such a good man. He loves his job as a constable and does his best to help the people of London. His banter between him and Móirín had me laughing throughout the book. He didn’t hesitate to help his friends solve the mystery of the Tempest. Which that mystery had me at the edge of my seat.

This book was one I could not put down. I had to know how it all ended. We got to see all the couples from the other books which made me so happy. The suspense was so good. And the Penny Dreadful that was written by Móirín was hilarious! I loved the characters in that one.

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This book started with a bang and didn’t slow down. Móirín. Is. Amazing. I adore her character and the action and romance of the book was a great balance. I’m trying to so hard not to spoil because I want to gush about everything lol.

It was harder at times to figure out what Móirín was saying because of her accent. I really enjoyed the puzzle and the new way of speech. I loved the authenticity of having an accent when you’re an immigrant and seeing the differences in pronunciation was so cool to me.

Definitely recommend. You should absolutely read the rest of the series before this one however. Otherwise, you won’t have half as much fun as I did because you won’t have a mystery to chew on.

This was an honest review of an ARC provided to me.

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Wow, I can’t believe that this series has come to an end. The Queen and the Knave is the fifth and final book in Sarah M Eden’s Penny Dreadfuls series. This has been an amazing series and I am so sad to see it end. This book is part of a series and it needs to be read in order otherwise it wouldn’t make sense.
Okay, so I have really enjoyed the other books so I was excited for this one but I have a bit of mixed feelings. I was honestly a little confused by everything that was going on, it was a lot to take in. However I loved that Móirín was getting her own book. She is so cool! And it was fun to read about Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington.
The romance was sweet but it was not the main part of the story. Móirín and Fitzgerald had to work together to try to beat the Tempest at her game. I loved getting to know Móirín and understand her more, she had such a deep backstory. Fitzgerald was also a wonderful character, he definitely fit her. I loved his loyalty and his love for those around him. The plot was interesting and it did keep me engaged although I did get a little lost. However, this was still a wonderful book.
The Queen and the Knave was an exciting end to this lovely series. I would totally recommend it!The Queen and the Knave is a clean historical fiction mystery romance book set in London.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

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This is the end of the series and this book was a great ending. I hate that it's ending I will miss these characters but I really like this. This was so good.
I just reviewed The Queen and the Knave by Sarah M. Eden. #TheQueenandtheKnave #NetGalley
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This is one series where you need to have read the book before to understand what's going on in this one. This is the final installment and everything points to the culmination of what happened before.

First, let me get it out of the way that I'm not a fan of the dread penny stories inserted in the main story. It breaks the flow.

There's a LOT going on in this story. We get updates on all the other couples and characters, and we see all of them come together to defeat the villain. Móirín and Fitz are the main characters and, although we get to see their relationship grow (and they are super cute), it's the main mystery and the fight against The Tempest that take precedence.

The Victorian setting is well done, sordid and dark with a ray of hope, just like Charles Dickens would do.

The theme of found family, with loyalty and justice, is the main one in the series and this story.

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

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Sarah does it again! How does she have so many unique stories in her head! This series is so different but is so good! The twists and turns are amazing! I loved this so much from beginning to end!

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To sum up my thoughts in one word...WOW! This was everything all rolled into one! Of course you had the fantastic storytelling from Sarah Eden, but also the suspense, romance, thrill, and laughter. This was the perfect conclusion to this series (though, I wouldn't mind getting to see these characters again, years in the future, and seeing where their paths lead them). I love how different this series has been form others I have read. You get serval stories in one, with the inclusion of the Penny Dreadful stories. While this story is excellent in and of itself, you cannot read it as a standalone. You must read the other stories in the series, in order, to understand this one. We finally get to met the Dread Master and learn her(!) story! Móirín is the best lead character! She makes the perfect Dread Master, you wonder why you didn't piece it together when you see bits of her strong character before. I am sad my time in the world of the Dread Penny Society is over, but I cannot wait to revisit these stories again and again! Well done!

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My Thoughts:

This series of five books is complete. I had read #4 not long ago, but I’m so glad I took the chance to binge read the whole series in a week when I received the final ARC. You can read them as individual books, but the stories are so tightly interwoven that you really should get the whole five-story plot arc together.

And, while billed as “proper romance”, the romance is not, in my mind, the focus of the stories. There are mysteries to solve—each of the first four books lead us into the final showdown.

One common theme of this series is that everyone has a past that has made them who they are. For the most part, difficult pasts have led the focus characters to fight for right and to help the downtrodden, in a society that is still very much run by class.

We begin with a schoolmistress and a former street urchin turned author of “penny dreadfuls”, the lower-class literature that thrilled and entertained. But he’s also a member of a secret society of penny dreadful authors who fight crime (while sometimes committing a few crimes of their own in pursuit of the greater good).

We move on to a music teacher and a gentleman who also writes penny dreadfuls. Then to a bookseller/Russian émigré and an Irishman—again, a writer. And a doctor/writer and his secret wife, who comes from a crime family.

We end with the oddest pairing of all—a woman who committed murder and a police constable.

The mysteries are intriguing. As we learn more and more of the criminal mastermind, the fearsome Tempest, we also learn more of what makes our characters tick. The entire series plays out in a little over a year, and it is nice to be able to follow the aftermath of the prior books as each book moves along. Unlike some series romance, prior characters still play a part beyond name-dropping.

I especially looked forward to the final volume, as I wanted so much to know the why and the how of the formation of the Dread Penny Society. While this was explained, I felt like there could have been more. Likewise with the why of the Tempest’s quest for revenge, and why one particular traitor sold out the Dreadfuls.

I think the elements of intrigue were well-balanced with the romances. These were romances that were allowed to develop, based on admiration and companionship. Each had a reason why it might be impractical, but, despite danger and turmoil, love won the day.

There were many well-developed secondary characters in addition to the ten romantic leads. The street urchins, others of the Dreadfuls, family members—all added to the depth of worldbuilding.

As with other books published by Shadow Mountain, there is no cursing and the narration of the romantic interludes doesn’t progress beyond kissing.

One more note: Each of these books, in addition to the main narrative, contains two “penny dreadful” stories that parallel the main story. So Eden was really writing three stories every time!

Possible Objectionable Material:

Foul play, including thievery and murder, fighting, perilous situations, dishonesty, poverty.

Who Might Like These Books:

Fans of clean romance, Victorian London, mystery and adventure.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for providing ARCs of these books in exchange for my honest opinion.

These books are also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2023/04/a-penny-dreadful-for-your-thoughts.html

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This was an anticipated read as it is the final in this series! It was well worth the wait! So much happens in this one, you will be on the edge of your seat until the very end! I didn't want it to end!

*note- series is best enjoyed when read in order

I received an ARC from Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

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Wow…. Sarah Eden is genius!!. What an incredible addition to this series. I loved all the intrigue and adventure. And how you are actually getting 3 stories in one.

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Living in secret is not how Móirín Donnelly wants to live her life but has no choice but to do just that. Móirín has spent the last five years secretly working for the Dread Penny Society and has been on the run from the police for longer. When the Dread Penny Society discovers who The Tempest is and members start to disappear, Móirín turns to an unlikely ally, Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington.

Fitzgerald Parkington has a talent in catching criminals and is recently promoted to the Detective Department at Scotland Yard. When trying to make progress at tracking down The Tempest, he finds himself getting pushback from his superior. Fitz soon turns to Móirín and finds that he is also losing his heart to her.

With The Tempest’s reach encompassing all of London, Móirín and Fitz find themselves racing through London to try to stop her. When the chase leads them to a surprising place, Móirín finds herself with one chance to save those she loves including the man who has unexpectedly stolen her heart.

Móirín is the ultimate leading lady. Strong, stubborn and devoted, Móirín is a powerful woman who lets nothing stand in her way. Teaming up with Fitz, makes them an unstoppable duo. I loved how their story unfolded too.

Sarah M. Eden is a master at her craft. She has the ability to create a world full of characters and adventure that draws her readers in and keeps them captivated until the final page. This was my experience with “The Queen and the Knave.” With this being the final installment in the Dread Penny Society series, I had high hopes for a great ending and I was not disappointed. Full of all the surprises and adventure that I have come to expect, “The Queen and the Knave” was the exact conclusion I was looking for.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced e-ARC. These opinions are my own.

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“The Tempest called herself "the violence" and "the storm." This was what she meant. Chaos. Overwhelming threats from all directions.
I know what will break you.
That was where the Tempest was wrong. Móirin Donnelly was the Dread Master, and she did not break.”

The Queen and the Knave is an excellent end to The Dread Penny Series by Sarah M. Eden! This book exceeded all my expectations! I can’t say enough good things about it!

This is the final installment in The Dread Penny Society series and it picks up where book 4 left off. I was quickly enthralled as I was thrown back into the streets of Victorian London with all the beloved characters of the previous books. I’ve loved Moirin Donnelly from the beginning. She is an incredibly intelligent character. I loved having a strong female character be the head of the secret dread penny society.

The battle between the Tempest and Moirin was mind blowing! The way they went head to head was insane. The way the Tempest always seemed to be a step ahead was so cunning. The twists and turns she took us through!

As with the other books in this series, we get a glimpse of two penny dreadfuls that align with the main storyline. The story about the detectives Posie and Pru might be my favorite of all the penny dreadfuls. They have a lot of heart and spunk!

Of course I can’t forget the romance between Moirin and Fitz. They have the best snarky and sassy flirtations. Despite being from different sides of the law, they work well together against their common enemy.

This book did a great job of tying up all the loose ends from the entire series. This final chapter in the dread penny society is not one to be missed!

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Perhaps the most satisfying and fulfilling conclusion of any series I’ve read! The Queen and the Knave by Sarah M. Eden concludes the Dread Penny Society series.
The camaraderie between the DPS members and supporting characters is special and meaningful. The dialogue, banter, wit, and ultimate loyalty is a beautiful picture of friendship. Together, they stand for what is right. The perfect blending of all their gifts and talents bring the culmination of this series to a breathtaking head. The Tempest is brilliant and maniacal; the efforts to thwart the mastermind kept me turning the pages as quickly as I could. The mystery is so well written and perfectly balanced all the converging storylines. I don’t want to mention any names as that would feel like a spoiler. However, all the characters finally step up and into the light and all my questions were answered. The ending was perfectly satisfying. I’d be remiss not to mention the penny novels along the way. The creativity of the novels inside a novel that correspond to the primary storyline is outstanding!!! Exemplary creative storytelling. If you’ve not read other books in the series, you definitely need to start there to understand the background and significance of the brilliance of this particular conclusion. I simply cannot recommend it highly enough!!!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

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For four books and four years, Eden has built steadily toward this action-packed conclusion, and it was worth every day of waiting. The arrival of the Tempest in book four sent our Dreadfuls to ground, and now, the Dread Master must finally reveal herself if she's to protect her people and her city. To do so, Maeve must partner with Fitz Parkington, despite her mistrust of policeman, and they're well-matched in determination, competency, and even playfulness, when they get a rare moment to breathe. The Queen and the Knave begins with tension that only increases from there until you can't put it down and find yourself gasping and cheering for the big finale. If you've waited to start this series until it was all out, be assured it not only stays good but gets better with each installment, and the ending is everything you could want.

My thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review

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Hold on to your seats, Dread Penny Society fans, with this concluding episode of our fine group of fellows, the stakes are higher than ever. All is revealed in this exciting conclusion!

This story is a tangled web that began with the Lady and the Highwayman. The layers were added little by little and eventually we have such a satisfying ending to this society that is set on helping the less fortunate. With the clues laid bare until there is nowhere left to hide, the final showdown is not to be missed.

Once again, the penny dreadfuls inside the story are delightful and intriguing. It is three stories in one. Sarah Eden's book is rich in detail and delightful in the reading. It is cliche to say I couldn't put it down, but it is true. There is so much to learn and to solve before the end.

The story is full of familiar characters as well as new ones who just add so much to this world. The ending of this book feels like a new beginning. Clear your calendars, you won't want to miss this one.

I received an early copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest review,

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What a thrilling end to this series! I have truly enjoyed getting to see this story through and love all the characters. It brings to light the empowerment of many and what society was like in British past. It is so fun to learn about penny dreadful stories. I won't be disappointed if there are spin offs!

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Where intrigue, conspiracy, and romance meet!
Sarah M. Eden wows with the latest installment in her Dread Penny Society Series.
With unpredictable twists and turns from start to finish, this latest installment is almost impossible to put down! For the last five years Móirín Donnelly has been secretly working as the Dread Master for the Dread Penny Society, a secret society for penny dreadful authors who use their profits and time helping the vulnerable on the streets of London. With "The Tempest" causing even more problems and snatching up the Dread Penny Society members, Móirín teams up with Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington. Over the recent past, the two have developed a friendly rapport and, despite him being a "blue bottle," Móirín decides she must trust him with some, but not all of her secrets, if she is to save those who have, unknowingly, put their trust in her.

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A fun adventure, but read this series in order.

I wanted to love this, and there were parts I really did enjoy. However, this is one where I think I’ll need to go back and reread the previous installments. And honestly that sounds like a treat! The writing and characters in this book were lovely, it was just hard to follow without having caught up with the other books in the series. So although I recommend this book, I think it will be better in order.

Star Rating: 3/5
Tropes: Second chance, enemies to lovers, slow burn

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This was a great conclusion to an exciting and unique series! I really enjoyed how things wrapped up in this final installment. It was a gripping story and I wished it was longer. There were a few things I would have loved to read more details about, but it was still a complete story. I enjoyed the penny dreadfuls in this story and once again enjoyed getting to read three books in one. This series does need to be read in order.

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The final installment in the Dread Penny Society series, The Queen and the Knave lived up to all of my expectations. The whole series shows masterful execution of a really unique idea that I've never seen done by anyone else. The premise is that there is a group of penny dreadful authors who use their skills and the proceeds of their sales to help the less fortunate in Victorian London. Throughout the series, the stakes get higher and more people are added to the group as couples form and the plot thickens. Each book includes penny dreadful installments from at least one of the authors, which is a really fun addition.

The Queen and the Knave follows Moirin Donnelly and Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington as they work with the rest of the Dreadfuls in an attempt to thwart the Tempest, a ruthless foe who wreaks havoc throughout London, once and for all. It's a dangerous game with deadly consequences, and it seems Moirin is the only one who can possibly defeat the Tempest.

It's a fast-paced story with lots of adventure and mystery as they try to uncover the villain's motivations. It was also fun watching Moirin and Fitz's relationship bloom through witty dialogue and learning to rely on each other. All the characters in this book (except the Tempest, of course) are really likable and easy to root for. I do recommend starting at the beginning of the series for maximum enjoyment. Anyone who likes a historical romance with elements of mystery and adventure will love The Queen and the Knave.

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It’s finally here.. the conclusion to the Dread Penny Society series.
I will say that this is a series that needs to be read in order. There is so much referenced from the past books or a backstory that needs to be understood to truly enjoy this final book.

Overall I found it very enjoyable. The themes of family, justice, and loyalty fill the pages. It was exciting, witty, and had just the right amounts of romance woven in. Just like the previous books we have two penny dreadful stories shared throughout the book so you get three stories in one. While I like these I didn’t really engage with these side stories for the first time like I have in the past🤷🏼‍♀️.
We get glimpses of all our favorite dreadfuls and “the tempest” was a fascinating character to unravel. She kept everyone on their toes. I was very satisfied with the conclusion and how everything wrapped up.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

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This was such a satisfying conclusion to the Dread Penny Society series.

Now that both the Dread Master and the Tempest's identities are known (at least to the reader!), things are heating up to a showdown between the two. We see more of Officer Parkington and learn just why, of all of London's bobbies, he can be trusted by other officers and the Dread Penny society alike.

I would have liked to see more of the characters we've met in previous books, but loved getting to know Moirin better.

5 stars all the way!

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First off, you MUST read this series in order. You will be totally lost if you don't.

Now that this is out of the way, I have to say wow just wow! I will admit I wasn't excited about the series when I first heard of it. But I am a sucker for Victorian and I LOVED the first book so much that I was converted.

This book is similar to the others, it has the penny dreadfuls woven throughout and changes POV's between hero and heroine. Content touches on tough situations and crimes that were prevalent at that time, but absolutely nothing in detail or graphic. I would totally let my middle school age child read this book. It is a clean 'light' read of very dark situations if that makes sense. Now that doesn't mean it's not descriptive, because it is, its just not the gritty, gory details that it could have been. I would recommend highly if you are into mystery, keep you guessing, fiction with romance. I will definitely be buying for my bookshelf. I find the Penny stories a little annoying to jump back and forth, but you can always not read them It doesn't detract from the overall story in anyway.

Pros:
Clean, fun, so witty!!
Mystery, it kept me guessing. Though it didn't have the shocking revelations that the last book had, this one still had some twists I didn't expect.
Loved seeing all the past characters again!

Cons:
The dialogue - I appreciate Sarah's use of actual terms and slang, but this book felt completely full of them and made it slightly hard to read. I feel like every book added more and more slang to it. I would have rather just had the spoken dialogue in slang and thoughts in 'proper english'.
Ending- Felt a little too tidy, but then I usually think books of the type tie it up too quick. And though she doesn't write epilogues, I like a little peek into the future so I wished for that.

WARNING spoilers below
I will admit in the first couple of books I totally shipped Moirin and Stone so I wasn't totally sold on Fitz as the love interest. But he's sweet and witty and I loved him by the end. However, I felt like they started this book in love, it was very rushed. Though with everything going on, I get why it needed to be. I just thought that it seemed a little fast..

Why didn't we get more background on Fitz' grandpa? He searches for 20 years and he gets a one sentence explanation? Wished for a bit more detail there. And Nolan got away? Boo! Maybe she's planning a spin off

Great read, will definitely read again. I highly recommend

This book was given to me from the publisher for my honest review.

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It was with great anticipation I picked up this book, having loved the buildup in the previous books in the series. Generally speaking, Sarah M. Eden's books can be read on their own without the depth of understanding from the other books in the series and this holds true for this book, but do yourself a favor and enjoy the other books in the series first! I am enamored with her Penny Dreadfuls (serialized novellas interwoven and connecting to the main story) that are strategically installed throughout the book and found these particular ones especially delightful. The conflict was real and the conclusion wasn't to quickly achieved - but knowing all the loose ends would be tied up made this well worth the lost sleep! Best of all are her beloved characters and I loved seeing all the ones from the series in addition to some new ones in this book - they are so real in my mind and I love their individual accents and cant, personalities and quirks.

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

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The last installment of the Dread Penny society is going to be released on September 5th and it is amazing!

If you haven't read any of the books in the series you should start now so you are prepared since this is definitely a series where the books cannot stand alone but are built on one another.

The final book has all the mystery, suspense, wit and of course swoony kisses you will love. The book was faster paced and the in between Penny Dreadful stories are amazing too. It is definitely one where I was turning page after page and couldn't wait to see where each story would end up. If you are looking for a series that has good versus evil, defeating the underworld of London, great mini stories woven throughout the main novel and of course perfect romance this is one you should give a go.

Grateful to be able to read this ARC copy from Sarah M Eden, Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley.

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As always, so good!! I love this series and this was a great end to it. Lots of twists and turns. Very Sherlock Holmes vs Moriarty like. The Penny Dreadful stories interspersed through out the main story were both cute and fun. I highly recommend.

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4.5 ⭐️

this was really really good. what a great conclusion to the series. i enjoyed it more than i thought i would. i was honestly nervous as to how it will end but i am feeling very satisfied right now 😌

the plot. the phase. the tension. the action. the ending. THE CHARACTERS — everything was great in this one. the second half of the book was the best 👏🏼

i loved loved loved Móirín. honestly, one of the best female leads i have come across. brave yet kind. smart yet sweet. 🫶🏼

also, the other two additional stories were very enjoyable too. loved them both.
i will miss these characters but i am glad to have read their happily ever afters! ❤️

last but not least, i would like to request the author: please please write Stone’s book too. i really like his character and now Celia too. would love to read their book as well. 🥺

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc.

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This is an incredible book and continuation of the Dread Penny Society series. I loved continuing the story of the Dread Master, Moirin. This read was suspenseful and kept me well entertained with many twists and turns prior to the shocking conclusion. I loved that the author put all of the prior dread penny society leads into this book. I loved seeing their interactions with each other and their willingness to risk their own lives for each other . If you haven’t read the others I’d highly recommend you read the other books in the series before reading this one. It was super helpful that I have read all the other books. Fitz was a great addition to this book . I appreciated his detective sleuth work and how he was always thinking of how to keep Moirin safe by helping her not doing for her what she could do her self . I love the love match. I love that they were equals. Each doing what they do best .

This book was engaging and suspenseful a fabulous combination . I will read this again !

I would like to think Netgalley and the publishing company for providing me a free copy in exchange for an unbiased review .

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Sarah M. Eden does it again! I loved this story and the fun characters and the witty banter.

I just reviewed The Queen and the Knave by Sarah M. Eden. #TheQueenandtheKnave #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

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What a fantastic conclusion to the Dread Penny Society series! With dramatic and surprising conclusions, all the favorite characters are back, and contributing to a spectacular finale. How does Sarah Eden do it - write such tight storylines and all with such accurate characterization, historicity, and finesse too? And then she writes in different styles from the main story to include representation of the different Penny Dreadful authors, all in the same book! She is a highbrow elite in my book! Now I have to go back and re-read the rest of the series, and maybe this one too so that I can enjoy again how all the details fit together in this tightly woven set of tales. 4 1/2 stars, because while it's not a life-changing book, it is delightful fun!

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Wow! The twists and turns of this story just keep going. The knowledge of the face of the Dread Master from the last book just kept things moving forward. As things get more and more dangerous, the Dreadful prove themselves worthy of the trust of those around them. Trying to stay ahead of the Tempest gets harder and harder. And finding all those in cahoots with her gets bigger and bigger.

And then there is Moirin and Parkington. That was an excellent development.

I have loved this series, and so hope that it will continue in some way!

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This was a great wrap up for this series. After the shocking twist in the end of book 4 I was pretty scared to read this one. When I read, (or watch movies) I am overly empathic so when something is scary or horrifying I feel it deeply. And since I typically hate feeling scared I tend to avoid those types of books/movies. Also, I often get nightmares after reading scary stuff. I generally read light and fluffy happily ever after stories. But I love this author in general so I picked up book 1 and started the series. And once started I had to continue. That didn't keep me from being afraid to read this last installment though.

A lot of horrifying stuff happens through out this series because the bad guys are pure evil. To understand what is going on in this you need to start from the beginning of the series. It would be too confusing to read them out of order. And through all of them you can expect good people to fight against the evil but there is a lot of darkness along the way. And there is romance.

I enjoyed Móirín and Fitz in this book. The romance includes a lot of banter which is always a win for me. And I loved the way they worked together to defeat the villains.

As in the other books you will be treated to Penny Dreadfuls that may give some insight into what is happening in the characters' lives as well. I found Posie and Pru to be much needed comic relief for me so I was grateful for that one particularly. I'm rather hoping they find a ghost dog as they continue on... :)

Part of me is just plain relieved to have finished the final chapter in this series but I confess another part of me wants to start at the beginning and binge read the the whole series again. It would be interesting to see clues I missed along the way. And maybe it wouldn't be so horrifying to me since I already know how it turns out.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: yes, murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, beatings, perilous situations etc

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I really enjoyed this book! It is a perfect ending to the series. Sarah has proven she can write mystery as well as she does romance. I would love that see more mystery, as that is one of my favorite genres. This book picks up right where The Bachelor and the Bride ends. I was hooked immediately. I love my job. It interfered with me being able to read straight through! That and sleep. I think I'll get caught up on that over the next couple of days.

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I really enjoyed the final installment of the Dread Penny Society series. I liked but didn't love all the books in the series, but I really loved this one and felt like it fully wrapped up everything and ended it great! Lots of suspense and excitement, a nice little romance, two great penny serials intermixed and overall a great read!

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This is the end of the series. I have liked each story less and less and this was no different. It was a culmination of everything and I was lost. The middle was slow. The action was all over. The romance got lost in the bigger story. I am not a fan of the penny stories' in the middle. It really breaks up the flow and I just haven't liked them or felt they were relevant.

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Sarah M. Eden delights readers with "The Queen and the Knave", the riveting conclusion of her Dread Penny Society series. The familiar three-story format is used here, but with one significant difference in Mr. King's story. The Tempest is a major character in the penny dreadful that mirrors the main story.

Móirín Donnelly's story is finally told, and she must outwit the clever Tempest. A strong and intelligent woman, she joins forces with unlikely ally Fitz Parkington as they engage in a complicated cat and mouse with the criminal puppet master. These two apparent opposites nevertheless engage in witty banter, and they find they're not so dissimilar after all. Indeed, all characters are well-drawn, and descriptions of Victorian London are vivid, down to some characters' Cockney or common speech. In addition, I now know what a pine marten is. They're adorable, but can be fierce. I did expect a more detailed conclusion of Fletcher and Elizabeth's story; however, there is a lot going on in this book. The main characters in the previous installments, as well as several ancillary players, make appearances. This novel does not stand alone, and this unique series is best understood if the tales are read in order.

Sarah M. Eden is a very talented wordsmith, and she employs three distinct writing styles in each book of this unusual serial. I have thoroughly enjoyed all five books, and am sad to say farewell to the Dread Penny Society.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC of this outstanding work.

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The Penny Dreadful Society continues in it’s epic fight against evil in Victorian London. By day, the PDS members write, you guested it, Penny Dreadfuls…serialized gothic tales and thrillers published weekly and priced at 1 penny to be affordable and addictive to the masses. In reality, this is a diverse group of people who fight for the poor and forgotten in a grim Victorian society with no social safety nets….no laws against child labor or provision of old age pensions, no laws governing workplace safety, minimum wage, or requiring decent living conditions.
The Queen and the Knave brings to a head the DPS’s fight against a network of mysterious and ruthless criminals lead by the terrifying and invisible Tempest. Who is he/she, what do they want, and what is the extent of their power? Moirin Donnelley, a brave and audacious young Irish woman living in London and on the run from a terrible incident in Dublin, is the Dread Master…the leader of the PDS, None of the members knows of her role but they do know her as the sister of a fellow member. Her intelligence and street smarts give her the ability to guide the Dreadfuls anonymously. Added to this mix of characters is Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington, an honest, smart and savvy cop who has is own secrets and and an interest in Moirin….not as a fugitive but as the most intriguing woman he’s ever met. As the join forces to fight evil, can their mutual attraction overcome their many differences and obstacles to love?

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This was a perfect conclusion to the Dread Penny Society series! I am sad to see it end, but this definitely gave the series an ending full of adventure, mystery, action, and of course, love!

Móirín Donnelly is one of my favorite characters of the entire series. One of my favorite things about her is her love for those around her. She is a great leader, and uses her friends' strengths to form her strategies. I loved seeing what she could do now that people know she is the leader!

Fitz was such a great addition to the DPS group, and I loved his role in the book.

I loved the two penny novels included in the book. I haven't always loved them in past books, but they worked really well in this one!

I would definitely recommend reading the series before reading this last novel!

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing, NetGalley, and Sarah M. Eden for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

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This book is the perfect ending to a brilliant series!

Sometimes I find myself at a loss of words when it comes to giving my opinion on a book. "The Queen and the Knave" puts me in the same situation. There's a lot to process ;)
While the entire series was amazing, "The Queen and the Knave" has my heart. Móirín caught my attention from the first volume, with her knife to boot;) The relationship between Móirín and Fitzgerald is what I loved the most. I simply love the way they tease each other.
Romance is not the main theme of this series, which, in my opinion, makes it so good. I always enjoy a healthy dose of mystery and suspense laced with romance.
I also love how all the previous volumes pave the way for the final battle.
The whole series, and this volume in particular, is truly brilliant. (Point to the mastermind behind it;)❤

The author's writing style is one of the reasons why her books are so beautiful. Funny, witty and easy to understand. For this reason, Mrs. Eden is one of my favourite authors (and because she's a true genius when it comes to plotlines.)

A part that I really liked was: "She turned to face them all. The bruises hadn't entirely faded, and the scuffs and cuts were still healing. But they were all there, still standing, still dedicated to the cause they'd pledged themselves to."

// I really thing that, for a clearer understanding, the series should be read in order.//

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

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Sarah Eden’s Dread Penny Society series is a fun tour through Victorian England. In The Queen and the Knave, the Society’s secret Dread Master, Moirin Donnelly, is in danger of being unmasked and much worse. The uber-villain known as Tempest has set her sights on destroying both Moirin and the Dread Penny Society and begins by kidnapping the members one by one. Moirin enlists the help of constable Fitz Parkington and they embark on quests through dark alleys, secret hideaways, and even the sewers of London in their efforts to stop the Tempest from destroying everything they care about and much of London as well.
As with previous books in the series, there is plenty of mystery, adventure and a little romance along with accurate descriptions and details of the era. Chapters are interspersed with excerpts of the Penny Dreadful stories written by the members and add both entertainment and depth. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Moirin, Fitz, and all of the entertaining recurring characters and look forward to reading about their next adventures.

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Fantastic work, as always. Very much enjoyed this one. Thank you to the author and publisher for my arc copy, opinions stated are my own.

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What a thrilling conclusion to the Penny Dreadful novels! Sarah kept me hopping from start to finish. From platonic relationships, romantic relationships, enemies, suspense, and so much more! This novel held everything a Sherlock t.v. episode mixed with the sweetest of romance the Queen and the Knave work side by side. While the Penny Dreadfuls were not as present in this installment, it followed the story as to why. I love how Sarah Eden has branched out from historical romance to adding in this taste of suspense and mystery. She will stay on my must-read list no matter the genre!

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I absolutely loved this book! Every time I read one of Sarah’s books, I feel like she’s outdone herself, and that holds true here. I loved how the Dread Penny Society wrapped up, and yet I’d read a whole bunch more books in this series! Character-wise, I thought Fitz and Moirin were fantastic. I loved their banter and their easy manners. They just fit so well. I’m definitely hearing up for a series reread!

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Delivered with a capital “D” for Dazzlingly Dreadful. This is a riveting finale, not a standalone, so don’t you dare not enjoy this mystery and peril crescendo from the beginning.

I’ve been up and down with the books in this series (#4 still my favorite) but mostly because of personal predilection for internal conflict romance, which here is mostly lacking between our highly secretive but sweet low-angst couples. It is a fabulously fun Victorian world, I adore the penny dreadful stories format, and our main banterrific couple was once again, as Ms. Eden does so well, stellarly complementary.

Spoiler free, I’ll just throw out my main suggestion of what, as a reader and fan, I sorely feel we needed and didn’t get: a prologue. I absolutely was floored and SO on board for the reveals in the previous book, and yet I needed/wanted some on- page set-up to how the DPS came to be, how both the Tempest and the Master rose up (safe houses and cohort thugs don’t grow on trees, you know?). That would’ve been so great to see those beginnings as part of the finale and further cement some characterization for the founders while we’re at it. That, and that one of the secondary penny storylines was as charming as it was skimmable. But the other one is all very high stakes, magic, class difference, sweet couple, agh, more than made up for it in all it’s parallel themes magnificence. I loved it! Even spine of steel resilient queens need loyal knaves to call them “love” *sigh*

Wishful comments out of the way, I marvelled from beginning to end at how so many moving parts to this series end were managed so satisfactorily. The climactic peril, the developing romance, the proportional presence of the ensemble, the pacing and placing of the secondary storylines, and that third act ramped up to the appropiate heart-pounding level of “How will this work out?” bonkers. The ending was perfectly full circle, and I’m so happy I read this series.

Content notes: kissing only, mention of attempted assault, some non-graphic bloody violence.

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I wholeheartedly enjoyed this final installment of the Dread Penny Society series. It was excellent!

London, 1866.

Móirín Donnelly has lived a life in the shadows, and in difficulty, all while keeping important secrets, some that can harm her and those around her. When members of the Dread Penny Society start disappearing, she enlists the help of Detective Constable Fitzgerald Parkington.

Fitzgerald Parkington has just been promoted to Scotland Yard, but someone seems to want to make sure he doesn't further investigate "The Tempest". When Móirín asks for his help, he gladly joins her in her quest to make sure the DPS and their loved ones and friends stay safe.

With the amazing cliffhanger that The Bachelor and the Bride ended on, The Queen and the Knave picked up that intense pace from the get go. Even though the story focused on Móirín and Fitz, the story and plot retained so much heart and emotion from the other stories leading up to this one.

The overarching plotline with "The Tempest", really increased in intensity and danger. I wasn't sure how everyone was going to stay safe. It was thrilling and nervewracking.

The romance was also really fun. Móirín and Fitz had some lovely banter and I thoroughly enjoyed their friendship, and then their growing attraction. I also really loved how Fitz wasn't intimidated by Móirín's strength, capability, and leadership. He himself had strengths, and was happy to use them, but he followed her leadership gladly, and was a true support when she needed it.

This set of Dread Penny stories (in the chapters in between) were some of my favourite so far. Of course I enjoyed them in the other books, but I particularly loved Mr. King's story. I would love this as a full book.

I really love and enjoy this series and I can highly recommend this book and the whole series as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. All opinions are my own.

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I give 4.5 stars for this exciting and immersive book.

At times, I was a bit confused between the many, many secondary characters, but that is probably my fault for not reading the earlier works in the series. For the most part, I felt able to pick up in the middle of (or at the end of) the series with this book. In fact, this book made me interested in reading the other books in the series. I loved the Dread Penny Society's motto, and the idea that writers change lives positively in ways additional to their literature.

With so many characters, I felt the book started out a little slow, but about a third of the way in, I was totally hooked and found it hard to put the book down. I was eager to find out what would happen next! I was a bit unsure as to part of the Tempest's motivation (though a good part of it seemed to just enjoy being bad, like Moriarty), and the ending felt a little more anticlimactic than I expected. Overall though, the plot was very interesting and well-done.

The penny dreadful excerpts did not bother me; I found them enjoyable, and of course, one of them was a fun metaphor for the main book.

Overall though, this was a fun and immersive read with a satisfying ending for the likeable main characters.

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic advanced reader copy from NetGalley. I was not required to provide a positive review.

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The conclusion to the Dread Penny series. This time the Dreadmaster is pitted against the Tempest. I felt like the last book really set up this epic battle between these two and sort of envisioned it as this epic battle of the mind where one gains an advantage one minute, the other the next. And for me, the build up was better than the execution. Moirin always seemed two steps behind Tempest and it felt like Tempest was just an evil, vindictive bully who our heroes didn't have much chance of besting. I guess I wanted a fairer battle than feeling like my heroes were getting trounced at every turn. Tempest didn't seem particularly nuanced either, just, evil, violent, threatening. How was her organization even built? Why were people threatened by her? She had thugs, again, how did she acquire them, why are they loyal to her? To me, Tempest was just a big bad, and I expected more. I liked seeing more Stone, and some returning faves, though none have a very large role. Fitz is great, though the mystery that plagued him personally could have gotten more of a resolution than it did. I liked the love story, particularly as we've followed these two as minor characters throughout the series. Despite my critiques, I did enjoy this, maybe this is a case of check your expectations at the door, A great series overall. Oh and a side point, Posie and Pru as detectives, can this be a series? I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review.

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Wow! The final book in the series. It was so good. I could not put it down. I loved reading Moirin's story. Fitz and Moirin banter back and forth and made me laugh. I am in awe at the Penny Dreadfuls inside each book. I love having them interspersed into the main story. I loved seeing all the characters from past books. The banter and suspense was a perfect balance. I am sad to have the series end. A beautiful story of family and fighting for good.

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Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. This book is the conclusion of the Bread Penny Society. It has a great plot, that is fun and full of mystery. I absolutely love the main characters Moirin and Detective Fitzgerald. This book has romance, mystery and adventure. This book is a must read if you enjoy mystery or historical novels.

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This whole series has been excellent. This book is the conclusion to the series and does not disappoint. It is action packed and full of intrigue and mystery. All of the Dread Penny Society is involved somehow in this book, but it mainly centers around Moirin Donnelly and a Police Detective by the name of Fitzgerald Parkington. They need all hands on deck to take down the infamous Tempest. She seems to always be a half step ahead of the DPS and their network. I love the sense of family and comraderie that the DPS have for each other. It was fun to try and figure out what the next step of the Tempest was going to be and to see if and how Moirin would anticipate that step. I would highly recommend this book and this series to anyone.

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I have been dying to read this book since finishing "The Bachelor and the Bride" last year. I could tell by the ending of that book, that "The Queen and the Knave" would be intense, and I was correct. I was sitting on the edge of my seat while reading, dying to know what happened next.

In "The Queen and the Knave," the Dread Penny Society has never been in such dire straights. They are on the brink of losing everything. Most of the members are in hiding, and many members are mysteriously disappearing. They're finally paying the price for taking on the Tempest, the most powerful criminal mastermind in London. Will they be able to rally and save themselves and London in the process, or will the Tempest keep staying one step ahead of them? Most importantly, will Maureen be able to save her friends who rely on her so much? And can she really trust Fitz Parkington, a constable, when she has her own criminal history to hide from him?

Overall, Sarah Eden did an amazing job with this book. It can't have been easy to add romance into a book this action packed, but she did it beautifully. It was everything I could have hoped for and more. I truly think the Dread Penny Society series is Sarah's best series yet, and I couldn't have asked for a better ending.

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Where to even begin?

It would be an understatement to say that I had high expectations for this final installment of The Dread Penny Society series, but I absolutely loved it in every way! It is brilliantly done and my expectations were not only met, they were exceeded!

When members of the Dread Penny Society start to vanish, Moirin Donnelly and police detective Fitz Parakington team up to rescue them, but the criminal mastermind The Tempest seems to be one step ahead as they only find traps and dead ends.

Time is quickly running out for their missing friends and though Moirin and Fitz have realized that their feelings for each other go far beyond a partnership, the sacrifice they may have to make to save their friends may cost them their chance at happiness.

What to love:
Victorian era
Dual POV
Moirin -confident and compassionate
Fitz- patient and loyal
Lots of page time with characters from previous books
Mystery
Strong sense of friendship
Wit and humor
The dread penny stories
So many cute flirting scenes!
And the kisses!!
Suspenseful scenes
THE ENDING!!!

This book completely consumed me! I am not sure that I took a breath for the last 100 pages and my heart is still racing from the non-stop action and suspense. This is a sleep-stealer!

This is the fifth and final book and you absolutely must read the books in order.

I really don't want to say too much because I want to avoid spoilers, but I have loved the entire series and this book is the perfect ending! Sarah truly is a gifted storyteller and this series has my heart. Highly recommend and this one gets all the hearts and stars from me!

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

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This was another great book by Sarah eden. She is a great storyteller that knows her history. I liked the slang she used and I think it was appropriate for the Victorian time frame. It was a light mystery horror. It wasn’t too creepy or too descriptive. But I was worried there for a bit for Moirin. I cringed at the end at the things the tempest did. It made my heart sad. It was a good book to see how two people could go through the same background but come out two different people based on choices. It was a good ending with a HEA.

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The Queen and the Knave by Sarah M. Eden is the 5th and final story of the Dread Penny Society series. This has been such a fun and different series! There have been some great mysteries, wonderful couples, and lots of intrigue. I also thoroughly enjoyed the addition of the Penny Dreadfuls in each story.

First, this series really should be read in order and at a minimum, you must read book 4, The Bachelor and the Bride, or you will be pretty confused. This conclusion is full of twists and turns, answers to many questions, and romance. We also get to catch up with the previous couples. While this wasn’t my favorite of the series, it was really nice to have all of our questions answered. I also really, really wanted a story for Stone and was sad that we didn’t get one.

If you’re looking for a Victorian series with romance and intrigue and mystery, this is the series for you!

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

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Overall Impression: An exciting ending to an intriguing series. I couldn't put this down until I reached the ending.

This is the fifth and final book in the Dread Penny Society series. I highly recommend reading the books in order. While the romance in each book reaches its conclusion in each book, there is an overarching story that builds through each book and concludes in this book.

Once again you get three stories in one book. The dread penny novels in this book are written by "Mr. King" and the female main character writing under a pseudonym. The plot of the dread penny novels enhance the characterization and flow of the main storyline.

The main storyline kept me on the edge of my seat. The final showdown was epic and was resolved in a way that I did not expect.

Even though this is the final book in the series, I hope the author continues to write stories set in this world. There are several members of the Dread Penny Society that I would love to see as main characters in a novel or novella.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced e-ARC. These opinions are my own.

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I cannot believe we have come to the end of this series! Sarah M. Eden has given us a uniquely fun series full of wit, mystery and Victorian flair. The Queen and the Knave answers all of those lingering questions that have developed as this series has progressed. The banter between Moirin and Fitz was the absolute best! I enjoyed the dynamic of two strong and capable characters. It’s sad to see this series come to an end, it has been such a fun ride!

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As much as I love and look forward to every one of Sarah Eden’s book, this series is my favorite of hers. How she writes the main story, plus two penny dreadfuls the way she does is masterful. They all connect and are engaging in so many ways. (Posie and Pru are my favorite things ever!) The author has a wonderful talent for making even the tiniest details in the book brilliant and so important to the story. In case those reading this review haven’t read The Bachelor and the Bride (the book before this one), I won’t try to summarize or give hints to this one. But just know this is one of the best series I have read and The Queen and the Knave was an excellent end. The twists and turns were written well and each character good or bad written with care and precision.
I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

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A very satisfying conclusion to the Dread Penny Society series. This story had a lot going on. Almost too much going on. And included two penny dreadfuls. And so I felt like the primary story was rushed. So much needed to occur in order to end The Tempest’s reign that I think it could have been fleshed out, perhaps even in two books. Instead it was so busy that I finished it feeling a bit dizzy.

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Have you been reading the Dread Penny Society series? I've been following along and loving them from the first book being released! I even went to a book release signing for one of them and met the author! She's amazing! Very talented author and storyteller. She has woven together an amazing tale of friends and a society trying to protect and help the oppressed and needy, as well as 5 sweet love stories. *Happy sigh* And those penny dreadfuls written in each of the books are deliciously gothic and full of fun, mischief, suspense and tales of triumph! If you didn't know, her publisher has taken all of the individual penny dreadfuls and compiled them into a beautiful book that will release around the same time as this book.

Just so everyone is aware, this is a series where you HAVE to read every book in order! Each story builds into the next and boy are there some awesome plot twists and big reveals along the way!!! This book features a certain Irish lass, Móirín, and a certain police detective, Fitz Parkington, whom the lass can't help but rib, tease and keep a close eye on. These two have been dancing around each other for several books and I'm pleased as punch (ok, maybe that's not the best time to use the phrase but I really am pleased-not like punch- and this phrase is perfect for this book and time period-IFKYK) that they finally are acknowledging what all of us readers have already known and have seen. They're so cute together! And such a great duo in detective work!

I really don't want to give any spoilers here. None at all! This book is power packed and full of lots of whodunnit and guessing and hoping the Dread Penny members can all be safe and hurry up and figure out what's going on with the Tempest! Time is running out. And nobody knows who will be next.

I loved seeing all of the previous characters again! We get a lot of all of them throughout the book! Woohoooooo!!!!! Seriously they're all wonderful and have their own strengths and it's great seeing them come together and helping each other!

I know I'm gushing but honestly I can't help it! I seriously love this series and it just goes to show again why the author is one of my all time favorites! She's a master at her craft! I'm sad this is the final book but it was an amazing end to an amazing series! I'll be revisiting it again and again!

Content: Clean. There are moments of mild violence and peril but nothing overly graphic. Some death, some danger, some fights, etc. No explicit content and nothing more than kisses.

I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

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Every installment in this series has been an absolute five star experience!

These stories are told side by side with very creative of penny dreadful style stories. And the books are the perfect mix of adventure, mystery, and romance!

In this book Moirin finds herself at the center of a group of people who love her and are willing to fight for her, and that is just the best ending of all!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley, but all enthusiastic opinions are my own!

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Another great story by Sarah M Eden. I’ve enjoyed this series so much and am sad that I’ve made it to the end. This book was such a great finale! Moirin is so strong and capable, but she isn’t afraid to ask for help when she needs it. Great series!

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What a highly adventurous book! I love a small mystery intertwined with a romance. Sarah has done a wonderful job bringing the two together with this final installment of the Dread Penny Society. I would highly recommend this book and any in the series!
Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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I thought this conclusion to Sarah M. Eden's Dread Penny Society series was spectacular. I am not normally a fan of the Victorian period as the darkness and the hopelessness of the era is discouraging. Even though all of those elements are present in 'The Queen and the Knave' the resolution of the series was so satisfying and gave a plausible solution to a life that seemed impossible to redeem from negativity. There is a delightful love story and a revelation of absolute commitment to choosing what is right no matter the costs that elevates this story to memorable and edifying. I just loved it.

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

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The Queen and the Knave is the 5th and final book in Sarah M. Eden’s Dread Penny Society series. I have absolutely loved this series and this finale has been highly anticipated for me!

I adore Moirin and Fitz! They are the definition of opposites attract! I love that Fitz teases Moirin and pushes her buttons just to get a rise out of her and how she does it right back to him! I think Moirin intimidates people and the only people who tease her are the ones who know her well. The fact that Fitz can tease her so easily says a lot about how well they fit together. I also love that Moirin acknowledges that humor helps her cope with stress and Fitz provides that for her. I love that Fitz is protective of Moirin without necessarily overpowering her. He lets her be the strong woman she is but is also there to back her up when she needs it. I love that balance. I also love how loyal they each are to the people and causes that are important to them.

I love the balance of suspense, romance, and comedy. These characters are hilarious and I just love hearing all the ridiculous things that come out of their mouths despite their dreadful situations (pun intended). I love that Moirin uses her humor to her advantage and how that ultimately is what sets her apart and gives her the extra something she needs to overcome The Tempest. I never thought I would laugh through a final battle, but I did and I loved it! It was very true to Moirin’s character and the feel of this whole series!

In all honesty, I was a little disappointed in the Tempest. I felt like she was all talk and was waiting for her to fight without the help of her henchmen. She’s great at blackmail, mind games and taking down powerful people, but I wanted to see her get her hands dirty and she seemed too above that. This is a great contrast to Moirin who does get her hands dirty and fights right alongside her people. She’s willing to trudge through the sewers for heavens sake! Moirin is a great leader because she never asks anyone to do anything she isn’t willing to do herself. I honestly can’t say the same for the Tempest.

I also really enjoyed the penny dreadful stories! The two old ladies solving crimes was hilarious and exactly what I would expect Moirin to write. I also loved the Queen and the Knave and the parallels to the main story.

Overall I loved this story and this series! It reminds me very much of the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes movies. There were so many little details and Easter eggs that I will definitely need to go back and reread this series to find them all!

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𝙰𝚑. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝙳𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝙿𝚎𝚗𝚗𝚢 𝚂𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢. 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏𝚏 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚗𝚍. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚂𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚑 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗. 𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚊, 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎, 𝚜𝚞𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎, 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚎. 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜... 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚋𝚎 𝚒𝚝.

𝙰𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜, 𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚗𝚢 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝’𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚜' 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜. 𝙰𝚜 𝙼𝚘𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝙿𝚂 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 (𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎) 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎, 𝙳𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚝𝚘𝚗, 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚃𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚜𝚝… 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐.

𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎. 𝙰𝚕𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚜𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝙳𝙿𝚂 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜, 𝙸 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚂𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚑 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚍. 𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗’𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚎𝚝, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘. 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗’𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑.

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While I absolutely love Sarah M. Eden’s books, this series has been a bit hit-or-miss for me. The Queen and the Knave, the final book in this series, is a fitting, but not completely satisfying, conclusion.

What this book does well: There’s a lot happening in The Queen and the Knave and Eden does an excellent job at wrapping up plot points and giving readers a fast-paced, high-stakes finale. The stars of the previous installments are utilized well without taking away from Móirín and Fitz’s story. The Victorian setting is beautifully captured.

What I was missing: The romance. The romance in this one is very simple. One of the things I adore about Sarah M. Eden’s books is the banter between the MCs. We don’t really get a ton of that. This book is much more focused on solving the mysteries and wrapping up the storylines. Which is fine but personally, I felt slightly let down by the romantic subplot.

Also, the penny dreadfuls intermixed with the main story have never been my cup of tea. I ended up skimming both of them by the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the eARC in exchange for this review.

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Everything Sarah M. Eden writes is golden and worth a read, and this book is no different! You definitely need to read this series in order or this book won't make sense- so run and grab the others!

Móirín is the central character in this book and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. A sister of one of the DPS members, she's been a side character since the first book and I'd been hoping she'd have her own central story someday. Móirín is strong, bold, and a great role model- it was fun to watch this series come to an end in her capable hands.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance with a lot of action, history, and mystery- but only if they've read the others first!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

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Each book in this series has the distinction of being very much its own story while contributing to the greater whole, which really is impressive. This book brings us to the end of the whole Tempest issue, although I admit to hoping for more books in the series itself. Moiran is an excellent heroine, even more so when we consider the role she's been playing from the shadows of the previous novels, and her romance with Fitz, although a bit more rushed than others in the series, is still nicely grounded and rewarding to read about. As always, the main story is broken up by two serialized penny dreadfuls, one by Mr. King (Elizabeth) and one by Moiran's pseudonym. The latter is something of a surprise, as it's basically the 19th century equivalent of an elderly sleuth novel, but that makes it fun. (And yes, the ladies <i>are</i> very good at dogs.) King's dreadful is a little too on-the-nose, but the fairy tale feel of it also sets it apart from earlier entries in a positive way.

As always, Eden's writing is excellent, and the plotting is deft. Period detail is excellent, and if the accents can be a little difficult to parse, they're still well within the realm of understandable. With a delightful blend of mystery and romance, this is simply a good book (and series) overall, and even if you don't think you'd like a "proper" sort of romance (i.e. closed door, fade-to-black), it's worth picking up the first book so that you can eventually get to this one.

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Great final story for the Penny Dreadfuls! We finally know who the Dread Master is and get to see the DM in action! I really enjoyed the relationship between Moirin and Fitzgerald; they have a chemistry that also has a logic to it. They are responsible for the people they care about and it shows. The showdown between the Dread Master and the Tempest is well worth waiting for and reminded me of the sharp wit and fast-paced story arc of Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty. All my favorite characters also had at least a small bit to play in the story (got to say, Fletcher is still my favorite Dreadful).

A great finish to the series and well worth the read!

Rated PG-13 for violence
--mild to no language
--clean romance (kisses)
--moderate violence (fairly non-graphic)
--moderate intense scenes/peril
--little to mild torture (mostly mental instead of physical)

I received this ebook free from NetGalley. My opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

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As of right now, sadly, this is a DNF for me. I only reread The Bachelor and the Bride before starting this one. I'm feeling like I should have started rereading from the beginning of this series. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC copy. It's just not keeping my interest enough. I might go back to it some day when I can reread all the other books. This one just wasn't for me at the moment.

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An epic, wildly fun, over-the-top conclusion—and I’m totally here for it!

The final installment of The Dread Penny Society features the long-awaited showdown between The Dread Master and Tempest. It has everything—danger, action, romance, humor, magic, and a happy ending. Please do yourself a favor and read this amazing action-packed series in order. Truly, this series is a breath of fresh air. I loved Móirín and Fitz. Their banter is so much fun. I also loved seeing all the characters from previous books. While book 1 remains my favorite, The Queen and the Knave is a fantastic book with such roller coaster of emotions. The women really shone in this one and totally stole the show. Lastly, Móirín and Brogan share a beautiful sibling relationship. They love and care for each other so much.

I really hope Justine Eyre returns to narrate the audiobook.

CW: Kidnapping, blood, violence.

Thanks to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an e-ARC.

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I’ve enjoyed and not enjoyed the books in this series, but of course I had to read the final installment. I usually skim the story within a story and this one has two. This definitely doesn’t stand alone and should be read in order.

As this wraps up the series, there’s a heavier focus on the resolution than love. I wished for a little more romance between Móirín and Fitz. The romance almost didn’t need to be there at all since Móirín is a strong character and this is heavily plot driven. The last quarter is an exciting conclusion to the series but I wish overall the pacing was better and the setting for the final showdown scenes better described.

If you haven’t read the other books, I don’t know if this book will draw you in. If you’ve been a fan of all or most of the books, this is a must read.

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Oh my goodness! What an incredible, twisty story to finish up the Dread Penny Society series! I could barely put this book down to go to sleep after I started it, and I definitely finished it first thing the next morning. The mystery of the series was already at such a high point before I started this book, so I wasn't sure how it could get more thrilling, but Eden just did it! This whole series has been masterfully written and this last novel was no exception. Móirín and Fitz were awesome characters, full of depth, humor, and moral courage. I just loved them with their intense journey and romance. Sigh. So sad and yet relieved for our characters that the series has ended. 😁 Beautiful done, Sarah M. Eden. Absolutely stupendous.

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I am continually impressed with Sarah M. Eden’s ability to write in the voices of her characters, and nothing showcases that more than her Dread Penny Society series. The Queen and the Knave is no exception.

This is the finale we’ve all been waiting for, and IT. IS. EPIC! All the players are on the board. Secrets are catching up. Hiding places are no longer safe. Who will win the war and be crowned victor?

The story is fast pace and full of details. I had to reread some sections to make sure I knew what was going on. The Penny Dreadfuls interspersed throughout gave great insight into the main storyline (like always). Pru and Posie reminded me of the Bluey “Grannies”. IYKYK 😅

Overall, I am still catching my breath after that intense roller coaster-in the best way possible. I’m sad it’s over, and will definitely be rereading the series.

*Thanks to @netgalley @shadowmountainpub and @properromanceseries for the eARC*

Title: The Queen and the Knave
Author: Sarah M. Eden
Series: Dread Penny Society, #5
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 3/10 (hand holding/kisses)
Kindle Unlimited: No
Deseret Bookshelf: Yes (when published)
**Pub Date: Sept 4, 2023)**

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The Queen and the Knave was a wonderful final installment of the Dread Penny Society series. Moirin and Fitz are clearly meant for one another, with their great personal morals and playful banter translated very well into a historical setting, without losing the romance. The mystery and connections to the previous novels were also spot-on, and there were many clues and nooks and crannies in the story to find and discover as the book went on.
I believe that this is one of the most powerful books of Eden’s that I have read so far. It is clear that she had a broad message throughout the entire series about women and society, starting from Elizabeth’s school for girls in the first installment, to the central conflict and final battle of The Queen and the Knave. There were many passages that I highlighted for their strength of insight and commentary about the world. I will miss the DPS very much!

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This book is amazing, thats for sure. It's the final installment to the series and an amazing finale at that. I loved the Dread Pennies that are in this book (as I have loved all previous ones). As to the main story... The Romance is absolutely in the background and its mystery focused which I liked but as with the previous ones it's just a little too dark for me. It feels so hopeless at times that I even had trouble sleeping afterwords... (which never happens to me). I know it's supposed to feel life & death (but also all the humor which I usually love in Edens writing was missing) maybe I'll take a break from Edens Mysterys for a time...

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Sarah M Eden never disappoints!
This was a fantastic conclusion to a great series.
The recap in the beginning was just enough that I wasn’t lost but also wasn’t bogged down by stuff I knew already. It was great seeing the MCs from previous books in the series!

Read this if you enjoy….
-romance with mystery (perfectly balanced amount of both)
-Sarah M Eden books (and if you’re not sure, just read it anyway-you’ll be hooked!)
-White Collar (odd, I know. But it’s got this great kind-of-criminal-helping-the-cops thing going on and I love it!)
-any of the previous books and their MCs

Just go read it!

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First off, if you haven’t read this series yet, you shouldn’t read this review. I’ll try my best not to leave spoilers but that’ll be really hard to do. *** So again, if you haven’t read the series, don’t read this review. Go read the series.

And a little side note for those who care-I like to read the Dread Penny mini stories separately because personally they detract from the story a bit. Though interesting, I prefer to skip them and read them at the end.

Now to the review.

This series is best read when you’re in the mood. I know the difference and I read this one when I was craving the DPS world filled with action, mystery, and the DM. And that made all the difference!! I loved it and it was so fun to read more of Moirin’s past, her romance with Fitz, and the havoc made by The Tempest.

Sorry, keeping it short so I don’t accidentally spoil anything. Just know it didn’t go how I had expected and most reveals were surprising but good!!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Note: You need to read the series in order of publication.

A very well written conclusion to the series. A lot more actions, more plots than the previous instalments in the series. There are a lot of unexpected twists and turns! And of course, how could we forget the delightful central couple in this book?

Móirín is easily my favourite heroine. She's very likeable. I've adored her from the role she's been playing in the shadows from the previous instalments. Her romance with Fitz is very well written and well developed. They are super cute together too! Their banter is perfect!

It follows the usual format of the other books in the series. Even so, there's a lot of things happening in this book. Updates on the other couples and characters, and seeing them coming together to defeat the bad guy! The focus of the book is the main mystery and the taking down of the Tempest. The romance, even though not taking the center stage, does not feel rushed and very nicely weaved in to the story.

Lastly, many thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley. I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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