The Dread Penny Society

A great collection of stories!
This book is one I was hoping would come into existence. If you have read or heard about Sarah Eden’s Dread Penny Series you probably know that tucked inside each novel there are extra stories inserted throughout the book just as the Penny Dreadfuls were originally published in England, a chapter at a time. If you’ve read any of this series, and I highly recommend you do, you’ve seen these stories and perhaps you have wished to see them compiled as complete, connected stories. This book is that compilation and it is such fun! Not only do you get the original Penny Dreadfuls by Sarah, you also get three new stories. These stories allow the reader to experience Sarah’s ability to write as a different and distinct person in the form of different Penny Dreadful authors. This book is sure to please Sarah’s fans. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

first of all, the cover is VERY BEAUTIFUL 🥺 (i’ve always loved Sarah Eden’s books covers)
now, i’ve loved these short stories in Dread Penny Society Series. especially the ones which were written by Mr King.
this collection has 13 stories. 10 from the books in the series and 3 new. i loved all by Mr. King. Elizabeth sure has a talent for writing 🌷 and from the other ones, i loved 'Posie and Pro' the most 🕵️‍♀️.

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the free copy.

I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review. Okay wow. This was SO fun. I have read Sarah Eden’s work before and love her traditional historical romances but this compilation of Penny Dreadfuls was so different than anything I’ve read before. I loved it! Sarah Eden did such an amazing job developing characters and plot with real substance even within a shorter format. With the suspense and mystery, I could not turn the pages quicker. Everyone should give this anthology a chance. You will not regret it.

The Dread Penny Society, by Sarah Eden, contains five of her gothic tales. Definitely a fun re-telling of these stories!

While I own all (currently published) books in this series, I will most definitely be purchasing this compilation to go in my home library! I love every book Sarah Eden has written, but I have a special place for the Dread Penny Series. You get the best of all worlds, action, adventure, love, suspense, curiosity, and mystery. I love having all of them together because, while published over years, the story lines are really close to one another in chronology. This series is a must read!

This was my first time with Sarah Eden and I went into this not realizing there was a collection of stories. But I quickly found myself in the rhythm and enjoyed the short stories..

I'm not a fan of mini-stories in books and I always skip any extra not-really-important content in books whenever I am reading so I didn't have too high hopes for this book. BUT I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED! I loved seeing all the stories that came together to create this book, it was fabulous!

Delightful read from Sarah Eden. I've read her books in the Dread Penny society series and I'm thrilled that she included all of the penny dreadfuls in one novel to be enjoyed. I love how all of the stories are so much like penny dreadfuls from history. I enjoyed all of them so much. They are all written as if they were done by different authors and I'm so impressed that Eden was able to do that. Definitely a great one to add to your Eden bookshelf. There is a story for everyone. Dashing heroes, highwaymen, vampires and werewolves, orphan children and rags to riches and much more (there are so many great ones you need your own bookshelf for her books!)

This deserves all the pennies! So glad this collection exists, and, if you are a fan of the Dread Penny Society series, a must-have, must-read! I mean, just getting an actual story written by our stoic sweetie Stone is worth reading this! SO good.

Much like the impression I got starting out the series, one can tell the author had all the fun writing it, and these penny dreadful stories account for so much of that fun. Of course these could be enjoyed on their own as amazing Victorian short stories, but for me, a great part of the enjoyment is appreciating the character authors’ distinctive writing voices, and, most of all, how the stories share themes and dynamics with the main Dread Penny Society storylines. So, I would recommend reading them as part of the series first and then hoarding this collection just for fun, once you have that context.

Not complaining but, most of these a little too creepy Gothic and heart-pounding for a wimp like me, it was interesting to read the new additional three stories consecutively without being interspersed and getting to jump right in after each cliffhanger installment ending.

Nobody asked but, Mr. King still reigns as my favorite penny dreadful author. No surprise there, since those always have sweet romance with suspenseful high stakes and some supernatural elements. Love them all, but standouts for me from the author monarch are The Bachelor and the Bride and The Queen and the Knave. The additional story we get here, The Governess and the Fugitive, is just as good. Special mention to beyond charming Higglebottom’s School for the Dead. Really, I’d be saving up my pennies and sneaking into a Dickensian alley to escape with all of these stories.

A fun add-on for fervent fans of this series!

Thank you to Netgalley and the generous souls at Shadown Mountain for an ARC.

I literally cannot get enough of Sarah M. Eden's works. I first read the first book in this series and immediately downloaded and read all the others, so when I saw this collection with the last book that I haven't read I knew I had to ask for it. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me this copy.

I have loved all the stories within this series. The characters feel so real and realistic for the time period they are in. One of the things I liked the most was the stories within the stories. It made both the world and the characters wider and bigger than the main story within each book.

The characters in each story feel genuinely well developed and written, and I enjoyed every minute! I can''t wait to read more of Sarah's work!

Thank You, NetGalley for an ARC of this book. This book is a collection of the Penny Dreadful stories from the Dread Penny Society. It was great to have all of these wonderful stories all in one place.

This is a stunning and beautiful collection. I adore this series and have already ordered a hard copy of this delightful book. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Not what I expected going into it but the stories were good. I’m not a fan of short stories in general so take that as you will. Thanks to the publisher for the arc copy all opinions are my own.

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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This beautiful, cloth-covered hardcover collector’s anthology compiles all the penny dreadful short stories from Sarah M. Eden’s five-book Victorian romance series. Included in this edition are three new, never-before-released stories.
Each short story is written in the style of Victorian fiction that became so popular during that time period. From ghost stories to adventures to mysteries, Sarah weaves these gothic tales among her romantic storylines, making it the perfect way to celebrate the Dread Penny Society series (The Lady and the Highwayman, The Gentleman and the Thief, The Merchant and the Rogue, The Bachelor and the Bride, and The Queen and the Knave).

Having read the four books of the series before (and I loved them!) I enjoyed spending more time with them and the three new gothic tales within their pages. (It was a super quick read as I only had to read the three new stories to assess the book!)
Although I would not take a cloth-covered hardcover to the beach, I would take it to my backyard or porch (or even in front of a fan if I need to be indoors) and devour it. The short stories make the book worth tackling as many people would not want to read a 400-page book as it is “too long”. Perfect for fans of gothic fiction, I will recommend it to friends, family, patrons and book clubs.
#shortbutsweetreviews

This was so good!! I loved that this put 5 of the penny dreadful short stories together. I loved them all. This is a beautiful book and one that I will treasure forever.
I just reviewed The Dread Penny Society by Sarah M. Eden. #TheDreadPennySociety #NetGalley
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What a unique and fabulous collection! I really enjoyed these stories in the Dread Penny series and having them all in one collection is just the absolute best! Sarah M. Eden knows how to spin a tale and these absolute will transport the reader back to the Victorian era! I love how each style of story is unique and different, really lending believability that different authors had penned each one in the Victorian era. This is a must read for anyone who is a fan of the series!

A fantastic collection of stories. I loved it from the first page to the end. It's an absolute masterpiece, having put these stories in one together. I adore the stories and reading this was a great time.

I really enjoyed reading these Penny Dreadful stories that was created by Sarah M. Eden. It was beautifully done and had that sense of Gothic horror that I was looking for when requesting this book. The characters in each story worked well and I enjoyed the romance aspect going on. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Eden.

Sarah Eden is such a gifted storyteller!

This is a collection of 13 stories written in the style of the dread penny novels in Victorian era London. The first 10 stories appear throughout the 5 books in The Dread Penny Society series by Sarah and then there are 3 stories exclusive to this book.

The stories are so imaginative and captivating. Some had romance, others were mysterious or had a gothic vibe. Some had creatures like ghosts or faeries, and some even got a little spooky!

But they are all highly entertaining with unique plots and well-developed characters, which can be difficult in a short story.

This book is utterly delightful from first page to last and fans of Sarah's work will love having these short stories all together in one book.

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

I really enjoyed reading the Penny Dreadful stories all in one sitting. In the novels, they come in installments. It was fun seeing how they tied in with the main story from each novel. I liked being able to read them, 'cover to cover'. There were some parts that had slipped my mind. The three new stories were a welcome addition. I will be reading them again and again.

#TheDreadPennySociety
#NetGalley #ShadowMountain

I didn't read the previously published stories. Personally, I find most of these penny dreadfuls a little too creepy for me. I have to read them during the daytime so I don't have bad dreams. I loved Mr. King's "The Lady and the Highwayman" but even Mr. King has gotten a little dark. I honestly can't believe no one figured out who Mr. King is because they do have an air of "silver fork" to them and are always a romance. The first new Mr. King story is a fairy tale about a young, new queen about to celebrate her coronation. She feels unsure of herself and a wicked sorceress takes advantage of Eleanor's feelings and vulnerability to cast a spell that would create chaos in the kingdom. With Eleanor turned into a Pine Marten, she must rely on her only friend, a young guard, to help her. Can they figure out how to break the spell in time and save the kingdom? I normally don't like fairy tales but this one was pretty standard, in the vein of Sleeping Beauty. I enjoyed the sweet romance as the characters got to know one another.

Mr. King's second story comes late in the book and involves a governess and mysterious doings at a creepy manor. This one was not my thing. It was really creepy and dark. I am used to Disney fairies and not evil faeries that steal children and take over the mortal realm. The romance happens way too quickly for my taste.

My favorite story in the collection is by Chauncey Finnegan! Who knew he wrote penny dreadfuls? His isn't do dreadful. It's a short story, a mystery and a lot of fun. I liked the eccentric elderly protagonists and the mystery was fun to guess what happened. I always love it when a dog plays a large role. I'd read this series for sure!

There's also one new story by my favorite rogue, Brogan Donnelly but it wasn't as charming as he is.

Stone's story is the last one in the book and is a seafaring tale. It was a little dark but not unfamiliar to those of us raised by the sea and familiar with maritime legends. I felt that the resolution was a little lacking though.

The design of this book is absolutely gorgeous! The printed version must be incredible and a true collectors item.

I have loved reading The Dread Penny Society books by Sarah Eden. Each book tells the story of a group of penny dreadful authors in London. The books alternate between telling the stories of the authors, and allowing you to read the penny dreadfuls that they write. This book is simply a collection of those penny dreadful stories that have appeared in the other books in this series. It was really fun to read them as standalone short stories, and several of these were new stories! They are fun, slightly creepy, and very creative! I loved reading these short stories!

I received a free advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

If ever there was a portfolio to showcase a writer's talent it would be this collection of "Penny Dreadfuls"! Sarah M. Eden masterfully wrote full out stories in all different genres and voices for each of her Dread Penny Society books, including extra stories for this compilation. It was so much fun to reread these stories from start to finish (vs interspersed through each book) and really feel their full effects. Yet another example of why Eden is an auto-buy author for me.

*Thanks to NetGalley for my e-ARC to review*

What a joy to have all of Sarah M. Eden's Penny Dreadful series in one book. There is a mood that is accomplished by the author that accurately represents the time period of the Victorian era, yet it is always juxtaposed by whimsy to adequately offset the desperation of the times. Each story in the series is fraught with tension and suspense yet softened by love and devotion. This collection is a keeper for all who appreciate a great story.

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

The Dread Penny Society is a collection of short stories written by the characters we and know and love from Sarah M. Eden’s Dread Penny Society novels. In addition to the 10 original penny dreadfuls are 3 new penny dreadfuls, The Governess and the Fugitive, On a Sea of Glass, and Terminus.

I loved revisiting these stories and being able to read the penny dreadfuls straight through rather than interspersed throughout the Dread Penny Society novels. They each were quick reads but they all took me right back into the world of the Dread Penny Society. I also loved the three new stories written by Mr. King, Stone, and Brogan. The Governess and the Fugitive is another story of two lovers using their skills to outwit dangerous creatures from the faerie world very much like the Bachelor and the Bride. Terminus is a story of an eerie train ride that isn’t quite what it seems and reminds me of the Bodies of Light penny dreadful. Lastly, On a Sea of Glass is the story of brave sailors and their encounter with sea monster unlike any other creature you’ll meet at sea. They were all fabulous and I thoroughly enjoyed them!

I love that the stories are all unique and have a style that reflects the character they are written by. Some are very lighthearted, others are more dark and serious, some are comedic and others are full of suspense. Despite all the differences, I love that they all have some paranormal aspect to them. Whether it’s magic, faeries, ghosts, vampires, or just unexplained phenomena, they all have a bit of an eerie feel to them that I honestly love! They are spooky and eerie without being scary and I think that is very fitting for the overall tone of the Dread Penny Society series.

I’m absolutely amazed that Sarah Eden managed to write these stories in a way that truly feels like they were written by the characters in the Dread Penny Society! It feels like I went to a convention where each of the characters took turns sharing their stories. I really do feel like I know the characters better after reading the stories written in their voice and style. This whole idea of short stories within stories is so unique and I love that I have the option to read them individually and as part of the series as a whole.

I have loved the dread penny society books and having all the penny dreadfuls in one book is so fun. Love the cover and love the creative stories! Would definitely recommend

I love having all the dread penny short stories together in one book! The cover is beautiful and a perfect companion to the series. The three new stories are just as intriguing as the others. Definitely a book I'll re-read. I love how each "dread penny author" writes a different style. Masterfully done! Thank you Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC.

What fun to have all the Penny Dreadful stories together in one place! And then the gift of a few more! These are so fun and are so well done! They make me want to go back and read the Dread Penny Society books all over again!

Sarah M. Eden wows us again!
In The Dread Penny Society, Sarah M. Eden has written several Penny Dreadful serials "authored" by characters from her Dread Penny Series. Each Penny Dreadful is written in the voice of the character, a difficult feat for most authors who have their own amazing unique voice, but Sarah M. Eden doesn't disappoint. The individual Penny Dreadful serials are each amazing in their own way. From faeries to ghosts, and vampires to monsters, the serials bring excitement, intrigue, suspense, and romance. This book is a must read for anyone that enjoys exciting adventures with wonderful heroes and heroines whose bravery and selflessness always win the day!

My Thoughts:

If you’ve read any of author’s Sarah M. Eden’s Penny Dreadful Books you will love this book of collection of her stories or if your new to this author you will find a collection of short stories each written in the style like a Victorian fiction. They range from ghost stories to adventures and mysteries. A perfect collection of short stories to celbrate The Dread Penny society series. I believe you will enjoy this collection of these short stories and look at this book’s cover it would make a great addition to your bookshelf thank you @netgalley

This was a really charming reading experience! It was cosy and something I want to read again over Halloween while I just curl up on the couch and drink a cup of hot chocolate. This is a collection of short stories inspired by the 19th century penny dreadful stories that were published in installments during the nineteenth century. They were sensational stories with elements of the paranormal and mythical creatures like blue caps, vampires and faeries and this collection is just as fabulous and sensational as the originals and feel authentic to the time period.

My favorite stories were The Queen and the Knave, Higglebottoms School for the Dead, and The Lady and the Highway Man!

All of the stories are short and thrilling. The plot is varied and I really enjoyed learning about the different magical creatures. Some of the stories and funny and made me giggle, some made me feel anxious and others made me so happy!

I can only imagine how incredible the print copy of the book is going to be with a cover that stunning and beautiful end papers between the stories!

If you like historical fiction, short stories, or real world fiction with fantasy elements this is for you!!

This was a clean read too and no content warning needed, except that it might freak out younger kids.

Big thanks to @netgalley @shadowmountainpub and @sarah_m_eden for my copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This one is great to have to complete your collection of Sarah’s Dread Penny books. These stories are so unique and unlike anything i’ve read before. I really am impressed with how much research Sarah had to do to compile this book. If you love the victorian era this is a must read.

This is a great add to Sarah Eden’s Dread Penny Society. The short stories were all fun and enjoyable to read. I have enjoyed learning more about the Victorian Era through all of her stories. The amount of research she must have done to write these and the other books is amazing. I would highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for an ARC copy for my honest opinion.

I love that Eden has all the Penny Dreadfuls from her series, The Dread Penny Society, all compiled into one book. Now I can reread each of them on their own without having to search through the series for each chapter. It is so incredible that Eden was able to not only write an incredible series, but at the same time write several different penny dreadfuls as if from different authors! She's amazingly talented and I love all her books. I will definitely have this compilation on my bookshelf alongside the rest of the series.

A fun collection of Penny Dreadfuls! I love the diversity found within these fun Victorian era serials!

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

I love the penny dreadfuls... I love how Eden has the ability to completely change her writing style (depending on the "author") I love how "Mr. King"s Dreadfuls always reflect what is happening in the main story but in a little lighter fantasy setting.

I had read all but the last three stories already from other books. I really liked two of them. I didn’t know what to think of the last story. These are quick easy reads.

"This beautiful, cloth-covered hardcover collector's anthology compiles all the penny dreadful short stories from Sarah M. Eden's five-book Victorian romance series. Included in this edition are three new, never-before-released stories.

Each short story is written in the style of the Victorian fiction that became so popular during that time period. From ghost stories to adventures to mysteries, Sarah weaves these gothic tales among her romantic storylines, making it the perfect way to celebrate the Dread Penny Society series (The Lady and the Highwayman, The Gentleman and the Thief, The Merchant and the Rogue, The Bachelor and the Bride, and The Queen and the Knave)."

Oh, cloth-covered collector's edition? Yes please!

The Dread Penny Society by Sarah M. Eden, 400 pages. SHORT STORIES. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2023. $26.
Language: PG (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Penny dreadfuls were popular short, serial stories in the United Kingdom, and Eden has tried her hand at writing several. While these short stories are read in installments throughout Eden’s series “The Dread Penny Society,” this compilation allows readers to get the complete penny dreadfuls all together. Ranging in style, as if written by different authors, and tone, readers never know what’s going to happen next.
These short stories lose some of their power in mirroring and giving insight into Eden’s focus characters in the Dread Penny Society series when they are taken away from the context of those novels Eden originally put them in. However, I did enjoy being able to read the stories in full without waiting for the next installment. Putting the penny dreadfuls together also better illustrates Eden’s skill in writing vastly differing styles.
The majority of characters are implied English and Irish. The language rating is for use of British swears, the mature content rating is for criminal mischief, and the violence rating is for weapon use and fantasy violence.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen