I quite liked Ashes on the Moor by this same author. So much that I recommended it to a few people, and even read it a second time! Unfortunately though, I did not enjoy this book. It was a bit of a chore for me to slog through, actually.

If I had to boil all my complaints down to one word I think it'd be 'slow'. It kind of plods along, and a fair amount could be removed entirely without changing the story much at all. I'm a pretty patient reader though, so I still could have gotten along with it, but also the characters were definitely a bit slow-minded as well. To the point I started wondering if the author thought the *reader* was slow-minded! Very predictable and simplistic. If it were edited down though, I think it might actually work decently for a younger crowd. Tween girls perhaps, who are interested in historical romances but maybe not ready for a more complicated, sordid tale. It's already a clean romance with just kisses and hand holding, so that wouldn't be a complication.

The hero doesn't really have any flaws, just always patient and adoring and nearly perfect in every way. Which isn't as interesting to me, honestly, but he was otherwise very likable. Irish, a writer, loyal, a do-gooder, a fighter when the situation calls for it. All of those things are pluses for me.
I didn't warm as much to the heroine, she felt more standoffish and high maintenance. But I did like that she was originally from Russia (though ultimately she's about 99% Londoner), and ran a business, and she didn't just sit back and wait for someone else to solve the problems. I believe she was *crushing* on the hero, but I didn't feel like her actions supported a case for having stronger feelings. So the romance seemed a bit one-sided to me and her claims to love kinda suspect.

Interspersed throughout the story are two fantastical tales meant to be issues of penny dreadfuls I believe. And they were okay-ish..., but I'm not sure they added enough to warrant their inclusion (or that they would inspire the fandom they seem to have in the story). For me, it was just further slogging.

Overall it wasn't for me, but I'm sure there's an audience out there who will eat it up.

I received an advance copy courtesy of NetGalley.

A story within a story, this book bounces between multiple stories: its main story of a writer's undercover employment in a print shop to look for clues of espionage and deceit and 3 substories of author's in the Dread Penny Society. It was a unique experience of reading multiple stories at once, and I enjoyed trying to find any parallels between the Penny stories and the actual tale of the book.

My favorite element of this book was Eden's dialect writing. She does such a wonderful job nudging her readers to fill their heads with Irish, London English, and Russian vernacular and accents.

The mystery of Vera & Brogan's histories kept me wondering & their budding romance kept me turning the page to see how they would learn more of their own history or finally be willing to share their truths with each other.

This is a sweet story that builds to a beautiful ending.

This is the first book I have read by Sarah M. Eden and I really enjoyed it. Very interesting plot and great characters. I can't wait to read more from this author.

What a great addition to this series. I really enjoyed getting to know more about Brogan. This one has a little twist on the Penny Society. It kept me hooked until the very end!

The Merchant and the Rogue is a romantic suspense novel and the third in a series centered around the Dread Penny Society- an underground network of Penny Dreadful authors and spies.

On the whole this book was not my cup of tea. A lot of what didn’t work for me came down to preference— I generally dislike the story-within-a-story structure when used in romance and can find it distracting, for example. To see multiple stories within the narrative was *very distracting* not to mention disorienting. The cast of characters grew bigger and bigger with each page and I honestly couldn’t keep track. I admire the commitment to historical accuracy and detail a lot, but the level and presentation of detail could also prove challenging to read when juggling a huge cast of characters, various accents, and three simultaneous suspense plots.
Additionally, for a romance novel, the hero and heroine received astonishingly low page time together, which was disappointing. On the whole I found the book overwhelming and unfortunately uninteresting, and it didn’t work for me though I usually love historical romance as a genre.

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

As expected, this book is an absolute delight. I can't say it's my favorite in the series because The Lady and the Highwayman holds such a special place in my heart, but it is a very close second. I loved finally spending time with Brogan and his sister Móirín, after meeting him in the first two books, and Vera is a new favorite among the characters. The mystery was fun, as usual, but it's really the characters and relationships that make these books stand out – they're portrayed with such tenderness and humor, it's truly a joy to watch them develop. Plus, Brogan and Vera are plenty swoony. *wink*

Oh, man, after reading the first book in this series and the male protagonist, Fletcher Walker, quickly becoming one of my favorite leading men of all time, I anticipated enjoying the remaining books in the series but not having any character surpass Fletcher. And in the second book, that was true--I did quite like the characters but Fletcher remained my favorite. Here, though, in the third book, Brogan Donnelly has given Fletcher a run for his money in my esteem. I still love Fletcher, but Brogan has the advantage of being an Irishman (I love all the Irish characters Sarah M. Eden has ever written!), and I found him and his insecurities so endearing. It was really interesting to read a story with a male character who is insecure, who sees himself as a good "foot soldier" but not a general, not someone who can strike out on his own and take the lead. That made him very fascinating--and then throw in his good heart and how he's trying to take care of as many people as he possibly can, and I just adored him. I also really liked Vera; she's as kind-hearted as Brogan, looking out for her customers and fellow merchants. I was pulled in by the plot, wanting to see how things would play out, and while there are definitely things that will need to be resolved in later books in the series, things wrapped up at a good spot in this novel.
As for the two penny dreadfuls woven in through the book, I really liked those as well, particularly Mr. King's. I liked seeing the parallels between the penny dreadful and the main story.
This is one of those books that I wanted to start re-reading as soon as I finished reading it. It's also one I'm hoping will be made into an audiobook because I think it would awesome to listen to these characters! This is definitely one of my favorites of 2021!
5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me the ARC for this book.

THE MERCHANT AND THE ROGUE by Sarah M Eden

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨

The Merchant and the Rogue was absolutely delightful! I read it as a stand-alone as I didn’t realise it was part of a series when I got it, however I found that didn’t matter and it still made sense and I was completely hooked on it.

I honestly could have read about all these characters forever. I found myself just as excited about the characters from Mr King’s story as I was about Brogan and Vera. Tullulah and Royston felt to me like I was reading a fairytale based off Brogan and Vera’s story and I love that.

This book was so fun from start to finish and I definitely recommend it for fans of Historical Romance and Mystery!

It's always a gamble with a series - you can never be quite sure that the author is going to be able to recreate the magic again and again. Fortunately for fans of the Dread Penny Society, Sarah M. Eden does indeed appear to be up to the task - <i>The Merchant and the Rogue</i> successfully continues the adventures of the members of a group of altruistic penny dreadful authors in its third installment. This time the focus is on Brogan Donnelly, whom readers will remember has been getting increasingly unhappy about being forced to keep his Dread Penny work a secret from his sister Moirin. It's this unhappiness that leads to him being given a special mission by the Dread Master, the mysterious society head - a mission that forces him to "quit" the DPS in order to get closer to the latest horrible scheme being perpetuated by the notorious criminal known as The Mastiff.

Naturally this throws him into the path of his love interest, Russian immigrant Vera Sorokina, who runs a print shop with her prickly father. Even if Brogan isn't your favorite DPS character (I'm personally holding out for Stone's book), Vera more than makes the book worth it. She's brassy, smart, and a match for Moirin, which any woman who ends up with Brogan needs to be. She may make the occasional bad decision, but once she learns all the facts of a situation, she's not afraid to reassess, or even to say that she's wrong. Romance readers will recognize that as being in relatively short availability as far as protagonist qualities go, so Vera's definitely ahead of the pack. She and Brogan compliment each other well and are a delight to read about.

The two embedded penny dreadfuls this time are by "Mr. King" and Brogan. The former is among the best the series has offered, although my love of folklore may be influencing that statement. All in all this is another enjoyable outing with the DPS, and I'm delighted with the progression of the overarching plot, if only because it means that we'll get more novels in the series.

Well... It seems this is part of a series. I was unaware, which is probably why I had a harder time getting into this particular book. It didn't ruin the book for me, just took longer to get the groove.

Sarah M. Eden has a great talent for story telling and weaving words. I found myself really enjoying the book and the characters. The idea of weaving in The Penny Dreadfuls was intriguing.

I am a huge fan of Sarah Eden and of the previous books in this series, so I was delighted to receive an ARC of The Merchant and the Rogue from NetGalley. This book continues the story of the Dread Penny Society and their quest to defeat the Mastiff in regency London. Character from the previous tales make brief appearances, but this story primarily belongs to Brogan, a reliable ally in the first two books. I was excited to read about him as I really liked him in the previous books, but I found him a little less intriguing as a main character. All his interesting edges were sanded off and he was just GOOD. He's a former street urchin who spends every penny helping the poor, doting on his fearsome sister, and fighting for the little guy. He's in touch with his emotions and enlightened about womens' issues and— a little too good to be true. There is not a lot of tension between him and his love interest Vera, because they are all that is good and pure and perfect and strong, and they are obviously meant to be together. The author does plenty to show us this with their deeds, but she undoes her work a bit by repeatedly stating it straight out. She needs to trust her readers and herself to understand her characterization without backing it up with empty words.

The mystery here isn't much of a mystery. Spoiler alert: it was the Mastiff. Fletcher Walker, adorable as ever, is a scene stealer wherever he appears and I found myself wishing he and Elizabeth would get more time on the page (The Lady and the Highwayman is their story, and if you haven't read it, YOU MUST).

The Dead Zoo (Brogan's penny dreadful) was mildly entertaining if predictable. I far preferred The Merchant and the Rogue (Elizabeth's story) as I always do, and found Royston to be a much more dashing hero than Brogan, actually.

This all sounds like criticism, but when it all comes down to it, I read this book in a day, almost non-stop when I REALLY didn't have time to be reading. It was compelling, and I pulled for Brogan and Vera's love story just as much as I did for Hollis and Ana. I love Ms. Eden's work, and I will eagerly await the next installment in this series. The characters are easy to love. You won't regret reading it.

So...I hate saying this because I absolutely love most of Sarah M. Eden’a books, but I seem to be the outlier here and I really just couldn’t get into this book.

I do still like the concept of the Penny Dreadfuls, but this one just felt flat to me and I’m really not sure why. I liked Vera and Brogan well enough and I like that the villain and mystery isn’t just contained to one book, that it’s ongoing throughout the series. But I just couldn’t totally connect with book, even though I did overall enjoy the previous books in the series.

I read this as a standalone book (I was not aware that the story was the third in it's respective franchise).
I have nothing but positive things to say about this book! The writing was captivating and enthralling. The characters were quite lovable and had depth. The story was set in London in the late 1800's which I enjoyed.

Overall found the story very enjoyable, my only regret is not reading the other stories first however as I feel I would have benefitted in knowing who some of the characters were previously.

I enjoyed this book so much! After reading Ms Eden’s first two books in her Dread Penny Society series, I could not wait to get the third one! This series is my first of her books and I am hooked! The Merchant and the Rouge continues the story of Victorian England, where the members of the Dread Penny Society, as they attempt to protect and advocate for the working-class of London. Brogan Donnely, has built a life alongside his sister after leaving his homeland of Ireland. Now, he writes penny dreadfuls and serves the poor of his new city. Though he has the Society and his sister, he still does not feel like London is home. When he receives an assignment demanding secrecy and leadership, how will he accomplish it and how will he find his place? Vera Sorokina is grateful for her life at her father’s book and print shop. Reading the penny dreadfuls, supported by the income the shop affords, she too has built a life outside of her homeland of Russia and is able to help the poverty-stricken community she has found. Though the days are filled with mundane tasks, it gives her freedom and her father something to do. Brogan and Vera’s meeting brings an immediate attraction, though each brings secrets and reserve. With the growing criminal activities of the Mastiff, whose violence and power is whispered throughout London, they must work together to protect their area and all of those in London.
Once again, Ms. Eden wrote an engaging, entertaining, and sweet story that I flew through! I stayed up much too late reading this book! I was excited to see more about Brogan and his story. Like many of the Dread Penny Society members, his past is a mystery. I was so interested in him and Morin from their first appearance in The Lady and the Highwayman. He was such a sweet brother and she was so fun, fiery and competent. I loved seeing them together and watching him grow. He was finding his place, in the work he was doing for the poor of London and in the life he had built in London. He and Vera together were so cute! They were friends first, enjoying one another’s company and respecting one another. I loved how they encouraged and supported each other. Vera was also amazing! She was a hardworking merchant who in many ways ran the book and print shop. I loved her tender heart for the street children who came to her shop and her care for her community. She strove to be a source of help to those around her, even though she felt like she had little power. She and Brogan had to work together despite the secrets they both had.
This book continues the overarching story of the Dread Penny Society. As the criminal activities of the streets of London seem to grow in frequency and magnitude, the Society and those working alongside them uncover more danger, they are moving forward in their campaign to protect and care for the people of London. Each book answers some questions, but leaves enough unknown to continue the story. It is great pacing throughout the series, not feeling dragged out. I am so excited to read more! Honestly, I hope that a few more of the Society members get stories, I have some hopes for the next one already! I would definitely recommend this book! Even if historical fiction is not usually your genre, I think that this is a great book to get started in it! (Though maybe read the other books in the series first, it is pretty connected!) This is a clean romance, though likely best suited for teens and up.
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.

I posted on Goodreads, but it was not on Bookbub yet. I am going to post on Amazon and blog closer to/on release date

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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