Hip, hip, hooray for another splendid adventure with the Dread Penny Society! This captivating novel is one of several Proper Romance Victorian works by Sarah M. Eden. While there are references to other books in the series, The Merchant and The Rogue is a stand-alone novel. Eden pens an intriguing plot that smoothly switches between tender and heartfelt moments to action and occasions of peril. Each dialect, accent and use of slang give the story authenticity while the sprinkling of Irish lore adds an element of fun. In addition to the main narrative, Eden includes two short stories.  These ‘penny dreadfuls’ are filled with mystery, magic and romance. The Merchant and The Rogue is a delight and a wonder from Sarah M. Eden!

Review of an Advance Reader Copy

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Shadow Mountain

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore:  A few implied incidents of violence including an attempted abduction and suspected murder; several verbal threats are uttered; a few secondhand reports of violence include murder and a magical creature eating humans; a brief scene of fantasy violence include fighting and axing a magical creature; several brief scenes of violence including a stabbing, street brawl, punching a character; a brief fire that destroys property with no casualties; a brief scene of violent death when a character is beaten and shot; a brief incident of blood and gore when an explosion severely injures a character. 

Sex/Nudity:  Several incidents of kissing on the lips, hand and fingers; a few sexual references regarding brothels and children taken to work for a madame; a implied incident of sexual activity. 

Mature Subject Matter:

Poverty, forgeries, attempted child abduction, thievery, slander, extortion, bankruptcy, report of starvation, report of writers being rounded up and sent away or executed. 

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Characters drink. Several scenes take places in a pub. Mention of a tobacco shop. A character whistles a “whiskey song”.