The Merchant and the Rogue Review
In a city of secrets and stories, can two wary hearts find a love worth believing in?
Summary
Vera Sorokina loves reading the Penny Dreadfuls and immersing herself in tales of adventure, mystery, and romance. Her own days are filled with the often mundane work of running the book and print shop she owns with her father. The shop offers her freedom and an income, and while she is grateful for the stability it brings to her life, she often feels lonely.
Brogan Donnelly was born and raised in Ireland, but has lived in London for several years, where he’s built a career as a penny dreadful writer. He has dedicated himself to the plight of the poor with the help of his sister. But with no one to share his life with, he fears London will never truly feel like home.
Brogan and Vera’s paths cross, and the attraction is both immediate and ill-advised. Vera knows from past experience that writers are never to be trusted, and Brogan has reason to suspect not everything at Vera’s print shop is aboveboard. When a growing criminal enterprise begins targeting their area of London, Brogan and Vera must work together to protect the community they’ve both grown to love. But that means they’ll need to learn to trust each other with dangerous secrets that have followed both of them from their home countries.
Evaluation
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Sarah M. Eden’s Dread Penny Society series continues to blow me away—and The Merchant and the Rogue is no exception! What I love most about this series is how each book stands on its own. So many series feel like copy-and-paste versions of the first story, but not here. While the overarching villain remains the same, every book introduces new characters, fresh plots, and a new layer of this intricate, villainous web. It’s brilliant storytelling, truly.
Brogan and Vera’s romance? So gentle and sweet. I adored them both! And I really appreciated how Sarah writes strong, capable female characters like Vera. She’s independent, intelligent, and brave—but not in that over-the-top, “girl boss” way we see so often these days. She’s authentically feminine, grounded, and relatable.
And the best part? No miscommunication tropes! In a world full of Hallmark-style misunderstandings, this book is refreshingly clear and honest in its character relationships. The secrets they do keep are rooted in real danger—not petty drama—and watching Brogan and Vera grow to trust each other was just so satisfying.
If you love secret identities, a touch of suspense, clean romance, and a slowly unfolding mystery, this one’s for you. I also have to give Sarah major credit for how rich and distinct every book in the series feels. Each installment moves the plot forward without feeling repetitive, which is no easy feat! Honestly, I finished this book with a happy sigh. Can’t wait to dive into the next one!
