Elizabeth Black is the headmistress of a girls’ school and a well-respected author of “silver-fork” novels, stories written both for and about the upper-class ladies of Victorian society. But by night, she writes very different kinds of stories–the Penny Dreadfuls that are all the rage among the working-class men. Under the pseudonym Mr. King, Elizabeth has written about dashing heroes fighting … fighting supernatural threats and dangerous outlaws romancing helpless women. They contain all the adventure and mystery that her real life lacks.
Fletcher Walker began life as a street urchin, but is now the most successful author in the Penny Dreadful market, that is until Mr. King started taking all of his readers–and his profits. No one knows who King is, including Fletcher’s fellow members of the Dread Penny Society, a fraternity of authors dedicated to secretly fighting for the rights of the less-fortunate.
Determined to find the elusive Mr. King, Fletcher approaches Miss Black. As a fellow-author, she is well-known among the high-class writers; perhaps she could be persuaded to make some inquiries as to Mr. King’s whereabouts? Elizabeth agrees to help Fletcher, if only to insure her secret identity is never discovered.
For the first time, Elizabeth experiences the thrill of a cat-and-mouse adventure reminiscent of one of her own novels as she tries to throw Fletcher off her scent. But the more time they spend together, the more she loses her heart. Its upper-class against working-class, author against author where readers, reputations, and romance are all on the line.
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Where to begin.
The book was “meh” for me. Not terrible, but not awesome either. This was another book in which I was branching out. After reading the synopsis I thought it sounded interesting and would be a good mix to throw into my typical thriller/suspense rotation.
My co-creator, Kim, from our podcast Books Don’t Review Themselves, and I both agreed the book was a little long for the story. It could have been brought down to maybe 200ish pages and quite frankly, that could very well have added a star in both our opinions.
The story itself was enjoyable but quite repetitive in the sense that Elizabeth is from a higher class and the fact she writes Penny Dreadfuls needs to remain a secret and how Fletcher began life amongst the impoverished lower class.
The author intertwined Penny Dreadfuls into the story which I know many people enjoyed, but for me was a little confusing at times. I would have preferred to read the Penny Dreadfuls on their own or even reading them intertwined, but still having them as a stand-alone at the end of the book so you could read them uninterrupted.
I would recommend this book if this type of story plot excites you or you are a previous fan of the author. This is my first Sarah M. Eden book and this story plot is not something that typically excites me so overall “meh” is the best I could give the book.
Elizabeth and Fletcher’s story is a roller coaster ride that was thrilling the entire time! I could not put the book down, no matter how tired I was. I wanted, nay, I needed to know the ending. This book is not one, not two, but three stories in one! Count them, three stories folks! And I loved it! Eden artfully put together a tale about two very different people from completely opposite walks of life (who both happen to write penny dreadful novels). The secrets, the chemistry between the characters, and the fact that I got to read each character’s novel within this book was the icing on the cake. I have never read a novel that was so perfectly put together while inserting two completely separate stories into the book. Eden has written a beautifully crafted masterpiece and I would wager that she will win awards for this one. I love it, I recommend it, and I would read it again! I received a copy of this book for free, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Elizabeth Black is the headmistress of a girls’ school and a well-respected author of “silver-fork” novels, stories written both for and about the upper-class ladies of Victorian society. But by night, she writes very different kinds of stories—the Penny Dreadfuls that are all the rage among the working-class men. Under the pseudonym Mr. King, Elizabeth has written about dashing heroes fighting supernatural threats and dangerous outlaws romancing helpless women. They contain all the adventure and mystery that her real life lacks.
Fletcher Walker began life as a street urchin, but is now the most successful author in the Penny Dreadful market, that is until Mr. King started taking all of his readers–and his profits. No one knows who King is, including Fletcher’s fellow members of the Dread Penny Society, a fraternity of authors dedicated to secretly fighting for the rights of the less-fortunate.
Determined to find the elusive Mr. King, Fletcher approaches Miss Black. As a fellow-author, she is well-known among the high-class writers; perhaps she could be persuaded to make some inquiries as to Mr. King’s whereabouts? Elizabeth agrees to help Fletcher, if only to insure her secret identity is never discovered.
MY TAKE
Oh. My. Heck! I LOVED this book so much!!! It’s one of the few books that could easily turn around and read again after finishing it. I wish I could give it more than five stars.
Elizabeth and Fletcher are wonderful characters. They had very different beginnings and not in the same social status but are so perfect for each other.
Elizabeth has been living vicariously through the adventures in her own penny dreadful novels. Unknowingly, she steps into real-life adventure when she first meets Fletcher. The work of the mysterious Mr. King is cutting into the revenues the dread pennies use to help people, and they want to invite King to join them. And she might have an in to meeting him.
The whole network of street urchins and penny dreadful authors working to help save others is wonderful. And dangerous.
The story is actually three stories in one. As we read, we get installments as well of Elizabeth’s current serial as well as Fletcher. All are engaging.
A full five stars. I listened to the audiobook, and Justine Eyre did a fabulous job.
I love Sarah M. Eden’s Regency Novels and anything else she cares to write for that matter. This one was different. I mean that in the best of ways. I loved the approach with Fletcher and Elizabeth, with chapters of their own Penny Dreadful’s mixed in. The adventure and the mystery took center stage and it left it open with more mysteries. Who is the Dread Master? What nefarious activity is Mr Headley up to? Who is the Mastiff and can they bring him or her down? With other members in the society to explore, I can see this being a series of wonderful serials.
The writing was fresh and the story moved beautifully. The author’s way with words never ceases to delight me. The mystery felt new and not tired and the hero was untraditional as only a writer and member of a secret society can be.
I loved all the supporting characters and hope to meet them in more vivid detail at a later time. I found myself captivated by the story and only forced myself to put it down for sleep and to go to work.
I knew this book would be somewhat different than Sarah Eden’s other books, but I found that I loved it just as much as those, if not more! Elizabeth and Fletcher find allies in each other to fight for impoverished children but do not realize just how very much they have in common. Sarah masterfully weaves three tales into one and witty banter, evil villains, a spunky heroine, and a swoon worthy romance make this book utterly delightful. I truly hope that this story will continue in another book!
It is always, always, a pleasure to read Sarah Eden’s books. She has a remarkable gift for crafting a story that wraps itself around my heart. I think what I love the most is how she takes the dark, hard and difficult circumstances of life and balances that with hope through a few good people trying to make a difference. That, in turn, gives me hope. I’ve been a bit heartsick lately for how difficult and cruel this world is. The future doesn’t always look so bright and I’ve been trying to remind myself that there are lots of good people in this world, trying to combat the evil, one person at a time. I was worried that this book would just add to my disappointment in humanity based on what this book is about but I shouldn’t have worried. The hope was stronger than the evil and the good people made a difference. I needed that reminder. Even though this is a work of fiction, it portrays real life. There are people out there rescuing and loving. They are making a difference for the one.
I love Fletcher. He won me over in the first few chapters because he’s the underdog that everyone wants to root for. Fletcher is scrappy, determined and has a heart that lends itself to helping the downtrodden- especially the children. He’s a gem and Elizabeth thinks so too. Elizabeth is pretty great herself.
There are stories within the story as Fletcher and Elizabeth are both writers and we get a sample of the “Penny Dreadful” stories they create. It gave me a glimpse into both of their worlds and their hearts. It was fun!
I really loved this book. From beginning to end. I felt as though I was right there with Fletcher and Elizabeth through it all. It was fantastic.
Content: peril, abuse (with no specific details), some mild violence, kissing
– I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Le sigh. I really enjoyed this book. And now you can feel the but coming. Sarah Eden just kept repeating over and over how no one can find out that Elizabeth writes Penny Dreadfuls, and about Fletcher’s low station starting off in life. And I don’t mean the casual reminder or even once per chapter. It was often multiples times in a chapter. And some of the chapters that may have been all that was talked about.
The Lady and the Highwayman could have been cut down to 200 pages if Eden didn’t repeat that information over and over. And I would have been happy with a 200 page book. I would have given that novel a five star rating. The rest of the story was very entertaining. And I can’t even say just the novel, because Eden included two Penny Dreadfuls in the book as well. Not only was that a fun idea, but that was the only time I wasn’t reading on repeat about Elizabeth and Fletcher’s predicaments. So I extra enjoyed the Penny Dreadfuls.
The adventure parts in all three of the stories were very entertaining and fast paced. Eden did a wonderful job describing Victorian London, from the conditions of the slums to the upper crust. Eden’s details in regards to the clothing and social norms were very in depth, and most of her characters were very well developed.
But I just can’t get past the repetitiveness. If Eden writes another in the Proper Romance series I may read it, but if she hasn’t changed up her writing style I know I’ll be in for a lot of skimming.
This is my first foray into the writing of Sarah M. Eden. When I heard it was actually three stories in one, I wasn’t sure about the premise. But, oh, how delightfully different this story turned out to be. I was totally charmed!
Fletcher Walker grew up on the streets of London as a homeless urchin. He fought to become educated and eventually became a successful writer of penny dreadfuls, the cheap serial stories so popular in Victorian London. Fletcher was also a member of the Dread Penny Society, a secret philanthropic group of penny dreadful writers who try to help the poor children of the streets. When a new penny dreadful series by “Mr. King” becomes so popular that Fletcher begins to lose money he uses to help the children, he believes Elizabeth Black, a headmistress and a writer of so-called silver-fork novels, can help him discover who Mr. King is so he can be invited to join the DPS. Little does he know that Mr. King is the nom de plume of Elizabeth!
As stated above, this story was so charming! The developing romance between Fletcher and Elizabeth was sweet, different and so witty. The difference between their social standings just added to the magic. What made this book so special, though, is the inclusion of both Elizabeth’s and Fletcher’s penny dreadful stories, which ran parallel to their own story. It was simply blown away by the cleverness of the blending of three stories. I hope this isn’t the last we’ve heard from the Dread Penny Society!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
A delightful romp in Victorian England
What a delightful story!
I had so much fun reading The Lady and the Highwayman! While the concept isn’t entirely new, I loved the way author Sarah M. Eden executed it, going between Elizabeth’s story, then Fletcher’s, then a chapter of her novel, then one of his. Instead of making the story feel disjointed and confusing, the inserted narratives added a level of interest and were woven into the events that were taking place as well.
One of the reasons this was fun is the content of the Penny Dreadful that Fletcher wrote. If you know much about me, you’ll know I don’t do vampire stories. And, of course, Fletcher’s story is about street urchins and a vampire! Yet with the way it was written, and short and middle-school level scary, it worked for me.
I loved the deep, caring characters, Elizabeth and Fletcher, who had compassion for the underdog and the oppressed. The rescues the Dreadful Penny Society staged and even the way they continued to protect those who had been rescued were simply marvelous!
If you enjoy imaginative historical fiction, be sure to read The Lady and the Highwayman!
Read my review of The Lady and the Highwayman by Sarah M. Eden at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
Elizabeth Black is the headmistress of a girls’ school in 1830s Victorian London. She is also a well-respected author of ”silver-fork” novels, stories written both for and about the upper-class ladies of Victorian society. But by night, she writes very different kinds of stories–the Penny Dreadfuls that are all the rage among the working-class men, under the pseudonym of Charles King.
Fletcher Walker began life as a street urchin, but is now the most successful author in the Penny Dreadful market, that is until Charles King started taking all of his readers. No one knows who King is, including Fletcher’s fellow members of the Dread Penny Society, a fraternity of authors dedicated to secretly fighting for the social and political causes of their working-class readers & rescuing oppressed children. Determined to find the elusive Mr. King, Fletcher approaches Miss Black. As a fellow-author, she is well-known among the high-class writers; perhaps she could be persuaded to make some inquiries as to Mr. King’s whereabouts? Elizabeth agrees to help Fletcher.
A very well written book that started slowly but the pace gradually increased throughout the book until the climax, which was a page turner. The chemistry between Fletcher & Elizabeth was one of the highlights of the book & I loved how their relationship developed. I also loved the instalments from the Penny Dreadfuls. I only hope that this is going to be a series starter as there were unanswered questions as to the identities of the Dread Master & the Mastiff
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
I believe this is my favorite book by Sarah M. Eden thus far! The characters are amazing, the wit and humor outstanding, the love story sweet, clean, and beautiful. And I just love the ending! Such bravery, such goodness. And the stories written within stories! Those were amazing too! It’s like getting three books in one! Loved it!
I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own and are expressed voluntarily.
I was a little worried when I started this story. You quickly come to find out the two main characters are writers. You basically get 3 stories in one with this book:} I wasn’t sure this was going to work but it did and very well. You learned a lot about Fletcher from his stories. The way she twines Elizabeth’s story around their own story is awesome. I loved this one. It is probably one of my favorite Eden’s It had a light feel and a good mystery and romance! So much fun to read!
This is a Victorian-era sweet romance involving the Dread Penny Society, a secret society made up of authors who wrote penny dreadfuls (cheap serials aimed at middle/lower class readers). This society used their funds and resources to help the oppressed street children of London. The leader, Fletcher, grew up on the streets himself so his mission is a personal one. Elizabeth has her own school for middle-class girls, is a silver-fork author and anonymously pens penny dreadfuls, which add excitement and thrills to her otherwise simple life.
The book alternates between DPS stories of saving children from villains, penny dreadful stories penned by Fletcher and Elizabeth which somewhat mimic their real lives, and a burgeoning romance between these two. While sweet and well-written, I was not as engaged with the story or the characters as I could have been.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #ShadowMountain for providing the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
Fletcher Walker has pulled himself from the gutter to be a successful writer of penny dreadfuls, but a mysterious Mr. King has knocked him from the top. Elizabeth Black, the headmistress of a girls school, has kept the secret of her nom de plume safe to preserve her reputation. Concern for those less fortunate than these two together and then love starts to blossom.
I loved this from start to finish. Not only do we have a lady who conforms to the standards expected of her, bending the rules when she can safely do so, but we also have a hero who has bettered himself and his doing what he can for those who are in the same situation he once was. These two play off each other beautifully, complimenting each other to perfection.
We also have excerpts of their respective “penny dreadfuls” they are writing. We see how real events inspire their writing. The only thing I didn’t like was the supernatural aspects of the penny dreadfuls, which I understand was typical of the stories.
The side characters were varied and interesting. I dearly hope the author intends to write more in this world!
I would recommend this to readers looking for a Victorian romance with plenty of adventure and mystery. I received a free copy for reviewing purposes from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
“Rumor had it, Fletcher Walker wasn’t born but had simply appeared one day, swaggering down the streets of London.”
The excellent first line drew me right in!
Fletcher Walker has crawled his way up from the gutter with just his swagger. He goes wherever he wants, acting like he belongs, and no one questions him. Fletcher is a different kind of a hero who is very vulnerable. Now that he is successful writing Penny Dreadfuls, he hasn’t forgotten where he came from, and he gives back to those who need it.
Elizabeth Black is all prim and proper in order to keep people interested in her school. However, that is just a facade for her adventurous spirit.
Fletcher and Elizabeth both write Penny Dreadfuls and the chapters switch between their points of view as well as the Penny Dreadful stories themselves.
I’ve never been in to over the top, exaggerated novels, but Elizabeth’s story was fun and interesting. Fletcher’s was interesting as well, but it was sad, and real, and raw. Especially because it came from a place he knew from growing up in the slums. I liked how the Penny Dreadfuls intertwined with the overall story.
Even with their success, Fletcher and Elizabeth are drawn together with their desire to educate those who are often overlooked like females and the poor.
Historical fiction is my favorite, and I love learning new and interesting things during different time periods. I love that Eden drew inspiration from real life author Elizabeth Caroline Grey who was rumored to write Penny Dreadfuls and Silver Fork novels.
There was an overall mystery throughout the book that I really enjoyed. The ending is very cute, but I still wish I had answers to some questions.
I have read almost all of Sarah M. Eden’s books, and she is one of my favorite authors. This book seemed a different style than others I have read from her, but I really liked it and completely recommend it.
I enjoyed this story of Penny Dreadful author Fletcher Walker searching for his rival Mr. King. Along the way he meets — and is captivated by — Miss Elizabeth Black, the headmistress at a girls school. The setting is Victorian London, with all its grime & poverty.
The sweet romance and attraction between these two moved on at a nice pace. Not so much the story itself. This is really three stories in one. We have the main story between Fletcher and Elizabeth, and then we have excerpts from both of their Penny Dreadful serials which I found myself skipping. Fans of creative historical fiction will probably like this story.
Thanks Net Galley for the opportunity to read and provide my honest review of this story.