Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber (Bloody Jack, #3)

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Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber (Bloody Jack #3)

4.31 of 5 stars 4.31 · rating details · 4,856 ratings · 341 reviews

A pirate at heart, unlikely heroine Jacky Faber returns to sea in a truly swashbuckling tale filled with good humor, wit, and courage. After Leaving the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls in Boston--under dire circumstances, of course--Jacky boards a whaling ship bound for London, where she hopes to find her beloved Jaimy. But things don't go as planned, soon she is off...more

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Published September 1st 2008 by Listen & Live Audio (first published August 1st 2005)

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Mar 05, 2008 Madison rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: every girl who has ever dreamed of pirates.

This book is my favorite the series. It gives women a little less of a fragile sense and more of a indestructable yet vulnerable headstrongness that I truly love. Definately a favorite. ^-^

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Jun 17, 2011 Nancy O'Toole rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, historical-fiction, library, young-adult

When her time at the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls ends poorly (and with the city of Boston in flames), Jacky Faber decides to head back to London to reunite with her beloved Jaimy Fletcher. But when she witnesses evidence that Jaimy has been unfaithful to her, she panics and runs straight into a press gang. As Jacky is dressed in male garb, they mistake her for a boy and attempt to press her into service on a ship. When Jacky reveals her true gender, she is horrified with the ship's cap...more When her time at the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls ends poorly (and with the city of Boston in flames), Jacky Faber decides to head back to London to reunite with her beloved Jaimy Fletcher. But when she witnesses evidence that Jaimy has been unfaithful to her, she panics and runs straight into a press gang. As Jacky is dressed in male garb, they mistake her for a boy and attempt to press her into service on a ship. When Jacky reveals her true gender, she is horrified with the ship's captain refuses to let her go as he desires nothing more than to see Jacky in his bed. Jacky must depends on her nautical knowledge and quick wits to keep her alive, as she ship heads out to patrol the French coast.

Upon reading Under the Jolly Roger I realized once again that there are some things that L.A. Meyer does really, really well. He knows how to craft a great adventure story. Jacky's latest adventure on the high seas is exciting, suspenseful, and filled with great humorous moments that often had me laughing out loud. The book's enjoyability is enhanced by the author's keen eye for historic detail. Meyer does a great job of immersing the reader into the time period without making his book feel like a text book. In Under the Jolly Roger, this can been seen in his portrayal of nautical life, as well as his glimpses into the different lives that young women lead in British society during this time period (the early 1800s).

The biggest strength of the series lies in Meyer's ability to craft exceptional characters. Jacky is a wonderful protagonist, a fantastic storyteller with a bold sense of humor. Although she's not against embracing some morally gray things when necessary, she is deep down a very noble and heroic character. She is also quite flawed, as she is impulsive and often overreaches her boundaries, which only serves to make her more endearing. Some of the side characters are just as memorable, my favorites would have to be Mairead, a strong willed young Irish woman and Higgins, a proper British butler with the soul of a pirate. The strength of these characters lessen the impact of things that would normally get on my nerves, such as Jacky's near supernatural ability to attract potential suitors.

I experienced Under the Jolly Roger as an audiobook, which was a change from the first two books where I just read the print version. This was a great choice. The narrator Katherine Kellgren is an exceptional voice actor who gives impassioned performance. As a bonus, she also has a rather nice singing voice, which comes in handy during Jacky's time as a performer. As a result of this positive experience, I plan on listening to the rest of this series on audiobook. (less)

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Feb 22, 2012 Jenben8426 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

After leaving the Lawson Peabody School for girls in a bit of a smoky disaster, Jacky Faber is on her way back to England, determined to figure out why she has not heard from her beloved Jamie. Once back on her homeland soil, Jacky again dons her jockey digs in order to find her love. But when she sees Jamie with another girl, she immediately comes to the conclusion that he no longer wants her and she flees from him only to be taken by a press gang and thrown aboard a ship with a dangerous capta...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Courtney rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book where Jacky becomes a "pirate". I'd been looking forward to reading this one. It was still an amazing read, as Meyer's Bloody Jack books always are. However, I found myself wishing this one was as good as the last book, as it was falling a bit short.

I loved the first half of it, although I was a bit iffy at first. In some ways it felt a bit like the first book. At some point I changed my opinion and came to appreciate her fight on the Wolverine.

Afterward, it begins to feel a bit like a...more

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Jun 14, 2011 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Waiting for the ferry to San Juan Island, I wandered over to their small coffee kiosk. While waiting for my order I asked the barista what he was reading. I don't remember the exact title, but it had to do with a girl who became a pirate and his description was very intriguing.

This weekend in San Diego's Maritime Museum, I found several books with a cover similar to the one he showed me. And I did remember that he had mentioned something about "Bloody Jack." So I bought one of the books and star...more

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Jan 30, 2011 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sixteen-year-old Jillian's thoughts on Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber:

Huh, well, I need something to read now that I blew so fast through Twilight and New Moon. (Note from twenty-year-old Jillian: Please pity sixteen-year-old me because she often got side-tracked with reading in the lulls between Harry Potter books. After a few bad run-ins with adult novels, she was very wary to pick up any book for fear she would have bad mental images...more Sixteen-year-old Jillian's thoughts on Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber:

Huh, well, I need something to read now that I blew so fast through Twilight and New Moon. (Note from twenty-year-old Jillian: Please pity sixteen-year-old me because she often got side-tracked with reading in the lulls between Harry Potter books. After a few bad run-ins with adult novels, she was very wary to pick up any book for fear she would have bad mental images smashed into her brain before she was ready for them. It's a wonder she even picked up Twilight in the first place because vampires were a no-no in her mind back then. It's amazing how far she's come in four years on the reading landscape.) Maybe I can find something near where I found -- hey, this author has the same last name! And the book has pirates! (Note: Twenty-year-old Jillian is still hopelessly in love with the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and hopes that the fourth movie won't suck. Also, she has a secret crush on Jack Sparrow even though she knows he's a bit of a scalawag.) This could be good!

[transitional music as Jillian arrives home from bookstore and sits down to read]

. . .Aww, crap, this is the THIRD BOOK in a series!! (Note: Twenty-year-old Jillian, in her defense, would like to point out that Borders did not have copies of the other books in stock at the time, so it was a common mistake that anyone could have made. Really. Don't give me that look.)

[a few days pass]

Huh. Well, it was pretty good, but I still felt as if I was missing something. Maybe I should read the first two books?

Twenty-year-old Jillian's thoughts about same book:

Okay. . .I remember next to nothing about what happened in the book other than Jacky became the pseudo-mistress to the pirate captain only for him to kick the bucket and then she deceived the whole ship into believing the Cap'n was still alive. Then she somehow became captain, though I don't remember exactly how. Also, she would run neck and neck with Zoey Redbird with how many crushes she's had on various boys. . .

Oh, and there was kissing eventually. I think sixteen-year-old me was happy about that since she was worried there would be no romance in the book at all.

Anywho. . .I still haven't read the other books. No time like the present, eh?

(This review was brought to you by Insomniacs International and a good dose of snark thanks to inspiration from E. Lockhart.) (less)

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Mar 18, 2013 Ramie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: librarycopy, fantasy, ya

All of my reviews (and those by some other awesome chicks) can be found at: http://www.chicksgetlit.com/

When I was a kid I adored Pippi Longstocking. I think of her often the more I read this series. I can't help but feel that Mary "Jacky" Faber is the answer for girls / women who have outgrown the idea of a Pippi or for those who feel they could have liked her if only she had been slightly more realistic. For those longing for a girl who has the same kinda of adventures but in a much crueler wo...more All of my reviews (and those by some other awesome chicks) can be found at: http://www.chicksgetlit.com/

When I was a kid I adored Pippi Longstocking. I think of her often the more I read this series. I can't help but feel that Mary "Jacky" Faber is the answer for girls / women who have outgrown the idea of a Pippi or for those who feel they could have liked her if only she had been slightly more realistic. For those longing for a girl who has the same kinda of adventures but in a much crueler world. Like Pippi, Jacky should be required reading for girls so long as we still live in a world where people so much as smirk at the idea of a woman doing a “man’s job". The difference here is that Jacky is much rougher reading - once again she's faced with a man who would force himself upon her as several others do nothing to stop it, even knowing the exact time this event is to occur. As I said, a much crueler world and therefore not meant for younger or sensitive readers. There is not especially foul language, so on that end it is acceptable for all ages, but some of the descriptions can be rather brutal when it comes to things that Jacky faces -- and yes some of those are men trying to overpower her in sexual ways.

As we have come to expect there is of course plenty of trouble, there's wars to fight, drunks to deal with, boy troubles, being called horrific names (sometimes for simply being in a place where a man could find you to do the aforementioned things), street gangs -- but Jacky takes on all of these things head on with a style all her own. She takes on any man, no matter how high his status in life or how low hers. When Jaimy seems to have forgotten her, she holds her head high no matter how much it is breaking her heart. She lands herself back on the high seas, and while it was not quite by choice, once there she makes the best her situation, landing herself in a position that no one thought possible -- a position that some people will do anything to ruin for her while others will do anything to protect for her. Reunited with old friends and enemies both, there’s quite a lot of adventure in this book which will not disappoint Bloody Jack fans.

I won’t go so far as to say that this book is perfect, it’s not. There are some weaknesses in this book, but none so great they take away even 1 star. It does begin to feel like you've seen Jacky in this scene or that one before. You do find yourself wondering 'why is she dealing with that person that way that way? She should be doing this or that!!! She's Jacky Faber for goodness sake.' Still, when it starts to feel reptitive or a little off, it then makes a right turn and reminds you again of why you love this little sea vixen.

It should be said that this is a rare book - enjoyable in any format but preferable in audio format. Generally I'd say buy your preferred format - hardcover, paperback, kindle, whatever... In the case of Jacky Faber, however, you'll be missing an experience if you don't hear the audio format.(less)

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Jul 02, 2012 Melodee rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book had much more adventure to it, and introduced some new characters that I really quite enjoy. This girl just makes the most of her situation, and turns it around to her benefit. But she's always quite generous with her spoils. You get a real nice view of how people can percieve and intrepret a situation in different ways. The world at large see her as a Pirate without mercy. Those who get to really know her see her brilliant mind and caring heart and become fierce protectors to her, lik...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Jessie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: summer-2012, young-adult

I'm entertained or I wouldn't keep reading this series. I keep smiling and that is enough. The author is original and fresh and finds new plots to keep us listening. **stop here for spoilers*** She doesn't spend much time on the whaling boat. In this book Jacky is in London, having made her way back -(also interesting) She goes to see Jamie, finally and sees him with another girl at the race track. Of course the girl turns out to be a cousin, but Jacky is jealous and races off before he can expl...more I'm entertained or I wouldn't keep reading this series. I keep smiling and that is enough. The author is original and fresh and finds new plots to keep us listening. **stop here for spoilers*** She doesn't spend much time on the whaling boat. In this book Jacky is in London, having made her way back -(also interesting) She goes to see Jamie, finally and sees him with another girl at the race track. Of course the girl turns out to be a cousin, but Jacky is jealous and races off before he can explain. She runs off right into the hands of a press gang. She is dressed as a boy jocky and so is once again mistaken for a boy. On board she tells the captain that she is a girl and he says that is great and keeps her on to be his fun later. This boat is dark and the men fear the captain. He is mean and gives out cruel punishments and even kills his men. He is also sick and so spends much time in his cabin. Rather than mutiny the officers are documenting all of the captain's actions in order to present them to the admiralty later. So when the captain orders all of the officers off the ship to deliver a message to some for him, they leave willingly to give the higher-ups their message about the captain. This is the night the captain chooses to have Jacky meet in his cabin for her services. She is a maiden, and so she takes one of the boys on the ship, who she likes into her cabin, and says, that she would rather lose her virtue with someone she likes than with the captain. She undresses in front of him, and they are about to .... when the captain orders her to his cabin earlier than before. So, she goes in and he is rough with her. The men try to distract with noise and rumblings, but he still goes at it. Then just at the last second, he dies and Jacky's virtue is still in tact. The men don't know this for three days. She commands the ship as the ranking officer still on board. After a few days, she tells the men that the captain is dead and that he never 'took' her. They let her command the ship. She has whipped them into shape and they start taking prizes from smugglers. The captain had been getting payoffs from these smugglers to go free, and now they all get to share in the prizes. She turns over the ships to the admiralty and then keeps one for herself. She outfits it and has Liam, her old sea dad, be the captain of it. They also help stop smugglers, but keep the prizes for themselves and don't hand it over to the navy first. Then she is called a pirate and in trouble for stealing the ship, and a wanted woman. They find her and capture her and then the boat she is on is called upon to go fight in the battle of Trafalgar. It is a horrific battle, and the one where Lord Nelson dies. So we have a little bit of historical fiction. After the battle is over, (she of course gets out of the brig and helps fight) She is allowed to escape with a life boat and she make her way to America.

Warnings-- attempted rape scene
Lots of swearing in this one- I think more than the others, GD, and by G, and Hell. (less)

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Jul 26, 2009 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

Another excellent book by L.A. Meyer. Jacky manages to find her way back to England only to mistake a lady Jaimy is with as his girlfriend, when it is instead his cousin. On the way back to her hotel, she is mistaken for a boy again and put onto a press gang and she ends on another of His Majesty's ships as a sailor. She makes the best of it and eventually by a total freak accident ends up captain of the same ship and does some privateering in the name of the crown and gets her own ship. I thoug...more

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Jan 02, 2010 Morgan Sweeney rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This one was the best in the series in my opinion. It really set the course for the next few books. In this book, Jacky becomes a pirate. In all the books, I like Jacky as a pirate the best.
Also, did anyone notice how Jaimy is always gone? in every book, there is a short encounter of some sort and then they are torn apart again. I fond that Jaimy really isn't a very strong character. There is almost no character development and he's just plain boring.
Liam was awesome in this book. The growth of...more

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Apr 22, 2010 Justin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, shelf-of-fame, young-adult, pirates

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Yarrr!

Seriously, it's about time Jacky Faber did some pirating. I've been waiting for it since the first book. This book is the best of the series so far, in my opinion; the backdrop and pace match up perfectly with Jacky Faber's inexhaustible energy and irritatingly numerous talents, which takes some of that Mary Sue edge off and makes her even more likeable.

Instead of picking up right where we left off, this one begins a few months after the end of Curse of the Blue Tattoo. Jacky is freshly re...more Yarrr!

Seriously, it's about time Jacky Faber did some pirating. I've been waiting for it since the first book. This book is the best of the series so far, in my opinion; the backdrop and pace match up perfectly with Jacky Faber's inexhaustible energy and irritatingly numerous talents, which takes some of that Mary Sue edge off and makes her even more likeable.

Instead of picking up right where we left off, this one begins a few months after the end of Curse of the Blue Tattoo. Jacky is freshly returned to her home city and country after a cruise on a whaling ship (where she apparently managed to serve as both midwife and surgeon without any prior experience, and earned the burning passion and undying devotion of a strapping Quaker lad, besides), and goes in search of her lost love, Jamie Fletcher. Through a series of misunderstandings that arise directly from Jacky's incorrigible nature, though, she ends up back at sea underneath a corrupt, insane British captain. Utilizing her usual blend of spunk, derring-do, and unbelievable luck, she not only avoids a dismal fate aboard the H.M.S. Wolverine, but begins to realize her cherished wish of being master and commander of a globe-crossing merchant ship. Well, globe-crossing privateer ship, but it’s a step in the right direction, and more exciting in any event.

I’m going to pause here and point out that as this book begins, Jacky Faber is 15 years old. While I (and you too, I'm sure) had plenty of grand schemes and cherished wishes brewing at that age, the crowning achievement I had attained thus far was successfully growing five-eighths of a goatee. Plundering French merchant ships, establishing my own business, and breaking the hearts of every woman that crossed my path weren't quite on the agenda yet. Just wanted to point out that contrast.

Anyway, just as things finally start looking up for Jacky, she finds herself betrayed and hunted by some of the same sailors she once served with. Now, she must find a way to avoid the hangman’s noose that has dogged her steps since her childhood on the streets of London, and save her new crew from the same fate.

As much as I liked the first two books, this one really felt like the payoff I was waiting for, right from my initial look at the spiffy cover art of Jacky with a tricorne hat lowered over her brow, triumphantly waving the Jolly Roger. Not only is Jacky back at sea after the strangely-paced adventures on land from the last book, but we skip over most of the day-to-day nautical lore and get right to the good stuff: ship-to-ship combat, boarding parties, and daring port jailbreaks by bands of Irish privateers. The story is essentially presented in two acts: in the first, Jacky ends up commanding a British warship, and in the second, her own pirate ship captained by none other than Liam Delaney, her "sea father" from the first book. Between the frenetic action sequences, the reunions with beloved friends at all points in the story, and the proficiency with which Meyer makes us want to cheer for Jacky, it's much harder to nitpick on the same problems in this book that exist in the previous two. You know, small things, like how a 15-year-old girl manages to take command of a British warship in the first place, or why everybody she meets wants to dedicate their lives and service (quite literally) to her simply because she's nice to them. I found myself more forgiving this time around, because Jacky Faber is a pirate queen, god damn it, and pirate queens are super awesome.

My only problem here is that this book seemed to me like a great high point to finish the tale. The story could have ended happily in high-flying, bombastic, Jacky Faber-ish style... and yet, at the end of the book, we seem to be headed back into territory similar to the last book. Well... okay. It's YA, which means that continuing episodes with a familiar, sympathetic character is par for the course. And Jacky is noticeably maturing and changing, so further adventures are definitely welcome. I'm just feeling a new sense of caution as I head into the next installment, because I've been burned by series that go on too long way too many times before.

On the other hand, there is a definite pulp quality to these stories, which Meyer himself alludes to through the plot device of Amy Trevelyne's book, published throughout England by the time this book begins. The fictional book retells the events of Bloody Jack, and not only reveals too much of Jacky's history to the general public to make her entirely comfortable, but also encourages even more fanciful exaggerations and distortions of her exploits by those who read it. This actually made it easier for me to dismiss my criticisms of Jacky's character, and accept her for what she is: a temptress, girl of action, and folk hero, in the vein of all good escapism.
(less)

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Feb 04, 2013 Nidah (SleepDreamWrite) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Continues where Curse of the Blue Tattoo left off where we have Jacky going to see Jaimy first at his house but is greeted unkindly by his mother and later is shocked to find Jaimy with another woman.
It isn't what it looks like cause before Jaimy can explain, Jacky runs away finding herself kidnapped and is sent on a ship the Wolverine thanks to her disguise hence being mistaken as a boy.
On the ship she reveals herself to being a girl but the captain still doesn't let her go.
Now Jacky's on he...more

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Feb 18, 2013 JG (The Introverted Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, audio, read_in_2013, reviewed, 4_stars, author_american, challenge_audio, characters_i_love, historical_fiction, just_plain_fun, strong_females, young_adult, challenge_eclectic

Jacky Faber finds herself working for the Royal Navy again after being mistakenly pressed into service. The ship she finds herself on is in bad shape, with a sick, evil captain who reigns with an iron fist and who has let his boat and his crew get into bad shape. Nothing can keep Jacky down for long though and she's soon making friends and plans in equal measure.

I cannot express how much I love listening to Katherine Kellgren narrate this series. She doesn't hold anything back and narrates in a...more Jacky Faber finds herself working for the Royal Navy again after being mistakenly pressed into service. The ship she finds herself on is in bad shape, with a sick, evil captain who reigns with an iron fist and who has let his boat and his crew get into bad shape. Nothing can keep Jacky down for long though and she's soon making friends and plans in equal measure.

I cannot express how much I love listening to Katherine Kellgren narrate this series. She doesn't hold anything back and narrates in a larger-than-life tone that is completely in keeping with Jacky's character. Kellgren sounds like she is having the time of her life reading these books and that makes me love them all the more.

I would love them anyway because Jacky is such a great character. Why do we tend to love girls who dress up as boys and live the life they want? I probably just answered my own question. She's loyal and fierce and sly and intelligent and greedy and too big for her britches. She's a big mess of contradictions and that makes her feel so darn real.

My one complaint about this book is that we have to travel down the road of an older man trying to prey on attractive young Jacky again. It's a different man, but, really. Teenage girls of any era do have things to worry about other than lecherous old men trying to have their way with them. It didn't take up as much of the book as I was afraid it would but as soon as it came up I rolled my eyes and thought, "Here we go again."

Jaimy is starting to get on my nerves too. He's as fussy and as much of a stickler for the rules as a prissy old maid. I forget what Jacky see in him. He only sees the woman that Jacky could have been if her early years had been different, not the impetuous, ambitious ragamuffin that she actually is.

Other than that, this book was full of adventure, drama, suspense, and laughs. It is everything that a good story should be.

This series is a blast and girls who can see the appeal of living life on your own terms will love it. I highly, highly recommend trying it out on audio.(less)

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Jan 18, 2011 Libby rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-book, girl-power, historical-fiction, young-adult-fiction, to-buy

Under the Jolly Roger does not have lyrical writing or profound insights on life and people. I rate it a five star book purely for great characters and satisfying entertainment. Jacky's adventures are not entirely believable, but they certainly are enjoyable. Jacky herself is a wonderfully winning character with charm, wit, a penchant for trouble, and the ability to see the best in everyone and every situation.

After book 2 (Curse of the Blue Tattoo) where Jacky was constantly met with disapprova...more

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May 08, 2009 Tia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, adventure

This was my favorite of the series so far! Totally loved it! Finished it yesterday and had to pick up the next one right away, even though I aready have other books waiting to be read. The blurb pretty much says it all.

BLURB: Leaving Boston behind her, Jacky Faber, is on the run again. In this third installment in the series, the orphan girl from the streets of London returns to her native land in search of her true love, Jaimy Fletcher. But Jacky's free and easy spirit can never stay away from...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Candi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: piratical, audio-book

I knew it! I knew she couldn't have been made a midshipman for nothing!

It may be just me and my love of anything piratical, but I feel like the Jacky Faber books are best when she is back at sea and this book did not disappoint. I have not encountered many better books than this.

On a slightly unrelated note, my husband watched the movie "Master and Commander" the other night. Aside from the music, I do not like that movie at all, because there are no women in it. (I am purposefully not counting...more

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Nov 28, 2010 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teen-action, teen-adventure, teen-historical-fiction

Jacky Faber returns better than ever in this third installment of L.A. Meyer's brilliant Bloody Jack series. There's little that can be said about the page turning, or in my case, cd flipping, action without spoiling these books for those who haven't started the series yet. If you haven't started the series, what are you waiting for?!?! It's hard to imagine any teen or adult, male or female, not enjoying Jacky's adventures, particularly as she must once again battle the elements and the nature o...more

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May 02, 2009 Jean rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: youngadult-fiction, audiobooks

What can I say--I am a big fan of these adventures on audiobook, narrated by Katherine Kellgren. I didn't think I was a swashbuckler-lovin' gal. But Jacky Faber is a one sassy heroine. Her outrageous personality fuels and is fueled by all the sea-faring conniving and fighting, the triumph and merriment, the cliffhangers and impossible feats. Plus, in all the fun I always learn something about world history, economics, geography, maritime law, etc...
Funny and highly entertaining! (See "Bloody Ja...more

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Sep 03, 2008 Angie Taylor rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is my favorite by far in the series. There is tons of dramatic irony and tons of playful romance, which I love. Also this is the one where the characters are mostly at sea and all of the adventure deals with pirateing. It is a great read.

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Sep 30, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fiction, historical-fiction

I often get impatient listening to audio books, because it's so much faster to read the hard copy. Not so with this series: the skill of the narrator is a huge part of its continuing appeal for me.

The situations Jacky manages to get into are unbelievable but totally absorbing. That's actually a fairly good description of Jacky herself, and it makes this book, like the others in the series, a light-hearted, fun read.

The one thing I am getting a bit tired of is Jacky's constant repetition that "I...more

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Dec 20, 2010 kari rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, 5-star, ya

In this installment of Jacky's story, she ships out from Boston, ends up once again on one of His Majesty's ships and finally becomes a privateer. Wow, this is one busy girl.
This one had just a bit too much of the sea battles for me personally, but that didn't stop my enjoyment of the story. Jacky remains one of my favorite heriones, even when I know that the choices she's making aren't going to end up well for her, I still hope she succeeds.
I like how she thinks things through, how she makes fr...more

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Dec 30, 2010 Cassi aka Snow White Haggard rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio-books

These books should be listened to on audiobook! Up front I want everyone to know that the narrator is amazing, the accent spot on and the book is "look ridiculous laughing while driving" fun.

Favorite book so far in the series. Gone is the mopey Jackie of book 2, away from the Puritans and ladies of the Lawson Peabody School for Girls and back on the high seas at last. And that's where Jacky and this series belong!

********SPOILERS AFTER THIS LINE*********

Of course Jacky gets into trouble immediat...more

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Nov 10, 2011 Riannon rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I felt like this book was a lot more of what had already been done in the first two books, except that now it isn't new anymore. I also found the second book much funnier. This one didn't make me laugh as much, although it did still have a few moments. I did feel that Jacky sets a very unfair double standard for poor Jaimy (she considers herself "betrayed" because there is a girl sitting by him who holds his hand and kisses his cheek, but is fine with a few "stolen kisses" between her and Isaac,...more

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Nov 08, 2009 Katie Hutchison Irion rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I will say, I like this series more and more. I'm bummed out I am on hold for the fourth one. I hear good things about it and I can't wait for Jacky to be back with her cohorts in Boston. I'm bummed out all over again that I don't have it. Dang.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked that she was back on the sea. All the nautical explanations did get a bit boring but it is easy to skim over the details of every single thing on the stinking boat. Loved her reunion with Jaimy. Still like him. Loved h...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Darlene Dunn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is fun interesting book to read. Very humourous in some parts.

I enjoyed this book alot especially Jacky becoming an lieutenant, while she is taking over a ship and owning one.

The only thing I found about the book, is that the author made Jacky an adult within an year. Far too smart (intelligent) for a 15 yr old girl who only had 1 year experience. It's hard to keep focus on her adventures vs her age.

However, her adventures in this book - training a gun crew, avoiding the Captain of the Wol...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Ms. Library rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So, I'm a huge fan of this series. I think these books are so entertaining. Its really great to see a story where the male is usually the hero, and see a girl take that place instead. That's part of what I love about Jacky Faber. Usually the sea and pirates are the domain of male protagonists, but Faber makes her own way here, and I can't say enough how much I love that. There's something fantastic about the fact that she takes a typically male-dominated sphere and manages to have her own advent...more

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May 08, 2010 Tara Chevrestt rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, pirates, ya

Yet another fun, fabulous read about the fiesty heroine, Jacky Faber. In this, the third installment of her adventures, Jacky has left behind a burning Boston (literally!) and is now back to a life at sea. First stop: England. Things don't work out very well for Jacky in England tho.. She is kicked out of her beloved Jaimy's house and then sees him with another woman and well, rather than wait for any kind of explanation (It is the hotheaded Jacky Faber we are talking about here) she runs away....more

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Jun 22, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012reads, adventure, audiobooks, funny, historicalfiction, strongfemalecharacters, youngadult

Listened to the Listen and Live audio edition narrated by the fabulous Katherine Kellgren.

So, this has three parts and actually feels like two books. The first part is a complete story in and of itself and parts 2 and 3 comprise a story. The first half gets 5 stars from me, but the second half isn't quite as good - the plot isn't nearly as tightly written and meanders about. I like that Jacky is a fully drawn character - she's not perfect and clearly has several faults that trip her up over and...more

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Jul 08, 2011 Melanie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Took me a bit longer to finish this book compared to the first two. Although having a 1 month old baby and finding out I have a herniated disk in my back has put a slight damper on things. I have really just enjoyed this series for the sheer fun of the adventure factor. Its nice to get lost in book for awhile and this is definitely a series worth checking into if you are looking for a fast fun read. I usually dont get into series books much but this series has been fun. I love that the main char...more

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About L.A. Meyer

Louis A. Meyer is best known as the author of the Bloody Jack novels. He is also a painter and the author of two children's picture books, and he and his wife own an art gallery called Clair de Loon in Bar Harbor.

More about L.A. Meyer...

Books by L.A. Meyer

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy (Bloody Jack, #1)

Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady (Bloody Jack, #2)

In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber (Bloody Jack, #4)

Mississippi Jack: Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and Lily of the West (Bloody Jack, #5)

My Bonny Light Horseman: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War (Bloody Jack, #6)

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Quotes from Under the Jolly Roger:...

“Then it hits me....
And it hits me with the force of a blow. I am maybe fifteen years old. I am a girl. I am also acting lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and, by the Naval Rules and Regulations as regards the chain of command, I am in command of His Majesty's Ship Wolverine.” — 50 people liked it

“We clear the harbor and the wind catches her sails and my beautiful ship leans over ever so gracefully, and her elegant bow cuts cleanly into the increasing chop of the waves. I take a deep breath and my chest expands and my heart starts thumping so strongly I fear the others might see it beat through the cloth of my jacket. I face the wind and my lips peel back from my teeth in a grin of pure joy.” — 26 people liked it

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title link	preview: Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3981793-under-the-jolly-roger?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347547322l/3981793.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3981793-under-the-jolly-roger?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber by L.A. Meyer[/url]

Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber (Bloody Jack #3)

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