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Bloody Jack #3
Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber
After leaving the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls in Boston—under dire circumstances, of course—Jacky Faber boards a whaling ship bound for London, where she hopes to find her beloved Jaimy. But things don’t go as planned, and soon Jacky is off on a wild misadventure at sea.
528 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2005
170 people are currently reading
2468 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Meyer
18 books1,107 followersLouis A. Meyer is best known as the author of the Bloody Jack novels. He was also a painter and the author of two children's picture books, and he and his wife owned an art gallery called Clair de Loon in Bar Harbor.
Louis A. Meyer passed away on July 29, 2014 from refractory Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. His final Jacky Faber book, Wild Rover No More, was published posthumously in September that year.
Louis A. Meyer passed away on July 29, 2014 from refractory Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. His final Jacky Faber book, Wild Rover No More, was published posthumously in September that year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 689 reviews
March 5, 2008
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. ^-^
August 20, 2015
It makes me sad that they don't write many pirate novels for adults. This series is listed as YA, and the themes within are suitable for that category, but the main character is just so obnoxiously childish that I think I've outgrown her.
The author does his research well in terms of nautical technicalities and such, but there is no way a crew of brutes would love and protect a young girl who acts like such a ditz, and accept her as their Captain. Meyer makes things so black and white: there are the few men who want to rape her, then the rest of the totally innocent pirates/seafarers who just want to protect her forever and ever and give her all their fatherly love. OF COURSE, clever little Jacky evades her assaulters every time with the help of her friends and quick wit. If we were being realistic at least a few of those attempts would have ended up much grittier than what this book portrays. Jacky also happens to always have a fine feast available to her, no matter how many months she's been at sea. I don't mind a romanticized version of pirate life, it just isn't working for me in this series anymore.
I also found this installment so boringly repetitive. Jacky pursues ship, Jacky attacks ship, Jacky boards ship, Jacky comes face to face with a surrendering Captain who is stunned by her gender, Jacky has the cargo searched and up comes loads of [insert alcoholic beverage]. Jacky repeats for four or five more ships, no detail withheld from the reader.
Adieu Bloody Jack, you were fun.
The author does his research well in terms of nautical technicalities and such, but there is no way a crew of brutes would love and protect a young girl who acts like such a ditz, and accept her as their Captain. Meyer makes things so black and white: there are the few men who want to rape her, then the rest of the totally innocent pirates/seafarers who just want to protect her forever and ever and give her all their fatherly love. OF COURSE, clever little Jacky evades her assaulters every time with the help of her friends and quick wit. If we were being realistic at least a few of those attempts would have ended up much grittier than what this book portrays. Jacky also happens to always have a fine feast available to her, no matter how many months she's been at sea. I don't mind a romanticized version of pirate life, it just isn't working for me in this series anymore.
I also found this installment so boringly repetitive. Jacky pursues ship, Jacky attacks ship, Jacky boards ship, Jacky comes face to face with a surrendering Captain who is stunned by her gender, Jacky has the cargo searched and up comes loads of [insert alcoholic beverage]. Jacky repeats for four or five more ships, no detail withheld from the reader.
Adieu Bloody Jack, you were fun.
January 23, 2016
As usual Jacky's story was entertaining, exciting, and breathtaking!
December 4, 2021
Excuse me while I cry cause my comfort book is over
April 13, 2020
Yet again, Jacky gets into trouble by overreacting and doing the first thing that comes to her mind. When she finally sees Jaimy again with another girl, she overacts and runs for it in her jockey gear as a boy. She gets caught by a press-gang and sent to the HMS Wolverine where there is crude captain that has more in mind for her than signing her up as a midshipman. There she slowing earns the respect of the crew and hoping that the captain stays sick and stays away from her. From there her adventures continue from that ship to another as she was then aledge to be a dreaded pirate. Once again, this book is so enjoyable of seeing Jacky's crazy adventures.
September 3, 2008
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.
June 17, 2011
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.
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.
May 8, 2010
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. Unfortunately, she is once again wearing male attire and normally I would cheer her for this but the Press Gangs are about... and Jacky gets drafted.
Upon discovering she is a girl underneath her clothes, the Royal Navy ship she is placed upon doesn't let her go as would be expected. Why? It's got a horny captain. I'm dead serious. Now Jacky is dealing with a horny captain, anti woman sailmates, smugglers, mutiny, getting splinters in her arse, spies, and by the end of the book, she not only has her own ship but has also been branded a pirate with a price on her head.
Some new colorful characters appear in this one; Higgins, Robin, Georgie, and my personal favorite, another fiery vixen that wants to be the next Gracelin O Malley as well, Maeread. There is no end to the fun, the laughs, the hearstopping excitement. I also noticed throughout reading this that Jacky is growing up. She is discovering that she has a thing called "feminine charm" and is learning to use it on a few unsuspecting blokes, adding to the overall fun content of the book. I loved it.
Upon discovering she is a girl underneath her clothes, the Royal Navy ship she is placed upon doesn't let her go as would be expected. Why? It's got a horny captain. I'm dead serious. Now Jacky is dealing with a horny captain, anti woman sailmates, smugglers, mutiny, getting splinters in her arse, spies, and by the end of the book, she not only has her own ship but has also been branded a pirate with a price on her head.
Some new colorful characters appear in this one; Higgins, Robin, Georgie, and my personal favorite, another fiery vixen that wants to be the next Gracelin O Malley as well, Maeread. There is no end to the fun, the laughs, the hearstopping excitement. I also noticed throughout reading this that Jacky is growing up. She is discovering that she has a thing called "feminine charm" and is learning to use it on a few unsuspecting blokes, adding to the overall fun content of the book. I loved it.
July 26, 2009
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 thought one of her best ideas yet was to make Liam, her sea dad from the first book, her captain in the 3rd book. I like that there was another girl who wanted to go adventuring like Jacky, and that she finally met up with Jaimy and he's still in love with her and visa versa. She's back to America for the next book and in another scrape as usual, which I'm sure she'll figure out. I'm only frustrated that my library system only had one copy of the 4th book which is missing so I'll have to do an ILL to read the next book in the series.
August 24, 2018
Again a bit far fetched but I love the historical setting. I’m enjoying the fantastical fiction and I know what happens in 1805 and the Napoleonic war so the series remains my refuge during this smoky hot summer. Tomorrow- book 4. I’m still reading and listening. I’m thinking up all kinds of chores to be done while I listen but my husband is getting sick of my Cheapside accent, I told ‘im to shut ‘is bloody trap I did. I think he misses my devotion to Jane Austen.
May 15, 2018
This series just gets better and better, and I didn't think it could get any better I think Under the Jolly Roger was the best of the three so far. Look forward to book number four.
June 14, 2011
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 started that night.
This is one of the best YA books I've ever read. Right up there with Cornelia Funke's Inkspell series.
Bloody Jack is actually Mary "Jacky" Faber. In this book (the third of the series, I found out. I've ordered 2, 4, 5, 6 and am getting ready to read 1), Jacky has taken a whaler back to England, her home. As she watches the captain walk down the street, his pegleg tapping on the cobbles, she says goodbye to Ishmael and Starbuck.......
The love interest takes second place to the action, but of course there is one. Jacky goes to her true love's home, expecting to be able to leave a message or, possibly, actually see him if he is in between ships. To her astonishment, Jaime's mother throws her out, proclaiming her unmentionable words, just because she is not a high class girl.
In a desparate attempt to see Jaime, she dresses as a jockey at the local races and warms up one of the race horses. (The maid at Jaime's house, sorry for her, has told Jacky that Jaime will be at the races the next day.) As she is slowly cantering around the track, she sees him and gallops the horse to him only to discover him holding hands with a very attractive young lady. Impulsive Jacky turns her broken heart away from Jaime.
As she is leaving the race track she is impressed along with several other men. She is mistaken for a boy in her jockey clothes.
Many adventures follow as Jacky first helps the crew members of her new ship escape the tyranny of their insane captain. (Yes, she is discovered as a girl early on, but since she is Bloody Jack, most of the crew is on her side.) She then turns them into privateers and begins taking prize ships for the English government. She neglectfully forgets to turn in one of the ships they captured, but receives a letter of marque from the Admiralty and starts off on her own privateering career.
And that's not all, but it's enough for now. The plot races on at breakneck speed and readers will love it. Included between several chapters are letters written to Jacky by Jaime, showing that he does love her dearly and is continuing to look for her. (The girl he was with was his cousin who likes to pretend he is her beau.)
Starting with the third book was not a handicap. While not explaining in detail what happened in the first 2, we are given enough knowledge to understand most of Jacky's background to this point.
It's a lovely ride, lovely written and truly fun to read.
I'm really glad I asked about the book on the way to San Juan Island.
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 started that night.
This is one of the best YA books I've ever read. Right up there with Cornelia Funke's Inkspell series.
Bloody Jack is actually Mary "Jacky" Faber. In this book (the third of the series, I found out. I've ordered 2, 4, 5, 6 and am getting ready to read 1), Jacky has taken a whaler back to England, her home. As she watches the captain walk down the street, his pegleg tapping on the cobbles, she says goodbye to Ishmael and Starbuck.......
The love interest takes second place to the action, but of course there is one. Jacky goes to her true love's home, expecting to be able to leave a message or, possibly, actually see him if he is in between ships. To her astonishment, Jaime's mother throws her out, proclaiming her unmentionable words, just because she is not a high class girl.
In a desparate attempt to see Jaime, she dresses as a jockey at the local races and warms up one of the race horses. (The maid at Jaime's house, sorry for her, has told Jacky that Jaime will be at the races the next day.) As she is slowly cantering around the track, she sees him and gallops the horse to him only to discover him holding hands with a very attractive young lady. Impulsive Jacky turns her broken heart away from Jaime.
As she is leaving the race track she is impressed along with several other men. She is mistaken for a boy in her jockey clothes.
Many adventures follow as Jacky first helps the crew members of her new ship escape the tyranny of their insane captain. (Yes, she is discovered as a girl early on, but since she is Bloody Jack, most of the crew is on her side.) She then turns them into privateers and begins taking prize ships for the English government. She neglectfully forgets to turn in one of the ships they captured, but receives a letter of marque from the Admiralty and starts off on her own privateering career.
And that's not all, but it's enough for now. The plot races on at breakneck speed and readers will love it. Included between several chapters are letters written to Jacky by Jaime, showing that he does love her dearly and is continuing to look for her. (The girl he was with was his cousin who likes to pretend he is her beau.)
Starting with the third book was not a handicap. While not explaining in detail what happened in the first 2, we are given enough knowledge to understand most of Jacky's background to this point.
It's a lovely ride, lovely written and truly fun to read.
I'm really glad I asked about the book on the way to San Juan Island.
February 22, 2012
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 captain. Jacky knows she is in trouble now, so she must once again use her wits and some of her feminine charm to get her out of a sticky situation. As she rallies men to her side, she finds herself in command of one of His Majesty's royal ships, but before she can get to comfortable she realizes that she is being called a pirate and there is a price on her head!
Oh Miss Jacky Faber. If you would only stop dressing like a boy perhaps you wouldn't find yourself in such dire straits. I find myself so intrigued by this character. Yes, the plots of these books are a little on the dramatic side, and really how many compromising situations can Jacky find herself in, but they are really so much fun. Jacky is truly a new kind of Anne of Green Gables with a pirate flair! The book recommends the story for those 12 and up, but I would hesitate with that and say perhaps 15 and up as Jacky does find herself in some scary situations with bad men. There is also some language (think sailor language although not as bad) and some violence when ships begin fighting. I am looking forward to the next in the series.
Oh Miss Jacky Faber. If you would only stop dressing like a boy perhaps you wouldn't find yourself in such dire straits. I find myself so intrigued by this character. Yes, the plots of these books are a little on the dramatic side, and really how many compromising situations can Jacky find herself in, but they are really so much fun. Jacky is truly a new kind of Anne of Green Gables with a pirate flair! The book recommends the story for those 12 and up, but I would hesitate with that and say perhaps 15 and up as Jacky does find herself in some scary situations with bad men. There is also some language (think sailor language although not as bad) and some violence when ships begin fighting. I am looking forward to the next in the series.
October 26, 2012
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 the prostitutes in boats who don't say anything and are only on screen for about 10 seconds.) Anyway, I found myself unexpectedly knowledgeable about general seamanship and the British wars with Napoleon. So there you go, wildly entertaining and educational.
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 the prostitutes in boats who don't say anything and are only on screen for about 10 seconds.) Anyway, I found myself unexpectedly knowledgeable about general seamanship and the British wars with Napoleon. So there you go, wildly entertaining and educational.
Read
March 20, 2011Wonderful characters, splendid voice, galloping pacing, all kinds of questions raised, but for the most part Meyer stays true to the period paradigm. Jackie is far from perfect, never preachy, but honestly faces her mistakes—and her faults. Watch for some very sly nods to literature! I recommend these highly to anyone who loves rollicking sea adventure stories.
December 13, 2017
Excellent as always, my only complaint (but not really a complaint) is that it felt as though it were three stories long instead of one. Sooooooo much happens in this book.
But I will always love Jacky Faber and Katherine Kellgren's voice acting is fantastic. This series is one of my top picks for audiobooks.
But I will always love Jacky Faber and Katherine Kellgren's voice acting is fantastic. This series is one of my top picks for audiobooks.
August 31, 2023
note to self: read this book when feeling down
reread: I read this exactly, and I mean exactly, 5 years after I read it the first time?? And it’s also somehow the same day as my navy birthday?? The most nautical of the Jacky books, read exactly a year to the day before I joined?? I see a tradition being born 👀
reread: I read this exactly, and I mean exactly, 5 years after I read it the first time?? And it’s also somehow the same day as my navy birthday?? The most nautical of the Jacky books, read exactly a year to the day before I joined?? I see a tradition being born 👀
July 12, 2020
This is the first book I had read from this series, maybe about 12 years ago? So I re-read it via audiobook, and wow, I loved it as much now as I did then. This series is a playground for anyone who loves seafaring stories heavy on nautical know-how and swashbuckling adventure. Great characters, great dialogue, and a great story. This is a completely solid 5 stars from me. I am sure I will re-read it again at another time. I mean, how couldn't I? Jacky is such a vibrant lead, and I was so excited to get Liam back in such large quantities and gain another favorite in Higgins. And it was fun seeing her having a good female friendship in Mairead. These books DO tend to be on the testosterone-heavy side (Jacky is usually the only female on board a ship in the middle of the ocean surrounded by men who have seen no other women for weeks . . . do the math), and Mairead was a breath of fresh, wild, free-spirited Irish air.
And in the spirit of fairness, the aforementioned testosterone heaviness is alleviated when you see how often the men in these books defer to Jacky's knowledge and toughness and fearlessness. There's a lot of respect and honor for her, which I appreciate a lot. The characters who objectify and disrespect Jacky are often portrayed as villains, and those who see her as strong and smart in her own right are often portrayed as the most important, respectable, and likable supporting characters. I have heard she spends more and more time out of her clothes as the series progresses, but for now, I think there's an acceptable balance of testosterone and respect.
Also, I say this in every audiobook review of this series, but it bears repeating - Katherine Kellgren is a top-notch narrator. She enhances the enjoyment of the story so much with her enthusiastic reading. Can't say enough good things about her.
Minor gripe: The language the crew of the Emerald sometimes spoke was called Gaelic. But the crew of the Emerald was Irish. The language spoken in Ireland is most often referred to as Irish, whereas Gaelic is more associated with Scotland. Yes, it's sometimes called "Irish Gaelic," and the Irish word for the language itself is "Gaeilge," which LOOKS like the word "Gaelic" . . . but still. As a student of both Irish and Scottish Gaelic, this little error was enough to make me spit out a correction every time it came up. This little gripe was certainly not enough to cut into my enjoyment of the book, and it probably won't be for the overwhelming majority of readers. For all I know, the language was most often referred to as Gaelic in the early 1800s.
If you like plucky, capable, and competent heroines, and enjoy open-sea adventures so real you can almost taste the salt on the wind, you've got to read the Bloody Jack Adventure Series.
And in the spirit of fairness, the aforementioned testosterone heaviness is alleviated when you see how often the men in these books defer to Jacky's knowledge and toughness and fearlessness. There's a lot of respect and honor for her, which I appreciate a lot. The characters who objectify and disrespect Jacky are often portrayed as villains, and those who see her as strong and smart in her own right are often portrayed as the most important, respectable, and likable supporting characters. I have heard she spends more and more time out of her clothes as the series progresses, but for now, I think there's an acceptable balance of testosterone and respect.
Also, I say this in every audiobook review of this series, but it bears repeating - Katherine Kellgren is a top-notch narrator. She enhances the enjoyment of the story so much with her enthusiastic reading. Can't say enough good things about her.
Minor gripe: The language the crew of the Emerald sometimes spoke was called Gaelic. But the crew of the Emerald was Irish. The language spoken in Ireland is most often referred to as Irish, whereas Gaelic is more associated with Scotland. Yes, it's sometimes called "Irish Gaelic," and the Irish word for the language itself is "Gaeilge," which LOOKS like the word "Gaelic" . . . but still. As a student of both Irish and Scottish Gaelic, this little error was enough to make me spit out a correction every time it came up. This little gripe was certainly not enough to cut into my enjoyment of the book, and it probably won't be for the overwhelming majority of readers. For all I know, the language was most often referred to as Gaelic in the early 1800s.
If you like plucky, capable, and competent heroines, and enjoy open-sea adventures so real you can almost taste the salt on the wind, you've got to read the Bloody Jack Adventure Series.
July 31, 2018
Jacky Faber has left the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls to once again make her way in the free world. She encounters many dangers during the course of this novel, but faces each with her usual pluck and confidence.
This novel feels like it can be divided into three parts. The first funds Jacky trapped on a new boat, The Wolverine, led by a vicious captain. The second finds her sailing her own ship and plundering the seas for prizes found on enemy ships. The third finds her in hot water again, as a warrant for her arrest is released!
I found the first and third parts to be very exciting! I love best when Jacky is trying to think her way out of a problem, and those don’t always have to be life threatening (the riding of The Sheik, for example).
The middle part of the story was a bit slow, (especially after the excitement of the first part) since no danger appeared imminent! In fact, most characters Jacky meets during this portion of the book are afraid of HER!
Overall this was a fine contribution to the series as a whole, but it’s definitely not my favorite.
This novel feels like it can be divided into three parts. The first funds Jacky trapped on a new boat, The Wolverine, led by a vicious captain. The second finds her sailing her own ship and plundering the seas for prizes found on enemy ships. The third finds her in hot water again, as a warrant for her arrest is released!
I found the first and third parts to be very exciting! I love best when Jacky is trying to think her way out of a problem, and those don’t always have to be life threatening (the riding of The Sheik, for example).
The middle part of the story was a bit slow, (especially after the excitement of the first part) since no danger appeared imminent! In fact, most characters Jacky meets during this portion of the book are afraid of HER!
Overall this was a fine contribution to the series as a whole, but it’s definitely not my favorite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2023
I was pleased to see this book received a 4.3 on Goodreads. It really is an excellent novel, and I have nothing bad to say about it. As a 40 year old man, I didn't exactly expect this to entertain me so thoroughly, but it certainly did. It goes way beyond the young adult audience. The author does an excellent job of riding the line between plot elements, where Jacky is quite excellent at what she does while also learning new skills logically, as well as getting herself into trouble, even with good intentions. Nothing is boring, nothing is used in excess for inappropriate effect, it has an even, well doled out pace. All the characters are worth including and getting to know. It even does an excellent job of referencing its prior books if you haven't read those. The ending was even good, and made me want to jump right into the next book in the series. Very glad I read this.
August 15, 2019
This series is, simply put, AWESOME. Full stop. Listening to the audiobooks for this series is unbelievably entertaining.
To put this in perspective, I listened to this book on an *eighteen* hour drive from Massachusetts to South Caroline. Sixteen hours of that very long drive passed in the pleasant and wondrous presence of Jacky Faber, L.A. Meyer and Katherine Kellgren.
If this book can entertain on that grueling a trip through traffic and rainstorms and combating sleepiness? You've got a gem.
To put this in perspective, I listened to this book on an *eighteen* hour drive from Massachusetts to South Caroline. Sixteen hours of that very long drive passed in the pleasant and wondrous presence of Jacky Faber, L.A. Meyer and Katherine Kellgren.
If this book can entertain on that grueling a trip through traffic and rainstorms and combating sleepiness? You've got a gem.
June 8, 2019
Still don’t like the language or the crude content, but these are strangely addicting. Not that the language is any worse than what’s in The Flash, and the content is probably fairly comparable to Guardians of the Galaxy, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Still, I like the seafaring adventure, and there’s something compelling about Jacky, even though she’s very much not properly brought up. Wouldn’t recommend the series without disclaimers, but I’m enjoying them. And it’s much easier to read my Jacky Faber books than write a logline for Acktorek.
August 6, 2021
I enjoyed this story, just not was much as the last one. I like seeing Jackie’s adventures and all the trouble she gets in. Though once again, I can never tell who this book is made for; teens or adults. There are some extremely adult subjects, which when you think about rape, that happens to anyone. So maybe Meyer was trying to bring to light how serious a problem it is for everyone. Honestly I’ve been inhaling these books so quickly I can’t tell when the storylines end lol. So on to the next!
September 30, 2021
What a ride! I consumed this via audio book and highly recommend you do the same.
I had really enjoyed book 1 of this series, was a bit disappointed by book 2 but holy book 3 with the come back! So much character and adventure. So many twists and turns, keeping you on your toes and engaged throughout. Very fun and enjoyable. Can't wait to get into the next book and keep following the tales.
I had really enjoyed book 1 of this series, was a bit disappointed by book 2 but holy book 3 with the come back! So much character and adventure. So many twists and turns, keeping you on your toes and engaged throughout. Very fun and enjoyable. Can't wait to get into the next book and keep following the tales.
July 7, 2022
Meyer does it again with another great addition to the Jacky Faber series. It starts off a bit slow because it feels like we are getting repetitive information but once the nautical action starts unfolding, the flow picks back up. "Under The Jolly Roger" is probably my favorite book of the series so far. What mischief will Jacky find herself in next? The reading continues.
January 30, 2020
Warning: spoilers ahead
Let me start off by saying I love the Bloody Jack series. In terms of a YA Historical Fiction series, I can’t think of any other series that even compares to Bloody Jack. So even though I love the series and gave this book 4 stars, this review is probably going to be pretty complain-y. The first two in the series were easily 5-stars, throw them on my Favorites shelf, and sing their praises to anyone who will listen. This book didn’t quite live up to the first two, so I’m not complaining that the book is bad, I’m mostly complaining about why I don't think this book is as good as the first two and why it deserves only 4 stars instead of 5. I might be shouting into the void a little bit here because I’m not sure how many people are still reading this series, but here it goes anyway.
I think my biggest disappointment with the book is that it just has a different feel than the first two. The first two books felt like two parts of a cohesive storyline that was actually going somewhere. This book feels like the beginning of a serialization that can go on indefinitely, if that makes any sense. This became evident at the very beginning when the author retconned Jacky’s age. In the first book, Jacky spends two years on board the Dolphin and when she is discovered to be a girl the ship’s doctor guestimates she is 15. So she is 15 at the end of Bloody Jack, and then Curse of the Blue Tattoo takes course over an entire year, meaning that even if you are being lenient with the numbers at the start of Under the Jolly Roger Jacky would be at least 16, but Jacky states that she is 15 and that the beginning of Bloody Jack took place about two years earlier, when it really should be three years earlier. It feels like the author did this to keep Jacky around 15/16 indefinitely while the series goes on, which is irritating.
Another problem that I had with this book had to do with Jacky herself. Personally, I think Jacky’s character is most endearing when she’s out of her element and forced to rely on her cleverness to adapt to difficult surroundings. I find Jacky much less endearing when she’s in her element doing something we already know she’s good at, because that's when her Mary Sue reading goes off the chart. The first two books centered on Jacky being thrown into unfamiliar territory, whereas very little of this book has Jacky in any situation that helps her grow as a character. 2/3 of the story has Jacky captaining her own ship, and as Captain everything Jacky does is perfect and clever and everyone she comes across is in awe of her and admires her. It made the story boring to be honest, and the entire middle portion of this book felt like repetitive filler. With the first two books, I felt like I couldn’t put them put them down whereas with this book there were times I had to force myself to read it just to get through the long slog of endless pirating.
While we’re on the subject of Jacky, I’m also kind of bothered by her sexuality. It seems like the author wants to have it both ways: have Jacky be a philanderer who flirts with everyone and whom no one can resist, but also have Jacky be a chaste and innocent girl saving herself for her one true love. I wish he would have just committed to one, because it’s contradictory to have Jacky say one thing and then do the complete opposite. In this book Jacky has pledged to be done with romance entirely because she’s angry at Jaimy, but then still kisses three other guys, flirts with boys in her crew, and even initiates sex with Robin (but of course they’re interrupted at the last moment because it is, after all, a YA book). I wouldn’t care if Jacky was a shameless seductress who made out with every character who caught her eye (honestly I feel like this would be natural for her character). I also wouldn’t care if Jacky was completely chaste and had no romantic interests at all. But it’s weird to have her constantly flip flopping between the two.
There were some things that I liked about this book. I liked the beginning bit where Jacky is pressed into service on the Wolverine. The concept of press gangs is so interesting and I’m glad the author included that. I also loved that fact that Jacky’s sea dad Liam made a reappearance, because I love his character and his and Jacky’s relationship is so sweet. I also feel like I’m in the minority here, but I’m not that bothered by Jacky and Jaimy’s relationship. It will be annoying if it continues to not make any real progress for much longer, though.
The last few chapters of this book really picked up and were a reminder to me of just how good this series can be. The ending actually had me on the edge of my seat. It’s just disappointing that the rest of the book couldn’t be that way, too. I’m interested to keep reading and see where the series goes. Will it deteriorate into a mindless, serialized adventure series? Or is Under the Jolly Roger simply a lower point and the other books will return to the quality I enjoyed in the first two titles? I’m leaning toward the former, unfortunately, but I’ll still read and probably enjoy the rest of the books.
Let me start off by saying I love the Bloody Jack series. In terms of a YA Historical Fiction series, I can’t think of any other series that even compares to Bloody Jack. So even though I love the series and gave this book 4 stars, this review is probably going to be pretty complain-y. The first two in the series were easily 5-stars, throw them on my Favorites shelf, and sing their praises to anyone who will listen. This book didn’t quite live up to the first two, so I’m not complaining that the book is bad, I’m mostly complaining about why I don't think this book is as good as the first two and why it deserves only 4 stars instead of 5. I might be shouting into the void a little bit here because I’m not sure how many people are still reading this series, but here it goes anyway.
I think my biggest disappointment with the book is that it just has a different feel than the first two. The first two books felt like two parts of a cohesive storyline that was actually going somewhere. This book feels like the beginning of a serialization that can go on indefinitely, if that makes any sense. This became evident at the very beginning when the author retconned Jacky’s age. In the first book, Jacky spends two years on board the Dolphin and when she is discovered to be a girl the ship’s doctor guestimates she is 15. So she is 15 at the end of Bloody Jack, and then Curse of the Blue Tattoo takes course over an entire year, meaning that even if you are being lenient with the numbers at the start of Under the Jolly Roger Jacky would be at least 16, but Jacky states that she is 15 and that the beginning of Bloody Jack took place about two years earlier, when it really should be three years earlier. It feels like the author did this to keep Jacky around 15/16 indefinitely while the series goes on, which is irritating.
Another problem that I had with this book had to do with Jacky herself. Personally, I think Jacky’s character is most endearing when she’s out of her element and forced to rely on her cleverness to adapt to difficult surroundings. I find Jacky much less endearing when she’s in her element doing something we already know she’s good at, because that's when her Mary Sue reading goes off the chart. The first two books centered on Jacky being thrown into unfamiliar territory, whereas very little of this book has Jacky in any situation that helps her grow as a character. 2/3 of the story has Jacky captaining her own ship, and as Captain everything Jacky does is perfect and clever and everyone she comes across is in awe of her and admires her. It made the story boring to be honest, and the entire middle portion of this book felt like repetitive filler. With the first two books, I felt like I couldn’t put them put them down whereas with this book there were times I had to force myself to read it just to get through the long slog of endless pirating.
While we’re on the subject of Jacky, I’m also kind of bothered by her sexuality. It seems like the author wants to have it both ways: have Jacky be a philanderer who flirts with everyone and whom no one can resist, but also have Jacky be a chaste and innocent girl saving herself for her one true love. I wish he would have just committed to one, because it’s contradictory to have Jacky say one thing and then do the complete opposite. In this book Jacky has pledged to be done with romance entirely because she’s angry at Jaimy, but then still kisses three other guys, flirts with boys in her crew, and even initiates sex with Robin (but of course they’re interrupted at the last moment because it is, after all, a YA book). I wouldn’t care if Jacky was a shameless seductress who made out with every character who caught her eye (honestly I feel like this would be natural for her character). I also wouldn’t care if Jacky was completely chaste and had no romantic interests at all. But it’s weird to have her constantly flip flopping between the two.
There were some things that I liked about this book. I liked the beginning bit where Jacky is pressed into service on the Wolverine. The concept of press gangs is so interesting and I’m glad the author included that. I also loved that fact that Jacky’s sea dad Liam made a reappearance, because I love his character and his and Jacky’s relationship is so sweet. I also feel like I’m in the minority here, but I’m not that bothered by Jacky and Jaimy’s relationship. It will be annoying if it continues to not make any real progress for much longer, though.
The last few chapters of this book really picked up and were a reminder to me of just how good this series can be. The ending actually had me on the edge of my seat. It’s just disappointing that the rest of the book couldn’t be that way, too. I’m interested to keep reading and see where the series goes. Will it deteriorate into a mindless, serialized adventure series? Or is Under the Jolly Roger simply a lower point and the other books will return to the quality I enjoyed in the first two titles? I’m leaning toward the former, unfortunately, but I’ll still read and probably enjoy the rest of the books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2022
What an exhilarating ending!! L.A. Meyer makes me laugh and cry right up there with the best of ‘em. These reads are always such a joy. As always, I’m excited to see where Bloody Jack’s adventures take her next.
June 7, 2025
https://www.instagram.com/p/DKnCjuCPxCz/
L.A. Meyer - Under the Jolly Roger: I feel like someone told Meyer to quit stringing us along, but unfortunately it shows in some of Jacky’s choices. #cursorybookreviews #cursoryreviews
L.A. Meyer - Under the Jolly Roger: I feel like someone told Meyer to quit stringing us along, but unfortunately it shows in some of Jacky’s choices. #cursorybookreviews #cursoryreviews
April 22, 2010
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2018
5/5 ⭐️
This was such a good addition to the series!!
This was such a good addition to the series!!
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