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Bloody Jack #12
Wild Rover No More: Being the Last Recorded Account of the Life & Times of Jacky Faber
Just when it looks like Jacky Faber and her beloved Jaimy will finally find their romance, Jacky is accused of treason and must flee Boston while her friends attempt to clear her name. Of course that means wild adventures for our fun-loving heroine, who manages to secure a job as a governess…and run away with the circus. The highly anticipated grand finale of the Bloody Jack Adventures.
355 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2014
39 people are currently reading
2268 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Meyer
18 books1,106 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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November 18, 2014
When I read BOSTON JACKY, I noted that it felt like the "same old, same old, and the new elements introduced never go as far as they might." When I saw that WILD ROVER NO MORE was going to be the final book in the Bloody Jack Adventures, I felt relief. It was a fun ride, but it ran out of new ideas a few books ago.
(Then I learned that author L.A. Meyer died in July and was quite sad, but I am happy he managed to finish this series as he wanted.)
WILD ROVER NO MORE follows the usual pattern. Jacky gets in trouble, Jacky runs and hides in a new identity, flirts with a new man, eventually reunites with old friends just as the danger is greatest. I did particularly enjoy the stretch where Jacky hides as a governess since it required her to use more of her respectable skills, too often unemployed. I was very confused by the section where she disguises herself as a red-haired Russian named Natasha Romanoff. Was that a deliberate reference to The Avengers or did everyone involved in the book somehow miss that?
I enjoyed WILD ROVER NO MORE much more than BOSTON JACKY. The early reunion didn't entirely reconcile me to Jaimy, but I accepted that it worked for Jacky. I do always enjoy spending time with Jacky as she wreaks havoc through nineteenth century history.
If you've been following this series, do yourself a favor and pick up the conclusion. Meyer concludes most of the major strands of the story and provides a finish that does Bloody Jack Faber proud. If you haven't read this series, give it a whirl if you're into adventurous girls, age of sail, and hijinks in wacky disguises.
(Then I learned that author L.A. Meyer died in July and was quite sad, but I am happy he managed to finish this series as he wanted.)
WILD ROVER NO MORE follows the usual pattern. Jacky gets in trouble, Jacky runs and hides in a new identity, flirts with a new man, eventually reunites with old friends just as the danger is greatest. I did particularly enjoy the stretch where Jacky hides as a governess since it required her to use more of her respectable skills, too often unemployed. I was very confused by the section where she disguises herself as a red-haired Russian named Natasha Romanoff. Was that a deliberate reference to The Avengers or did everyone involved in the book somehow miss that?
I enjoyed WILD ROVER NO MORE much more than BOSTON JACKY. The early reunion didn't entirely reconcile me to Jaimy, but I accepted that it worked for Jacky. I do always enjoy spending time with Jacky as she wreaks havoc through nineteenth century history.
If you've been following this series, do yourself a favor and pick up the conclusion. Meyer concludes most of the major strands of the story and provides a finish that does Bloody Jack Faber proud. If you haven't read this series, give it a whirl if you're into adventurous girls, age of sail, and hijinks in wacky disguises.
November 30, 2016
The final book?!
I don't know if I can handle this. There's so much to be resolved!!! One more book isn't enough!
And wait a second...I though she was already in Boston?
Oh Mr.Meyer...Please let this be the best book yet.
I don't know if I can handle this. There's so much to be resolved!!! One more book isn't enough!
And wait a second...I though she was already in Boston?
Oh Mr.Meyer...Please let this be the best book yet.
February 3, 2015
(NOTE: I'm going to write a normal non-spoilery review, with a bit of spoilery talk afterward since this is the final book in the series, but the spoilery part will be clearly delineated, so read on if you haven't yet read it!)
The thing most worth mentioning is that I just heard about the author, L.A. Meyer's death this past summer due to complications cased by cancer. I'm so sad about this. Sad that such a genius was taken from us by this illness. Sad that he won't get to revisit his favorite characters after their completed series in various short stories, like JK Rowling, Rick Riordan, etc., have. Happy, though, that he got to conclude his magnum opus before his death. RIP L.A. Meyer, you created characters that feel like my own friends and family, and a world that I've stuck with for these ten years.
That said, I think it's a perfect time for Jacky to end. This is the 12th book in the series, and good things should come to an end before they get tiresome. Onto the merits of this book: like in the last book with it's Boston riots and politics, Jacky is off on an adventure somewhat different adventure than the international seafaring ones that she's been on the past. After Jaimy has sailed off into the sunset and Jacky has renounced men and vowed to live as an honorable maiden merchant, she is, of course, framed for a heinous crime (concerning being a British spy a la Benedict Arnold) that has her on the run, or else facing the hangman's noose. Friends (whom I won't name because of spoilery reasons) sail to Britain for papers sure to exonerate her, but we doubt they'll make it in time.
In Boston proper, Higgins, Ezra, and Co. work on her case. Jacky herself goes undercover in various new personalities, including: 1) a governess named Annabelle Leigh (???!!??!?!), in charge of the children Cathy and Edgar Allen Polk (?????!??!?!?!??!?!?!!). I thought initially that there must be significance to this "coincidence", but I suspect that it's Meyer having a little bit of fun. I checked the date, and Edgar Allen Poe was born in 1809, the year this book takes place, while Edgar Allen Polk is about seven or eight, from what I can tell. 2) A Russian princess who walks the highwire in a traveling circus.
Another thing that made me partial to this book over others was the lack of (mostly) non-Jaimy flirtations, which started to bother me after a while. A lot of this is due to circumstance, but I also like to think that Jacky's growing up a little, and evolving into the person we want to see end this story.
Now, for the things that make this 4 instead of 5 stars. (This first one is actually a major grievance of mine with the entire series that I hoped might be resolved in the final book, but was not.)
1) Higgins, whom we all love, is the archetype of what I like to call YE OLDE SEXLESS GAY. I get why authors make gay characters not have love interests, especially in this case, since it's Jacky's first person POV. I'm glad there's a gay character period, especially one who's older and a main character. I loved the hints of Higgins' affair with Lord Byron, and I wish Meyer would have evolved this aspect of him more, since I think he deserves it.
(Spoilery things possibly starting here.)
2) I do wish there was more Jacky/Jaimy time at the end. They're reunited for approximately one and a half pages before the book's end. We know they end up together, and we know that after the book's end, they have a good ol' romp in the hay and a wedding a few days later. I would have sold some appendages to see some of this in text. I've been waiting for that since THE FIRST BOOK. WE'RE ON 12 NOW. I WAITED SO LONG WITH NO PAY OFF. It's like ten years of sexual tension that suddenly leave you hanging just when it's getting to the good part. I might have to revert to fanfiction for this, or else just write my own for God's sake, since I need to see at least some of the romp/wedding in text.
3) I wish there was less Amy. I do see why she's necessary, since Jacky's hanged and the reader is supposed to think she's dead (I really did, and I sobbed my guts out), and she can't very well give her 1st person POV. But even after we learn the trick, Amy's still talking. When I know this is my final time with Jacky, I wanted just Jacky, not Amy. Or even a Jaimy letter, but just not the mass amount of Amy's diary that was in the ending. I might have been less mad about this is there was more Jacky-Jaimy time at the end, since Amy ends up essentially telling us about what she thinks their wedding will be, and that's all we hear.
4) There should have been 20-30 more pages. This book was really short compared to the others. The last few have been at least 150 pages longer on average, so this book could have had 30 more pages easily. Ideally, after what we have in the book, I'd have liked these 30 additional pages to cover: 1) Jacky and Jaimy lying in the hay post-romp. God, I want to know what they'd say SO BADLY. 2) At least a bit of Jacky and Jaimy's wedding, maybe her dancing with her former beaus at the reception and Jaimy cutting in at the end. 3) A snapshot of Jacky and Jaimy's homemoon. Maybe them lying on a beach somewhere, finally getting the time together that they deserve, and the book ends with the site of a ship on the horizon coming toward them and flying a Jolly Roger.
So. These are a lot of points for improvement, I know, but it's just because these characters and this story get me so excited, and I want everything I can get from Meyer's world. I'll miss Jacky and Jaimy immensely, and L.A. Meyer can rest in peace knowing at least that I and may others will be their, and his, eternal fans.
The thing most worth mentioning is that I just heard about the author, L.A. Meyer's death this past summer due to complications cased by cancer. I'm so sad about this. Sad that such a genius was taken from us by this illness. Sad that he won't get to revisit his favorite characters after their completed series in various short stories, like JK Rowling, Rick Riordan, etc., have. Happy, though, that he got to conclude his magnum opus before his death. RIP L.A. Meyer, you created characters that feel like my own friends and family, and a world that I've stuck with for these ten years.
That said, I think it's a perfect time for Jacky to end. This is the 12th book in the series, and good things should come to an end before they get tiresome. Onto the merits of this book: like in the last book with it's Boston riots and politics, Jacky is off on an adventure somewhat different adventure than the international seafaring ones that she's been on the past. After Jaimy has sailed off into the sunset and Jacky has renounced men and vowed to live as an honorable maiden merchant, she is, of course, framed for a heinous crime (concerning being a British spy a la Benedict Arnold) that has her on the run, or else facing the hangman's noose. Friends (whom I won't name because of spoilery reasons) sail to Britain for papers sure to exonerate her, but we doubt they'll make it in time.
In Boston proper, Higgins, Ezra, and Co. work on her case. Jacky herself goes undercover in various new personalities, including: 1) a governess named Annabelle Leigh (???!!??!?!), in charge of the children Cathy and Edgar Allen Polk (?????!??!?!?!??!?!?!!). I thought initially that there must be significance to this "coincidence", but I suspect that it's Meyer having a little bit of fun. I checked the date, and Edgar Allen Poe was born in 1809, the year this book takes place, while Edgar Allen Polk is about seven or eight, from what I can tell. 2) A Russian princess who walks the highwire in a traveling circus.
Another thing that made me partial to this book over others was the lack of (mostly) non-Jaimy flirtations, which started to bother me after a while. A lot of this is due to circumstance, but I also like to think that Jacky's growing up a little, and evolving into the person we want to see end this story.
Now, for the things that make this 4 instead of 5 stars. (This first one is actually a major grievance of mine with the entire series that I hoped might be resolved in the final book, but was not.)
1) Higgins, whom we all love, is the archetype of what I like to call YE OLDE SEXLESS GAY. I get why authors make gay characters not have love interests, especially in this case, since it's Jacky's first person POV. I'm glad there's a gay character period, especially one who's older and a main character. I loved the hints of Higgins' affair with Lord Byron, and I wish Meyer would have evolved this aspect of him more, since I think he deserves it.
(Spoilery things possibly starting here.)
2) I do wish there was more Jacky/Jaimy time at the end. They're reunited for approximately one and a half pages before the book's end. We know they end up together, and we know that after the book's end, they have a good ol' romp in the hay and a wedding a few days later. I would have sold some appendages to see some of this in text. I've been waiting for that since THE FIRST BOOK. WE'RE ON 12 NOW. I WAITED SO LONG WITH NO PAY OFF. It's like ten years of sexual tension that suddenly leave you hanging just when it's getting to the good part. I might have to revert to fanfiction for this, or else just write my own for God's sake, since I need to see at least some of the romp/wedding in text.
3) I wish there was less Amy. I do see why she's necessary, since Jacky's hanged and the reader is supposed to think she's dead (I really did, and I sobbed my guts out), and she can't very well give her 1st person POV. But even after we learn the trick, Amy's still talking. When I know this is my final time with Jacky, I wanted just Jacky, not Amy. Or even a Jaimy letter, but just not the mass amount of Amy's diary that was in the ending. I might have been less mad about this is there was more Jacky-Jaimy time at the end, since Amy ends up essentially telling us about what she thinks their wedding will be, and that's all we hear.
4) There should have been 20-30 more pages. This book was really short compared to the others. The last few have been at least 150 pages longer on average, so this book could have had 30 more pages easily. Ideally, after what we have in the book, I'd have liked these 30 additional pages to cover: 1) Jacky and Jaimy lying in the hay post-romp. God, I want to know what they'd say SO BADLY. 2) At least a bit of Jacky and Jaimy's wedding, maybe her dancing with her former beaus at the reception and Jaimy cutting in at the end. 3) A snapshot of Jacky and Jaimy's homemoon. Maybe them lying on a beach somewhere, finally getting the time together that they deserve, and the book ends with the site of a ship on the horizon coming toward them and flying a Jolly Roger.
So. These are a lot of points for improvement, I know, but it's just because these characters and this story get me so excited, and I want everything I can get from Meyer's world. I'll miss Jacky and Jaimy immensely, and L.A. Meyer can rest in peace knowing at least that I and may others will be their, and his, eternal fans.
December 21, 2014
THE FINAL BOOK?! I... I CAN'T.... THE ACCOUNTS OF JACKY FABER, NO MORE? This will need to be so, so, so, so, amazing because I'm not too sure I'm ready to let the beloved Miss Jacky Faber go...
The saucy sea-sailor is happy and beautiful and FULL OF LIFE, for sure. And I suppose this is goodbye. Thank you, Miss Faber, for the adventures you have taken me along and for the friendship that you have shared with me. Thank you, Jacky, for the quick wit, the life-saving trickery, the displays of courage and the belief in hope.
THE END.
The saucy sea-sailor is happy and beautiful and FULL OF LIFE, for sure. And I suppose this is goodbye. Thank you, Miss Faber, for the adventures you have taken me along and for the friendship that you have shared with me. Thank you, Jacky, for the quick wit, the life-saving trickery, the displays of courage and the belief in hope.
THE END.
November 5, 2014
Couldn't think of a better ending to this ridiculously addicting series. Yes, Jaimy still annoys me--his lack of faith in Jacky is kind of old of this point--but I enjoyed the romp through memory lane of Jacky's other adventures, and quick updates on all my favorite characters.
And for the record,
And for the record,
July 20, 2014
I dearly loved this series and looked forward to each and every book. The final book was awesome and I was so pleased with the way the story ended. I closed the book and smiled, feeling good about the ending. I will miss her adventures, but will recommend this book to my students. I owe a big thank you to my librarian, Cindy Donerez, for getting this final nook for me. I loved it!
January 28, 2015
3.5 stars. First off I want to say how saddened I was to hear that the author of this dear to me series passed away last summer. It really hurt my heart to hear that news because even though we never met in person IMO only an awesome person and writer could bring Jacky into this world. She sure is one of a kind. While this last book felt like a repeat of several others in the series it was just nice to catch up with Jacky and the gang one last time. I especially liked her time as a nanny. So fun. My only major compliant was Amy's POV was presented for the first time in this book and I was just not a big fan of her parts.
This last book was not my favorite in the series but it was a decent end to what will always be one of my all time favorite series. Farewell Jacky & L.A. you with both be deeply missed!
This last book was not my favorite in the series but it was a decent end to what will always be one of my all time favorite series. Farewell Jacky & L.A. you with both be deeply missed!
May 16, 2018
I loved the series with my whole heart and soul. some of the best audiobooks ever. I saved this last one for a very long car ride and I was devastated when it was over. Goodbye Jacky. thank you for making many a long trip fly by.
May 1, 2023
2023 reread: Phew, these books take a LONG time to reread....because the series is TWELVE books like. In the future when it's time for a re-read, I'll probably just stick with the first half because these latter books are a bit weak and repetitive. Or maybe the trick is to not read them all back to back. Maybe I should spread the re-read out over the course of a year, like one book per month?
One detail that stuck out to me on this reread, was Jacky getting framed for carrying plans for an American fort....like Major John Andre in the whole Benedict Arnold debacle. On previous reads of this book, I only had a fuzzy idea of who Benedict Arnold was, and hadn't even heard of Andre. Now, however, I've watched "Turn: Washington's Spies" and read up a bit on Major Andre, so the name actually meant something this time.
2018 Reread: My past review noted how bittersweet this ending was, since it meant the end of Jacky's story, but it all ended on a happy note. It feel even more bittersweet now, since not only has the author passed, but the narrator Katherine Kellgren also passed away this year. When the book finished, I let the audiobook play through all of the end credits to the final word, feeling sad. Even though the latter porting of this lengthy series was definitely weaker than the first half of the books, it's still a riotously good time. Sail on, Jacky, Louis, and Katherine.
June 2016, 2nd re-listen on audio. I actually liked this final book better the 2nd time around. The first time I was a tad disappointed with how tidily everything wrapped up, as it was a smidgen predictable. This time around, however, I just let myself go with the flow of Jacky's many emotions throughout this book. As with the last few books in this series, much of it felt somewhat repetitive (the circus portion in particular felt a bit pointless and redundant), with a "we've been here before" feeling....but I guess that's the problem with writing a series that's TWELVE books long. There's going to be burn out. Still, it was all worth it for the Final Showdown to conclude the series. I wish there had been one last naval battle, but ah well.
December 2014: Wow.
Finally finished the final chapter on the adventures of Jacky Faber. Very bittersweet, as I've been listening and relistening to these book on audio (read by Katherine Kellgren!) for years now. The final book tied up most of the loose ends from the previous eleven books, mostly in predictable ways. LA Meyer was certainly no George RR Martin; mostly happy endings here. A tad bit predictable, but still a fitting end to such a long, raucous adventure tale. I finished the last bit of the book at work, listening on my iPod, while shuffling through papers. When it was over, I just sat there for a moment. Sad. Sad that these books that I have been frolicking through for so many years have finally wound to an end. I understand that the author also passed away shortly before the last book was published, so that was fitting timing.
One detail that stuck out to me on this reread, was Jacky getting framed for carrying plans for an American fort....like Major John Andre in the whole Benedict Arnold debacle. On previous reads of this book, I only had a fuzzy idea of who Benedict Arnold was, and hadn't even heard of Andre. Now, however, I've watched "Turn: Washington's Spies" and read up a bit on Major Andre, so the name actually meant something this time.
2018 Reread: My past review noted how bittersweet this ending was, since it meant the end of Jacky's story, but it all ended on a happy note. It feel even more bittersweet now, since not only has the author passed, but the narrator Katherine Kellgren also passed away this year. When the book finished, I let the audiobook play through all of the end credits to the final word, feeling sad. Even though the latter porting of this lengthy series was definitely weaker than the first half of the books, it's still a riotously good time. Sail on, Jacky, Louis, and Katherine.
June 2016, 2nd re-listen on audio. I actually liked this final book better the 2nd time around. The first time I was a tad disappointed with how tidily everything wrapped up, as it was a smidgen predictable. This time around, however, I just let myself go with the flow of Jacky's many emotions throughout this book. As with the last few books in this series, much of it felt somewhat repetitive (the circus portion in particular felt a bit pointless and redundant), with a "we've been here before" feeling....but I guess that's the problem with writing a series that's TWELVE books long. There's going to be burn out. Still, it was all worth it for the Final Showdown to conclude the series. I wish there had been one last naval battle, but ah well.
December 2014: Wow.
Finally finished the final chapter on the adventures of Jacky Faber. Very bittersweet, as I've been listening and relistening to these book on audio (read by Katherine Kellgren!) for years now. The final book tied up most of the loose ends from the previous eleven books, mostly in predictable ways. LA Meyer was certainly no George RR Martin; mostly happy endings here. A tad bit predictable, but still a fitting end to such a long, raucous adventure tale. I finished the last bit of the book at work, listening on my iPod, while shuffling through papers. When it was over, I just sat there for a moment. Sad. Sad that these books that I have been frolicking through for so many years have finally wound to an end. I understand that the author also passed away shortly before the last book was published, so that was fitting timing.
February 5, 2017
Whew! I can't believe I finished the whole series! (12 books) It takes a special kind of OCD to accomplish that. Here's my analysis on this book and the whole series. This final book wrapped things up sufficiently well and very dramatically. All the foreshadowing from previous books played out as expected. I appreciated how Meyer referred back to many of the previous characters and settings from previous books. It was a nostalgic trip through Jacky's adventures.
The whole series: Part way through I got really sick of the very predictable plot, Jacky's mildly licentious behavior and the extremely unrealistic, miraculous rescues that happen every time she is in trouble. This is not great literature. But then I realized what was going on. LA Meyer was taking his readers on a whirlwind tour through history in the early 1800s. His books are a sort of "Magic Tree House" (beginning reader books by Mary Pope Osborne) series for young adults. (Side note: The official target age for the Bloody Jack books is 11 - 13 years however I would NOT recommend these books for that age range. There is way to much violence, cursing, prostitution, deceit, death, slavery and other heavy emotional themes for this to be appropriate for children.) However when viewed as a series of adventure books written to educate and maybe trick young people into learning about history, they are fabulous. Several times I was motivated to go look up further information about the characters, settings or historical events portrayed in the books. His both obvious and subtle references to great literature and art are clever and masterfully constructed. Readers visit many countries, learn about the scenery, customs, food, dress, language, religions and other cultural aspects of each place. It is an amazing educational experience.
The whole series: Part way through I got really sick of the very predictable plot, Jacky's mildly licentious behavior and the extremely unrealistic, miraculous rescues that happen every time she is in trouble. This is not great literature. But then I realized what was going on. LA Meyer was taking his readers on a whirlwind tour through history in the early 1800s. His books are a sort of "Magic Tree House" (beginning reader books by Mary Pope Osborne) series for young adults. (Side note: The official target age for the Bloody Jack books is 11 - 13 years however I would NOT recommend these books for that age range. There is way to much violence, cursing, prostitution, deceit, death, slavery and other heavy emotional themes for this to be appropriate for children.) However when viewed as a series of adventure books written to educate and maybe trick young people into learning about history, they are fabulous. Several times I was motivated to go look up further information about the characters, settings or historical events portrayed in the books. His both obvious and subtle references to great literature and art are clever and masterfully constructed. Readers visit many countries, learn about the scenery, customs, food, dress, language, religions and other cultural aspects of each place. It is an amazing educational experience.
May 20, 2015
I was ready for this series to end, but have to admit that I will miss Jacky, even though she pushed the limits of suspended disbelief. :) As usual, Katherine Kellgren gave an amazing performance, she is easily one of my favorite narrators.
July 6, 2016
Did you know Meyer wrote the ending of the Bloody Jack series long before some of the ones preceding it?
On one hand, it's a good thing, because he died, and nothing is worse than an unfinished series.
But on the other hand, it basically just means that books 2-11 are fluffy filler. I'd even go so far as to say that 12 falls into that as well, since it ultimately gets the story to exactly where you'd expect it to, with superfluous hijinks to take up pages beforehand.
This really should have been only a 3 or 4 book series, because while there are some interesting stories in between, there isn't a whole ton of growth in the characters to make it feel worthwhile. Primarily concerning the relationship between Jacky and Jamie.
There are 10 books filled with all the ways they are tempted and involved with other love interests, but the two of them together are so ridiculously star-crossed that they never finally get back together until the very end of the very last book. It's so deliberately contrived how they are kept apart, all the near misses, and jealous misunderstandings, that it almost feels insulting.
The series is one long carrot dangling in front of your face, and when you finally finish, it's like he breaks you off a stem-end nub and expects you to be excited about it, when in reality, you've been staring at that stupid carrot for so long that you've watched it go limp and tired and dry and is exactly as depressingly unexciting as it looks. And then, because you're the idiot donkey who had been following the carrot the whole time, you grudgingly grab that lame little carrot stump, gnaw on it in self-loathing, and stomp away grumbling and embarrassed.
Meyer has no compunction detailing about Jacky getting into all kinds of compromising situations with a myriad of heartthrobs, not to mention Jamie's own set of dalliances, and after awhile, I really wasn't even pulling for them as a couple at all. Then, after enduring through all the kissing and canoodling, skinny-dipping and undressing, we are treated to a finale that basically goes "They went to the barn that night. The end." Even Clementine got a lot more barn action than that. It was ridiculously underwhelming!
A final note on this particular book: I was really enjoying the Jacky Poppins angle because it was finally something different, and had a lot of great potential. Not only that, but it felt like this great segue into Jacky growing up (suddenly she's 19?!), and settling down, and using her past experiences for something a little more noble. Since she had been nervous about having her own kids (except Ravi who was exceptionally helpful and accommodating and thus more of a servant), interacting so closely with kids seemed like a good step in that direction as well.
But then it's over quite suddenly and she's back to her old tricks and disguises and scamming. She's got her convenient escape clauses in the form of the Higgins and Pickering and a dutiful biographer/fangirl in Amy. Of course she escapes her punishment, of course her enemy is defeated, and of course she ends up with Jamie, but what is decidedly missing is an indication of her future. Are she and Jamie staying in the US or going back to England? Will they go to sea and keep ferrying immigrants, or having adventures, or settle down a become barkeeps? So many questions left unanswered.
So, my advice is to read the first, and leave it at that. None of the other books ever stack up to it, and really don't even add anything useful. You know how I know? Because I never read the second one and didn't miss a thing.
And listen to the audio if at all possible, because Katherine Kellgren is phenomenal.
On one hand, it's a good thing, because he died, and nothing is worse than an unfinished series.
But on the other hand, it basically just means that books 2-11 are fluffy filler. I'd even go so far as to say that 12 falls into that as well, since it ultimately gets the story to exactly where you'd expect it to, with superfluous hijinks to take up pages beforehand.
This really should have been only a 3 or 4 book series, because while there are some interesting stories in between, there isn't a whole ton of growth in the characters to make it feel worthwhile. Primarily concerning the relationship between Jacky and Jamie.
There are 10 books filled with all the ways they are tempted and involved with other love interests, but the two of them together are so ridiculously star-crossed that they never finally get back together until the very end of the very last book. It's so deliberately contrived how they are kept apart, all the near misses, and jealous misunderstandings, that it almost feels insulting.
The series is one long carrot dangling in front of your face, and when you finally finish, it's like he breaks you off a stem-end nub and expects you to be excited about it, when in reality, you've been staring at that stupid carrot for so long that you've watched it go limp and tired and dry and is exactly as depressingly unexciting as it looks. And then, because you're the idiot donkey who had been following the carrot the whole time, you grudgingly grab that lame little carrot stump, gnaw on it in self-loathing, and stomp away grumbling and embarrassed.
Meyer has no compunction detailing about Jacky getting into all kinds of compromising situations with a myriad of heartthrobs, not to mention Jamie's own set of dalliances, and after awhile, I really wasn't even pulling for them as a couple at all. Then, after enduring through all the kissing and canoodling, skinny-dipping and undressing, we are treated to a finale that basically goes "They went to the barn that night. The end." Even Clementine got a lot more barn action than that. It was ridiculously underwhelming!
A final note on this particular book: I was really enjoying the Jacky Poppins angle because it was finally something different, and had a lot of great potential. Not only that, but it felt like this great segue into Jacky growing up (suddenly she's 19?!), and settling down, and using her past experiences for something a little more noble. Since she had been nervous about having her own kids (except Ravi who was exceptionally helpful and accommodating and thus more of a servant), interacting so closely with kids seemed like a good step in that direction as well.
But then it's over quite suddenly and she's back to her old tricks and disguises and scamming. She's got her convenient escape clauses in the form of the Higgins and Pickering and a dutiful biographer/fangirl in Amy. Of course she escapes her punishment, of course her enemy is defeated, and of course she ends up with Jamie, but what is decidedly missing is an indication of her future. Are she and Jamie staying in the US or going back to England? Will they go to sea and keep ferrying immigrants, or having adventures, or settle down a become barkeeps? So many questions left unanswered.
So, my advice is to read the first, and leave it at that. None of the other books ever stack up to it, and really don't even add anything useful. You know how I know? Because I never read the second one and didn't miss a thing.
And listen to the audio if at all possible, because Katherine Kellgren is phenomenal.
Read
September 21, 2020To be honest, I think I'm giving this book a 4/5 because of the extreme loyalty I feel toward this series. I grew up reading Bloody Jack--I spent ten years of my life reading these books and waiting for the next release. I almost cried when Mr. Meyer responded to one of my posts on his Facebook wall. (Just so you know where I'm coming from with this review.)
I still cannot believe the series is over and that our dear Mr. Meyer has passed on. Despite my issues with the final book, I will continue to read the series fondly and think always of the joy and entertainment that Jacky gave me through the years. Is it the next great classic? The measure of what Young Adult Literature can be? No. But Mr. Meyer gave us a character to love, root for, and want to smack around a bit for her occasional (or not so occasional) stupidity. They weren't perfect, but then, nothing worth having really is. Thank you, Mr. Meyer, for giving us your literary creations.
WARNING: Spoilers from this point on.
(These are mostly just rants and emotions that I need to vent out.)
I did cry at the end of this book. Mostly, however, because of my unhealthy emotional attachment to the books. I think it was Amy's comments about finally being ready "for that sort of thing" that set me over the edge. I love the idea of Amy and Ezra together. I was NOT happy about Jacky and Jaimy, though. I guess we knew from the start that they would finally end up together at some point, but I hoped he would get killed off. Yes, Jacky has her issues and needs to grow up in a big way, but she still deserves so much better.
I'd hoped for Lord Richard Allen, personally. But that sure didn't happen. While I was simply unhappy about Jacky's marriage, I was livid about Lord Richard's marriage. Not at all happy. Oh, yes, I understand exactly why Mr. Meyer did it, but I don't have to like it. I love to hate Clarissa, but I did not want her to get off so easily.
And yes, I almost had a heart attack when I thought she was hanged. I can't believe I didn't see that coming.
I loved, loved, loved the part about her being a governess, though. As a teacher myself, I giggled the whole time. Knowing that he taught, as well, made it all the better. Nice touch there, mate.
I'd hoped to get to see a few characters again before the end. She met all of her old mates again except Willy, which bothers me more than it should, and we were not again graced with the company of Joseph Jared, one of my all-time favorite characters.
Oh, well. It was a (mostly) fitting end to a great series. Cheers, Mr. Meyer.
I still cannot believe the series is over and that our dear Mr. Meyer has passed on. Despite my issues with the final book, I will continue to read the series fondly and think always of the joy and entertainment that Jacky gave me through the years. Is it the next great classic? The measure of what Young Adult Literature can be? No. But Mr. Meyer gave us a character to love, root for, and want to smack around a bit for her occasional (or not so occasional) stupidity. They weren't perfect, but then, nothing worth having really is. Thank you, Mr. Meyer, for giving us your literary creations.
WARNING: Spoilers from this point on.
(These are mostly just rants and emotions that I need to vent out.)
I did cry at the end of this book. Mostly, however, because of my unhealthy emotional attachment to the books. I think it was Amy's comments about finally being ready "for that sort of thing" that set me over the edge. I love the idea of Amy and Ezra together. I was NOT happy about Jacky and Jaimy, though. I guess we knew from the start that they would finally end up together at some point, but I hoped he would get killed off. Yes, Jacky has her issues and needs to grow up in a big way, but she still deserves so much better.
I'd hoped for Lord Richard Allen, personally. But that sure didn't happen. While I was simply unhappy about Jacky's marriage, I was livid about Lord Richard's marriage. Not at all happy. Oh, yes, I understand exactly why Mr. Meyer did it, but I don't have to like it. I love to hate Clarissa, but I did not want her to get off so easily.
And yes, I almost had a heart attack when I thought she was hanged. I can't believe I didn't see that coming.
I loved, loved, loved the part about her being a governess, though. As a teacher myself, I giggled the whole time. Knowing that he taught, as well, made it all the better. Nice touch there, mate.
I'd hoped to get to see a few characters again before the end. She met all of her old mates again except Willy, which bothers me more than it should, and we were not again graced with the company of Joseph Jared, one of my all-time favorite characters.
Oh, well. It was a (mostly) fitting end to a great series. Cheers, Mr. Meyer.
November 21, 2015
I cried. I expected the very end of this book. I knew the other end wouldn't be the end, and I still cried. (If you've read the book, I hope that makes sense. If you haven't, I'm avoiding spoilers and you can thank me later.) I'm attributing the tears to the too-fantastic-for-words narration by Katherine Kellgren, she brought Jacky alive book after book and her portrayal of Amy at the end of this book had all the feels.
Jacky and I have had a wild ride since starting this series just under two years ago, and we haven't always gotten along so well. Jacky is a fun character and she's met lots of interesting characters on her wild adventures. While I never disliked a book, the series had some quirks that drove me nuts. Jacky's adventures take her pretty literally around the globe and she is constantly (and too conveniently, IMO) running into old acquaintances. There's also the back and forth with Jacky and her soul mate Jaimy, who are always in the midst of some miscommunication or another. There relationship is more dramatic than a season of The Bachelor. Seriously. I think if I had spread out my reading of the books, it might not have been so apparent and I would have liked some of the other books more. I kept wanting Jacky to grow up... and then remembering she was still a tween.
To the book at hand, Wild Rover No More was an excellent ending to the series. It's one of my favorite of the series, having a healthy dose of adventure and roving while not being quite as absurdly improbable as some of her other adventures. This book is the first to adds the POV of Amy Trevelyan (long time friend of Jacky) which I found integral to this book. Jacky has a way of glossing over the bad situations she finds herself in, and Amy's POV added a somberness to the proceedings of Wild Rover that felt appropriate and helped anchor the story.
Jacky and I have had a wild ride since starting this series just under two years ago, and we haven't always gotten along so well. Jacky is a fun character and she's met lots of interesting characters on her wild adventures. While I never disliked a book, the series had some quirks that drove me nuts. Jacky's adventures take her pretty literally around the globe and she is constantly (and too conveniently, IMO) running into old acquaintances. There's also the back and forth with Jacky and her soul mate Jaimy, who are always in the midst of some miscommunication or another. There relationship is more dramatic than a season of The Bachelor. Seriously. I think if I had spread out my reading of the books, it might not have been so apparent and I would have liked some of the other books more. I kept wanting Jacky to grow up... and then remembering she was still a tween.
To the book at hand, Wild Rover No More was an excellent ending to the series. It's one of my favorite of the series, having a healthy dose of adventure and roving while not being quite as absurdly improbable as some of her other adventures. This book is the first to adds the POV of Amy Trevelyan (long time friend of Jacky) which I found integral to this book. Jacky has a way of glossing over the bad situations she finds herself in, and Amy's POV added a somberness to the proceedings of Wild Rover that felt appropriate and helped anchor the story.
February 23, 2022
Jacky Faber's written adventures come to an end when she's accused of treason and flees down the New England coast.
I'm still so upset that the last book ended the way it did. I tried to put that behind me, as Jacky herself does, but I'm a world-class grudge-holder. I was mostly able to enjoy this book for itself but I'm still rating it 3 stars instead of the 4 I would probably have given it if that nonsense from book 11 hadn't happened.
After twelve books, there's not much more to say. Jacky is Jacky; may she always be true to herself. I've laughed and cried through her adventures, hated her enemies, and (mostly) loved her friends. She's one-of-a-kind and I'm saddened to know that this was L. A. Meyer's last book before he passed away.
I will note that there's a scene near the end that might be upsetting to sensitive readers.
Katherine Kellgren's narration was, as always, an absolute delight.
This nicely wraps up a lot of loose ends and revisits characters whom we haven't heard from in a while. It's a fitting end to a series that has brought me a lot of joy.
I'm still so upset that the last book ended the way it did. I tried to put that behind me, as Jacky herself does, but I'm a world-class grudge-holder. I was mostly able to enjoy this book for itself but I'm still rating it 3 stars instead of the 4 I would probably have given it if that nonsense from book 11 hadn't happened.
After twelve books, there's not much more to say. Jacky is Jacky; may she always be true to herself. I've laughed and cried through her adventures, hated her enemies, and (mostly) loved her friends. She's one-of-a-kind and I'm saddened to know that this was L. A. Meyer's last book before he passed away.
I will note that there's a scene near the end that might be upsetting to sensitive readers.
Katherine Kellgren's narration was, as always, an absolute delight.
This nicely wraps up a lot of loose ends and revisits characters whom we haven't heard from in a while. It's a fitting end to a series that has brought me a lot of joy.
November 10, 2014
As a loyal fan of the Bloody Jack series, I thoroughly enjoyed this series finale. When Jacky learns of a warrant for her arrest on trumped-up charges of treason, she flees Boston and disguises herself, gaining employment at first as a governess and then as a Russian tightrope walker in a traveling circus. Eventually she is captured and faces the hangman’s noose with gallows humor. Many of the characters in the other books make an appearance in this final book.
Jacky reminisces nostalgically about her past extraordinary misadventures and encounters with rogues, royals, and other historical figures of the early 1800’s. I enjoy her humor and outrageous situations, as well as her impressive accomplishments. I recommend this series to teens who want fun historical fiction with a strong female character.
I am sad that the author died in July, but I am glad that the conclusion to Jacky’s tale was able to be published posthumously in a very satisfying way.
Jacky reminisces nostalgically about her past extraordinary misadventures and encounters with rogues, royals, and other historical figures of the early 1800’s. I enjoy her humor and outrageous situations, as well as her impressive accomplishments. I recommend this series to teens who want fun historical fiction with a strong female character.
I am sad that the author died in July, but I am glad that the conclusion to Jacky’s tale was able to be published posthumously in a very satisfying way.
February 9, 2015
An wonderful ending to a mostly fun series. I thought the last couple of books lost some magic that the earlier books in the series had, with the stories getting absurd and convoluted. Boston Jacky was completely disappointing. However, like most series some books are better than others. As a series overall, I can say I enjoyed the time I spent with Jacky and the many characters that were apart of her very unique world.
I have the utmost praise for Katherine Kellgren and the producers of Bloody Jack audiobook series. Her performance was always superb, bringing to life this very worthy series.
I was sad to hear of L.A. Meyers death last year, prior to the release of this final installment. As an author, I admired his willingness to participate with his readers in the pure fun and adventure of sailing away with a girl pirate who "was never raised proper."
I have the utmost praise for Katherine Kellgren and the producers of Bloody Jack audiobook series. Her performance was always superb, bringing to life this very worthy series.
I was sad to hear of L.A. Meyers death last year, prior to the release of this final installment. As an author, I admired his willingness to participate with his readers in the pure fun and adventure of sailing away with a girl pirate who "was never raised proper."
November 14, 2014
The conclusion to this wonderful series will have the reader following Jacky's exploits to the bitter end. Wonderfully entrenched in historical characters while blending an entertaining fictional character's exploits around the world. Jacky is a musician, schoolgirl, pirate, patriot, spy, sea captain and more and she never fails to delight. The icing on the cake is that the series is modeled after a real diary. The author, L.A. Meyer, will be missed greatly by those of us that wanted to emulate the spirit of Jacky a little bit wherever our adventures took us. Found in the young adult section but mild enough for older kids to thoroughly enjoy.
November 18, 2014
Thank you L. A. Meyer for the wonderful adventures of Jacky Faber. There was never a dull moment. As a history teacher, I loved all the historical settings and Jacky's adventures in each setting. I will miss her and you that gave us this delightful series. The print of Jacky that you drew hangs by my front door a constant reminder that adventure and the opportunity to do good lies just outside.
March 25, 2016
The perfect ending for this marvelous series. I only cried a ton.
September 20, 2015
I was saddened last month to see the title of the newest Jacky Faber book. I knew from author interviews that Wild Rover No More: Being the Last Recorded Account of the Life & Times of Jacky Faber was the title author L.A. Meyer had chosen for the last book in the series and that it would only be released in the event of his death. A quick Google search confirmed what I feared, that Louis Meyer passed away last summer and that this would indeed be the last L.A. Meyer book published.
If you haven’t yet read any of Louis Meyer’s Jacky Faber adventures stop what you are doing and immediately read Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy, the first volume of the continuing chronicles of Mary (aka Jacky) Faber, one-time London guttersnipe turned globetrotting sailor lass. These books really should be read in order starting from the beginning. This book often refers to characters introduced in earlier volumes and, while you will still enjoy this final volume, you may miss out on some references by not reading the books in order.
The Bloody Jacky Faber series has been one of my YA guilty pleasures for many years. I opened Jacky's 12th and final adventure with some trepidation knowing there will be no more chronicles of Jacky Faber’s adventures. How would Meyer wrap things up? Which favorite characters would he bring back? Which villains? Better yet, what new adventures would Jacky have and what new characters would she meet? Would she be reconciled with her fiancé, Jamie Fletcher? Finally, would she manage to wriggle out of whatever mess she gets into this time? After having burned through all nine lives (and then some), would the peace she has always craved turn out to be the peace of the grave?
Wild Rover No More starts out well for Jacky as our heroine returns home to Boston from a successful Caribbean voyage. As always happens in Jacky’s adventured, this peace goes south faster than she can say Faber Shipping Worldwide when authorities discover that the diplomatic pouch she picked up in Havana is not an official diplomatic pouch, but contains incriminating plans to Fort McHenry addressed to Jacky. Smarting from the Benedict Arnold/Major Andre spy scandal, the American authorities are quick to charge Ms. Faber with treason and call for her head. The fast-thinking Faber barely manages to escape but once again finds herself on the run from the law.
In her efforts to evade capture Jackie becomes
I have now read all of Jacky’s adventures and, while all are entertaining, I have my favorites. I did not find ‘Wild Rover No More’ as compelling as, say, In the Belly of the Bloodhound or Mississippi Jack. That is not because it isn’t good, but is more because Meyer’s need to tie up loose ends limited his ability to take the story wherever he chose. Even so, I did enjoy this final adventure and can now close the book without having to wonder whatever happened to so-and-so.
As much as I have enjoyed the series, Meyer has occasionally let a few minor anachronisms slip past the editors. Although these in no way reduce my enjoyment of the book a few historical errors were found in an advanced reading copy of Wild Rover No More. Although the term ‘high school’ was first used in Scotland in 1505, no high schools opened in North America until the English High School founded in Boston in 1821, 12 years after the events described in this story. In Jacky’s day, educational institutions for children would have been limited to private academies such as the illustrious Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls. Rugby, likewise, was not played under that name until at least 1823 when legend has it that Rugby school player William Webb Ellis first picked up a football and ran with it. Finally, while a Capt. Thomas Blood stole the English crown jewels in 1671, there was no pirate who went by the name of Captain Blood until 1920 when Rafael Sabatini used the name as a character in his books and stories. Sabatini’s Captain Blood was largely based on the life of Irish surgeon Henry Pitman, a surgeon who, like Blood, was arrested and sentenced to death for treating Irish rebels. His sentence was commuted to transportation to Barbados where he escaped and was subsequently captured by pirates. Pitman never became a pirate, though, and was never referred to as ‘Captain Blood’.
In summary, while ‘Wild Rover No More’ may not be L.A. Meyer’s best book, it is a good summation of a great series. It’s sad that there will be no more never be another Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, there are other good authors out there just waiting for their books to become my next guilty pleasure.
*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review book was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
If you haven’t yet read any of Louis Meyer’s Jacky Faber adventures stop what you are doing and immediately read Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy, the first volume of the continuing chronicles of Mary (aka Jacky) Faber, one-time London guttersnipe turned globetrotting sailor lass. These books really should be read in order starting from the beginning. This book often refers to characters introduced in earlier volumes and, while you will still enjoy this final volume, you may miss out on some references by not reading the books in order.
The Bloody Jacky Faber series has been one of my YA guilty pleasures for many years. I opened Jacky's 12th and final adventure with some trepidation knowing there will be no more chronicles of Jacky Faber’s adventures. How would Meyer wrap things up? Which favorite characters would he bring back? Which villains? Better yet, what new adventures would Jacky have and what new characters would she meet? Would she be reconciled with her fiancé, Jamie Fletcher? Finally, would she manage to wriggle out of whatever mess she gets into this time? After having burned through all nine lives (and then some), would the peace she has always craved turn out to be the peace of the grave?
Wild Rover No More starts out well for Jacky as our heroine returns home to Boston from a successful Caribbean voyage. As always happens in Jacky’s adventured, this peace goes south faster than she can say Faber Shipping Worldwide when authorities discover that the diplomatic pouch she picked up in Havana is not an official diplomatic pouch, but contains incriminating plans to Fort McHenry addressed to Jacky. Smarting from the Benedict Arnold/Major Andre spy scandal, the American authorities are quick to charge Ms. Faber with treason and call for her head. The fast-thinking Faber barely manages to escape but once again finds herself on the run from the law.
In her efforts to evade capture Jackie becomes
I have now read all of Jacky’s adventures and, while all are entertaining, I have my favorites. I did not find ‘Wild Rover No More’ as compelling as, say, In the Belly of the Bloodhound or Mississippi Jack. That is not because it isn’t good, but is more because Meyer’s need to tie up loose ends limited his ability to take the story wherever he chose. Even so, I did enjoy this final adventure and can now close the book without having to wonder whatever happened to so-and-so.
As much as I have enjoyed the series, Meyer has occasionally let a few minor anachronisms slip past the editors. Although these in no way reduce my enjoyment of the book a few historical errors were found in an advanced reading copy of Wild Rover No More. Although the term ‘high school’ was first used in Scotland in 1505, no high schools opened in North America until the English High School founded in Boston in 1821, 12 years after the events described in this story. In Jacky’s day, educational institutions for children would have been limited to private academies such as the illustrious Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls. Rugby, likewise, was not played under that name until at least 1823 when legend has it that Rugby school player William Webb Ellis first picked up a football and ran with it. Finally, while a Capt. Thomas Blood stole the English crown jewels in 1671, there was no pirate who went by the name of Captain Blood until 1920 when Rafael Sabatini used the name as a character in his books and stories. Sabatini’s Captain Blood was largely based on the life of Irish surgeon Henry Pitman, a surgeon who, like Blood, was arrested and sentenced to death for treating Irish rebels. His sentence was commuted to transportation to Barbados where he escaped and was subsequently captured by pirates. Pitman never became a pirate, though, and was never referred to as ‘Captain Blood’.
In summary, while ‘Wild Rover No More’ may not be L.A. Meyer’s best book, it is a good summation of a great series. It’s sad that there will be no more never be another Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, there are other good authors out there just waiting for their books to become my next guilty pleasure.
*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review book was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
May 3, 2024
Welp, this is it. The 12th and final book in L.A. Meyer’s Bloody Jack series, and it’s definitely bitter sweet. I’m going to miss these light hearted adventures at sea, but was left feeling very happy and satisfied with the ending.
The audiobook reader, Katherine Kellgren, is among the best I have ever listened to, and I’ll miss her narrating of the stories the most. Her talent with all the singing and countless different accents from people all over the world never failed to impress me.
RIP L.A. Meyer. And thank you for sharing your stories.
The audiobook reader, Katherine Kellgren, is among the best I have ever listened to, and I’ll miss her narrating of the stories the most. Her talent with all the singing and countless different accents from people all over the world never failed to impress me.
RIP L.A. Meyer. And thank you for sharing your stories.
July 2, 2020
I love happy endings
February 27, 2017
This series has been fabulous to read, an intriguing blend of fiction with historical circumstances and settings. While a few of the prior ones had started to feel repetitious, this was a good end to the series.
Jacky is to be arrested for treason, having been tricked into carrying what she thought was a diplomatic pouch in her ship, but turns out to be a trap by Flashby. She goes on the run, and for a time is a governess (with one of her charges named Edgar Allen Polk, who styles himself a pirate, with a ship named The Raven), until marshals come to arrest her. She kidnaps Edgar with her, takes him on a short cruise along the shore, then releases him with instructions on how to get back home.
After that she joins the circus as a high-wire act - and ends up buying the circus.
But in time, she is tracked down, caught and brought to trial, sentenced to death by hanging.
Jacky is to be arrested for treason, having been tricked into carrying what she thought was a diplomatic pouch in her ship, but turns out to be a trap by Flashby. She goes on the run, and for a time is a governess (with one of her charges named Edgar Allen Polk, who styles himself a pirate, with a ship named The Raven), until marshals come to arrest her. She kidnaps Edgar with her, takes him on a short cruise along the shore, then releases him with instructions on how to get back home.
After that she joins the circus as a high-wire act - and ends up buying the circus.
But in time, she is tracked down, caught and brought to trial, sentenced to death by hanging.
December 30, 2014
(minor spoilers)
This is stronger than the last couple of novels, and has several parts that are quite different from the other all bookended with the main problem of the story (Jacky being on the run and in hiding). I really liked Jacky as a governess, but as a circus performer she was way too noticeable and it's not at all surprising that she was discovered. (That fan dance...did she expect no one to see the anchor tattoo? There's no mention of covering it in any way.) The point of view changes did not work for me. I don't believe we've ever had Amy's pov before and i found them a bit jarring as i am used to hearing Jacky's internal version of Amy's internal dialogue. Amy lacks Jacky's vibrance, basically, and i wanted to read those events from Jacky's point of view. I realize why the author did it, but he didn't quite pull it off for me. The last half of the book felt rushed, and everyone came together a little too neatly for it to be realistic. On the title alone i had actually expected Jacky to actually mellow a bit and develop as a character, but she doesn't seem to do much of that, not nearly as much as in some of the past novels. She's still leading unsuspecting men on, for instance. And drugging people without their consent.
(major spoilers)
Now i doubt anyone will be surprised that Jacky and Jaimy reconcile quite early in this book and that at the end it appears that he and Jacky are soon to be married. This kind of put me off as i have not shipped Jacky/Jaimy in a long time, since the second or third book of the series. I am probably in the minority on this, but i shipped her primarily with Higgins, her first husband, who i don't believe to actually be in the closet, only that Jacky assumes that he is. I would have preferred her with Lord Allen, barring that, though Jacky has had so many potential suitors circling for so long that i am sure there are some that ship her with others. My one small consolation is that Jacky and Jaimy have been at the altar together before, and they didn't get married then, either. So until Meyer actually writes them exchanging vows and publishes it, all bets are still on. I don't think that Higgins' method of divorce is actually legal under British law, for one thing. Do we want Jacky to become a polyandrist? I still expect to read more about the adventures of Jacky Faber, but probably in a different, more mature format.
ETA: Alas, but it turns out that Meyer's died last summer. We will never get to read an official version of Jacky settling down and truly becoming a Wild Rover No More.
This is stronger than the last couple of novels, and has several parts that are quite different from the other all bookended with the main problem of the story (Jacky being on the run and in hiding). I really liked Jacky as a governess, but as a circus performer she was way too noticeable and it's not at all surprising that she was discovered. (That fan dance...did she expect no one to see the anchor tattoo? There's no mention of covering it in any way.) The point of view changes did not work for me. I don't believe we've ever had Amy's pov before and i found them a bit jarring as i am used to hearing Jacky's internal version of Amy's internal dialogue. Amy lacks Jacky's vibrance, basically, and i wanted to read those events from Jacky's point of view. I realize why the author did it, but he didn't quite pull it off for me. The last half of the book felt rushed, and everyone came together a little too neatly for it to be realistic. On the title alone i had actually expected Jacky to actually mellow a bit and develop as a character, but she doesn't seem to do much of that, not nearly as much as in some of the past novels. She's still leading unsuspecting men on, for instance. And drugging people without their consent.
(major spoilers)
Now i doubt anyone will be surprised that Jacky and Jaimy reconcile quite early in this book and that at the end it appears that he and Jacky are soon to be married. This kind of put me off as i have not shipped Jacky/Jaimy in a long time, since the second or third book of the series. I am probably in the minority on this, but i shipped her primarily with Higgins, her first husband, who i don't believe to actually be in the closet, only that Jacky assumes that he is. I would have preferred her with Lord Allen, barring that, though Jacky has had so many potential suitors circling for so long that i am sure there are some that ship her with others. My one small consolation is that Jacky and Jaimy have been at the altar together before, and they didn't get married then, either. So until Meyer actually writes them exchanging vows and publishes it, all bets are still on. I don't think that Higgins' method of divorce is actually legal under British law, for one thing. Do we want Jacky to become a polyandrist? I still expect to read more about the adventures of Jacky Faber, but probably in a different, more mature format.
ETA: Alas, but it turns out that Meyer's died last summer. We will never get to read an official version of Jacky settling down and truly becoming a Wild Rover No More.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2014
Jacky Faber, pirate, entrepeneur, businesswoman, spy, Goya model, artist, etc., etc., etc., may be facing the last of her days. Only 19, she has packed more adventures into life than all of her friends (and enemies) combined. In this final adventure, she has mistakenly carried what she thought was a diplomatic pouch to the US from Cuba only to find it contains a letter, skillfully crafted to make her sound like a British spy along with a complete drawing of Fort McHenry. Shades of Benedict Arnold!!!!! Now Jacky is wanted by the American government for treason! And this in the year 1809 as the tensions increase between Britain and the US which will lead to the War of 1812. Her lawyer and her finace, Jaimy, are both working frantically to clear her name. Jaime on his way to London to bring back papers from William Pitt and the British Naval Command showing her innocence. In the meantime, Jacky must once again go into hiding. Betrayed by an erstwhile friend, Jacky's lawyer and friend must do what he can to try to keep her alive long enough for Jamie to return with the papers. Will the Shannon manage to arrive in time? Can Ezra stall the court long enough? Will Jacky hang?
Read it and find out.
Read it and find out.
April 13, 2017
I've read the entire Bloody Jack series now, and although this book nicely tied up all of the various and sundry loose ends, former foes, perilous predicaments, this was probably my least favorite of all the books, unfortunately. After so many books waiting for our dear Jacky and love-of-her life Jamie Fletcher to get together, that thread ended rather disappointingly with barely enough time given the characters together who spent 12 books apart. In such adventurous tales I didn't mind stretching reality for the purpose of entertainment, but this book went a little over the top for me in that regard (especially with how easily she fell into running the circus and the old lion roaring on command). My favorite part was actually her time with the Polk family and its play on Edgar Allen Poe who was born in the same year this tale was set.
However, as a whole this entire series was so fun and I will miss Jacky as one of the most entertaining characters I've met.
However, as a whole this entire series was so fun and I will miss Jacky as one of the most entertaining characters I've met.
February 1, 2019
This was quite the way to end the series! There are still a few things at the end that weren't quite wrapped up as nicely as I would have liked, but overall, it was fantastic. We revisited some old friends, made lots of new ones, took liberties with historical figures, etc. All in all, it was a wild ride, and I'm so glad that I discovered Jacky all those years ago. She has been a unique and wonderful heroine, and a lot of fun. I shall miss her!
I was also quite sad to see that L.A. Meyer passed away. There really will be no more Jacky, but I am glad that he was able to wrap up the series.
I was also quite sad to see that L.A. Meyer passed away. There really will be no more Jacky, but I am glad that he was able to wrap up the series.
January 6, 2015
This is the 12th and final book in the Bloody Jack series. As always, Jacky tries so hard to be good and do the right thing, but gets caught up in all sorts of escapades. And as always, she and Jaimy seem destined to be apart (although why she still wants him is beyond me!). She is wanted by the British and must leave Boston; meanwhile Jaimy heads to England to try to clear her name. Once again, Jacky is threatened with a noose around her neck… Lots of humor, action, and adventure. However, due to the untimely death of the author, there were some story threads that were not quite resolved at the end, but it is still a satisfying conclusion.
Some violence and sexual situations
Some violence and sexual situations
July 30, 2015
THE FINAL NOVEL! FINALLY! I'd say the last four novels where starting to drag on and on. The Author actually passed away after finishing the series as well, and I'd like to thank his memory for giving us Jacky and am glad he was able to finish it before his passing.
Jacky's tales, despite seeming to drag in the last few books, are still a rollicking good time, and probably a great read for any teenager, hopefully inspiring many an imagination with it.
Also finally finish the Jacky and Jaimy story line drew huge sigh of relief from me. I've been waiting to get closure one way or another with this series since the start, which was probably the point.
Jacky's tales, despite seeming to drag in the last few books, are still a rollicking good time, and probably a great read for any teenager, hopefully inspiring many an imagination with it.
Also finally finish the Jacky and Jaimy story line drew huge sigh of relief from me. I've been waiting to get closure one way or another with this series since the start, which was probably the point.
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