Review: Wild Rover No More: Being the Last Recorded Account of the Life & Times of Jacky Faber

Book twelve of the Bloody Jack Adventures
By L.A. Meyer
Available now from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt BFYR
Review copy
Read my Bloody Jack tag

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.

Review: Boston Jacky

Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Taking Care of Business
Book Eleven of the Bloody Jack Adventures
By L.A. Meyer
Available now from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt BFYR
Review copy
Read my review of Viva Jacquelina!

Jacky Faber has returned to Boston, this time to discover that her shipping business is losing money, the Irish are becoming unwelcome in Boston, and that Jaimy Fletcher hasn't made it back yet.  The first bit of BOSTON JACKY feels very same old, same old, and the new elements introduced never go as far as they might.  The various extortionary fire companies are introduced, but I can only remember one fire in the book - and it's not a particularly big fire.

I did like the introduction of women's suffrage and the Temperance Union to the series.  Jacky, of course, is all for women's suffrage.  But she's not for the cause when the women behind it are also calling for alcohol to be banned.  As always, Jacky's truest loyalty lies with her purse and her wellbeing.  There's also a good development that means the series might get a true villain.  However, her machinations mostly succeed because Jacky and Jaimy both make some very dumb moves.

Indeed, my biggest problem with BOSTON JACKY is that I hated Jaimy in this book.  He acts like a complete jerk to Jacky, thinks terrible things about her, and ignores all past evidence that she's never been unfaithful . . . despite the fact that he has.  His language about her is just gross and unbecoming of a character who is supposed to be the romantic hero.  If he doesn't seriously repent and grovel for forgiveness in the next book, then Jacky better kick him to the curb.  BOSTON JACKY just about killed my interest in the romantic storyline.

There's a lot to like about this series.  Jacky is at a low point, but she's clever and tough enough to start turning things around.  But I doubt I'll read BOSTON JACKY again.  This is definitely a low point in the series.

Review: Viva Jacquelina!

Book 10 of the Bloody Jack Adventures
By L. A. Meyer
Available now from Harcourt (Houghton Mifflin)
Review copy

It's hard to believe that BLOODY JACK was published ten years ago.  When I picked it out from the library shelf because of the awesome pirate cover I had no idea what I was in for over the next decade.  Mary "Jacky" Faber went from being a street urchin to traveling all around the world in various occupations.

VIVA JACQUELINA! finds Jacky sent to Portugal, then Spain, to once again spy for British Intelligence.  She ends up modelling for Goya, tangling with the Spanish Inquisition, and traveling with a group of Roma.  Meanwhile, her true love Jaimy Fletcher is again far away.  He's in Burma, recovering from the events of THE MARK OF THE GOLDEN DRAGON.

Surprisingly, VIVA JACQUELINA! is welcoming to newcomers of the series.  Jacky spends most of the book alone, so the large cast isn't a hindrance.  That being said, I highly recommend beginning at BLOODY JACK and ready every book.  There's no reason to miss out on any part of Jacky's adventures.

Those familiar with the series know the formula.  Jacky gets herself into trouble, but manages to get out of it through cleverness, hard work, and a bit of luck.  She flirts but stays loyal to Jaimy.  Along the way, she charms or scandalizes everyone she meets as she cuts her swath through history.  But the formula works because Jacky charms the reader as well.

All of the Bloody Jack Adventures are rollicking, fast-paced reads.  VIVA JACQUELINA! is one of the slimmer entries, even at 368 pages.  And it felt slighter than some of the others, possibly because Jacky is isolated from most of the characters who have been around for all ten novels.  But it's good to have a breath of fresh air after the craziness that was THE MARK OF THE GOLDEN DRAGON.

VIVA JACQUELINA! will appeal to historical fiction fans, action fans, comedy fans, feminists, just about everybody I can think of.  There's a reason Jacky has been around for ten years.  Let's all give a big hand to L. A. Meyer for writing one of the greatest YA series around.  Here's to ten more years with Bloody Jack!