Several people had recommended I read this book, but for some reason I’d never gotten around to it until this week. And I so wish I had picked it up sooner! I’m now on the second in the series.
When Mary Faber’s parents and sister all die one after the other, she is left with no one and nothing, and so falls into the life of a street urchin in London near the turn of the century (1800 or so). She grows tired of it all, though, of the death and danger and starvation, and when the leader of her little gang of orphans dies, Mary dresses in his clothes, adopts the name “Jack,” and sets off to make her own way in the world.
Dressed as a boy, she is able to get work on a ship, as a ship’s boy, and is clever enough to keep up the Deception, because she enjoys life at sea and the companionship of the other boys and some of the older sailors, and, really, could a street urchin say no to three square meals and a place to sleep at night?
And so begins the life of Bloody Jack, ship’s boy, adventurer, semi-reluctant pirate hunter, and world traveller.
Bloody Jack is, I believe, L.A. Meyer‘s first novel, and the first in this series, which currently stands at five books with another on the way this fall. It is quite a captivating tale! There’s adventure and romance and interesting history and so much wonderfulness! I enjoyed the characters, the story itself, everything, really. I loved Jacky’s very distinctive voice, and Jacky herself was just so fantastic and bold and entertaining. L.A. Meyer is a talented author, and I expect to be devouring this entire series within a very short period of time. It’d be shorter if I didn’t keep getting distracted by things like studying for exams (which start May 5 and which explain my lack of recent posting). Anyway, I can’t recommend this book enough, so go and get a copy today!
April 26, 2008 at 10:01 pm
A friend of mine has been getting on my case to read this…I really ought to…
April 27, 2008 at 7:25 am
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Jacky is awesome and so is the entire series!
April 27, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I love this series. The second and third ones are even better.
April 27, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Ha! I knew you’d like this. The series just gets better and better, too.
April 28, 2008 at 3:43 pm
My cousin started reading this series but then gave it up when she decided not to read teen books ever again. And no, I’m not kidding.
April 30, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I read the first one and really liked it. Haven’t gotten around to reading the others. Let us know if you like the others in the series as much! Then I’ll read them faster. :-)
June 16, 2008 at 11:00 am
I love these books. I’m just starting the fifth
October 14, 2008 at 3:08 pm
i just picked it up b/c i had to read a book for school to do a book report. i didnt know it would be this good! also thanks for telling me that there are more books to its series i only read the first one and loveeed it!!!
December 17, 2008 at 4:35 pm
[…] Bloody Jack and the rest of L.A. Meyer’s series (which I’ve been meaning to write about) are also wonderful historical adventures. There is piracy involved! That was enough for me, but these books rock even if you don’t have a weakness for pirates. […]
February 22, 2009 at 10:20 pm
i read all of the onse that are out! they are amazing!
June 28, 2010 at 6:52 pm
These are the best books ive ever read!!!!!!! i cant put them down!