Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Curse of the Blue Tattoo continues the adventures of Jacky Faber after she is sent from the HMS Dolphin after her true gender is disclosed. Jacky is forced to leave her love, Jaimy for a boarding school in Boston, where she is taken to become a "lady".
Jacky soon, on one of her secret trips out of school, shows her knee while dancing for a group of sailors. She is arrested and sent back to her school in disgrace. Miss Pimm, the headmistress demotes Jacky to a serving girl.
Jacky's exploits continue, including many trips to her friend Amy's farm, a murderous Reverend, and entertaining at an inn. Her numerous adventures kept me reading late at night, and although I cannot promise that it will interest you, I would highly recommend this book (after reading its prequel, Bloody Jack).

This is one of the best books for young adults (and up!) to come around for a long time. Though the plot is, at times, not exceptionally unique, Jacky's plucky narrative voice smooths all ruffles. At the end of "Bloody Jack," the prequel to "Curse," autor L.A. Meyer left our heroine standing on a dock in Boston, waiting to be taken to finishing school. This book picks up precisely where the last left off, and as we might expect, Jacky does not even begin to fit in with the priveleged, proper girls at Mistress Pimm's School for Fine Young Ladies. Woven into the story line is a disguised suicide that turns out to be an unsolved murder, a strained young love, and of course, heaping helpings of Jacky's charming wit and innocent naivete that we loved from the first book. (This one's even better.) The ending is a big surprise, even though in hindsight we realize we should've been expecting it - and until that point, you won't be able to put it down. Well worth the read!

Let me tell you something: Creating a sequel to such a great book like "Bloody Jack", is a hard task. But, Mr. Meyer has done it, and he has done it very well. Although the second book does not have as much action as the first, it has just as good of a plot, story and theme. When i found out Mr. Meyer was to make a sequel, i asked myself, "How can he write a sequel and not have the same story line? Obviously she cannot hide the fact that she is a girl any longer, which means she cannot sail the seas. How will Mr. Meyer accomplish the task of writing a second chapter in the Bloody Jack tales? And if he does, will he be succesful?"

The Answer is, yes, this story is equally good, no, equally GREAT as the first one. Nice work Mr. Meyer.

Move over Harry, there's a new series taking over- The Adventures of Bloody Jack. The sequal to the award winning book Bloody Jack, The Curse... picks right up where the first one left off. The action packed book is as equally good or better than the first (which is my favorite book of all time). From the brillant mind of L.A. Meyer, Jacky seems to find herself in trouble throughout the countless adventures that occurs throughout this novel. The reader is introduced to many new characters and places, where at the same time a few faces from the past begin to appear throughout the story. In the end, Bloody Jack leaves you wanting more- once again! This book is perfect for any young teen or adult that needs some action or adventure in their life. This is a must read for the entire family!

I came late to the adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, having picked up BLOODY JACK just a few weeks ago, which I think is good. Good because after reading the fine first Bloody Jack novel, I discovered that there are two more novels featuring the intrepid, mischievous, and totally engaging Miss Faber. In CURSE OF THE BLUE TATTOO, Jacky finds herself trying to fit in among the young ladies at Mistress Pimm's School. Just as adventurous and full of pitfalls a place as the HMS Dolphin was...only with a meaner set of shipmates, so to speak. I can't help but comparing the misadventures of Jacky with those of Harry Flashman in George MacDonald Fraser's wonderful and humorous series. Of course, Jacky is not the cad Flashy is. Thank goodness. She's a good girl who just happens to find trouble everywhere she goes and is misunderstood by just about everyone she meets. That said, I have just begun reading UNDER THE JOLLY ROGER (Book #3 of the Bloody Jack Adventures). For those of you interested in learning more about Jacky and author L. A. Meyer, go to jackyfaber.com.

How much better can it get? A great Summer filled with vacation memories and good books. One of the best is Meyer's newest adventure with Jacky Faber. There is no point in repeating all the good words written by other reviewers. Just know that this reader thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the sequel and cannot wait 'til next time Meyer takes us on another adventure.

I just finished Curse of the Blue Tattoo- I couldn't put it down. Meyer's second book in the Bloody Jack series might even be better than the first (and I loved the first one). The story moves quickly, I could not predict what would happen next. I don't to give anything away (I hate reviews that give away major plot points)- suffice to say that there were parts of the book that made my heart pound (and that doesn't happen very often). I am 28 years old and do not delve into the young adult category for reading very often. Curse of the Blue Tattoo is a great read for anyone, regardless of age- When's the movie coming out??

As if the Bloody Jack books aren't delightful enough on the printed page, along comes Katherine Kellgren to absolutely sing them into life! She positively IS the very voice of Jackeroe herself and I will accept no substitute for further Bloody Jack narrations. What a fantastic ride these books are!

I happened to read "Bloody Jack," and that made me eager to read the next one -- "The Curse of the Blue Tattoo." Even better, I'd say (and I really need to say that he first one was very good, too). The author knows how to tell a story. It reminded me of a movie -- "Master and Commander" -- I had seen recently. I like to get really caught up in a book, almost "lost" in a book. The "Curse" did that for me.

As a mother who screens everything her 12-year-old daughter reads, I am always excited to come across a book or start to a new series where I don't have to pre-set my mind to how a 12-year-old would enjoy it and appreciate it on that level. Good writers write for the child - but I would think great writers write for both the adult and the child. L.A. Meyer's "Bloody Jack" series is an excellent example of great writing based on that criterion alone. More exciting and cheeky than the "Cat Royal" series (by the very excellent Julia Golding) and set at a faster pace than Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island", it's funny, Dickensian in parts and can be enjoyed by ... Well, okay, I'd say PG-13, except I know said daughter's level of maturity! We also love the links to the songs provided on the web site. I know I'm biased, but it really takes a British writer (C.S. Forester, Charles Gidley, and, now, L.A. Meyer) to write about sailing adventures across the Seven Seas! Below is said daughter's review of the second book in the series - so, so glad the series is available on Kindle!

"The book, `Jacky Faber and the Curse of the Blue Tattoo' by L.A. Meyer was much better than `Bloody Jack', the first book in the series.

"Jacky has survived London gangs, sickness, being a ship boy in disguise, being captured by pirates, being hanged and more. She has killed two men, fallen in love and watched friends die. But can Bloody Jack survive learning how to be a fine lady? Top it off with learning how to embroider, ride a horse, solve a mystery of a murdered girl, getting into jail, winning a horse race, becoming an actress and you have yet another adventure Jacky Faber never intended to have.

"My favorite part was when Jacky smacked Amy's new horse for biting her. It was funny because when Jacky tried to give the horse an apple, the horse bit her, so she cursed him and smacked him - and everyone was so shocked and the horse was good with her at least from then on.

"This book I think was way better than the first book in the series. The first book, `Bloody Jack,' had too many icky characters. I also didn't really understand why Jacky loves Jaimy - I think he is a twit. So I liked how this book doesn't have Jaimy in it much - just a bunch of mean snotty girls. Also, in this book at least, there were fewer icky characters.

"I would give the book four stars: two for the plot, one for the characters and one for the humor."