Customer Reviews

The Wake of the Lorelei Lee: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, On Her Way to Botany Bay (Bloody Jack Adventures)

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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

The now 16-year old intrepid Jacky Faber, is back in her 8th action-packed adventure, having somehow survived everything from life on London's streets as an orphan, to pirates, life at a snooty New England girls' school, spying in Napoleon's army, serving as a naval lieutenant, and diving for Spanish gold (these are only a few of Jacky's many adventures that take place in prior novels in the series). Now rich after skimming just a little bit of gold from the treasure she dutifully turned over to the Crown , Jacky has purchased and outfitted the Lorelei Lee to carry immigrants across the Atlantic. Our Jacky is never one to miss a potentially lucrative business opportunity!

Jacky docks in London to finally marry her beloved Jaimy and hire her crew, but alas, things never go smoothly for our spirited heroine. She discovers Jaimy has been imprisoned and she herself is arrested and will surely hang for her supposed crimes against the Crown. But once again, Jacky escapes the hangman's noose and instead is sentenced to be transported along with more than 200 other female convicts to become "breeders" in the newly formed penal colony in Australia. Having confiscated Jacky's ship, the Crown uses the Lorelei Lee to carry Jacky and a motley passenger list of madams, whores, and petty thieves. Not knowing whether she'll ever see her Jaimy again, she decides to make the best of things on her long voyage While Jacky is travelling the world on her way to Australia, what has happened to Jaimy? Meyer doesn't shy away from coincidence (or is it fate, or karma?), and Jaimy, too, is on his way to Australia in a convict ship. Will they ever be reunited?

As usual, Meyer incorporates real historical events and personalities into Jacky's somewhat fantastic adventures. In this novel, Meyer was clearly inspired by the real voyage of the British ship Lady Juliana, which sailed in 1789 (some years before 1807, when this novel takes place, according to the author's timeline for the series). The Lady Juliana carried 226 female convicts sent to help increase the population of the fledgling colony. Meyer uses the names of the actual women on this ship, including Mary Wade, the youngest of the convicts (sentenced to hang at age 10 for stealing clothes), and Esther Abrahams, a Jewish prisoner who married one of the ship's officers and later became the first First Lady of Australia, as characters in his story; these women are often known as Australia's founding mothers. Jacky's pirate friend, Cheng Shih, was also a real person.

As a huge fan of this series, I enjoyed reading Jacky's newest adventures, although I must say this was definitely not my favorite volume in the series. Meyer alternates the narration from Jacky to Jaimy, and I didn't find the Jaimy sections as interesting. My 15-year old daughter, also a Jacky fan, said she skimmed over all the Jaimy parts to get back to Jacky, and I did a bit of the same. I found that this switching back and forth didn't work well, since it distracted from the main character. Still, fans of the series will definitely want to pick this one up. For readers new to the series, you'll want to read them in order, starting with the first volume, Bloody Jack.

One of the happiest things for an avid reader like myself is to discover a new series to enjoy. It means that you have not only one good book to read, but several! It allows you to space out the books, interspersing others as necessary, and still be able to come back to the books you're enjoying so much, and yet have each story break fresh and new and unexpected.

This is what I have been able to experience with the Bloody Jack series by L.A. Meyer. I am a huge fan of pirates, both fictional and historical (because ninjas suck); I find the lifestyle, the concepts, and the characters hugely enjoyable. My wife pointed out this series on the shelf of our local bookstore because of that attraction, and we decided to give it a try. Now, eight months later, I have the bittersweet experience of having caught up with the series, and so now I must wait for the next book to be published, rather than simply being able to go buy it when I feel a craving for the adventures of Jacky Faber.

And that craving will come. These books are, without a doubt, the best things I have read this year, and are certainly now one of my favorite series of books, not least because they are not like anything else I usually read. There are certain parallels to Naomi Novik's Temeraire series, largely because the two authors have set their work in the same general time and place, but where those are fantasy, L.A. Meyer's books are historical fiction at its best. Not only do you get a rollicking good story, but you get to learn things about the past, and relive some of the golden days of yore.

This latest installment (But not the last, since it ends, as these books often do, in a cliffhanger) is just as good as all the rest; a remarkable achievement, since it is the eighth book in this outstanding series, which has not had a single drop in quality, either of the writing or the storytelling. This book was as hard to put down as every other one.

The Wake of the Lorelei Lee does follow the general pattern of the other books, which is: our beloved hero, Mary "Jacky" Faber, former street urchin and wayward waif, Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, Belle of the Golden West, Fine Young Lady, head of Faber Shipping Worldwide, Mermaid, Performer, Adventuress, and Pirate, has her life looking up, being exactly where she wants to be: captain of her own ship, the Lorelei Lee, on her way to England to reunite with her long-suffering fiance, James Emerson Fletcher. And as happens in pretty much every book so far, things all fall apart in the worst way, at the worst moment, and Jacky is, once more, arrested by His Majesty's Government. I don't want to give too much away, so suffice to say that Jacky finds herself on the way to Australia, a captive in her own ship, the Lorelei Lee. I knew that much going in, so I hope I haven't spoiled anything for those who haven't yet had the pleasure of reading the book.

I could never have predicted what comes in this book, either the immediate circumstances and how Jacky makes them work for her -- though I was not surprised by the trouble Jacky gets herself into, as that seems to be her greatest skill, other than getting herself out of that same trouble -- or the remarkable whirlwind of events that come in the last several chapters, after things take a sharp turn for the worse. But I loved every minute of it. Jaimy plays a larger role in this book, acting as narrator for his own chapters as he did in the fifth book, "Mississippi Jack," and he did very well, both as main character and as adventurer on the high seas.

These books, each and every one of them, are now my strongest recommendations to those who haven't found them yet. They are treasures, they are wonderful stories. They are, I think, a little too adult to be considered children's books, as there is quite a lot of death and horror in them, and a few risque elements, but I would definitely put them as young adult books, and certainly something that anyone would enjoy who likes a good adventure yarn. Especially young girls, as for all of her faults, Jacky is an incredible character, strong and endearing and wonderful, and, in her context, I think an excellent role model.

But even if she's not that, she's a heck of a lot of fun to read about.

Keeping you on the edge of your seat, Meyer does it once again with his latest Bloody Jack novel of the series, The Wake of the Lorelei Lee (Book 8). The novel starts off with Jacky thinking that finally everything is going right in her life- she's staying out of trouble and is on her way across the vast Atlantic Ocean into the arms of her future husband, Jamey, but course this is not to be. After being framed for a crime (that she sort of committed in the last novel of the series, Rapture of the Deep) Jacky is sentenced to life in the newly formed penal colony of Australia, leaving Jamey behind in England (so she thinks!), along with a ship full of other female convicts - most of them guilty of their crimes. To make matters worse, she is being shipped to Australia as a criminal on her very own boat that she acquired after "stealing" some of the King's gold that she found for him in the Rapture of the Deep. Along her long journey to the other side of the world, Jacky (and the reader) are reacquainted with many pervious characters that Jacky has encountered throughout her life, some even dating back to her days on the streets, along with many new characters that she meets along the way. One of my favorite new characters is a boy named Ravi that she meets in India, after seeing and riding a real life elephant for the first time! I was very happy to read that Ravi will continue to make appearances in at least the upcoming Bloody Jack sequel, and hope that he becomes a staple for future sequels as her sidekick and sort of a son to her in some sense.

Just like any of the other novels from the Bloody Jack series, you could pick this book up and not be lost if you have not read any of the other novels in the series, but what fun would that be? This book, like the others, is packed full of adventure, suspense, action, and of course some romance thrown in for those who like me, are still hopeful that one day that Jacky and Jamey will finally get their day in the sun together.

I am a middle school language arts teacher and I have numerous students that are hooked on this series and I know can not wait to read this great book. This series is easily the most popular book in my classroom library - beating out Twilight and Harry Potter any day of the week. Like my students and myself, if you buy this book, I promise you, you will not be able to put it down until the very last page.

Fans of the series won't be disappointed in this one. Jacky is such an amazing character; she feels so real that I expect her to pop out from the book any second now. The secondary characters are great as well and in this book we see the old characters reunite and we're introduced to new ones. I loved the plot of this book and it was just so great. I didn't want it to end. I don't want to go to deep into details because I fear I'll spoil the previous books in the series and this one. I cannot wait for the next book in the series. This was a pleasant and entertaining addition to the Bloody Jack series.

I have read all of the Bloody Jack novels, and have enjoyed them greatly, until this one. I have bought the audio books as well, and have marveled at the dramatization! I am a fan who has put a good deal of time into this series.

But... It seemed to me as I read - that a great part of this book rehashed old plot lines and situations. Jacky rallying a scared group of girls into a fighting unit, making a bow to kill rats (millers), fighting an clearly evil authority figure, etc., etc., Until the last 1/3 of the book, there seemed very little new action going on. A mash-up of previous adventures and situations.

But what really bothered me was what I felt a dramatic increase in focus on sex and sexuality. The first 2/3rd of the book was a confusing introduction of the themes of prostitution, easy sex and cohabitation with the goal of becoming pregnant, etc. Were theses good things? Or not good things? The moral message, to me, seemed unclear. And there is an increasing number of descriptions of Jacky taking her clothes off, being groomed in private areas, yet more descriptions of her tight bathing suit, having baths with those of the opposite sex, etc. The "tradition" of touching the figurehead's breasts - how much of that do we need? The captain naked as they pass the equator, etc., etc. Why? I have a twelve year old daughter, now reading the third novel, and I am disappointed with the direction the series seems to be taking in the area of sexuality. I know... many will think I am behind the times in this regard. Call me old fashioned.

But for parents who have had their children start this series - I am just saying it might not be a bad idea to read this book before passing it on to them. You might be surprised what you find in it.

Will I buy book nine? Yes, because I do like this series! And I hope this departure is only a temporary one and Jacky gets back to wit, adventure and fun in the next book.

Not wishing to re-invent the wheel when there are so many detailed and excellent reviews here already, I find myself surprised that no one has noticed the tip of the hat L.A. Meyer makes to O'Brian's sea-going adventures, sometimes called the Aubrey-Maturin series The Complete Aubrey/Maturin Novels, sometimes called the "Master & Commander" series after the first book Master and Commander (Movie Tie-In Edition)(and movie Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World (Widescreen Edition)). When Jacky's ship arrives in Gibraltar she notes, "It is the Master and Commander of the Surprise, a big red-faced man with long, flowing blond hair..." and the name of this individual? Calling to the captain of the Lorelei Lee, this golden-locked captain yells, "And the fools of this world call me Lucky Jack!" (pg 207) After reminding us that the HMS Surprise is a 44 gun frigate, when Jacky goes over to entertain the assebmled officers in Lucky Jack's ship, she notices those gathered at table and tell us, "One, I see, has on the uniform of Ship's Surgeon..." (pg 219).

My recollection is that this is not the first of the allusions to O'Brian's fictional characters set in the same time as Mary Faber's exploits. How cleverly, too, L.A. Meyer keeps from actually using Jack Aubrey's last name or Stephen Maturin's at all! Imagine fictional characters running into other fictional characters! :-) This is one thing I like about both series, neither takes the "historical" part of the historical fiction so seriously that we have to spend all our time with actual historical personages or occurences, but rather both authors seek to capture the feel of the era using historically accurate details and settings (rather more of this in O'Brian's series than Meyer's) while placing them in a fictional context. Even O'Brian's famous historical research would place occurences on or near the Surprise that actually happened on other ships or to other individuals.

I just hope that L.A. Meyer actually gets to complete his story before passing, unlike O'Brian with Aubrey and C.S. Forester with Hornblower. Characters of the type of Jacky Faber can keep going to the end of an author's life, and in the actual novels so far, Jacky is only 16!

"Mary Faber, you have been found guilty of all the charges against you, and we all know what the sentence should be in this case..."

I'm waiting for the blow while the Chief Justice is conferring with the other judges on that bench.

"...but in consideration of the service you have heretofore rendered the Crown, and to avoid the surely endless appeals to keep you from the hanging you so richly deserve, it is the order of this court that you are sentenced to Transportation for Life at the penal colony in Australia. You are to be remanded to the Hulks on the Thames to await transport to New South Wales."

He brings his scepter down.

"Take her away."

I almost swoon as I realize...I am not to hang. (And so Jacky Faber begins yet another terrific, white-knuckled series of page turning adventures. pp. 80-81)

Once again, others have beaten me to the punch and told us about the plot of this, the 8th book in the Bloody Jack series, so I won't add any more. One reviewer, though, was put off by the alternating chapters between Jacky and Jaimy, the love of her life. I rather enjoyed reading about the wild adventures of both J and J. Mr. Meyer gives us a better picture of Jaimy and develops him more as a main character.

At any rate, Jacky finds herself bloodied by two scoundrels, which were introduced earlier in the series, sent to the infamous Newgate Prison before her trial, and then, through many harrowing experiences along the way to Australia dealing with neer-do-wells and Chinese pirates, she...Well, I promised not to spoil this, in my opinion, one of the best Bloody Jack books in the series.

O...While Jacky still enjoys flirting shamelessly, she also matures sexually, so I recommend this book to older YA fiction readers. 5 STARS

Readers will delight in L.A. Meyer's latest installment in the popular Bloody Jack series. Loyal fans have watched protagonist Mary "Jacky" Faber grow from a very peculiar ship's "boy" to a fine lady, pirate, and adventurer- and the swashbuckling fun isn't over yet! Though The Wake of the Lorelei Lee is the eighth book in the acclaimed series, Meyer shows no signs of slowing down; this book is as fast-paced and engaging as any.
Jacky Faber, rich after some questionable appropriation of Spanish gold, returns to London with her new ship, the Lorelei Lee, only to find herself captured by corrupt officials. She manages to escape the hangman's noose and is sentenced to board her own Lorelei Lee, along with 200 other female prisoners, to be transported to a penal colony in Australia. Meanwhile, Jacky's fiancee Jaimy is also captured- but will he survive the grueling journey aboard the hellish Cerberus?
But our heroine Jacky, as is her nature, decides to make the best of things. Never ceasing her enterprising ways, she brings the reader on a whirlwind journey through India and into the waters of Chinese pirates. Readers will revel in the colorful new characters found along the way, and will certainly welcome back a few surprise friends from the past, though old enemies are another story! Still, Jacky's spirited and outgoing disposition ensures that her loyal friends will stick with her until the bitter end, no matter what hardships befall the Lorelei Lee and those aboard.
And the hardships come fast for Jacky; as a convict ship, the Lorelei Lee contains dozens of prostitutes, so sexual situations and dilemmas, as well as some violence, do arise. However, Meyer's text is not without humor- the lighthearted banter between characters and general high spirits incite laughter throughout the novel. Older teens and adults of all ages will devour this newest Bloody Jack adventure. Meyer's unique writing style is action-packed while still containing enough factual basis to satisfy even the most critical history buff.
Meyer's newest addition to the Bloody Jack series is well-written and engaging. Readers will identify with the strong female heroine and appreciate Meyer's vivid imagery, which allows for realistic and multidimensional characters. Meyer has once again produced a winner, and fans can rest assured knowing that more of Jacky's adventures will follow The Wake of the Lorelei Lee.

I am a huge Jacky Faber fan too, but this adventure reads like previous bits mashed together and recycled. No really new material and a little more puerile bits than usual. Definitely not my favorite, but I am hoping the next book will recapture some of the previous excitement, enthusiasm and originality!

I've read all of Meyer's Jacky books, and the eighth one, "The Wake of the Lorelei Lee", is another hit. As Jacky "matures", she continues to entertain the reader with her guile, her humor, and her lust for life.

I was hooked from the very first page with the clever description of the Lorelei Lee itself, Jacky's beloved ship. Her past adventures have resulted in her acquiring, somewhat questionably, an impressive amount of gold. As usual, she shares her good fortune with others, like the orphans in the home managed by her grandfather. And as usual, her plans to marry Jaimy are thwarted once again.

Things go so awry that Jacky ends up a prisoner on her very own boat, now heading to Australia rather than to England and her Jaimy. The plot is replete with numerous dangers that Jacky, with Houdini-like finesse, manages to escape.

What I love about these books are the characters, both the recurring ones (such as Ian and the Irish boys, Miread, and Higgins) and the introduction of new ones like the magnanimous Captain Augustus Laughton and the Shantyman Enoch Lightner, the ship's musician. But my favorite new character is Ravi, the endearing imp Jacky meets in India. In some ways, Ravi's personality mirrors Jacky's own; they are both unscrupulous rascals, impossible not to love.

Evidence of Jacky's maturing is her quandry over marriage. As she gains self-knowledge, she realizes that marriage and motherhood may not fit into her itinerant life at sea and her love of adventure. She loves Jaimy, yes, but she makes no apologies for her attraction to others.

I'm sure that these issues will be addressed (with Meyer's superb skill) in the future accounts of Jacky Faber. I can't wait to read them...nor can the rest of my family, which is a testament to the appeal of these books to readers of any age.