Viva Jacquelina!

Bloody Jack, Book 10

By: L. A. Meyer

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Winner, Teens, 2014

The vivacious Jacky Faber return in the 10th tale in L. A. Meyer's Bloody Jack series! Once again under the thumb of British Intelligence, Jacky is sent to Spain to spy for the crown during the early days of the 19th-century Peninsular War. She finds herself in the company of guerilla freedom fighters, poses for the famous artist Goya, runs with the bulls, is kidnapped by the Spanish Inquisition, and travels with a caravan of gypsies...all while hoping to one day reunite with her beloved Jamie Fletcher.

©2013 LA Meyer (P)2013 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Great narrator

Narrator continues to be amazing. Story isn’t one of my favorites but I really enjoyed jt.

3.75/5 stars - the series has passed it's high pt

Summary:
Another long-winded detour for the trouble-magnet, Jacky Faber.

Additional Comments:
• Jacky’s off to Spain to fulfill her obligation to the government. Things go awry, of course.
• She ends up getting to an artist’s studio and working as a model. She repeatedly claims no to be shy and that pans out in this book.
• The mushroom thing was alternately amusing, highly disturbing, and finally fitting.
• It almost seemed like 3 unrelated books: the war, the desertion/art studio detour, and finally, the gypsy tangent.
• I’d think the character would get more sense eventually.
• The performance is amazing as usual.
• Story kind of drones on and on. I enjoyed the third act though.
• The brush with the cult seems far-fetched, even for these books, which do excel at the ridiculous.
• I had to take a long break after this one. As much as I love Katherine Kellgren, there’s only so much of the Faber voice one can take at once and stay sane.

Conclusion:
Third act almost makes up for the rest of the plot plodding.
*spent a credit on it. Slightly regrettable, but Katherine's performance is worth something.

Huge Disappointment

I have loved all of the previous Bloody Jack books. This one, however,was sophomorically predictable.
Katherine Kellgren sounded like she was reading while awaiting a late supper - like she just want to get through quickly so she she could move on.
I was disappointed.

A more "adult" episode

Jacky is following the course of the Napoleonic wars, which did move from Russia to Spain & Portugal. Although there are still madcap antics, like an impromptu bull ride, there is a lot of violence. At one point Jacky is captured and tortured by the Inquisition. I don't think it was still active at this date, and although I knew nothing really awful could happen to her, it was still very disturbing in a book intended for young people. There's also a whole section about Jacky posing nude for the artist Goya who was apparently the first to paint woman with hair in all the appropriate body places. From the first chapter, Jacky was always at risk of violence, but this just seemed much darker. However, Katherine Kellgren continues to animate Jacky so well that I'll be continuing with the series.

What a waste

What disappointed you about Viva Jacquelina!?

This series had so much promise at the start but has gotten progressively worse with each installment. Couldn't force myself to finish this one. I had been hoping Meyer would get back on track for several books now but that obviously isn't happening. Planning to test out the new 'dud' option with Audible and get a refund on this one and write off the series.

another fun listen thanks to Katherine

The narrator, Katherine Kellgren, makes this series as always! Katherine is the most wonderful story teller and audio actress.