The third book in the Bloody Jack series by L.A. Meyer wastes no time in bringing readers back to the fold of Jacky’s wild adventures. We start with the classic, “Call me, Ismael” because lo and behold, Jacky is on the Pequod with Captain Ahab and Ismael!

No, she doesn’t get to see Mobey Dick. This takes place before those adventures but she mentions how Ahab is sure obsessed over that whale.

No, rather she is on the Pequod as companion to Ahab’s wife after her spontaneous escape from burning Boston. The Pequod was the perfect place as a boat populated by Quakers who believe in equal rights, she is allowed to do as she will on board. And they’re heading to London where she plans to finally see her beloved Jaimy Fletcher.

But that’s where it hits the fan. After helping out her fellow street rats, her visit to the high class Fletcher house ends in tears when Mrs. Fletcher harshly admonishes Jacky for seducing her boy and that they’ll never be together. But Jacky is the determined sort and goes to the race track to hear it from his own lips. This also ends in tears as she spots him with another girl and in her jockey outfit, gets mistaken for a man and press-ganged into the British Navy.

There on the Wolverine, her reveal that she’s a woman does not set her back on land as she hopes. The superstitious sailors want her gone but the heinous Captain Scrogg has his own plans in mind for her.

This book is grittier and grimier than others as the near rape scene is very much a close call and difficlt to read. Furthermore, Scroggs detoriating physical state puts him in an awful abusive state to his crew with lashings, abuse and other things that leave everyone in a state of fear and disarray. Luckily, Jacky is there with her cleverness, her will to play the man and the female and knowledge of navy battle tactics from her time on the Dolphin. She gets everyone in tip-top shape so they can become privateers.

I’ve only covered the tip of the iceburg but it is a story chockfull of nautical adventure and even more character development for Jacky. She gets the first start in her dream of Faber Shipping. However in true Jacky fashion, it’s not smooth sailing as her legitimate means are seen as piracy from enemies and allies alike when she gets in over her head. Adding to her growing legend in song and in book. Yes, her old boarding school friend, Amy wrote a book on her adventures on the Dolphin (it’s title is Bloody Jack. Very meta) which causes more than one headache for this orphan.

But she is also beginning to grow, trying to sort out what her values and boundaries are in life, what are her goals and how far will she go for money before it dips into greed. This also is the start of her leaning on people more often and trusting them. Not to mention the reveal that- -well it’s too big of a character for me to spoil.

There is also a delightful new cast of side characters that capture the scenes from returning sea-dad Liam Delany and his irrepresible daughter; the cocky Jared and sweet Robin; and the ever loyal and business-minded Higgins.

Plus it has the Meyer favorites with in depth descriptions of sailing and riggings and setting up cannons, folk songs and the styles of Navy uniforms and rank. He really seeks to make a truly immersive world of life on the high seas and Cheapside towns of the late 1800s and he goes down to the tiniest details to do so. It’s impressive, but also makes the book very thick.

And while it is split into two parts that honestly feel like they could have been two separate books instead of a 500 pager, he does manage to tie it all together in the final act.

4 stars.