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thesonorista 's review for:
One of my favourites so far! If you follow me on here you know I've been enjoying this whole series on audio immensely. I was never an audio book fan so believe me when I say this is the series to try out if you are like me in eschewing the format.
The interesting historical detail is what carries this, even more than most of the series. Jacky has been arrested for the money she "withheld" from the crown on her recent diving adventure and is sentenced to transportation. Little does she know that Jaimy has suffered the same fate through association with her. The difference in the circumstance between the two convicts is night and day. Meyer has an afterword about the historical accuracy of what it was like for women being transported and it is amazing. I'd tell you all about it, but that's a lot of the story!
There's also the details about Captain Bligh of Mutiny on the Bounty fame, and how he came to be in charge of the penal colony in Australia. And if Jacky's girl power wasn't enough for you, the ladies light it up further with the introduction of Cheng Shih, a female pirate, in charge of an enormous fleet of pirate ships. And she's based on a real historical character!
Which makes up for Jaimy, who is not shown in the most flattering light. Like his whining and infidelity in Mississippi Jack, I wondered if Jacky would love him as much if she actually had to be around all his whinging. But I digress.
I loved the afterword about the historical characters and I liked that Meyer, who has hinted about sexuality, is pretty clear about Higgins' homosexuality. I love the Easter eggs, that are also hints, like the line that Higgins is going to "revisit" some friends in Brideshead.
There's also Jacky's relationship with Cheng Shih. I've read several reviewers complain that Jacky couldn't have stayed virginal all this time and should finally hop in bed with one of her flirtations, but the fact is, that at the time, her virginity would have been something "good" girls held onto until marriage, not to mention that there was no effective birth control. On the other hand, although male homosexuality was outlawed in Britain, those laws did not apply to women, and so Jacky would have had none of the same feelings about sleeping with a woman that she did about a man; although it is subtle, Meyer implies that the relationship between the two women is not only emotional, but physical. Like the Brideshead Revisited line though, there's nothing steamy in these books and I'd feel comfortable letting my ten-year-old read them.
If you don't have time for the series but want to hit the highlights, this is one to put on your TBR.
The interesting historical detail is what carries this, even more than most of the series. Jacky has been arrested for the money she "withheld" from the crown on her recent diving adventure and is sentenced to transportation. Little does she know that Jaimy has suffered the same fate through association with her. The difference in the circumstance between the two convicts is night and day. Meyer has an afterword about the historical accuracy of what it was like for women being transported and it is amazing. I'd tell you all about it, but that's a lot of the story!
There's also the details about Captain Bligh of Mutiny on the Bounty fame, and how he came to be in charge of the penal colony in Australia. And if Jacky's girl power wasn't enough for you, the ladies light it up further with the introduction of Cheng Shih, a female pirate, in charge of an enormous fleet of pirate ships. And she's based on a real historical character!
Which makes up for Jaimy, who is not shown in the most flattering light. Like his whining and infidelity in Mississippi Jack, I wondered if Jacky would love him as much if she actually had to be around all his whinging. But I digress.
I loved the afterword about the historical characters and I liked that Meyer, who has hinted about sexuality, is pretty clear about Higgins' homosexuality. I love the Easter eggs, that are also hints, like the line that Higgins is going to "revisit" some friends in Brideshead.
There's also Jacky's relationship with Cheng Shih. I've read several reviewers complain that Jacky couldn't have stayed virginal all this time and should finally hop in bed with one of her flirtations, but the fact is, that at the time, her virginity would have been something "good" girls held onto until marriage, not to mention that there was no effective birth control. On the other hand, although male homosexuality was outlawed in Britain, those laws did not apply to women, and so Jacky would have had none of the same feelings about sleeping with a woman that she did about a man; although it is subtle, Meyer implies that the relationship between the two women is not only emotional, but physical. Like the Brideshead Revisited line though, there's nothing steamy in these books and I'd feel comfortable letting my ten-year-old read them.
If you don't have time for the series but want to hit the highlights, this is one to put on your TBR.