I've known about this series for a long time, but I'd never read any of the books until now. Except I didn't *read* this one; I listened to the audiobook. I've heard narrator Katherine Kellgren described as the "female Jim Dale." All I can say is that Kellgren brings this book to swashbuckling life. It's SOOO good! I love Mary "Jacky" Faber's character--she's strong and sassy while still being relatable. I think she's on track to becoming one of my favorite female literary characters of all time. I rank this up there with The Help and The True Meaning of Smekday as audiobooks that are even better than their already-awesome paper counterparts. I'm just glad there are at least eight more! (The ninth book, The Mark of the Golden Dragon: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Jewel of the East, Vexation of the West, and Pearl of the South China Sea, comes out October 3!
