Curse of the Blue Tattoo

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the premise at first: *Bloody Jack* in a boarding school? But Meyer pulls it off with the same audacious flair as Jacky herself. The first act is a slow burn—almost *too* slow—as Jacky navigates peticoats and poetry lessons, but the payoff is worth it. When the plot detonates (and oh, does it), the shift from social comedy to life-or-death stakes feels earned, not jarring. Kellgren’s performance is the glue; she makes even the most expository passages gripping, especially her rendition of the villainous Headmistress, whose voice could curdle milk. My only gripe? The romantic subplot with Jaimy feels rushed, like Meyer wasn’t sure whether to lean into swoony tension or keep it playful. And while the ending’s cliffhanger is *brutal*, the final act’s pacing stumbles slightly under the weight of its own twists. Still, this audiobook is a rare beast: a YA novel that trusts its audience to handle darkness, humor, and ambiguity in equal measure. The sound design is subtly immersive���listen for the way the audio *softens* during Jacky’s flashbacks, as if the past is half-remembered. And Kellgren’s ability to voice a cast of dozens without caricature? Chef’s kiss. If you loved *Bloody Jack* but worried a sequel would lose its edge, fear not. This is Jacky at her most cunning, most vulnerable, and most *alive*—even when she’s trapped in a gilded cage.