Who doesn’t love a story about a masked outlaw who helps the defenseless in their time of need?

I think I first picked up Jackaroo thinking it would be a fantasy with magic and all that. As it turns out, the world of Gwyn the Innkeeper’s Daughter is only fantastical in that it matches no real historical place. But I quickly found plenty of adventure and mystery, albeit of a somewhat quieter, perhaps grimmer sort than some of my other favorites. Gwyn and strong, silent Burl the stable-hand are sent to wait on a Lord and his son as they map the wildlands on the border of the Kingdom. Much of the book explores the troubles of land divided by knowledge, wealth and power. I loved seeing Gwyn learn about her world, through her relationships with the young Lordling and with Burl and other young men from her village. And I cheered when she finally took action to make a change in the world, venturing out in the mask of the Jackaroo to right wrongs and aid those in need.

This book seems to me to have a sort of grittiness or harshness — it is not what I would call a comfortable read. The world of the Kingdom feels very real to me — almost too real, especially in the edgy relationships Gwyn has with her mother, her brother Tad, and Cam the weaver’s son. There’s too much unhappiness in Gwyn’s world, and although the ending is satisfying, it leaves me slightly sad. But it’s a book I have nevertheless re-read many times.

There’s also a sequel set in the same world, called On Fortune’s Wheel, which I enjoyed as well. And look at that, there are two more books set in the Kingdom world that I never knew about until I looked it up while writing this entry! I will have to check out The Wings of a Falcon and Elske as well.