Jack of Kinrowan

Jack of Kinrowan (1995) Charles de Lint

Jack of Kinrowan is actually two books: Jack the Giant Killer and Drink Down the Moon.

In Jack the Giant Killer, the Seelie Laird of Kinrowan’s daughter has been stolen by the Unseelie Court, despite the fact that she was being escorted by the Gruagagh. And the Unseelie Court also has the Horn that controls the Hunt, so the Gruagagh–even if he were still trusted by the Laird’s court–is trapped in his tower and unable to help, while no one else has the power to help. Except, maybe, a Jack.

I really like Jacky and Kate. I can understand Jacky’s coming undone when her boyfriend walks out on her, and I really like how Kate sticks with her, even when she’s not so sure that Jacky hasn’t gone over the edge.

I also particularly liked the Hunt as they appeared in Jack the Giant Killer, as well as the way that Jacky deals with them. Maybe because for me it has echoes of Good Omens.

In Drink Down the Moon, Johnny Faw, after the death of his grandfather, goes out Vincent Massey Park to play “The King of the Fairies,” which his grandfather made him promise to do. There he meets the Pook of Puxill, although he doesn’t know who she is at the time. While the Pook has her own problems, because someone has been stealing the luck of the rade. For something is happening to the fiaina.

This book is very different from his short stories. Although the idea remains the same–that faerie is real, and coexists alongside our world–much of the story actually takes place in faerie, and the characters wander in and out of faerie at need and will. So there is a very different feel than in his short stories and books that take place in Newford, where the focus tends to be far more on the “real world” and “regular” people. Additionally, faerie characters are far more common in this book–pooks and hobs and boggles and trows.

As with all of Charles de Lint’s books, the writing and storytelling are excellent. The second book seem a little different from the first book. Perhaps in pacing, perhaps because the focus of the second story is split between Jacky & Kate and Johnny and Henk. On the down side Henk seems a little flat to me, but it may have been that I wanted to get back about Jacky and Kate. And as always, there is a lot of music, with musicians and songs appearing throughout.

I must admit that love the cover of this book, despite the fact that there is no reason at all for the woman to be holding a sword. (I don’t think there are any swords in this book.) But it’s so gorgeous I just don’t care. I’m not sure what it is that I like so much about Thomas Canty’s fantasy covers, but I’ve seen very few that I haven’t adored.

If you have not read Charles de Lint, this is an excellent first book to read, although you need to be aware that this is quite different from his short story collections. Just as good, but in a somehow different way. But underlying both is Charles de Lint’s always excellent storytelling.
Rating: 9/10

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