The Wicked One

Not nearly so wicked as some of Hunter's figures from Highlands lore, the ugly but usually invisible Grollican who plagues hot-tempered forester/crofter Colin Grant is a pesky creature who, legend has it, will stick for life once he's chosen you to harass. Colin does at last master the beast, though he has to move to America to do it, and in the process he finds that he's also mastered the temper (the "wicked one within") that made him the Grollican's target in the first place. Meanwhile though, in addition to losing axes and other small annoyances, Colin is bewitched by a fairy woman and his son loses his heart to a magic filly who's really a maiden under enchantment. Still, the Grollican's misdeeds are mostly on the level of mischief, and, though beguiling as always, this is relatively tame Hunter all round-you can almost feel the Otherworld fading as machines impinge. (Kirkus Reviews)