The Warlock on the Hill

written by Leo LaFleur, illustrated by Adam Oehlers

Reviewer: 

Crystal Sutherland (MLIS, MEd (Literacy) is the librarian at the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

In this sequel to The Errand, The Warlock on the Hill once again puts the reader in the protagonist’s shoes, moving through a forest full of danger and magic in order to deliver packages under the veil of night. The errand runner, who has a package for the warlock that needs to be delivered quickly, must avoid the hidden dangers of the magical woods at night. Unlike the witch in The Errand, who only asks that packages be received undamaged and in a timely manner, the warlock turns it into a game by adding puzzles and barriers along the way.

As in The Errand, the errand runner finds unexpected allies along the way that make safe passage possible. Fairies appear to light up a hallway when it’s too dark to read the Warlock’s next clue, and, tiny as the fairies are, they help the errand runner slay a werewolf, just one of the daring acts the errand runner is asked to complete. As the fairies depart, a young girl appears to help guide the errand runner the rest of the way, an act that upsets the warlock. As the errand runner departs after delivering the package to the warlock, he’s given a package by the warlock to be delivered to the queen. The warlock shows his anger toward the girl for helping the errand runner with a clap of thunder, but the errand runner is outside the warlock’s gate again, safe until the next delivery which comes with a warning: beware the fairies and their Queen of the Eastern Front.

White font against a solid black background adds suspense between detailed sepia and black and white sketches. The warlock’s notes, in his own writing, appear throughout, putting readers in the errand runner’s shoes, reading the clues and instructions along with the errand runner. Hints of colour appear in Oehlers’ illustrations to show there is reason for hope: the errand runner’s cape wrapping him in green; fairy-printed wallpaper with hints of green that will come to life at just the right moment; bright yellow stars bringing light in stark darkness. These hints of colours, which become more frequent as the story proceeds and indicate hope and a positive twist, help ease the tension in what could be a terrifying adventure.

The Warlock on the Hill shows readers that there is always someone willing to help, even if it comes with a risk to their own safety. Readers will learn to never underestimate how helpful someone can be, no matter how small, and that they, too, can make a difference regardless of size – if a fairy can help bring down a werewolf, imagine what readers are capable of!

Readers will be keen to continue the next adventure in “The Errand” series, The Queen.

Highly Recommended