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A group of six unlikely but doughty children encounter the path of a vast and dreadful supernatural malevolence that has invaded our existence from the deepest abyss of darkness. They have no choice but to wage a lifelong battle battling it, enduring horror after horror in the ordeal.

An Echoing Storyline with a Fresh Spin

This outlines the narrative, in essence, of the master of horror’s iconic book It (a standout in his career; no arguments). It similarly frames of King’s son Joe Hill’s recent horror doorstopper, in which six friends summon the age-old, deeply sinister dragon King Sorrow from the Endless Night to assist them in vanquishing some villains. Unsurprisingly, their supernatural ritual backfires.

Embracing a Literary Legacy

Joe Hill launched his profession going to great lengths to remain separate from his famous father, adopting the nom de plume he maintains to this day and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he possesses a striking resemblance to his parent). But in this latest novel, he embraces it. There are lines that consciously reflect some of the senior author’s well-known (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a moment that brings to mind a recurring theme in King’s works (a game of puzzles). In this whopper of a novel, the author rejoices in his heritage, and we delight along with him.

Introducing the Central Figures

Returning to the group: most are students at the fictional Rackham College in this northeastern locale. First is Arthur, academic and brilliant, cracking Old English riddles in his spare time; another key figure, affluent, clever, and prone to trampling those who oppose him; twins Donna and Donovan; the beautiful Allie. Additionally, Gwen appears, who remains outside their academic circle, but becomes a key part of their band as they dabble, half believing, half not, in supernatural practices.

The Fateful Summoning

The protagonist finds himself, due to circumstances beyond his control, compelled to pilfer rare books from his treasured institution’s archives by a set of regional villains. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s made to take the institution’s prized and disturbing title: the diary of adept Enoch Crane (executed “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the binding is made from his skin). Our Scooby gang read the journal, realize they are able to call forth what Crane describes as a cunning serpent to help Arthur out with his blackmail problem – and occupy the subsequent narrative enduring the repercussions. This ancient entity will certainly eliminate those annoying regional antagonists, but they are required to pick a new sacrifice annually or become his victim themselves. As our protagonist states: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Genre Versatility and Creative Scope

Spanning forty years, the author shifts with seamless grace between genres: as the allies endeavor to address the predicament they find themselves in by, in different ways, selecting clearly malevolent individuals to offer up, or hunting down ways to kill the dragon themselves, we go from thriller to grim fantasy, black-ops torture to romance to fright. My favorite genre switch was to a heroic journey, deep in the caves below Cornwall, a part tinged by the Lord of the Rings author that was gloriously terrifying.

A Rich Mosaic of Fear and Courage

The novel features trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and digital trolls, genuinely frightening and expertly realized. There are magical swords and treacheries, heart-stopping scenes of courage and ones of dreadful evil, both earthly and extraterrestrial. It’s a tour de force: a horror novel that is chiefly a tribute to the imagination, and to devotion and companionship. “We needed a story to believe and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says this character as the companions sit around the table, preparing to summon their dragon into being with the strength of their collective will.

According to Joe Hill in his epigraph: “This is dragon territory”. Ensure you experience it.