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A group of six oddball but brave children fall into the path of a colossal and fearsome otherworldly darkness that has infiltrated our realm from the outer limits of oblivion. They are compelled to spend their lifetimes fighting it, enduring terror upon terror in the ordeal.

A Resonant Premise with a Distinctive Twist

This is the plot, roughly, of Stephen King’s seminal work It (a standout in his career; undeniable). It is also the plot of King’s son Joe Hill’s latest horror doorstopper, in which a band of six summon the ancient, infinitely malicious dragon King Sorrow from the Endless Night to help them defeat some villains. Needless to say, their otherworldly invocation has unintended consequences.

Celebrating a Authorial Heritage

Joe Hill began his writing journey striving diligently to distance himself from his famous father, adopting the nom de plume he continues to employ and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he possesses a strong similarity to his dad). However, in his newest work, he embraces it. There are lines that deliberately echo some of the senior author’s well-known (“The man in black fled across the desert …”); a moment that recalls a recurring theme in King’s works (a game of puzzles). Throughout this massive book, Hill is delighting in his lineage, and the audience revels alongside.

Introducing the Protagonists

Back to those friends: five of them are pupils at the made-up this academic setting in this northeastern locale. There’s Arthur, studious and gifted, cracking historical enigmas in his free moments; the character Colin, affluent, astute, and known for crushing anyone who stands in his way; the twin siblings; the stunning Allie. And there’s Gwen, who doesn’t study with them, but becomes a key part of their circle as they toy, partly convinced, half not, in arcane arts.

The Fateful Summoning

Arthur is, due to circumstances beyond his control, obliged to take prized manuscripts from his beloved college library by a group of neighborhood thugs. This tears at his bookish heart, particularly as he’s compelled to seize the institution’s prized and disturbing publication: the journal of adept Enoch Crane (condemned “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the binding is made from his skin). These young investigators examine the log, learn they can invoke what the occultist details as a armored demon” to assist Arthur with his extortion dilemma – and occupy the subsequent narrative enduring the repercussions. King Sorrow will undoubtedly remove those troublesome local drug dealers, but they’ll have to choose a different victim every twelve months or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. As our protagonist states: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is additional horrors.”

Genre Fluidity and Imaginative Breadth

Spanning forty years, Hill also moves with seamless grace through various literary forms: as the allies strive to manage the predicament they find themselves in by, through diverse methods, choosing undeniably wicked targets to sacrifice, or searching for methods to destroy the entity themselves, we go from page-turner to grim fantasy, covert operations to love story to horror. One particularly memorable shift was to a quest story, deep in the caves beneath this UK region, a part sprinkled with JRR Tolkien that was wonderfully frightening.

A Rich Tapestry of Fear and Courage

The novel features trolls – the classic variety and digital trolls, genuinely frightening and perfectly brought to life. The story includes mystic weapons and treacheries, breath-taking moments of courage and scenes of terrible wickedness, both earthly and extraterrestrial. It stands as a masterpiece: a chilling book that is chiefly a ode to the creative spirit, and to affection and camaraderie. “We needed a story to believe and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says the wealthy student as the companions assemble around a surface, making preparations to call forth their serpent into being with the force of their minds.

In the author’s own words in his opening statement: “Here be dragons”. Don’t miss them.