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Six unlikely but brave youngsters fall into the way of a colossal and terrible supernatural malevolence that has infiltrated our existence from the outer limits of shadow. They are compelled to devote their lives confronting it, facing terror upon terror in the struggle.

An Echoing Premise with a Distinctive Spin

This outlines the narrative, roughly, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (arguably his finest; no debate). It is also the plot of King’s son Joe Hill’s new chilling tome, in which six friends summon the primordial, deeply sinister dragon King Sorrow from the Abyssal Void to assist them in vanquishing some baddies. Unsurprisingly, their otherworldly invocation backfires.

Embracing a Authorial Lineage

Joseph Hillström King began his writing journey going to great lengths to remain separate from his famous father, using the pseudonym he maintains to this day and avoiding meeting his agent (he bears a striking resemblance to his father). However, in his newest work, he leans into it. Certain passages that consciously reflect some of King’s most famous (that classic opening line); a incident that evokes a recurring theme in King’s works (a riddling contest). Throughout this massive book, the author rejoices in his family connection, and readers share in the joy.

The Cast of the Main Characters

Back to those friends: five of them are students at the made-up this academic setting in the New England state. First is Arthur, academic and gifted, solving historical enigmas in his spare time; the character Colin, affluent, sharp, and prone to trampling anyone who stands in his way; the twin siblings; the beautiful Allie herself. And there’s Gwen, who remains outside their academic circle, but emerges as crucial of their band as they dabble, somewhat credulous, partly skeptical, in arcane arts.

The Fateful Ritual

Our hero becomes, as a result of external pressures, forced into stealing rare books from his treasured institution’s archives by a set of regional villains. This devastates his scholarly soul, especially when he’s forced to acquire the collection’s foremost and chilling work: the journal of adept the historical figure (condemned “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the book’s jacket is made from his skin). These young investigators examine the log, realize they are able to call forth what the author references as a cunning serpent to aid our hero with his extortion dilemma – and devote the remaining story reaping the consequences. This ancient entity will undoubtedly remove those troublesome local drug dealers, but they are required to pick a different victim each year or fall prey to the beast. As Arthur later puts it: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Narrative Dexterity and Creative Scope

Covering a generation, Joe Hill transitions with seamless grace between genres: as the friends attempt to deal with the predicament they find themselves in by, through diverse methods, choosing undeniably wicked targets to offer up, or hunting down ways to destroy the entity themselves, we go from thriller to shadowy tale, covert operations to affectionate subplot to horror. My favorite genre switch was to a adventure narrative, deep in the caves below Cornwall, a segment infused with the fantasy maestro that was wonderfully frightening.

An Expansive Tapestry of Dread and Hope

There are trolls – the classic variety and internet antagonists, properly scary and perfectly brought to life. There are magical swords and treacheries, breath-taking moments of bravery and instances of terrible wickedness, both mortal and otherworldly. This is a remarkable achievement: a horror novel that is primarily a ode to the creative spirit, and to affection and camaraderie. “We longed for a tale to embrace and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says the wealthy student as the friends gather at the table, making preparations to call forth their beast into being with the strength of their collective will.

In the author’s own words in his epigraph: “This is dragon territory”. Don’t miss them.