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Six oddball but doughty youngsters encounter the trail of a colossal and dreadful otherworldly evil that has invaded our world from the deepest abyss of oblivion. They must spend their lifetimes battling it, experiencing terror upon terror in the process.

A Resonant Plot with a New Approach

This outlines the narrative, roughly, of the master of horror’s iconic book It (arguably his finest; no debate). It similarly frames of King’s son Joseph Hillstrom King’s new chilling tome, in which a close-knit group summon the ancient, infinitely malicious serpent King Sorrow from the Long Dark to help them defeat some baddies. Unsurprisingly, their supernatural ritual backfires.

Celebrating a Literary Heritage

The author began his writing journey making great efforts to remain separate from his renowned parent, adopting the nom de plume he still uses today and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he bears a uncanny likeness to his parent). Yet with this recent release, he embraces it. There are lines that deliberately echo some of King’s most famous (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a moment that brings to mind a recurring theme in King’s works (a riddling contest). In this epic story, Joe Hill takes pleasure in his lineage, and readers share in the joy.

Meet the Protagonists

Returning to the group: five of them are scholars at the imagined the esteemed institution in this northeastern locale. We have Arthur, studious and intelligent, deciphering historical enigmas in his leisure hours; another key figure, rich, sharp, and prone to trampling obstacles in his path; the twin siblings; the stunning the lovely Allie. Then we have Gwen, who isn’t their classmate, but becomes a key part of their circle as they experiment, partly convinced, half not, in arcane arts.

The Pivotal Summoning

Arthur is, due to circumstances beyond his control, obliged to take valuable volumes from his treasured institution’s archives by a group of neighborhood thugs. This wounds his academic spirit, notably because he’s forced to acquire the library’s most valuable and unsettling work: the logbook of practitioner this enigmatic character (condemned “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the book’s jacket is crafted from his flesh). Our Scooby gang peruse the diary, realize they are able to call forth what the author references as a cunning serpent to aid our hero with his blackmail problem – and devote the remaining story reaping the consequences. The dragon will certainly eliminate those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they must select a new sacrifice every twelve months or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. As our protagonist states: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is more dragons.”

Stylistic Dexterity and Inventive Range

Covering a generation, the author shifts with natural fluency between genres: as the companions endeavor to address the situation they find themselves in by, variously, choosing undeniably wicked targets to offer up, or hunting down ways to slay the beast themselves, we transition from suspense to shadowy tale, black-ops torture to affectionate subplot to horror. One particularly memorable shift was to a adventure narrative, deep in the caves below Cornwall, a part tinged by the Lord of the Rings author that was magnificently horrifying.

An Expansive Canvas of Horror and Courage

There are trolls – the classic variety and digital trolls, genuinely frightening and perfectly brought to life. The story includes mystic weapons and deceptions, breath-taking moments of courage and scenes of terrible wickedness, both human and otherworldly. This is a remarkable achievement: a frightening tale that is primarily a paean to the imagination, and to love and friendship. “We required a narrative to trust and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says the wealthy student as the allies gather at the table, making preparations to call forth their dragon to life with the power of their thoughts.

In the author’s own words in his opening statement: “Hic sunt dracones”. Don’t miss them.