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A group of six oddball but doughty youngsters fall into the path of a immense and dreadful supernatural evil that has infiltrated our world from the deepest abyss of oblivion. They are compelled to spend their lifetimes fighting it, enduring one nightmare after another in the ordeal.

An Echoing Plot with a New Spin

This describes the premise, in essence, of Stephen King’s novel It (his best; no debate). It is also the plot of King’s son Joe Hill’s new horror doorstopper, in which a close-knit group call forth the primordial, infinitely malicious beast the Dragon King from the Long Dark to assist them in vanquishing some antagonists. Needless to say, their otherworldly invocation has unintended consequences.

Embracing a Authorial Heritage

Joseph Hillström King began his writing journey 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 bears a strong similarity to his parent). Yet with this recent release, he embraces it. There are lines that consciously reflect some of his father’s iconic (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a moment that recalls a signature King element (a battle of wits). In this whopper of a novel, the author rejoices in his heritage, and the audience revels alongside.

Meet the Main Characters

Focusing on the companions: most are scholars at the made-up Rackham College in the New England state. First is Arthur, academic and gifted, solving historical enigmas in his free moments; another key figure, affluent, astute, and known for crushing those who oppose him; the twin siblings; the beautiful the lovely Allie. Additionally, Gwen appears, who doesn’t study with them, but emerges as crucial of their band as they dabble, somewhat credulous, half not, in supernatural practices.

The Pivotal Ritual

Our hero becomes, due to circumstances beyond his control, forced into stealing prized manuscripts from his treasured institution’s archives by a group of neighborhood thugs. This wounds his academic spirit, particularly as he’s compelled to seize the collection’s foremost and chilling publication: the diary of occultist Enoch Crane (condemned “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the cover is fashioned from his hide). Our Scooby gang read the journal, realize they are able to call forth what the author references as a “proud worm to help Arthur out with his coercion issue – and occupy the subsequent narrative enduring the repercussions. King Sorrow will indeed rid them of those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they’ll have to choose a new sacrifice each year or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. As our protagonist states: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is additional horrors.”

Narrative Versatility and Imaginative Range

Spanning forty years, Hill also moves with seamless grace through various literary forms: as the allies endeavor to address the predicament they find themselves in by, variously, selecting clearly malevolent individuals to immolate, or seeking means to slay the beast themselves, we transition from page-turner to dark fantasy, black-ops torture to romance to fright. My favorite genre switch was to a heroic journey, far beneath the surface under the English county, a part tinged by the Lord of the Rings author that was magnificently horrifying.

An Expansive Mosaic of Fear and Hope

There are trolls – those living under bridges and digital trolls, truly terrifying and expertly realized. We see enchanted blades and deceptions, heart-stopping scenes of bravery and ones of terrible wickedness, both human and supernatural. It’s a tour de force: a frightening tale that is chiefly a tribute to the human inventiveness, 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 companions gather at the table, making preparations to call forth their serpent into existence with the strength of their collective will.

As Hill puts it in his introductory quote: “Here be dragons”. Ensure you experience it.