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Six oddball but resilient kids fall into the trail of a immense and terrible otherworldly darkness that has infiltrated our realm from the outer limits of darkness. They have no choice but to wage a lifelong battle battling it, enduring one nightmare after another in the process.

A Familiar Storyline with a Distinctive Twist

This outlines the narrative, in essence, of the master of horror’s seminal work It (arguably his finest; undeniable). It is also the plot of Stephen King’s offspring Joseph Hillstrom King’s new chilling tome, in which a band of six summon the ancient, infinitely malicious beast the Dragon King from the Endless Night to aid them in overcoming some villains. Unsurprisingly, their supernatural ritual has unintended consequences.

Acknowledging a Authorial Lineage

Joseph Hillström King launched his profession striving diligently to distance himself from his renowned parent, adopting the nom de plume he continues to employ and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he possesses a striking resemblance to his dad). Yet with this recent release, he fully acknowledges it. There are lines that deliberately echo some of King’s most famous (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a scene that evokes a King plot point (a battle of wits). In this whopper of a novel, Hill is delighting in his heritage, and the audience revels alongside.

Introducing the Central Figures

Returning to the group: five of them are scholars at the imagined Rackham College in Maine. First is Arthur, studious and brilliant, solving Old English riddles in his leisure hours; Colin, rich, astute, and known for crushing anyone who stands in his way; Donna and Donovan; the attractive Allie herself. Then we have Gwen, who doesn’t study with them, but emerges as crucial of their group as they toy, partly convinced, somewhat doubtful, in the occult.

The Critical Ritual

Arthur is, for reasons we don’t need to go into, forced into stealing rare books from his treasured institution’s archives by a set of regional villains. This wounds his academic spirit, particularly as he’s forced to acquire the institution’s prized and disturbing title: the diary of occultist Enoch Crane (condemned “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the binding is made from his skin). Our Scooby gang peruse the diary, realize they are able to call forth what Crane describes as a “proud worm to help Arthur out with his extortion dilemma – and devote the remaining story enduring the repercussions. King Sorrow will certainly eliminate those troublesome local drug dealers, but they’ll have to choose a new sacrifice every twelve months or fall prey to the beast. As our protagonist states: “You invoke terrible forces, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Stylistic Dexterity and Inventive Scope

Covering a generation, Joe Hill transitions with seamless grace across narrative styles: as the friends strive to manage the circumstances they find themselves in by, through diverse methods, choosing undeniably wicked targets to offer up, or seeking means to kill the dragon themselves, we go from thriller to dark fantasy, clandestine torment to love story to fright. My favorite genre switch was to a heroic journey, far beneath the surface beneath this UK region, a part tinged by JRR Tolkien that was gloriously terrifying.

A Rich Tapestry of Fear and Courage

We encounter trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and online ones, properly scary and expertly realized. There are magical swords and treacheries, pulse-pounding sequences of courage and instances of dreadful evil, both mortal and supernatural. It’s a tour de force: a chilling book that is chiefly 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 Colin as the allies gather at the table, making preparations to call forth their dragon into being with the power of their thoughts.

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