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A group of six unlikely but brave children fall into the way of a colossal and fearsome supernatural darkness that has entered our existence from the outer limits of darkness. They must spend their lifetimes fighting it, facing terror upon terror in the ordeal.

A Familiar Premise with a Distinctive Spin

This describes the premise, in essence, of Stephen King’s seminal work It (arguably his finest; undeniable). It is also the plot of Stephen King’s offspring Joseph Hillstrom King’s latest horror doorstopper, in which a band of six summon the primordial, deeply sinister serpent the Dragon King from the Endless Night to aid them in overcoming some baddies. Needless to say, their supernatural ritual backfires.

Celebrating a Family Heritage

Joe Hill launched his profession striving diligently to remain separate from his famous father, using the pseudonym he continues to employ and avoiding meeting his agent (he possesses a uncanny likeness to his father). Yet with this recent release, he embraces it. Several quotes that consciously reflect some of the senior author’s well-known (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a incident that brings to mind a signature King element (a game of puzzles). Throughout this massive book, Hill is delighting in his family connection, and readers share in the joy.

Meet the Central Figures

Returning to the group: the majority are scholars at the fictional Rackham College in the New England state. First is Arthur, bookish and brilliant, solving historical enigmas in his spare time; Colin, rich, clever, and known for crushing obstacles in his path; twins Donna and Donovan; the attractive Allie. Then we have Gwen, who isn’t their classmate, but becomes a key part of their band as they dabble, partly convinced, half not, in arcane arts.

The Fateful Summoning

Our hero becomes, for reasons we don’t need to go into, obliged to take rare books from his treasured institution’s archives by a set of regional villains. This tears at his bookish heart, especially when he’s compelled to seize the collection’s foremost and chilling title: the logbook of occultist the historical figure (executed “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the binding is crafted from his flesh). The intrepid group examine the log, realize they are able to call forth what Crane describes as a armoured devil” to aid our hero with his blackmail problem – and spend the rest of the novel enduring the repercussions. King Sorrow will certainly eliminate those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they are required to pick a new sacrifice annually or fall prey to the beast. As Arthur later puts it: “You invoke terrible forces, all you get is additional horrors.”

Stylistic Versatility and Creative Breadth

Covering a generation, the author shifts with effortless ease through various literary forms: as the allies attempt to deal with the predicament they find themselves in by, through diverse methods, choosing undeniably wicked targets to offer up, or searching for methods to slay the beast themselves, we transition 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 under the English county, a section infused with the Lord of the Rings author that was wonderfully frightening.

A Detailed Mosaic of Fear and Hope

We encounter trolls – those living under bridges and online ones, truly terrifying and expertly realized. There are magical swords and deceptions, heart-stopping scenes of valor and scenes of terrible wickedness, both earthly and otherworldly. It stands as a masterpiece: a horror novel that is primarily a tribute 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 this character as the friends assemble around a surface, getting ready to invoke 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.