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A group of six quirky but doughty kids confront the path of a vast and terrible otherworldly malevolence that has invaded our existence from the farthest reaches of darkness. They must spend their lifetimes confronting it, experiencing one nightmare after another in the process.

A Resonant Plot with a Distinctive Approach

This outlines the narrative, roughly, of Stephen King’s seminal work It (a standout in his career; no debate). It is also the plot of King’s son Joe Hill’s latest massive horror novel, in which six friends invoke the primordial, infinitely malicious beast the Dragon King from the Long Dark to help them defeat some baddies. Unsurprisingly, their otherworldly invocation has unintended consequences.

Acknowledging a Authorial Lineage

Joe Hill began his writing journey striving diligently to distance himself from his famous father, adopting the nom de plume he still uses today and avoiding meeting his agent (he exhibits a uncanny likeness to his dad). However, in his newest work, he embraces it. Certain passages that consciously reflect some of King’s most famous (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a moment that evokes a King plot point (a battle of wits). In this whopper of a novel, Joe Hill takes pleasure in his family connection, and we delight along with him.

Introducing the Protagonists

Returning to the group: five of them are scholars at the made-up this academic setting in this northeastern locale. First is Arthur, bookish and gifted, deciphering ancient puzzles in his free moments; Colin, wealthy, astute, and known for crushing those who oppose him; twins Donna and Donovan; the beautiful Allie herself. Additionally, Gwen appears, who isn’t their classmate, but assumes a vital role of their group as they toy, partly convinced, half not, in supernatural practices.

The Pivotal Ritual

Our hero becomes, due to circumstances beyond his control, forced into stealing prized manuscripts from his cherished academic collection by a bunch of local criminals. This wounds his academic spirit, particularly as he’s made to take the collection’s foremost and unsettling work: the journal of adept this enigmatic character (put to death “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the binding is made from his skin). 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 extortion dilemma – and devote the remaining story enduring the repercussions. King Sorrow will undoubtedly remove those annoying regional antagonists, but they’ll have to choose a new sacrifice annually or fall prey to the beast. As Arthur later puts it: “You invoke terrible forces, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Stylistic Fluidity and Imaginative Range

Spanning forty years, Hill also moves with seamless grace across narrative styles: as the allies strive to manage the circumstances they find themselves in by, through diverse methods, choosing undeniably wicked targets to sacrifice, or hunting down ways to slay the beast themselves, we transition from page-turner to dark fantasy, clandestine torment to romance to fright. My favorite genre switch was to a quest story, deep in the caves below Cornwall, a segment tinged by the fantasy maestro that was gloriously terrifying.

A Rich Mosaic of Horror and Hope

There are trolls – those living under bridges and digital trolls, genuinely frightening and expertly realized. We see enchanted blades and treacheries, heart-stopping scenes of courage and instances of terrible wickedness, both mortal and otherworldly. It’s a tour de force: a chilling book that is above all a tribute to the human inventiveness, and to affection and camaraderie. “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 friends gather at the table, making preparations to call forth their dragon into existence with the power of their thoughts.

In the author’s own words in his opening statement: “Here be dragons”. Do not overlook this.