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A group of six quirky but brave kids fall into the path of a colossal and terrible otherworldly malevolence that has invaded our realm from the outer limits of oblivion. They must spend their lifetimes confronting it, facing terror upon terror in the struggle.

A Familiar Storyline with a Distinctive Approach

This outlines the narrative, roughly, of Stephen King’s novel It (his best; no debate). It similarly frames of King’s son Joseph Hillstrom King’s recent chilling tome, in which a band of six summon the ancient, infinitely malicious dragon the Dragon King from the Long Dark to help them defeat some antagonists. As one might expect, their otherworldly invocation goes awry.

Celebrating a Family Legacy

The author launched his profession striving diligently to remain separate from his renowned parent, using the pseudonym he still uses today and avoiding meeting his agent (he exhibits a striking resemblance to his parent). However, in his newest work, he fully acknowledges it. Certain passages that deliberately echo some of the senior author’s well-known (that classic opening line); a moment that recalls a signature King element (a game of puzzles). In this epic story, the author rejoices in his family connection, and readers share in the joy.

Meet the Main Characters

Returning to the group: five of them are pupils at the made-up Rackham College in Maine. First is Arthur, studious and intelligent, deciphering Old English riddles in his free moments; the character Colin, wealthy, sharp, and prone to trampling those who oppose him; twins Donna and Donovan; the stunning Allie. Then we have Gwen, who doesn’t study with them, but emerges as crucial of their group as they experiment, partly convinced, somewhat doubtful, in arcane arts.

The Critical Ceremony

Arthur is, as a result of external pressures, compelled to pilfer valuable volumes from his treasured institution’s archives by a bunch of local criminals. This tears at his bookish heart, notably because he’s forced to acquire the collection’s foremost and disturbing work: the diary of practitioner this enigmatic character (put to death “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the cover is crafted from his flesh). The intrepid group peruse the diary, learn they can invoke what the occultist details as a cunning serpent to help Arthur out with his coercion issue – and spend the rest of the novel reaping the consequences. The dragon will indeed rid them of those annoying regional antagonists, but they’ll have to choose a new sacrifice annually or become his victim themselves. As Arthur later puts it: “You invoke terrible forces, all you get is more dragons.”

Stylistic Fluidity and Inventive Scope

Spanning forty years, Hill also moves with effortless ease between genres: as the companions strive to manage the predicament they find themselves in by, variously, choosing undeniably wicked targets to immolate, or hunting down ways to kill the dragon themselves, we transition from page-turner to grim fantasy, black-ops torture to affectionate subplot to fright. My favorite genre switch was to a heroic journey, deep in the caves below Cornwall, a section sprinkled with the Lord of the Rings author that was magnificently horrifying.

A Detailed Mosaic of Horror and Optimism

The novel features trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and internet antagonists, properly scary and superbly depicted. There are magical swords and treacheries, breath-taking moments of courage and ones of dreadful evil, both mortal and otherworldly. It stands as a masterpiece: a horror novel that is primarily a ode 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 this character as the friends assemble around a surface, preparing to summon their beast into existence with the force of their minds.

In the author’s own words in his opening statement: “This is dragon territory”. Do not overlook this.