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Six unlikely but brave children encounter the trail of a colossal and dreadful supernatural malevolence that has invaded our existence from the outer limits of oblivion. They are compelled to devote their lives battling it, enduring terror upon terror in the ordeal.

A Resonant Premise with a Fresh Spin

This is the plot, roughly, of Stephen King’s novel It (his best; undeniable). It is also the plot of the celebrated author’s heir Joseph Hillstrom King’s new chilling tome, in which a band of six call forth the age-old, deeply sinister beast King Sorrow from the Long Dark to help them defeat some villains. Unsurprisingly, their otherworldly invocation has unintended consequences.

Embracing a Family Lineage

Joe Hill began his writing journey going to great lengths to avoid any connection from his well-known dad, using the pseudonym he maintains to this day and avoiding meeting his agent (he bears a striking resemblance to his father). But in this latest novel, he leans into it. Certain passages that deliberately echo some of King’s most famous (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a incident that evokes a signature King element (a battle of wits). In this epic story, the author rejoices in his lineage, and the audience revels alongside.

Introducing the Central Figures

Back to those friends: most are pupils at the imagined this academic setting in Maine. We have Arthur, bookish and gifted, cracking Old English riddles in his free moments; the character Colin, affluent, sharp, and known for crushing anyone who stands in his way; twins Donna and Donovan; the attractive Allie herself. Additionally, Gwen appears, who doesn’t study with them, but becomes a key part of their group as they toy, partly convinced, half not, in arcane arts.

The Fateful Ritual

The protagonist finds himself, as a result of external pressures, compelled to pilfer valuable volumes from his beloved college library by a set of regional villains. This wounds his academic spirit, notably because he’s compelled to seize the collection’s foremost and chilling publication: the diary of occultist Enoch Crane (executed “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the book’s jacket is fashioned from his hide). Our Scooby gang examine the log, discover they could summon what the author references as a “arrogant beast to help Arthur out with his blackmail problem – and devote the remaining story reaping the consequences. This ancient entity will indeed rid them of those troublesome local drug dealers, but they must select a new sacrifice annually or become his victim themselves. In the character’s own words: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is more dragons.”

Narrative Fluidity and Creative Scope

Moving through four decades, Joe Hill transitions with natural fluency across narrative styles: as the companions strive to manage the predicament they find themselves in by, in different ways, choosing undeniably wicked targets to offer up, or searching for methods to kill the dragon themselves, we move between thriller to shadowy tale, covert operations to romance to terror. My favorite genre switch was to a adventure narrative, within the subterranean depths beneath this UK region, a section tinged by the fantasy maestro that was gloriously terrifying.

A Rich Mosaic of Fear and Courage

There are trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and digital trolls, truly terrifying and expertly realized. There are magical swords and deceptions, breath-taking moments of valor and ones of appalling malevolence, both earthly and otherworldly. This is a remarkable achievement: a chilling book that is above all a paean to the human inventiveness, and to affection and camaraderie. “We needed a story to believe and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says the wealthy student as the friends sit around the table, preparing to summon their dragon into being with the force of their minds.

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