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A group of six quirky but resilient children encounter the trail of a immense and terrible paranormal evil that has entered our existence from the outer limits of oblivion. They must devote their lives battling it, enduring one nightmare after another in the struggle.

An Echoing Premise with a Distinctive Twist

This describes the premise, roughly, of Stephen King’s seminal work It (his best; undeniable). It similarly frames of the celebrated author’s heir Joseph Hillstrom King’s new chilling tome, in which six friends call forth the ancient, utterly malevolent dragon the Sorrowful Monarch from the Endless Night to assist them in vanquishing some antagonists. Needless to say, their supernatural ritual has unintended consequences.

Acknowledging a Authorial Lineage

Joe Hill began his writing journey making great efforts to remain separate from his famous father, using the pseudonym he continues to employ and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he possesses a strong similarity to his dad). Yet with this recent release, he leans into it. Several quotes that intentionally mirror some of King’s most famous (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a scene that recalls a signature King element (a riddling contest). In this whopper of a novel, the author rejoices in his family connection, and readers share in the joy.

The Cast of the Protagonists

Focusing on the companions: most are scholars at the made-up this academic setting in this northeastern locale. We have Arthur, academic and intelligent, deciphering ancient puzzles in his free moments; another key figure, rich, astute, and inclined to bulldoze those who oppose him; Donna and Donovan; the stunning Allie. Then we have Gwen, who isn’t their classmate, but becomes a key part of their circle as they toy, somewhat credulous, somewhat doubtful, in supernatural practices.

The Pivotal Ritual

Our hero becomes, for reasons we don’t need to go into, forced into stealing valuable volumes from his cherished academic collection by a bunch of local criminals. This wounds his academic spirit, particularly as he’s compelled to seize the library’s most valuable and chilling publication: the diary of occultist this enigmatic character (executed “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the cover is fashioned from his hide). These young investigators peruse the diary, learn they can invoke what the occultist details as a armoured devil” to assist Arthur with his extortion dilemma – and devote the remaining story facing the fallout. King Sorrow will indeed rid them of those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they are required to pick a new sacrifice every twelve months or become his victim themselves. As our protagonist states: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is more dragons.”

Narrative Fluidity and Creative Breadth

Covering a generation, Hill also moves with effortless ease through various literary forms: as the friends strive to manage the situation they find themselves in by, variously, selecting clearly malevolent individuals to immolate, or seeking means to slay the beast themselves, we move between suspense to dark fantasy, covert operations to romance to horror. One particularly memorable shift was to a adventure narrative, deep in the caves below Cornwall, a segment infused with JRR Tolkien that was wonderfully frightening.

A Rich Canvas of Horror and Hope

There are trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and internet antagonists, genuinely frightening and perfectly brought to life. The story includes mystic weapons and deceptions, pulse-pounding sequences of courage and ones of appalling malevolence, both human and extraterrestrial. It’s a tour de force: a frightening tale that is primarily a ode to the creative spirit, and to love and friendship. “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 companions sit around the table, getting ready to invoke their serpent into being with the power of their thoughts.

According to Joe Hill in his epigraph: “Hic sunt dracones”. Ensure you experience it.