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Six quirky but brave children encounter the way of a colossal and fearsome paranormal malevolence that has entered our existence from the farthest reaches of oblivion. They are compelled to wage a lifelong battle fighting it, experiencing one nightmare after another in the process.

A Familiar Plot with a New Twist

This is the plot, broadly speaking, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (a standout in his career; undeniable). It parallels of Stephen King’s offspring Joe Hill’s recent horror doorstopper, in which a close-knit group invoke the primordial, utterly malevolent dragon the Sorrowful Monarch from the Abyssal Void to aid them in overcoming some villains. As one might expect, their otherworldly invocation has unintended consequences.

Embracing a Literary Legacy

Joseph Hillström King started his career going to great lengths to avoid any connection from his renowned parent, publishing under the pen name he continues to employ and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he possesses a uncanny likeness to his dad). However, in his newest work, he fully acknowledges it. Several quotes that deliberately echo some of King’s most famous (that classic opening line); a scene that evokes a signature King element (a battle of wits). Throughout this massive book, Hill is delighting in his family connection, and we delight along with him.

Meet the Protagonists

Back to those friends: five of them are scholars at the imagined Rackham College in this northeastern locale. We have Arthur, bookish and intelligent, solving ancient puzzles in his spare time; another key figure, wealthy, astute, and known for crushing anyone who stands in his way; twins Donna and Donovan; the attractive the lovely Allie. And there’s Gwen, who doesn’t study with them, but assumes a vital role of their circle as they dabble, somewhat credulous, somewhat doubtful, in the occult.

The Fateful Ceremony

Arthur is, for reasons we don’t need to go into, obliged to take rare books from his beloved college library by a bunch of local criminals. This wounds his academic spirit, particularly as he’s compelled to seize the collection’s foremost and unsettling work: the journal of occultist the historical figure (executed “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the cover is crafted from his flesh). Our Scooby gang read the journal, realize they are able to call forth what the author references as a armored demon” to assist Arthur with his extortion dilemma – and occupy the subsequent narrative reaping the consequences. The dragon will indeed rid them of those troublesome local drug dealers, but they are required to pick a fresh offering every twelve months or become his victim themselves. As Arthur later puts it: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is more dragons.”

Narrative Dexterity and Imaginative Breadth

Covering a generation, the author shifts with natural fluency between genres: as the allies endeavor to address the circumstances they find themselves in by, in different ways, choosing undeniably wicked targets to sacrifice, or seeking means to slay the beast themselves, we go from thriller to dark fantasy, black-ops torture to affectionate subplot to horror. My favorite genre switch was to a adventure narrative, within the subterranean depths below Cornwall, a part infused with the Lord of the Rings author that was wonderfully frightening.

A Rich Canvas of Horror and Courage

The novel features trolls – the classic variety and internet antagonists, genuinely frightening and perfectly brought to life. We see enchanted blades and betrayals, heart-stopping scenes of valor and instances of terrible wickedness, both earthly and otherworldly. It stands as a masterpiece: a horror novel that is above all a paean to the human inventiveness, and to devotion and companionship. “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 sit around the table, getting ready to invoke their beast into being with the force of their minds.

According to Joe Hill in his epigraph: “Hic sunt dracones”. Don’t miss them.