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Six unlikely but resilient youngsters fall into the way of a colossal and fearsome supernatural malevolence that has entered our existence from the outer limits of shadow. They are compelled to wage a lifelong battle fighting it, facing terror upon terror in the ordeal.

An Echoing Plot with a Distinctive Spin

This is the plot, broadly speaking, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (arguably his finest; no debate). It is also the plot of Stephen King’s offspring Joe Hill’s latest massive horror novel, in which a band of six summon the primordial, infinitely malicious dragon King Sorrow from the Long Dark to aid them in overcoming some baddies. As one might expect, their otherworldly invocation backfires.

Embracing a Literary Legacy

The author started his career making great efforts to avoid any connection from his well-known dad, publishing under the pen name he still uses today and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he possesses a uncanny likeness to his father). But in this latest novel, he fully acknowledges it. Certain passages that consciously reflect some of King’s most famous (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a moment that brings to mind a King plot point (a battle of wits). Throughout this massive book, Hill is delighting in his family connection, and readers share in the joy.

The Cast of the Main Characters

Focusing on the companions: the majority are students at the made-up Rackham College in the New England state. First is Arthur, academic and intelligent, deciphering Old English riddles in his leisure hours; Colin, wealthy, clever, and known for crushing obstacles in his path; the twin siblings; the beautiful Allie herself. Then we have Gwen, who isn’t their classmate, but becomes a key part of their group as they experiment, partly convinced, half not, in the occult.

The Pivotal Ritual

Our hero becomes, due to circumstances beyond his control, compelled to pilfer prized manuscripts from his cherished academic collection by a bunch of local criminals. This tears at his bookish heart, especially when he’s compelled to seize the collection’s foremost and disturbing publication: the journal of adept this enigmatic character (put to death “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the binding is made from his skin). These young investigators examine the log, discover they could summon what Crane describes as a armored demon” to aid our hero with his blackmail problem – and occupy the subsequent narrative reaping the consequences. The dragon will undoubtedly remove those annoying regional antagonists, but they’ll have to choose a different victim every twelve months or fall prey to the beast. 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 across narrative styles: as the friends 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 go from page-turner to shadowy tale, black-ops torture to affectionate subplot to terror. My favorite genre switch was to a heroic journey, within the subterranean depths under the English county, a section tinged by JRR Tolkien that was wonderfully frightening.

A Rich Mosaic of Fear and Optimism

There are trolls – the classic variety and internet antagonists, truly terrifying and expertly realized. The story includes mystic weapons and betrayals, breath-taking moments of valor and scenes of terrible wickedness, both earthly and supernatural. It stands as a masterpiece: a chilling book that is chiefly a paean to the creative spirit, 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 Colin as the allies assemble around a surface, making preparations to call forth their serpent into existence with the force of their minds.

As Hill puts it in his introductory quote: “Hic sunt dracones”. Ensure you experience it.