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A group of six quirky but resilient children encounter the trail of a immense and dreadful supernatural darkness that has entered our realm from the outer limits of shadow. They must spend their lifetimes confronting it, enduring horror after horror in the struggle.

A Familiar Premise with a New Twist

This is the plot, roughly, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (a standout in his career; no debate). It is also the plot of King’s son Joe Hill’s latest chilling tome, in which six friends invoke the age-old, utterly malevolent dragon King Sorrow from the Abyssal Void to assist them in vanquishing some baddies. As one might expect, their supernatural ritual goes awry.

Celebrating a Authorial Lineage

Joseph Hillström King started his career making great efforts to distance himself from his famous father, adopting the nom de plume he continues to employ and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he exhibits a uncanny likeness to his dad). But in this latest novel, he leans into it. Several quotes that deliberately echo some of the senior author’s well-known (that classic opening line); a scene that brings to mind a King plot point (a riddling contest). In this whopper of a novel, the author rejoices in his family connection, and we delight along with him.

Introducing the Central Figures

Focusing on the companions: five of them are students at the fictional the esteemed institution in this northeastern locale. We have Arthur, studious and gifted, deciphering historical enigmas in his spare time; Colin, affluent, clever, and inclined to bulldoze anyone who stands in his way; Donna and Donovan; the beautiful Allie. Additionally, Gwen appears, who remains outside their academic circle, but assumes a vital role of their band as they toy, partly convinced, partly skeptical, in supernatural practices.

The Fateful Ritual

Our hero becomes, due to circumstances beyond his control, compelled to pilfer rare books from his cherished academic collection by a set of regional villains. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s compelled to seize the collection’s foremost and disturbing title: the logbook of adept Enoch Crane (put to death “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the cover is fashioned from his hide). These young investigators peruse the diary, realize they are able to call forth what the author references as a “proud worm to assist Arthur with his blackmail problem – and devote the remaining story reaping the consequences. King Sorrow will indeed rid them of those troublesome local drug dealers, but they must select a new sacrifice each year or fall prey to the beast. As our protagonist states: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is additional horrors.”

Narrative Versatility and Creative Breadth

Covering a generation, Joe Hill transitions with effortless ease through various literary forms: as the friends attempt to deal with the predicament they find themselves in by, in different ways, choosing undeniably wicked targets to sacrifice, or seeking means to kill the dragon themselves, we transition from thriller to grim fantasy, clandestine torment to love story to fright. My favorite genre switch was to a heroic journey, far beneath the surface under the English county, a section sprinkled with the fantasy maestro that was gloriously terrifying.

An Expansive Canvas of Fear and Hope

We encounter trolls – the classic variety and digital trolls, truly terrifying and superbly depicted. The story includes mystic weapons and deceptions, pulse-pounding sequences of bravery and ones of appalling malevolence, both human and supernatural. It stands as a masterpiece: a chilling book that is above all a tribute to the creative spirit, and to devotion and companionship. “We longed for a tale to embrace and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says Colin as the allies assemble around a surface, preparing to summon their beast into being with the strength of their collective will.

In the author’s own words in his introductory quote: “Here be dragons”. Ensure you experience it.