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A group of six unlikely but doughty children fall into the trail of a colossal and terrible otherworldly darkness that has entered our realm from the deepest abyss of shadow. They must wage a lifelong battle battling it, enduring horror after horror in the struggle.

A Familiar Premise with a Fresh Twist

This outlines the narrative, broadly speaking, of Stephen King’s novel It (a standout in his career; no debate). It parallels of King’s son Joe Hill’s latest horror doorstopper, in which a close-knit group invoke the age-old, deeply sinister dragon King Sorrow from the Abyssal Void to assist them in vanquishing some antagonists. Needless to say, their otherworldly invocation has unintended consequences.

Embracing a Literary Lineage

The author launched his profession going to great lengths to avoid any connection from his renowned parent, adopting the nom de plume he still uses today and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he exhibits a striking resemblance to his father). However, in his newest work, he leans into it. Certain passages that consciously reflect some of King’s most famous (that classic opening line); a scene that brings to mind a recurring theme in King’s works (a riddling contest). Throughout this massive book, Joe Hill takes pleasure in his family connection, and we delight along with him.

Meet the Central Figures

Focusing on the companions: five of them are students at the fictional Rackham College in the New England state. We have Arthur, academic and brilliant, deciphering historical enigmas in his leisure hours; the character Colin, wealthy, sharp, and inclined to bulldoze anyone who stands in his way; Donna and Donovan; the beautiful Allie. Then we have Gwen, who isn’t their classmate, but becomes a key part of their circle as they dabble, partly convinced, partly skeptical, in arcane arts.

The Pivotal Ritual

Our hero becomes, due to circumstances beyond his control, obliged to take rare books from his cherished academic collection by a set of regional villains. This wounds his academic spirit, particularly as he’s compelled to seize the collection’s foremost and unsettling work: the diary of occultist Enoch Crane (condemned “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the cover is made from his skin). Our Scooby gang read the journal, learn they can invoke what the occultist details as a “arrogant beast to assist Arthur with his extortion dilemma – and devote the remaining story facing the fallout. King Sorrow will undoubtedly remove those annoying regional antagonists, but they must select a different victim every twelve months or become his victim themselves. In the character’s own words: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Stylistic Versatility and Creative Scope

Moving through four decades, Joe Hill transitions with seamless grace across narrative styles: as the friends endeavor to address the predicament they find themselves in by, through diverse methods, selecting clearly malevolent individuals to immolate, or seeking means to slay the beast themselves, we move between suspense to shadowy tale, clandestine torment to affectionate subplot to terror. My favorite genre switch was to a heroic journey, within the subterranean depths beneath this UK region, a part tinged by JRR Tolkien that was magnificently horrifying.

A Rich Canvas of Fear and Hope

The novel features trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and online ones, genuinely frightening and expertly realized. There are magical swords and deceptions, pulse-pounding sequences of bravery and scenes of appalling malevolence, both human and extraterrestrial. This is a remarkable achievement: a horror novel that is chiefly a tribute to the human inventiveness, and to devotion and companionship. “We needed a story to believe and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says this character as the companions sit around the table, preparing to summon their beast to life with the force of their minds.

In the author’s own words in his introductory quote: “This is dragon territory”. Do not overlook this.