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A group of six quirky but brave youngsters encounter the trail of a colossal and terrible otherworldly darkness that has invaded our realm from the deepest abyss of darkness. They have no choice but to spend their lifetimes fighting it, facing horror after horror in the ordeal.

A Familiar Storyline with a Distinctive Twist

This is the plot, roughly, of Stephen King’s novel It (his best; no arguments). It parallels of Stephen King’s offspring Joseph Hillstrom King’s new massive horror novel, in which a close-knit group invoke the ancient, deeply sinister beast the Dragon King from the Endless Night to assist them in vanquishing some baddies. Needless to say, their otherworldly invocation has unintended consequences.

Acknowledging a Literary Legacy

Joe Hill began his writing journey going to great lengths to remain separate from his well-known dad, using the pseudonym he continues to employ and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he exhibits a uncanny likeness to his father). But in this latest novel, he fully acknowledges it. There are lines that consciously reflect some of King’s most famous (“The man in black fled across the desert …”); 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.

Meet the Central Figures

Returning to the group: most are students at the fictional Rackham College in Maine. First is Arthur, studious and gifted, cracking historical enigmas in his spare time; another key figure, affluent, 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 group as they dabble, partly convinced, half not, in arcane arts.

The Critical Ceremony

The protagonist finds himself, as a result of external pressures, obliged to take valuable volumes from his beloved college library by a bunch of local criminals. This tears at his bookish heart, notably because he’s compelled to seize the collection’s foremost and unsettling publication: the diary of occultist this enigmatic character (executed “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the book’s jacket is fashioned from his hide). The intrepid group examine the log, learn they can invoke what the occultist details as a “proud worm to help Arthur out with his extortion dilemma – and occupy the subsequent narrative facing the fallout. This ancient entity will indeed rid them of those annoying regional antagonists, but they’ll have to choose a new sacrifice every twelve months or fall prey to the beast. In the character’s own words: “You invoke terrible forces, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Stylistic Fluidity and Inventive Breadth

Spanning forty years, Hill also moves with effortless ease across narrative styles: as the allies strive to manage the circumstances they find themselves in by, in different ways, picking people who are obviously evil to sacrifice, or hunting down ways to slay the beast themselves, we go from suspense to grim fantasy, black-ops torture to affectionate subplot to fright. A standout transition was to a adventure narrative, deep in the caves beneath this UK region, a segment infused with the fantasy maestro that was gloriously terrifying.

A Detailed Mosaic of Fear and Courage

We encounter trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and internet antagonists, genuinely frightening and superbly depicted. The story includes mystic weapons and betrayals, heart-stopping scenes of valor and scenes of terrible wickedness, both mortal and otherworldly. It’s a tour de force: a chilling book that is primarily a ode to the imagination, 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 gather at the table, getting ready to invoke their serpent into existence with the force of their minds.

As Hill puts it in his opening statement: “Hic sunt dracones”. Do not overlook this.