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Six unlikely but doughty children confront the path of a immense and terrible paranormal evil that has entered our realm from the farthest reaches of shadow. They must spend their lifetimes confronting it, facing horror after horror in the process.

A Familiar Premise with a Fresh Spin

This is the plot, in essence, of the master of horror’s seminal work It (a standout in his career; no debate). It parallels of Stephen King’s offspring Joe Hill’s latest chilling tome, in which a band of six invoke the primordial, infinitely malicious beast the Sorrowful Monarch from the Abyssal Void to aid them in overcoming some villains. Unsurprisingly, their arcane ceremony has unintended consequences.

Acknowledging a Literary Lineage

Joseph Hillström King began his writing journey going to great lengths to avoid any connection from his famous father, using the pseudonym he still uses today and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he possesses a striking resemblance to his parent). But in this latest novel, he fully acknowledges it. Several quotes that consciously reflect some of the senior author’s well-known (that classic opening line); a scene that evokes a King plot point (a battle of wits). Throughout this massive book, the author rejoices in his lineage, and the audience revels alongside.

Introducing the Main Characters

Back to those friends: five of them are students at the fictional this academic setting in Maine. First is Arthur, studious and gifted, solving ancient puzzles in his free moments; another key figure, rich, astute, and known for crushing obstacles in his path; twins Donna and Donovan; the attractive the lovely Allie. Then we have Gwen, who doesn’t study with them, but assumes a vital role of their circle as they experiment, partly convinced, partly skeptical, in the occult.

The Fateful Ritual

The protagonist finds himself, due to circumstances beyond his control, obliged to take rare books from his cherished academic collection by a group of neighborhood thugs. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s compelled to seize the library’s most valuable and unsettling work: the diary of occultist Enoch Crane (condemned “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the cover is made from his skin). The intrepid group examine the log, learn they can invoke what Crane describes 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 different victim annually or fall prey to the beast. In the character’s own words: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Stylistic Fluidity and Inventive Range

Spanning forty years, Hill also moves with effortless ease between genres: as the friends attempt to deal with the situation they find themselves in by, in different ways, choosing undeniably wicked targets to immolate, or seeking means to destroy the entity themselves, we move between thriller to dark fantasy, black-ops torture to romance to terror. One particularly memorable shift was to a quest story, deep in the caves under the English county, a section tinged by the Lord of the Rings author that was wonderfully frightening.

An Expansive Canvas of Dread and Optimism

There are trolls – those living under bridges and digital trolls, truly terrifying and superbly depicted. We see enchanted blades and betrayals, pulse-pounding sequences of bravery and ones of appalling malevolence, both earthly and supernatural. It’s a tour de force: a chilling book that is above all a tribute to the creative spirit, and to love and friendship. “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, getting ready to invoke their dragon to life with the strength of their collective will.

According to Joe Hill in his introductory quote: “This is dragon territory”. Ensure you experience it.