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A group of six unlikely but doughty youngsters fall into the path of a vast and dreadful supernatural evil that has entered our existence from the outer limits of oblivion. They are compelled to devote their lives confronting it, experiencing terror upon terror in the ordeal.

A Familiar Storyline with a Distinctive Approach

This is the plot, broadly speaking, of the master of horror’s novel It (a standout in his career; no arguments). It is also the plot of Stephen King’s offspring Joe Hill’s latest massive horror novel, in which a band of six call forth the age-old, utterly malevolent dragon the Sorrowful Monarch from the Long Dark to help them defeat some baddies. Needless to say, their arcane ceremony has unintended consequences.

Acknowledging a Literary Heritage

The author began his writing journey going to great lengths to remain separate from his well-known dad, using the pseudonym he still uses today and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he bears a strong similarity to his dad). But in this latest novel, he leans into it. Several quotes that consciously reflect some of King’s most famous (that classic opening line); a moment that recalls a King plot point (a battle of wits). In this epic story, Joe Hill takes pleasure in his heritage, and the audience revels alongside.

The Cast of the Protagonists

Returning to the group: five of them are students at the made-up this academic setting in this northeastern locale. First is Arthur, studious and brilliant, solving Old English riddles in his free moments; Colin, rich, clever, and prone to trampling anyone who stands in his way; twins Donna and Donovan; the beautiful Allie. Additionally, Gwen appears, who remains outside their academic circle, but assumes a vital role of their group as they experiment, partly convinced, somewhat doubtful, in supernatural practices.

The Pivotal Summoning

Arthur is, for reasons we don’t need to go into, obliged to take valuable volumes from his treasured institution’s archives by a set of regional villains. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s made to take the institution’s prized and disturbing work: the diary of practitioner Enoch Crane (condemned “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the cover is fashioned from his hide). These young investigators read the journal, realize they are able to call forth what Crane describes as a clever snake to aid our hero with his coercion issue – and devote the remaining story reaping the consequences. This ancient entity will certainly eliminate those troublesome local drug dealers, but they are required to pick a new sacrifice each year or become his victim themselves. As Arthur later puts it: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is additional horrors.”

Stylistic Dexterity and Creative Breadth

Covering a generation, Joe Hill transitions with effortless ease through various literary forms: as the allies attempt to deal with the situation they find themselves in by, variously, choosing undeniably wicked targets to sacrifice, or hunting down ways to destroy the entity themselves, we move between page-turner to grim fantasy, black-ops torture to affectionate subplot to terror. A standout transition was to a heroic journey, within the subterranean depths beneath this UK region, a part tinged by JRR Tolkien that was gloriously terrifying.

An Expansive Tapestry of Horror and Optimism

We encounter trolls – the classic variety and digital trolls, truly terrifying and expertly realized. The story includes mystic weapons and betrayals, pulse-pounding sequences of courage and instances of appalling malevolence, both earthly and supernatural. This is a remarkable achievement: a horror novel that is chiefly a tribute to the human inventiveness, 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 companions sit around the table, making preparations to call forth their dragon into existence with the force of their minds.

As Hill puts it in his opening statement: “This is dragon territory”. Do not overlook this.