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Six unlikely but doughty kids confront the trail of a colossal and fearsome paranormal malevolence that has invaded our realm from the outer limits of shadow. They are compelled to spend their lifetimes battling it, facing terror upon terror in the ordeal.

A Resonant Premise with a Distinctive Twist

This describes the premise, broadly speaking, of Stephen King’s seminal work It (his best; no debate). It parallels of King’s son Joseph Hillstrom King’s new chilling tome, in which a close-knit group call forth the primordial, utterly malevolent beast the Sorrowful Monarch from the Endless Night to aid them in overcoming some antagonists. As one might expect, their supernatural ritual has unintended consequences.

Acknowledging a Literary Heritage

Joe Hill launched his profession going to great lengths to distance himself from his well-known dad, adopting the nom de plume he maintains to this day and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he exhibits a striking resemblance to his parent). But in this latest novel, he fully acknowledges it. Certain passages that intentionally mirror some of his father’s iconic (that classic opening line); a incident that evokes a recurring theme in King’s works (a game of puzzles). In this epic story, Joe Hill takes pleasure in his family connection, and readers share in the joy.

Meet the Protagonists

Returning to the group: most are scholars at the made-up Rackham College in this northeastern locale. There’s Arthur, studious and gifted, deciphering Old English riddles in his spare time; the character Colin, affluent, astute, and known for crushing those who oppose him; the twin siblings; the stunning Allie. And there’s Gwen, who remains outside their academic circle, but assumes a vital role of their group as they dabble, partly convinced, partly skeptical, in supernatural practices.

The Pivotal Ceremony

Arthur is, for reasons we don’t need to go into, obliged to take rare books from his beloved college library by a set of regional villains. This wounds his academic spirit, notably because he’s made to take the library’s most valuable and chilling publication: the journal of practitioner the historical figure (executed “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the binding is made from his skin). The intrepid group examine the log, discover they could summon what Crane describes as a clever snake to assist Arthur with his blackmail problem – and occupy the subsequent narrative facing the fallout. King Sorrow will indeed rid them of those annoying regional antagonists, but they’ll have to choose a fresh offering every twelve months or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. In the character’s own words: “You invoke terrible forces, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Stylistic Fluidity and Imaginative Scope

Moving through four decades, Hill also moves with seamless grace between genres: as the allies endeavor to address the circumstances they find themselves in by, variously, choosing undeniably wicked targets to sacrifice, or searching for methods to slay the beast themselves, we transition from page-turner to shadowy tale, black-ops torture to love story to fright. A standout transition was to a heroic journey, deep in the caves beneath this UK region, a part tinged by the Lord of the Rings author that was wonderfully frightening.

A Rich Canvas of Horror and Optimism

There are trolls – the classic variety and online ones, truly terrifying and perfectly brought to life. We see enchanted blades and betrayals, breath-taking moments of bravery and instances of dreadful evil, both human and extraterrestrial. It’s a tour de force: a chilling book that is chiefly a paean 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 this character as the companions assemble around a surface, preparing to summon their serpent into being with the force of their minds.

In the author’s own words in his introductory quote: “Hic sunt dracones”. Ensure you experience it.