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A group of six unlikely but resilient youngsters fall into the path of a colossal and fearsome otherworldly evil that has infiltrated our world from the farthest reaches of shadow. They are compelled to devote their lives battling it, enduring one nightmare after another in the struggle.

A Familiar Plot with a Distinctive Twist

This describes the premise, roughly, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (a standout in his career; no debate). It is also the plot of the celebrated author’s heir Joseph Hillstrom King’s new chilling tome, in which a band of six invoke the primordial, utterly malevolent dragon the Sorrowful Monarch from the Long Dark to aid them in overcoming some antagonists. Unsurprisingly, their arcane ceremony goes awry.

Acknowledging a Literary Legacy

Joseph Hillström King began his writing journey making great efforts to distance himself from his famous father, adopting the nom de plume he continues to employ and avoiding meeting his agent (he possesses a uncanny likeness to his parent). However, in his newest work, he leans into it. There are lines that intentionally mirror some of King’s most famous (“The man in black fled across the desert …”); a scene that evokes a signature King element (a riddling contest). In this epic story, Joe Hill takes pleasure in his heritage, and we delight along with him.

Introducing the Central Figures

Returning to the group: five of them are scholars at the made-up this academic setting in this northeastern locale. There’s Arthur, bookish and intelligent, deciphering historical enigmas in his leisure hours; Colin, wealthy, clever, and known for crushing anyone who stands in his way; twins Donna and Donovan; the attractive Allie. Then we have Gwen, who isn’t their classmate, but becomes a key part of their band as they experiment, somewhat credulous, partly skeptical, in the occult.

The Fateful Ceremony

The protagonist finds himself, due to circumstances beyond his control, forced into stealing valuable volumes from his treasured institution’s archives by a set of regional villains. This wounds his academic spirit, particularly as he’s made to take the institution’s prized and unsettling publication: the diary of practitioner the historical figure (put to death “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the binding is made from his skin). Our Scooby gang read the journal, discover they could summon what the author references as a “proud worm to assist Arthur with his coercion issue – and occupy the subsequent narrative reaping the consequences. This ancient entity will certainly eliminate those troublesome local drug dealers, but they must select a fresh offering annually or fall prey to the beast. In the character’s own words: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is additional horrors.”

Genre Fluidity and Imaginative Breadth

Spanning forty years, Joe Hill transitions with seamless grace between genres: as the friends endeavor to address the predicament they find themselves in by, in different ways, choosing undeniably wicked targets to offer up, or hunting down ways to destroy the entity themselves, we move between suspense to dark fantasy, clandestine torment to love story to fright. My favorite genre switch was to a heroic journey, far beneath the surface under the English county, a part sprinkled with JRR Tolkien that was magnificently horrifying.

A Rich Mosaic of Horror and Optimism

There are trolls – the classic variety and digital trolls, truly terrifying and expertly realized. There are magical swords and treacheries, heart-stopping scenes of bravery and instances of terrible wickedness, both mortal and otherworldly. It stands as a masterpiece: a horror novel that is above all a paean to the human inventiveness, and to love and friendship. “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 friends gather at the table, getting ready to invoke their dragon into existence with the force of their minds.

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