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Six quirky but resilient kids confront the path of a vast and dreadful paranormal malevolence that has invaded our realm from the outer limits of shadow. They must wage a lifelong battle confronting it, facing one nightmare after another in the struggle.

An Echoing Plot with a Fresh Twist

This describes the premise, in essence, of Stephen King’s iconic book It (arguably his finest; no debate). It similarly frames of the celebrated author’s heir Joseph Hillstrom King’s recent chilling tome, in which a close-knit group call forth the primordial, utterly malevolent dragon King Sorrow from the Long Dark to aid them in overcoming some villains. As one might expect, their otherworldly invocation has unintended consequences.

Celebrating a Literary Legacy

Joseph Hillström King started his career striving diligently to distance himself from his famous father, adopting the nom de plume he continues to employ and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he exhibits a uncanny likeness to his father). However, in his newest work, he fully acknowledges it. Several quotes that consciously reflect some of King’s most famous (“The man in black fled across the desert …”); a scene that brings to mind a recurring theme in King’s works (a game of puzzles). In this whopper of a novel, Joe Hill takes pleasure in his lineage, and we delight along with him.

Meet the Main Characters

Back to those friends: the majority are students at the made-up Rackham College in this northeastern locale. We have Arthur, academic and gifted, solving ancient puzzles in his spare time; another key figure, affluent, astute, and known for crushing those who oppose him; twins Donna and Donovan; the attractive Allie herself. And there’s Gwen, who isn’t their classmate, but becomes a key part of their group as they experiment, partly convinced, somewhat doubtful, in arcane arts.

The Critical Summoning

Arthur is, as a result of external pressures, forced into stealing prized manuscripts from his treasured institution’s archives by a set of regional villains. This tears at his bookish heart, especially when he’s forced to acquire the collection’s foremost and disturbing publication: the diary of occultist this enigmatic character (put to death “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the cover is crafted from his flesh). Our Scooby gang examine the log, learn they can invoke what Crane describes as a “arrogant beast to assist Arthur with his blackmail problem – and spend the rest of the novel reaping the consequences. King Sorrow will indeed rid them of those annoying regional antagonists, but they are required to pick a new sacrifice annually or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. As Arthur later puts it: “You plant seeds of destruction, all you get is additional horrors.”

Genre Dexterity and Imaginative Breadth

Covering a generation, Joe Hill transitions with effortless ease between genres: as the companions endeavor to address the predicament they find themselves in by, in different ways, selecting clearly malevolent individuals to immolate, or seeking means to destroy the entity themselves, we transition from page-turner to dark fantasy, covert operations to affectionate subplot to fright. My favorite genre switch was to a quest story, far beneath the surface under the English county, a section infused with the fantasy maestro that was gloriously terrifying.

An Expansive Tapestry of Horror and Optimism

The novel features trolls – those living under bridges and online ones, properly scary and perfectly brought to life. There are magical swords and treacheries, breath-taking moments of bravery and scenes of terrible wickedness, both mortal and supernatural. It’s a tour de force: a horror novel that is chiefly a paean to the human inventiveness, and to devotion and companionship. “We needed a story to believe and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says Colin as the friends gather at the table, preparing to summon 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.