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A group of six quirky but resilient children fall into the way of a vast and dreadful paranormal darkness that has invaded our existence from the outer limits of oblivion. They are compelled to spend their lifetimes fighting it, experiencing horror after horror in the ordeal.

A Resonant Plot with a New Approach

This outlines the narrative, roughly, of the master of horror’s iconic book It (a standout in his career; undeniable). It parallels of Stephen King’s offspring Joseph Hillstrom King’s recent massive horror novel, in which a close-knit group invoke the ancient, infinitely malicious beast the Dragon King from the Long Dark to assist them in vanquishing some baddies. Needless to say, their supernatural ritual has unintended consequences.

Embracing a Authorial Legacy

Joseph Hillström King launched his profession striving diligently to remain separate from his renowned parent, adopting the nom de plume he still uses today and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he bears a strong similarity to his father). But in this latest novel, he fully acknowledges it. There are lines that consciously reflect some of the senior author’s well-known (that classic opening line); a incident that brings to mind a signature King element (a battle of wits). In this whopper of a novel, Hill is delighting in his family connection, and we delight along with him.

The Cast of the Protagonists

Returning to the group: most are pupils at the imagined this academic setting in the New England state. First is Arthur, studious and intelligent, cracking historical enigmas in his leisure hours; the character Colin, affluent, astute, and prone to trampling anyone who stands in his way; the twin siblings; the attractive Allie herself. And there’s Gwen, who isn’t their classmate, but emerges as crucial of their group as they toy, half believing, somewhat doubtful, in supernatural practices.

The Pivotal Summoning

Arthur is, due to circumstances beyond his control, obliged to take rare books from his treasured institution’s archives by a bunch of local criminals. This wounds his academic spirit, especially when he’s forced to acquire the library’s most valuable and chilling publication: the journal of practitioner Enoch Crane (executed “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the cover is fashioned from his hide). Our Scooby gang examine the log, realize they are able to call forth what the occultist details as a cunning serpent to help Arthur out with his blackmail problem – and occupy the subsequent narrative reaping the consequences. King Sorrow will indeed rid them of those annoying regional antagonists, but they must select a different victim each year or become his victim themselves. As Arthur later puts it: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is more dragons.”

Stylistic Dexterity and Imaginative Breadth

Moving through four decades, Hill also moves with seamless grace through various literary forms: as the allies attempt to deal with the situation they find themselves in by, through diverse methods, selecting clearly malevolent individuals 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 terror. One particularly memorable shift was to a quest story, deep in the caves below Cornwall, a section infused with JRR Tolkien that was gloriously terrifying.

An Expansive Mosaic of Fear and Courage

There are trolls – the classic variety and online ones, properly scary and perfectly brought to life. We see enchanted blades and treacheries, heart-stopping scenes of valor and instances of appalling malevolence, both human and supernatural. It’s a tour de force: a horror novel that is above all a paean to the creative spirit, 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 allies gather at the table, preparing to summon their beast into existence with the force of their minds.

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