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A group of six quirky but brave kids encounter the trail of a immense and terrible paranormal darkness that has invaded our realm from the outer limits of darkness. They must spend their lifetimes confronting it, enduring terror upon terror in the struggle.

A Familiar Plot with a New Approach

This outlines the narrative, broadly speaking, of the master of horror’s novel It (a standout in his career; no arguments). It is also the plot of the celebrated author’s heir Joseph Hillstrom King’s new horror doorstopper, in which a close-knit group summon the ancient, infinitely malicious dragon the Dragon King from the Abyssal Void to assist them in vanquishing some antagonists. As one might expect, their arcane ceremony goes awry.

Embracing a Literary Heritage

Joe Hill started his career making great efforts to avoid any connection from his renowned parent, publishing under the pen name he still uses today and avoiding meeting his agent (he bears a uncanny likeness to his dad). However, in his newest work, he leans into it. Several quotes that consciously reflect some of the senior author’s well-known (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a moment that evokes a King plot point (a battle of wits). Throughout this massive book, Joe Hill takes pleasure in his heritage, and readers share in the joy.

Meet the Protagonists

Back to those friends: most are scholars at the made-up this academic setting in the New England state. First is Arthur, studious and brilliant, solving historical enigmas in his spare time; Colin, wealthy, clever, and known for crushing those who oppose him; the twin siblings; the stunning the lovely Allie. And there’s Gwen, who remains outside their academic circle, but assumes a vital role of their circle as they toy, somewhat credulous, partly skeptical, in the occult.

The Critical Ritual

Arthur is, for reasons we don’t need to go into, compelled to pilfer rare books from his treasured institution’s archives by a set of regional villains. This tears at his bookish heart, notably because he’s forced to acquire the institution’s prized and chilling title: the journal of practitioner Enoch Crane (executed “for dealing with infernal entities in 1703”; the book’s jacket is made from his skin). The intrepid group peruse the diary, discover they could summon what the author references as a “arrogant beast to aid our hero with his extortion dilemma – and spend the rest of the novel enduring the repercussions. This ancient entity will indeed rid them of those annoying regional antagonists, but they must select a different victim each year or become his victim themselves. In the character’s own words: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Genre Fluidity and Creative Range

Spanning forty years, Joe Hill transitions with seamless grace across narrative styles: as the allies endeavor to address the predicament they find themselves in by, in different ways, choosing undeniably wicked targets to sacrifice, or searching for methods to kill the dragon themselves, we move between thriller to shadowy tale, black-ops torture to romance to terror. A standout transition was to a adventure narrative, far beneath the surface beneath this UK region, a section infused with JRR Tolkien that was gloriously terrifying.

A Rich Canvas of Fear and Courage

The novel features trolls – those living under bridges and internet antagonists, genuinely frightening and superbly depicted. We see enchanted blades and deceptions, pulse-pounding sequences of valor and ones of dreadful evil, both mortal and supernatural. This is a remarkable achievement: a chilling book that is above all a paean to the human inventiveness, and to affection and camaraderie. “We needed a story to believe and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says Colin as the allies assemble around a surface, making preparations to call forth their dragon into being with the power of their thoughts.

As Hill puts it in his opening statement: “Here be dragons”. Do not overlook this.